Page 4 of Highlander's Rebellious Affair
In exchange for support to gain the Lairdship he had promised to give Stephen a half-share of the treasure once they found it. It was nearly seven years since the deal was made and Stephen had started to feel like the treasure was just a tale made up by a man in dire need of a favor at the time.
“The treasure doesnae exist,” he said, and Lyall’s eyes flared. He leaned in closer to Stephen, and whispered,
“It does exist, I ken this for sure. I heard my dying brother confess it before he died,” he chuckled and pulled back then picked up his quaich. “Let’s nae drown in too much for today as this is a day of celebration, the union of two powerful Highland clans,” he said and lifted the quaich.
Just then the door opened and the priest they had been expecting walked into the Hall and bowed to Stephen. “My Laird,” the man said. “I am here to bless the union,” he said and both Stephen and Lyall rose to their feet.
“It is time,” Lyall proudly announced.
He walked majestically to the front of the Hall, and all the other men from his Clan stood in support of his union. The door opened again, and Stephen raised his gaze, expecting to see his beautiful daughter walk in through the doors, ready to fulfill her loyal duty to the Clan.
Instead, his wife walked in, her face ashen white and her eyes wide as she shook her head. “She’s gone,” she murmured, and Stephen barked.
“What do ye mean she’s gone? Did ye search her chamber and the garden where she likes to pass time?”
“I am tellin’ ye, she is gone,” Moira replied him, and his face reddened in anger. Murmurs filled the crowd of men, hushed whispers as he looked around the faces of every one of them, his keen gaze sharp and fast.
Someone in this chamber, among one of these men has taken my daughter. I cannae have this happen, nae in my Castle.
He averted his gaze to Moira again, and yelled. “Get out and go find her, now.” Moira scurried out of the chamber, and he barked again.
“Guards.” Two of his men in the chamber responded and rushed to him, and he turned to Lyall. “I need yer men, I want every stone unturned in this Castle, every corner, seal every gate and outlet, check the tunnels, the cellar, the kitchen, the underground passage leading to the moats and the moors, find my daughter and bring her to me,” he ordered through clenched teeth.
“Join the Drummond men and find me my bride,” Lyall ordered his men and they started to file out of the Hall.
The feast had come to an abrupt end, the other Lairds started to file out of the Hall to return to the guest chambers given to them when they arrived in the east wing of the Castle.
Stephen watched with interest, taking note of every one of their faces as his mind reeled with thoughts of who the culprit was. Hope pulled stunts like this all the time, one time she had disappeared for hours, putting the entire Castle in upheaval only for the guards to find her in the stables, tending to a foal.
He had locked her up in her chambers for the days that followed, ordering her not to do anything besides sit, eat and sleep as punishment, but the minute he let her free again she had gone to check on the foal. Stephen knew his daughter was a free spirit. He couldn’t control her, so the best option was to make her useful to him by wedding her off to any of these men who would do anything to have a beauty like her.
What use is she to me without her beauty?
If she weren’t his only child, then he would keep her for himself, but he had other plans. He needed her to join with a powerful clan and bear sons fast before his time on earth was up.
Then one of her sons could take over his Lairdship if his wife didnae bear him another. He needed Hope to not be as useless to him as her mother, unable to bear healthy heirs for his Lairdship.
Time passed and both Lyall and Stephen waited for news. The Hall was empty, the priest remained waiting with them, but the other Lairds had been dismissed.
Stephen could feel his embarrassment grow with every minute that passed. Moira would pay for this insult on his rule and pride, and when he found Hope then he would marry her off to Lyall quickly and have him worry about taming her.
He clenched his fist when he heard footsteps approach, and his General opened the door to the Hall and walked to him, his head bowed. “Where is my daughter?”
“I am sorry, My Laird,” General James MacAnroy said and raised his head. Lyall stood up from where he had been sitting and rushed to Stephen’s side.
“Did ye find her?” Lyall asked and James shook his head.
“The lady is missin’, we found this at the gates of the Castle,” he said and brought out her black shoe. “Whoever took her is long gone.”
4
Hope was breathless, so she had to take a minute to catch her breath. It was a very cold night and she shivered, crossing her arms over her chest, hoping it would help. The man noticed and immediately took off the black cloak he wore and draped it over her body, he also covered her hair with it so no one would recognize her from a distance.
Ian took out his dirk, then said to her. “Hold on, I need to rip your dress a bit, so nay one will ken who ye are.”
She swallowed, and let him rip the hem of her dress, a little then also put numerous cuts in the bodice of the dress. Next, he took off the cloak, cut the cape of her dress, and tossed it away before slipping the cloak back on her.
“That is all right, ye will be unrecognizable,” he said, admiring his work.
