Page 24 of Claimed Highland Brides
2
THE HIGHLAND DILEMMA
D aividh Campbell, the laird of Braenaird Keep and husband of Fiona, stomped into the castle, brushing the mud off his feet as he made discontented noises. It was raining quite heavily and he was soaked through.
“Da! Da!” The musical sounds of his children’s voices had him smiling even as his shoulders slumped with exhaustion. He braced himself as two identical green-eyed, auburn-haired children leaped at him with no care for his state of dishabille. He caught them with a laugh, whirling them around. The commotion they made brought their mother wandering over, a wide smile on her face.
“Ye’re back,” she said softly, her own green eyes shining with pleasure.
“Aye.”
“And how did it go?”
He shook his head. “I spoke wi’ the foreman and a few other workers. So far they’re keeping their silence on the origin of the stramash but I have my suspicions.”
“Ye dinnae think…”
Daividh just blinked at her. “Aye, I do.”
“But...he’s dead. The laird is dead. Why would they still…?”
Daividh sighed. “Laird Hunter filled their heads wi’ visions of rivers of gold flowing freely to every man who helped him win ye. D’ye think they would just gi’ that notion up because their master is deid?”
Fiona flinched slightly much to Daividh’s regret. He hated bringing up her erstwhile betrothed if only because of the bad memories he evoked. “Ye mean because I killed him.”
“Ye were saving my life and I’m grateful. The question is, what shall we do aboot his mercenaries the noo?”
“We mun’ find them. Perhaps hold them tae trial?”
“For what? They havenae broken the law...yet. Aye, weel…it has been two weeks wi’out any incident. Mayhap they have given up.”
Fiona made a skeptical sound even as Jamesina came into view.
“Oh, ye’re back. How did it go?” she asked.
Daividh smiled. “Gather all the sisters together. Let me wash up and then I’ll tell ye.” He handed the twins over, Aidan to Fiona and Rorie to Jamesina.
They went off side by side as the twins chattered to each other and he shook his head and smiled fondly until they were out of sight. Then the smile dropped from his face and he sobered, thinking about the other things he had heard. The Douglass mines were under the supervision of Munro Douglass’s five daughters, and four of them were still unmarried. Officially all mines in Scotland belonged to the Royal Family of England but the local families that supervised them gained so much wealth from them that it would make little difference if they actually owned them. So when their uncle and Daividh’s former employer, Laird McCormick, had sought to make a match between Fiona and Laird Hunter, he was not solely motivated by self-interest!
The existence of the goldmines as dowry was like game meat left out in the open; an invitation for every wolf in the vicinity to come and fight over it. Two men of doubtful pedigree had already approached him with bribes and threats. He recognized one of them as one of Laird Hunter’s former tacksmen. Daividh had always had a touch of the Sight and what it was telling him was that trouble was coming.
Perhaps I should consult Aifric about this .
The fortune-teller at Drumacree had predicted quite a few things in their lives, including the birth of his twins. He had faith in her Sight. But he was unsure if she always wanted to reveal the truth. If she confirmed that she too, felt so much as a tingle, he would know to tighten his guard even more. Now that he was the laird of Braenaird Keep, the sisters were his responsibility and he meant to see them all safely wed to good men and not scoundrels.
Still, he was reluctant to alarm them with his concerns. He would speak with Fiona first and see what she counseled. After all, she had been taking care of her sisters long before he came along.
* * *
“I’m going,” Delwyn announced to the room at large, a small pack on his back. His mother looked up with hopeful eyes.
“To Scotland?” she asked.
Delwyn nodded. “I will get her back, Mother. Don’t you worry.”
Aaren stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing. You know I would go with you if I could?”
Delwyn pursed his lips and nodded. He knew full well where the viscount’s duty lay. “Yes, I know.”
His eyes met his father’s, whose gaze was impassive. “It’s a fool’s errand,” he rasped.
Delwyn nodded. He had hoped for a blessing but had not counted on it. His mother had given him an emerald brooch encased in a gold frame from her jewelry box. It had been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. It broke Delwyn’s heart to take it from her but he knew as well as she that it was necessary.
“What good would it do to wear it on my breast if my daughter is lost?” she had asked him bleakly as she put it in his hand.
It made his lips tighten with anger to know that his father might have given him the gold he needed—with no need to sacrifice family heirlooms—but he chose not to. He did not think that he could ever look at the man the same.
He nodded to his family and walked out, and headed to the stables to retrieve his horse. He would travel overland to Dover and then take a ship to Edinburgh from there. The port of Dover was the best way to get to France as it was very close. And even though it was far from Edinburgh, taking a ship from Dover was several days faster than travelling through the mainland. He was ready to pay extra to take his beloved horse, Pegasus, with him as he knew he could rely on her to carry him faithfully to Scotland and maybe bring him home again.
* * *
As he started his journey, his mother’s brooch securely hidden in an inner pocket, what coin he had secreted in his pouch, his heart soared with the spirit of adventure. Even as it pounded with trepidation on what his sister must even now be enduring and how long it would take him to get to her. The journey by ship was much more expensive but many times faster than riding to Edinburgh. Delwyn had a lot of time to sit around doing nothing and think as it would take more than two days to complete the journey. He loved the sea and the idea of living his next years on a ship was still on his mind. But right now his focus was on his sister.
According to what the lady’s maid had overheard, the people who had his sister intended to travel overland with her to Scotland, which meant that he might arrive there before they did. He wondered if he could possibly find a way to steal Maegan away from her captors without paying the ransom. He had no idea where they were, however, and for all he knew, they would keep moving. Before he left London, he’d sent a letter to Edinburgh with one of his fathers’ servants to the address the abductors had left, telling them he was on his way to pay the ransom.
