When the carriage came to a stop, Moira jumped down and the two girls embraced. Errol was also there. Standing stoically to the side, watching them with a scowl on his face, saying naught.
She dropped into a curtsy in greeting, and then Anna grasped her hand and pulled her inside. Seema did her best to keep up.
“I cannae believe yer parents allowed this,” Anna exclaimed. “It has been much too long.”
“Me either.” Moira giggled. “’Twasnae easy. But I’m here. Though ’tis only for a fortnight and a half.” She dropped her voice. “Then I must return for a cousin’s wedding.”
“Who?”
“’Tis one of the southern Hart cousins.” She sighed. “I dinnae ken why I must go. I have ne’er met her.”
Errol entered, his cousin Robbie behind him glaring at Moira.
She shivered. He’d come to Hartsmoor afore, accompanying Laird MacLeod and Errol on their visits. He had a fierce look to him, and Moira wasn’t convinced that the man actually kenned how to smile.
“Ignore them,” Anna said. “Let us go up to my bedchamber and ye can tell me about yer plans.”
Anna’s bedchamber was on the second floor, to the right, and all the way down the hall. A bed, piled high with throws and furs stood in the center. A trunk at the foot of the bed was covered with a heavy blanket. The fireplace burned bright, the high flames licking up the stone hearth and disappearing up the chimney. A wooden table with chairs was set near a tapestry covered window.
“Yer trunk will be brought up soon, unless ye need it afore then?”
Moira waved her hand in dismissal. “Nay. No need.”
They both sank onto the bed in a fit of giggles. “I am so glad ye are here.” Anna sat up straight, a kenning look widening her eyes. “Does this visit have aught to do with yer letter asking for Errol’s help?”
She should have kenned that it wouldn’t take long for Anna to question her about that. Her friend was way too curious to let something such as that go without addressing it.
“I met him in the woods,” Moira confessed.
Anna’s eyes rounded. “Ye didnae!” She exclaimed.
“I did! No’ purposely though. Well, I was planning on finding him, but he found me first.”
“He hasnae mentioned any such meeting.”
Moira giggled. “I’m sure he hasnae.”
Her friend grew serious. “So,” she looked around the room as ifsomeone was there listening to their conversation and lowered her voice. “What is it that ye need Errol’s help for? That yer brothers couldnae assist?”
“A treasure map.”
Anna cocked her head. “Ye jest.”
“I doonae. I found it hidden in the wall when I was putting the Hart annals to order.”
Anna stood and paced the room. Then stopped in front of Moira. “So why would ye need Errol for that?”
With a sigh, Moira pulled the map from her pocket and unfurled it so Anna could look at it. She pointed her finger to a corner of the map.
“This part takes place on MacLeod lands. Without Errol’s help I would ne’er be able to get to it.”
Anna took the map and studied it, turning the paper and looking at it at different angles. “I wonder what the treasure is?”
“I dinna ken. It just says coins and a Hart family legacy.” She shrugged. “I havenae any idea what that could be. Or why my family’s legacy would be located on MacLeod land. But mayhap it could lead to peace.”
“Hmm.” Anna’s teeth caught the corner of her bottom lip as she studied the map further. “That is an interesting turn of events. It doesnae make any sense truly.”
“Exactly. Our families’ pasts are quite tumultuous, though I dinnae ken why. I’ve e’en asked my father why, and he didnae have an answer he could give.”
