Connor would never hear the end of it from the three of them, though he could count on them never to undermine his authority by speaking of it to anyone else.
"Ilysa is as stubborn as her brother. She just hides it behind a sweet manner," Alex said. "That must have been why ye sent her packing to Dunscaith, aye? I'd say ye owe her an apology."
Connor's stomach dropped. Alex had no idea how wrong he was.
"A large gift is in order, for she saved your sorry arse," Alex said. "What would ye say your life is worth? A fine horse? A bag of gold?"
Ilysa had saved him. Did this mean he was wrong about the rest? But he had seen her meeting with the MacLeod. There was no mistaking that. He could think of no reason for their meeting except treachery, but he should have heard her out. He owed her that.
He was anxious to go talk to her. Yet he had such a weakness for Ilysa that he decided to tell Alex about her meeting with the MacLeod and hear his thoughts first. Connor took a gulp of his whiskey. He dreaded telling him what Ilysa had done, knowing how fond Alex was of her.
"Alex, there is something I must tell ye." He paused. "'Tis about Ilysa."
"For God's sake, Connor," Alex said, springing to his feet. "You're fooking Duncan's baby sister, aren't ye? I knew it!"
This was not what he had intended to disclose to Alex, but his cousin was exceptionally perceptive about such things.
"Ye can stop worrying about Hugh and the MacLeods," Alex said, gesturing with his hands as he paced the room. "Duncan will kill ye first."
* * *
Ilysa must have fallen asleep, for she was dreaming of Connor when a knock on the door awoke her. Her first thought was that it was him, and she scrambled out of bed and opened the door without bothering to wrap a plaid about her.
In the glow of the torchlight from the stairwell, she saw that it was Lachlan. Disappointment weighed down on her chest. It was a long moment before she realized Lachlan was staring holes into her and still longer before she remembered she was in just her nightshift. When she swung the door closed, Lachlan stuck his foot in it. He looked past her, taking in the open chest and the clothes laid out.
"What do ye want?" she asked, leaning out from behind the door.
"My sister's youngest is gravely ill," he said. "She sent my nephew to fetch you. He's waiting in the boat. Will ye come?"
"Of course," she said. "I'll just be a moment."
She did not even know Lachlan had a sister, yet there was no mistaking the worry in his voice. After closing the door, she quickly donned her gown and heavy cloak, then gathered the herbs she thought she might need into her basket.
Chapter 39
Let me do the talking," Lachlan told Ilysa as they approached the gate. Fortunately, the guards were Trotternish men who knew him well and were accustomed to his comings and goings in the night.
"The chieftain said no one is to leave," one of them said without much conviction.
"I'm the new captain of the guard," Lachlan reminded them - and wondered if he still would be when he returned tomorrow. "The chieftain gave me permission to take Ilysa to visit an ill child."
Some truth was better than none, and it satisfied the guards. Lachlan had not bothered seeking Connor's permission once he discovered how adamant Connor was that Ilysa, in particular, not leave the castle. He assumed the pair were having a dispute over the arrival of Connor's bride. Love may make the chieftain behave foolishly, but Lachlan was not about to let his niece die because of it.
"This is Ewan," Lachlan told Ilysa, nodding toward the shadowy figure of his nephew in the small boat when they reached the shore. In quick succession, he lifted her into the boat, pushed off, and leaped over the side.
"You're coming with us?" Ilysa asked, sounding surprised.
"Ewan is a good lad, but I can't send ye off in the night with only an eleven-year-old to protect ye." Lachlan spoke in a low voice as he took up the oars and began to row. "Besides, if wee Brigid should...well, I'd want to be there."
Lachlan was grateful that Ilysa was not one of those lasses who had to talk. Since Connor had a habit of staring