Page 24 of Stolen Highland Dreams (The Highlanders #9)

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A s they strolled through the tranquil secret garden, Ella couldn't help but ask Dashiell a pressing question after dinner that night. Ruadh and Christopher were stationed at the gate to protect her, so she felt safe enough to bring it up. The moonlight streaming down and torches lighting their way added to the romantic atmosphere despite the seriousness of their conversation.

"Do you have reason to believe there's a spy among your staff?" she inquired.

“It’s possible.”

“I…I think it’s too much of a coincidence that MacAfee and my uncle suddenly knew I was here,” Ella said. “I truly believe someone on your staff is being paid to spy on everyone. And that he…or she learned the men were hunting for a woman in the woods.”

“I’ve had Quinn and Fallon investigating this undercover.”

Ella rubbed her forehead. “Why would anyone in your clan be a traitor?”

“For money?”

“Have you hired anyone after you moved into the castle?” she asked. Bhictoria had said Dashiell would but she didn’t know who was new and who had always been with Dashiell. “Besides, my brother.”

“Aye, we have. That’s one of the things we need to discuss with Fallon and Quinn.” Dashiell leaned down and kissed her forehead.

She smiled at him.

“You are the center of the mystery. We need to determine when MacAfee was in the woods looking for you and about Michael’s arrival here. Maybe we could put our heads together and learn who might be a culprit.”

“Your aunt should be in on this. She is very observant.”

Dashiell nodded. “Aye, that’s a good idea.”

Once they finished their stroll, Dashiell asked, “Are you ready to do it now?”

“Aye, if you are.” She knew how important it was to find a spy and stop him or her if there was one.

“I willna be able to sleep until we begin this process.”

Then they left the garden, and Dashiell told Paden, who was speaking to Ruadh, “Tell Quinn, Fallon, and Lady Yvaine that Ella and I want to meet with them in my solar.”

“Aye, my laird.” Paden ran off while Dashiell took Ella’s hand and headed for the keep.

When they reached the sitting area next to his bed chamber, it wasn’t long before Lady Yvaine, Quinn, and Fallon joined them. Paden stood by, waiting to see if he was needed any longer.

“Can you get us some ale, Paden?”

“Aye, my laird.” He rushed out of the solar and through the chamber, shutting the door on his way out.

“We may have someone on our staff working for Lennox, Ella’s uncle, who had stayed behind when he and his son and the other traitors who were loyal to him were banished from the clan,” Dashiell said. “Or mayhap who works for MacAfee.”

“Fallon and I have looked into this possibility since we learned that these men were after Ella,” Quinn said. “But we haven’t discovered anything yet.”

“Mayhap, a former clan member who had been with Lennox when he was banished, remained behind and worked in the village so he could be hired on your staff when you took over,” Fallon said.

“Nay. I would have recognized him or her if I’d seen them. If one of MacAfee’s men had lived in the village once he sold the castle to you, his man would have notified him earlier about the rumors that we lived in the forest, I would think,” Ella said.

“I agree,” Dashiell said.

“Since MacAfee and his men killed most everyone at the castle when they were here, I believe it’s more likely that the person was hired here later to see if I turned up—once you moved into the castle, dinna you think? Mayhap that I had even sought refuge with your people or planned to tell you what he and his men had done to my people.”

“Aye,” Dashiell said. “We need to learn if anyone who joined us after we moved here has frequently visited the forest or even the village and heard the rumors there.”

“We have to be careful about questioning anyone, or the news will spread through the clan,” Lady Yvaine said. “You know how rumors fly when any interesting news is shared.”

“Aye. We need to know who joined us after we moved in. It’s very possible that if he…or she…gets word we’re looking into this, the person will vanish from the castle,” Dashiell said. “If someone lives among us is working for MacAfee or Lennox, we need to know immediately.”

“And eliminate the threat,” Fallon said.

“Aye,” Dashiell said.

Yvaine leaned over and squeezed Ella’s hand. “I have an idea. I will have you meet all the women. Though you have seen quite a few, you havena had time to meet them truly.”

