Page 3 of Highland Hero
Ian grimaced. “Well, they doona have a castle…exactly.”
“What?”
“The castle at their clan seat was burned after the defeat at Culloden,” Ian replied. “They move about now, with nae permanent home.”
Emily looked confused, and Rory could only guess she was thinking how ironic it was that the MacGregors—who’d been proscribed by the Crown for nearly two hundred years and forced to hide in the mountain mists—had managed to return to Strae Castle while the Camerons still roamed from place to place. But Ian would explain all that later.
The stomping of boots heralded Carr and Devon’s arrival. The two came through the doorway looking glum.
“Still nothing?” Emily asked.
Carr shook his head. “We questioned everyone encamped in the bailey and outside the walls.”
“We even looked into each tent,” Devon said, “which dinna set well with some of the men who had wenches inside.”
“Ye did make sure none of them was Juliana?” Rory asked, ignoring Ian’s glare.
“Aye, she would have been hard to miss with that red hair,” Carr replied.
Lorelei frowned at Rory. “Did I not already tell you Juliana would not—”
“You did,” Emily interrupted her sister, “but it is best to be sure Juliana is not somewhere on the premises before sending Rory out.”
“I think ’tis affirmed,” Carr said. “She is nae here.”
“Nobody saw anything last night?” Ian looked from one brother to the other. “Or heard anything?”
“Nothing unusual,” Carr answered, “but the revelry dinna die down until late. ’Twould have been fairly easy for a man to carry a wench off and nae be questioned.”
“Juliana would have screamed her head off,” Lorelei said. “Would that not have been heard?”
Devon smirked. “Half the lasses were screaming last night.”
Lorelei stared at him, and Rory almost felt sorry for her as a blush stole over her cheeks when she understood the implication. He diverted the conversation. “No one saw riders moving out, either?”
Carr shook his head again. “They were camped close to the burn, away from the crowd. ’Tis nae hard to slip into the woods from there.”
Emily made a distressed sound, and Ian put his arm around her shoulders. “Rory will find her.”
“But…in time?”
Rory was almost tempted to suggest that Neal might have come to his senses and already abandoned the harpy—who would want to put up with the screeching banshee?—but one look at Ian made him keep his mouth shut. He didn’t particularly want to engage in fisticuffs this morning.
“She should be safe until they get to wherever the laird is staying.”
Emily’s eyes widened suddenly. “Laird Cameron did not come with Neal, did he?”
“Nae.” Ian looked at her. “Neal said he was ailing.”
Her expression turned hopeful. “Surely once his father hears about this, he will see how insane it is and make Neal release Juliana.”
A moment of silence greeted that remark before Devon spoke.
“Laird Cameron follows the auld ways.”
Alarm grew on her face again. “Which means he will think it is all right to steal a bride? Against her will?”
“He might,” Carr said, his own face grave.
