Connor closed his eyes and rubbed the space between his brows where a raging headache was starting. He reminded himself that Ilysa was Duncan’s sister, and therefore he should not yell at her. All the same, she needed to understand her place. He took a deep breath.
“I give ye a free hand with the kitchens and the servants,” he said, biting out the words. “But I am your chieftain, and ye will not attempt to tell me what to do.”
“Ye don’t understand,” she said, her voice rising. “I had a vision.”
God help him, Teàrlag taught her how to mix a few salves and now Ilysa believed she had The Sight.
“I don’t have time for such foolishness.” Connor set the summons on his table and took her arm.
“Hugh wants to murder ye,” Ilysa said as he led her to the door.
“There’s nothing new about that. He’s wanted to kill me for years.” Connor opened the door and put a hand at her back. “Don’t ever question my judgment again. Now go.”
***
Connor felt guilty when he saw Ilysa across the courtyard. Ever since he had spoken harshly to her after his uncle’s visit two days ago, she dropped her gaze whenever she passed him. She was a sweet, delicate lass. While he could not tolerate her interference, he had not meant to hurt her feelings.
She had barely spoken a word to him since. Odd, how much that unsettled him. He liked and respected Ilysa, and it did not feel right having this discord between them. When their paths crossed in the middle of the courtyard and she stopped to speak with him, he was relieved.
“Your favorite dog has had pups,” she said, her face bright. “I can show them to ye when ye have a moment.”
Connor had a great many things to do before he left, but this should not take long. Besides, he wanted to make things right between them.
“I can see them now,” he said. “Where is Maggie?”
“She’s hidden her pups well,” Ilysa said, with a small smile. “Come inside, and I’ll show ye.”
Connor followed her down into the undercroft and past the kitchens, which were oddly quiet. When she opened the door to a storeroom, he followed her inside. He tamped down the impatience tugging at him when he looked about and did not see his dog amid the sacks of oats and barley.
Ilysa surprised him by dropping to her knees and lifting a board from the floor. Beneath it was a dark hole. Puzzled, Connor stooped beside her. On closer inspection, he saw that there was a ladder in the hole.
“What is this?” he asked.
“Cook told me it leads down into a secret part of the dungeon, built for special prisoners.”
“Special?” Connor grunted. “Why has no one told me about it?”
“Cook’s grandfather showed it to him when he was a young lad. I don’t think anyone else knows about it except perhaps a couple of the old folk.” Ilysa smiled and added, “And your dog.”
“How did Maggie get down there?” he asked, trying to see down into the hole.
“I couldn’t find it, but there must be another entrance.” Ilysa turned around to back down the ladder and put her foot on the first rung.
“No need for you to go,” Connor said.
“I must show ye where she’s hiding,” Ilysa said. “You can carry the torch.”
“All right, but I’ll go first.”
The smell of damp earth filled Connor’s nose as he climbed down through the narrow tunnel. When he reached the bottom rung of the ladder, he dropped to the floor, then lifted Ilysa down. Such a slender waist she had. He looked around and saw that they were in a stone-walled passageway. Many castles had secret tunnels like this.
“Maggie and her pups are in there,” Ilysa said, pointing into the darkness.
Connor followed the tunnel around a corner and through an open iron grate door into what was surely a cell. He lifted the torch to see into the corners, looking for his damned dog. Something was odd, but he could not quite put his finger on it. Ach, there were no rats scurrying before him, and no spiderwebs. That was it.
When the door slammed behind him, he thought it had been blown shut.But there is no wind. He turned around, wondering what happened.
“Ilysa?” He raised his torch higher. Where had she gone?