Page 92 of Hold Fast

Angus elbowed him in the side. “You look miserable, Ewan. What ails you?”

“I am fine,” Ewan replied sullenly.

“It could be that our dear brother is so forlorn because his lady is upset,” Kenneth said brashly, humor in his eyes.

“Drop it, Kenneth,” Ewan growled.

“Wh-wh-what’s the matter with Una?” Rabbie’s deep concern was written plainly on his face in the furrow of his brow.

“She’s fine, Rabbie,” Ewan said, meeting his brother’s eye. “She’s just a wee bit… angry with me. Apparently, I’ve been unreasonable.”

Cat choked on her oats, coughing loudly, and Kenneth’s eyebrows shot high into his hairline.

Kenneth smiled. “What was it this time? Dinnae tell me she’s angry about the wedding? Surely you are nae trying to interfere with her planning?”

“There has nae been any planning,” Ewan gritted out.

“If you must know,” Cat interjected saucily, “Una is angry with Ewan because he’s been a menace of late and insists on treating her like a prisoner in her own home. Willnae let her leave. Willnae let her do her job. Willnae—”

“Her job is to be the lady of this keep. How can she be the lady of the keep if she’s tromping about the land?”

“Her job, Ewan, is a healer. And she cannae do that confined to her chamber.”

“She isnae confined to her chamber!” Ewan protested.

“Though she could do a fair number of things confined there,” Kenneth said with a wink.

“Shut up, Kenneth!” Cat, Ewan, and Angus all said sharply in unison.

“Only because you ken she’d gut you like a fish if you tried to keep her there!” Cat hissed.

Ewan dropped his forehead to the table. Rabbie reached over and gripped his shoulder.

“You cannae protect her from everything, Ewan,” Cat said, her voice softening.

“I’ve got to see her,” Ewan said, sitting suddenly upright. He turned to see Joan hastening toward the table.

“Joan, are you well?” Cat asked, reaching for her hand.

“I am well. But m’laird, I cannae find Una anywhere. Is she still asleep?”

Ewan’s body went cold and he shook his head.

“I went looking for her to ask for her advice on behalf of one of the servants. I’ve looked everywhere, all over the keep, and I cannae find her.”

“Everywhere, Joan?” Ewan asked. “The stables?”

“Aside from the laird’s chamber, I’ve turned this place upside down. Fiona and Fenella helped. If she isnae in bed, then she isnae here?”

Ewan tried to keep his face calm as he stood. Angus shot an uneasy look his way, and Kenneth’s eyes were wide with shock.

“We should nae panic,” Ewan said, mastering himself. “’Tis possible we’ve only missed her.Let’s look in her usual haunts again. Kenneth, Angus, ask around the village. See if anyone has seen her. Rabbie and Connor, search the stable and outbuildings. Cat, stay here with Joan in case she returns.”

“Where will you go, Ewan?” Cat asked as he stepped off the dais.

“To speak to the watch on the wall,” he said over his shoulder, thinking that if they’d let her out without noticing or notifying him, he’d throttle them all.

“But it’s freezing,” Cat called after him, horrified. “Surely she wouldnae go out in this weather!”