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As soon as Glennie heard the noise of horse’s hooves crashing through the bushes, she was seized by a sudden feeling of alarm. This part of the riverbank was one of Niall’s favourite spots, and if he found her here alone with Ritchie, he would be furious. She knew that there was a council meeting later on, so he would not stay long, but they would have to make themselves scarce, and right away.

“Come on!” Ritchie hissed. He grabbed her hand, almost pulling her off her feet as she did so.

They moved as quietly as they could towards the horses, then they led them away instead of riding them. Neither said a word the whole time for fear of being overheard , but when they were a safe distance away, Ritchie turned to Glenn and said anxiously, “Do you think Moira will tell him we’re here?”

After the intense look, Glenn gave him, he sighed, shaking his head. “Ye know her better than I dae, I guess,” he told her.

They mounted up and rode back to Baltyre, where Ritchie went into the stables first and signalled Glennie to come in a little while later. Glennie knew that as long as she had any say in the matter, he would not lose his job at the castle because she would not permit it. However, she wanted him to be comfortable and not have to look over his shoulder all the time because he feared Niall’s wrath.

She also knew that they would have to marry without Niall’s consent, but she was resigned to that fact; she was old enough not to need his consent, although she would have liked his blessing. However, at that moment, she was more worried about Moira. She had come to like and admire her, and wanted her to stay beside her so that they could develop their friendship.

Glennie smiled as she thought that Moira could be the sister she never had. She had always longed for a female friend because although she loved her brother, he could never understand her needs. Only another woman could do that, and she hoped that that woman could be Moira.

Moreover, Niall needed to have someone to support, and love him, too…

She felt a certain amount of trepidation as she thought of McNicholl’s niece. Having met her on one occasion at the wedding of a mutual friend, Glennie had been struck by her aloofness. She stuck to her family and two close friends the whole evening, shunning everyone else.

She had given Glennie a polite greeting then ignored her for the rest of the night, and she had a foreboding that Beitris Maxwell was not the kind of woman who would keep Niall happy. Niall needed a wife who would be warm and companionable, who would make intelligent conversation and laugh with him. Someone like Moira?

When she had safely made her way into the castle, Glennie went to her chamber and spent the afternoon trying to concentrate on a book, with no success at all. She would have loved to go to find Ritchie and sneak him up to her chamber so that they could enjoy each other for a while. However, there was too much chance of them being found out, since the castle was stuffed full of members of the McPhee Clan, who were all present for the council meeting.

Glennie had no intention of speaking to any of them. They were all old, boring, and had nothing in common with her. Niall was with them, so it was just she and Moira who would be eating together. Glennie smiled at the thought, and decided to give Moira a little treat. As well as that, she owed Moira an apology for almost dropping her in a very deep puddle of trouble!

Accordingly, she sent one of the maidservants to invite Moira to dine with her in her bedchamber, and had a bottle of wine brought up for them to enjoy with their meal. It was a very special bottle of a fine vintage that Niall had given to her on her last birthday, and she had been waiting for an occasion to taste it.

Moira arrived a short time after being summoned, and Glennie noticed that she looked a little distracted, as if something was troubling her. As soon as she was inside the room, Glennie surprised Moira by embracing her tightly and kissing her cheek.

“I almost got you into trouble with Niall this morning,” she said regretfully. “I am truly sorry, Moira. It was the last thing I wanted to do.”

“Oh, Glennie.” Moira smiled and shook her head. “I know that.”

“Did Niall find out we were there?” Glennie asked nervously.

“No,” Moira answered. “I think I distracted him long enough for you to get away. We walked away in the other direction.”

Glennie sighed with relief. “What a treasure you are, Moira!” she said, smiling widely. “Now, I have sent for a very special feast for us tonight, with all the food I know you like best.”

Moira felt a warm glow of gratitude wash over her. Glennie would make a fine friend, but there were so many obstacles preventing her from staying here, the biggest one being Niall. Yet, why should she worry? It was not as though she were in love with him.

At the thought, Moira’s heart skipped a beat, and she pasted on a smile then looked at Glennie again.

Glennie poured her a glass of wine, but Moira felt like recoiling from it. She always drank ale, since she associated wine with her husband and father, but she took a sip out of politeness.

“Are you all right, Moira?” Glennie asked, frowning. “I sense something is bothering you.”

Moira took another sip of her wine to delay the moment when she would have to look at Glennie again, but when she looked up, she found Glennie’s green eyes—so like her brother’s—waiting for her. Glennie reached over to take Moira’s hand, but Moira drew back before they touched.

Glennie looked a little hurt, then said, “I will understand if this is too difficult for you to talk about, Moira. I was just trying to help.”

Moira sighed in frustration. “It’s I who should be sorry, Glennie,” she answered. “I have been worrying about something for days, and—” She clenched her fists on top of the table and screwed up her face in an expression of agitation. “I have a problem I cannot solve.”

Glennie looked at her with sympathy for a moment, then asked gently: “Is that problem called Niall?”

Moira’s eyes widened in surprise, giving her secret away at once. “Yes,” she answered. “How did you know?”

“I sensed it.” Glennie smiled. “I have known Niall all my life, and I have never known him to act the way he does now, except when you are there. My brother has been intimate with more than a few women, Moira, as I’m sure you have guessed, but he is different with you. I sense something when you look at each other that I have never seen or felt before.

Niall and I have always been very close, and I can usually read him like a book, but when he is around you, he is completely absorbed by you, although he never makes it obvious. I can tell that something is amiss, although I have no idea if that is good or bad. All I know is that it has never happened before.” She frowned. “I get the feeling that there is something between you. Am I right?”

