Highland Warrior (24 page)
Authors: Connie Mason
Gizela set the bowl down and stared into his eyes. “What are you ... staring at?” he asked. “I amna ... going to die ... if that’s what you are ... worried about.” His voice was becoming stronger with each word he spoke, his mind more lucid. , “Of course you are nae going to die, laird. Alice and
I will see that you stay well.”
Ross frowned as he considered her words. “Something is wrong. What are you keeping from me, Gizela?”
“Do you recall what happened to you?”
“I hurt,” Ross said, touching the bandage over his wound. His brow wrinkled as he tried to recall.
“Tell me what you remember,” Gizela urged.
“Wick,” he muttered. “I remember going to Wick to purchase supplies. I rode ahead of the cart on the return to Ravenscraig, and ...”
“And ... ?” Gizela prodded.
Ross shook his head. “I canna remember.”
The answer will come to you, laddie. Give it time. Shall I give you something for pain?”
Ross closed his eyes. “No more laudanum. My head is still fuzzy, and I am verra tired. Tell Gillian I wish to see her when I awaken.”
“Stay with him, Alice,” Gizela said. “There are things I need to do while the laird sleeps.”
Alice pulled up a chair and sat at Ross’s bedside. “No one will hurt Laird Ross; that I promise,” she said.
Gizela nodded and left. The moment she entered the hall, Seana began to wail, “He’s dead! Ross is dead!”
His face a mask of horror, Nial stared at Gizela. “Is it true, Gizela? Is Ross dead?”
Gizela aimed a fierce look at Seana. “Why would you think Laird Ross is dead, lass? He lives and is beginning to recall what happened to him.”
“Did ... did he drink the broth I brought?”
“Aye, every drop, and asked for more. I predict he will be up and around verra soon.”
“Are you sure? Verra sure?”
“Aye, no thanks to you.” The accusation hung in the air like autumn smoke.
“Are you accusing Seana of something?” Niall asked.
A fierce light appeared in Gizela’s eyes. The truth will come out. Evil doesna go unpunished.” After uttering those cryptic words, Gizela made her way to the kitchen.
“Doona listen to that old hag, Niall,” Seana said soothingly “She shouldna be left alone with Ross. I will sit with him if it pleases you.”
“It doesna please
me,”
Gordo spoke up. “I will sit with Ross myself.”
me,”
Gordo spoke up. “I will sit with Ross myself.”
Niall searched Seana’s face, his expression puzzled. “What is Gizela talking about, wife? What made you think Ross was dead?”
“I wouldna put it past Gizela to give him a potion to end his life,” Seana insisted. “How do we know what she is feeding him?”
“Gizela has no reason to harm Ross. No one here does.”
“Aye, you are right,” Seana acquiesced. “Forgive me for accusing her falsely”
Niall nodded and walked away. Seana waited until he was out of sight before hurrying to her chamber and packing a bag with her belongings. She didn’t know why the poison hadn’t worked, but once Ross remembered that her father had attacked him, he would put two and two together and realize that she was in some way involved. It might not be tomorrow or the next day, but when he remembered, she wanted to be far away from here.
Seana knew the only place she would be welcome was Sinclair Keep. Donning her warmest cloak, she left the hall, telling no one but a servant that the day was so fair she’d decided to ride to the village.
While Seana made a stealthy escape, Gizela was in the kitchen questioning Hanna about the rat poison she kept in the storage cabinet. When Hanna went to fetch it, she found it had disappeared.
Chapter Twelve
Ross awakened the following day with a clear mind. He saw Alice dozing in a chair beside the bed and frowned. Where was Gillian? He distinctly recalled asking for her, and couldn’t understand why she seemed to be avoiding him. When he tried to sit up, Alice awakened and went to him.
“How are you feeling?” she asked anxiously.
“Better. Will you fetch Gillian for me, pleased
Alice gave him a strange look, then turned and hurried off. Ross didn’t think much about her reaction until Gordo, Niall, and Gizela entered the chamber.
