Page 34 of The Highlander’s Tempting Touch

“Looks like a Black Bun, or a slice o’ one. Probably brought tae the feast by one o’ the local families. They’ve all their own recipes.”

“Well, it smells good.” Niamh inhaled deeply in appreciation, then took a bite.

She tasted fruit, but it was immediately overwhelmed by a bitter taste. Niamh coughed, frowning.

“Dae ye nae like it?” Alistair frowned.

“’Tis bitter.” Niamh grimaced.

Alistair’s expression changed like lightning. “Spit it out. Spit it out now!”

Niamh complied, too startled to do anything else. Alistair took the rest of the sweet from her hand. “Ewan, send someone tae fetch a pig from the stables. One o’ the runty ones that we were plannin’ on butchering afore Samhain.”

Ewan called over a servant, just as Catriona came over, attracted by the growing commotion. “Alistair, what’s goin’ on?”

“A child gave Niamh a slice o’ Black Bun tae eat, but she said ‘twas bitter.” Alistair’s face was grim.

“Give me yer scotch.” Catriona took Alistair’s glass and handed it to Niamh. “Take a swallow o’ this, rinse out yer mouth, then spit it back intae the glass.”

Niamh did as she was told. She was starting to feel frightened. The liquor burned her throat and made her eyes water, but it was nothing to the unease that filled her stomach and turned the food she’d eaten to lead in her gut.

Catriona took the glass and carried it over to a fire to toss the contents in, just as a servant brought in a moderately sized pig. Niamh watched as Alistair cut the remains of her Black Bun in half and tossed one piece to the floor in front of the pig. The pig gobbled it up with enthusiasm.

The entire hall was silent, waiting, when the pig suddenly grunted, squealed and started shivering. Foam gathered in the corners of its mouth as it collapsed, convulsing.

Within moments, the pig was dead, and Niamh felt her throat go dry. “What?”

“Ewan, shut down the hall, and gather the folk taegether. Double the guard.” Alistair’s face was thunderous as he rose and gathered her into his arms. “Have the food gathered and see if we can find where this portion o’ Black Bun came from.”

“Aye.”

Niamh clutched her new husband’s arm. “Alistair, what’s happening?”

He looked down at her, his eyes dark with anger. “Someone tried tae poison ye.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

He hadn’t been so angry since Constance had died. Alistair could feel his hands shaking with the force of his rage as he led Niamh away from the feast, toward their now shared quarters.

He’d known that Fergus MacTavish might try to find some way to ruin the wedding. But even knowing what kind of snake he was, he’d never thought the man would stoop so low as to poison his bride – and with something like a sweet treat, at that.

He felt near sick with dread at the thought of what might have happened if Niamh had eaten it on her way back to the table. Or if she’d swallowed before answering him. Or if he hadn’t noticed her expression and asked why she had frowned.

So many things could have gone wrong. For the first time, he thanked every holy power in existence that Niamh was so used to ignoring propriety. Had she been a more ‘proper’ lady, she’d either be dead, or Catriona would be scrambling to try and save her life.

Catriona and Ewan would find out what poison had been used; he had no doubt of that. The guards would do their best to find out who had delivered the poisoned treat, as well as where and when. His priority had to be his new wife, who was now beginning to tremble in his arms.

“Someone tried... tae poison me…? But who…?” Niamh’s eyes filled with tears. “But she was just a child, scarcely more than a bairn…”

Alistair halted. He’d been so determined to get Niamh away from the danger, he hadn’t thought to ask about who had given her the treat. “Can ye tell me what she looked like?”

“Dark haired – I couldnae tell ye if it was deep brown or black. Lighter eyes, but I couldnae see the color, for she wouldnae meet me gaze. Her skin was tanned, somewhat, but I couldnae see much o’ it, or her clothes, for she wore a dark cloak over most o’ her body. She was shy, barely spoke tae me. She only said she’d been told tae give the treat tae me, with congratulations. I assumed she meant her parents had told her tae dae so.”

It didn’t sound like any child he knew, but he’d pass the description on. “Can ye tell me aught more?”

“Nay. I didnae think anything more o’ it. I just... I thought her family was preparin’ tae return home, and it was a last gesture.” Niamh’s voice trembled, and Alistair held her closer.

“’Tis all right. Ye couldnae have kent. Nae any one o’ us would have suspected aught. I’m only glad ye spoke up, and naething worse came o’ it.”