“Is anyone there?” asked Sybella. When no one answered, she closed the door and continued with her purpose.

When she reached the door to the parapet, she saw a disheveled man who had his arm draped over a voluptuous woman with fiery red tresses. Sybella presumed the drunken man was a MacDonell from his bawdy laughter—well, that and the fact that he was wearing a MacDonell plaid. The man pulled the woman roughly, almost violently, to him against the stone wall.

Sybella’s temper flared.

She was about to defend the helpless woman when she froze midstep. The woman responded—by burying her lips against the MacDonell man’s throat and sliding her leg up around his waist. Suddenly, she didn’t appear as helpless as Sybella had initially thought. When the woman proceeded to slip her hands underneath the MacDonell man’s kilt and his expression tightened with strain, Sybella’s eyes rounded with comprehension.

The woman did not need saving.

It wasn’t as if Sybella hadn’t spied on Colin enough to know how the act was done, but she couldn’t disguise her body’s reaction to the sight displayed so openly before her eyes. The man and woman pawed at each other out in the open, not in a bedchamber. At least her brother had enough sense not to be so visible. He would’ve taken his leman to a bed or at least sought a hidden hayloft. But no matter how disturbed she was by witnessing their carefree touches, Sybella could not find the strength to pull away.

The man repositioned himself, and when he let out a guttural moan, Sybella could not help the loud gasp that escaped her lungs. The man’s head turned slightly toward her, and then he gently pushed the woman away from him.

“M’lady.” He attempted to give her a low bow as his companion steadied him. The woman tried to straighten her clothing while the man spoke, his words barely comprehensible. “We were heading to the p-p-parapet. Unless of course, ye w-w-wanted…”

Sybella was glad of the semidarkness that hid the flush on her cheeks. “Nay, I was returning to my chamber. Thank ye.” The last thing she wanted was to be in the middle of a lovers’ tryst, let alone spying on one. What the hell was the matter with her? Why hadn’t she fled when she had the chance?

She walked hastily through the halls, thoroughly embarrassed by the scene she had witnessed. She should’ve stayed in her chamber and sought her bed. That’s what she wanted to do in the first place. Now she was paying a humiliating price for her stupidity.

She had almost reached the safe confines of her bedchamber when she spotted someone ducking into one of the rooms at the end of the hall. In fact, that certain someone looked vaguely familiar.

Moving quietly down the hall, Sybella approached the room. But as soon as she bent over to see if a light was illuminated from underneath the door, the chamber went dark. She hesitated, questioning what she thought she saw. Perhaps it was only her imagination, but she could have sworn…

She lifted her hand and gently knocked on the door. When no one answered, her curiosity was most definitely aroused. This may not have been one of her brightest ideas. Who knew what she could be walking into? The thought barely crossed her mind when someone reached out and pulled her abruptly into the room.

She gasped.

“What the bloody hell are ye doing here, Ella?”

* * *

Alexander reveled in the aftermath of the celebration. A few MacDonell men were passed out with their heads down on the tables, not to be outdone by the MacKenzie men who were splayed upon the great hall floor. He never thought he’d see the day when MacKenzie men slumbered on the MacDonell crest inlaid in the stone floor. In any event, Alex sat in the laird’s chair, his father’s chair, pleased at conclusion of the day’s events.

“I see your betrothed has retired for the eve.” John pulled out a chair and sat down. “Did ye fire her ire, or did she run back to Kintail with her tail between her legs?”

Alex chuckled in response and poured John a tankard of ale. “I donna know. In either instance, at least we have the cattle.”

“I hope to hell ye know what ye’re doing.”

Imposing an iron control, Alex spoke confidently. “We already had this discussion. ’Tis a lot of cattle for our clan to be fed and the MacKenzie has taken so much from us already. Think of it as them paying us back for all the things they’ve taken.”

John lowered his voice. “I didnae mean the cattle. Ye’ve shackled yourself with a wife—and a MacKenzie one at that.”

Alex favored many things about John, but sometimes his friend’s truthfulness was more of a pain in the arse. “And that MacKenzie lass brings two hundred fifty cattle with her as her dowry—two hundred fifty MacKenzie cattle.”

A grin overtook John’s features and he held up his hands in mock defense. “Ye donna need to convince me. The men seemed to enjoy themselves.” He nodded to the drunken men.

“Aye. For a time I thought our clans would actually be warring in the middle of the great hall.” He ran his hand through his hair in a tired gesture. “I was somewhat concerned, but at least everyone is still in one piece—well, more or less.”

“Ye gave a fine speech, Alex.” John took another swig of ale and lowered his voice. “The men are still on guard.”

“Good. Make certain they arenae in their cups, and they will be rewarded when the MacKenzies take their leave. I want a watchful eye kept on them at all times. The MacKenzie retired with a lass a short time ago. Where is his son?”

“I have Ian following him. Nay worries, Alex. Enjoy your celebration because on the morrow, ye will be a married man. ’Tis too bad Doireann took her leave with Donald. Ye could have had at least one more night of freedom before ye spoke your vows.”

“I doubt I will be getting much rest with my new bride if Aunt Iseabail has her way. The woman has been constantly hounding me about an heir. Praise the saints I should forget such a task.”

“That is one duty I know ye will nae mind performing.” John gave him a friendly punch in the arm. “At least the MacKenzie lass isnae so sore on the eyes. I cannae help but wonder if ye would have accepted the offer so willingly had she been a troll.”

