Page 124 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

David's stomach dropped. "Send him to me study. I'll be there shortly."

He closed the door and turned back to Elinor, who was already standing, concern written across her face.

"What is it?"

"Probably naethin'. Just the scouts reportin' in." But his tone suggested otherwise. "Stay here. Finish yer breakfast. I'll come find ye once I ken what's happenin'."

"David…"

"Please, lass. Let me handle this first." He crossed to her, kissing her forehead. "I'll tell ye everythin' once I ken more. I promise."

She nodded reluctantly, and David left before she could argue further.

The messenger was young, barely twenty, and clearly exhausted from hard riding. He stood in David's study with mud splattered on his clothes and his face drawn with fatigue.

"Report," David said without preamble.

"Scouts spotted movement on the north border, me laird. Large group. At least fifty men, maybe more. Armed and movin' with purpose."

"Langley's men?"

"We couldnae get close enough to confirm. But they're organized. Disciplined."

David moved to the map on his wall, studying the northern approaches. "Where exactly?"

The messenger pointed to a valley that led directly toward Keppoch. "Here. They made camp two days ago. Havenae moved since."

"Two days?" David's jaw tightened. "Why am I only hearin' about this now?"

"The scout who spotted them was injured gettin' away. Took him a day to make it back to the outpost. Then another day to get word here." The messenger looked apologetic. "We came as fast as we could."

"Aye. I ken that." David studied the map, his mind racing. Fifty men wasn't a large force. Not enough for a full assault on Keppoch's walls. But enough to cause problems. Enough to harass his lands, attack supply lines, make life difficult.

Or enough to be a distraction while something else happened.

"Increase patrols," he ordered. "I want eyes on every approach tae Keppoch. And send word tae our allies, although it is a bit late fer help. MacLeod, MacKinnon, the others. Tell them we may have a situation developin'."

"Aye, me laird." The messenger bowed and left quickly.

David remained at the map, staring at the mark indicating where Langley's men—if that's who they were—had made camp. Two days. They'd been there two days, just sitting. Waiting.

For what?

David remained in his study, staring at the map and trying to think several moves ahead. If Langley was camped to the north, what was his actual plan? A direct assault seemed foolish, Keppoch's walls were strong, its defenses sound.

Unless the point wasn't to take the castle. Unless the point was something else entirely.

David found Elinor in their bedchamber, pacing nervously. She turned as soon as he entered, her eyes wide with questions.

"What happened? What did the messenger say?"

"Come here." He pulled her down to sit beside him on the bed. "I need tae tell ye somethin', and I need ye tae stay calm."

"That's not a reassuring way to start." But she gripped his hand tightly. "Tell me."

"Scouts have spotted men on our northern border. Armed. Organized. At least fifty of them."

Her face went pale. "Langley."