William had been awakened in the wee hours of the morning by Gil, the captain of his guard, with the news that Lucas had overpowered Ailsa’s guard and spirited her out of Castle Grant.

He’d questioned Davis, one of the guards who had been on duty at the gate, who said that Lucas left on horseback, alone. “Laird, he said he’d had a quarrel with ye and that he thought a ride might help quiet his temper.”

William had trouble believing Davis had accepted that answer. “He went out riding in the middle of the night and ye didn’t find that strange?”

“Of course I did, Laird. But then he said it had been a frustrating day and he needed a little exercise too.”

William agreed that it wasn’t at all strange for Lucas to have sought the company of a willing lass.

William also believed that while Lucas appeared to be alone, he must have had Ailsa hidden. She was a very small woman. On horseback he might have been able to conceal her under the plaid he wore as a cloak. 

William had sent men out immediately, heading towards MacLennan land. He prayed they would overtake Lucas before he crossed into MacLennan territory. There was no doubt in his mind, regardless of whatever Lucas had intended, the instant the MacLennans knew who they had, he’d be taken prisoner.

Unfortunately, his men returned in the early afternoon, having ridden all the way to the border without finding his wayward brother.

Now, William stood by the hearth in the great hall, staring into the fire, trying to decide what to do. “I can’t believe he did this. Did he say anything to any of ye?”

“Nay,” said Robert. “Emily and Nina said he spent a lot of time with her. Ye don’t suppose he imagined himself in love, do ye?”

Emily huffed. “Dear God, Robert. I love ye but sometimes ye can be denser than stewed prunes. Of course he’s in love with her.” Looking at her brother by marriage, she said, “William, please tell me that comes as no surprise to ye.”

William shook his head. “Nay. I suspected it from the start.”

“Then why didn’t ye put a stop to it?” asked Robert.

What could he say? “I saw no harm in it.”

“When he left the hall, he said he wanted to talk to ye,” said Nina. “What was that about?”

William frowned. “I don’t know.”

Nina canted her head. “Ye don’t know? Did he change his mind about seeking ye out?”

“Nay, he came to my solar.” William blew out a long breath. “But I was combing through the ledgers, trying to figure out how we’re going to keep body and soul together until spring. I was tired and frustrated and just trying to focus on the problem at hand. We’re usually so at odds, on top of everything else, I didn’t want to spar with him too.”

“Ye didn’t hear him out?” asked Robert

“Nay. I told him I was too busy. I had more important things to do.”

Robert scowled. “That’s not like ye.”

“It’s just, immersed as I was, I didn’t want to be interrupted. I couldn’t imagine he had anything to discuss that was significant enough to warrant it.”

“Pardon me for asking this, William…” Emily paused for a moment. William knew any question she might have that began with those words was probably going to raise his ire. “…why did ye force him to come home last year?”

He was right, it was a damn irritating query. “That’s a ridiculous question, Emily, he was twenty-five and it was time for him to come home. I should have done it several years earlier.”

Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry if ye don’t want to hear this, but ‘it was time for him to come home’, is not a good enough answer.”

“Well, pray tell, what would be a good enough answer for ye?”

Emily shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Perhaps…I needed him.”

“It’s the same thing,” scoffed William.

“It most certainly is not. Nor is it true,” countered Emily. “If it were, ye’d have given him some sort of responsibility.”

“Ye know nothing about this and I’ll thank ye to keep yer opinions to yerself.”

William should have known better than to think that would stop her.

“Actually, William, I know quite a lot about it. One of my brothers is in training with Laird MacPherson. According to him, Laird MacPherson wanted Lucas to stay and serve as one of his guardsmen and he almost never does that. As I hear it, Lucas is an outstanding warrior. My brother practically idolizes him. When my betrothal to Robert was announced, my brother told Da he’d picked the wrong Grant.” At Robert’s affronted look, Emily caressed his cheek and said, “He didn’t darling. I love ye.” Turning her attention back to William she said, “So Lucas went from being a highly respected member of MacPherson’s garrison, where he was responsible for training others, to here, where it’s a wonder ye let him pick his own clothes.”

“Emily, now ye’re being impertinent,” said Robert.

Now? She’d been impertinent from the day she arrived at Castle Grant.

“Oh, stop, Robert. Ye know I’m right. Ye’ve all but said so yerself.”

William looked pointedly at his brother. “Is that true, Robert?”

“Well, aye, it is. And in fairness, I have tried to talk to ye about it. I’ve suggested a few duties ye might want to give Lucas but each time ye disagreed with me.”

“He’s young and inexperienced,” said William.

Nina rested her hand on William’s shoulder. “My darling, I fear ye’re the only one who thinks that. Ye’ve suggested before that the trouble between the two of ye is because of the way ye treated him when ye were a lairdly arse at the tender age of ten and eight. But I’ve also told ye, I don’t think that’s the case. He knows ye’ve matured into a good leader. I think ye’re the one who refuses to see that he has as well.”

“If ye treat a capable, grown man like a green lad, at some point, he’s going to act like one,” said Emily, as if it wasn’t already painfully obvious to William.

He heaved a sigh. “Do any of ye know what he intended to speak to me about?”

Nina gave a small shake of her head. “He didn’t say anything specific, but I’m fairly certain it had something to do with Ailsa MacLennan.”

“Aye, that’s apparent now.” For the first time in many years, William felt helpless. “What am I going to do? There isn’t a chance in hell that the MacLennans will just let him return home—even if he did save Ailsa from the Galbraiths. Just as we held her hostage, they’ll hold him.”

“Where are we going to get the funds to pay a ransom?” asked Robert.

“I could ask my da,” offered Emily.

“Or ye could ask Laird MacPherson,” said Robert. “Maybe if ye agreed to let Lucas become one of his guardsmen as he wanted, he’ll help.”

William didn’t want to ask Laird Chattan or Laird MacPherson for help and he certainly didn’t want Lucas to go back to the MacPhersons. “I don’t want to lose him, Robert.” He turned to his sister-in-law and said, “Emily, ye’re offer is kind. I appreciate it more than ye can know. As much as I hate to ask yer da for the ransom money, I will if I have to. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him back, but I’d like to talk to Fingal MacLennan first.”

“How do ye propose to do that?” asked Robert. “Will ye send him a message or will ye wait until his messenger comes with the ransom demand?”

“Neither,” said William. “I am going to ride to Brathanead myself, under a white flag.”

“That’s too risky,” said Robert. “They could simply ignore the white flag and take ye and yer men as well.”

“I suppose that’s always possible, but I don’t think they will. Most people who know him think Fingal MacLennan is honorable. He might not wish to parlay with me, but he won’t ignore the white flag. But I’ll take a large enough contingent to defend ourselves if we must.”

“We’ll go tomorrow?” asked Robert.

“I’ll go tomorrow,” said William. “Even though I don’t think it will be too great a risk, I can’t be certain and I won’t risk giving the MacLennans all three Grant brothers.”