They paused while the food was delivered, giving Moira a chance to think of what to say next. When the maidservant had gone, Glennie started to dish food for herself, but Moira merely sat looking at the delicious meat and savoury pies, her mind a jumble of thoughts, none of which made sense.

Finally, she said, “I am so confused, Glennie. You are right, there is something between us, but up until this morning I thought it was only from my side.”

Glennie frowned. “What happened this morning?” she asked.

“He–he kissed me.” Moira covered her face with her hands and sighed. “Glennie, I am so mixed up. I know I have to go, but I have never felt like this before. Niall is making me want to stay, but I am terrified. I am terrified of men, to be truthful. I have never met one whom I could trust.

None of them have ever treated me as anything better than a pawn or a body to warm their bed. Niall seems to be different, but how can I be sure? It’s much better that I go and make a new life for myself in Aberdeen.”

“I see.” Glennie gently pried Moira’s hands away from her face. “Niall is a good man, Moira, and he will never hurt you.”

“You are his sister, Glennie,” Moira pointed out. “You’re bound to speak up for him out of loyalty.”

“I speak from conviction,” Glennie said firmly. “I know him better than anyone, Moira.”

“What if the clan chooses a bride for him?” Moira spread her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “If you are suggesting a romantic relationship between us, the wedding will have to be called off. His fiancée would come from a rich and influential family, whereas I am nobody. It could upset the whole balance of power in the area, and I don’t want that on my conscience. No, Glennie, it is best that I leave.”

“Even if there is a betrothal, I am certain that he would choose you.”

Moira’s heart stopped. “So, there is one already set? Niall is getting married?” Moira laughed, but no amusement shone in her eyes. She needed to break something. “I must leave immediately.”

“What will you do in Aberdeen?” Glennie persisted. “You said that you had relatives there, and that you could find employment, but is either of those statements true?”

“I have distant relatives there,” Moira conceded, “but I hardly know them, and I doubt whether they will want to shelter me.”

“And after you find a place to live,” Glennie went on, “what will you do for employment? How will you feed yourself?”

“I don’t know,” Moira said quietly.

She was truly in a quandary—damned if she left and damned if she stayed. It seemed that there was no right way to go.

“Eat your food,” Glennie instructed. “Then go to bed and sleep on it. Remember, Moira, there is always a home for you here. Whatever happens, I will make sure you have a roof over your head.”

“Thank you, Glennie.” Moira smiled, “I am so lucky to have you in my life.”

However, after she had eaten and left Glennie’s chamber, her head was still spinning with confusion.

Moira was walking back to her chamber very slowly, her mind preoccupied with her problems. The corridor in which she was walking was dark and filled with shadows, as it usually was in the late evening. As well as that, she was so lost in her thoughts that she bumped into a figure walking the other way.

“Oh!” she cried, recognising Gerald. “Excuse me. I was miles away.”

Gerald laughed softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. In the half-dark, he looked a little fearsome, with his eyes shadowed by his shaggy brows. “I was too, my dear,” he confessed. “I have just come out of the council meeting, and to be honest, I need a stiff whisky to calm me down a wee bit.”

Moira’s heart skipped a beat. “What’s happened?” she asked, alarmed.

Gerald gave an irritated sigh. “There was almost a riot,” he answered. “The Laird does not like to be told what to do. He’s in a difficult position, since we are being threatened by the Dornans, who are disputing the ownership of some land on the south side of the River Begg.

Niall does not want to go to war again, and says he would rather negotiate. He argued very fiercely for that, but he was not backed up by other members of the council. They want him to stick to their original plan of marrying Beitris Maxwell. For some reason, Niall is against that plan, although I have no idea why. My niece is a lovely girl, and will make him a good wife.

So, my dear, Niall lost the argument, and he is getting married to Beitris a month from now.”

“I hope it brings peace,” Moira said, trying to sound calm.

“I do too,” Gerald replied fervently. “Goodnight, Moira.”

“Goodnight,” she replied faintly.

She trudged back to her chamber, her heart a lead weight in her chest. As soon as she entered her room, she stirred the fire, then sat down to think for a while.

If Niall married this Beitris, staying would not be an option. If Moira became his lover, she could hardly live in the castle under the watchful eye of his wife. A woman’s intuition was a fearfully strong thing, and Moira knew that she and Niall would give themselves away every time anyone looked at them, no matter how hard they tried to hide their affair. Anyway, she would have been a fool to believe what he told her down at the loch.

The situation that night had been wild and desperate, and they had both spoken in the heat of passion.

To add to her problems, she knew that she would be living on Glennie’s charity, and she could not bear the thought of that. Glennie had already given her new clothes and was having more made. What else would she have to provide for her comfort and well-being?

Granted, she would never have to worry about food, obviously, but there were many other material things she would need. She could not bear the thought of being under obligation to someone and having to go begging them to give her whatever she required.

How many times had she told herself she had to go, Moira asked herself? Yet, every time she summoned the determination to do so she had been hindered by one person. It was Niall. Always Niall. He was the biggest reason she wanted to get away and the biggest reason she wanted to stay.

Damn him to hell! she thought viciously. I wish I had never met him! Moira tutted irritably as she turned to her bed to try to go to sleep. She had a sinking feeling that she would not rest well that night, however, having too much on her mind.

She had just turned the covers back when a loud knock sounded at the door, and thinking it might be her maid, Moira went to answer it. She was about to chastise her for making such a racket when she opened the door and found that the person standing on the threshold of her room was not her maidservant. Her eyes widened with shock as she beheld someone much bigger.

“May I come in?” Niall asked politely.