Her father shrugged. “He’s been there for over two weeks, arriving just before the Adventurers. He probably left court about the same time you did. Neil and Alex have been organizing raids on the settlement at Stornoway, intercepting food and supplies meant for the Adventurers—wearing them down, much like last time. Small skirmishes thus far, but that will soon change.”
“I knew he was up to something, I just never suspected—” She jerked back as if she had been slapped. The second betrayal hit nearly as hard as the first. Her father, the man she’d fought desperately to please, to convince that she could manage Dunakin, had not confided in her.
Acute disappointment formed a solid, bitter lump in her throat.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why was I not informed that you intended to help the MacLeods of Lewis? How could you keep something so important from me?” She choked on her last words, unable to control the emotion strangling her voice.
Her father was in league against the king, and she’d been kept in the dark.
“You are many things, Meg,” he said gently. “But you are not chief. That is a position I hope to hold on to for a few—nay, many more years to come.”
Her father did not trust her.
“Lachlan, you are doing an atrociously poor job of this,” Rosalind warned.
Her father glanced over at Meg, noticing her distress. “It’s not like that, lass. I’m proud of you. You’ve acquitted yourself admirably in the face of difficult circumstances, with your brother…” He fiddled with some loose parchment on the table, flustered as he always was when discussing Ian. “Perhaps I rely on you overmuch. Your mother accuses me of demanding too much of you. I never thought so, but perhaps she is right. If you want to marry Jamie Campbell, do so because you want to, not because you think that is what I expect of you. Often the best solution is not the most obvious. Trust in yourself.”
“Yet you do not trust me,” Meg accused, still hurt that he had not confided in her.
“Nonsense. You must realize that you are not privy to all the decisions made around here.”
In fact, Meg hadn’t realized that.
“It was safer for you not to know. The fewer people who know of this, the better. We don’t want to risk the king getting word of our involvement.”
“I would never—”
Her father held up his hand. “I know that. If I’d known you were going to become involved with Alex, I would have warned you. And then when you came home, you spoke only of a proposal from Jamie. I wasn’t convinced, or I refused to let myself be convinced, that what your mother told me about your feelings for Alex MacLeod were true.”
Her cheeks grew hot. She heard her mother make a “humph” sound that said I told you so.
“If you wish to wait for Alex MacLeod to return before you answer Jamie, I do not object. But you must understand that the situation on Lewis is extremely volatile—and of course very dangerous. There is a chance—”
He stopped abruptly when Meg paled.
“I’m sorry, Meg, but I do not want you to suffer under any false illusions. Alex may not return. And even if he does, the king will hardly be pleased with him. With rumors circulating in London of a plot to overthrow the Fife Adventurers, Neil has already been put to the horn. The same could happen to Alex.”
There were thousands of questions running through her mind. She didn’t realize that she’d voiced them aloud. “What’s the nature of our involvement? What chiefs are involved? Does the king suspect us? When do they plan to take the castle? What news have you had from…”
“From Alex?” Rosalind finished for her.
Meg nodded.
“We are in daily communication with the men fighting on Lewis. In addition to the MacLeods of Dunvegan and the Mackinnons, the MacDonald of Dunyveg, MacLean of Duart, MacLaine of Lochbuie, MacLean of Coll, and the MacQuarrie of Ulva are all party to our plans. We have provided men and supplies, of course, but our primary aid is information. If the king suspects our involvement, he is not yet ready to move on his suspicions other than to forbid travel to the Isle of Lewis—which is why our messengers travel at night.”
Meg took a moment to digest this latest information. Then she asked, “But what about the MacDonalds, are they not involved?”
“Ah, you noticed the omission of our mercurial ‘friends.’ Yes, they are involved. But the MacDonalds think they can straddle both sides by forming an alliance with the chiefs while secretly providing information to Lord Chancellor Seton. They sent a spy of their own to court, but Alex discovered who it was and we are feeding him false information.”
“And who is this spy?” Meg asked, though she’d already guessed.
“Dougal MacDonald. Your mother said he was a suitor of yours at court?”
“Odious man,” her mother said. “You never can trust a MacDonald. I never would have sent him after you in the forest had I known.”
“None of us knew, Mother,” Meg said consolingly. “But I never seriously considered his offer.” Not after what he’d done to Alex. Refusing his offer of marriage had been easy; the hard part had been doing so politely. She turned back to her father. “With Alex no longer at court, how are the chiefs getting information from Edinburgh?”
“Spies. Informants. There are always people willing to talk for the right price. I believe Alex also recruited one of Seton’s personal servants.”
Oh no. No wonder he’d been so angry when he thought she was spying on him. “A maid, by chance?” Meg asked numbly.
Her father quirked his brow. “Yes, I believe so.” He looked at her for a moment and then continued. “Rory MacLeod is still at court. He sends messages in duplicate, one to his brother on Lewis and one to me. It is my duty to keep the other chiefs apprised of the changeable situation.”
“I believe Meg will be most interested in the latest missive you received from Rory Mor,” her mother said.
