Page 114 of The Highlander Is All That

Hamish cleared his throat. “We, ah, went slowly.”

“We stopped at every inn, looking for you, young lady.” Ranald’s glower had no effect.

Because, again, the youngest St. Claire was completely unaffected by the censure. “At any rate, Elizabeth is not married.”

“Why not?” Well, that did not come out the way Hamish intended. “I mean, what happened?”

Mary’s grin was toothy. “Twiggenberry tried to force her so she ran away. No one knows where she is,” she said brightly.

Hamish’s gut clenched. Bile surged into his mouth. No one knew where she was? How was that a good thing?

He glanced helplessly at Ranald, who shook his head. “Blast. As soon as we find one, we lose another.”

“We’ve got to leave immediately. We’ve got to find her!” Hopefully no one noticed the trill of panic in his tone.

Mary blew out a puff of air. “Elizabeth will be fine.”

“She’s alone.” Who knew what kind of trouble she could be in?

“She can take care of herself.”

Hamish stared at Anne. What was wrong with these girls? “She’s just a wee lass.”

To his annoyance, the sisters exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

“This is Elizabeth,” Anne assured him, although it assured him not at all.

So he ignored her. “We can take the packet back,” he said. “It’s faster.”

Anne’s eyes bulged and she slapped her hand over her mouth.

Mary shook her head. “Clearly that won’t work. I doubt Anne would survive.”

Ranald frowned. “She already has a tender stomach from the journey north.”

“Has she?” Mary frowned and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I am sorry.”

Anne gasped a breath and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“The carriage movement, I suppose,” Ranald said.

Mary frowned. “You’ve never been ill in a carriage, have you?”

“No,” Anne said.

“Maybe it’s the plague.”

Everyone gaped at Mary. The plague?

“Or the ague.”

A much better suggestion.

“Or the constant swaying.” Anne put her hand to her head. “I feel as though I am still moving.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t travel yet.” Was Ranald’s expression . . . tender?

Mary caught Hamish’s eye with a curious look. He shrugged. He had no idea what was going on between her sister and his friend, and if he did, he certainly wouldn’t tell her.