Page 120 of My Highland Love

“Don't lose yourself just yet, MacGregor. I thought the same, but there was something wrong with Mrs Hartley's story.”

“What do you mean?”

“She said a single candle burned on a table in the corner of the room. The covers were tucked tightly around the woman's shoulders. Despite the dim lighting, Mrs Hartley observed the emaciated neck and hollow cheeks of the woman—and her hair—you know how thick Elise's hair is.”

“Aye.” Marcus remembered well the silky feel of the thick tresses between his fingers.

“Mrs Hartley said her hair was so thin that her scalp was visible in places.”

“'Tis but two months since Arsdley abducted her. How is it possible—”

“It isn't,” Steven cut in. “The resemblance must have been strong for Mrs Hartley to believe the woman was Elise, but Mrs Hartley said the woman was barely recognizable as the Elise she had seen just a year ago. Elise lost weight due to the stress of Amelia's illness, but she was, overall, very healthy.”

Marcus nodded. “The housekeeper thought Elise had been wasting away an entire year.”

“Right.” Steven took another spoonful of stew. “Consider,” he said between chewing, “it's not yet two months since Elise disappeared. Had Price starved her to the point of shedding that much weight, her heart would probably have given out.”

“The woman is not Elise.” Marcus leaned back in his chair. “Why an impersonator? Why not simply incapacitate Elise?”

“I can only guess,” Steven said, “but—”

“But,” Marcus interrupted, “he will not risk her leaving the asylum.”

Steven nodded. “Price is… canny.” His expression turned pained. “Had I been more aware—”

“Nae,” Marcus cut him off. “The man is clever and he can't have done this alone.”

Suddenly, Langley's words came back to Marcus. “Ye have a spy, MacGregor.” Price Ardsley had help. The truth hit like a landslide. The Campbells. Marcus recalled the day they attacked the women at the loch and the look on the Campbell warrior's face when Elise called out that Nell had been taken. The man recognized the American accent. They had come for Elise—for the second time. Marcus suddenly understood why they hadn't accosted her when they kidnapped her: the ten thousand pound bounty. But how had they known—more importantly, who at Brahan Seer had aided them?

“MacGregor.”

Marcus shook from his thoughts at hearing Steven's voice.

“What is it?” Steven asked.

“Ardsley may not be as omnipotent as he appears.”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe some old enemies of mine were in league with him,” Marcus said. “Elise had a bad habit of leaving Brahan Seer without an escort.”

Steven paused in taking another drink of ale. “Brahan Seer?”

“Our home in the Highlands. She used to go alone outside the castle.”

Steven grimaced. “I can believe she would be so foolish. Even as a girl, she drove Father to distraction, coming and going without permission.”

“You are saying this is a fault of hers?”

The younger man barked a rough laugh. “MacGregor, if you're only now coming to this conclusion, I have no sympathy for you.”

Marcus smiled faintly. “The woman can be a pain in the arse. She is mine, nonetheless.”

“These enemies,” Steven prodded.

“Aye. They kidnapped Elise once, tried a second time.”

Steven regarded him for a long moment, then shook his head and took another bite of stew.