“Something is wrong,” Ross guessed from Gillian’s mysterious absence.
“Do you recall who attacked you?” Niall asked.
“Of course I remember, now that my mind is clear of drugs,” he answered, sending a reproachful look toward Gizela.
“Twas for your own good,” Gizela muttered.
“We held off storming Braeburn Castle until you awakened,” Niall explained. “But we are prepared to leave the moment you give the word.” He shook his head. “I doona understand why MacKay broke the truce, or why he tried to kill you.”
Ross sent him a startled look. “Whatever made you think MacKay was responsible?”
Glaring at Niall and Gordo, Gizela mumbled, “Men act impulsively; women search for the truth.”
“Who else would want you dead, Ross?” Niall asked, ignoring Gizela.
“Tearlach MacKay wasna responsible for attacking me,” Ross said. “The man who hailed me as a friend and betrayed me was Douglas McHamish.”
A strangled gasp escaped from Gordo’s throat. “Nay! McHamish has no quarrel with Clan MacKenna.”
“I saw him with my own eyes, Uncle,” Ross insisted, letting his head fall back against the pillow. “There was bloodlust in his eyes. He wanted me dead.”
“For what reason?” Gordo asked.
“Mayhap you should question Seana about that,” Ross replied. “But first, tell me why my wife isna at my side, where she belongs.”
Niall cleared his throat while Gordo stared down at his feet. Neither man seemed willing to provide an answer.
“Gillian isna at Ravenscraig,” Gizela said in a voice that left no doubt about her feelings on the matter.
“She’s gone?” Ross gasped. He tried to rise but lacked the strength. “Why would she leave me while I lay near death?”
Though Ross could think of many reasons why Gillian might leave him, none of them was comforting. Anticipating his death, had she fled into the arms of Angus Sinclair, the man she had really wanted to wed? Did she hate Ross so much that she couldn’t wait for him to die before leaving Ravenscraig?
“They sent her away,” Gizela said, pointing a bony finger at Niall and Gordo. “Seana spoke out against Gillian. She accused Clan MacKay of trying to kill you, laird.”
He rounded on his kinsmen. “And you believed Seana?”
“W-we thought ...” Niall stammered.
“What did you think?” Ross gritted out from between clenched teeth.
“It wasna Niall’s decision alone,” Gordo added. “Everyone believed MacKay was responsible and began to look upon Gillian as the enemy.”
“We had no choice but to order her to leave,” Niall said.
“Niall is right,” Gordo confirmed. “Gillian didna want to go, but I advised her to return to Braeburn when things became ugly I feared for the lass’s life and wanted to keep her safe for you.”
“I canna believe you forced my wife to leave her home!” Ross berated. “How long has she been gone?”
“Three days. You opened your eyes and spoke shortly after she left but were in no condition to name your assailant. This is the first day you’ve been coherent.”
“You were wrong to force Gillian to leave,” Ross declared. “You should have been questioning Seana’s loyalty, not Gillian’s. Fetch Seana, Niall. Gizela, bring me something to eat, something more substantial than the gruel you’ve been feeding me.”
Though Gizela hurried off to do Ross’s bidding, Niall did not immediately leave; he merely shuffled his feet, looking uncomfortable.
“I did what I thought best at the time,” Gordo said. “I knew MacKay would protect Gillian, and I talked the others into waiting until you were able to name your attacker before rushing off to lay siege to Braeburn.”
“I will take your word about the seriousness of the situation,” Ross admitted grudgingly “If I find Seana is responsible in any way for her father’s unprovoked attack, she will be punished.”
“As she should be,” Gordo agreed.
“Go to Braeburn and fetch Gillian, Uncle. Tell her I want her to return home.”
“What about McHamish?”
Ross’s expression darkened. “I will get to the bottom of this as soon as I am able. There has to be a reason for McHamish’s unprovoked attack.”
Gordo took his leave. Ross glanced at Niall, his eyebrows raised in question. “Why are you still here? Did I nae just ask you to fetch your wife?”
