Page 74 of Highland Crown
As she hurried through the labyrinth of corridors, Isabella thought about their plan to leave for Dalmigavie Castle around midday. With the long summer evenings, they would have plenty of time to get there, Cinaed told her. He was looking forward to getting this sojourn over with, and his business with his uncle would not take long, but Isabella was looking forward to reuniting with her sister and stepdaughter. She also hoped John Gordon’s injuries were not too severe, for she already knew that when the time came to leave Scotland, he and Jean would need to come with them. They certainly had no future left to them here.
An ache was already growing inside her when she thought about the man lying in her bed. Last night might have been their final time together. Isabella had known it all along. Too many obstacles lay in their path. Their future was about to be washed with a new color, but neither of them had any real idea what hue their life would take on.
One of Searc’s men stood at the study door. Seeing her approach, he stood respectfully and greeted her.
“Is he in there?” she asked.
“Aye. Never left since last night.”
“Will you let him know I’ve come to see him?”
Isabella waited as the man tapped on the door and disappeared inside. She told Cinaed last night about her meeting with William Adams and explained everything she’d learned from him.
Regardless of her first impression of Searc, since staying here, she’d come to respect his influence and admire his shrewdness. But more than that, she was indebted to him for wanting to save her life, even though she and Cinaed had withheld the truth of her identity. Somehow, he’d learned who she was anyway.
Last night, Cinaed told her he’d speak to him this morning, offer their apologies, and explain. But Isabella felt the responsibility was hers and no one else’s. She wanted to talk to Searc herself.
“Himself’ll see you now, mistress. Don’t mind his temper. Can’t say when was the last time he ate or slept.”
Isabella entered the study, once again awestruck by the range and multitude of treasures Searc had collected. A candlestick on the desk was the only source of light. The curtains had been drawn tight. This was the first time she’d come here without Cinaed, and she was surprised when the burly little man came to his feet and bowed politely.
“You shouldn’t come down here without an escort.”
He thought she was concerned about her reputation, but Isabella was far beyond such worries.
“I came down to say thank you,” she answered, deciding it would be better to say what was on her mind.
“For what?”
“For your kindness. For your efforts on my behalf. For standing surety for me and for my character, even though I lied about who I am. For convincing the weavers to rescind their offer for my head.”
“You are most welcome.”
Searc went around the chair, and she noticed his face was drawn, his shoulders sagging. Hewastired, she decided. He paced to his desk and back, but she thought his usually energetic steps were dragging.
“But I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Cinaed.”
She’d guessed as much. Whatever his motivation, she was grateful for all he’d done.
“I’ve lived my life accumulating wealth,” he said gruffly. “I learned early on the power of controlling commodities. I also learned that information is perhaps the most valuable commodity. No information of any value gets past me… in this house or in this town.”
She should have known he’d find out about her, but she wondered how he would have treated her if he’d found out that first night that she was a wanted woman worth a great deal of money. She, too, would have been a commodity.
“A physician. A female physician. And one willing to get her hands dirty.”
She nodded. His shrewd eyes studied Isabella as if she were some exotic insect.
“I won’t ask you how you became one. That information has no value for me. And I don’t care to know how you and Cinaed came to know each other. It’s none of my business.”
Isabella was grateful for that. Even though she’d come down to thank him, her marital status—real or feigned—was truly none of his business.
He paused for a moment from his pacing and pointed roughly in the direction of the tower chamber. “But I owed you a great deal for saving Cinaed’s life. Carmichael told me it was not his skill but yours that saved the lad. What you did before you brought him here made the difference.”
Mr. Carmichael’s comments must have sown the seeds of suspicion about her. But she was absolutely certain the surgeon’s words, whatever they were, had been spoken to give her credit.
Searc looked her in the eye. “I’ve never had a lad of my own, that I know of. Never will. But Cinaed has always been the closest thing to a son to me. In some ways, he’s more precious than if heweremy own. And he might know it or not, but for all his life, I’ve kept my eye on him. Here or in Halifax, it never mattered. He thinks he was alone, but there have always been folk out there watching him.Iwas watching. He imagines he built his life alone, but I’ve always looked after his interests. He had to prove himself to them others, but not to me. I knew he’d come out on top. I always told them so.”
Isabella had no idea whoeveryoneandthemmight be, but Searc appeared to be talking as much to himself as to her. Even though the room was cold, he was perspiring. His meaty hand dashed away a bead of sweat running down the side of his face. He was breathing heavily. The physician in her raised her head.
