Authors: Highland Princess
She stood as a signal for the others to do likewise. “String your bows if you want to shoot,” she told them. “I warrant we’ll be mounting soon.” To Ailsa, she added, “Wait for his grace to tell you to shoot before you do.”
Ailsa smiled. “I’ve no wish to shoot in such company. As you saw yesterday, I am no archer, but I do like to try new things, so I’ll ride with you.”
Mairi had been keeping an eye on MacDonald, but her gaze shifted to Lachlan at the table beyond him, likewise preparing to depart. When the Lord of the Isles strode toward the horses, the other hunters fell in behind.
Keeping close to MacDonald and chatting with Fiona, Mairi realized that Lachlan was near only when his hands gripped her waist to lift her up just as she reached her gelding.
“Thank you,” she said, surprised into smiling.
“’Tis an honor, your ladyship,” he said with a polite nod.
Then, to her further surprise and profound annoyance, he turned away, mounted the black horse he was riding that day, and eased it to a position between her father and Niall. His brother rode at MacDonald’s left, but after some moments, catching Mairi’s eye, Hector dropped back to ride beside her.
“Good morrow to you, my lady,” he said cheerfully. “Do you think we’ll see any sunlight today?”
She responded politely. He was easy to chat with, and she was growing to like him very much, but she wished he would trade places with his irritating brother.
Taking care to stay close to MacDonald, Lachlan received the signal for which he had been waiting when one of the huntsman’s minions came to inform his grace that the dogs and the stag were in good positions.
He had not known when his prearranged signal would come, or exactly how, but when it did, it was clear. The man looked at him and touched his forelock—an ordinary gesture of respect, but done this time with the three middle fingers straight, the thumb and little finger touching.
Lachlan gave no sign that he’d observed the signal.
MacDonald put his ivory oliphant to his lips and blew, signaling for the dogs to drive the stag toward them. With it caught between dogs and hunters, they soon brought it to bay, and to Lachlan’s astonishment, his host nodded at him, giving him the honor of shooting the first deer of the day.
He loosed his shot swiftly and accurately, and the deer fell and was quickly still. The huntsman’s men moved in to skin it and divide the meat. All but the dogs’ small share of each kill would be carried back to the clearing to be guarded from predators, and taken later to Ardtornish to be roasted for the Easter feast. Since MacDonald had said they would take at least four bucks that day, there might even be enough meat for those who lived within a day’s journey to share in the bounty.
“An excellent shot, lad,” MacDonald said. “I’d been told you shoot well.”
Lachlan smiled wryly. “If ’twas Lady Mairi who told you, your grace, I know she also said she beat me soundly yesterday in our contest.”
“Aye, the saucy lass told me so before we broke our fast, but she said, too, that you shot with her bow to make the contest fair. I admire fairness in a man.”
A dry note in his voice stirred Lachlan’s instinct for trouble, but he said calmly, “I, too, admire fairness, sir.”
“My high steward fears that you continue to admire my daughter, as well.”
“Since I believe ’twas Lady Mairi herself who first drew your attention to my admiration, your grace, that cannot have come as news to you.”
“Not news, no, but I did make my decision on the matter clear, I believe.”
“Aye, sir, you did.”
“Then that is all we need say on the subject, is it not?”
Lachlan bowed his head, saying submissively, “As you wish, your grace.”
MacDonald turned to tell MacDougall of Dunstaffnage that he should take the next shot, and then signed to his huntsman, who announced that his men had found new spoor and were stalking a second stag.
Lachlan knew that in minutes the second chase would begin, although the term was inaccurate, since no one rode fast on such a hunt.
Mackinnon had slipped away, perhaps to give orders about the meat, or for some less dispassionate purpose, making Lachlan wish he knew of a way to distinguish men loyal to Mackinnon from those loyal only to MacDonald or one of his guests. He knew of no such method, however, so he kept his gaze in constant motion, searching even as Hector moved to ride beside him.
“You should stay near her ladyship or his grace,” Lachlan muttered. “Mackinnon will not chance striking his liege or a member of the family.”
“I will, but no one is shooting now, so a wild shot would be hard to prove. I wanted to tell you I overheard what his grace said to you, and your reply.”
