Read Online Highlander Untamed by Monica Mccarty - Free Book Online
Authors: Monica Mccarty
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Dunvegan. And to Rory. But they were gone. And she was alone in a den of wolves.
On the dock below her, silent cheers of celebration trailed the birlinn of MacDonalds as it disappeared from view. The MacLeods were pleased to be rid of their enemies—storm or no storm. Their sentiments were hardly a surprise. Among the Scots, feuds were not easily forgotten or forgiven.
She wondered how many wished she were on that boat. Did Rory? Probably. Clearly, he was not eager for this handfast, and meeting her had not changed his opinion. For as impressed as she was by him, he seemed equally unimpressed by her. Precisely the opposite of what she’d hoped.
She knew her job wasn’t going to be easy, and it wasn’t. He suspected something, of that she was sure. His words of warning last night had been unequivocal. She didn’t think she’d ever forget his face when he told her there was “no mercy for wrongdoers.” She’d had the eerie sensation that he was peering right inside her.
She shivered, but not from the icy rain and wind. She would just have to find a way to slip under his considerable guard. The incident with her brother Ian and Fergus MacLeod had shaken her. If the MacLeod discovered her ruse, he would deal with her coolly and decisively. And fairly, she admitted. He was a man used to making hard decisions; he would not waver in his duty. Yesterday had shown her that. She would just have to make sure she wasn’t discovered.
Not a simple proposition with a man who seemed to notice everything—like her earlier conversation with her uncle. Although he could not hear them from across the courtyard, Isabel had felt the heavy weight of the MacLeod’s gaze as her uncle cornered her, bidding her farewell with his usual aplomb. With one arm draped protectively about her shoulders, Sleat drew her aside in the courtyard for last minute instructions before his departure down the steep sea-gate stairs.
There was nothing subtle about Sleat’s warning. Her uncle’s words still rang in her ears: “Do what you must, but find the entrance and bring me the Fairy Flag within the year. The MacDonalds have been defeated by the flag once before; I want it in my hands. If you are successful, I will support your father against the Mackenzies.” She tried not to stiffen under his heavy arm. In a thick voice dripping with menace, he leaned close to her, his putrid breath singeing her ear. “Do you get my meaning, Isabel? Do what you must. For when the time comes, I want no opposition to my claim for the Lordship. It is the hereditary right of the MacDonalds to rule these lands. With the MacLeods destroyed, there will be no one to interfere. Don’t forget that you willingly agreed to help. It’s too late for second-guessing. The lives of your clansmen are at stake, and it’s up to you to do what it takes to save them. Fail me, and you fail your clan.”
His words chilled her. “Don’t worry, Uncle, I wasn’t thinking of changing my mind. I know well what I must do. No one will suspect what I am about.”
Realizing that Rory was still watching them, she patted the MacDonald’s hand as a beloved niece might do to reassure a doting uncle. Her expression gave no hint of the consequence of her words.
Sleat appeared mollified. He relaxed his hold around her shoulders. “Be extremely cautious. And whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to become seduced by the MacLeod. You must be wary of him at all times—he knows well how to make a lass fall for his dubious charms.” The MacDonald drew his fingers to his chin thoughtfully.
He continued as if thinking aloud to himself, “You are very beautiful, but young and innocent. Perhaps it would have been better…Well, no matter. It is too late now. I will send word to you soon, Isabel. As a precaution, I will use a waxed impression of this ring on my missives. Look on it well, memorize the design so that you will recognize it.”
Isabel took his hand and scrutinized the large ring
On the dock below her, silent cheers of celebration trailed the birlinn of MacDonalds as it disappeared from view. The MacLeods were pleased to be rid of their enemies—storm or no storm. Their sentiments were hardly a surprise. Among the Scots, feuds were not easily forgotten or forgiven.
She wondered how many wished she were on that boat. Did Rory? Probably. Clearly, he was not eager for this handfast, and meeting her had not changed his opinion. For as impressed as she was by him, he seemed equally unimpressed by her. Precisely the opposite of what she’d hoped.
She knew her job wasn’t going to be easy, and it wasn’t. He suspected something, of that she was sure. His words of warning last night had been unequivocal. She didn’t think she’d ever forget his face when he told her there was “no mercy for wrongdoers.” She’d had the eerie sensation that he was peering right inside her.
She shivered, but not from the icy rain and wind. She would just have to find a way to slip under his considerable guard. The incident with her brother Ian and Fergus MacLeod had shaken her. If the MacLeod discovered her ruse, he would deal with her coolly and decisively. And fairly, she admitted. He was a man used to making hard decisions; he would not waver in his duty. Yesterday had shown her that. She would just have to make sure she wasn’t discovered.
Not a simple proposition with a man who seemed to notice everything—like her earlier conversation with her uncle. Although he could not hear them from across the courtyard, Isabel had felt the heavy weight of the MacLeod’s gaze as her uncle cornered her, bidding her farewell with his usual aplomb. With one arm draped protectively about her shoulders, Sleat drew her aside in the courtyard for last minute instructions before his departure down the steep sea-gate stairs.
There was nothing subtle about Sleat’s warning. Her uncle’s words still rang in her ears: “Do what you must, but find the entrance and bring me the Fairy Flag within the year. The MacDonalds have been defeated by the flag once before; I want it in my hands. If you are successful, I will support your father against the Mackenzies.” She tried not to stiffen under his heavy arm. In a thick voice dripping with menace, he leaned close to her, his putrid breath singeing her ear. “Do you get my meaning, Isabel? Do what you must. For when the time comes, I want no opposition to my claim for the Lordship. It is the hereditary right of the MacDonalds to rule these lands. With the MacLeods destroyed, there will be no one to interfere. Don’t forget that you willingly agreed to help. It’s too late for second-guessing. The lives of your clansmen are at stake, and it’s up to you to do what it takes to save them. Fail me, and you fail your clan.”
His words chilled her. “Don’t worry, Uncle, I wasn’t thinking of changing my mind. I know well what I must do. No one will suspect what I am about.”
Realizing that Rory was still watching them, she patted the MacDonald’s hand as a beloved niece might do to reassure a doting uncle. Her expression gave no hint of the consequence of her words.
Sleat appeared mollified. He relaxed his hold around her shoulders. “Be extremely cautious. And whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to become seduced by the MacLeod. You must be wary of him at all times—he knows well how to make a lass fall for his dubious charms.” The MacDonald drew his fingers to his chin thoughtfully.
He continued as if thinking aloud to himself, “You are very beautiful, but young and innocent. Perhaps it would have been better…Well, no matter. It is too late now. I will send word to you soon, Isabel. As a precaution, I will use a waxed impression of this ring on my missives. Look on it well, memorize the design so that you will recognize it.”
Isabel took his hand and scrutinized the large ring
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