Alex shrugged. “’Tis late. I suppose I should gather Aunt Iseabail, but she doesnae look as though she is ready to part company.”

John gulped the remainder of his ale and placed his tankard down on the table. “And I should be checking on the men to make sure they stay at their posts.” He rose from the chair and slapped Alex on the back. “Ye better seek your bed, my laird. Ye will want to give your bonny new bride all of the attention she deserves on the morrow.”

Alex smiled. “Aye, as soon as I am able to rouse Aunt Iseabail from the table and the company.” He watched John walk away, and then he shook his head, thinking about his aunt. She’d drunk most of the men under the table and still was able to hold a conversation. The MacDonells were indeed strong stock.

Alex approached the table, and the older MacKenzie man looked thoroughly engaged in the conversation—well, either that or completely taken by Alex’s aunt. The man sat forward, hanging on the edge of her every word.

“So my dear departed husband stripped them of their clothing, took their mounts, and made them all walk back as bare as the day they were born,” said Aunt Iseabail. “They ne’er encroached on our lands again.” She was friendly, smiling and bantering in a relaxed manner. As though she sensed someone beside her, she turned. “Alexander, I was sharing stories with William.”

“Aye, your aunt has some amazing tales,” said William, his eyes never leaving hers.

Alex knelt down beside her. “Aunt Iseabail, ’tis late. Why donna ye let me escort ye to your chamber?”

To his surprise, she pushed him away. “Nephew, William and I are having a delightful time. Right, William?”

“We only stay here to talk. I will make certain your aunt seeks her chamber.” William met Alex’s eyes without flinching. “Alone.”

When Alex raised his brow at his aunt, she smirked, shooing him away. “Please, Nephew. ’Tis been a long time since I required a chaperone.” And with that, Aunt Iseabail promptly ignored him and continued her conversation with William. “Now what was I speaking of?”

Alex knew when he wasn’t wanted. Recognizing that sleep would not come, he wasn’t ready to seek his bed and walked out into the bailey. Against the far wall, John spoke in raised tones with Ian. When John threw his hands up in the air, Alex knew something was amiss.

He approached his men and John’s words were hostile. Ian received a verbal thrashing and looked none too pleased.

“What the hell is going on?” asked Alex. “I can hear ye from across the bailey.”

At the sound of his voice, Ian turned. “My laird, the MacKenzie has sought his chamber, but I cannae find the MacKenzie’s son.”

* * *

“Colin, what do ye think ye are doing?” Sybella scolded him, pulling her arm out of her brother’s grasp.

Colin lit the candle and she glanced around. Several pieces of unfinished embroidery were laid upon the table, and a handful of dresses were thrown carelessly on the bed. The room was smaller than hers but just as enchanting. The dark wooden frame of the bed and the ornate furnishings complemented one another. And with bunches of floral stems that were placed upon the mantel, Sybella knew in an instant whose chamber this was.

“What are ye doing in here?” she asked, her voice unintentionally going up a notch.

“I was searching for you,” Colin responded with returning impatience.

“Searching for me? Why would ye be searching for me in Aunt Iseabail’s chamber? I will have the truth, Brother.”

His stare drilled into her and he cleared his throat. “I didnae know it was her room.”

“Ye didnae know,” she repeated.

“Aye, ye heard me. What other reason would I have to be in her chamber, Ella?”

She walked around him. “Let me tell ye what I think.”

“Ye always do,” Colin murmured under his breath.

“Surely ye arenae so bold as to search for the stone before I am wed. Ye told me as much. That being said, I think ye cannae help but sneak around Glengarry and wonder how Kintail compares,” she simply stated.

He held up his hands. “Aye, ye found me out. Can we please take our leave now before we are discovered?”

She gave a brief nod. “That would probably be best. If we were to be discovered and Father found out ye—”

“Exactly. Let us seek your chamber. I would like to know what kind of poverty my sister is living in,” he said in a jesting tone. He opened the door and gestured her through as he blew out the candle.

They walked down the hall and entered Sybella’s bedchamber. She had just closed the door when Colin smirked. “There is nay way this is your chamber, Sister.”

“What do ye mean? Of course this is my chamber.”

He spoke in his casual, jesting way. “’Tis far too clean to be your room, Ella.”

She tossed a pillow at him and he caught it with one hand. He placed the pillow back on the bed and sat down beside her. His eyes had a burning, faraway look in them.

“What is it, Colin?”

“Are ye going to be all right here with the MacDonell? I would expect the truth.”

His smile was almost apologetic, and she punched him playfully in the arm. “Is that what is troubling ye? In truth, I am nae thrilled to be the MacDonell’s wife, but as I told ye before, I will do what is expected of me. Like all things in life, I am sure I will grow accustomed.”

“Do ye mean that?”

“I wouldnae speak the words if they werenae the truth.” She couldn’t figure out if Colin’s concern was that of an older brother or if there was some other meaning to his words or lack thereof. He was always direct with her and never made a play upon his words—yet, she had an underlying feeling something was off. “Are ye certain that is all that troubles ye?”

He hesitated, studying her for a moment. “I am only concerned for your welfare. Father made this alliance for the sole purpose of finding the stone. ’Tis dangerous, Ella. I want ye to be careful and donna be so quick to search for the stone. It will probably take the MacDonell a little while to lower his guard around ye. Give him time to know ye, and I am sure he will be besotted.” He smiled warmly. “Most importantly, earn his trust. Make him realize that his wife stands by his side. I know it may be difficult for ye, but be a dutiful wife and please try to hold your tongue.”