Page 41 of A Fearless Rebel

“Tis best to keep it covered so it does not grow infected,” Ava said after wrapping the maid’s hand and wrist. “I will look at it again in two days.”

The maid looked away, still unhappy. “Thank ye, Mistress Ava.”

It was the first time any of the servants had spoken to her by name. She hurried out of the kitchen, not wanting to linger and needing to see about Keithen.

*

“Ava, come away from the window. If a messenger arrives, I am sure ye will know right away,” Lady Fraser said.

“It has been three days since the attack on my…er, Clan Mackenzie and still there has been no news.” The tightness in her chest made it impossible to take deep breaths. No matter that Keithen had repeated that neither side had a clear victory. It didn’t mean someone couldn’t have made it inside and hurt her mother or brother.

The silence and lack of activity reinforced the strange feeling that something horrible had either happened or was about to.

Afternoons in the sitting room with Keithen’s mother and Catriona had become her routine. They’d sip on honeyed mead and either embroidered or weaved grass baskets.

Flora had taught them to make baskets and they’d decided to make enough to decorate the tables in the great room for an upcoming visit by Laird Ross.

“When do the Ross and his family arrive?” Catriona asked in an obvious effort to distract Ava.

“Two, perhaps three days,” Lady Fraser replied. “I am hopeful Esme will travel with them as well,” she said, referring to her daughter who’d married a Ross.

“I hope she does as well,” Catriona remarked. “I miss her terribly.”

The two continued speaking about the upcoming visit while Ava fought not to jump to her feet and return to the window.

“Lady Fraser, riders have arrived at the gates.” A maid walked in and looked around the room. “Laird Fraser asks that ye remain here.”

At the news, all three of them rushed to the window. At the gates were a group of Mackenzie guardsmen. Two had approached the gates and dismounted. When they walked into the courtyard, they became hidden by the corner of the building.

“I am going to my bedchamber to look.” Ava raced from the sitting room before anyone could stop her.

She hung over the balcony to get a good look. The men who’d arrived were familiar to her. The two had been her own father’s personal guardsmen.

Closing her eyes, she did her best to hear what was being said, but it was impossible. Everyone went into the great room and out of sight and earshot.

“What can it be?” Ava asked the empty room as she paced and wrung her hands. If only she could go downstairs and ask about her family. But she dared not go against the laird’s orders.

It wasn’t much later that the two Mackenzie guards reappeared and, along with their contingent, rode away. Ava watched them and went to the doorway, considering if she could now go downstairs.

Keithen appeared at the top of the stairs. For a moment, his gaze met hers and then he seemed to relax.

“They came to speak to Father and ask questions regarding the attack. They refused to answer any questions about yer brother and mother when I asked. I am sorry.”

Pressing her lips together in an effort not to cry, she sagged against him. “Do ye think they have perished?”

He hugged at her in return to her question. “I do not know.”

“What exactly did they say?”

“Only what I said. They wished to question Father about the attack. I will know more when I go to Father’s study.”

As he turned, she grabbed his hand. “Please ask about my mother and brother. Also about the staff, how many were killed.”

“I will.”

Chapter Thirteen

Laird Fraser met Keithen’s gaze for a long moment. “Is what the Mackenzie accuses ye of true? That ye killed several of their guardsmen and the laird?”