Page 66 of Beguiled By the Highlander
“William. Alasdair. Follow me.” The earl glanced at Hugh, who had fallen into step beside William. “Not ye, Hugh.”
What in hellfire was that about? William frowned at his cousin, who offered him a tight smile and shrugged his shoulders. It was plain the earl wished to speak of the traitor in their midst, so why exclude Hugh, who had been on the damn ship with him?
Since he could hardly question the earl on it, especially in public, he strode after the other man who led them into his private chamber.
Alasdair closed the door behind them, and the earl narrowed his gaze at William.
“Yer father told me what happened. Do ye have any new information for me?”
“I’ve spoken to each man who was on the ship who returned with me to Creagdoun, but none of them gave me any reason to suspect they were the one we’re looking for.” Frustrated, he expelled a harsh breath. “It turns my guts to think a man who tried to kill me can look me in the eyes and feign relief that I’m alive.”
“Who didn’t return to Creagdoun with ye?”
William gave the earl their names.
“I doubt it’s any of them,” the earl said. “But I’ll take no chances. I recently received word from a reliable source that Torcall MacGregor’s son, Alan, didn’t die alongside his father three years ago. He’s alive, William, and it would seem he’s out for vengeance.”
William expelled a harsh breath. “He’s the one who forced one of my men to try and kill me.”
“Either that, or Alan MacGregor and the unknown man are working together.” Alasdair sounded grim. “Ye cannot always give men the benefit of the doubt, William.”
He’d rather think one of his men was being forced against his will than that he was acting on pure greed or spite. But still, he had to concede Alasdair had a good point.
“The MacGregors are planning something big,” the earl said. “And those still loyal to Torcall MacGregor are now backing the son. They want Creagdoun back, and how better to gain an advantage than by murdering the rightful laird?”
He’d suspected as much, although the fact Alan was alive certainly complicated things. “They won’t succeed.”
“None of the clans will support their claim,” Alasdair said. “With or without Alan MacGregor.”
That reminded William that he had yet to speak to the earl about their visit to Skye. Even though he knew Hugh had already informed the earl, it was still his responsibility to confirm it.
“We have the support of Clan MacDonald of Sleat. John MacDonald is no friend of the MacGregors.”
“Aye. That’s good. And now ye are wed to Isolde MacDonald of Sgur, we have another foothold in the Small Isles which will serve us well. When I have more information on what the MacGregors are hatching, I’ll send word.”
His alliance with Isolde was advantageous. It was a fact, and he didn’t know why having the earl point it out so baldly rankled.
“I don’t need to remind either of ye that everything we’ve discussed is not to be shared outside this chamber.” Then the earl caught his eye. “That includes Hugh, William.”
*
William was stillreeling from the earl’s command when they returned to the great hall where dinner was served. He trusted Hugh with his life, God damn it, and if the earl thought his cousin had anything to do with what had happened on the ship, his brains were addled.
Hugh was the only other man who’d been on the ship, besides Alasdair, who knew the truth. God’s blood, he was the one who’d suggested they keep the truth to themselves, so as not to alert the would-be murderer.
He didn’t have the chance to speak with Hugh until they left the earl and were heading back to Creagdoun.
“What was that about?” William kept his voice low so no one might overhear.
Hugh shrugged, but he clenched his jaw, belying the casual gesture. “I believe he’s running out of patience with Douglas.”
“Since when are ye yer brother’s keeper?”
“Since the day I was born.” Hugh gave him a sideways glance, and William shook his head. Thank God his younger brother, James, had never given him half the headaches that Hugh had put up with from his elder sibling. “Did the earl have any useful information?”
Aye, he’d delivered the blow that Alan MacGregor was still alive. Yet he’d been specifically ordered to say nothing to Hugh. It burned, but he couldn’t disobey.
“He’ll let me know if he discovers anything.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Yet it was one, by omission. And the way Hugh gave a brusque nod and said nothing more merely confirmed that his cousin understood what William hadn’t said. Unfortunately,there was nothing he could do about it. “Did ye have the chance to speak with Douglas?”
