Mad for the Plaid Read Online Free PDF Page B

I won’t have it.” When Ailsa didn’t answer, Edana threw her embroidery upon the seat beside her. “This is your father’s fault. He should have never put you in charge of Castle Leod, and so I told him when he first mentioned it. You are too young, and it isn’t proper for a woman to carry such responsibility on her own.”
    Ailsa’s jaw tightened. “Have I done so puir a job managing the estate, that you question Papa’s decision?”
    Edana caught the look on Ailsa’s face and winced. “No, of course not. You know you’ve done well. In fact, things have never been run better, but— Ailsa, please. I cannot bear to think of you being in danger.”
    Ailsa’s heart softened. “I will take care. I promise. But Her Grace and Lord Hamilton were my guests and I cannae leave them in the clutches of these fools.”
    â€œTechnically, they were my guests.”
    â€œThen you know how I feel.”
    Edana sighed, a tremor crossing her face. “I do. I worry about them, too.”
    Ailsa went to hug her grandmother, Edana’s perfume enveloping them both. “I will find them,” Ailsa whispered against her grandmother’s thin, powdered cheek. “I promise.”
    Edana hung on to Ailsa for a long moment; then she straightened, dug out her handkerchief, and dabbed at her eyes. “I suppose I shall have to let you, for I can’t think of any other answer to this wretched situation.”
    Ailsa patted Edana’s shoulder and then returned to the desk, more anxious than ever to be on her way. At least she would be doing something; the waiting was onerous.
    Edana put her handkerchief away. “Do you know the way over the mountains?”
    â€œAye. ’Tis rugged, steep country. Gregor and I hunted the edge of it just a year ago, and it was nigh impossible to traverse in places. It’s infuriating that these louts have taken Her Grace and Lord Hamilton to the farthest reaches of our own property.”
    Edana picked up her embroidery and placed it back in her lap. “We look all the guiltier now.”
    â€œAye. If Arran comes and all I can tell him is that our men tracked the abductors and prisoners deeper into our own lands and we did naught aboot it, it will nae be guid for us.”
    â€œArran.” Edana poked her needle into the muslin with more force than necessary. “I’ve quite lost my patience with that man. It’s just like him to do something reprehensible so he can storm in and steal some of our lands.”
    Ailsa drummed her fingers on the smooth surface of the desk as she considered this. “But why such an elaborate ruse? If he’s merely looking for a fight, there are more ready ways; he could use an auld claim to stir up forgotten hurts, forge documents that make it seem our claim is false, or other things of that nature. ’Tis done all the time.”
    â€œHe’s not content taking our lands—he also wishes to humiliate us. Arran is capable of any evil. He dresses like a commoner, which I find unforgivable for someone of his station.”
    Ailsa absently rubbed her temples, wishing they didn’t ache from nights of too little sleep and the jumbled thoughts of a thousand what-ifs. This challenge was bigger than any she’d yet faced. People’s lives were at stake. People she knew and was responsible for.
    I will deal with this, she told herself stoutly. I may not have Papa’s breadth of experience, but I have Mama’s calm, logical reasoning and it has stood me in good stead time and again.
    â€œThis venture is most unsafe,” Lady Edana continued, as if unaware of Ailsa’s silence. “There are brigands in the mountains; Lord Elgin himself was robbedwhile traveling through that area not two months ago. His horses and silver were taken and he was almost shot. It’s a wonder he made it out alive.”
    Ailsa sent her grandmother a wry look.