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"A tricky business. Aye, I ken," Gilly said with disgruntlement. "Still, it makes no sense."
Annabel patted his hand soothingly. "I am sure he will wake up soon. As you say, he's strong. We must just give him time."
"Lady MacKay?"
Annabel was slow to turn at that name, mostly because she was not yet used to hearing it and it took a moment to realize she was being addressed. When she did turn and glance over her shoulder, it was to find Father Gibson standing there.
"Oh, Father," she murmured, getting to her feet.
"I just wanted to say, I understand that after this latest incident, you most likely would prefer to be at your husband's side than at mass."
Annabel winced guiltily, for here she was willing to leave him to break her fast, but he was right and she hadn't intended to attend mass. But mass was soooo long.
"So I thought to offer to give mass in your bedchamber," the priest went on. "That way neither of you will miss it at a time when prayer is surely needed most."
"Er . . ." Annabel said uncertainly, not sure Ross would be pleased to wake up and find everyone gathered around his sickbed for mass.
"A private mass," Father Gibson clarified and Annabel relaxed.
"Thank you," she murmured. "That is very kind."
"Not at all. 'Tis my place to minister to those in need, and the two of you are surely in need what with these continued attacks."
"Aye," she agreed and then agreed again when he suggested he join her and Ross in their room after he'd done the usual mass in the chapel.
Annabel thanked him again, watched him walk away and then dropped onto the bench and said grimly, "We must sort out who is behind these attacks."
Marach and Gilly exchanged a glance, but it was Marach who said, "That is what Ross was doing in the village yesterday when ye tricked us and slipped away on yer horse."
"Was he?" she asked with interest. "What was he doing exactly?"
"Talking to Fingal," Gilly answered. "The blacksmith."
"The illegitimate son of Ross's grandfather who tried to claim a right to the title of clan chief?" she asked, and when both men looked surprised she rolled her eyes. "Giorsal told me all about it."
"Oh, aye," Marach said.
"Did he find out anything?" she asked.
Gilly raised his eyebrows. "Yer asking us? We did no' speak to him after that. He was with you."
"Oh, right," she murmured. Ross hadn't mentioned anything about it. Would he have if he'd suspected the man of anything? She wasn't sure.
"Then I should probably talk to this Fingal myself," she decided.
"Did ye no' just promise us but moments ago that ye'd no' leave the keep while Ross is ill?" Gilly asked with exasperation.
"Aye, but I have changed my mind," she said apologetically.
"Well ye can change yer mind all ye want, but the laird ordered us no' to let ye leave the keep and I fer one intend to follow orders."
Annabel scowled at him. "Gilly, who am I?"
"The laird's lady wife."
"And who is in charge when my husband is unwell or away?"
He cursed under his breath and looked away, refusing to answer, which was answer enough for Annabel. Gilly and Marach, and everyone else, had to obey her orders now.
"I will not leave the keep do I not have to, but I will get to the bottom of this. I want one of you to go down to the village and ask Fingal to come up here so that I can speak to him," she said, and then added, "And the uncle too . . . Eoghann, I think Giorsal said?"
"Aye.
" Gilly nodded. "Eoghann."
"I want to talk to them at the same time," she decided.
"Why?" Gilly asked. "Ye can no' watch both o' them at the same time and may miss a telling expression from one while looking at the other."
"I might, but not if I have you two there while I talk to them," she said and then pointed out, "They may give away more together than apart. They may exchange a glance at a certain point, or one may show surprise or disbelief if the other lies." She shrugged. "Each of you can watch one of them the whole time and then we can share what we saw."
"That's a good idea," Marach said with admiration.
"Aye," Gilly agreed with a grin. "The lad did well marrying ye."
Annabel smiled faintly at the praise, but then asked, "What is your opinion of Derek's mother?"
"Miriam?" Marach asked with surprise.
Annabel nodded, and then said, "Giorsal said she hated Ross for killing Derek, blamed him for the whole thing."
"Aye, she did, but--"
"Was that hatred enough for her to seek revenge?" she asked.
The two men exchanged a frown, and then Gilly shook his head. "Nay. I mean, aye, she may have. But then she would be attacking Ross, no' you."
"Mayhap," she agreed, "Unless her revenge took the form of taking something or someone from him." When the men stared at her blankly, she sighed and said, "In her mind, Ross took away the son she loved. Is it possible she decided her revenge should be--"
"To take away someone Ross loves from him," Marach finished with understanding.
"Well, mayhap not love," Annabel murmured. She didn't think her husband loved her. At least he had never said anything of the like. He liked her though. She was pretty sure about that. And he seemed to enjoy bedding her, and he was caring and--
"That's clever, that is," Gilly said slowly, considering her suggestion. "And sneaky like a woman."
Annabel scowled at the insult and he grimaced.
