The Renegade's Heart by Claire Delacroix

Annelise
laughed as she went to scoop their nephew into her arms. She spun
around and Roland held out his arms, squealing with pleasure at the
ride she gave him. Elizabeth complained anew about the noise and
Isabella left with a mumbled excuse.
    She found Eleanor in the corridor leaning on
Moira’s arm. That lady thanked her again for her aid, but declined
another posset as yet. “Come to the hall with us,” Eleanor invited.
“I intend to sit by the fire and catch up with all the tidings I
have missed. Come join us while we await Alexander’s return.”
    This was the last deed Isabella wished to do,
but she could hardly decline. “I suppose I should collect my
needlework,” she said, trying to not sound impatient.
    “That is an excellent notion!” Eleanor paused
on the summit of the stairs and glanced back. “Isabella, could you
bring my embroidery to the hall? I shall work upon it there.”
    An excuse to enter the solar alone! It was
precisely the opportunity Isabella required. She tried to hide her
impatience. “Of course!”
    “You will sit by the fire,” Moira insisted to
Eleanor. “With furs over your lap, and you shall not rise until
midday. Should you desire any thing, you will tell me and I will
fetch it for you. Are we understood?”
    “Who is mistress and who is maid?” Eleanor
teased.
    Moira flushed. “You must ensure that you do
not strain yourself, my lady,” she continued. “You have only to
tell me what you wish to see done, or what you desire to have
brought to you, and I shall see that it is so.”
    “I know it well, Moira. You are kind to me
always. Let us get down to the hall for it is cool here.”
    The pair began to descend the stairs, Eleanor
leaning more heavily on the maid’s arm than was her custom.
    Meanwhile, Moira continued. “’Tis the laird’s
second son you bear, I will wager, and ’tis my responsibility to do
my best to ensure he comes shouting into the day, just as Roland
did, as hale and as hearty as a babe might be.”
    “It might be a girl, Moira, this time being
so different from the last.”
    “It is boys as make the trouble, my lady, you
shall see...”
    Eleanor and Moira disappeared, the maid’s
voice fading.
    Isabella pivoted and fled up the stairs. She
was in the solar in moments, the key to Alexander’s chamber
retrieved from the small chest beside the curtained bed. She
flicked the needle from Eleanor’s embroidery on to the floor and
kicked it into the darkness of the corner. On silent feet, she
crossed the hall on that floor, turned the key in the lock and
slipped into Alexander’s chamber.
    She had not much time.
     
    * * *
     
    Chapter
Five
     
    Gavin held his hand over the snout of the
messenger’s horse, ensuring that he and the steed were well hidden
in the forest’s shadows. He watched Murdoch walk toward the
village. The Laird of Kinfairlie’s hunting party galloped toward
the forest, the mare in Gavin’s care stamping at the sight of
them.
    The Laird of Kinfairlie did precisely as his
lord Murdoch had promised. Gavin was awed by his master’s ability
to anticipate the choice of another.
    And he stood tall with this responsibility.
He had never anticipated such adventure when he had been chosen to
accompany his laird’s brother, and indeed, he found his lord
Murdoch’s tactics thrilling. Although Stewart disapproved, this was
like a great game. The messenger had been terrified the night
before, but he had not been injured. And lord Murdoch would ensure
the horse was not just shoed but returned. Coin jingled in Gavin’s
purse, and his heart pounded that he was entrusted with a deed
worthy of a tale.
    Gavin watched the hunting party enter the
woods. The dogs barked, scattering into the undergrowth, their
keepers whistling to drive them on. One headed toward the hidden
squire and Gavin’s eyes rounded. The horse shook her head, but he
held fast. They could not be discovered before they began!
    A loud clear whistle called off the dog,