Page 49 of Highland Sword
The housekeeper told her that Searc was meeting with Captain Kenedy. Morrigan had met the man and his wifeat Dalmigavie. The ship owner was an enthusiastic supporter of Cinaed.
She decided to wait in her favorite room in the house until the two finished conducting their business. Searc’s Clan Mackintosh room. She liked to refer to it as the Armory.
Shedding her coat and tam, Morrigan walked along the dark, twisted corridors. Upon entering it, she closed the door behind her. Immediately, she felt better. All the lingering edginess of her escape from Burney and his men disappeared like a morning mist.
Weapons adorned every wall. Muskets and swords and pistols were displayed in a series of starlike designs. She ran her gaze over the shields and crossed swords and wheels of daggers. Lines of spears with wicked hooks and axe blades caught the light from large windows high on the walls. A great deal of damage could be done with the armaments in this chamber.
Above the fireplace, in a position of honor, hung the portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Morrigan heard a knock on the door and turned as it opened and Aidan came in.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
“Did you guess how to get here, or did someone show you?”
“I knew about this room. I’ve been in here a number of times.”
She shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d been to Searc’s house before today. Aidan Grant appeared to be quite familiar with Inverness. And Isabella had told her the Grants would be staying here during the trial.
“There are a few weapons on that wall that you still need to learn how to use.” He walked around the room andstopped in front of one of the more impressive displays. “This battle axe, for example.”
Morrigan came to stand beside him. “It would take me no time to use it successfully.”
“I’ll make sure I’m nowhere near when you pick it up.”
“You’ll suffer no bumps or bruising, sir. Your death will be quite quick.”
He gave her a side look, a spark of amusement dancing in his grey eyes. “And this is what I get for saving your life.”
“You didn’t save my life. But I’ll grant that you rescued me from a troublesome situation.”
“I beg to differ. You simply enjoy disagreeing.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“This morning, I gave you gift, a lovely sgian dubh, and you quibbled over its ownership.”
“That was not a gift. The dagger was rightfully mine.”
Aidan said nothing, but his hand reached toward her face. She froze, not immediately realizing what he was doing. He pulled a bit of leaf from her hair that she must had picked up running from Barn Hill. He offered it to her and she took it.
“I see that you’re not going to give me any credit until I produce a proper gift.”
“I wantnogift from you, sir, except your continuing friendship.”
His gaze was piercing, and Morrigan felt her body go warm.
“Our friendship, you can count on, Miss Drummond.”
He’d left the door ajar, and she now heard footsteps coming down the hall. Morrigan stepped away from Aidan.
A moment later, one of her two Mackintosh escorts looked in at the door. “Relieved to see ye back here safe,mistress.” The fighter, hat in hand, stepped just inside and told her how they’d seen the Englishman’s carriage come up to the house at Barn Hill. They saw the five men enter a gate by the gardens.
“We thought ye were in the house. That’s why we saw no need to follow ’em. We didn’t know ye were missing until the lad Mr. Grant sent came to fetch us.”
She was relieved how it had worked out. The consequences of what could have happened bothered her. They could have been hurt on her account.
“Did you see anything else?” she asked. “Did they leave finally?”