Her father cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. The latest report of the next supply shipment two nights hence is the one we’ve been waiting for that should enable Alex and his men to take the castle and send the Adventurers running back to Fife.” In case Meg missed the implication, he added, “If the MacLeods take the castle, this will all be over. And Alex will return to Dunvegan.”
A hero, she thought. Despite his betrayal of her, Meg felt a wave of compassion for Alex. A victory on Lewis might help erase some of the pain of the loss of his cousins. She hoped so, for his sake.
Meg didn’t know what to say. This new information had explained many things, but it did not change what he’d said to Lord Huntly. Or did it? He’d lied to Huntly about fighting for the Lowlanders. Had he lied about everything else? But why?
Her father stood up and began pacing before the large stone fireplace. “What I don’t understand is why Alex would become involved with you, knowing the danger a connection with him would pose for you.”
Meg didn’t hear what he said next, because for the second time in the space of a few minutes she had been given a wicked jolt. Danger. Her mind worked quickly. A connection with Alex would be dangerous. He knew that. He also knew the danger he would face on Lewis. That he might never return, and if he returned, he might be imprisoned or killed. Had he known she was listening to his conversation? Had he merely been trying to protect her?
Her heart soared. A bright beam of sunlight broke through the oppressive darkness that had shrouded her soul since that morning in Edinburgh.
For the first time in three weeks, Meg allowed herself to hope. Perhaps when he’d finished his quest on Lewis, Alex would come for her?
Like an omen, a clansman shouted from the barmkin below, “A birlinn is approaching.”
Her heart jumped. Could it be?
Chapter 19
Meg dashed to the window and peered down into the small barmkin above the sea-gate. She could just make out the figure of a man climbing swiftly up the stairs. He was certainly tall and broad-shouldered enough….
Yet somehow she
knew it wasn’t Alex. Her heart plummeted as if someone had yanked a chain, forcibly bringing her hopes back to reality. Of course it was too soon—Alex was still fighting on Lewis.
She watched as the man jostled his way through the swarm of Mackinnon clansmen training in the court yard. But even though he was partially concealed by the crowd, she easily made out the thick auburn hair of the new arrival.
“Who is it, Meg?” Rosalind asked, the excitement in her voice evidence that she, too, hoped for another.
“’Tis Jamie,” Meg responded brightly, trying to cover her disappointment.
Her father lifted a bushy gray brow. “Seems that decision might be pressed upon you sooner than you expected, daughter.”
Meg steeled herself for Jamie’s reaction, not sure what to expect. He’d changed in the past few weeks. He seemed older. Harder. “I’m sorry you had to travel all this way, Jamie, but I can’t marry you.”
His back stiffened, and his mouth drew into a tight line. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I thought you would welcome my offer.”
He was angry and not a little surprised. In truth, she’d surprised herself. This was the second time that she had decided to marry Jamie and then changed her mind. Soon she’d have to add fickle to her ever growing list of character flaws. But she couldn’t marry him, not when she didn’t love him. And Elizabeth was right, Jamie deserved someone who did. Judging from his reaction, however, Meg suspected she’d hurt his pride more than his heart.
“I do,” she assured him. “I appreciate it more than I can say. Marrying you would solve all my problems, but it wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Fair to me.” He combed his fingers through his hair, searching for an explanation, looking at her as if she were half-crazed. Perhaps she was. Jamie Campbell was not a man any woman would turn down lightly. But he was not the man for her. His eyes widened. “Good God, you’re not with child, are you?”
Meg colored to her roots. She looked around the hall, relieved to see that they were still alone. “No…” Her voice faltered. “There isn’t a child.” Though she knew it was ridiculous, Meg felt a twinge of regret.
Jamie must have heard something in her voice, because his anger seemed to dissipate. His eyes raked her face. “Then why?” he asked gently.
She took a deep breath. He deserved the truth. “You are a dear friend, Jamie, but I don’t love you, not the way you deserve to be loved, at least.” She put her hand on his arm. “And I don’t think you love me. Not the way I deserve to be loved.”
“But—”
She stopped him. “I’m in love with Alex.”
His eyes hardened. “But I thought you broke the engagement.”
“I did.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
Meg smiled wryly. “I’m not sure I do, either.” How could she explain it to Jamie, when she couldn’t explain it to herself? But if there was a chance that the conversation she’d overheard with Lord Huntly had not been true, she had to find out whether there was still a chance for them. Even if it meant waiting for his return. “I broke the engagement because I overheard Alex talking about marrying me as an opportunity to become chief someday. But I don’t think it was true. I think he wanted me to think the worst of him.”
“To protect you,” Jamie finished for her. At her look of surprise, he added, “I’m aware of Alex’s involvement on the Isle of Lewis, Meg.”
So the “secret” was out. She supposed Alex had Dougal MacDonald to thank for that. “So if you know what Alex is doing, you can understand why he might want to shield me from a connection with him.”
