Chapter 23 #2
Conscience clear, she sat cross-legged on the bed and began to eat the rest of her fish and potatoes. The room fell into a companionable silence, with the fire crackling merrily in the grate and a light rain falling outside.
A knock sounded at the connecting door, and Kayden poked his head inside as Lilliana called out for him to enter.
“We missed ye at dinner,” he said, his eyes trailing over her and her dinner mates. “But I see ye had yer own feast.”
Lilliana smiled. “Yes, well, the pets decided to join me.”
Kayden stepped into her room. “He seems to have taken a permanent shine to ye.”
She smiled and nodded. “I think he does like me a little.”
Kayden pointed to the foot of the bed. “May I?”
“Of course.” She pointed to the wine on her tray. “Would you like to have a glass?”
He smiled. “Well, I wouldnae say nay.”
She put her plate aside to pour the wine as Betsy discreetly left the room. Handing Kayden a glass, she held out her own. “To catching the poisoner,” she said.
He gave her a wry look before clinking his glass against hers. “To ridding the village of the sickness.”
They both drank.
Bramble climbed into Kayden’s lap, meowing as she kneaded his kilt.
Lilliana grinned. “If you’re not careful, she will ruin your kilt.”
Kayden looked down at the cat, which he had been petting absently. Picking her up, he placed her on the floor. The cat meowed in annoyance before going to lie by the fire.
“How was today?” Kayden asked softly as he drank his wine.
“Better than yesterday, but there are still too many ill people.” Lilliana sighed, shaking her head. “Your men haven’t uncovered anything?”
He shook his head regretfully. “Whoever this woman is, she is careful.”
“And malicious,” Lilliana pointed out.
“Aye.” Kayden nodded in agreement.
“Have you no equivalent of Bow Street Runners you can call upon?”
Kayden huffed in amusement. “There are the black watch, but I doubt they’d be much good in this case.”
“And of course, you don’t want to involve the redcoats.”
Kayden snorted derisively, shaking his head. “They wouldnae make an effort even if we asked.”
She pursed her lips, looking down at her plate. “That’s unfortunate.”
“That’s the English.”
She cast a glance at him from beneath her lashes, wanting to utter a protest. To say that not all English people were terrible. She wondered if he included her in his disdain, but was too afraid of the answer to ask.
She cast around for a new subject, wanting to break the tension, but just then, another knock sounded at the connecting door.
“Kayden?” Jacob’s voice floated through the door.
“Aye. Ye can come in, Jacob,” Kayden said.
Jacob stepped into the room, his gaze darting from Kayden to Lilliana. “I came to get ye, Me Laird, because there’s been a development.”
“What is it?” Lilliana asked eagerly.
Jacob hesitated for a moment, but Kayden nodded for him to continue.
“One of the horses the men rode out on has returned… with nay rider.”
Kayden’s brow furrowed. “Do we ken whose?”
“We think it’s Nigel’s horse.”
Kayden sighed, getting to his feet. He put his glass down on the tray and nodded to Lilliana. “Excuse me, Me Lady, while I attend to this.”
“Should I come with you?” she asked.
He shook his head, his hand briefly squeezing her shoulder. “Nay. Stay here. I’ll send word if we hear more.”
Lilliana nodded, biting back another protest. She watched as Kayden left, his promise to send scouts to the stream to try and retrace Nigel’s steps ringing in her ears.
She could still remember the direction they had gone in when she and Kayden had encountered Conall and his family. After speaking to the villagers, she knew that the poisoner was operating from somewhere close to that stream.
I could go and look. I could help too. Maybe I’ll find her. Maybe I’ll notice something that a man wouldn’t.
She shot to her feet, itching with the need to move. To do something. Conall’s scared face as his mother convulsed on the floor came to mind. If they did not do something soon, so many people could die.
She quickly crossed over to the wardrobe and picked her warmest stockings, thickest riding habit, a shirt, and a plaid.
“What are you doing?”
