"How is Stillman?" Elspeth asked.
"He has not yet awakened."
"Good heavens! I didn't ken he was so bad off. I must see to him."
∞∞∞
Cyrus watched Elspeth rush up the steps and disappear from sight. Her expression had shown how distraught she was over this. 'Twas clear she had no notion what to do. He wasn't certain himself, but 'twas clear someone was attempting to manipulate and frighten her. The culprit wanted her to be completely defenseless.
Now Cyrus was glad he and his men had escorted her home. If she'd arrived here in her coach with her driver and only one guard, she would've been highly vulnerable.
"M'laird." Morrison bowed then motioned. "Please dry yourselves by the fire. I will send for some refreshments for all of you while supper is being prepared."
Cyrus nodded. "We appreciate it."
"Mistress Glendale," Morrison called as he disappeared through a doorway.
"I'll go tell the rest of the guards to come in and dry themselves when they're finished with the horses," Fraser said.
"Sounds good." After glancing at his three bodyguards who had accompanied him inside—MacNeil, Norval, and Reid—positioned at various points around the hall, Cyrus moved to stand near the fireplace. What was Elspeth doing? 'Haps he should've gone with her to see how Stillman was faring. He hoped the man would awaken forthwith, his full memory intact. He might be the only person with the answers to their many questions.
As for Elspeth, he missed her presence. The act of her riding behind him for so many hours, holding onto him with her small hands and slender arms, and—most memorable of all—her tantalizing body rubbing against him, had wreaked havoc on his rationality. He'd not had prolonged physical contact with a woman for such a long time. Why did he even notice? It wasn't as if riding a horse through the rain was a carnal pursuit. 'Twas simply a matter of necessity, if he wished to help her.
Fraser rejoined him, interrupting his thoughts.
"The men will be in shortly. The heat feels good after that cool rain."
"Aye." But before Cyrus bothered absorbing the warmth or drying his clothing much, he needed to go outside again and have a look at the place where the thieves had entered. Nothing about the situation made sense. It almost seemed as if someone within the household had done the deed.
His back to the fireplace, Cyrus watched as two maids hastened into the room, each carrying a wooden tray with pitchers and tankards of ale. He noticed that the pretty young fair-haired one pouring the ale had already caught Fraser's eye. Cyrus shook his head, wondering if his younger brother would ever outgrow his wild-oat years. He had thought at one time Fraser was falling hard for a certain Murray lass named Lady Talia. As far as he knew, they had not seen each other in a couple of years.
Cyrus knew not why he was thinking of the two and their association. What did he care if Fraser ever settled down? 'Twas his brother's own choice. Cyrus supposed it was because he'd put so much thought and consideration into his own upcoming marriage. He'd found the perfect bride for himself. Now all he needed to do was solve Elspeth's problems with her guards and he could be on his way back to Castle Rebbinglen and Lady Lily.
Cyrus glanced at the maids. "Could you tell Master Morrison that I wish to speak to him?"
"Aye, m'laird." They curtsied and left the room.
Fraser drank a long swallow of ale. "What could've happened to the guards?"
Cyrus shook his head. "First, the break-in and now this. I'm also wondering if the coach accident was related."
"Saints! I hadn't considered that."
"Why would so many unfortunate things happen to her so closely together? I'm going to have to find out more about Lady Grey and who would wish to harm her. Someone might be jealous of her wealth or want revenge for some reason. But first, I want to see where the thieves broke in."
Morrison waddled into the room and bowed. "You wished to see me, m'laird?"
"Aye. What time did the break-in happen?"
"I know not the precise hour, but 'twas before dawn and before any of us were up, except for Stillman."
Cyrus frowned. "Where did the intruders enter?"
"The postern gate. The original lock was broken."
Cyrus moved toward the exit. "Let me see it."
Morrison's wide-eyed gaze darted toward the stairway where Elspeth had disappeared earlier.
