Page 88 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

By the next morning, their visitor was voicing her displeasure at being held prisoner in what she described as unfit quarters. There’d been nothing close to resembling a thank-you for Brenna’s efforts.

“I will have a horrid scar from that woman’s wretched stitch work. I’ve seen fisherman’s nets sewed with more skill than hers.”

“We were most intent on keep ye alive,” Brenna pointed out, but the woman continued to argue until finally Brenna left the room with no intention of returning.

In the kitchen, she had Jane assign a maid to take Deirdre’s meals to her room.

“I’ll send Lizzy up. She is being punished for leaving her work to her sister last week,” Jane said. “That will teach her.”

“Do you not have a maid guilty of a much more serious crime?” Brenna asked, thinking poor Lizzy wasn’t being served a just punishment.

By the evening meal, Brenna had thought to assist the maid so not to have Lizzy bear the full brunt of Deirdre’s unpleasantness, but the maid did not come to the kitchens. They found Lizzy’s sister, who said she hadn’t seen her since before the nooning.

“I’ll tan the girl’s backside for abandoning her duties,” Jane threatened. “In the meantime, I’ll go with you to deal with that she-devil in the tower.”

“I thank ye, Jane. I wish I could say I would see to it myself, but I don’t think I can face the woman alone. She’s quite vicious.”

Jane laughed as they made their way down the corridor to Deirdre’s chamber. They were still a few rooms away when they heard the yelling from inside.

“It makes you want to turn and run the other way, does it not?” Brenna asked, making Jane chuckle once more.

Auld Ephraim and Young Adam were on duty, and both looked like they’d rather be anywhere else at the moment.

“At least our guest is feeling better, aye?” Brenna said to the men.

“Ach, aye, mistress. Such a goin’ on from a lady.” Auld Ephraim shook his head in disgust.

They couldn’t make out what she yelled from inside, but Brenna was certain she’d made out a curse or two.

“I guess we best get it over with,” Brenna said, giving Adam a nod to open the door for her and Jane.

Brenna braced herself for Deirdre’s displeasure but instead was greeted with a hoarse, “Thank God, you’ve finally come.”

But when Brenna studied the woman who’d spoken, she found it wasn’t her mother by marriage, but Lizzy. The lass was wearing not but a shift and had a large lump on her forehead.

“The witch knocked me out and stole my clothing.”

“You’ve been locked in here since the noon meal?” Brenna asked but knew it was what clearly happened. Ephraim and Adam came in looking at Lizzy in surprise.

“But ye left with the tray earlier,” Ephraim said. “I was sure it was ye.”

The man was near as big as a horse, but his sight wasn’t the best in recent years. Wearing Lizzy’s cap and dress, the man would have been fooled by Deirdre. Which meant Deirdre had escaped hours ago and could be anywhere by now.

“Get every available man to search for the laird’s mother.”

Having her wound tended, she was likely miles from the castle. Brenna hurried back toward the steps and slipped into Ronan’s study where the clan’s funds were kept. The lock on the cabinet where the strongboxes were kept was broken and twisted free.

She backed out of the room and went to the smaller chamber she’d first shared with Ronan and threw open the lid of the trunk at the foot of the bed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she took in the bags of money, right where she’d left them after moving them the night before.

Deirdre might have gotten away, but Brenna made sure the woman wouldn’t count the Grant coffers in with the rest of her booty.