Page 47 of My Brave Highlander

"I can understand how you're feeling, being away from home and all."

Isobel nodded.

"And I'm certain you're wanting to see that big strapping lad again."

"Lad?" Isobel asked.

"Aye, Dirk. I can see you already have a fondness for him. He's easy to like, that one."

Heat rushed over her. Effie thought she held a fondness for Dirk? Well, she did, of course. But she didn't want anyone else to know that. She would have to be more careful.

"I'm thinking he's a wee besotted with you as well, lass." Effie winked.

Isobel was sure her face glowed brighter red than the coals in the hearth and her heart pounded loud in her ears. "Nay. I hope not." Well, that was a flat out lie but surely it would disguise her attraction to him.

Effie blew out a doubtful breath. "I ken you're wanting to keep it a secret but 'tis clear to me."

She almost told Effie she was betrothed to a MacLeod, but she should probably keep that information to herself. The fewer people who knew the better.

"I only want to return to my brother's home as soon as the weather permits," Isobel said.

"Dirk will keep you safe in the meantime. Once they inaugurate him as chief, he'll be needing a wife."

Heavens, would the woman not stop with her matchmaking talk? Certainly the ruse of being married to Dirk had been a pleasant diversion, but it was not true. It could never be true. Her brother would have to negotiate again with the MacLeods and determine if and how he could remove her from the contract. If he couldn't, she'd run away to her aunt's home farther south.

But she couldn't marry Dirk, the neighboring clan chief. Surely that would cause a feud between the MacLeods and the MacKays. To imagine violence and bloodshed, perhaps even loss of life, because of her was unthinkable. Besides that, the MacKays would have a dim view of both her and Dirk if they made him chief and then he started a war over her.

"It near broke my heart years ago when he had to leave us. We've all missed him sorely."

"Why did he have to leave?" Isobel asked, hoping Effie would give her more information than Dirk had.

"He didn't tell you? Someone came mighty close to murdering him."

A shock went through Isobel. "Who would do such a thing?" Dirk was so likable and respectful that she couldn't imagine anyone hating him enough to murder him.

"Well, who do you think?" Aunt Effie raised a brow as if Isobel should know good and well who'd want him dead.

"I have no inkling."

"His stepmother, of course."

"But Maighread Gordon is his stepmother." And she had been Isobel's mother's best friend for many years.

"Aye. You have the right of it," Effie assured her.

Though Isobel didn't know Maighread well, she had always seemed decent and friendly. "Why would she do such a thing?"

"So one of her sons could inherit."

"I see." Isobel didn't know whether to believe this news or not. But what reason would Effie have to lie? Mayhap they had it all wrong. "How did she try to kill him?"

"She hired someone to knock him off a cliff at the headland that juts out into the North Sea. The cliffs out there are a fright, around three-hundred feet high. Dirk fell several feet down the side of it and landed on a small outcropping. Conall rescued him. One of Conall's other nephews was killed that day by the same man."

"Dear heavens!" Isobel gasped. How could the Maighread she knew instigate such a tragic and violent event? Why would her mother befriend such a woman? She couldn't have known about her murderous side, surely. And it was no wonder Dirk was always on edge and vigilant for danger.

"Some people will go to great lengths in the service of greed," Effie said.

A horrid thought occurred to Isobel, sending icy fear through her veins. "Since he's come back, do you think she will try to kill him again?"