Abducted at the Altar: A St. Briac Family by Cynthia Wright

Author:Cynthia Wright
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2018-10-11T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“At last!” exclaimed Magnus as he strode across the courtyard to greet Ramsay and the last group of stragglers who had been caught in the storm. “I’ve been awake all night, waiting for Fi. I knew it was a mistake to let her go hunting!”

Summer caused the dawn to come early to Scotland and although the time was not yet five o’clock, the eastern sky had begun to lighten. Ramsay was exhausted and his plaid was sodden and cold against his flesh. As a groom came to take his horse’s reins, he tried to absorb the older man’s words. “Fiona…? Has she not come back, then?”

Magnus blinked rapidly and his face grew flushed. “Nay! As the storm lessened during the night, groups from the hunting party returned, a few at a time. Each time, I felt certain I would see Fiona among them, but each one said he had not seen her. I knew, of course, that ye must be with her, keeping her safe.” He paused. “Was I mistaken?”

Ramsay forced himself to meet Magnus’s blazing eyes. “If ye fly into a rage, it will not aid in our efforts to find her.”

“I trusted ye!”

“Aye, and so I did try! But your bonnie lass does not welcome the protection of a man. I called Fiona to follow me but she turned and went the other way, chasing that cursed bird of hers.”

“We must call out the king’s men-at-arms to search the forest,” Magnus said, breathing hard, as if to calm himself. “She may be lying somewhere, hurt.”

Ramsay put a hand on the other man’s arm. “If any lass could outwit a storm, ’tis our own Fiona Rose. She is resourceful, like her da! And the king’s men-at-arms do not know her as I do. I will take a scent dog and find her much quicker.”

“Aye,” Magnus nodded, apparently seeing the logic in Ramsay’s plan. “I’ll come as well.”

“I can travel faster on my own. But let us split up! You ride to the east.” Even as he spoke, Ramsay knew that Fiona had not turned east, but to the west. And St. Briac had not been seen after that, either. “Go now and get a horse. Take a groom for protection. I’ll don dry clothing and be away in a trice.”

Magnus rubbed a big hand over his haggard face and nodded as he started off through the arched gateway that led to the stable. “May the saints be with ye.”

There was no time to lose, Ramsay thought grimly as he turned toward the palace. Soon enough the rest of the court and the royal household would be astir. Already a few were about, laboring in the kitchens and stables.

Before he could attempt to put his plan in motion, Ramsay had to see to a matter or two inside the palace, and there was no time to lose.

His rooms conveniently adjoined those of the MacLeod family. Upon reaching his bedchamber, Ramsay stripped off his wet clothing. Never had he wrapped

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