The Ghost, Greyson, Maeve [funny books to read TXT] 📗

The passage grew tighter still, and the ground softened. Her knees and hands sank into the dank loaminess as though the earth could swallow them at any moment. “My name is ‘Brenna,’ ye wicked minx. Ye ken that as well as I do.”

Cadha cackled. “Aye. I know.” She halted.

“Why have ye stopped?” Brenna strained to hold the lantern higher, her back and shoulders cramped and burning from the awkward position.

“Because we have arrived, cow,” the maid whispered. “Hush it now. We dinna ken who might be about nor their mood if they’ve been told of my…I mean ‘yer’ Magnus’s capture. They could verra well kill us before they see who we are—or before they see who ye are. They dinna care about whether I live or die.”

“That is about to change.” Brenna gave Cadha an impatient nudge. “On wi’ ye now, so we can get Magnus freed and tell Mrs. Fitzgerald ye spoke the truth.” And take a big gulp of fresh air and sunshine, she silently added.

Upon stepping down from the tunnel, Brenna sloshed into ankle-deep water. “Saints alive!”

“I told ye it held too much water for a proper cellar. They must ha’ hit a spring when they dug it.” Cadha snagged hold of her sleeve and pulled her toward the wall. “Stay to the edge. It’s nay as deep there.”

“At least we can almost stand.” She ducked her head the slightest bit as they crossed the cellar.

When they reached the door, it was hanging by one hinge. Cadha fell back and motioned Brenna forward. “Ye go first and tell’m about me. I’ll hide in here until ye send for me, aye?”

If not for the wild, haunted look returning to the girl’s eyes, Brenna would suspect a trap. She took hold of Cadha’s hand. “Nay. We go together. Come.”

The day’s brilliance made her squint as they stepped outside. Brenna stretched and took in a deep breath, turning her face toward the sun peeping over the skirting wall. She didn’t know what day it was, but she knew it was morning. Breaking into a run, she pulled Cadha along beside her until the girl planted both feet and yanked back just as they reached the kitchen door.

“Nay,” she said. “Not through there. What if old Fitzgerald’s about?”

“Old Fitzgerald is about.” The stern announcement came from behind them.

As soon as Brenna turned, Mrs. Fitzgerald’s demeanor immediately changed. “Mistress MacCoinnich! Ye’ve returned a’ready? Did ill befall ye and yer husband?”

“It has.” Brenna nodded toward Cadha. “Magnus was captured by the English before Cadha here could warn him about Thomas Parlorn’s treachery.” She drew the maid closer and wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders. “She spoke the truth about Alice and Thomas’s disloyalty, Mrs. Fitzgerald. The soldiers destroyed all the stores and caved in some tunnels to set up an ambush that my poor husband walked into whilst trying to find us more water.”

The corner of one of the housekeeper’s eyes twitched as she gave the maid a steady up and down look. “I see.” With a sudden dip of her chin, the matron bustled around them, her skirts rustling with the quickness of her steps. “Come. The chieftain must hear of this.”

They rushed through the pantry and kitchens. Servants jumped back out of their path, their mouths ajar and eyes wide with shock. Just as they were about to breach the archway that led into the great hall, Mrs. Fitzgerald halted and blocked the way to keep Brenna and Cadha from passing.

Brenna looked around the old woman and saw why.

Alexander sat in the chieftain’s chair on the dais, and in front of him stood two English soldiers. One soldier, the officer, was red-faced and sputtering. The man’s voice grew louder with every word.

“We know he is here,” the officer declared. “Where else would he go once he escaped us? Upon the arrival of the rest of mine, I shall have this place searched at once!”

“Ye know verra little about Highlanders, Lieutenant Cawldrake,” Alexander said. “This is the last place the man would come.” He flipped a hand as though shooing away the soldier’s foolishness. “He wouldna endanger his clan, ye ken?”

Brenna’s heart sang. Magnus had escaped! She didn’t know where he was, but at least he wasn’t rotting in a cell at Fort William. Cadha squeezed her hand, as excited about the news as she was.

“Chieftain MacCoinnich speaks the truth, sir,” said the other redcoat, a much calmer man, who seemed almost content with the news they had just delivered. “Highlanders protect their clans at all costs. Perhaps, we should return and do a more extensive search of where he escaped us.” The soldier gave a nod as though affirming his own words. “You know how he disappeared into the mist. Perhaps, he hides in the caves? We could send in more men there.”

“You are a fool, Raithwaite!” Cawldrake snapped. “We have already lost six to those godforsaken caves, and the man is still at large.” He pulled at the knot of his neckcloth and worked his head as though struggling for air. “Besides, I sincerely doubt he returned to the caves. What on earth would he do for light to find his way?” With a swipe of his hand across his forehead, he unknowingly shifted his white hairpiece back a notch, revealing his bald head. “If we do not locate that traitor by the end of this day, you will be the one to apprise Commander Barricourt of our failure and suffer the consequences. I dare say, the man shall have both our heads!”

Alexander sat drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair. “While I do enjoy hearing that one of our own, a man falsely accused, mind ye, has the lot of ye chasing yer tails and worried about yer heads. I do have other business to attend to gentleman. Perhaps, ye could play out yer wee game elsewhere?”

Brenna eased through the archway, studying the soldier who had spoken as though he might