Page 32 of Defy the Highlander

“When did this happen?”

The boy counted his fingers. “Three days ago.”

“But ye have seen her since?”

“I saw her sewing something in m’lady’s chamber when I went tae bring my mam hot water.” Tynan’s little hand grasped Brody’s big hand. “Colly says that Lilia lies and m’lady believes her.”

“And that’s why she’s not allowed tae leave the house?”

Tynan nodded seriously. “She stays inside and Colly watches her.”

“Does she not even go out with m’lady when the woman leaves in her carriage?”

“M’lady hasna left the house, either.”

Brody loosened his grip on the child. At least he knew Lilia wasn’t horribly injured, but she was evidently being kept as a prisoner. Lady Currie hadn’t gone about her usual nightly visits to the Ludus Caledonia, which was why he hadn’t seen the carriage, and all fingers pointed to the old witch, Colly. Clearly, the woman had some kind of a grip on the inhabitants of Hawkhill, Lady Currie included.

Brody was relieved that Lilia wasn’t badly injured, but it was an effort to keep his fury at bay as he realized what was happening. He knew that anger wouldn’t do him any good.

It wasn’t as if he could help her.

At least, not yet.

But the puzzlement in what had happened tore at him because he had a hunch that, somehow, he’d delayed Lilia’s return on that sweet morning in Edinburgh and she had been punished for being gone too long. Was that what Colly had meant by Lilia’s lies? Perhaps she’d lied to cover up her actions with him.

It had been his fault.

“Brody?” Tynan asked, breaking into his thoughts. “Are ye here tae stay now?”

Brody looked at the lad. Above all of the turmoil he was feeling for Lilia, he still had the capacity to feel some compassion for the child who was clearly lonely. It seemed to Brody, and had since the beginning, that Tynan simply wanted to be loved. He was a kind, open-hearted child who had been forced to grow up quickly in harsh servitude. He put his big hand on the boy’s head, dwarfing it.

“Nay, lad,” he said. “In fact, I’m not supposed tae be here. Ye mustna tell anyone that ye’ve seen me. Do ye understand?”

Tynan nodded, though he really didn’t understand. “But why must ye leave?”

“Do ye know why I left in the first place?”

“Lilia said ye had tae go because ye were a busy man.”

He realized she hadn’t told the child the truth. Brody would leave it that way. “I am very busy,” he said. “But I want ye tae tell Lilia something for me and it must be a secret, Tynan. Ye must be very careful that no one sees ye when ye tell her. Can ye do that?”

“I can,” Tynan nodded eagerly. “What do I tell her?”

Brody paused as he thought of something simple yet meaningful. Tynan probably wouldn’t remember a long message, so he had to make it short.

“Tell her that I will return for her,” he said. “Can ye remember that?”

Tynan nodded. “Will ye really?”

“Really what?”

“Return for her?”

Brody nodded. “I will,” he said. “But ye mustna tell anyone that. Only Lilia. Tell her… I’ll find a way, I swear it.”

Tynan nodded solemnly. “I will.”

Brody smiled at the boy, patting his head. “There’s a good old man,” he said. “Now, go about yer business and remember… ye dinna see me. I was never here.”