When Malcolm’s eyes settled on Linnae, she remained stock still as his mouth dropped open in shock. He hadn’t known she was here. How long would it take him to deduce that she was Lyel’s adopted daughter?

He said something to his men, then started toward her. Her heart jumped to a gallop.

Stay calm, she told herself. She was surrounded by MacKenzie and MacKinnon warriors. Malcolm couldn’t hurt her. Jacob had sworn she need not fear Malcolm.

He reached her. “What a surprise to see ye here.” He bowed. “I have been so worried since, well…” He smiled the warm smile that made so many of the lasses at Glenwood Abbey think he cared, but she recognized the threat that lay beneath the surface: I wager you haven’t told the MacKenzies you grew up at Glenwood Abbey, then ran away from your master.

Linnae stared, unable to speak.

Malcolm looked at the minstrel. “Begone, minstrel. I wish to speak privately with the lady.”

To Linnae’s surprise, the young man looked at her in question. She nodded, and with a glare at Malcolm, he left them. Two MacKinnon warriors passed and cast Malcolm a glance that told Linnae they knew who he was and weren’t pleased by his presence. No one but her, Jacob and her grandfather knew of the plan to entrap Malcolm. It wasn’t surprising they would wonder why the laird’s new wife was talking with the Donald laird’s captain. Malcolm had taken a huge risk coming here.

Malcolm stepped closer to the fire and said in a low voice, “That is a fine dress for a maid to be wearing.”

Murderer! she screamed inside her head, but said in a level voice, “Aye.”

“Why did you run away?”

The quiet question sent chills of fear along her arms. “Because I had no desire to become Leslie David’s whore,” she replied in the same quite tone.

“Whore?” he said in such surprise that for an instant she doubted that he knew the truth. But Malcolm was a master manipulator.

“Ye sold me for three head of cattle, Malcolm.”

“What I did, lass, was place you in a household so you could spy for me.”

This was probably at least half true. She had no doubt that Malcolm would one day have visited her at Leslie’s home and offered to free her in exchange for information.

“How did you go from being a maid on Skye to wearing such fine clothes at a clan chief’s wedding feast?” Before she could answer, his gaze shifted to the room and he said, “Who is this adopted granddaughter of MacKenzie’s?”

Linnae didn’t reply.

It took only two heartbeats for him to return his attention to her. He studied her for a moment. “You are the new Lady MacKinnon.”

Linnae gave a single nod.

He released a breath. “ ‘Tis clear I greatly underestimated you. How did you manage it?”

She shrugged, and as Jacob had instructed her to say, “He fell in love with me.”

Malcolm’s brows shot up. “Jacob MacKinnon, Laird of the MacKinnons, fell in love a servant girl?”

“Not a serving girl,” she said. “Laird MacKenzie’s adopted granddaughter.”

Malcolm nodded slowly. “I underestimated you. You are worth all the other Sisters of the Sinister Order put together.”

She wanted to shout for him not to call them that, but forced calm. “What do ye want, Malcolm?”

“You talk as if you and I aren’t old friends,” he said. “I had no idea you were here, Linnae, but I am greatly pleased to see you. I had given you up for dead. Now, finding you here. Well, I couldnae have planned it better myself.”

Linnae regarded him. “I think you have been doing a bit of planning already. Why attack Lady Alison’s carriage?”

Surprise shone in his eyes, but she knew it wasn’t the accusation that astonished him, but that she had deduced the truth.

“Attack Lady Alison’s carriage?” he said. “What makes you think I attacked her carriage?”

“You truly do underestimate me if you expect me to believe you were no’ behind the attack.”

Grudging respect replaced his surprise. He shrugged. “I wanted to sever the bond between the MacKenzies and the MacKinnons.”

So, Jacob had been right.

“Murder?” she said. “The three women who died in the carriage were young and innocent.”

He shook his head and said in a hurried whisper, “Nae, lass. It wasnae supposed to be murder. The fool driver was supposed to drive the carriage to a meeting place, but he couldn’t handle the damned horses.”

