Free Amanda Scott by Prince of Danger Page B

shieling, did ye ken they was seeking ye. I own, though, I were that surprised t’ see Lady Adela. He didna speak o’ her.”
    “She came to find me, Matthias,” Isobel said. “We were hoping you would lend us the use of your coble to get us across the Kyle. We mean to ask his grace’s kinsmen at Kyle Rhea to take us to the Isle of Mull, where we’ll be safe.”
    “Aye, ye would be safe there,” he agreed. “The wind be picking up, though, so I’m thinking ye’ll do better wi’ two strong oarsmen than one.”
    “Do you mean to send Ian with us then?” Isobel asked. “I own, I was wondering how we’d get the boat back to you.”
    “Och, lass, ye needna ha’ fretted about that, because Gowrie o’ Kyle Rhea would send it back t’ me,” Matthias said. “Still, I’m thinking I’ll go m’self an ye’ll allow it. I’ve another suggestion as well,” he added, twinkling again. “We’ve extra clothes in yon kist. Ian should ha’ given ye a shirt,” he said to Michael, “but ye can take one o’ mine. And if her ladyship willna be vexed, I’m thinking she’ll draw less notice on the water an she covers that hair o’ hers and dons a pair o’ Ian’s breeks.”
    “Isobel, you’ll do no such scandalous thing!” Adela exclaimed.
    Had Isobel required encouragement, those words provided it.
    “Don’t be a noddy,” she said. “’Tis an excellent suggestion.”
    “Aye, sure, I ken fine it’ll no be the first time,” Matthias said, grinning.
    She grinned back at him. “You ken too much, old man. That kist?” she added, pointing to a wicker chest against the wall opposite the doorway.
    “Aye,” he said, “and dinna forget t’ take out a shirt for your friend.”
    Michael extended a hand to Matthias. “I’m Michael,” he said, “and I am most grateful for your help.”
    The shepherd wiped his own hand on his thigh and gripped Michael’s.
    Smiling, Michael said, “I’ll not forget this, Matthias MacCaig, nor what young Ian did for us, either.”
    “Lady Adela should bide here wi’ the lad until we’re well away,” the older man said. “We’ll see her home again safely, the two of us, when I return.”
    “My man, Hugo, is at Eilean Donan,” Michael said. “I must get word to him that I’m safe, and let him know where to find me.”
    “First, we’ll get the pair o’ ye beyond the strangers’ reach,” Matthias said.
    Michael nodded, took the shirt Isobel handed him from the kist, and put it on. Matthias found a leather jerkin for him, and the two of them went outside so that Isobel could have privacy to change her clothes.
    Tight-lipped, Adela helped her. “I do not know what you deserve for this,” she said. “You will never get a husband, Isobel, if you continue to behave so.”
    “I don’t want a husband, as you know perfectly well,” Isobel said. “I mean to play Aunt Euphemia to your children when you finally have some, Adela.”
    Adela had knelt to tie the breeks’ lacings for her, but at these words she looked up, bit her lip, and then burst out laughing.
    Pretending outrage, Isobel said, “What? You do not think I’ll make them a good aunt? I’ll have you know that my nieces and nephews think I’m splendid.”
    “I don’t doubt it,” Adela said, gasping. “But that you could compare yourself to our meek, even scholarly aunt in such an absurd way . . .” Still chuckling, she shook her head and bundled Isobel’s skirts and bodice into an untidy roll, tying it with twine from a ball she found on the floor.
    Isobel was glad to hear Adela’s laughter and wished she might hear more of it. Having borne the burden of managing the household at Chalamine since Cristina had married Hector, Adela had aged beyond her years. Her laughter reminded Isobel that Adela was only four years older than she was.
    “You must go to Kirkwall, Adela,” she said firmly. “I mean to, I promise you, for we shall never see such an event again in our lives. The King of Scots has