Free Highlander Medieval 06 - Her Highland Hero by Terry Spear Page A

outside in the cold wind recently. He hadn’t been on the hunt earlier, but instead in the village. “‘Tis your duty to secure the lass and bring her here before anything untoward can happen to her. You promised her mother you would.”
    Marcus stared at his cousin in astonishment.
    Rob continued as if he couldn’t speak fast enough. “Lord Pembroke always had a kind word to say about our clan and his Lady Pembroke had been a good friend of your mother’s. God rest their souls. We owe it to his daughter to keep her safe. She loves you and we know how you feel about her.”
    Her father would not allow Marcus to protect the lass. Rob knew that. Her da would protect her.
    “Has someone taken her from her castle?”
    “Nay, ‘tis worse.”
    When he was riled, Rob often got his facts out of order and Marcus was attempting, without success, to understand what the truth of the matter really was without interrupting him and asking. Had Lady Isobel been betrothed to someone when she had vowed to wed Marcus instead? ‘Twas what Marcus suspected Rob was saying. If Marcus rushed him in his attempt to get at the truth, he knew Rob would make even more of a muddle of it.
    Instead, he offered the facts in the situation his cousin knew very well. “Her da would no’ agree to my taking her to wife. I have beseeched him incessantly. He will no’ change his mind. He is the one who will keep her safe, no’ me.” Marcus gave a disgruntled exhale of breath and frowned even more at his cousin as he sat at the head table. “Wait, she hasna run away, has she?”
    “Marcus,” Rob said, barely getting the words out. “Word comes that his lordship is already dead.”
    Marcus stared at his cousin in disbelief, and then abruptly rose from his chair, the legs scraping the stone floor.
    Before he could speak, Rob said, “Whoever has murdered him will blame the Highlanders for his death and whoever has done this dastardly deed will spirit Pembroke’s daughter away before—”
    “Where has Lord Pembroke died? When? Have you evidence that any of this is true?” His thoughts were swirling, stumbling over one another…Isobel, the earl, who had done such a thing?
    If someone pretended to be her friend now in her time of grief…
    Marcus cursed under his breath. “The lady could be in grave danger.”
    “Aye, that is what I have been trying to say. ‘Tis rumor of the most reliable source. One of James MacNeill’s brothers, Angus, was passing through our lands on some business and had news that his cousin, Niall, has wed a French countess and learned of Lord Pembroke’s death. He knew you would be concerned for her safety. He had to return to Rondover Castle, but said if you need his and our cousins, the Chattan brothers’ help, they would be at your disposal.”
    Marcus couldn’t believe the news about Isobel’s da. “Where did the killing take place?”
    “Near the hillside village of Chirnside in one of the scattered hamlets. ‘Tis what Angus related. For fear of King Henry’s hearing of the news that someone from the area has murdered one of his devoted lords, the body has been taken further south. Hopefully, to hide the fact he died up there and not nearer his own castle or on English soil.”
    “And Lady Isobel?” Marcus clenched and unclenched his fists, fearing for her safety. If he did secure her and bring her to the Highlands to stay safely under his roof, would King Henry believe Marcus had her da murdered and then secreted her away?
    God’s wounds, Marcus had wanted the lass since she had bloodied Lord Fenton’s nose when the baron had made some degrading comment about her Highland heritage.
    “You still want her, I know it,” Rob said, despite the fact Marcus was already stalking toward the keep’s entryway. “We are leaving right away then?”
    Marcus cast a reproachful look over his shoulder, indicating that his cousin had to be daft not to realize it. When he saw the grin on Rob’s face, Marcus shook his