Page 29 of Deception

Chapter 8

When Malcolm’seyes settled on Linnae, she remained stock still as his mouth dropped open in shock. He hadn’t known she was here. How long would it take him to deduce that she was Lyel’s adopted daughter?

He said something to his men, then started toward her. Her heart jumped to a gallop.

Stay calm, she told herself. She was surrounded by MacKenzie and MacKinnon warriors. Malcolm couldn’t hurt her. Jacob had sworn she need not fear Malcolm.

He reached her. “What a surprise to see ye here.” He bowed. “I have been so worried since, well…” He smiled the warm smile that made so many of the lasses at Glenwood Abbey think he cared, but she recognized the threat that lay beneath the surface: I wager you haven’t told the MacKenzies you grew up at Glenwood Abbey, then ran away from your master.

Linnae stared, unable to speak.

Malcolm looked at the minstrel. “Begone, minstrel. I wish to speak privately with the lady.”

To Linnae’s surprise, the young man looked at her in question. She nodded, and with a glare at Malcolm, he left them. Two MacKinnon warriors passed and cast Malcolm a glance that told Linnae they knew who he was and weren’t pleased by his presence. No one but her, Jacob and her grandfather knew of the plan to entrap Malcolm. It wasn’t surprising they would wonder why the laird’s new wife was talking with the Donald laird’s captain. Malcolm had taken a huge risk coming here.

Malcolm stepped closer to the fire and said in a low voice, “That is a fine dress for a maid to be wearing.”

Murderer!she screamed inside her head, but said in a level voice, “Aye.”

“Why did you run away?”

The quiet question sent chills of fear along her arms. “Because I had no desire to become Leslie David’s whore,” she replied in the same quite tone.

“Whore?” he said in such surprise that for an instant she doubted that he knew the truth. But Malcolm was a master manipulator.

“Ye sold me for three head of cattle, Malcolm.”

“What I did, lass, was place you in a household so you could spy for me.”

This was probably at least half true. She had no doubt that Malcolm would one day have visited her at Leslie’s home and offered to free her in exchange for information.

“How did you go from being a maid on Skye to wearing such fine clothes at a clan chief’s wedding feast?” Before she could answer, his gaze shifted to the room and he said, “Who is this adopted granddaughter of MacKenzie’s?”

Linnae didn’t reply.

It took only two heartbeats for him to return his attention to her. He studied her for a moment. “You are the new Lady MacKinnon.”

Linnae gave a single nod.

He released a breath. “ ‘Tis clear I greatly underestimated you. How did you manage it?”

She shrugged, and as Jacob had instructed her to say, “He fell in love with me.”

Malcolm’s brows shot up. “Jacob MacKinnon, Laird of the MacKinnons, fell in love a servant girl?”

“Not a serving girl,” she said. “Laird MacKenzie’s adopted granddaughter.”

Malcolm nodded slowly. “I underestimated you. You are worth all the other Sisters of the Sinister Order put together.”

She wanted to shout for him not to call them that, but forced calm. “What do ye want, Malcolm?”

“You talk as if you and I aren’t old friends,” he said. “I had no idea you were here, Linnae, but I am greatly pleased to see you. I had given you up for dead. Now, finding you here. Well, I couldnae have planned it better myself.”

Linnae regarded him. “I think you have been doing a bit of planning already. Why attack Lady Alison’s carriage?”

Surprise shone in his eyes, but she knew it wasn’t the accusation that astonished him, but that she had deduced the truth.

“Attack Lady Alison’s carriage?” he said. “What makes you think I attacked her carriage?”