Read Online At the Highlander's Mercy by Terri Brisbin - Free Book Online

children was. Where each of Connor’s kin was. Where every person she cared about was at that moment. Yet, none of that helped in this tense moment.
    Connor took her hand and escorted her into his private chamber as the others left. He led her to a chair, but she shook off his hold and his attempt.
    ‘Just tell me, Connor.’ Steeling her heart and nerves, she waited for the news.
    ‘Lilidh has been …’ Connor paused, searchingfor a word while her heart stopped. Dead? Was her daughter dead? She clasped her hands together and held her breath. ‘Kidnapped.’
    ‘Kidnapped? She is alive?’ Jocelyn sank on to the chair then, unable to keep her legs steady. ‘Who did this?’
    ‘Rob Matheson.’
    She shook her head. Rob? No, not him. ‘That cannot be. You fostered Rob. He was the son of your friend, your ally. He loved …’ She paused before saying the rest because she knew it would simply inflame Connor’s temper.
    ‘All of that is in the past now,’ he growled, turning away from her. ‘One of the men escorting her home survived and made his way here, reporting on what had happened. But first he followed the men who took her and they took her to the Matheson keep.’
    ‘None of this makes sense, Connor,’ she said, twisting her hands in her lap as she thought of her eldest child. ‘Why would he take her? He is betrothed to someone else, so marriage is not his aim. He has no quarrel with you.’
    Her words drifted off as she realised that there was no peace between her husband and his foster son. The division between them might have begun because of Lilidh, but recent changes could be blamed on the Mathesons negotiatingwith their common adversaries, the MacKenzies.
    ‘What will you do?’ Her mother’s heart beat erratically, worried at all the terrible possibilities and the few good ones in this situation. Connor glanced at her and she held her breath.
    ‘She is a hostage now. Her kidnapping is a prelude to war.’
    Her head spun even as her heart raced then and she felt her legs shake beneath her. Connor was at her side in an instant, embracing her in his strong arms.
    ‘Connor, you must—’
    She would have offered up all kinds of solutions, all from a mother’s caring heart, but her husband, her laird, placed his finger over her lips and shook his head.
    ‘I know all the words you would speak right now, Jocelyn,’ he began. ‘Remember that she is the daughter of an earl and a chieftain. A widow to the great MacGregor chief. Tied to two of the most powerful families in the Highlands. The Mathesons would be fools to mistreat her.’
    At this time
.
    She heard the words as though he’d spoken them. Their daughter was safe for now, thoughwhat
safe
meant could be another complete discussion.
    ‘For now, I am sending a messenger to Rob to ask for his terms.’
    ‘You will not attack?’ Her worst fear.
    ‘I can always attack,’ he said. The hint of bloodthirst in his voice revealed that the beast was still there and ready to rise when needed. ‘First, I will try diplomacy.’
    ‘I would see her,’ Jocelyn tried. ‘I would accompany Duncan to Keppoch and make certain she is well.’ Duncan would be the first choice to handle such a delicate and dangerous matter for Connor.
    She pushed out of his embrace, determined to gather some clothing and supplies and be ready to leave. She and other wives had travelled with their husbands and kin on matters of state and clan business and this would be nothing different.
    ‘You will stay here and see to your duties.’
    She tensed at the words and the tone in which he delivered them. Turning to face him, Jocelyn saw that he did not jest with her. He expected her to remain here while the fate of her, their, daughter hung in the balance. He expected her to continue to see to her dutiesand to act as though nothing was wrong. He expected her to …
    ‘Aye, I do, Jocelyn.’
    They’d lived and loved so long now that he could indeed read her thoughts, though she