To her amazement, her grandfather patted her hand.
“Our laird is ever the modest man so I’ll share his news, my kinsmen.” Roland, still standing, seemed as if he could hardly contain himself. “Even now, our laird’s new wife carries his heir. In a matter of months, we’ll welcome the next MacGahan laird into the world!”
Cheers and applause and shouts of congratulations greeted Roland’s announcement, with people banging their tankards against their tabletops and stomping their feet on the stone floors.
Isa studied her grandfather’s pale face as he pushed back his chair and rose slowly to his feet. He looked so much older than she’d noticed before, the lines of his face etched more deeply than she remembered.
“Aye, what Roland tells you is true. My...” He paused, looking down at Agneys next to him before continuing. “My wife, Agneys, tells me she carries my, our, child. And today, before all of you as witnesses, I declare that should this bairn be a male child, he will be the next MacGahan laird.” Here he paused again, allowing the hall to erupt into more cheers and clapping until, at last, he lifted a hand, motioning for silence.
“You also stand witness to this—should the bairn Agneys carries be a female child, I hereby name my granddaughter Isabella as my rightful heir, and declare that whoever Isabella chooses as husband will be the next MacGahan laird.”
A hush fell over the room and Isa felt as if every pair of eyes in the room bore into her. Under the table, she laid her hand on Robbie’s thigh, not caring whether or not it was appropriate behavior. When his big fingers closed around hers she felt for a moment as if she might weep with relief at having him there with her.
After what felt like an eternity, a scattering of applause broke out across the room until, at last, all joined in.
The MacGahan laird held up his hand once more, quieting the crowd. “Now, my kinsmen and friends, let us drink and eat and enjoy the celebration of my wedding feast. Let the music begin!”
From the corner of the hall, notes from a pipe and a harp floated into the air, all but drowned out as conversation in the hall resumed.
Robbie gave her hand another squeeze and then stood, leaning down to whisper into her ear.
“Yer no to leave this table until I return. Stay at yer grandfather’s side. Give me yer word you’ll do as I say.”
She started to refuse, to demand he take her along with him or at the very least tell her where he was going, but, in all honesty, she simply didn’t have the energy left for it. The day had been too long and she’d dealt with too much. Her mind was awash in the complexity of all she didn’t understand. From Robbie’s claims about Jamie to her grandfather’s inexplicable announcement, she needed time to process it all. The last thing she wanted right now was to argue with Robbie.
“You have my word.”
With one irritated look back at the table on the dais, Robert hurried through the door and out toward the kitchens.
Damn the laird for his thoughtless need to name an heir tonight! Surely the old man must realize he’d all but signed Isa’s death warrant with that public declaration. If he hadn’t known before he spoke, the black anger on Lardiner’s face afterward should have clearly shown him his error.
This would likely be Robert’s only opportunity to speak to Auld Annie—now, while Isa was surrounded by her grandfather and his guards. He wanted to learn as much as the old woman would tell him about Isa’s childhood. Perhaps somewhere in that knowledge he could find the key to persuading her she must leave this place and journey to his family’s home, where she would be safe.
Because if anything, this day had convinced him that they would find safety neither inside this castle nor at her cottage. Her grandfather’s performance minutes earlier had assured that Isa was a marked woman.
To make matters worse, they would be staying overnight here at the castle. He’d rather have faced traveling in darkness than risking the night within these walls, but the laird had insisted and Isa had given in to his pleas.
Robert was thankful to find the hallway to Annie’s room empty. The fewer people who knew he spoke to her, the better for all of them. Though he was anxious for whatever she could tell him, he certainly didn’t like the idea of endangering her life. Or worse, Jamie’s life.
Damn, but he missed the simple things he’d become accustomed to using. He’d give a small fortune for ten minutes’ use of a flashlight. At least he’d been here earlier this day, or he’d likely not find the entryway to Annie’s room in the darkened hallway. Trailing his fingers along the wall, he kept count of the doors he passed, knowing hers would be the fourth.
He gave only small thought to the lack of guards posted, suspecting the possibility that the door would be locked when he reached it. But the handle gave way easily and he slipped noiselessly into the dark, stifling space.
The room was strangely silent and pitch-black. He held his position, back to the door, waiting to see if his eyes would adjust.
“Annie?” He kept his voice to a whisper, knowing only that something felt wrong in this room.
Across from him, tiny dots of orange floated in the inky black. Embers in the fireplace.
He searched his memory for the layout he’d seen during his visit earlier today. Once he crossed to the fireplace, he should find a chair angled to the right and a bed off to the left. There should also be a small candle on the shelf by the fireplace.
Holding his arms out in front of him, he made his way slowly across the room toward the miniature orange fireflies. There’d been a stack of wood by the fireplace this afternoon, so why the old woman would allow her fire to burn down so low was beyond him.
When he reached the fireplace, he ran his hand over the wall until his fingers bumped into the candleholder. The acrid smell of the tallow hit his nose the instant he bent down and stuck the candle into the embers.
The light wasn’t strong, but at least it was light. Shadows jumped around him when he turned to survey the room.
Across from him, a lump in the covers of Annie’s bed drew his attention. Even before he drew the covers back, he knew what he’d find. He should have recognized the odd feel to the room when he’d first entered.