Page 68 of Beguiled By the Highlander
He barked in clear agreement, and she laughed. “Do ye think William knows of it?”
She had a feeling he didn’t. Why would he have explored this chamber for such a thing when he’d never used it? Besides, if hedidknow about it, he would’ve told her of it.
It didn’t take long to find the concealed latch, and she warily eased open the panel. A wooden door was set into the stone wall, secured by two sturdy bolts.
“Tis most intriguing,” she said to Sgur. “Do ye think this passage leads to the master’s chamber?”
It was a romantic idea to be sure, and one Roisin would find irresistible. But why put a connecting passage on the wall farthest away from its neighboring chamber? It likely led somewhere quite different. Maybe, years ago, the lady of Creagdoun had smuggled her lovers into her chamber by this route.
The bolts proved a challenge, but she wouldn’t let such a minor detail deter her, and finally she pushed the door open. A musty smell swirled out, and she covered her nose with her hand as she peered into the darkness. The passage ran to her left, towards the outer wall of the castle, and in the distance was a faint glimmer of light. Doubtless the source of the draft.
With Sjor at her heels, she went back to the antechamber and lit a lantern before returning to the secret passage. She placed the lantern on the ground and hauled a broken chunk of stone across the floor and wedged it so the door couldn’t accidentally slam shut, entombing her.
She suppressed a shudder at the thought, but the prospect of discovering where this mysterious passage would lead her was too exciting to abandon over a fear of becoming trapped within Creagdoun’s walls.
“Come,” she said to Sjor as she entered the narrow space.
The lantern illuminated the passage where the uneven stone steps led downwards, away from the small source of light she’d seen when she’d first opened the door. She could only imagine it came from an arrow slit in the outer wall, to allow air into the passageway.
She glanced over her shoulder. The shaft of light from the lady’s chamber seemed very far away. And still the passage led downwards. Surely, she must be on the ground by now. Was there a concealed door that opened directly into the great hall that William knew nothing about?
The atmosphere turned dank and oppressive, and apprehension twisted through her, not helped by the way Sjor stuck by her ankles as though he, too, no longer found the adventure exciting.
“We can’t go back now,” she told him, even though she knew she was merely trying to persuade herself. But instead of the sound of her voice reassuring her, it echoed eerily along the passage and sent shivers along her spine.
Maybe they should return. Yet she was mistress of Creagdoun, and ought to know about the secrets it held. She lifted the lantern higher as the passage grew narrower, and the ceiling was uncomfortably close to the top of her head.
They were no longer within the boundary of the castle walls. She was sure of it. This underground tunnel had been constructed as an escape in times of siege.
Except that also meant it was a point of entry if enemies knew of it.
Her stomach churned with sudden nerves, and her determination to explore no longer seemed like such a clever plan. But she couldn’t stop now. The safety of Creagdoun might depend upon her discovering a vulnerability in their defenses.
The tunnel sloped upwards, which could only mean they had breached the castle’s line of sight. Finally, in the distance, she saw a glimmer of light. Her mouth dried, and she gripped the lantern tighter. If only she’d had the foresight to bring her claymore.
Except she could no longer wield her beloved weapon.
As she drew closer to the dim light, her heart hammered in her chest, making it hard to draw breath. But the light didn’t grow bigger as she’d feared, and with a ragged sigh she gazed at the sturdy wooden door before her, with a small, barred window at the top which was the source of the illumination.
It was set into a stone-built wall, and not only did two bolts secure the door against the outside world, but it also possessed a thick iron bar across it.
Her heart slowed as she noticed how wild grasses wound around the bolts and bars. It was obvious the door hadn’t been used in years, and she went onto her toes to peer through the window.
Tangled branches and vines partially obscured her vision, but beyond that she could see trees. She frowned and craned her neck to get a better look, but it seemed the passage led directly into the forest behind the castle.
She released a relieved breath that she hadn’t uncovered a nefarious plot against William and glanced at Sjor. “That’s enough adventuring for ye in one day. Come on. Let’s get back.”
Thankfully, Emer had not yet returned with the maids when she reached the chamber, and she hastily pushed the stone aside and closed the door and panel before straightening the tapestry.It wouldn’t do for servants to know of this passageway before their laird did.
The security of Creagdoun wasn’t compromised. But she’d tell William of her discovery as soon as he returned to the castle.
Chapter Twenty-One
It was darkby the time William arrived at Creagdoun, and as a stable lad took his horse, he drew in a deep breath and headed to the castle. By rights, the only thing in his head should have been the question of who the traitor in his midst was. But all he could think of was that his own wife still believed he’d deceived her.
It was more than that, though. He’d been so certain that once they were wed, she’d no longer doubt him. What the hell did she expect him to do to prove how wrong she was?
As he entered the great hall, Isolde came to greet him with a welcoming smile on her face. Warmth flooded through him, thickening his cock, and he swallowed a groan. Would she always affect him this way?
