Claimed by a Scottish Lord by Melody Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

and friends. Most of them family. Now they looked to him. Not everyone trusted him. His fame might reside in tales of his exploits on the sea, but he had not yet proven himself as their chieftain. If it was a war Hereford sought, then they were all nearly down that road.

    ―Do you not think this is what Hereford wants us to do?‖ he asked in the silence now confronting him. ―A war, so he will have an excuse to make outlaws of us all? Send dragoons down on your families? Do you not think he will welcome the fight?‖

    Duncan faced him. ―And maybe you‘ve forgotten a Kerr is no coward to run from a fight that began when Hereford killed your father.‖

    ―I have forgotten nothing.‖

    Ruark held no illusions about his own character. But his uncle was a fool to think Ruark was anything like the younger man who had left Scotland years ago, or that his loyalties were anywhere but with Stonehaven. Nor was he a novice when it came to sailing into a broadside. Many an opponent had met his fate after lobbing the first salvo from a flawed position of power.

    ―Hereford‘s first mistake is in thinking we are weak and without recourse,‖ Ruark said.
    ―Do not let yourselves make the same mistake.‖

    The collective agreement came in mumbled ayes.

    ―The question is how we retrieve Jamie without more bloodshed. His or ours. I will not allow our actions this day to kill him.‖

    ―Aye, but what choice has Hereford given us but to fight?‖ Angus asked.

    ―He has given us no choice,‖ Duncan said.

    As if on cue, Colum arrived in the arched doorway. For the past few weeks, while negotiations had been going back and forth over the border in a useless time-consuming parley, Ruark had not been idle.

    Colum gave Ruark a nod.

    ―But we are not helpless,‖ he told his men

    Two men appeared with an elderly woman between them. It had been Rose who had inadvertently given him the break he had needed the night he had stayed at the abbey, when she had told him that Tucker was in Redesdale to bury an uncle. An uncle Ruark knew Tucker did not have. Ruark had sent a man there the very morning he‘d left the abbey. An hour ago, Colum informed Ruark that his man had arrived with Countess Hereford‘s former handmaiden. They had found her in Carlisle after the disgruntled widow of the recently deceased captain of the guard at Kirkland Park came across an old letter in her husband‘s effects. After the exchange of a great deal of silver, the woman handed over the letter.

    Wearing brown homespun that hung from her small frame and a faded purple-and-green plain wrap, Lady Hereford‘s former maid looked terrified as she was brought to stand in front of the table, her eyes darting over the unfriendly bearded faces. She clutched the wrap tighter around her shoulders as if the cloth were an iron shield. Something about her seemed familiar .

    ―You are Anaya Fortier, former serving maid to Lady Elena Kirkland Lancaster, Countess Hereford?‖ Ruark asked over the murmurs of his men.

    She hesitated. ―What do you want? I have told your man, I know nothing . And I am not worth anything to anyone. My husband died years ago—‖

    ―You are from Redesdale, Mrs. Fortier?‖

    Her knuckles tightened on the plaid wrap. She nodded.

    ―Are you acquainted with Friar Tucker? He is from Redesdale.‖

    ―His father was a vicar living at Kirkland Park for twenty years.‖

    ―Then he has family there? An uncle perhaps?‖

    ―Nay, he does not.‖

    ―A man recently passed away in Redesdale, a former captain of the guard at Kirkland Park, I believe,‖ he said. ―He served Lady Elena‘s father. It seems the widow of that man has come across an old letter . ‖

    Her expression was one of horror.

    ―Would you care to read the letter my men were given by the disgruntled wife of that recently deceased guard?‖

    The woman‘s next breath brought tears to her eyes. ―I do not doubt that woman would trade her soul to the devil for a