Page 5 of Highland Ruse

Lady Elizabeth pulled a velvet sachet from a bag at her waist. “This is from my father. He said you are to receive only half now and half upon the notification not only of my safe delivery, but also my successful marriage.”

She thrust it toward Delilah, and the muffled clink of coins sounded within. Delilah took the small bag and hefted its considerable weight toward Sylvi, who caught it midair with a deft snatch.

“My father also has several requests he’d like known,” Lady Elizabeth said. “He does not want Laird MacKenzie to be aware of any of this.”

Sylvi stepped toward the door. “We’ve already been informed of his wishes.”

“He wants them reiterated regardless.” Lady Elizabeth’s voice took on a more authoritative tone. “He does not trust the Scottish, but does not want my marriage to be compromised. Laird MacKenzie is not to know of this.”

Delilah’s stomach twisted for the woman. Clearly her father thought little of the man she intended to marry, but was still sending her. Not that Delilah’s own father would have done any different had she been fortunate enough to secure an advantageous marriage.

Gilded though Lady Elizabeth’s life might be, she spent it in a cage and was being passed from one jailor to another.

All the refinement in the world was not worth such captivity.

“Your final destination will be Killearnan,” Elizabeth continued. “If you are attacked, try to keep the assailant alive and bring him with you. However, do not do so quickly. I will need at least two and a half months to ensure my arrival and safe marriage to Laird MacKenzie before we can announce any traitors. Again, my father does not wish Laird MacKenzie to know of these plans until after the marriage.”

Of course. By then he couldn’t reject Lady Elizabeth in sheer spite of her father. Though Delilah had never met the man personally, she found him deplorable.

Lady Elizabeth pursed her lips.

“Is that all?” Sylvi asked.

Lady Elizabeth’s chest swelled with a deep breath. “There’s one more thing. My father says…” Her proud demeanor faltered slightly. “He says to remind you the servants he sent to travel with you are…expendable.” The final word left her lips as though it were sour.

Sylvi snorted. “Of course.” Without another word, she turned from the room and left, doubtless to ensure Liv was fully prepared to assume the role of lady’s maid for Lady Elizabeth on her alternate route.

Delilah shifted to follow Sylvi when Lady Elizabeth darted forward. Her delicate hand curled like a vise around Delilah’s arm.

“I have another request,” Lady Elizabeth said in a breathy voice. “From me.”

Her cheeks were bright and her dark gaze dropped to where she still gripped Delilah. She released the captive arm with a gasp.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and tried to smooth the wrinkled silk with trembling fingers.

Delilah lowered her arm. “Your request?”

“I don’t agree with my father.” The words tumbled from her mouth in a frantic whisper. “Please try to ensure the people traveling with your coach remain unharmed, especially Leasa. She is—”

“It’s time.” The words were followed by the jangle of a multitude of bracelets. Isabel peeked her head through the doorway, her red hair veiled beneath a scarf and her eyes lined with thick kohl.

“Thank you, Isabel.”

Delilah gave a single nod to Lady Elizabeth, whose look of quiet relief warmed her. It was good to protect a woman who cared for more than just herself, who thought of those below her.

Within minutes, Lady Elizabeth was placed in her coach with Liv, one of the other spies in Sylvi’s retinue. Liv wore the simple gown of a lady’s maid, and her gleaming copper hair was plaited into a smooth braid. Liv’s petite gray cat, whom she insisted on bringing wherever she went, lay curled contentedly in Lady Elizabeth’s lap.

Lady Elizabeth would be safe.

Delilah climbed into her own coach beside a woman with brown hair. The maid was comely enough, save for an extraordinarily strong jaw, which made her appear more handsome than beautiful.

A nervous smile flitted across the woman’s features. “I’m Leasa.”

“And I’m Lady Elizabeth,” Delilah said gently. The less the maid knew of her, the better. She knew only that the real Lady Elizabeth traveled a different route. She knew not of Delilah’s skills or ultimate intentions.

“Oh, yes, of course.” The maid’s gaze dropped away with a shy dip of her head.

The cabin smelled of freshly cut lumber with an acrid hint of lacquer. The coach had recently been constructed, no doubt for this purpose.