Page 65 of Her Highlander's Darkest Temptation
“Ye dinnae have tae thank me for aught, Lydia. If anything, I should be thankin’ ye… last night was the best I slept in a long time, save fer our first night taegether.” He stroked her cheek. “I may have given ye shelter unknowingly, but ye’ve given me something as well.”
“I am glad.” Lydia’s eyes were soft with the same compassion and understanding he’d seen in them the night before. It threatened to be his undoing, and Donall refused to let himself be so undisciplined as to give into his urges in the middle of the courtyard. It was somewhat astonishing that he and Lydia had not already drawn a crowd of watchers, and he was certain thatthere were at least a few servants and guards peering around doors and out of alcoves.
With a sigh of regret, he stepped back, putting some distance between them. “’Tis probably best ye go an’ get that bath now. We both have business tae attend tae, an’ ye’ll nae be wanting tae vex Evelyn or Maisie.”
“That is true.” Lydia’s smile turned wry, a faint wistfulness that matched his own lingering in her cerulean eyes for a moment before she turned away and put her practice blade back in the rack. Donall watched her walk away, his groin tight and a faint pang of regret in his chest.
He had done the right thing, he knew. It wouldn’t do for him and Lydia to be caught in a compromising position, no matter how much he wished to tell the whole keep of his feelings for her. Besides, he still had a letter to send to Laird Cedric Wycliffe, plans to make, and a council meeting to call.
It had occurred to him that Lydia might be able to provide more information about Clan Cameron’s forces, as well as her uncle’s. If they did end up facing the two in a feud, such knowledge would be invaluable. Furthermore, now that her identity was known, Lydia was more likely to tell the truth about her situation, which could only be of help to Clan Ranald.
First and foremost though, he had to write the letter to her uncle. If there was to be any hope of salvaging the situation without being embroiled in conflict, it would be through negotiations with Lord Wycliffe.
Donall scowled. From what little he had gleaned from Lydia, Laird Wycliffe did not sound like the sort of man he wished to be allied with. However, for Lydia’s sake, and the sake of his clan, he would try.
Donall and Ewan approached Maisie and Lydia while they were busy in the courtyard. The laird stepped forward and announced that the Council had convened again and requested Lydia to go over everything she might know about Clan Cameron and its allies in English territory.
“And you wish for me to serve?” Lydia blinked, surprised by the show of trust.
Donall shook his head. “Ye’ll be speaking, answerin’ questions as much as ye can. Maisie will serve the Council, as yer friend… an’ as Armsmaster Ewan’s intended.”
Ewan and Maisie both flushed as cheers erupted around them, and Lydia moved forward out of Donall’s arms to embrace her friend. “Congratulations!”
Maisie laughed, as did Ewan. After a moment, however, the Ranald second-in-command sobered. “Wish we could talk more, but the Council is waiting.”
“Aye.” Donall nodded as he stepped closer to Lydia once more. “Best we dinnae try their patience any more. Lydia strodealongside him as he led the group of four into the keep proper, her gut churning slightly as she considered what Donall had said.
The Council wanted information, but she knew very little. After all, her uncle had scarcely considered her of any worth except as a brood mare to be bargained away. He’d certainly never shared any information on troops, alliances or money with her. And she knew almost nothing about Clan Cameron, save that their laird had bargained for her hand.
Wait…
A thought teased the corner of her mind, and Lydia frowned as she focused on it. For a moment, it eluded her, then slipped into place.
The maps. The trade routes she’d noticed before. The overheard comment regarding the diversion of the caravan… her misgivings.
I do not know everything, or even much of anything, but perhaps, just perhaps, I might have some information of import after all…
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Tradin’ routes? Clan Cameron’s on our doorstep threatenin’ war because o’ ye, lass, an’ ye think we ought tae be concerned with trade routes?”
Lydia stiffened under Elder MacEvoney’s brusque words.
Donall frowned. On the surface of it, he understood Elder MacEvoney’s dismissal of Lydia’s words. The questions she’d raised, regarding the passing of caravans close to disputed borders seemed of little import. However…
“Och, just a moment. The lass may have a point.” Ewan spoke up first. “I recall when we went out tae scout fer others o’ the caravan, there were signs it had been turned toward Cameron borders. At the time, we thought it happenstance, but if it wasnae…”
Alex nodded. “Speakin’ from experience… people tell traders an’ tinkerers, merchants an’ wanderers, things they wouldnaenecessarily speak o’ tae others. Fer example, yer steward put it about that Clan Ranald needed new blood in the servin’ quarters, aye?”
“Aye. An’ what o’ it?” Elder McKennah scowled at the other laird. Alex met his glare calmly.
“If such were passed tae Clan Cameron, they might think yer clan is weakened. That there’s nae enough clanfolk tae tend tae hearth, field, and keep alike.”
“And travelin’ folk could learn much about the state o’ patrols, escorts through clan lands, the conditions o’ villages an’ inns along the way, an’ how much o’ a presence the Laird Ranald maintains in a given area - how many warriors, how often the laird himself might visit, what sort o’ official protection is offered…”
Donall felt a sick feeling crawl through his gut. A caravan would know where to stop… and thus where the best places for ambushes were.
A traveling tinkerer or trader might know how many men held a watch tower, and how well it was maintained. And if that information were making its way over the borders and into Laird Cameron’s hands, then it was little wonder the caravan had been so easily waylaid, and the watchtower burned.
