Annie laughed. “One day, ye’ll not be so immune to a handsome face, mark my words.”
Jenny shook her head. “Impossible. No man, no matter how bonnie, will get in the way of my mission for the prince.” She let out a frustrated groan. “He’s avoided all questions and acted on edge, according to Dirk. How can I trust him?”
“Ye’ll get nowhere sitting here in the dark. Go and talk to him.”
She wished she could use the excuse that it was late, but, quite honestly, that wasn’t excuse enough given she did most of her work in the dead of night.
“Why is this man causing such a stir? How many recruits do ye have now—hundreds?”
“Aye. I dinna know. ’Tis driving me mad.” A flash of ice-blue eyes came across her mind as she thought of Toran MacGillivray. She wondered if he would recognize any of their MacGillivray recruits.
Annie hopped to her feet and held her hands down to Jenny. “Come on. I’ll go with ye. Like old times.”
Jenny smiled, picturing how in their youth whenever their clans had met to discuss plans for the rebels the two of them and Fiona, the third link in their trio, had raced through the woods, pretending to fight off enemy dragoons.
MacPherson lands bordered Mackintosh lands to the south. Annie, Jenny, and Fiona MacBean, from another neighboring clan, had been inseparable since they had been barely tall enough to see over the table. When their clans suffered extensively at the hands of the English, they’d made a childhood pact to honor their fathers’ devotion to the Scottish king—even if it meant an early grave. The three of them had kept to that promise, each sacrificing pieces of themselves in an effort to put Prince Charlie where he belonged. On the throne.
“All right,” Jenny agreed.
They sneaked into the secret passageway built into the stone wall of Jenny’s father’s study. Light from their candles illuminated the passage. Jenny stripped out of her gown and into her trews, léine, and waistcoat. She twisted her hair up into a knot and topped her head with the cap.
“Ye make a pretty man,” Annie teased.
Jenny snorted. Despite her attempts, she knew she didn’t resemble a man, but it was enough to make people look twice before deciding. She blew out the little flame and took Annie’s hand in hers as they made their way through the tunnel in the dark.
Stealing out of the castle was necessary in order to avoid anyone asking where they were going. Most of her brother’s men—who she considered to be hers, thank you—were Jacobites, but there were a few who were still staunch supporters of her brother, and some she suspected might even be spies. Her mother could not know about what she was doing, of course, or she’d suffer a heart affliction. Her mother had not been the same since Hamish had left them to fend for themselves, spending most of her time alone in her room.
Hamish’s hasty departure and subsequent drain on the clan—with his endless demands for supplies for the government armies—and Lady Mackintosh’s withdrawal had left their problems in Jenny’s hands. To pick up the pieces. To take care of the people, her clan. It was a responsibility she did not take lightly.
At least Jenny had no worries that her mother would betray her to Hamish. The woman was heartbroken that her only son would go to such lengths, when every one of their kin had fought so hard to keep Scottish roots Scottish.
The first time Jenny had gone out in search of Jacobite help, she’d been alone. Though terrifying, it had also been informative. She’d walked to a local tavern that night, just after her mother went to bed. Disguised as a wayward traveler, she’d only listened, getting a feel for what the people were saying about her brother and where their loyalties lay. She was surprised and delighted that there appeared to be significant resistance against his allegiance to King George.
Dirk had caught her returning in the wee hours. But instead of ratting her out to her brother, her cousin had said he’d join her—though she still suspected he had only taken the position to make certain she didn’t get herself killed. Jenny could handle herself in any skirmish, any raid, even in battle. She’d been training with her brother since she was a wee lass, as her father had thought it important for her to learn