“Oh, I like that idea,” Ella said.

“It will appear innocent enough. You will oversee the staff and need to know everyone. At the same time, I can see who is new to me on the staff and then we’ll have to determine when they joined us. You willna know who is new and who has been with us forever.”

“That is an excellent idea.” Ella smiled at her, grateful that his aunt seemed delighted to take part in the venture

“I agree. We can do the same with Ella meeting the clansmen,” Dashiell said. “I will take her around to meet everyone because ‘tis just as important for her to know the males on the staff, whom she will also be in charge of.”

“What about the ones who hunt with you?” Ella asked. “If one of the men is new?—”

“None,” Quinn said. “Everyone who hunts has been with us since they were bairns and grew up in the clan.”

“All right, I’m sure it’s someone who has joined the clan after you moved here, but here’s another possibility,” Ella said.

Dashiell let out his breath. “That someone who has been with us all these years has become a traitor and paid or threatened to spy on us.”

“Aye,” Ella said. “A disagreeable notion, but it should be considered also.”

“Aye,” Yvaine said.

Everyone else agreed.

“Do we tell your brother and Mina? No’ Amelda. She is too young,” Lady Yvaine said.

“I believe my brother should know about it,” Ella said.

“Aye,” Lady Yvaine said.

Ella put her finger to her lips and then raised it. “I dinna want him to question anyone, but just listen to see if he overhears anything. If he doesna know what we suspect, he might be unaware about a traitor in our midst.”

“Aye. He’s ten, and after having lived in hiding for all these years, I’m sure he will do well as a spy on his own while learning what he needs to as the blacksmith’s apprentice,” Dashiell said.

“As to Mina, aye, she needs to know at once that someone might be a spy on the staff,” Ella said. “I will tell her before we all retire to bed.”

“Aye,” Dashiell said, hoping it wouldn’t take too long. He was ready to join his bonny wife in bed already. “I believe a man would more likely be responsible, but we canna discount the women. My aunt taking Ella to see the women first is the best way to handle this right after we break our fast in the morn.”

“Do you think we should have all the women gathered together, as well as the men, when we do this?” his aunt asked. “If we dinna, someone might no’ be accounted for, and we would miss them.”

“Aye. And we can ask the others if everyone who is supposed to be there is, in case we dinna see that anyone is missing,” Dashiell said.

“Some leave early for the village to do their tasks,” Quinn said.

“We will make sure no one leaves the grounds; keep the gates locked until Ella has a chance to meet all the women,” Dashiell said. “Everyone will be at the great hall for the nooning meal, and we can do the same then with the men. The men willna return to their tasks until Ella has met all of them. Does anyone else have anything to offer?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Then on the morrow, we’ll carry out the plan.”

“I’ll return as soon as I tell Mina what is going on,” Ella said.

Dashiell kissed Ella as Yvaine, Quinn, and Fallon said their good nights. “Dinna take too long, or I will come for you, Ella.” He sounded anxious that she wouldn’t return to him.

Ella laughed. “I willna take too long.” Then she kissed him and left the chamber, but Ruadh was still there, and she realized he was her guard along with another. She frowned. “Are you all right? You should be abed.”

Ruadh shook his head. “I dinna want to be relieved of my job. Where are we off to now?”

“You wouldna be. I would make sure of it. We’re off to my, uh, Mina and Amelda’s chamber.” She had to remember she no longer resided in her chamber but with Dashiell, and she loved it.

Ruadh escorted her to her former chamber where Bac was standing guard.

When she entered the chamber, Ruadh closed the door for her. “Mina, I hoped you would be awake still.”

“Aye. I need my sleep.” She motioned to Amelda, who was asleep in the big bed. “As do the bairns. I thought you would be in your chamber with your husband, lass.”

“Aye. Quinn, Fallon, Lady Yvaine, Dashiell, and I have discussed that someone may be a spy on the staff who reported our whereabouts to Lennox and MacAfee.”

