Only then could he breathe fully again.
He could not get out of the tower fast enough, and all he wanted to do was go back home to Adaira.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Conallmetthemoutside.He led them past the gate to the woods where their horses hid. Conall had also liberated another horse from the MacIntosh stables. “In case we found your lad,” he explained.
Sawny slapped his back in thanks, because they had found the lad. And the lad’s sister.
She looked older than Addison by a few years. She also appeared completely stricken, in naught but a kirtle and barefoot.
“Come, Imogen,” Addison said, taking her hand. “These are the MacDonalds, here to take us from this hellish place.”
Conall set her and Addison on a horse to ride back to Glenachulish, then he and Sawny mounted their horses and they headed south.
As they rode, Addison nudged his horse up next to Sawny, with Conall flanking his other side. Addison did not ride well, and Conall was ready to take the lass if their riding double became a problem.
“Thank ye for bringing us with ye.”
Sawny turned his gaze from the road to Addison’s pale face bright in the dappled moonlight. He still had dark shadows under his eyes, but that tightness that Addison had carried with him had lessened.
Sawny inclined his head slightly. “Of course. I would no’ have gained my freedom or had my revenge if no’ for ye.”
Addison’s sister shifted, and at first, Sawny thought it was her reaction to his less-than-truthful words becauseshetechnically had her revenge on the man. Then Sawny understood that she was elbowing her brother in his stomach. It reminded him of how Adaira behaved with her brothers, and the thought of her drove his need to return. To get away from this grotesque keep and find his solace with her.
“’Tis more,” Addison continued. “I know ye are distraught about Kelso burning the letter. I am sorry ye did no’ get to the letter in time. I tried to thieve it myself, but he never left it alone in his study.”
“A fool’s endeavor,” Sawny commented, even as he knew that Seamus and the MacDonald chieftains and lairds would be devastated at this set back. He could only hope that they found the messenger in time. “We made it out safe and alive, and ‘tis all that matters. We will find another way to restore the king across the water.”
Addison’s gaze danced around the tree-lined road. “About that. What if ye could know what was in the letter?”
Sawny yanked on the horse’s reins, and the steed neighed as he stopped. “What do ye mean, Addison? Did ye read the letter before he burned it?”
“Nay me,” Addison said, shifting his gaze to his downcast sister. “She did.”
Sawny stared at Addison. “Your sister? Imogen?”
Addison’s face grew firm and he jutted his chin up as Imogen dropped hers impossibly lower, as if trying to hide behind her loose swath of dark hair. Conall urged his horse closer to the pair, his face tight and fixed.
“Aye,” Addison confirmed.
Sawny realized his mouth hung agape and snapped it shut.
The lass had read the letter?
The knowledge they sought was hidden in her mind, a young woman trapped in a Campbell-aligned house?
Och, the misery the past couple of days must have been for her and for Addison. If she had been found out, Kelso would have killed her in a heartbeat. No wonder she appeared so tormented and had killed the man. Perchance Kelso had even caught her reading it – that alone would have been a reason for Kelso to torture or slay her.
“Does anyone else know?” Conall asked.
“Did anyone see ye read it? Or know about this? Other than ye and your brother?” Sawny asked at nearly the same time.
Addison’s terse gaze shifted away from Sawny to Conall. From under her hair, Imogen’s eyes also slipped toward Conall.
Because that was the important question. Who knew about this? Who knew this lass held the key that might unlock Scotland from its tether to a pretender king?
Sawny was breathing shallow, as if he couldn’t catch enough air. As if all the night air was not enough to fill his chest.
