Darkness settled over the small, airless room, and with it, despair so thick she choked. It overwhelmed her, seeping into her very soul.
Nay, she wouldn’t allow herself to lose hope. Graeme would find her. She had every faith in her husband. She would remain strong until he came for her.
CHAPTER 42
Dawn crept over the horizon and Graeme stood before his assembled clan, fury, impatience, and worry vying for control. They’d searched the keep, the river, and the surrounding lands. They’d left no stone unturned and there was still no sign of Eveline.
He wouldn’t accept that no one in his clan had seen Eveline or knew of what happened to her. There were no missing horses, and there was no way Eveline could have made it away on foot in her condition. Which meant that someone had to have taken her or aided her in some way.
He couldn’t dwell on the latter thought, because then he’d have to accept that she’d gone willingly. She’d given him no cause to believe that she would have left so abruptly. After standing by his side and protecting him so fiercely, why would she have left him the moment he was recovering?
Nay, it didn’t make sense, which meant that someone had her. Someone had taken her against her will and could be harming her even now. He had to push away the image of her frightened and hurt or he would lose all semblance of control.
“ ’Tis everyone, Graeme,” Bowen said grimly. “Every last woman and child.”
“Keep your eyes open,” Graeme said in a low voice. “I cannot judge them all. Someone is telling an untruth. We must find out who before it’s too late for Eveline.”
Bowen’s expression grew fiercer. He nodded and then motioned for Teague to go in one direction as he headed in the other, so they could better survey their gathered clansmen.
“Someone is not telling the truth,” Graeme said loud enough that his voice carried over the quiet courtyard.
His soldiers, those he considered among his most trustworthy, were spread in a wide circle, their arms crossed menacingly over their chests. They watched just as Bowen and Teague watched, their gazes sweeping the crowd.
“Eveline was last seen by Mary in the kitchens last eve. Eveline disappeared just after and yet none of you witnessed anything.”
“Maybe she went back to her own clan,” someone called loudly from the midst of the assembled gathering.
“Hush your idiocy!” Nora yelled, her face mottled and red with anger. “The lass did not desert our laird. ’Tis disloyal of you to say such a thing.”
“All I’m interested in hearing is who saw Eveline and if any of you have information on her current whereabouts. It will go far easier if you admit to such knowledge now. If ’tis found out later that you knew and something happens to Eveline as a result of your refusal to speak, the penalty will be death.”
As Graeme said the last, his gaze drifted over the group of women who’d made things so difficult for Eveline. Most of them looked genuinely worried, but it was Kierstan’s expression that drew further scrutiny.
She was pale, visibly nervous, and she kept glancing away and to the distance, as if she wanted to be as far from this place as possible. She wiped her hands down her skirts and tried to blend further into the crowd.
“And I promise, your death will not be quick,” Graeme said, pointedly speaking toward Kierstan, hoping for a further reaction. “For every hurt heaped upon my wife, I’ll exact equal measure from the person responsible. You’ll pray for death before I am done.”
Kierstan looked near to fainting. Desperation simmered in her eyes to the point Graeme was sure she must know more than she’d let on.
“You are dismissed,” Graeme called out, surprising his brothers. “Think on all that I’ve said. I’ll be willing to consider a more merciful punishment if you come to me now.”
Bowen strode toward him, clear question in his eyes. “What are you doing, Graeme? You did not even press them.”
Graeme held up his hand. “Bring Kierstan to me at once. Do not allow her out of the courtyard.”
Bowen’s eyes widened, and he glanced in the direction of the group of women who were moving with the crowd as they made to exit the courtyard. Without another word, he beckoned to Teague and they stalked quickly in Kierstan’s direction.
A moment later, Bowen grasped Kierstan’s arm, and she turned in alarm, fear radiating from her in waves. She didn’t fight Bowen, however, and she allowed him to lead her over to where Graeme stood.
Bowen and Teague flanked her, looming over her, their scowls enough to frighten the toughest warrior.
“Y-you wanted to s-see me, Laird?” she stammered out.
“I’ll only give you one opportunity to tell me the truth,” Graeme bit out. “If you do not tell me what you know, your sentence will be death.”
She went so white that Graeme feared she’d faint and be utterly useless.
“If I tell you what I know, do you vow to allow me to live?” she asked in a hoarse voice that cracked with fear.
“You do not bargain with me,” Graeme roared. “I make you no promises, but you had better pray Eveline is returned safely to me or you’ll sorely regret the mischief you’ve wrought.”
“I already do,” she said shakily.
She closed her eyes and swallowed deeply. When she opened them again, tears shone brightly.
“Ian McHugh has her.”
“What?” Graeme bellowed. “What have you done?”
“Please,” Kierstan begged. “I did not realize …”