Page 8 of Deception

A maid carrying a goblet and jug arrived at their table. “My lady, ‘tis so good to have ye home. Would you like wine?”

“I dinnae care for wine. I prefer sage water, if you have it.”

The girl beamed. “We always have sage water—even in winter. Cook grows the sage herself and keeps plenty of the dried herb all year round. I will fetch you some right away, my lady.” The maid hurried down the steps, then Reams climbed the stairs and continued around the table.

He stopped beside Linnae and bowed slightly. “My lady,” he said, then took the chair to Jacob’s left.

Jacob filled Reams’ goblet with wine, then said, “Nothing?”

Reams shook his head. “Richard sent the scouts.”

Scouts?

Linnae cast a sideways glance at Jacob. He nodded at Reams, who took a drink of wine. Jacob shifted and she turned her attention to the maid who had returned to the table.

She set sage water and a large trencher of food on the table in front of Linnae. “Cook has prepared something special just for you, my lady, your favorite, fresh fileted fish. Breaded just the way ye like it.”

Fish? She hated fish. She smiled. “Thank Cook for me.”

Linnae dished fish onto her plate as the men filled theirs with the juicy, mouth-watering roasted pig and pheasant. She took some potatoes and carrots and glimpsed the maid’s wide smile as she passed the table, headed for the stairs. Linnae slowed in chewing when she heard Reams say in low tones, “It wouldnae surprise me to discover Michael had a hand in the attack.”

“I considered the same,” Jacob replied in a murmur that told Linnae he thought she could hear him over the noise in the room. “He’s openly chastised Lyel for not banning together with Dòmhnall against the MacLeods.”

“If we discover he colluded with the Donalds, the MacKenzies will hang him,” Reams said.

“He will deserve nothing less,” Jacob replied in a whisper that sent a chill down Linnae’s spine.

“I dinnae like it,” Reams said. “If Michael was involved, once he learns he didnae succeed there’s no telling what he might do. Lyel is a fool for naming him chief.”

“The council had a hand in the decision,” Jacob said. “Lyel holds sway with some on the council.”

Linnae’s mind raced as she chewed a piece of fish. Lyel’s heir might have been involved in the carriage accident? Did that mean Malcolm wasn’t involved?

From the corner of her eye, Linnae glimpsed a blur of deep blue and looked up. A young woman had entered and was weaving through the crowded room toward them. Linnae’s heart began to pound. Surely, the woman wasn’t headed for the dais?

“Easy, lass,” Jacob whispered.

She looked sharply at him.

He leaned closer. “That is Lady Innis. Ye havenae seen her since you were six.”

Her heart jumped. “Ye didnae tell me I would see any of Lady Alison’s old friends tonight.”

He blinked and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Heaven help her, she’d just been disrespectful to the laird in front of one of his men. He abruptly laughed. Linnae stared. Was he daft? Her attention returned to the woman, who neared the dais steps.

“God help me,” she muttered.

“Have courage,” Jacob said.

“Why is she here?” Linnae demanded.

He chuckled. “Innis likes to be noticed. She will want to tell the other women that she was the first to welcome ye home.”

Lady Innis reached the steps and hurried up to the dais. She continued around the table to Linnae and Linnae was caught off guard when the young woman pulled her up and into a hug.

Lady Innis drew back and held her at arm’s length. “Oh, it is so good to ye, Alison. Look how beautiful you are. But you were a beautiful child.” She released Linnae and looked at Jacob. “Jacob.”

He stood and gave a slight bow. “My lady. Thank you for coming to welcome Lady Alison home.”