The Highland Spy by Aileen Adams

Author:Aileen Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AilAd

Aiden wasn’t sure how much time had passed with his arms around Cora in that alleyway. Luckily, no one came looking, and they sat in quiet silence until Cora’s shaking body had stilled. By the time he was able to get her up and moving, the sky was a fiery mix of red and orange. Knowing the long shadows of impending dusk would cover their movements, he guided the lass back along the side roads to the keep, one arm firmly wrapped around her shoulders. Night fell just as he steered her through the gate and into the main entrance of the building. The pastures were empty—someone must have brought in the horses. He was happy to see they had left the gate open for their return.

He didn’t bother to knock and instead called out for help as he pushed open the main door of the house and pulled Cora into the entryway. The lass was shivering, but the temperature was still rather warm.

“Magnus? Ashlyn?” Aiden called out, his voice heavy with concern.

Cora hadn’t spoken the whole walk home, and he didn’t know what to do.

Catherine, the cook’s wife, peeked out from around a corner. Her eyes widened in concern as she took in Cora’s state, and she quickly rushed over, wrapping her arm around Cora’s waist from the opposite side. “They’re in the audience chamber, come.” The older woman helped Aiden lead Cora along the long hall to the great doors, and she pushed them open hastily, without bothering to knock.

Aiden immediately noticed the disarray of the room before him. A large wooden crate stood open in the center of the room, its contents half-unpacked onto the central table. Bricks of tea were stacked neatly alongside a few piles of paper here and there, the hay and packing materials scattered about on the floor.

Ashlyn was arms deep into the box, Magnus standing over her, reading something aloud. They both looked up with surprise—Aiden had heard one of the few rules was that one always knock on closed doors in the home, and it was clear Catherine had broken that request. It looked like Magnus was about to protest, an unusual look of stern consternation on his face, but that quickly changed as he took in the scene before him. He and Ashlyn dropped what was in their hands and rushed over immediately.

Magnus looked Aiden in the eyes. “What happened? Is she injured?”

Aiden extricated his arm from around her, and Ashlyn took her face in her hands.

He shook his head, still dumbfounded. “I donnae ken. One moment she was fine, and then the next…” He took a breath.

“Well? Then, what?”

“We saw some English soldiers on the hill,” he relented. “She simply... froze.”

Ashlyn was whispering to Cora, who still hadn’t spoken a word. “‘Tis fine, dear. Let’s get ye upstairs.”

Ashlyn and Catherine took charge and began steering the lass out of the room and toward the stairway to her chambers. Magnus went to follow and then turned, addressing Aiden. “Donnae worry lad.

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