Page 29 of Highlander’s Devious Ally

Matthew smiled at Lyall for the first time. “I have a feeling that I am leaving her in safe hands.”

“You are,” Lyall replied. “None safer.” He smiled. “Let us go and find the ladies.”

The ladies were sitting in the library, a large but comfortable room lined with the brightly colored spines of hundreds of books, from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall.

Maria looked annoyed, but not furious, and Ailith took that as a good sign. When her mother was roused to anger, which fortunately was not often, she was a tigress.

As soon as they sat down Ailith asked, “Mother, why did you not tell me about the curse?”

“Because your father never told me about it,” Maria replied simply. “The first time I heard was when we got Lyall’s letter, then the whole story came spilling out. I tried to find out why he wanted Jock especially, but he only said that he was a fine young man and came from a good family. Later I found out that the two fathers hated each other. When I met Jock, though, he seemed like a pleasant young man and I was completely taken in. Forgive me Ailie, I thought I was a better judge of character than that.”

Ailie hugged Maria. “It is not your fault, Mother. When I first met Lyall, I knew at once that there was something special about him.” She shrugged and smiled. “He is the kindest man I have ever met, Mother, and I love him. I love him completely.”

“I am so happy for you!” Maria breathed with tears in her eyes. “And he is very handsome, which is never a bad thing!”

Ailith laughed as she handed her mother another glass of wine. “You are right, Mother, but perhaps I should take a stout walking stick with me to beat all the other ladies away!”

They were still laughing when the two men came in. Matthew went straight up to his daughter and gathered her into his arms. “Please find it in your heart to forgive me, my treasure,” he begged. “I am a silly, weak man.”

Ailith sighed and looked at Lyall over her father’s shoulder. He was looking at the floor as if to say Do not ask me what to do. Listen to your heart.

For a moment, she was in limbo. Her father was the dearest man in her life, next to Lyall. Though, however unintentionally, he had hurt her badly. Nevertheless, he was also the man who had protected her, loved her, provided for her, and sheltered her.

She nodded. “No one is perfect, Father,” she whispered. “I forgive you.”

“Thank God!” He smiled at her joyfully with tears in his eyes. Ailith kissed him then went to put her arms around Lyall.

“I see that I have been supplanted in my daughter’s affections,” Matthew observed, putting his arm around his wife.

“Which is as it should be,” Maria said, smiling at Lyall.

“We have set the date for Sunday next week just so that Ailie’s dress can be made to an adequate standard.” Lyall gave Ailie a wry affectionate smile, and she giggled. “Now, would you like a tour around the castle with your daughter before dinner? I have to see to the comfort of a few prisoners.”

“Do you mean Jock?” Matthew asked heavily.

“Yes, amongst others,” Lyall replied. “But I am only going for a quick visit to see that they are being treated properly.”

“They should eat bread and water like Ailie!” Matthew was outraged.

“They will be doing just that for the next few days,” Lyall assured him. “But I need to assure myself that they will not die under my roof. I am not lowering myself to their level.”

“May I come with you?” Matthew asked aggressively, his hands bunched into fists. “I want to see the swine!”

“Not today, Mister Galloway,” Lyall replied. “Although I understand your impatience. You can see him tomorrow. Ailie will take you up to the highest turret and I will join you shortly.”

“I am coming with you!” Matthew growled, then tried to push past Lyall, which was a bad mistake. Lyall’s arm shot out sideways and Matthew Galloway collided with something unyielding that felt like an iron bar. Lyall bent his arm and crushed the other man against his side.

“I said no.” Lyall’s voice was soft, but throbbing with menace. “If you were not Ailie’s father, I might offer you some hospitality in my dungeon too. Wait till tomorrow.”

Lyall’s threat had only been a jest, but the strength of his arm was real, and its pressure had squeezed the air out of Matthew’s lungs for a moment.

“I am sorry, Father,” Ailith said mildly. “I should have warned you about him. Good thing for you he rarely loses his temper!”

Once again, Matthew Galloway was seething with anger, but he had learned something that most men realized eventually when they met Lyall Stevenson. It was never a good idea to cross him.

Findlay was waiting for Lyall when he went downstairs. He poured them both some ale and they went to look at Jock, who was sitting on the floor of a cell looking very woebegone. He had a white bandage wrapped around his head so tightly that he could not speak.

“What’s wrong with him?” Lyall asked, frowning.