Niall shifted nervously. “Seana is gone, Ross. I havena seen her since yesterday. She’s not at Ravenscraig; no one except a servant saw her leave.”
“Once the laird awakened, Seana realized she couldna stay without implicating herself in the plot against your life,” Gizela said as she swept into the chamber. She set the tray she carried on the bedside table. “She tried to kill you by placing poison in your broth. I saw it in a vision and threw out the tainted soup before it passed your lips.”
“Seana would never poison Ross,” Niall scoffed. “She isna evil.”
“Are you sure, Gizela?” Ross asked.
“Yerra sure,”
“But why? At one time she hoped to become my wife and mistress of Ravenscraig. I knew she was angry when I wed Gillian, but murder?”
“Think about it, laird. Who would gain from your death?” Gizela hinted as she uncovered the tray.
“Gizela is old and senile. Doona listen to her,” Niall said disparagingly.
Ross sighed. “Leave me, both of you. I am hungry and tired and need to think. Send Gillian to me when she returns.”
Niall looked as if he wished to say more, but left, as Ross had ordered.
Propped up by pillows, Ross partook ravenously of beef-and-barley stew, fresh bread, and ale. Once he had eaten his fill, he decided to test his legs. He rose unsteadily, tottered a moment, and then regained his footing. Though he was still weak and in a good bit of pain, he was a strong man and expected to recover quickly.
He managed to use the chamber pot without help and then staggered back to bed. He wasn’t ready to sleep yet; he had too much to think about. Seana had agreed to handfast with Niall with little complaint, and, recalling Gizela’s words, Ross now wondered about her willingness. Though his mind was still a bit foggy from the drugs Gizela had fed him, the answer came to him: Niall was next in line to become laird of Clan MacKenna if Ross died without an heir. Had Niall conspired with Seana? Did Niall wish to become laird badly enough to end his life?
Nay, Ross refused to believe his cousin guilty of betrayal. If Seana had conspired with anyone, it was her father. But even that didn’t make sense. To his knowledge, Douglas McHamish had no reason to wish him ill. Yet McHamish had attacked him with the intent to kill.
Ross didn’t doubt that Seana had convinced his kinsmen Clan MacKay was responsible for the attack. And she probably would have blamed Gizela if he had died after eating the poisoned broth.
Ross closed his eyes, the pain behind his eyes growing. Gillian was gone because his kinsmen had sent her away. Knowing Gillian, she had probably been livid, and he couldn’t blame her if she refused to return.
Ross finally slept. He awakened later that afternoon and ate a hearty evening meal. Despite lingering pain from his wound, he felt his strength returning. Gordo arrived before bedtime to report his findings to Ross.
“Where is Gillian?” Ross wanted to know the moment Gordo entered his chamber. “Did she refuse to leave Braeburn? I canna blame her, but I swear I’ll make it up to the lass.”
Ross was surprised when Tearlach MacKay followed Gordo through the door. “My daughter isna at Braeburn,” MacKay said. “Nor did I ken you had been wounded.”
Ross reared up in bed, his mind clear despite the pain caused by his sudden movement. “What do you mean, she isna at Braeburn? Where else would she go?”
“That’s what I would like to know, MacKenna,” Tearlach growled.
“Think you she sought refuge with Sinclair?” Ross asked. “She wanted Sinclair from the beginning.”
“The lass sought vengeance,” Gizela muttered.
“Gizela, I didna see you enter,” Ross said, spying the old woman standing in a dark comer of the chamber. “What did you say?”
“The lass sought vengeance,” Gizela repeated.
“That doesna make sense.” Tearlach snorted. “Tell us what you know, old woman.”
“Ask the laird. He kenned the truth and spoke the name in his delirium.”
Frustrated by Gizela’s vagueness, Ross said, “I know naught.” Then his brows rose as comprehension dawned. “Think you I spoke McHamish’s name to my wife in my delirium?”
“Douglas McHamish?” Tearlach asked. “What has he got to do with all this?”
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