Page 32 of Highland Treasure (Highland Brides 9)

Rory stiffened, his chin jerking up and mouth compressing.

“See,” she said when his mouth stayed tightly closed. “You will not even admit to having one. How can you expect these people to happily show you theirs?”

“She’s got a point,” Alick said with amusement.

“Fine,” Rory growled. “Then Conn, Inan and I will go through the back gate blindfolded and with Tom, Simon and Elysande leading us. Alick, you take Fearghas and Donnghail out the front gate. Wait for us just inside the woods to the north.”

Relieved he understood, or at least was willing to cooperate, Elysande moved past him to his horse and removed one of the bags.

“What are ye looking for?” Rory grumbled, moving to join her.

“The leftover plaid,” she said, opening the sack and digging around inside. “We can use it to make blindfolds.”

“Right,” Rory muttered, sounding pretty grumpy. Elysande decided to ignore him. She was a bit put out with him and the way he’d snapped at her anyway.

It didn’t take long to find the plaid and quickly slice off three strips to use as blindfolds. Mildrede then peeked out the door to be sure the courtyard was empty, before waving them out and hurrying around behind the stables to a stone wall with a gate in the center of it. While Elysande and the others followed, walking their horses, she opened the gate and peered out, then waved them through.

“M’lady.” Mildrede rushed to her side as Elysande prepared to mount in the alley.

“Aye?” she asked, pausing.

“Here.” Mildrede thrust out the bag she’d been clutching. “Fruit pasties to break yer fast. ’Tis why I was so hard to wake—I was up late baking them. I wanted to give you all a fine treat to break your fast before you left,” she admitted, and then added, “And there’s cheese and bread in there too to eat later, and a bladder of ale as well. Hopefully there’s enough for everyone.”

“Oh, Mildrede,” Elysande murmured, accepting the bag and then hugging her impulsively. “Thank you. That was kind and I know the men will appreciate it. I certainly do.”

Mildrede was flushed and smiling shyly when Elysande released her, but her smile fled under wariness when Rory joined them.

Elysande was a little wary herself until Rory took the woman’s hand, and said solemnly, “Mildrede, I apologize fer snapping earlier. Ye’ve been a fine host and a good friend to us helping us this way. In fact, ye’ve saved us all this day with yer cleverness in enlisting yer friends to help us. Thank ye.” He then bent and kissed her hand, bringing a bright-red blush to the woman’s face and a flustered look to her eyes.

“Oh, well, that’s . . . you just keep her safe,” she finished finally as he released her hand. “Lady Elysande is a fine woman, with a most important mission.”

“Aye, she is,” he agreed solemnly. “And I vow I will keep her safe, and I’ll bring her back to visit when ’tis all over as I promised,” Rory assured her.

“Oh, good.” Mildrede beamed at him, and then glanced past Rory and sighed with relief. “There is Robbie now. He’s been out telling the others what to do.”

“The others?” Rory asked with a wince.

“Aye. The other shop owners who know about Lady Elysande,” she explained. “He and Elizabeth have been visiting them all to warn them de Buci’s soldiers are here so they know that, when asked, to tell them they did see an Englishwoman and two soldiers here or there, but always on the streets closest to the front gate. I thought it best to keep de Buci’s men busy running in circles far away from where Robbie is taking ye.”

A startled laugh slipped from Rory, and then he grasped Mildrede by the shoulders, lifted her off her feet and gave her a loud smacking kiss on the cheek. “Ye’re a wonder, Mildrede,” he said with appreciation as he set her down.

Her hand pressed to the cheek he’d just kissed, Mildrede breathed, “Oh, my,” and then hurried off to consult with Robbie the blacksmith.

Rory watched her briefly and then moved over to talk to Conn. It seemed like he’d barely left when Mildrede led Robbie over to her.

“Thank you for your assistance,” she said before either of them could speak.

“My pleasure,” the blacksmith rumbled, nodding his head politely. He frowned as he took in the damaged side of her face. “Ye should maybe cover that, m’lady. We don’t want anyone taking note of ye and mentioning to de Buci’s soldiers that they saw a woman what looked like she was beaten passing through.”

“Oh, aye.” Elysande felt herself flush with embarrassment and quickly pulled the top of her plaid over her head and around to cover the bruised side of her face. “Better?”

“Much,” he said, and then glanced around at the men waiting. “Mildrede said three of the Scots are going out the front gate and the other three will come with us blindfolded?”

“Aye.” Elysande nodded. “The Buchanans did not wish to leave us completely unguarded so agreed to blindfolds. My men and I will lead them.” Offering him the strips of plaid, she said, “We will use these to cover their eyes.”

Robbie took one and held it over his eyes, then grunted with satisfaction and relaxed a little. “That’s fine, then,” he said as he handed back the strip of plaid. “Which are your men?”

“Tom and Simon there are English soldiers from my father’s castle,” she said, pointing them out.

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