Page 47 of A Highlander's Bride

“Is Lady Beth here?” she asked as Laird Grant helped her from her horse.

The stable lad shook his head. “Nay.”

The poor lass looked as though she would collapse. “Where can I find Lady Munro?”

Gregory waved at a maid. “See that Lady Grant is taken to her mam’s bedchamber. Also have food and drink brought in for our guests.”

Rubbing his hand over his face, he left the couple in the great hall, Laird Grant appealing to his wife to have something to eat before she sought out her mam.

Gregory went in search of Daniel.

He found Daniel in his solar where the laird was attempting to drink himself into a coma.

Gregory grabbed the mug of whisky from in front of his cousin, took a jug of cold water from the table, and poured it over his head. “Ye need yer senses if ye’re going to find the lass.”

Daniel shook his head, water from his hair flying in every direction. “Nay. Were I no’ a gentleman, I would put Lady Chisholm on the rack and get answers from her.”

Gregory settled in the chair across from him. “So sure ye are that she has something to do with Lady Beth’s disappearance?”

Daniel rubbed his bloodshot eyes. “Aye. ’Tis impossible that Beth changed her mind, and since ye are here in front of me without her, I assume she was no’ at her sister’s keep as the note stated.”

Gregory nodded. “Laird and Lady Grant traveled back with me. Beth’s sister is verra concerned and wanted to offer comfort to her mam.”

Daniel looked out the window at the sunny day. Not very sunny for him. “And Lady Chisholm was much too quick to confer with the elders about Lady Alice being the chosen bride. Like she kenned that Lady Beth was well-hidden or, I pray not, dead.”

Gregory winced at Daniel’s statement. “From what I heard in the bailey just now, the king will probably arrive some time tomorrow. Lady Chisholm is planning a wedding. What do ye plan to do?”

“I doona care about the king. Beth has been missing for days now.”

Daniel laid his head on his desk and within minutes he was snoring. Gregory assumed the man hadn’t slept more than a few hours since Lady Beth had disappeared.

He left the room and quietly closed the door.

*

Later that day,Daniel awoke and, feeling gritty and still tired, walked to the loch where he removed his clothes and dove into the cold water. It startled him awake better than anything else would have done.

He swam until his muscles ached. He eventually climbed from the water and shook himself off like a wet dog, then dried his body with his clothes, putting the damp articles back on.

He continued his search for Beth, frantically turning over every rock, and climbing over every decrepit bothy and abandoned wagon on his land. He called her name until his throat ached.

The sun was making its descent in the western sky as he made his way back to the keep. Gregory stood at the end of the drawbridge, his hands on his hips. “Cousin, I am becoming concerned for yer mind.”

From what he could see when he entered the keep, Lady Chisholm was driving everyone crazy planning a wedding that no one wanted. He’d heard the staff felt a liking for quiet Lady Alice, but they all loathed Lady Chisholm who had made it clear she would take upresidency once her daughter was married to the laird.

Lady Chisholm stood in front of him, blocking his way. “’Tis about time ye returned to the keep, Laird. Ye are getting married tomorrow, hopefully before the king arrives. There are things ye need to do and decisions to be made.”

Holding himself from pushing the woman out of the way, he said, “There will be no wedding tomorrow unless Lady Beth is standing beside me. I doona ken how many times and how many people I need to say this to.”

Her jaw tightened. “The king arrives tomorrow.”

“Then lethimmarry Lady Alice.” He moved away from her, before he put his hands on the woman, something he never did in his life and ever expected to.

He was near the steps to the upper floor when a young maid came racing down the stairs. “Lady Chisholm!”

“What!” Her snarl had the maid backing up.

“Lady Alice is gone.” The young girl stood wringing her hands.