“I have thought the same. 'Tis unlikely that they both move far away, thinking you are gone forever and suddenly are hunting for you in the woods, at least in MacAfee’s case. With Lennox, he knew you were at Cairn Castle. Again, how did he know so fortuitously? I believe someone is sending one or both of them missives.”

“I believe so. You dinna, um, see anything about it, do you?” Ella asked.

“Nay, I would have told you right away. I will listen and see what I can learn also. Your brother is a good listener. ‘Tis good that you are keeping him informed on what is going on. He needs to be aware of it.”

“That’s what I believe. I’m off to be with my husband before he comes and gets me.” She hugged Mina.

“He is good for you. I’m proud of you for going through all you have, finding your voice, and proving to him you can help solve the mystery.”

“I just hope we can do it quickly.”

“Aye, I do as well.” Then she hugged Ella back and wished her a good night.

Ruadh escorted Ella back to her chamber and found Dashiell writing a missive at the table in the room. He hurried to shove it under a book, and she frowned at him. “Are you keeping secrets from me?”

He looked anxious but shook his head, took hold of her, and embraced her warmly. “I feared you would see the parchment and become terrified again.”

She sighed with relief, then smiled. “Nay. Who are you writing to?”

“The king. I already sent him a missive, but I wanted to send another to ensure he received the first one. I want him to know what happened to your family. Now that you can speak, and your brother is a witness also, we need to speak with him. If we can find the blacksmith also, that would help.”

Ella didn’t believe she would be so nervous when she went to see all the women in the clan the next morning. It wasn’t that she was afraid of meeting them. Maybe she wouldn’t remember everyone when she saw them again, but she prayed that no one had anything to do with being a spy for her enemies.

She watched them as Lady Yvaine introduced her to all the staff, even those she knew, like Flora and Mai, their healer, Paige, and Olivia, holding her baby boy in her arms. Olivia was so sweet to offer her son to her, and Ella loved holding onto him and looking into his pretty gray eyes. She kissed his forehead, and he gave her a wee smile. She smiled and gave him back to Olivia.

“He is beautiful.” Ella hoped she would have bairns one day.

“We are grateful to you,” Olivia said.

“I’m glad that I was able to help you.”

Ella was watching to see if anyone acted guiltily, lowering their eyes when they met her or even boldly like they were glad to cause trouble for her. She hadn’t expected one of the women to ask, “Do you run with the wolves?”

And another asked, “And fly as an owl in the night?”

Ella laughed. She couldn’t help it, though she considered if someone might be looking away from her. It was not because they felt guilty but because they feared her. She hoped no one would.

“I’ve heard the wolves howling and fed an orphaned wolf pup until he could hunt alone. Flying as an owl would be fascinating, and I often heard them hooting in the night or seeing their golden eyes, but nay. I’m just like all of you.”

But the women didn’t appear to believe that. One of them said to the others in a hushed voice, “Except she can heal like no other healer can.”

Which wasn’t true. Mina was more skilled than Ella, she felt. But she ignored the comment, afraid some would believe she could hear like the wolves.

She continued to meet and greet everyone, but when they were done, she finally said, “How many of you are new to the clan…like me?” She wanted to include herself so she did not sound like she had another reason to single them out.

Seven women raised their hands. She assumed that if anyone didn’t know who was new, the others would ensure that Ella knew. Lying to the new chief’s wife wouldn’t be a good idea.

“That must mean the rest of you have always been with the clan?”

The other women smiled and agreed.

“That is always a good sign that you are happy with your kinsmen and women,” she said. “Where are you from for those of you who are new?”

Four spoke up and said they were from the village. “It was hard making enough to live off in the village. MacAfee wouldna hire us because he said he had enough staff. But the other lasses and I sought employment with Dashiell, and Lady Yvaine hired us on.”

“Aye,” Yvaine said. “You all had skills we could use—a baker, a tailor, and two of you were eager to work at anything we had you do. So one of you has made an excellent gardener, and the other is in charge of our washerwomen. We’re happy you’re with us and hope you are too.”