“Your ears are as sharp as ever then, but you need not concern yourself, because no one else was paying us heed,” Lachlan said.
“Perhaps not, but I’m doubting that he’ll change his mind about the matter dearest to your heart even if Alasdair—” Breaking off when another horseman drew near, he added more circumspectly, “I should say, even if the absent one should never show his face again.”
“You may say it as you will. The saying will not alter my course.”
“I see. You did not say you had accepted his decision.”
“You noted that, did you?”
“I have much experience with your parsing, my lad. A wise man learns to heed the words and not simply hear what he expects to hear. You agreed only to say no more on the subject if that was his wish.”
“You distract me,” Lachlan complained as his attention shifted sharply to a man climbing a tree ahead. He relaxed when he saw that it was only a weaponless gillie looking for the stag. “Drop back and ride beside my lass. You’ll be safe there, and mayhap the prattlers will watch you for a change, instead of me.”
With a sigh and a shake of his head, Hector obeyed.
“Has your brother decided never to speak to me again?” Mairi asked when it appeared that Hector Reaganach intended to continue riding beside her.
He smiled. “He did not say so, my lady. Doubtless, he is but puffed up in arrogant delight at your lord father’s generosity in letting him shoot the first stag.”
“It was kind of him. Many of the men here desired that honor.”
Hector made no reply. Indeed, she thought, he seemed more interested in one of Niall’s gillies, who was climbing a tree to look for the stag they stalked.
The signal came that the dogs had blocked the stag’s retreat and it soon turned, whereupon MacDonald blew his oliphant again, and the chase was on.
MacDougall brought it down, and after that, MacDonald let anyone shoot who could claim a good line, making the rest of the morning pass swiftly. Mairi found Hector surprisingly attentive, but Lachlan scarcely heeded her.
Not until they paused to eat their dinner of bread and meat, and Lachlan sat near her father, did she recall her brief hope that he would ignore her. Recalling that he still did not know she had overheard his exchange with Hector the previous night and was angry with him, she told herself that perhaps he simply had seen that MacDonald was watching them, and behaved as he did to protect her.
The thought gave her small comfort, and his behavior continued to annoy her. She did not believe he would compromise her merely by acknowledging her presence from time to time, or by exchanging a polite word or two.
Hector’s behavior was strange, too. Fiona had flirted with him since his arrival at Ardtornish, as had Elizabeth, and he had clearly enjoyed flirting back. But today he had eyes for no woman except Mairi, and she could not flatter herself that his interest was amorous. She might have suspected him of trying to protect her, but no man with half a brain could think she needed protection in that company.
Since deer were plentiful, the afternoon went as quickly as the morning, and before she knew it, they had returned to the clearing and Lady Margaret was announcing that she was ready to go back to Ardtornish.
“Those who mean to accompany me should do so at once,” she said. “I know many of you will want to change for supper.”
Mairi hesitated, hoping to find some reason to linger.
“Mairi, you and Elizabeth go with your mother,” MacDonald said as he dismounted.
After that, she had no choice.
Lachlan felt only relief at seeing the lass ride off with Lady Margaret and the other women. Except for MacDonald’s guardsmen and body servant, the rest of the men accompanied them, because by now the longboats would be waiting for them in Craignure Bay. Everyone was to gather at Ardtornish for supper and the evening’s entertainment, as usual, so the party from Duart would accompany the others, and the men were as eager for their supper as the women were.
Hector said quietly, “Do we not go with the others?”
“Nay, we’ll find an excuse to stay with MacDonald. He’ll wait to see most of his guests safely departed before he goes, I believe, although I did expect him to accompany her ladyship’s party to the jetty, and Mackinnon as well. But surely he will accompany MacDonald to the royal galley when he goes, so we should be safe until then. I’m thinking they’ll strike on the jetty, after MacDonald has gone.”
“But is there not a boat for the Duart party?”
“I’m guessing it will either not show or have departed early.”
“Then won’t MacDonald expect us to ride to Ardtornish with him?”
“Even if he does, I want this business settled,” Lachlan said. “I don’t want to have to keep looking over my shoulder, watching for Mackinnon’s people to carry out his orders. We’ll offer to wait and go with him if the boat from Duart has gone. He may even suggest that himself. He has no cause to think we suspect him.”
