“It’s her lover MacKay’s,” Lachlan said. “But the Sinclairs will claim it’s Alex’s and say the babe came early.”
“How did ye hear this?” Finn asked.
“One of the Sinclair men got drunk and told a maidservant he was trying to bed,” Lachlan said. “First chance she had to leave the castle, she came and told me.”
“We can’t wait any longer,” Finn said. “We must rescue Alex.”
“Aye,” Lachlan said. “Ye can count on me and my clansmen.”
“Good,” Finn said, gripping Lachlan’s shoulder.
Finn was glad he could rely on the Murrays, who were longstanding allies of the Gordons, bound by their mutual hatred of the Sinclairs. It went without saying that they would have to rescue Alex without the help of any men who were at Helmsdale at the time of the poisoning, including the Gordon guards.
“If we could get word to Alex,” Finn said, “would he be able to meet us outside of the castle?”
“The Sinclairs never allow him to take a horse out,” Lachlan said. “But I’m told they let him walk along the shore in front of the castle.”
“Then we’ll ask him to meet us on the strand, down the shore from the castle,” Finn said. “We can have a boat waiting there and spirit him away.”
“The problem is getting the message to Alex,” Lachlan said. “We’re asking him to take a big risk running for it from the beach. I wouldn’t do it unless I got the message from someone I trusted.”
“Aye, you or I need to go into Dunrobin,” Finn said.
“Not you,” Lachlan said. “George Sinclair and his family know ye too well.”
“They’ll not recognize me dressed as a peddler,” Finn said, with a grin.
“’Tis too risky,” Lachlan said, shaking his head.
“Alex trusts me and will do as I tell him,” Finn said. “Besides that, I fostered with my uncle at Dunrobin and know the castle better than you.”
“I should do it. They don’t know my face like they know yours.”
“Nay, it has to be me,” Finn said. “I want to be the one to steal Alex out from under George’s nose. That will make the victory all the sweeter.”
After all the damn sitting and waiting, he could finally do something. He could save Alex. And he would.
###
Before leaving, Finn forced himself to climb the stairs to his father’s chamber, where he found Una sitting beside the bed. He had to hide his shock when he saw his father. Gilbert had aged twenty years in the week since Bearach’s death. His ruddy complexion had changed to a chalky pallor. Through years of heavy drinking, he’d retained a warrior’s muscular build. But now, he looked hollowed out and caved in on himself as he lay on the bed.
“He wants to speak with ye alone,” Una said, and gestured for Finn to take her seat next to the bed.
Finn sank into it, dreading another awkward talk with his father. His father’s eyes flickered open when the door clicked shut behind Una.
“I’m here.” Finn took his father’s hand, something he could not remember doing even as a bairn.
“I must tell ye something before I die,” his father said. “And don’t tell me I’m not dying. I know I am.”
Finn did not want to hear his father confess his regret that he had not done more for him, had not protected him from his mother’s bile or done any of the other things a father should. None of it mattered now, but if it would ease his father’s passing, Finn could not deny him.
“I’m listening,” Finn said. “What is it ye wish to say to me?”
“The truth!” The force with which Finn’s father expelled the word caused a coughing spell that racked his body.
Finn retrieved the cup Una had left on the small table and lifted his father up to help him drink.
“Make it whisky next time,” his father said as he collapsed back on the pillows.