Page 56 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

"Move," she said bluntly.

Paton watched closely as Grace searched for her caul. The fancy headdress she had been wearing lay strewn at the side of the bed. Paton's eyes alighted on it, and his expression changed.

Walking over to the fallen headpiece, he scooped it up. "Were ye nae wearing this one?" he said, handing it to her. Grace, who had already fastened the more simple caul onto her head, took it in silence.

"Seems tae have fallen off," he remarked, and from the glimmer in his eyes, he knew exactly how. "Hope it's nae the only thing ye lost. I dinnae want tainted goods on my wedding night!"

Grace stared at him violently. She was half-minded to give him a slap but somehow did not. It probably would not be a good idea.

Gloomily, she realized that Paton held all the aces. Andrew had been taken to the dungeon. But that didn't mean she was going to sit back and accept it. Pushing past Paton again, she made for the door.

Paton watched her go, his gaze narrowing.

"If ye’re going tae the dungeons, save yer legs. The guards have been instructed tae stop ye!" He smirked.

Grace felt her head heat with rage. Refusing to listen, she continued to the door.

Watching her, Paton shrugged. "Och, alright, waste yer time. But they wilnae let ye in. An' if ye refuse tae marry me, ye'll have more than yer beau tae fash about..."

Grace widened her eyes. She stopped at the door. Seeing that he had gotten her on the backfoot, Paton continued.

"Ye’re right, o' course. I cannae force ye tae wed me," he said, his wizened features adopting a piteous look. Grace wondered what he was up to. "But ye might find yersel’ a target if ye dinnae. Remember, Grace, they're oot tae get ye."

"Och, muck," said Grace instantly. "I dinnae believe a word o' what ye told me. My sisters are nae trying tae hurt me!"

"Are ye sure, Grace?" wheedled Paton. He brought the letter out from his possession again, setting it down on the bed in front of them. "It's what they're being told tae do, what they've been commanded. Read it."

Grace barely glanced at the parchment on the bed. "I dinnae doubt that's what it says," said Grace. "Just that I dinnae believe Fiona is going tae do her bidding. She was happy tae meet me."

Paton looked at her sadly. "Och, an' I thought ye were a bright wee chit, Grace. Open yer eyes."

Paton's eyes widened, and Grace got to observe firsthand all the bloodshot lines within them. "She's only pretending to be nice 'til ye let yer guard down. Then she'll shove ye oot o' the way permanently."

"Fannybaws," said Grace, but taking the manuscript in her hand, she found herself reading it carefully. It did seem very explicit. Replacing it on the bed, she looked up at Paton.

"It's nae true," she said, pushing her loose curls behind her head and tucking the few remaining strands into her caul.

"It's all true, but dinnae expect yer sisters nor yer silly wee brother tae tell ye," said Paton absently. "In the meantime, if ye dinnae marry me, there'll be a price on yer wee head. An' ye risk splitting the clan." His eyes flashed. "As well as being responsible for what happens tae Andrew next!"

But Grace did not say anything. By now, she had had enough. She just had to get away from this man.

Pushing past Paton for once and for all, she nearly knocked him off his shaky feet. Then Grace made for the door. She was going to find Fiona.

This time, nothing would stop her.

"Grace, what is this?"

Fiona was in the upper bedchamber, facing the window of the castle. Foregoing all formalities, Grace had simply burst in.

"Fiona, do ye want me gone?"

Fiona looked up, setting down her needlepoint. She was seated against the far corner of the chamber on a window seat overlooking the training ground. Just looking at it made Grace's heart long for Andrew. All she wanted to do was get him back, but she had to be logical. First, she should find out if any of what Paton had told her might be true.

Biting her lip, Grace kept her nerve.

Later, she would work out some way to free him. For now, she needed to know where she stood. So keeping her eyes trained hard on Fiona, she reiterated the question.

"Fiona, if ye an' yer sisters dinnae want me here, just tell me," Grace said pleadingly.