Since Yvaine had praised them, Ella felt she was trying to tell her that the women were beyond reproach. But that didn’t mean that they still might have found other incentives to come to work for Dashiell. Or any of his people, either.

“I came from down south,” one of the women said. “My mother died when I was young. Bandits murdered my father. I traveled north with my brother until we reached Cairn Castle and asked for employment.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your losses,” Ella said. “I know how you feel.”

“Thanks be to thee.”

Ella glanced at one of the other women who had not said where she was from. “I had been with MacAfee.”

Ella felt chilled at hearing her words.

“No’ here,” she said, “but I joined him and his kin up north after he left here. I overheard him talking to his men about departing his castle and leaving someone behind. He mentioned killing her family, and that’s when I left. I had to know if he was speaking the truth or bragging to his men like some would.”

Ella couldn’t believe the woman would overhear the conversation and not tell Dashiell about it when she was hired here.

“I was also afraid MacAfee would learn that I had overheard what he had said, and since I was new, he might no’ believe I was loyal to him. I didna know if he and MacTavish were friends once they celebrated here together.”

Ella recalled Mina always telling her, her brother, and her cousin to speak the truth as close to it as they could, and then they would be less likely to be caught up in a lie. What if that was the case with this woman? She was sent here to spy, maybe not a member of his clan, but hired by him to go to work for Dashiell and to listen, to learn if Ella had survived.

“So why come here then?” Ella asked.

“I wanted to know if it was true. I believed that MacAfee wouldna return here, but after the fights in the forest, I realized I had assumed wrong,” the woman said.

“That is Jennie,” Lady Yvaine said as if giving Ella her name to say she believed she might be the spy.

“Did you learn if it was true? That MacAfee killed the woman’s family?” Ella asked.

“I believe you are the lady MacAfee lost. And that he did kill your family, or you wouldna be living in the forest with only your brother, cousin, and the healer. I was afraid, once I learned of all of you and didna tell anyone, the laird would have me fired.”

Ella nodded, then turned to the last woman. “And you?”

“I’m Rita, and I lived on a croft near here. My family forced me out because I wouldna marry a lad they wanted me to, and so I came here to seek work. I work with the sheep.”

That would be simple to verify. Ella looked at Lady Yvaine. She nodded.

“I thank you for helping me to meet the ladies in the clan, Lady Yvaine. Ladies, I look forward to getting to know you better. If anyone has any concerns or issues, please feel free to come speak with me.”

Most of the ladies smiled, and then she dismissed them to do their duties. All the women but Paige started to leave. “Amelda and I will work on the secret garden today if it pleases you,” Paige said.

“Aye. Thank you for taking her under your wing.”

“She is a hard worker but cheerful and fun to work with. And inquisitive? Oh, aye, and yet she has taught me many things about the plants in the forest—which are safe to harvest and which are no’ that she is a wealth of information.”

“She loves to be out-of-doors. I’m glad she has you to watch over her.” And a guard. They still had guards always posted for each of them.

Once everyone had dispersed, Lady Yvaine said, “I will investigate Rita’s family situation immediately. What about Jenny?”

“She seems the most suspect, but she may be telling the truth. It’s hard to say. I need to meet with the men as well.”

“And the other women who are new to the clan?” Yvaine asked.

“I wouldna write them off either. And truly, anyone, yourself no’ included, could be the culprit. Does anyone seem to have nicer things or extra money to spare that would be beyond their capability in the position they hold?” Ella wasn’t sure they could discover that either.

“The only way to know that would be to enlist the help of a couple of maids who could look into it without appearing suspicious.”

“The more people who know what we’re doing, the more likely someone will catch us at it and learn the reason for it.” Ella didn’t think that would work at all.

“Aye. If the person is afraid that we are onto him or her, the spy may vanish, and we’ll no longer have any issues.”

“However, I want to know what they are getting out of the situation. I’m off to see Dashiell, but we’ll talk later.”

“You know you have brightened his outlook on everything since he found you and brought you home. I’m glad he did. He is happier than I have ever seen him. We will get rid of this spy one way or another,” Yvaine said.

