"The chambermaids are preparing rooms for the lairds. They were already clean, but they're giving them a wee tidying up and stocking the whisky."
"Good. Make certain Laird Kilverntay is given the Stewart room." Though it was the best room in this castle, it couldn't compare to the ones at grander estates. Elspeth named off two additional well-appointed chambers on the same corridor for Rebbie and Dirk. Fortunately, Greymont had a good-sized barracks, as well as the great hall, for the clansmen and soldiers to sleep in.
"Give Laird Stornmor the Duisdale room," Elspeth said.
"Very good. Do you require anything else?"
"Nay. I thank you."
Smith curtsied and hastened out.
'Haps Elspeth should feel scandalous for assigning Cyrus a room next door to her own, but she wanted him close by.
∞∞∞
As Cyrus descended the steps into the bailey, he noticed Irving and MacNeil close-by.
"Thank the saints you're both alive." He gave each of them a warrior handshake. "Were you hurt badly in that skirmish several days ago?"
"We were both knocked out and had a few cuts and stab wounds," Irving said. "I awoke first, put MacNeil on a horse and headed toward Castle Rebbinglen… at least I thought I was. But my thinking was awry, and I lost my way. Fortunately, MacNeil came to the next morn and somehow, we managed to get back on the right road. We were surprised when Norval came upon us only a few miles from the castle."
"I know now I shouldn't have sent you after Fraser. I put you in danger needlessly, and I apologize for that."
Both men eyed Cyrus as if he'd gone barmy. He knew, he rarely showed regret for anything, but when he was wrong, he owned up to it.
"No apology needed, Chief," MacNeil said gruffly. "'Tis our sworn duty to protect you and your brothers."
"You're good men." Cyrus would have to think of a way to reward them, well… all his guards really, for they had gone above and beyond in this endeavor.
Across the way, Cyrus noticed Talbot sitting on a stone bench near the barracks, his hands bound behind his back and a MacKenzie guard on either side. "Has the solicitor revealed anything?"
MacNeil shook his head.
"Not that we know of," Irving said.
"I'm going to talk to him."
Dirk, Rebbie, and Kilverntay joined him.
"You're a witness to what happened here this day, Talbot," Cyrus said. "Go against me and you'll regret it. Your practice is in jeopardy as it is."
His wide-eyed gaze darting back and forth among the men, the solicitor blanched. "I had no inkling Laird Dalacroy intended murder."
"But you knew he intended to steal property from a lady under the guise of a legal transaction."
Talbot pressed his thin lips together and hung his head.
"Escort him to the dungeon," Cyrus told his two clansmen.
They nodded and led the man away.
"I'll have several of my men take him to Stirling tomorrow along with a missive," Kilverntay said. "The authorities there will decide his fate."
"I appreciate that." Cyrus knew the marquess would deal with him fairly.
"I'm glad you weren't injured in this mess, Stornmor." Kilverntay remained beside him while Dirk and Rebbie headed toward the stables.
Cyrus needed to have a private conversation with the marquess, but the man would surely be angry when Cyrus told him he could not marry Lady Lily.
