Edmund gave a disgusted sounding snort. “Tae me, this is more worrisome than the feeble attempt of someone tae drop a rock on Annora’s head or the MacDonald’s effort tae dae me an injury. This seems like a plan of someone tae open up the castle tae an attack.”
“Aye. Me thoughts exactly. An attack on the castle now could force the Clan Council tae take swift action. Without a laird, theclan is weakened. This could be all that’s needed fer the Council tae appoint Harris tae the lairdship.” Lionel hauled in a deep breath and blew it out.
“The blacksmith has already repaired the damaged gate, yet there’s naught tae stop them daeing it again. The gate is nae guarded at all times, although the guards patrol there regularly.”
“In that case, I’ll speak with Tormod this evening and request that the guard is increased tae ensure the gate is secure,” Edmund said.
Annora had listened wide-eyed to the conversation, with an ever-growing hollow space in her belly. Her confidence in the security of the castle was being dismantled with every word.
“If the Laird Harris is a danger tae us, we may find it is nae safe fer any of us tae bide here.”
Edmund reached for her hand. “Ye’re right. If ye wish tae leave here I have pledged tae keep ye safe, and I’ll nae force ye tae stay until the fortnight has passed that we agreed upon.”
Something cold and heavy dropped into the pit of her stomach at his words. There were no more than a few days left to pass before the fortnight she’d agreed to was done. Now she was finding it difficult to come to terms with the possibility of leaving. Her heart grew heavy with the prospect of bidding Edmund farewell. Shaking her head, she reached a hand across to clasp Edmund’s arm. “I’ll keep tae me agreement.”
Lionel got to his feet. “Edmund, I’ll make me. way tae the gate tae check all is well. D’ye wish tae accompany me?”
Edmund looked briefly at Annora as if gauging her permission for his absence. She laughed.
“Of course, ye must see tae the gate and talk wi’ Tormod about increasing the guard. Dinnae fash about me. I’ll nae walk near any outside walls where a mysterious stone might fall from the heavens.”
Edmund leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
“I dinnae wish tae leave ye lass.” He sighed. “But it seems there’s danger here I must attend tae.”
She took his hand for a moment. “Ye must see tae it. I trust ye tae keep us safe. I will await ye in the solar.”
After Edmund and Lionel departed, Annora sat by the fire lost in thought for quite a while. The events of that morning, her certainty that the falling stone was a deliberate act and now the news about the gate tampering had left her unsettled.
Could the gate have been damaged by someone who was not wanting to harm the MacNeacails, but someone who was pursuing her?
The very thought robbed her of breath. Yet she knew her father well enough to know he’d never accept her defiance. It was onlya matter of time before he would attempt to force her to either return home, or, if Radcliffe could be convinced, to still take her as his bride.
She put her head in her hands, despairing. She could hardly expect Edmund and the MacNeacail men to put their lives on the line to save her from her own father, or even from the man she was betrothed to.
When she arose, she shook herself like a wet dog emerging from a pond, sending droplets of despair flying, and squared her shoulders. She would bathe and braid her hair for supper and wait for Edmund in the solar.
When she entered the room, she found Tyra there, a solitary figure, bent over her embroidery.
“Such beautiful work,” Annora murmured, casting her gaze over the delicate stitches in the fine, soft muslin Tyra was working on.
The other lass sighed and lowered her embroidery. “I am pleased tae see ye Lady Annora.” She gave Annora a searching look, as if expecting something from her. When Annora said nothing, she went on. “I trust yer husband is recovering well from the wound he was dealt this morning?”
She spoke softly and Annora failed to detect any hint of hostility. Could it be that Tyra was as surprised as everyone at Laird MacDonald’s lapse of appropriate sparring etiquette and his dangerous actions?
Smiling as warmly as she could manage, Annora nodded. “Edmund is quite well, thank ye. It was nae a wound, merely a scratch that hardly broke the surface of his skin.”
“I am indeed pleased tae hear that.”
Annora caught a flicker of relief crossing the other lass’s face.
“What are ye making?” She enquired, determined to move the conversation from the unpleasantness of this morning’s bout to something she hoped would not move her into difficult territory.
“I am embroidering a length of fabric that has yet tae find a purpose. I find that if I am busy concentrating on me stitches, there is less opportunity fer me thoughts tae wander.”
“Aye. I am the same. But dae ye nae find that embroidering day after day becomes tedious and ye’d prefer tae have something else tae occupy yer time?”
Tyra put down her hoop. “There are times when I find me days endless. Yet I ken that when I am married, I shall be busy. If Harris is tae manage his clan, the MacDonalds of Sleat, as well as the MacNeacails of Scorrybreac, there will be much tae attend tae and very little time tae spend on leisurely pursuits.
