Chapter Seven #3
“I’m already a traitor to Ogilvie. And I’ll give you any information I can.
But the others of the Ogilvie clan—they won’t be harmed?
” I thought of Ismay, and of my friends and acquaintances in the kitchen whom I had worked alongside for almost five years.
I even thought of Matilda, who had never approved of me, or my work, but who had very occasionally slipped me extra slices of dried venison, a treat she knew I liked, when she thought I was getting too thin.
I thought of Ronan and Ritchie, the fledgling warriors who had taken me under their wing to train me in the arts of sword fighting and horse riding, because I’d been so interested; Ritchie, too, had saved me from unthinkable miseries at the hands of Laird Ogilvie by letting me escape when he’d found me on my wayward journey.
And the others of my clan who had shown me kindnesses over the years, even though I’d had the aura of an outsider, and I had been low in status.
It was Kade who first answered my question.
“The men who fight in his army are always at risk. That’s their fate, as warriors.
If they attack Ossian Lochs alongside Campbell, then they ask to be harmed.
And if what you say is true, then they act as traitors to King William, and for that they deserve retribution. ”
The laird continued, and his words were somewhat more reassuring. “The clanspeople who reside and remain at Ogilvie’s keep will not be in danger from us. We aim to defend the king’s rightful holdings, not to stage aggression unnecessarily across the Highlands.”
“Did they say when they plan to hold their rebellion?” asked Wilkie.
I thought carefully. “They didn’t say. First they discussed who else they might approach, to join their alliance. If there were any other lairds who were discontent, or who thought their holdings were smaller than they should rightfully be. They mentioned Buchanan.”
“Buchanan,” said the laird, mulling this over.
“His keep is small,” offered Wilkie, “and in a state of some disrepair, though that’s likely a result of Buchanan’s laziness more than anything else.”
“Did they mention others?” asked the laird.
I wished now that I’d paid more attention at the time.
I struggled for the names that they’d listed.
“Macintosh. Munro.” Ailie gasped lightly, and I couldn’t help noticing that the brothers took special attention to the name Munro.
I had no idea why that might be, and I continued.
“Macallister was another name they mentioned. But I’m fairly certain they decided against all three, as they each have shown their loyalty to the king on more than one occasion, or have links to the royal family through blood or marriage. ”
“Any others?” Kade asked.
“Mackenzie,” I said.
The laird stiffened.
“They dismissed you outright, Laird Mackenzie,” I continued.
“They spoke of your staunch loyalty to the king. They knew you’d never join their rebellion.
” And it was then that Ogilvie had described the traits of the Mackenzie brothers that had lingered in my mind. I didn’t go into those details now.
Wilkie, Kade, Laird Mackenzie and their four officers talked for some time, discussing their plans to gain more information through messengers, to find out if any of the lairds I had mentioned were considering joining—or had already aligned themselves with—the rebellion.
Occasionally they asked me more detailed questions, but I had told them all I knew.
I was able to eat some of the delicious food.
And after a half goblet of ale, I was starting to feel woozy.
Without thinking, I stood and began to gather the plates, to clear them away to the kitchen.
It had become second nature for me, through my many years of training.
I stopped when the room went silent, and I noticed that everyone was staring at me.
Wilkie’s eyes flashed. “Sit down, lass,” he said quietly, but with total authority.
I sat.
“Roses is tired,” said Wilkie. “I’ll escort her back to her chambers.”
But Ailie and Christie stood, summoning me to rise, guiding me away from Wilkie. “We’ll take her back to Effie, Wilkie. She’s been recruited to assist in the healing quarters, since she’s obviously skilled. Effie said she’s a wealth of knowledge on healing plants. Come, Roses.”
Wilkie considered me and his eager sisters, who beckoned me to follow them.
“Whose idea was this?” asked Wilkie, inflamed. He did not appear to like this idea at all.
