Gillian didn’t know what to think as she and Fallon left Ailsa’s room and walked downstairs followed by both dogs. There had been a definite change in Ailsa. She didn’t seem like the smitten, wee lassie she had been so many times before. There was a level of maturity that Gillian hadn’t seen before. Then it struck her. Ailsa had argued with her head more than her heart.

When they reached the great hall, they joined Fingal, Quinn, and Eadoin who were sitting at the table. As always, Bodie stayed with her, but Duff stood beside the door to the cellars. She had to admit that was strange. Maybe Ailsa was right.

Fingal asked, “Is she calmer now?”

Gillian nodded. “Aye. And she’s agreed to take a rest.”

Glancing toward Duff, Fingal frowned. “Duff didn’t stay with her?”

“He would have stayed, but she asked if someone would take Duff to the dungeon to stay with Lucas Grant.”

Gillian almost laughed at the look of horror on all three men’s faces.

“Ye’re not serious,” said Quinn.

“Aye,” answered Gillian. “She doesn’t want him to be alone.”

“Duff won’t stay anyway,” said Eadoin.

“Actually,” said Fallon, “I think he might.”

“What make ye think that?” asked Fingal.

Fallon shrugged. “Duff knows she’s upset. And what’s more, I think she might really be in love this time, and Duff knows it too,” said Fallon, echoing Gillian’s own thoughts.

Fingal cast a disbelieving look at Fallon before addressing Gillian. “Ye don’t believe this, do ye?”

Gillian nodded. “Aye, I think it’s possible.”

“But he’s a Grant,” said Quinn.

“And Fingal was a MacIan when the king forced us to marry,” said Gillian.

Fingal arched a brow at her. “Ye can’t possibly compare the MacIans to the Grants.”

Gillian laughed before leaning over to kiss his cheek. “Honestly, ye know I love ye now with all my heart. But at the time, if the king had given me a choice, I would have agreed to marry one of the Grants.”

Fingal grinned. “I don’t doubt it. I think ye said ye’d hate me forever.” He put an arm around her and pulled her close for another kiss.

When he let her go, she said, “I am happy to admit I was wrong.”

“Well, all I can say is it’s a good thing ye didn’t have a choice then,” said Fallon. “Because ye and Fingal are soul mates. Not to mention the fact that he brought Quinn here, and we were meant for each other too.”

Quinn slid an arm around Fallon’s waist and kissed her cheek.

“So, my love, can we humor her and send Duff to him?” Gillian asked Fingal.

Fingal frowned. “Lucas Grant kidnapped her and has held her captive at Castle Grant all this time.”

“Aye, but it sounds as if he’s actually been very good to her. To hear her tell it, he defied his brother to bring her here, even knowing he’d be taken prisoner. It seems like letting Duff into the dungeon with him is a very small thing.”

Fingal sighed. “Aye, I suppose.” He motioned to one of the guards in the hall. “Tarmon, take Duff down to our prisoner, please.”

“I don’t think he’ll stay, Laird, but I’ll try.”

With that taken care of, Gillian asked, “Not that it matters anymore, but what ransom did Laird Grant ask?”

“He didn’t,” said Fingal.

“I thought ye said he sent a message to ye.”

“He did. He explained how Lucas had taken her from a group of Galbraiths, but he didn’t name a ransom. He asked for a meeting on the feast of St. Ursula. He said he’d be on the heath where our land borders his, with ten men, under a white flag on the feast of St. Ursula”

“I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. That’s much too risky,” said Quinn.

“I agree and if they still held Ailsa, I’d have had to do it.”

“But they don’t have her,” said Eadoin.

“Nay, thank God.”

“So you’ll send a ransom request instead?” asked Quinn.

“Aye, I will. But I’ll wait a few days. Based on when Grant’s message arrived in Edinburgh he didn’t feel pushed to send his demand immediately.”

Gillian rested her hand on his where it lay on the table. “Let’s not be too hasty.”

“Gillian, my love, ye can’t take this story that they’re in love seriously. This has got to be some ruse.”

“I don’t think so,” said Gillian.

“Neither do I,” added Fallon.

“At least not on her part,” said Gillian.

Fingal shook his head resolutely. “Well then, it is some sort of Grant trick.”