“Sakes, we’ll be at his mercy if we wait that long.”
“You forget my wee trap,” Lachlan said.
“Aye, sure, I did. Perhaps you’ll tell me about it now.”
“Lads,” MacDonald called, “do you not go with the others?”
Waving as he dismounted, Lachlan exchanged a look with Hector. “I have adjusted a part of Mackinnon’s own plan to benefit us. Just be prepared to act quickly,” he added, “because if Mackinnon should prove wilier than I am, we’ll need all of our wits and skill at arms to emerge from my trap alive.”
R
esisting the temptation to grip his sword and subtly test the sheath’s willingness to release it, Lachlan said, “We are at your command, your grace. Can we help speed matters along here?”
MacDonald replied, “’Tis courteous of you to ask, lad. Niall, do your men have everything in hand here, or have you tasks for some of these others?”
“Nay, your grace, everything is ready. The handlers will return the dogs to their kennels, and my lads have nearly finished packing up everything here.”
“Then we can all head back together,” MacDonald said.
“I’m afraid I sent the Duart boat off betimes,” Mackinnon said, confirming Lachlan’s expectation. “Dougald MacHenry, who is also staying there, said his lady wanted to return or go on to Ardtornish and rest before supper, and since I did not expect you back for another hour, I told them to do as they pleased. I’m afraid I don’t even know which destination they chose.”
“I see,” MacDonald said with a thoughtful frown. “I doubt the Duart boat will return for some time then, which will leave us a few places short.”
“The Duart helmsman kens fine that his boat will be needed here, so he will return,” Niall said. “But you should go on ahead, your grace, and see to your guests. If the helmsman tarries, these lads are welcome to ride in my boat if they like.”
“Aye, that’s a good plan. Just don’t let them go hungry,” MacDonald said.
“No fear of that. My people have orders to serve supper an hour after your return. ’Twill be earlier than usual, but doubtless some of your guests will be wanting to retire early after so long a day.”
“Then you’ll ride with Mackinnon, lads, if that will suit you.”
“Thank you, your grace,” Lachlan said, but his thoughts were racing, and as MacDonald remounted, he added, “Since the gillies have all in train here, mayhap Hector and I would do better to ride on with your party and turn our horses over to the lads at the jetty when you do, sir. ’Twould be one thing less to delay us later.”
“An excellent notion,” MacDonald said. “I’d enjoy your company, and if the Duart boat returns in time, you can take any stragglers aboard with you. Niall, you will know then by their absence that the Duart boat has been and gone.”
Mackinnon’s quick agreement further confirmed Lachlan’s belief that the steward had ordered the Duart boat not to return.
Moments later, as they turned their horses to follow MacDonald, Hector said in an urgent undertone that Lachlan hoped carried to his ears alone, “Are you daft? You said the jetty is the most likely place for the attack. If his grace leaves without us, we’ll be sitting like butts in his practice field, waiting for the arrows to strike.”
“We could hardly stay in the clearing with them when, for all we know, every man with Mackinnon is loyal to him alone,” Lachlan said quietly. “It was one thing to ride beside him, knowing none of his louts would risk hitting him any more than their liege lord or his family. It is another altogether to let Mackinnon isolate us amongst his men. If you doubt his ability to devise a tale to explain our tragic deaths to MacDonald, I certainly don’t.”
“It occurs to me that MacDonald could be in league with him,” Hector said thoughtfully. “Had you considered that?”
“He is not,” Lachlan said confidently, noting that MacDonald was looking back as if wondering why they dawdled. “We’ve no more time to talk, but his grace is not a man of violence or deceit. If he wanted us dead, he’d simply hang us.”
“Aye, well, that’s comforting, that is,” Hector said acidly.
But Lachlan had given spur to his horse.
Having sent everyone else ahead to the jetty, MacDonald rode with only his body servant and four men-at-arms. When the brothers rode up beside him, he said, “I think my guests enjoyed themselves today despite our uncertain weather.”
“Aye, your grace, and acquitted themselves well,” Hector said. “I noted that Lady Mairi’s arrow was the first to bring down the last two stags. She has a hunter’s eye and steady hands.”