A Very Highland Holiday - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,117
make it true. I didn’t see anything of the sort that day. Can you imagine it, though? A sword that burst into flame. That would be very useful in the dark.” He laughed before taking another drink.
“Seems like I’ve heard the rumor too,” Tavish mused. “Can’t remember where exactly.” He pretended to think and hoped one of the other men would play along.
“The first time I heard about it was just outside Inverness,” Fowler said. “A month or so after Culloden.”
Tavish looked at the captain over the rim of his tankard. “You’ve heard the tale multiple times?”
“Indeed. I’ve heard its flames took out a dozen men, that it’s a broadsword, and that the man wielding it was seven feet tall.” His tone was droll.
Tavish smiled into his ale before taking a drink. He was tall, but not that tall…
“Nonsense, but at least it’s entertaining!” Boyd set his mug onto the table with a thud. “I need to take a piss.” He stood and left the common room, going out the front door.
Fowler glanced toward the stairs in the corner. “Too bad you didn’t really know that pretty thing. But then if you did, I’d have to take you into custody.” The edge of his mouth ticked up in an arrogant half smile.
“If I were Williams, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you. And I sure as hell wouldn’t allow you to take me anywhere.” Tavish let a brief moment pass before he let out a low, dark laugh, which Fowler joined.
“We’ll find him,” Fowler said with great confidence. “One by one, we’re rounding them all up. They can’t hide forever.”
“You’ll be back up here, then—after your holiday?”
Nodding, Fowler took another drink. “Right after Epiphany.”
Tavish wondered if all the soldiers scouting for Jacobite stragglers were doing the same. Not that it mattered overmuch—those who’d fought or supported the Jacobites mustn’t let down their guard.
Fowler’s dark brows drew together as he cast a look at the front door. “Hell, Boyd is taking a long time. The other night, he fell over when he went out to piss. I’d better go check on him.”
“I think I’ll turn in.” Tavish stood along with the captain and bid him good night.
When he got to the stairs, he looked to make sure Fowler had left. When the front door was closed, Tavish walked upstairs. As soon as he hit the landing, a figure jumped out in front of him.
Hands on her hips, Elspeth Marshall glared at him, her eyes ablaze. “You’re a lying blackguard.” Then she drove her fist into his gut.
As Williams doubled over, Elspeth considered delivering another injury. He deserved at least that.
“I deserved that,” he said, echoing her thoughts. His voice was muffled from his bent position.
“You saying that doesn’t make you less guilty.” It did steal a bit of her outrage, however.
He straightened and grasped her hand, dragging her along the narrow corridor to a door at the end. Opening it, she saw another flight of stairs.
She dug her feet into the floorboards. “Where are you taking me?”
“We can’t stand here out in the open.” He tossed a look toward the landing at the top of the stairs from the common room where she’d been waiting for him. His dark brows were drawn low over his eyes. “We can go to your room or mine, which is upstairs. Choose. And be quick.”
“Mine.” She turned across from the door he’d just opened and unlatched the one to her room. “Here.”
She stepped inside and pulled her hand from his.
He closed the door firmly behind them and faced her. His cloak from earlier was gone, leaving him dressed in a rather drab suit of brown, not unlike the one he’d worn when they’d met. No, not drab. He was far too arresting—from his dark hair to his supple lips and square jaw to the way his muscular form filled out his clothing.
Elspeth stood in the middle of the small chamber and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m waiting.”
Williams or MacLean or whatever his name was glanced about. “Where’s your companion?”
A loud snore answered him. His eyes widened, and he looked to the left, where there was another door—which led to Aunt Leah’s chamber.
“In the next room.”
“That’s not an animal?”
Elspeth pursed her lips so she wouldn’t laugh. “My aunt snores.” She stared at him expectantly.
He went to the hearth and crouched to stoke the fire, then added another piece of wood. “I had to lie. Those soldiers were looking for me.”