Highlander Unmasked Read online

  “Do I have a smudge on my face?” she asked.

  Her question snapped him from his lust-filled trance, but the ache in his groin would not be so easily dismissed. He was hard as a damn rock. “No. Why?” His voice sounded rough, even to his own ears.

  “You’re staring at me.”

  Only Meg would be so innocently blunt. Alex nearly flushed like some besotted squire and not a man with enough experience, more than enough experience, to know better. What the hell was the matter with him? Holding his expression impassive, he carefully lifted one brow. “Am I? I didn’t realize. Nice of you to point it out.”

  But Meg either missed or chose to ignore the sarcasm. “And you had quite a furious expression on your face,” she added primly. “You’re liable to scare people half out of their wits if you don’t temper those dark looks.”

  “I’ll try to remember that,” Alex said dryly.

  Jamie looked decidedly smug. Tossing him a fierce glare, Alex dared him to crack a smile.

  Since she’d apparently ruined his chances of overhearing anything of import right now, he might as well do what he could to allay his other concern. Her safety.

  Alex tossed another card on the table and glanced over at her. Briefly.

  “Have you had word about whether they have captured any of the men who attacked you?”

  She shook her head. “No. My father is certain they’ve left the area.” She beamed at Jamie. “Thanks to Jamie, his cousin sent his men to aid in the search. They’ve scoured every inch of Lochalsh, but to no avail.”

  I’m sure they have, Alex thought. He knew from experience how thorough Argyll’s men could be. “Did you by chance recognize any of the men who attacked you?”

  She appeared taken aback. “Should I have?”

  Alex shrugged.

  “No. I’d never seen any of the men before.” Her eyes narrowed. “You can’t be thinking that someone attacked us on purpose?”

  Once again, Alex found himself impressed by her quick thinking. “It did cross my mind.”

  “You’ve been too long at battle, my laird. You see war in places where it is not.”

  Alex’s temper flared. Not because she was wrong, but because she just might be right. Had he grown so distrustful that he was seeing trouble everywhere?

  “What reason would someone have to attack Meg and her mother?” Jamie asked.

  Alex had considered this issue most of the night. He had a few theories. “It’s no secret that Mistress Mackinnon has a large fortune.”

  “The men who attacked us were not interested in my fortune. If they had been, they would have tried to abduct me. But the cutthroats were intent on killing, not on taking hostages.”

  “What of feuds?” Alex asked. “Is your father at war with anyone?”

  She shook her head. “The past few years have been peaceful. Nothing more than a few exchanges of cattle with the MacDonalds.”

  Alex’s fingers tightened around his glass, the only outward sign of the turmoil inside him unleashed with the name MacDonald. But as much as he’d like to lay blame at his enemy’s feet, Meg was right: Lifting cattle was no cause for the murder of women.

  “If you had been there”—she paused meaningfully—“you would have seen it for yourself. This was a random attack perpetrated by brigands, nothing more.”

  “Unfortunately, it’s all too common an occurrence in the Highlands,” Jamie said. “Do you have reason to believe it was not a random attack, Alex?”

  Did he? A vague discussion of a murderous plot in an Edinburgh tavern hardly qualified. He shook his head. “No.”

  Jamie stared at him for a long moment before turning back to Meg. “Perhaps you should exercise a bit of caution just to make sure.”

  Meg laughed. “If someone intended me or my mother harm, court would be the last place they’d try anything. There are people everywhere. I long for a bit of privacy.” She smiled sweetly at Jamie. “Besides, I have you to look after me.”

  Alex stiffened. His entire body rebelled at the idea of another man protecting her. But it was clear what she’d decided, though Jamie had not yet realized it.

  Jamie shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Yes, well, about that, Meg. It seems I may be gone for a bit.” Obviously not concentrating on the play of cards at the table, he errantly tossed out a knave of trumps, which Alex scooped up. “I must leave tomorrow on some business for my cousin Argyll.”

  Business that Alex suspected had something to do with the Fife Adventurers’ plan to invade the Isle of Lewis. Upon receiving the letter from his cousin Argyll this morning, Jamie had gone immediately to the lord chancellor’s chambers. Alex had tagged along. Something was going on, and he intended to find out what.

  Meg’s face fell. “But you can’t go now, not when I—” She stopped what she’d been about to say, but Alex could fill in the blanks. Not when she’d decided on Jamie. “How long will you be gone?” she asked instead.

  “A few days, perhaps one or two longer. MacLeod here has agreed to escort your mother, you, and Elizabeth over the next few evenings.” Jamie’s words were uttered with the reluctance of an extracted tooth. It was clear he did not like the idea of Alex escorting Meg anywhere.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Meg said quickly. “I’m sure Laird MacLeod has other obligations that require his attention. I daresay we will be fine on our own for a few days.”

  Alex locked his gaze on hers. “I’m afraid it has already been decided.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did I mention that your mother suggested the arrangement?”

  Meg groaned.

  Alex could commiserate. Rosalind Mackinnon was a force of nature. Somehow he’d found himself the conscripted escort of three ladies without uttering a word. But he supposed this would give him an opportunity to keep an eye on Meg and assure himself that the attack in the forest was as random as she thought.

  He didn’t know whether it was the prospect of Jamie leaving or Alex staying that had Meg so upset. But she was clearly agitated by the news.

  “No wonder she…,” Meg said, more to herself.

  “No wonder she what?” Alex asked.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. “But how did my mother even know of your leaving?” she asked Jamie.

  “By chance, your mother intercepted us in the corridor on our way here,” he explained. “She brought up the masque—”

  “You will be gone for the masque?” Meg sounded so crestfallen, Alex felt a strange urge to sweep her into his arms and soothe her obvious distress.

  “I’m afraid there is no avoiding it,” Jamie answered apologetically. “I’ll not make it back from Argyllshire by the end of the week.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Are you sure you have to leave right now?”

  Alex could hear the strain in her voice. The burden of her decision was clearly a weight she wanted lifted. The urge to offer her comfort intensified. At that moment, she seemed fragile and very young.

  “Unfortunately, it cannot be avoided, Meg. You know my cousin. Argyll will not be put off.”

  “Well, it appears that it has all been decided,” she said truculently. “I will see you upon your return.”

  “But I thought you wished to speak to me?” Jamie said. “We are just about done here.”

  “Apparently, it will have to wait.” She was angry, though at whom, Alex didn’t know. Shoulders rigid, she turned on her heel and flounced out of the room.

  The easy sounds of conversation that had died down when Meg had entered the room returned upon her swift departure. They finished the game, but Alex didn’t like the way Jamie was watching him.

  Alex stood up to leave. He’d get no information here, and he had another possible source to explore. But Jamie stopped him.

  “What did you hear?” Jamie asked, his voice steely.

  Alex considered his former friend with calculated interest. Jamie had guessed that there was more to the story than Alex had let on. Campbell was