Page 48 of Only a Highlander Will Do

Rowena narrowed her gaze. There was something familiar about his man as well. “Your home. Where was that?”

“To the south of here.” After another fit of coughing, he added, “Ulster Castle.”

Rowena had suspected as much. “You are Fiona’s father.” This was the man Alex MacDonald had claimed he had killed.

“And you are?” he asked, close enough now that he eyed the tray Marcus’s mother had brought her.

Rowena reached for the bowl of what smelled like rabbit stew and offered it to him. “The MacLeod triplets are my brothers.”

He hesitated, but for only a moment before he took the bowl with battered and abused fingers and started shovelling the stew into his mouth, devouring it like a man who had not eaten for a while. “Then it is sorry for you that I am. The MacLeods destroyed my home.”

“Nay. In that you are wrong. The MacDonalds destroyed your home.”

“They promised they would not, not after I vowed that my daughter would—” He dropped his gaze. “We still had time.”

“It was the MacDonalds. I watched them fire the cannonballs that took Ulster Castle down. My brothers came to defend your home, but they were too late. Your daughter, however, is safe, as are your servants.” Rowena kept the apple from the tray for herself, then pushed the remaining contents towards him.

He looked up, his eyes wide. “Fiona is alive?” There was a slight tremble in his voice. “I feared—”

“Tormod, her husband, would never let anything happen to her.”

He raised glistening eyes to Rowena. “Then it is grateful I am for that.”

“Fiona will be pleased to know you are alive. Alex MacDonald told her he had killed you.”

“He tried.” A rat scrambled from the shadows, heading for the tray. Fiona’s father swiped the creature away as he snatched up the thick slice of bread.

Rowena held out the blanket to him. “You should put this around your shoulders.”

He took the woollen cloth. “My thanks.”

Marcus’s mother frowned. “Those things were for your health, not his.”

“You are very kind to bring them,” Rowena said. “I fear this man needs them more.”

The dark-haired woman shook her head. “Marcus also said you were kind. I will bring more when I can.” She stood, preparing to go, then stopped and set the candlestick down beside Rowena. “I do not know how long it will last, but it might bring you comfort while it does.”

Rowena smiled. “Thank you, milady.”

“Call me Agnes, please.”

“My thanks, Agnes.”

“I will come back. Until then, know that you have friends amongst the MacDonalds.” With a mixture of sadness and regret on her face, Agnes stepped back through the door. A moment later the bolt slid into place.

Even so, the fear that had tightened Rowena’s chest earlier did not return. For the moment she had food, company, and light. And best of all, the knowledge that her brothers were on their way to set her free.

It will only be a matter of time before this horror comes to an end.

At least that was the litany she repeated over and over to herself as she watched the candle burn lower. If only her brothers would free her before the light went out.

*

Holding a candle aloft to guide her way, Fiona made her way to the old keep and the great hall located on the second floor of the building. She’d learned since arriving at Dunvegan that Alastair had only recently restored the roof to this section of the old keep, making it inhabitable once again. But the household staff had yet to clean the long-vacant chambers or move any furnishings back.

As she entered the big empty room, she saw the Grey Lady waiting for her. Fiona hurried to her side.

Do you see the latch on the wainscoting just to your left? Press it.