He hoped that in Edinburgh he would find some kind of clue as to where he could find his sister, but he was not relying on it. If he had to find these mines and wrest them from these backwater sisters to get his own back, that is what he would do.
He had with him his sword as well as several knives secreted about his person. He knew full well the danger from brigands and other highwaymen and took care to be well ensconced at an inn before nightfall each night.
* * *
Delwyn was grateful to arrive in Edinburgh without much incident.
He made his way to the tavern that stood near the dock, pausing in its doorway as he took in its patrons. It was early evening and so the crowd was not yet as raucous as it could get. However, there were already several loud arguments taking place.
He walked slowly to an empty bench and sat down, looking around to try and identify the innkeeper. Several serving wenches flitted about the taproom, exchanging quips with patrons and serving tankards of ale and flagons of whiskey. Feeling thirsty and knowing that a drink was a good way to get some information, he lifted a hand and a serving wench appeared by his side.
“Good day t’ye, handsome. What can I get ye?”
“A tankard of your finest ale please.”
The wench cocked an eyebrow. “A Sassenach. Aren’ ye a bit far from hame?”
Delwyn bared his teeth in the parody of a smile. “And I have further still to go. So if you wouldn’t mind…”
He needed to find someone who could tell him something about his sister’s whereabouts and he knew that somebody in this tavern had that information—perhaps had even aided and abetted the men who took her. In his mind, they were all guilty of her abduction.
The serving wench marched off with a harrumph. Delwyn sighed, knowing that if he was to get any information from anyone, he needed to be able to talk to them. He let his eyes wander about, seeing who would meet his eye. He did not know how many Englishmen frequented the tavern. He hoped he stood out enough that sooner or later, someone would want to know why he was there.
He did not have long to wait before a man dressed in a smart black coat and matching breeches took a seat opposite him. The man smiled, displaying a mouth missing half its teeth. Delwyn’s eyes narrowed at him.
“Good e’en t’ye,” the man said amiably enough.
Delwyn nodded back at him, eyeing him warily.
“Angus McTavish is m’name.” He looked expectantly at Delwyn, clearly expecting him to introduce himself as well.
“Delwyn...Barton. At your service.”
Angus nodded. “Pleased t’make yer acquaintance. What might ye be a-doing in Edinburgh? Are ye in search o’ business opportunities?”
Delwyn frowned, wondering if this was some roundabout way to ask if he was here to pay the ransom. “Perhaps. What is it to you?”
Angus shrugged. “I am a solicitor. I might be of some help t’ye.”
Delwyn straightened up. “Solicitor?”
“Aye. I help people with matters of the law. Arguments about land or livestock or-”
“I know, I know. Perhaps you can help me then. I am in search of a man. He goes by the name Neacel Hunter.”
Angus frowned as he leaned back on the bench as if to get as far away from Delwyn as possible. “Ye’re in business wi’ him?” His mouth twisted as if he had swallowed something bitter.
“No! I am not. He has taken something of mine and I mean to get it back,” Delwyn growled.
Angus sighed, shaking his head. “Ye dinnae want tae tangle wi’ the likes of Neacel Hunter. Whate’er he took, let him keep it.”
Delwyn leaned forward, eyes wide and intent. “He took my sister .”
Angus grimaced. “I see. Weel...my condolences on yer loss.”
Slowly, Delwyn shook his head. Loss? “Tell me where I can find him.”
“He isnae a man ye want to find.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Now tell me, where?”
Angus sighed. “I cannae tell ye tha’.”
“Why not?”
“But…” Angus continued eyeing Delwyn reprovingly. “I can tell ye where ye can find oot.”
Delwyn took a deep breath, gesturing for the serving wench to bring Angus a tankard of ale in apology. “Where?”
“There is a goldmine in the Highlands, under the supervision of a man named Douglass. Neacel and his mercenaries feel strongly that they’re entitled tae it. I hear they’ve been stirring up trouble among the miners. He might not be present there, but his men are.”
“Douglass mines, you say? Goldmines?”
“Aye.”
Delwyn thought back to his mother’s words. It made sense now. That is what he meant by owning a goldmine.
If so then he was at an advantage. Either he would find his sister, or he would be able to secure the gold and pay the ransom. He leaned towards Angus. “You wouldn’t be able to draw me a map to these mines, would you? I will make it worth your while.”
Angus sighed. “I dinnae want tae have anything to do wi’ Hunter nor his men. I’ll draw ye a map, aye, since ye’re kin is in trouble. But I dinnae want a thing in return.”
Delwyn nodded his understanding. “I thank you, Angus McTavish. And should I ever have the need for a solicitor in Scotland, you shall be my first call.”
Angus pursed his lips and nodded, still looking miserable. “Aye weel...I feel as if I might be sending ye tae yer death so dinnae thank me just yet.”
Delwyn laughed. He was built strong and no one had underestimated him like that before. “I’m tougher than I look. I shall be fine.” He nodded to the man, springing to his feet. “Now I must get some supplies together. There’s no time to waste.”
Angus raised a hand in farewell and watched him go, his eyes watchful. He got to his feet and made his way to the counter. “A paper and a quill please, guvnor,” he said to the innkeeper.
Without looking at him, the man reached beneath the counter and produced the items. Angus sat down and wrote a note, then sanded and sealed it before handing it to the innkeeper. “Make sure Neacel gets it before yon Sassenach leaves town.”
The innkeeper nodded and turned away, taking the letter with him.