“I’m sure we will. Oh, I wonder if the person will decide to try to remain here and not be a spy for MacAfee anymore.”

“‘Tis possible, but I suspect that willna be the case. Besides, he or she has already involved Dashiell and his men in the skirmishes.”

“True,” Ella admitted. “If no one had said I was in the forest, MacAfee wouldna have returned there looking for me, I’m certain. And Dashiell and later Ruadh wouldn’t have been injured.”

“I agree.”

Then they hugged, and Ella saw Paden and called him over. “Do you know where your laird is?”

“Aye. He went on a hunt, my lady.”

“When I am now here?”

Paden smiled. “For wild boar this time. A farmer was herding a couple of cows through the forest, and a wild boar attacked him.”

“Has the farmer been brought in to see the healer?”

“Aye, and his cows are in the corral. He’s in the barracks. Mai went to attend to him, and then Mina too. We are lucky to be with this clan. We have more healers than in any other clan.”

“I will see to him also.” Then Ella hurried off to the massive keep doors, and a guard opened one for her.

She and Ruadh headed for the barracks. “I take it you have been with Dashiell always.”

“Aye, my lady. He knows all my faults just as I know all his.”

She smiled at him. “I will have to question you about them.”

“Mine or his?”

She laughed, glad that many of Dashiell’s people seemed fond of her. But when she reached the barracks, she grew serious and walked inside. Mina and Mai were caring for a man lying on a bed, bandaging his legs, and giving him ale, while three men were there to help with whatever they needed.

“Is it bad?” she asked the healers.

“Nay. He was lucky that the bore grazed him, though he bled a lot, and we have to watch over him to ensure he doesna end up with an infection,” Mina said. “We’ve already applied the poultice.”

The man was lying there looking tranquil, unlike someone a boar had just gored. Maybe it wasn't as serious as it seemed. Mina tended to downplay injuries with small untruths to help them feel better. Was that what was happening now?

Perhaps the man had drunk so much ale that he was simply numb to the pain, or maybe Mina had calmed him like she had taught Ella to do. Would she teach Mai the same technique?

Then Mina took Ella aside from the men’s hearing and said, “I meant to be with you when you met the lasses of the clan. Do you suspect anyone?”

“There are seven women who didna belong to the clan until after Dashiell moved into the castle. Any one of them, or anyone in the clan who wanted more money, might have told MacAfee where I was. Even some of the villagers, truth be told.”

“Aye. What about the men?” Mina asked.

“I will meet them after the meal. I was going to speak to Dashiell about what I learned, but then I was told he went on a hunt to take down the boar with his men.”

“Aye. Another lass is in labor. I was going to see her. Do you want to come with me, or stay here with Mai? Or have you other duties to perform?”

Ella smiled at her. It would take some time for them to understand that she oversaw the staff and wasn’t just a healer for the people now. However, if an emergency arose, such as an injury or the birth of a child, she would drop everything to help.

“What would you have me do?” Ella asked.

Mina smiled. “You are in charge now. I would have you do what you think is best. But I will say since staying in the castle, I have had a decent sleep and food, and I willna speak of dying soon any longer.”

Ella hugged her. “You have no idea how much that pleases me.” Then she frowned. “Is the woman in childbirth alone?”

“Nay, two other women are with her. Mai and I were there until the farmer was injured.”

“I will go see her then. You can come with me if Mai doesna need any assistance. I havena met the woman giving birth then, and I need to learn if she has been with the clan all along or has no’ been.”

“Aye.” Mina told Mai, “If you are good with us checking on Zella, we are returning to the castle.”

“The farmer is sleeping now. I will stay here and make sure he doesna have a fever, but go. I’ll be up to check on things in a while.”

Ella wished she could ask Mai if the woman was new to the clan, but she didn’t want to speak about it in front of the other men. Then she and Mina returned to the keep and climbed the stairs to the chamber where Zella was having the baby.

She was in labor, and the other three women there quickly bowed their heads to Ella.

