Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
D anielle stared at Graeme and Danny, hoping she could talk them into her plan to find the thief. Graeme seemed to consider her idea, and Danny just looked depressed.
"What do you think?" she finally asked.
"Lass, I’m glad you are willing to help, but you don’t owe me anything. You are a stranger here in this time, still learning how to get on. I do not want to burden you with our problems." Graeme frowned. "This could cause you trouble, or get you banned from Dunscaith where you are safe. Or worse, thrown into the dungeon with us for conspiring with us."
"What utter nonsense." Danielle rolled her eyes. "I'm helping because I know neither of you deserves this. Danny is innocent. The Laird would be a fool to lock either of you up for something you haven't done. It won’t solve the problem. My idea will."
“It would be a fitting solution to this problem, lass, but I do not think it is worth the hassle. It will be hard to do it on our own, just the three of us, especially when Danny and I are being watched so closely. Do not trouble yourself with our troubles.”
Danielle suspected Graeme might say such a thing and was ready to use her lawyer skills to defend her reasoning. She knew he had a good heart and was worried about her. He did not want her to go down with him, but he didn’t know her past. She was ruthless when it came to justice, and no way in hell would she go down, especially not without a fight. That was a concrete ideal she held to.
Her old life had led up to this moment, and now she understood why she had been through so much. All the injustices she had dealt with had made her a good judge of character, and she knew in her heart that Graeme and Danny were products of their upbringing and were trying hard to shake that image. Though she had never seen a criminal rehabilitated, she knew they existed, and she knew she was looking at two of them.
“We don't have to do it alone. Others will stand by you. Your brother-in-law, for one. Eva, for another. Why don't we start there before we throw this idea out with the bathwater,” she said. “Please, Graeme? Please let us at least try."
Graeme looked at Danny.
Danny said, “It's worth a try, is it not, Graeme? If things go badly, we can always leave. Let us see what Eva and Finlay have to say of Danielle's idea.”
“Fine. Let us go see Finlay and Eva,” Graeme grumbled.
Danielle smiled, sealing her victory. She stood, and together, they moved from the dining hall to the Great Hall. As they walked, people parted like the sea. Not just Guards gave them ill looks, but also various staff members.
The trio made its way up the stairs and through the corridors, getting dirty looks from everyone they came across. Some even turned and went back the way they came. Finally, they knocked on Eva and Finlay's door and were welcomed in.
“Come in,” Eva said. “What brings you by?”
“Uncles!” Mary shouted as she ran to Graeme and Danny and hugged them.
“Mary! How’s my brave little adventurer?” Graeme said, patting her head.
“I am a fierce warrior!” she shouted as she pretended to brandish a sword.
“Aye, you are, just like your mama. Come show me how you battle, lass,” Danny said, picking her up and taking her to the corner of the sitting room to play.
“I have a lot to say if you want to hear my plans,” Danielle said, accepting a cup of tea from Eva.
“Yes, I am all ears,” Eva said.
“Is this plan of yours dangerous?” Finlay asked hesitantly.
“I hope not, because I will not allow it,” Graeme said protectively.
“Just hear me out,” Danielle said. Then she began to lay out her plan to clear Graeme and Danny’s name and the many ways they could go about it.
When Danielle finished, Eva handed her a refill of tea. “I think it's a good idea and worth attempting. We all know that Danny and Graeme aren't guilty, but something is happening within the castle walls. It could be something innocent, even misplaced items, but something is happening. I'm with Danielle on this.”
“I think we need to give it more thought, my love,” Finlay said. “I believe Graeme and Danny are innocent, but I do not like the idea of putting you and Danielle in danger by partaking in this. Let us men deal with this. We will find more people to back us.”
“I think you know me well enough to know that I'm not going to sit by while the men do all the work,” Eva said.
“Finlay is right. I have told Danielle as much. I do not want to put her in any danger or mix her up in our problems. I cannot get her thrown out of the castle; she cannot be out there among the world that does not know where she comes from. Here she has Eva and the other ladies that came before her. If she gets involved with this, it could very well end with her thrown out.”
“That is for me to decide,” Danielle said, not liking him deciding what she could and couldn't do. He should know that better by now, but maybe he just didn't trust anyone. He couldn't even trust his father.