“Mine,” offered the laird baldly. He curtly dismissed the other officers before continuing. “’Tis a reasonable cover while she’s here.”
Wilkie rose abruptly from his chair, with minimal outward signs of discomfort; his pain was eased by his renewed ferocity.
The warrior in him had returned in no half measure.
Even in the tumultuousness of this moment, I was struck again by his sheer size and strength, and by the beauty of the lines of him.
His off-white tunic made his skin appear all the more dark and swarthy.
His wild black hair and his face, still shadowed by his days-old stubble, made him look like a renegade pirate.
And his energy seemed to radiate in waves of allure that made me want to go to him.
But he was already here, storming over to me and standing over me, huge and looming.
“You’re to return to your chambers and stay there until I come for you,” he said.
I took his hand before I remembered the publicness of the scene. But when I loosened my hold, he clasped my hand strongly, not allowing me to disengage.
“Please, warrior,” I said. “Let me make myself useful. There’s no need for me to remain idle when I can be assisting in the healing quarters. There’s no need for me to hide away.”
“You’re wrong!” he shouted, startling me.
“There is every reason for you to hide away! Do you realize that swarms of Ogilvie troops scour the near vicinity? For you? Are you aware that they will stop at nothing until you’re found and returned to Ogilvie?
” His volume rose even higher, and his grip became even tighter.
“Have you any idea what Ogilvie will do with you if he does get his hands on you? Have you considered this, Roses? Have you? I would have thought you might have, after what he—” He broke off, breathing heavily and glaring at me.
I was upset enough by his tirade to flinch back from him, but his grip was beyond secure.
Kade rose from his chair and walked up behind Wilkie to place his hand on his brother’s shoulder. I couldn’t help but notice that both Kade and Laird Mackenzie looked at Wilkie as though they’d never seen him before, as if his reaction was entirely out of character.
“Wilkie,” said Kade. “Steady on, brother. She’s well protected here.
There’s no harm in her employment in the healing quarters, if she desires it.
’Tis as safe as your antechamber. As long as she’s not wandering the Highlands alone, there’s little threat to her.
We’ll all negotiate—or fight—alongside you if Ogilvie shows up. ”
Some semblance of control returned to Wilkie’s manner at Kade’s words. His voice was even, and his eyes were directed at me, although it was his siblings he was addressing. “I will speak to Roses in private for a moment.”
Without waiting for agreement, he pulled me by the hand out into the hallway, shutting the door behind us, and led me around a corner.
He faced me with fire in his eyes, and I backed into a small alcove, trapped by him.
I placed my hand on his chest, not to push him away but to feel him. His heart was racing.
“Roses,” he hissed. “There will be no healing quarters! You’re to return to my chambers and wait for me there.
I don’t want you attracting unwanted attention, especially in this dress—” He broke off abruptly, his eyes lightly skimming my dress only briefly, then looking away, as if the sight of it burned his eyes.
“You don’t like the dress, warrior?”
“Nay, Roses. I don’t like the dress. ’Tis far too...fitted.”
I smoothed my hands down my garment, unsure of his meaning. “Fitted? Ailie adjusted it herself—”
“Roses, you’re to go back to my chambers and wait for me there,” he repeated, as though the topic of my clothing was upsetting to him.
I could see he was unsure whether or not I would heed his command, and this aggravated him further. He waited for an answer I did not give.
“Roses?”
“The time goes very slowly waiting for you in your chambers,” I said softly. “Let me work to repay my debt to your clan. For the fruit.”
“You never even ate the fruit!” he seethed, running his hand through his hair in exasperation. “You have no debt to my clan! You’re with me.” I wanted to attach a world of meaning to those three final words, but I didn’t dare.
“I’m with you, aye,” I said. “Whenever you want me. But I’m not with you when you’re training and meeting. I’m alone. I feel only despair when you’re not with me.”
His tone gentled by a single degree. “You have no need to despair, lass. I told you I would return to you, and I will. At my very first opportunity.”