Page 75 of Highland Crown
“And, truth be told, I’ve come to like you, in my own way. I’m not so old a fool that I can’t see he loves you, and that you feel the same. But that’s not the way it’ll be when you go to Dalmigavie Castle. It’ll be an uphill battle, and a bloody one. Lachlan has other plans for him.”
Isabella stepped toward him as Searc held on to the back of a chair to steady himself. She was focusing on him now and not his words.
“Please allow me.” She took him by the arm and encouraged him to sit. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing. Tired, is all. I want you to go to your husband. Rouse him. Tell him I need to speak to him.”
She checked his pulse. It was rapid, but not exceptionally so. The skin on his face was mottled and covered with perspiration. The first thing that came to her mind was that he was suffering from a heart disease. But any other time she’d seen him, he’d never shown any symptoms. He always appeared to be in perfect health. She decided this episode could easily be the result of exhaustion. “Do you have pain in your chest or in your abdomen?”
“It’s not my blasted body that’s the problem. It’s my supposed friends who are betraying me.”
Perhaps he was talking about Cinaed. Or her. She had no idea. “When was the last time you ate or drank or slept?”
“Yesterday, I think. But I…” He stopped, cocking his head toward the door and scowling fiercely.
“Are you…?” Isabella gasped when he caught hold of her wrist and pulled her close.
“Hush, lass. I didn’t think the scoundrels would dare come into my house, at least not this soon. But they’re here.” He motioned to the cases on the farthest wall. “Go. Hide. No matter what you hear, no matter what happens, you don’t show your face.”
The knock on the door had an urgency to it. He let go of her wrist, and she slipped away to where he’d ordered.
Behind a tall easel upon which a huge map had been mounted to a board, two display cases came together in a dark corner of the study. A narrow space had been left between them, and Isabella managed to fit herself into it. The shadows cast by the single candle and the screen helped hide her, but if anyone came close enough, she’d be exposed. Searc’s man opened the door and came in.
“Apologies, master. But soldiers are in the street. Two officers—”
He never had a chance to finish as he was shoved aside, and two men entered.
“Stay outside with this miscreant and shoot anyone who tries to come in here.”
The order was directed toward whoever waited in the hall. But Isabella recognized the voice.
Lieutenant Hudson.
The sound of horses and rattling swords in the lane beneath their window pushed into Cinaed’s sleeping brain like a long, sharp needle. The shift from deep sleep to instant alertness was quick. He slid across the floor, knife in hand.
Ten soldiers stood outside and inside the gate below, four of them wearing the blue coats and tall black busbies of the Hussars. They were waiting, alert to any movement around the house or in the lane. He counted horses. Others had to be inside the house.
“Isabella,” Cinaed called in a low voice, looking over his shoulder. She wasn’t in the room.
His heartbeat became a battle drum. He pulled on his clothes and boots. His mind raced as he thought of where he had to go in the house to get weapons, how to attack. He wouldn’t let these devils take her with them. He’d fight them to the death.
Knife in hand, he pulled open the door and Blair appeared, pushing Cinaed back in and blocking his way. He didn’t know any of the Highlanders were back.
“Make way, I have to go after my wife.”
“Wait.” He spoke in a low voice. “Hudson’s here. Andan officer they tell me is a regular visitor. Colonel Wade. Commander of the port, he is. This might just be business with Searc and nothing to be worrying us.”
He never knew of any British officers who made casual visits at dawn. Certainly not with that many soldiers in the street.
“How many men do you have with you?”
“Four. The rest went up to Dalmigavie.”
Four would do. Cinaed tried to think how many men Searc kept here overnight. It didn’t matter. They’d handle them. They weren’t taking her.
“Where is Isabella now?”
“Last someone saw her, she was going into Searc’s study.”