“I havena met any of you,” Ella said, smiling. “I was able to meet everyone else below the stairs.”

Mai checked the woman in labor to see how she was progressing. “It willna be long.”

“Have you been with the MacTavish clan all along, or at least before he came to Cairn Castle?” Ella asked, applying a cool, wet cloth to the pregnant mother’s forehead.

“I have been,” one of the women said. “My sister, who is having the baby, has been also. We were shocked when we learned Laird MacTavish had bartered his land for the castle. But once we saw it, we were thrilled.”

“I havena been with the clan all along,” another woman said. “My brother and I had worked as butchers in the village, but there are two other butchers, and they were causing us trouble.”

“Oh?”

“Aye. We spoke with MacTavish about the matter since he oversees everything that goes on and he hired us to work for him. He is much more generous than what we earned in the village.”

“Oh, I’m so happy for you.” Ella was glad that Dashiell was fair, though she expected no less from him.

“I am…the daughter of one of…the men who betrayed your…uh, da,” a meek, red-haired woman said, freckles bridging her nose and dotting her cheeks. She had to be about Ella’s age. “I take…care…of the babies when the women…work.”

Ella frowned at her. She didn’t remember her. “If you were with Lennox, why did you come here?”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’m Venetia. You probably dinna remember me. I was sixteen when we left. My mother had died the year before that. The other men with Laird Lennox that had tried to overthrow your da didna have children or wives, except for Laird Lennox’s son, Michael.”

Ella studied her expression to determine whether she was telling the truth.

“My fifteen-year-old brother and I were the only younger ones with them—besides your cousin, Michael. My brother and I had to leave with our da. I wanted to stay at the castle where my friends were,” Venetia said.

Ella felt bad for her unless this was all a made-up story.

“This was where I belonged if it hadna been for my da and your uncle’s treachery. When I saw Michael come here and then Lennox, I was afraid they would see me and want to kill me for leaving their clan and coming here.”

Ella wondered why she had not told MacTavish that she had been with Ella’s clan initially but had gone with her da, Lennox, and the other traitors and had lived there for the last five years.

“Michael saw me and gave me the coldest glower. Our da had died, and my brother and I found our way here with a caravan of farmers who had gone to market. They offered us a ride. I was surprised when I learned your da and the rest of you were gone, with no word about where you had gone. But then MacTavish hired us.”

Ella was still frowning at her. If they thought her da still ruled, why would they have thought her da would have allowed them to return to the clan? Could MacAfee have sent her to spy on them? A woman who appeared terrified of her own shadow? Could Lennox have hired her and her brother to spy on the situation there?

“You are welcome here,” Ella said. “But I wish to speak with you further.”

The woman’s lower lip quivered.

“Come. We’ll speak in my old bedchamber in private.”

Venetia nodded, looking like she was bound for the dungeon. The other women appeared just as anxious for her but said nothing. “Will you be all right without me for a wee bit? This shouldna take long,” Ella asked Mina.

“Go. I can handle this, and when you’re finished, you can join me.”

“Good. Come, Venetia.” Then Ella led her out the door, and they walked to her bedchamber. “I’m serious about you staying here. I need to ask some questions because of what I went through, though.”

“Aye, of course.”

Then they walked into Ella’s former bedchamber and took seats in the solar. “Tell me, did you ever witness MacAfee visit my uncle?”

“Aye, often. Or Laird Lennox would visit Laird MacAfee at his castle. MacAfee is still building the keep on his land, but the first two stone towers and the wall between them are complete. The rest is built of wood until they can be replaced with stone.”

Maybe someone would attack him when he was more vulnerable before he could build a better-fortified fortress. Ella could only hope for all his treachery that he wouldn’t live to do anything evil like that to anyone else.

“Did you ever overhear anything that was said?”

Venetia wrung her hands. “He said he would do whatever he could to ensure he got the woman he wanted for his mate.”

“Me?” Ella asked.

“I didna know who he was talking about. I was never privy to who MacAfee wanted to wed.”

Was Venetia being honest? Or not?