Page 72 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
The men all about them were looking from James to Marcus and back again as though they were playing some sort of farcical tennis match. Everybody in the room was leaning away from the table as though to disassociate themselves from Marcus.
James was kicking himself for exposing his suspicions so soon. He had intended to draw this out, but he was so angry he had played his ace before he even knew the other man’s hand.
Marcus was so incensed he stalked around the table. The whole room held its breath as he came level with James, his finger pointed up at him. He was a head smaller than James, but he was no coward.
“If ye wish to accuse me, ye go ahead and tell me this moment, MacLennan. I have been a loyal servant to this family foryears.I will nae stand and be told I have designs on yer position.”
James drew his sword, and Marcus backed away, a flash of fear in his eyes as his gaze flicked to the table and back. It didn’t look as though anyone was coming to his defense, but then a hand came to rest on James’s shoulder.
“James,” Bram Wallace said behind him. He had risen from his chair and was pulling James gently away from Marcus. “We will find the culprit, whomever it may be, but this is nae the way to discover it. Put yer sword down, unless ye truly intend to draw blood with nae evidence.”
James felt his ire dim a little, but he was too angry to back down completely.
“All right, have it yer way, but I willnae take any action. No one sleeps until ye prove who is behind this.”
CHAPTER 26
Maisie woketo the pattering of rain.
She deduced, from the weak sunshine out of her window, that it must be early morning. She pulled herself to a sitting position, realizing she had slept through the night.
She put a hand over her stomach, feeling the slimy texture of the gauze. She pulled it away from her, grimacing at the stains across the fabric. Her stomach smelled pleasantly of honey, but she was desperate for a bath.
As though hearing her thoughts, the door opened, and Jean was admitted by Harris, who was on guard duty again.
“Have ye had any sleep?” Maisie asked Harris as he bowed to her. Jean looked back at him with the same concern in her gaze.
“I will sleep when the laird sleeps, me lady.” Harris said and she had never heard his voice so stern. He closed the door behindhim as Jean hurried to the bed. She placed a cool hand on Maisie’s forehead and poured some more water for her.
“How are ye feelin’, m’lady?”
“Better,” she muttered as she pulled herself to her feet. “I need a wash. I am covered in some kind of liniment that is very sticky.”
Jean nodded, and tears were in her eyes as she went about her business. A knock on the door admitted a servant with a jug of steaming water, and Jean set about helping Maisie cleanse her skin.
Maisie huffed a gentle laugh at Jean’s face. “Jean, I am all right. Truly.”
Jean wiped at her eyes. “When he told me what had happened, I couldnae believe it. Someone in thecastle?I willnae feel safe until he is caught, m’lady, that’s the truth of the matter. I cannae believe ye were poisoned. It makes me sick to think of it.”
Maisie stroked her arm and Jean impulsively put her arms around Maisie’s shoulders and hugged her before stepping back.
“Sorry, m’lady, but ye have been so kind to me, and I dinnae want anythin’ to happen to ye.”
“Nothin’ will happen to me, we will find the person responsible.”
Jean returned to her task and Maisie tried her best to make her voice sound casual as she gave her next request.
“I should like to go and visit Miss Lillian this morning if that can be arranged. I wasnae allowed to eat anything all night, but I think we could probably have some tea together at least. I would like to see her. She is a good friend.”
The lie tripped off her tongue easily, and Jean seemed surprised to hear it, but she nodded.
“Are ye sure ye’re strong enough, m’lady?”
“I suppose I could ask Harris to carry me,” she mused. She couldn’t help but chuckle at Jean’s immediate frown. “I take it he hasnae made his intentions to ye clear yet?”
Jean sighed. “I stayed up all night when ye were injured and brought him tea and I thought he might after that. But nae. Nothin’,”.
Maisie made a vow to herself that once all the madness was over, she would get these two sweet people together if it was her last act.
