Page 62 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

"Nay," said Fiona. "Look at the seal. Look how new it is. We didnae get that seal until after Mother died."

"Really?" said Aileen, now taking the letter and examining the wax seal on it. Her fingers traced over the little bobble of red; she looked unsurely at Fiona.

"Aye. Father had it changed several years ago. It used tae be a wee bit different afore. I am sure I can show ye."

Fiona got up to check the bureau in the room for more documents, but Grace did not follow her.

"Here," Fiona said finally, shuffling some of the parchments from the bureau. She placed a sealed letter down, pointing out the difference between the two of them. "This is an auld seal from afore it was changed. There...there's the new one. Ye ken..."

"Aye." Grace nodded. She took the letter absently but only spared it a glance. Swiftly, she tucked it into her pouch. Then she moved on, looking more intently at the other letters that Aileen had found.

"Aileen," she said, scrolling down and reading the next one. "Did ye nae read these?"

"Nay," said Aileen. "They're just Paton's, I think, about boring clan stuff."

"Well, they're Paton's," agreed Grace, her eyes becoming fascinated by the spidery writing on the letter. "But they're far from boring. Here..."

She shoved the parchment over to Aileen, and Fiona gathered around too. There, the three of them unfurled the first one.

We must wait a wee while longer, my love. Until then, be patient. I will take care of the usurper, but ye must trust me... stay strong my darling...

Aileen's young eyes almost popped out of her head. She gasped. "Paton has a lover!"

"The wily auld goat," added Fiona, and they shared a vaguely disgusted look.

But Grace was excited.

"That's nae all," said Grace. She ran her finger through the letter, scrolling to the end. The sisters had not quite read everything, and she was breathless for them to catch up.

"It's from Paton, aye," agreed Fiona. "But I really dinnae see what—"

"Look who it's tae," Grace insisted. She pointed to the top of the letter. Although the ink was smudged a little on the name, it was clear to read.

"Anabelle," whispered Fiona.

All three of them looked at each other.

"Anabelle is in love wi' Paton?" Aileen said, in open disbelief. Then, she feigned being sick. "Yuk!"

Grace and Fiona fell about laughing. Aileen's face contorted with disgust. She looked so horrified, it was impossible to do anything else but laugh.

However, their mirth was short-lived, as taking the letter, Grace realized the implications.

"So, she's in on it," she said softly, unfolding the letter fully. Both the girls looked at her. They were all sitting in a line against the window seat in the bedchamber. By now, the evening light had completely gone, and in actual fact, there was more light in the center of the chamber, where the candles were.

Fiona was about to say something when a servant appeared, unbidden, to begin lighting the candles. The sisters waited until she had gone before continuing talking.

"In on what?" asked Fiona haplessly. In surprise, Aileen turned to her sister.

"In on a plot to try an' get rid o' Grace an' become the lady o' the clan for herself!" Aileen retorted, looking exasperated. "I would have thought ye kent that!"

Fiona looked unsure. "Anabelle?" she said uncertainly. "But why go tae the trouble o' finding Grace, tae try an' get rid o' her?"

"He didn't," replied Grace coolly. "Andrew was sent tae do that. Paton had no choice." In her mind, she was running through everything slowly, piecing it together. With hindsight, Anabelle and Paton made sense. One was the acting laird, desperate to cling to power. The other, the sister of the lady of the clan, was jealous for power.

Deep down, she doubted very much that Anabelle had any other feelings for Paton.

"Well, at least ye ken that yer mother had nothing tae do wi' Paton's plan," said Grace, trying to find a silver lining in this.