“What did you mean to do with Lady Alison?”

“I would have eventually ransomed her.”

After she was fifty years old and used up by his men, no doubt. But she doubted even this. Malcolm was not a man to leave ends untied. Jacob was right again. He had intended to kill Lady Alison.

Malcolm opened his mouth to say something more, then paused as a group of men passed. Once the men left earshot, he said, “With you as Jacob MacKinnon’s wife, I can now be privy to all his doings.” He grinned. “Who would’ve guessed that little Linnae would turn out to be my best spy?”

Her stomach knotted. Little Linnae. He hadn’t called her that since she’d turned fifteen.

“By God, together, you and I can rule Skye.”

“Rule Skye?” she said in shock. “Ye are insane.”

She caught sight of Jacob, who now stood with a group of men ten feet behind Malcolm. She gave a slight nod and Jacob strode toward them. He reached her side and turned to face Malcolm.

Surprise flickered in Malcolm’s eyes an instant before he schooled his expression into one of pleasure. “MacKinnon, congratulations on your marriage.” He extended a hand toward Jacob.

Jacob looked at Linnae.

“He says he did no’ intend to kill Lady Alison, but I dinnae believe him. He wants me to spy on you for him,” Linnae went on. “He said we would rule Skye together.”

“What the bloody hell?” Malcolm cried.

Jacob’s brows shot up. “I imagine Dòmhnall will be interested to learn his captain intends to rule in his place. Do ye intend to kill him as you did Lady Alison?”

“I never went near Lady Alison,” Malcolm snarled.

“Reams,” Jacob said.

Malcolm whirled as Reams stepped up beside him.

“Throw him into the dungeon with his men,” Jacob said.

“Do you know who I am?” Malcolm demanded. “I am captain to Laird Donald, and I came here in the spirit of peace to congratulate you on your marriage.”

“You asked my wife to spy for you,” Jacob said. “That alone is enough for me to hang you.”

“You believe a serving girl over me?” Malcolm growled.

“Lady Linnae is my wife,” Jacob said.

“She might be your wife, but I know her well—far better than you do. She lived at Glenwood Abbey eleven years. We were very…close.”

Linnae gasped.

Jacob smiled coldly. “I know ye are no’ implying my wife was your lover, for that would mean I would have to kill you where you stand.”

A shout went up. Linnae whirled. A man near the door stood, sword drawn. Two guards pointed spears at him. The room had gone silent.

“Michael,” Jacob hissed.

From the corner of her eye, Linnae saw Malcolm lunge.

“Jacob!”

Jacob whirled, barely dodging Malcolm’s fist to his jaw. Reams dove for Malcolm, but Malcolm leapt aside. Jacob drove his fist into Malcolm’s belly as large hands seized Linnae’s shoulders and yanked her away from the fray. She tumbled back into the arms of a large warrior.

Malcolm swung his fist in an uppercut and caught the edge of Jacob’s jaw. Jacob’s head snapped to the side. Linnae cried out when Malcolm yanked from its sheath the knife strapped to his belt. Reams lunged. Malcolm swung the knife and slit the left sleeve of Reams’ shirt. Red splattered one end of the rip, but Reams lowered his head and rammed into Malcolm’s belly, driving Malcolm back against the side of the hearth.

Half a dozen warriors surged toward them and Linnae lost sight of them for an instant, then glimpsed Reams and Malcolm on the floor in a tangle of long legs and flying fists. A warrior stepped in front of her. Linnae pushed past him in time to see Jacob yank the knife from his belt and fling it at Malcolm as he shoved to his feet. The point hit home in the center of his chest. Malcolm’s eyes widened in shock, then he collapsed onto the floor.

Jacob spun and pushed through the crowd toward the other man—Michael, Linnae remembered. God have mercy. The guards held him pinned against the wall with their spears. A dozen other men stood behind the guards.