Highland Groom (Murray Family #8)

She knocked him on his arse in front of everyone and he did naught in retaliation. And, I also got to thinking on how he looked when he saw she was in so much pain and emptying her belly all over the keep."

"Nay the look of a mon who was but waiting to see if his plot would be successful."

"Nay, and the fear on his face wasnae that of a mon thinking he might be caught, either. Yet, Ilsa is in danger because of him. And, who the devil gave her the wine saying it was from Diarmot?"

"Curse it, I forgot to ask. Do ye think the one who brought her the wine is the enemy or can lead us to him?"

"Mayhap. I shallnae hold out any hope, though. We havenae had much luck with all of this so far." He looked toward the door when Diarmot and Nanty entered.

"Here be the fool now."

Diarmot poured himself some ale, glanced at the Camerons, and cursed softly when he caught them both staring at him. He was trying to be patient and understanding, but being treated like a mad dog ready to attack anyone at any moment was difficult to accept. He was sure he had not been treating Ilsa this poorly. It was even harder to calmly accept being kept from Ilsa's side, having to talk to Glenda just to find out how his own wife was faring.

"Ilsa is asking to see ye," announced Sigimor.

Barely stopping himself from spitting out the ale he had just put into his mouth, Diarmot's mood quickly went from surprised to suspicious. "What did ye just say?"

"Wheesht, are ye deaf as weel as stupid? I said Ilsa is asking to see ye,"

Sigimor repeated in a loud voice.

"And ye are just going to sit there and allow me to go to her? Are ye sure ye dinnae wish to search me for weapons? Mayhap march me up there with a sword at my back?"

"Now, why would we do that? Tis your bedchamber. Rather thought ye kenned the way there."

For a moment Diarmot was torn between the urge to hurry to Ilsa's side and the very strong inclination to punch her brother so hard the smirk he wore ended up on the floor. He finished his ale and started to leave the great hall, expecting to be stopped every step of the way, or acquire a large redheaded shadow. When neither occurred by the time he stepped out of the hall, he started to move faster, nearly running to Ilsa. There was always the chance Sigimor could change his mind.

Ilsa was startled by Diarmot's abrupt entrance. If she did not know better, she would think he had run to her room. When he peered back out the door as if looking for someone, she frowned. They were undoubtedly well protected now. Then he shut and latched the door. Before she could ask why he was acting so oddly, he was seated on her bedside, kissing her. Ilsa gave silent thanks to Fraser for the woman's efficiency in freshening her up, then gave herself over to the pleasure of his kiss.

"Have my brothers been troublesome?" she asked when he ended the kiss, sat back, and took her hand in his.

"What do ye think?" He smiled faintly when she grimaced. "Ye certainly look better than ye did when last I saw ye. The children will be pleased to ken ye are recovering so weel."

"Fraser said she would bring them round for a kiss good night ere she puts them to bed. I was willing to see them now, but she said I should rest another day or two ere I deal with eight children."

"Wise advice." He took a deep breath to calm himself, a little disturbed by the wealth of emotions afflicting him. "Ilsa, I didnae send ye that wine."

"I ken it. Geordie brought it and told me ye thought I might be wanting some.

That was probably what I was trying to explain, but it didnae come out right. If I thought otherwise, twas but for a moment."

"I shall have to speak to Geordie, then, and find out where he got the wine.

How do ye feel, Ilsa? Glenda was kind enough to tell me everything. How ye fared, the loss of the bairn, the fact that ye cannae help to feed the twins now. So many hard blows. I am sorry."

"Tisnae your fault. Aye, losing the bairn is a sorrow, but tis for the best.

And, weel, the twins are already needing more than the breast. Gay can continue to feed them milk whilst I do the rest. So, let us put those sorrows aside, and speak on what I found in the journals."

"I dinnae ken what ye found."

"Oh? Was my script so poor then?"

"Nay, I ne'er saw the notes ye made. When I reached your solar the journals were all closed and there were no notes." He nodded when she started to look alarmed. "Someone didnae want me to see what ye had found. Whoever shut those journals and took your notes probably thought ye were soon to die and whatever ye had discovered would die with ye. I have spent the last two days trying to find out who went into your solar after ye took ill. Young Jenny cleaned the mess upon the floor, but swears she touched naught else, and I believe her."

"Aye, so do I." Ilsa shook her head. "A traitor in our midst then. After those men tried to kill ye at the ridge, Sigimor wondered about that. It seems he was right to do so."

"That is rather galling."

Ilsa laughed softly. "Ah, weel, fetch the journals then and some writing supplies."