It didn’t surprise Gillian that Fingal believed the worst. But Ailsa’s side of the story was convincing. “Based on everything she’s said, I don’t think so.”

“What did she tell ye?” asked Fingal.

Gillian told him everything Ailsa had. Fingal listened to the full story without interrupting. When she’d finished she added, “As much I am loathe to admit it, Lucas Grant seems to be a decent man.”

Fingal shook his head. “The fact remains, the bastard took her captive and held her for ransom.”

“But he brought her back,” said Fallon quietly.

“And ye believe it was because he wants to marry her?” The incredulity in Fingal’s tone surprised Gillian.

“I do,” said Gillian. “There were several ways he could have avoided all of this if he just felt the need to bring her home. But he didn’t.”

Fingal frowned. “I don’t like any of this. There are still several things about which I need answers. Why didn’t they send a messenger right away? And why didn’t William Grant ask for a ransom?”

“I can’t answer that,” said Gillian.

“There’s probably only one person who can,” said Quinn.

“Well, he’d better have answers for me or he can rot in my dungeon,” said Fingal.

“If ye want to speak to him, I can have him brought up,” said Quinn.

Fingal shook his head. “Nay. It has been an exceedingly stressful few weeks and I’m exhausted. Now that I know Ailsa is safe, he can bide his time. His brother certainly didn’t mind letting us wait. Right now I want a bath and some time alone with Gillian. I’ll deal with Lucas Grant tomorrow.” He sighed. “And Ailsa.”

~ * ~

Lucas lay in his cell, on the wooden platform that was meant to be a bed with his eyes closed. As much as he knew riding into Brathanead would land him here, it didn’t make it easier. By far, the worst part was seeing Ailsa sobbing and being able to do nothing about it. She clung to him and there was nothing he could do to calm her.

And when one dark thought comes, others follow. His brother was going to be livid. He’d told Lucas, “Don’t let her talk ye into doing something stupid. I promise, ye will taste my wrath if ye do.”

Well, he was going to have to get in line behind the MacLennans.

He also remembered what Davis had said to him, “Yer brother is a good man and a fine leader, but if ye’re not careful, someday ye’ll push him too far.”

This would probably qualify as pushing him too far.

Even so, if it meant he ended up with Ailsa as his wife, it would be worth it.

The creaking of a door opening drew his attention. Not sure what to expect, he sat up. The light from another torch joined the one that had been left burning in a sconce as a guardsman entered the dungeon with Ailsa’s dog on his heels.

Duff pushed past the guard to reach the door of Lucas’s cell.

Lucas squatted down, reaching his hands through the bars to pet the beast. “To what do I own this visit, lad?”

“Not a what, a who,” said the guardsman. “Ailsa insisted that he be brought down to ye.”

Lucas smiled, remembering how much lighter her heart became after she was able to spend time in the stable with Callie. “That was very kind of her. Please thank her for me.”

“I will,” said the guardsman turning to leave.

Duff whined and pawed at the cell door.

“Ye’re a good lad, Duff. And it’s been very nice meeting ye.”

The guardsman turned back around as Duff barked and whined, continuing to paw at the door.

“Go on, Duff. Ailsa has missed ye terribly.”

“I believe ye’ve misunderstood. Ailsa intended for him to stay down here with ye.”

“Nay, that’s very sweet of her. But I can’t let her do that. She loves him so.”

The guardsman frowned at him. “Ailsa was insistent.”

“Nevertheless, she was so upset. She needs him now.”

Duff barked again, pacing in front of the cell door.

“Clearly, she and Duff think otherwise. I hadn’t intended on putting him in the cell with ye, but it looks like he has other ideas. Step back from the door.”

Lucas did as he’d been instructed and the guard opened the door.

Duff ambled in, climbed onto the wooden bed and sat, looking at him.

“Well, I won’t say yer company’s not welcome, Duff.”

The guard locked them both in but before he left, he said, “I’ve known Ailsa her whole life. And she must love ye as much as she says or she’d never have done this. And ye must be a decent enough man.”

“Decent? Well that’s a start, but what makes ye say so.”

“Duff wouldn’t tolerate ye if he thought ye meant Ailsa any harm.”

Lucas sat beside Duff, rubbing his head. Touched beyond words at Ailsa’s gift. “I love her too, lad.”