She jumped, turning to see Betsy frowning at her.
“Are you going somewhere?” Betsy asked in an accusatory tone.
Lilliana sighed. “Betsy, I have an idea of where to look for this mysterious woman. She might have hurt one of the guards. I cannot continue to stand by and do nothing.”
Betsy frowned. “But will the Laird not take care of it?”
“Yes, of course, but I want to help! I need to.” Lilliana pushed down the skirt and light stockings she was wearing, and tried to pull on the warmer pair.
Betsy made an impatient sound before coming to help her.
“What do you think you can do? You don’t even know the Highlands that well, My Lady,” she cautioned even as she straightened Lilliana’s stockings and helped her into her riding habit.
“I know where I’m going.”
“My Lady, I do not think that is a good idea,” she said anxiously.
“I have to, Betsy.” Lilliana grasped her hands, looking intently into her eyes. “I have to. I will lose my mind if I sit here for another minute, wringing my hands.”
Betsy huffed. “You realize this is why your father sent you so far away from London? Because you were always running off, trying to help someone. Usually someone unsuitable.”
Lilliana snorted. “Well, the joke is on him because I can run off just as well from here.”
Betsy sighed in defeat as she fastened the plaid to Lilliana’s shoulders. “You’ll be careful, alright, My Lady?”
“Of course. If anyone asks for me, tell them I am resting and do not wish to be disturbed.”
Betsy nodded in agreement but still looked troubled.
Kayden spent a restless night and was up with the crows as he waited for word from the scouts he had sent out. He stepped out into the courtyard, nodding in greeting as various castle residents walked past him, on their way to attend to their tasks.
He saw Moira rushing towards him from the direction of the stables, and his stomach sank with dread. He just knew that she was bearing bad news.
“What’s to do?” he asked before she even came to a stop before him.
“I’ve just been to the stables, and one of the grooms told me there’s a horse missing. He said he thought he saw someone riding off late last night, that it looked like Her Ladyship, but he dismissed it as him being fanciful.”
Kayden frowned. “But ye daenae think he was?”
Moira shook her head. “Nae when Betsy made it a point to tell me that Her Ladyship didnae wish to be disturbed, as she is resting.”
“But ye daenae think she is?” Kayden asked, his heart rate quickening.
Moira shook her head, her eyes bleak. “I daenae ken where she’s gone, Me Laird, but she isnae here.”
Kayden expelled a loud breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “Daenae worry, Moira. I’ll bring her back.”
He went back to the castle to gather his things and speak with Betsy.
I cannae lose another person. I cannae lose her.
As he called for Betsy, Jacob came up to him. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Lilliana. She’s gone.”
Jacob frowned. “Gone?”
“Aye. I’m going after her.”
“I’ll come with ye.”
“Nay, stay here and organize a search party.”
“Go then, we’ll follow behind,” Jacob said.
“I’m sorry, My Laird. I did try to dissuade her.” Betsy wrung her hands, hiding behind his cousin.
Kayden could barely look at her.
“Ye should have come to me at once!” he growled and then bit his lip, trying to control himself. His heart was beating so hard, he felt it might burst right out of his chest.
Rua was waiting by the horse as Kayden hurried up to them. He petted the dog, then swung himself up into the saddle. Jacob had begged him to wait while he organized a search party, but he could not.
As he spurred his horse onward, he could only pray that he found his wife before something terrible happened.
“Lilliana, how could ye be so…” He closed his eyes, shaking his head, and then immediately opened them, scanning the ground.
He was grateful for the light rain that had left the ground muddy enough to track the path the horse had taken.
Gemini was an older horse, and his left horseshoe was slightly bent, making his tracks easy to follow.
Kayden thanked God for that. Gemini was a steady, reliable beast who would have kept an even footing even in the dark. Kayden quickly pushed away the thought of Lilliana lying on the roadside with her neck broken.
“She’s a good rider,” he whispered.
Rua gave a quiet woof, as if in agreement.