Kilty Secrets by Anna Markland

Author:Anna Markland
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Clues

SATISFIED SHONA AND Moira were safe once more, Ewan set off with Fynn and David to meet Walter at the main door of the tower.

He set Ruadh down on the cobblestones when Walter beckoned him to examine the escutcheon.

“Look at this,” Gilbertson said. “As ye’d expect, ’tis the ancient emblem of the MacCarron clan chiefs, an arm grasping a sword, encircled with a belt and buckle.”

“And the motto ye taught me,” Ewan noted.

Walter pointed. “Aye, but see the wee Viking ship carved into the scrollwork?”

Ewan and the men around him peered at the stone, barely able to make out the ship in the flourish bearing the date Anno Domini 1536. “Aye.”

“That’s a symbol o’ the Morleys. They claim descent from Somerled’s Viking pirates.”

The fog began to lift. “The family worked on the renovations.”

Walter nodded. “And wanted to leave their mark.”

Fynn stepped forward. “So if there was a secret chamber, they would have kent.”

“And pass…pass…passed it on,” David said.

Ewan hefted Ruadh. The dog whined at being lifted, but began to wag his tail and woof when Jeannie’s kerchief was put under his nose.

“He’s got the scent,” Fynn said, sounding hopeful for the first time.

Ewan led the way through the open doors, held his breath as he stepped over the grating covering the steps down to the cesspit, and began the ascent to the top of the tower.

He’d aspired to be a clan chief all his life, but had never imagined his first challenge would involve carrying an excited hound up a steep, winding staircase to find a missing woman.

*

“SOMETHING’S BOTHERING ME,” Shona told Moira.

“Yer incessant pacing was a clue,” her maid replied. “Sit down for pity’s sake.”

“I canna. I keep thinking on what Ewan said about the refurbishments done in the last century by the ill-fated thirteenth laird.”

“What of it?”

“Every MacCarron chief leaves a record of his time as laird. My father showed me where they’re kept in the library. Some are musty old parchments that mostly tell of battles and feuds, I’m afraid, but mayhap The Camron in question wrote of rebuilding the castle. It was a momentous undertaking that took several years.”

Moira knelt by the chest against the wall and opened the lid. “Weel, we’ve been ordered to remain here; we canna traipse off to the library. Mayhap I’ll have another go at airing these gowns.”

An inexorable premonition there was important information in the archives consumed Shona. If she stayed cooped up in her chamber much longer she’d simply fret about what was going on and begin to imagine all sorts of dire scenarios. Mind made up, she retrieved Ewan’s dagger from the bed and strode to the door. “Stay if ye wish. I’m the daughter of a MacCarron chief and I refuse to hide in fear any longer. I’m for the library.”

Moira scrambled to her feet and rushed after her as she exited the chamber. “The new laird willna be happy.”

Shona tightened her grip on the hilt. “Desperate times call for action,” she replied. “Ewan will understand I had to do whatever I could to save Jeannie.

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