Page 29 of A Laird and a Healer

After breakfast was served to her, Caroline insisted that she leave the room again. This time, the guard did not put up as much of a fight. She walked around the Keep and, if she ignored the guard’s presence, then she could pretend that she was a free woman. However, to gain some understanding of the Keep, she asked a clever question to the guard.

“Sae that I dae nae get both of us in trouble, which areas of the castle are off limits tae me? I would hate tae mistakenly wander intae the wrong part and earn the wrath of the Laird?” she asked.

She could see in the guard’s eyes the fear that came with this suggestion. He listed a number of locations, one of which was the Laird’s study. Once Caroline heard this, she asked for the particular location, just to ensure that she did not intrude on the Laird’s domain, of course.

All that was left was to find a way to sneak into the study.

She was given the opportunity after lunch, when there was something of a disturbance near the kitchen. From what she could discern, a dog had gotten into the larder and was slobbering over all the meat. The kitchen staff ran out into the corridor and begged the guard for help. The guard was caught between helping the chef and guarding Caroline.

Caroline rolled her eyes and promised that she wasn’t going to go anywhere, but, of course, took off as soon as the guard was out of sight. She stepped nimbly through the castle, keeping to the shadows wherever possible and doing her best to avoid detection. Her heart raced the entire time, and sweat beaded on her temples. She wasn’t concerned so much for her own safety as she was for Nessa and Tara. Ryan knew that her sisters were her vulnerability. If he wanted to punish her, then he would likely do that by harming them rather than her directly.

However, she believed the advantages gained by investigating his study were worth the risk. She hoped Nessa and Tara would feel the same way.

She made her way into his study and began rifling through his drawers and letters until a familiar name caught her eye. Ryan had received a letter from Laird MacLeod, who had been a friend of Caroline’s father. She had even met the man on a few occasions and knew him to be a trustworthy sort. It rankled her that he had been in correspondence with Ryan, although her fears were allayed when she read the letter.

I’m afraid that I will not allow my clan to be drawn into a conflict between your clans. You may claim that you seek peace, but I fear you are not being truthful. You have made no secret of the enmity you feel towards the Gilmour Clan. And these accusations of yours are nothing but an attempt to stir up trouble. Do you truly expect me to believe that one brother poisoned another?

I know both men, and while I have always found Gorram to be odd, I have never sensed murderous intent from him, nor did Malcolm ever confide in me any concerns about his brother. If you persist with these lies, then nobody is ever going to take you seriously. It is beneath you. Your father would never have approved of behavior such as this.

For the sake of peace I will not go to Gorram with this, but if you continue I would not be surprised if he responds with force to defend himself. However, I fear that this is exactly the outcome you want. I would urge you to reconsider. We do not need to plunge the Highlands into conflict yet again. Has there not been enough of that in the past?

Caroline’s head was reeling as she read these words. She had to read them three times more just to make sure that they weren’t a trick of the mind. Could it be true? She had never thought of this as a possibility. Would her uncle have moved against her father like this? The thought of it made her sick, and she dismissed it swiftly.

Laird MacLeod was right, this was probably just Ryan’s way of sowing discord and trying to take advantage of the tragedy. But at least she knew that Laird MacLeod wasn’t falling for it. If she could escape, then she could find safe haven in his lands. Perhaps she could even find a way to send him a letter. Surely if he knew that Ryan was holding them hostage, then he would be summoned to act? Even if he just put pressure on Ryan, it might be enough to set them free.

She searched for parchment and ink, but before she could compose a letter, the door burst open, and her husband was glowering at her, bristling with all kinds of raging energy.

“I thought I was being kind in giving ye the chance tae leave yer room, but I see now that it was misplaced. I knew there was something shifty about ye. I hae never trusted a Gilmour, and I never will. At the first opportunity, ye come here tae search through my things,” he accused her in a scathing tone.

“It was nae my fault! I-I got lost. The guard abandoned me.”

Ryan drew his hand across his chin. “That was a test, lass. Dae ye really think there would be such a commotion from a dog getting intae the kitchen? I wanted tae see if ye would behave yerself, but then ye came here. I knew it all along. This hae all been a ploy. Ye are spying for yer uncle,” as the words left Ryan’s mouth, Caroline shook her head.

“Nae,” she gasped.

“Oh aye, and it was clever of ye tae try tae pretend that ye were running from him. For a moment, I almost considered believing ye. He thinks he is cunning, sending ye three here. I’m sure he dinnae believe that anyone would consider ye spies, which makes ye perfect for the job. But I am nae just anyone.”

“I would never work for him! The whole reason I’m here is because I ran from him! He was gaeing tae marry me!”

Ryan laughed at this. “Aye, and look at how well that hae worked out for him? Now ye are mine. I bet he dinnae think I would gae tae these lengths. He hae made his move and he hae been truly outplayed. This gambit hae lost him his clan, and the only thing left is tae see the look on his face.”

Caroline twisted her face in confusion. Did he truly believe this? Was his mind so twisted with paranoia that he saw enemies everywhere? Her thoughts returned to the letter. She needed to know whether what he believed was true or not.

“Is there any proof that my uncle poisoned my Da?” she asked, her voice cracking on emotion.

Ryan pursed his lips as he stared at her. He came towards her and snatched the letter out of her hand.

“I bet ye would love tae know that, but dae ye honestly think I’m gaeing tae tell ye? What reason dae I hae tae trust ye? For all I know, ye delivered the poison tae yer Da yerself.”

“I would never dae that. I loved him.” Caroline glared at Ryan. “I will endure many indignities from ye, husband,” she spat the word, “but I shall nae hae this aspect of my character besmirched. I loved Da, and I would never hae killed him. If ye know of a plot against him then ye must tell me because I…” she trialed away, struggling for words.

“Because ye what? Will take revenge against yer uncle? Dinnae ye fear about that, lass, I hae the matter well in hand. Oh, and there’s another matter of which I want tae make ye aware,” he gestured for her to leave the study.

She had no choice but to obey, albeit sullenly. Flanked by guards, Ryan led her through the castle to a long hallway. At the end of which, she could see Nessa and Tara being escorted to a new room. They were too far away, so they did not catch a glimpse of her. He had done as she asked. Tension simmered within her heart. She was determined to know the truth, even if it meant that she would have to win his trust somehow, although she wasn’t sure this was possible given his suspicious nature.

Then she met his dark gaze.

“I will see ye taenight, my lady,” he whispered, brushing the small of her back with his hand, hinting at the promise she had made him earlier, only to touch him once her sisters had been freed from their room.