“Yes.” Jamie didn’t look surprised at all. In fact, he looked as though he knew more than he was letting on. “I wondered how he’d done it,” he murmured, almost to himself. At Meg’s questioning look, he explained, “I wondered how he’d gotten you to break the engagement so quickly. Alex knew of my intention to propose to you.”
Meg’s heart soared. “He did?” It made her even more positive that Alex had been trying to drive her away. And she suspected that Jamie knew that as well. “What part did you play in all of this, Jamie?”
“None,” he said flatly. “Other than to tell him that I thought you should have a choice in which proposal you accepted.”
Her moment of elation faded. “Which he apparently decided not to give me.”
Jamie gave her a long look. “He must really care for you to do something that he knew would make you hate him.”
“Then why didn’t he trust me with the truth and let me decide?”
A corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “Perhaps because he knew you well enough to know that if you knew the truth, you would not walk away. You can be rather tenacious when you want something, Meg.”
“So I’ve been told,” she said ruefully. “But I still will have a word for him when he returns.”
“That might not be for some time, Meg. And you must know that there is a very good chance that he will not be coming back.”
Something in his tone sent a chill of alarm running through her. “What do you mean?”
“Even if the MacLeods of Lewis are successful in repelling the Fife Adventurers from the Isle, Lord Chancellor Seton’s men know about Alex’s involvement.”
That wasn’t all. Jamie was hiding something. She clutched his arm in earnest. “What else?”
He didn’t answer right away. The depth of his struggle played out in the conflicting emotions crossing his face. Finally, he seemed to decide. “I only want you to be happy, Meg. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Meg nodded. “Please, Jamie, if you know something, you must tell me. I know you are angry with Alex, but you were friends once. I can’t believe you’d stand aside and allow something to happen to him, not if you could prevent it.”
“If it meant you would reconsider, I just might. Alex is fortunate indeed to have such a staunch defender.” He paused, his eyes searching her face. “Very well, I’ll tell you what I know. But for your sake, not his.” He held her gaze. “One of the men fighting with Alex on Lewis has been ordered to eliminate both Alex and his cousin Neil.”
“Dougal MacDonald?”
Jamie nodded, not surprised that she’d guessed the betrayer.
“But surely Alex knows of the threat from him and will be watching him carefully?”
“Yes, but Dougal knows he’s been compromised. He’s no longer pretending to take orders from the MacLeods. And he will have help. The next shipment will not just be supplies, as Alex thinks, but men. Fighting men. When Alex and his men are lured out to the shipment, Dougal and his men will close in from behind.”
Meg blanched. Alex would be walking into a trap.
“Don’t worry,” Jamie said. “The next shipment is not until next week. There is plenty of time to get a message to him.”
Meg shook her head, feeling the panic well inside her. “No. The report with the next shipment arrived last night. The shipment is supposed to arrive two nights hence.”
“Damn!” Jamie swore angrily. “They must have decided to move it up.”
Meg’s mind was racing, her fear for Alex making it difficult for her to form a coherent thought. All she could think about was the trap he was walking into. She’d seen him fight, knew how skilled he was, but she also knew he’d die before he surrendered to Dougal. “I have to warn him.”
“You can’t. The king has issued a proclamation forbidding all Highlanders from traveling to Lewis. Besides, it’s far too dangerous, your father will never let you go.”
Jamie was right. But what choice did she have? She could tell her father, and he would send one of his men. But could she trust something so important to someone else? Meg knew the real reason. She desperately wanted—no, needed—to see him. To discover for herself whether there was a chance for them.
“I’ve made the short trip to Lewis many times. I’ll be back before my father even knows I’m gone.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
/>
Meg gave him a hard, assessing stare. At that moment, he looked every bit as stubborn as Alex. “It’s not your decision to make.”
“Did you ever think that Alex might not want you there, might not appreciate your help?”
“What do you suggest? That I just leave him there to die? I’ll warn him of the plot and return to Dunakin immediately. You’re acting as if I’ll be the only woman on the Isle.”
“You’re heading into a damn battle, Meg.”
She took another look at his inflexible expression. “Please, Jamie, I need to do this. I have to see him. If it will make you feel better, I’ll tell my mother where I’m going. She’ll understand.”
Jamie didn’t look so sure. “Very well, if your mother agrees, I won’t say anything to your father.”
“Oh, Jamie, thank—”
“Don’t thank me,” he interrupted. “I’m going with you.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“Yes, it is. I can protect you. I should have guessed you would insist on going yourself. I’d go alone, but Alex wouldn’t believe me.”
Meg tilted her head to one side to study him. His body tense, his mouth clamped in a hard line. Consumed by her fear for Alex, she’d only just realized that by asking him what the king’s men had planned, she’d put him in an untenable position. Jamie was obviously in the confidence of the king’s men. And since he was loyal to his cousin, she could assume that at least nominally, the ever wily Argyll was involved with the Fife Adventurers’ efforts to colonize Lewis. But Jamie was also a Highlander. And as such, the idea of Lowlanders stealing Highland land must be repugnant to him.
“Whose side are you on, Jamie Campbell?”
She didn’t expect him to answer, but he did.
“Both.”