“I have another plan. I think Danny and I should leave the castle while there is still time. The longer this rumor drags on, the more out of control it becomes, the more people will start to believe it, and he will find himself in the dungeon. I will not put him through that. He and I can leave the castle and return to offering our mercenary services to other Lairds. We don't need to return to the criminal life, but now that we have had the training of Guards, maybe another Laird would be willing to take us on to protect his land. I think it is best that we go,” Graeme said.
“No. Don't go,” Mary said, having overheard everything. She ran to Graeme and wrapped herself around his leg. “I don't want you to go, uncles.”
“Mary,” Finlay said.
Graeme looked down at Mary, and his expression softened. Danielle saw Mary had his heart, and she knew he didn't want to leave her.
“It looks like Mary has made up your mind for you,” Finlay said with a smile.
“Staying here causes trouble for everyone, even her eventually. Your family."
“I beg you to reconsider leaving. At least give this a go, and if we cannot find anything, then you can talk about leaving again,” Danielle said.
She was very nervous as she waited for him to say something. She could tell he was thinking about it as he walked to the window and looked out over the castle grounds. Then he turned and looked at Mary, who had tears in her eyes. He had to know that he couldn't leave her. Danielle understood that he wanted to get Danny as far away from this current danger as possible, but she prayed he would listen to her.
“All right, we will stay. How do we go about this? What kind of plan do you have to prove that my brother is innocent?”
“I have an idea, but I will need your help, Finlay,” Danielle said.
“What is it, lass?”
“The women who have come through the door have modern minds, and some have even dealt with investigating crimes. If I can convince them to take on this case with me and investigate it, would you put the proposition in front of the Laird in a formal fashion, Finlay? It must be you. Graeme and Danny need someone to step in as their support. The Laird thinks well of you,” Danielle said.
“Alright. Speak with Maria. If she has an interest in finding the thief, I will take it to the Laird,” Finlay said.
“Thank you. That is all I ask,” Danielle said.
Moments later, the three left Eva and Finlay's quarters with hope and a plan.
“Well, I guess I should get to my room so I can plan what to say to Maria,” Danielle said.
Graeme cleared his throat, “Danny, I will meet you in the Great Hall after I escort Lady Danielle to her door,” he said.
Danny grinned and brushed his shoulder sheepishly against Graeme, “Mmhmm. Walk her to her door,” he teased as he walked away.
“Thank you. I would love for you to walk me to my room,” Danielle said, smiling at him. She loved seeing him flustered by his brother's teasing, but she was happy to have a few minutes alone with him.
“It is the least I can do. You do so much for us, lass.”
Their walk was quiet. Danielle could think of nothing to say. She didn't want to talk about their plans or logistics. The only thing she could think of was how he had kissed her before. Her body responded to the memory, and the air was thick with chemistry as they walked.
Graeme looked at her heatedly. She wondered what he was thinking and felt herself blush.
“I have never asked your age, lass,” he said.
“I'm thirty,” she said.
“Aye? You look but twenty,” he said.
“In my time, people age much better. It is quite common for a person of thirty to look younger.”
“I am a number of years older than you,” he said.
Danielle nodded, remembering that Eva had told her his age. “Seven years.”
He looked at her inquisitively. “You have been asking about me and my age? I know I have not told you.”
“Maybe,” she said, grinning.
They stopped in front of her door.
“Well, I should go in and begin figuring out what to say to Maria. No time to lose,” she said, shrugging as she tried to think of an excuse to linger in the hall.
“Aye, I suppose you should, but I think there might be enough time for this,” Graeme said as he moved in and placed his lips on her.
Danielle opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to explore hers. She released a soft moan and allowed her body to go limp against his strong chest. She felt every ripple of his hard abdomen and chest. He had the strong body of a warrior.
The kiss was deep and long. Finally, she pulled away, remembering that she had work to do.
“I should go inside,” she whispered.
“Aye, and I should check on my brother to make sure trouble has not found him." Graeme nodded.
"I suppose you should." She sighed.
Graeme tucked a loose hair behind her ear, and said, "Until later, lass."
“Bye, Graeme.” She opened the door and stepped inside.
Inside, she leaned against the door and fanned herself with her hand because her body was overheated.
“What I wouldn’t give for a cold shower in here,” she said.