Highlander's Beautiful Liar A Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Historical Novel - Adamina Young Page 0,21

and I can tell from yer flat belly that ye ain’t eating it. What are ye doing?”

Cora twisted her fingers around and felt a flush creep up her neck. She really was a terrible liar. “I have to go,” she whispered finally as Louisa and Mary stared at her. “I can’t tell you why.”

“Does it have something to do with Innes Campbell and why ye were in that prison?” Mary whispered. Cora nodded, and Mary and Louisa exchanged a look. She could tell the women knew something.

“What?” she asked urgently. “What is it?”

“I thought there might be something wrong, so I followed Innes today. He told his men that ye were too scared to tell the truth.”

Cora swallowed hard. “I have a younger sister in London,” she said shakily. “Innes is threatening her harm. I have to get to her as soon as possible to protect her. I’m leaving tonight.”

“A wee lass like ye traveling by yerself? Ye’ll never make it,” Louisa said as she shook her head.

“Then I’ll die, and hopefully my sister will be safe. You can’t tell anyone. Please.”

“I can’t let ye go out there and die. Tell Laird Sinclair. I know we all act like we hate him around here, but I think he’ll be good. I think he’ll protect ye,” Mary said as she grabbed her arm. “Ye will not survive the trip down the mountainous terrain.”

“I can’t tell Alec and neither can you. Promise me, Mary and Louise. Swear to me that you’ll keep my secret. He could lose this clan. You will be at the mercy of Innes Campbell.”

“What the devil are ye talking about?” Louise said loudly. She and Mary both stared at her, and she ducked her head. “What do ye know?”

“I can’t tell you, but I have to believe that between Alec and Innes, you’d choose Alec. Right?” The two women nodded. “Then you have to let me go. If I…when I make it safe, I’ll send word back so that you know. I took some men’s clothes so I can disguise myself, and I’ve also taken a few supplies. I’ll send those back as well. I’m not a thief.”

Louisa looked around frantically before gathering a few things and bundling them up in a cloth. “When ye get to the stable, ye tell Niall that I sent ye, and ye tell him that ye want Tally. He’s an older horse and won’t draw so much attention to ye, but he’s good and strong. Ye stay off the main paths as much as possible. Did ye get yer hands on a weapon?”

Cora’s eyes widened. A weapon? She hadn’t even thought about that. Mary’s eyes lit up. “Hold on. I’ve got ye covered.”

As she scampered away, Cora threw her arms around Louisa. “How can I ever thank you for this?”

“I don’t want ye thanks,” Louisa grunted. “I want ye to stay safe.”

“I’ll be safe,” Cora promised her. “I’m a hard woman to kill.”

“Ye don’t look it,” the cook said with a rueful shake of her head.

Mary returned and handed her a sword that was covered in scratches and dings. Cora held it awkwardly and shook her head. “Mary, I can’t take this. I can’t even wield it.”

“I won’t let ye leave unless ye take it,” the young servant protested. “Just carrying it will help deter trouble. Please. It belonged to my brother.”

“Belonged?” Cora said with a frown.

Sadness passed over her friend’s face. “When Laird Seth MacKay took over, my brother Dennis didn’t agree with him. He ended up leaving. He said he’d come back for me, but I haven’t heard from him in months.”

Cora could tell that Mary didn’t really want to part with it. Reaching over, she hugged her friend. “I’ll send it back when I get to London. I promise.”

There was a disruptive sound from the hall followed by male laughter. Cora’s eyes widened in panic, and Louisa grabbed her and dragged her from the kitchen. “Ye have to go change and leave the castle through the servants’ tunnels. That way no one will see ye. Go. Go!”

She cast one last look at the two women who were helping her before scurrying away. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly got rid of her dress and changed into the trousers that were three sizes too big and the large shirt. Belting the clothes, she slipped the bag over her head and gripped the sword. Taking a deep breath, she glanced out the room. When the coast was clear,