vague and unemotional missive that he’d received after her death from the new lairds of Campbell had been terse and to the point. Over the months, his mind had embellished what had happened, creating the torment in his mind that was his beloved sister’s demise.
But even his own imaginings hadn’t culled that she might have been with child. That those two devils had been jealous enough of a potential bairn that they’d given away her life. He flexed his fists, wishing he had those two bastards in front of him right then and there.
Oh, how he would murder them…
Sarah might not have understood what would have been Thea’s fate, but Edward and Ellyson would have been very aware. There wasn’t a clan in Scotland that had been untouched by the ravages of the dragoons and the Duke of Cumberland’s orders to show no mercy. Men, women, children. It mattered not; they all suffered.
He did not place blame on Sarah. In fact, she’d been trying to escape her brothers as well, and he’d provided the perfect avenue. As it turned out, his mission to abduct her for revenge had turned into a rescue mission. Some of his guilt assuaged, for he’d not truly intended on harming her. A scare perhaps in being abducted, but never would he have put her through what happened to Thea.
Damn.
He thought back to the lad in the stables at Campbell Castle, so grateful for a little kindness. To the wee lass who said she wanted her mistress back, that her mother needed her, how Thea had meant so much to them. Sarah was right that an entire clan should not have to suffer for the misdeeds of their conniving and selfish leaders.
That was not the type of man he was, to make innocents suffer.
“We should eat before it gets cold,” he said, needing to think a lot more before he spoke again.
They ate in silence as his mind ruminated on one plan after another. A number of scenarios played out, but not one seemed more perfect over the other. They could infiltrate the walls and abduct Edward and Ellyson, execute them in the woods. The Shaw clan could appeal to the rest of Clan Chattan, the cooperative confederate between the twelve clans to which the Shaws were a member. He could call upon the other rebel leaders who he’d fought with at Culloden. But the thing was other clans might not want to be involved. The Campbells were massive in size and power. He had to find a way to hit them where it hurt. Which he’d already started by abducting Sarah.
When he’d finished eating, she began to gather their things on the tray, but he stilled her hand. “I’ll get it,” he offered and took the tray himself to place it outside the door.
“Thank ye,” she called out to him.
He stood by the door, his fingers resting on the handle. “Ye’re welcome.”
Thane felt the heat of her presence before he saw her from the side of his eye, standing by his side. Her fingers brushed his. Tiny flames danced on the skin of his knuckles.
“I’m truly verra verra sorry for your loss, Thane.”
He turned to face her, seeing the tears, how much she too was heartbroken, in eyes that were the color of peat. “And I’m verra sorry for yours.”
“We have all lost so much in this rebellion,” she whispered.
“Shh…” He held his finger to his lips and nodded his head at the empty corridor. “Never know who’s listening.”
Sarah bit her lip, peering out into the empty corridor. When she leaned back, her arm brushed his, and they both stared down at the spot. “How about we check out the Chamber of Sorrow?” she suggested in a welcome change of subject.
“No’ certain that’s a very festive thing to do on Christmas morning, but I’m willing to try if ye like.”
Sarah shrugged, grimacing slightly. “Better to see what we are fighting for than to sit here wallowing in our grief.”
“Excellent point.”
Thane took her hand in his, her small, warm fingers sliding comfortably against his. Their palms flattened against one another. He gritted his teeth at the contact and how it sent tiny shivers racing down his spine. As much as touching her excited him, he was also keenly aware of how easy it was to be with her. Thane would have thought it torture, but instead, he was quite calm around her.
Sarah stopped suddenly. “Perhaps ye should leave your weapons here?” Her gaze was on his