Highlander Most Wanted Page 0,77

to tell Graeme all, he would bring his brother around on the matter of Genevieve. No matter what it took.

He hadn’t set it in his mind exactly what his plans were regarding the lass. He knew only that he didn’t want to be without her. And, in order to ensure that, he had to convince Graeme to offer her sanctuary within the very clan that Genevieve had betrayed.

That was assuming that Genevieve bore any affection at all for him.

It was a matter he had to drive from his mind, because the alternative didn’t bear thinking about.

“Let us go within, where we may speak,” Bowen said.

Graeme started to gesture toward Teague to accompany him and Bowen inside when Bowen put out his hand to stop his brother.

“Nay,” Bowen said quietly. “What I have to say needs be said in private.”

Teague’s eyebrows rose and Graeme’s eyes narrowed as he studied Bowen. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded.

“Very well. Then let us go and discuss what’s on your mind.”

Bowen issued an order for Graeme’s horse to be attended to, and then he and Graeme left Teague and Brodie standing in the courtyard.

Forgoing the hall, where he should have offered his brother refreshment after his travels, he instead stopped a serving woman and issued a command for her to serve him and Graeme inside his chamber.

“Your secrecy is making me extremely curious,” Graeme said as they mounted the stairs. “Is aught amiss?”

Bowen remained silent until they were behind the closed door of his chamber. He directed Graeme to make himself comfortable in one of the chairs by the fire.

Graeme shook the travel dust from his tunic before easing down to stretch his legs before the fire.

“You worried me, Bowen,” Graeme began. “ ’Tis the truth I suffered great fright when I received word that the keep had been attacked and you were injured. Eveline was distraught. ’Twas difficult to persuade her to remain behind under the protection of her kin.”

Bowen grimaced. “ ’Twas not a serious matter. Were it not for the fact that Brodie kept pouring a potion down my throat, I would have been up from my sickbed in much less than two days.”

Graeme pursed his lips and studied Bowen. “How have things worked with the Armstrongs?”

“All is well. Aiden departed with Teague, but Brodie remained behind to lend his aid. ’Tis fortunate for me that he did. We may not have survived the attack and been able to drive them back were it not for the Armstrongs who elected to stay.”

Graeme nodded his satisfaction. “ ’Tis a good thing this alliance, then. Perhaps this will be a new dawn for the Montgomerys and the Armstrongs. Eveline has united us. ’Tis a fact that still mystifies me.”

“Patrick McHugh is dead,” Bowen said bluntly. “He was killed in battle.”

Graeme’s face twisted into a savage expression. “Good. I’d not suffer him to live a minute longer. Did you witness his killing firsthand?”

Bowen shook his head. “Nay, I did not.”

“ ’Tis a shame. I’d know whom to thank.”

“ ’Tis known who did the killing,” Bowen said. “ ’Twas a lass.”

Graeme’s head reared back. “A lass? In battle? What mean you?”

“ ’Tis a long story, and one I have need to tell,” Bowen said.

Graeme stared at him with narrowed eyes. A knock at the door interrupted whatever would be said next. Bowen went to admit the serving woman, and she nervously brought in the food for the two men.

When she finished setting out the food by the hearth, Bowen saw her to the door and in a low voice said, “See that Genevieve has food brought to her chamber this night. She will be hungry.”

The serving woman dipped a curtsy, her lips pressed into a fine line.

“So tell me of this lass who felled Patrick McHugh,” Graeme said as Bowen returned to the fire.

“I would tell you the whole if it,” Bowen said. “ ’Tis too important not to.”

Graeme arched an eyebrow but fell silent.

“Do you remember the lass who directed us to where Eveline was being held in the dungeon? She wore a cape with a hood and her face was hidden from view.”

Graeme frowned a moment, his brow creased in concentration. “Aye, I remember. I was frantic to find Eveline. ’Tis a shame. I never had the opportunity to thank the lass. Everything happened so quickly after that.”

“Her name is Genevieve. Genevieve McInnis,” Bowen said slowly.

“The lowland McInnises?” Graeme asked.

“Aye.”

Graeme’s frown deepened. “What’s a McInnis lass doing in McHugh Keep? They are close with