Page 3 of Deception

Chapter 2

By the timeLoch Long came into view, Linnae was certain Laird MacKinnon knew she’d cried herself out. He’d had the good grace to leave her to her tears. For that, she was thankful. They rounded the forested hills of Kintail and she caught sight of Eilean Donan Castle, tall and proud on the tidal island where converged the three great sea-lochs, Loch Long, Loch Alsh and Loch Duich.

They neared the long bridge that crossed the marshy shallows to the tidal island castle. To the east, a field blanketed with tiny blue flowers stretched clear to the tree line. It was far more beautiful than she had imagined.

A chill swept through her. With Lady Alison dead, she wouldn’t have a place in Laird MacKinnon’s household. Might she be able to secure a position here with the MacKenzies? Where would she go? Returning to Glenwood Abbey wasn’t possible—even if she wanted to return. She had no doubt that if Malcom Donald, adopted father to the girls of Glenwood abbey, discovered her whereabouts, he would knock her unconscious, return her to Leslie Donald, and tie her to his bed so Leslie could finish what he attempted the night she ran away.

Linnae had been a babe of five summers when her aunt put her on a cart bound from their home in Bredon to Glenwood Abbey. She would never forget the day her adopted father of eleven years told her she had to go with the strange man waiting in the abbey courtyard.

“Ye are a woman grown, Linnae. It is time you put your charms to use.”

He’d sold her, it turned out, whored her out, for three head of cattle. The hurt she’d felt morphed into rage when they arrived at Leslie’s home and he gave her a cold order to await him in his chambers—naked.

There had to be a place for her in either the MacKenzie or MacKinnon households.

They rode through the gates into the courtyard. Linnae combed her fingers through her wind-blown hair and pulled the locks away from her face as Laird MacKinnon slowed the horse. He swung a leg over the animal’s neck and dropped to the ground. When he grasped her waist, she started at the pressure of his fingers as he lifted her down.

“Ye must be tired,” he said.

Before she could reply, a warrior emerged from a narrow staircase in the curtain wall and hurried toward them. Laird MacKinnon took her satchel from the pommel and handed it to her as the warrior reached them.

“Laird MacKinnon, it is good to see ye,” he said. “Where is the carriage? What has happened?”

Jacob’s mouth thinned. “My lady’s carriage was attacked. We are lucky she survived.”

Linnae looked sharply at him. My lady? They thought—

“Attacked?” The man’s expression darkened. “Who attacked them?”

“The men wore Clan Donald colors,” Jacob said. “I sent half the company to track the bastards.”

Linnae’s heart jumped. Clan Donald? Dear God, no.

Malcolm.

“And Lady Alison survived?” the warrior said. “Ye are fortunate, Jacob.”

Linnae jarred from her thoughts. Fortunate? Memory rose of Lady Alison’s sightless eyes, Dina and Rebecca…the blood… Tears threatened again.

“Och, lass, Richard doesnae know when to keep silent,” Laird MacKinnon shot the man a glare.

Richard’s head snapped in her direction. His shoulders drooped. “Forgive me, my lady. I am a fool.”

“Aye,” Jacob agreed and pulled her close.

He started toward the keep, this time, his pace slower. Richard fell in alongside. The warmth of Jacob’s body pressed against her side caused heat to creep up her cheeks.

“We will give the dead a Christian burial,” he told her.

Linnae nodded, but kept her gaze on the ground. The tears, so close to the surface, might give way any instant.

They reached a postern door and the men stepped aside and allowed her to enter first. She took three steps into a large foyer.

“Your grandfather will be relieved to hear of your arrival, my lady,” Richard said as the door closed behind them.

Her grandfather? She opened her mouth to tell him that she wasn’t the granddaughter, wasn’t the bride-to-be, but Jacob said, “How is Laird MacKenzie?”

Richard shook his head. “The same.” He smiled at Linnae. “Perhaps, seeing you, my lady, will give him strength. He prayed that he might see ye before he dies.”