Chapter 7
T hey had only just settled into their seats for dinner when a servant burst into the great hall. From his wide eyes and trembling hands, Brigid knew that the news was not good. Her own heart began to pound. Had Edmondson found her already? Perhaps that man in town had spotted her, despite all their efforts.
“There’s men at the gate,” the man said anxiously. “They’re looking for you, my lord.”
“Who are these men?” Mary demanded.
“Some sort of law enforcement, I think, my lady,” the man said.
Sandy swore colourfully.
“You need to get out of here,” Mary told him. “Find somewhere to hide.”
Mary turned to the servant.
“Tell the men that the Laird of Gillies Tower left before dinner and might not be back for some time. We cannot give any more information than that.”
The servant nodded and rushed off. Sandy slipped through a door in the opposite wall, closing it soundlessly behind him.
“He better have a damn good hiding place,” Mary said grimly.
Without any more warning, a group of men burst in through the main door. To Brigid, they looked less like officers of the law and more like rough, disreputable thieves. But the leader sketched a small bow and introduced himself as the local constable.
“And as such, my ladies,” he said. “I am authorised to question Alexander MacLeod on suspicion of highwayman activity.”
Brigid gasped.
“What nonsense,” Mary said frostily. “Clearly, you have made a ridiculous mistake. Alexander MacLeod is a respectable gentleman and most certainly no highwayman. Be gone, and take your foolish stories with you.”
“May we at least speak to Mr MacLeod?” the constable asked.
“ Lord Alexander left before dinner,” Mary said firmly. “He is not available to speak with you.”
“We have the authority to search the house,” the constable warned her.
Mary pushed back her chair and stood bolt upright. She stared at the man down the full length of her nose.
“I am a gentlewoman, sir, and the sister of a notable peer. Do you call me a liar?”
The constable hesitated for a second, and Brigid knew they had won.
“Of course I imply nothing of the kind, my lady,” he said. “But we will return soon to speak with Lord Alexander.”
He snapped his fingers at his men, and the whole lot of them turned and left the room.
Brigid slumped back into her chair and drew her first proper breath in what felt like hours.
“This will not be the last of it,” Mary said grimly. “They’re like dogs with a bone.”
She poured out three glasses of wine. Tam, his face still white, took a healthy sip. Brigid gulped down her whole glass, and sighed with relief. She already felt better.
Time passed in silence. Brigid poured herself a second glass and let the soothing warmth of the red wine spread all the way to her fingers and toes.
At long last, the door in the far wall opened and Sandy poked his head through.
“Are they gone?” he asked.
“They are, but it is as we feared,” Tam said. “They’re after a highwayman. Mary sent them packing, but they’ll no doubt be back before long.”
Sandy went a little pale. “We’ll have to be very careful from now on,” he said.
Mary glared at him. “Careful?” she asked. “You’ll have to stop, the both of you. It’s not worth the risk.”
Brigid started to realise what was going on.
Eyes wide, she turned to Sandy. “Are you saying that you actually are a highwayman? And I helped cover for you?”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Sandy insisted. His cheeks were already going pink.
“I don’t want pointless reassurance,” Brigid snapped. “I want the truth.”
Sandy sighed. “Well then, I suppose we’d better tell you. Our visit to Edmondson’s camp was not the first time Tam and I wore those masks.”
Mary glowered at him, but said nothing.
“Tam, Mary and I have been acting as highwaymen for the past two years,” Sandy began.
“And a highwaywoman,” Mary cut in pointedly.
Sandy acknowledged her with a nod. “It seemed like the best way to make money to help with the preservation of Gillies Tower. We’ve never hurt anyone, but we have stolen quite a lot of money from people on the roads in this part of Scotland.”
“At first, it all seemed safe enough,” Tam put in. “We know the countryside well, and we can look after ourselves. But the officers of the law have been closing in on us of late.”
“Edmondson put them up to it, I’m sure of it,” Mary said. “He’s not taken well to being robbed. I’m sure he’s the one who’s really after us.”
Brigid blinked. What could she say to that kind of confession? She’d been rescued by thieves. Perhaps she should have stayed with Edmondson after all.
“So, you now know the truth,” Sandy said. “Will you turn me in?”
For all her shock, the answer was easy.
“Of course not,” Brigid said. “I’ll keep your secret.”
After all, she owed Sandy and Tam for the help they had given her. Besides, this might give them a common goal. If they took Edmondson out of the picture, the MacLeods could continue their thieving activities - and Brigid could rescue Finn and go home.