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Keir shook his head. “He never cared for them.” Of course, a father like Eoghan could not fathom that there were men out there who did not care for their own children. “I’m truly sorry Bonnie got caught up in this,” Keir murmured quietly, casting his friend an apologetic look.If only—Nah, I canna think like that!
Eoghan gave only a quick nod of acknowledgment before turning back to Duncan. “So, he needs his wife,” he stated, “but instead, he took his children. Why? What is his plan?”
Duncan shrugged. “Perhaps ’tis only a distraction. He took the children to keep us focused on them, and meanwhile he sneaks into the castle to get to Katherine.”
Eoghan frowned. “But with everything going on, he could never spirit her away without anyone noticing.” He shook his head. “If this is his plan, ’tis a bad one. What if he realizes that?”
Keir groaned, remembering the shrewd expression he had often seen in the Dowager Lady Birchwell’s eyes. Indeed, more than once, he had thought their true adversary to be Katherine’s mother-in-law, not her husband. Like a puppet, Lord Birchwell followed his mother’s commands, his own cunning falling far short of hers. “What if his plan is not to take Katherine but to have her come to him?” Keir’s brows rose as he looked from his friend to his brother. “And what better incentive is there than taking her children?”
Eoghan’s face paled at the implication of Keir’s words. “If what ye say is true, then he, at least, will have to get word to her somehow. We needa get back before she disappears, goes to meet him, and we dunna know where.”
Duncan nodded. “Ye go while I ready the ship.” He exhaled a sharp breath. “Who knows? We might need it after all.”
Pulling himself into Scout’s saddle, Keir raced Eoghan back to the castle, his thoughts spinning. How could this have happened? They had been so careful. How had Birchwell gotten onto the island? And where was he now?
If only they knew.
Chapter Forty-Eight
A LIGHT IN THE DARK
“This is my fault,” Kate repeated, the anguished look upon her face twisting Sarah’s heart. “I should never have left. I should never have gone against him.” Her hands trembled as she paced her chamber, casting a frantic gaze at Frederica and her little crib every few seconds, as though to assure herself that her youngest daughter, at least, was still here.
Sarah exchanged a worried look with Mrs. Murray, then stepped toward her sister. “Kate, you cannot think like that. None of this was your fault. You had every right to leave after what he did.”
“Aye,” Mrs. Murray agreed, her shrewd gaze slightly narrowed, and the expression upon her face not brooking an argument. “Ye’re a mother, lass, and that means that, first and foremost, ’tis yer duty to see to yer children.” Determined, the old housekeeper moved toward Kate, grasped her hands and gave her a little tug so that Kate had to lean down, her eyes now at level with Mrs. Murray’s. “Ye and yer daughters belong here, and we will find them.”
Sarah saw her sister tremble, her tear-filled eyes shining with gratitude as she looked at Mrs. Murray. Then Kate sank into the housekeeper’s arms, and for a moment, Sarah wondered if this was what it felt like to have a mother.
One who cared.
Truly.
Feeling her own limbs tremble, Sarah clenched her fists, then crossed her arms over her chest and stepped over to the window. Her gaze swept out toward the darkened sky where stars twinkled, beautiful and soothing. Yet as her gaze drifted lower, Sarah saw more lights, little dots that moved in the dark. For a second, she was confused. Then, however, she realized that those little lights were not stars. Of course not. They were the torches of all the people out there, searching for her nieces and Bonnie.
The sight touched Sarah, for she knew in that moment that the MacKinnears would search endlessly, their loyalty and support unwavering. Indeed, it appeared the entire village, the entire island, was out there looking for the girls.
Tears misted Sarah’s eyes, and she dabbed the hem of her sleeve to their corners when she heard the door open. Turning around, she spotted Lady Adele striding into the room, holding a cup of tea, little puffs of steam drifting into the air.
Sarah offered Keir’s grandmother a tentative smile, one which Lady Adele returned. Her hand briefly grasped Sarah’s and squeezed it reassuringly. “Do not worry. All will be well.” Then she strode over to Kate, handing her the cup. “Drink this, dear. It will settle your nerves.”
Still looking distraught, Kate settled upon the edge of her bed and gratefully reached for the cup. She blew upon its hot content, then sipped slowly, her chest still rising and falling with each agitated breath. “Is there any news yet?”
Lady Adele shook her head. “Not yet, dear.”
Kate’s eyes closed briefly. She inhaled a deep breath, breathing in the aromatic scent of the tea. Indeed, Sarah thought it was a rather unfamiliar blend, its flavor failing to stir a memory within her.
For long moments, silence lingered about the chamber, and Sarah turned back toward the window, feeling restless. She remembered times at the cabin when there had been danger and Keir had told her to remain safely locked away. Then she had not listened. Ought she to listen now? After all, there was no danger to her, was there? No, it was her little nieces that had been taken… or were simply lost out there somewhere. Sarah wished she knew what had happened. She wished she could be out there helping with the search instead of in here, waiting and doing nothing.
Kate yawned loudly, and Sarah turned to see her sister’s eyelids droop. Lady Adele quickly took the cup of tea from Kate’s hands and settled it upon the bedside table. Then she and Mrs. Murray helped Kate lie down upon the bed, removing her shoes and draping a blanket over her.
Sarah frowned, thinking it quite odd that her sister could sleep at a time like this. Then she noted a shared look between Lady Adele and Mrs. Murray, and her gaze instantly drifted to the teacup. “What did you do?” She stepped forward, looking at the other two women. “What was in it?”
Lady Adele smiled at her. “Something to help her rest. No mother ought to have to endure this sort of fear for her children.” She placed a hand upon Sarah’s arm. “Now, we must do all we can to bring her daughters back before she wakes, so that this was nothing more but a bad dream.”
Sarah nodded, glancing toward Mrs. Murray, who settled herself in a chair beside Kate’s bed. “I want to help,” she told Lady Adele, wondering how the woman would react.
Lady Adele nodded. “Then go and help. We shall see to yer sister and the little one. And do not worry; my son posted guards at every entrance to this castle. If Katherine’s husband is truly on this island, he will not get in here.”
