Betrayal in the Highlands by Robert Evert Read Free Book Online

where the goblins would be waiting? Maybe. But such a trick didn’t frighten him. He knew Molly too well. He knew her tone and the words she used. He knew everything about her. Kravel couldn’t fool him in a million years.
    You didn’t know she would marry Norb.
    He didn’t want to think about that.
    Turning his attention back to the letter, Edmund fingered a scrap that contained the phrase: “… in peri …”
    In peril?
    Maybe Molly’s in peril! Maybe Kravel recaptured her. It wouldn’t be difficult if Norb were stupid enough to return to Rood without first—
    If she were captured again, would you attempt to save her?
    His heart said “yes” without thinking. But then he remembered her hanging on to Norb, kissing him after they had rescued her from the Undead King’s tower.
    After I rescued her, not Norb!
    She just wants to be friends. She told you that as plain as day.
    “Just friends …”
    No words or weapon had ever hurt him more.
    He studied the mauled letter.
    It probably isn’t ‘peril.’ It could be a hundred other words … ‘period,’ ‘peripheral’ … ‘perithecium.’
    Who would use the word ‘perithecium’ in a letter? Besides, you’re missing the obvious fact that nobody could have possibly known you were coming here. Something’s wrong! This letter can’t be good.
    Perhaps the ‘i’ is actually part of an ‘r.’ Perr? Perry? It could also be part of an ‘n’ or an ‘m.’
    Rubbing his temple, Edmund wished he had something to drink. A glass or two of wine would help him concentrate, not to mention relieve the pulsating in his head.
    He scrutinized the letter’s ending line again.
    “… hear from you with all due haste.”
    He attempted to piece together more of its edges without success. Apparently a great deal of the letter had found its way into Becky’s stomach.
    “Damned dog! If this is from Molly, I’ll—”
    Far to his left, Becky exploded with another fit of barking. She raced around the base of an alabaster statue of the goddess Alaña, leaping at a chattering squirrel who’d taken refuge in the goddess’s upraised hand, when somebody spoke behind Edmund.
    “It is such a—”
    Edmund sprang to his feet, shouting, fists ready to strike. An elderly woman of substantial girth and elegance gasped.
    “My word!” she exclaimed, holding her corpulent chest as she caught her breath. “I’m … I’m terribly sorry. Mr. Edmund, is it? I … I had no intention … I just wanted to introduce myself. My dear!” She fanned her pale face.
    “Baroness Melody?” Edmund lowered his clenched hands, his heart skipping several beats. He remembered to bow. “N-n-no … no, it, it was my fault. I … I didn’t hear you approach. I’m sorry. Are you … are you all right?”
    The Baroness smoothed out her billowing dress with one hand, her ivory cane clutched in the other.
    “My dear, dear Mr. Edmund … it has been ages since I have ever been able to sneak up on anybody.” She chuckled, her breaths gradually subsiding to more even puffs. “I didn’t mean to startle you!”
    Scooping up the paper scraps, Edmund shoved them into his pockets.
    “Nor I you, Baroness.” He brushed the pebbles away and gestured to the bench he’d been sitting on. “Please d-d-do … do me the honor. And thank, thank you for allowing us to stay. Your guesthouse is exquisite.”
    Baroness Melody sat, continuing to fan herself as fat beads of sweat trickled down her temple. “It’s an honor to have somebody of your abilities in my humble home.”
    My abilities?
    “I’m … I’m terribly sorry.” Edmund sat next to her. “I didn’t m-m-mean to raise my hands to you like that. It’s just that m-m-my, my mind … my mind was a bit preoccupied. Please forgive me.”
    She dabbed a lace handkerchief across her damp brow.
    “No, no. It is I who should apologize to you. One should never sneak up on another like that, especially not a man like yourself! I dare not think of what could