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Elaine had already been curious at Allison’s reasons for what she did. And though she had not felt comfortable asking her before now, she suddenly could not help herself.
“Why do ye do it?”
“I’m like ye, Elaine. I have little choice. Maybe that’s why I understand what yer doing. I’m a healer mainly. I help people when they’re sick. That’s what I really love doing. But ye ken,” she shrugged, “things happen that change our path.”
“Please take this money, Allison. I wouldnae have been able tae even get intae the castle if it hadnae have been for ye.”
“Keep it, Elaine. Please. Ye never ken when ye might need it.”
“I’ll make ye a deal. I’ll keep it for ye until this is all over,” Elaine said, coming to a compromise. By Allison’s determined expression, she knew she was not going to be able to persuade her at this time.
“So, what dae ye need?”
“The laird has asked me tae be his mistress,” Elaine said carefully.
Allison’s eyes flew wide. “God’s teeth!”
‘Should I be worried?” Elaine said, looking very worried.
Allison shook her head. “The man is harmless, well,” she shrugged, “where the likes of us are concerned, anyway. I cannae say he’s completely harmless, of course.”
No, she couldn’t. Elaine was stood in the middle of a brothel exactly because the laird was not at all harmless. But she couldn’t allow that to distract her right now.
“Well, I have nae other gowns, but for the ones ye let me use.”
“Come on,” Allison gestured. “Let’s go tae my room and see what we can find.”
Allison was far better at selecting gowns than Elaine and seemed to know what color and style would suit her simply by looking at hercomplexion. An hour or so later, the two of them had at least a dozen, and Elaine was glad she had brought the horse and cart with her.
As she was about to depart for the castle, she turned to Allison. “I cannae thank ye enough, Allison, and I have no way of repaying ye, only for the money I can offer ye.”
“I dinnae need repaying, and I’m happy tae help. Ye just look after yersel while yer up there. If ye need my help, ye only have tae send for me.”
Elaine suddenly turned to her and threw her arms around the girl in a warm embrace. “Thank ye.”
Elaine was nearly at the castle's main gate when someone jumped out of the trees beside her and scared her half to death. She yanked on the reins to slow the horse and stared in astonishment at the figure that approached quickly. She suddenly recognized the cloak. She hadn't seen his face the last time, and it didn't look like she'd see it this time either. A hideous mask made of sackcloth with jagged woolen stitching covered it. It gave him the appearance of a dreadful monster, which he most likely was.
“Ye have not found the ring yet?” he croaked.
Elaine then remembered his voice when he had first accosted her in the forest. It had been strange then, as it was now, and clearly, he was attempting to disguise it.
“Well?!” he demanded.
“Nae, nae. Not yet.”
“Meet me outside the castle walls beside the small gate just after dusk. I’ll have something for ye.”
Before Elaine was able to say another word, he had ran back into the trees and was out of sight. What on earth could he want to give her? Something to help her in locating the ring? With her heart pounding, sheflicked the reins once more and headed toward the castle gates, realizing there was little point in sitting there pondering any longer.
* * *
Duncan sat in his study with Keir, Finn, and the entire council,discussing their next moves regardingthe discovery of the dagger. While they had never had any reservations about Clan Mackintosh, he couldn't let this go unchallenged.
“I think an attack would be foolish, my Laird,” Jamie said. Jamie, an elderly man of great wisdom, had previously served Duncan's father. So the advice of this white-haired, weathered man was greatly trusted.
The other men nodded, mumbling their agreement. “Jamie is right, my Laird,” James agreed. Another trusted member of the council but ten years Jamie’s junior. “Starting a fight when we dinnae ken any other facts would be madness.”
“Nor can we leave this discovery unchallenged,” Keir offered. “So, what is the solution?”
