Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1) by Gwyn Brodie Page A

less one.
    " I've yer food, m'lady," she said, carefully placing the heavy tray onto the table, trying her best not to spill the mead.
    " I'm glad you've brought me so much food, for I must admit, I'm quite hungry," Jillian said loudly, so that the guard might hear.
    H er back to the door, Winnie reached into her arisaid and gave Jillian a small bundle of clothing, and a hat, along with the boots, and several small hunks of bread, she'd somehow managed to get her hands on, tied up in a kertch.
    Jillian hurriedly shoved them beneath her bed. "Was James curious as to why you wanted his clothing?" she said, speaking low.
    " Nay, the lad had gone into the village to visit his mother. I helped m'self to his things. The hat belongs to the stable master. I nabbed it off a post when he weren't looking." Winnie carefully took out a small package wrapped in cloth and handed it to Jillian. "Tarts for young Ian. The lad likes them," she said, blinking back tears.
    Jillian hugged her. "Aye, he does at that. I'll be certain to tell Ian that the tarts are from you."
    Winnie nodded, smiling at her through misty eyes. "Have a care tonight, m'lady."
    " Aye, I will, and when you ready Ian for bed, have his warmer clothing where we can quickly get him dressed when I get there. Did you remember to count the steps?"
    " Aye, m'lady. There be forty-five steps from yer door to the lad's."
    " Good. Were you able to see Mairi?"
    " Och, I'd near forgotten to give ye this," she said, bending down to remove a tiny packet from her shoe. "Mairi said that the sleeping potion must be added to food to conceal its bitter taste. Give every last bit of it at least an hour before ye wish for the intended to fall asleep."
    Jillian nodded. "I'll remember. Don't forget, we'll need at least a day to ride to Ravenskull. Once we've gone, you must hide that fact for as long as possible. When Gordon asks, tell him we're both quite ill, and it could mayhap be very catching. Tell him anything to keep him from finding out too soon that we're gone and sending his men after us. Have someone fetch Mairi, in order to make it appear more real. Now you must go. I don't want the guard to become too suspicious."
    She hugged Jillian. "Godspeed," she whispered and left the bedchamber.
    A ware of the guard's fondness for tarts, Jillian used one of those on her tray in which to hide the potion. With the tip of her sgian dubh , she opened a tiny hole in the end of the tart where the juices had cooked out, and carefully added the white powder. Then she raked the filling back over and held it away from her for a look. Satisfied he'd not notice it'd been tampered with, she placed it back onto the tray and hid her sgian dubh beneath her pillow.
    After eating as much as her stomach would hold, Jillian placed the remaining food—except for the tart—into the bundle.
    It 'd be several hours before nightfall. Jillian turned her attention to the panel beside the fireplace that concealed the door to the tunnels. She couldn't help but blame herself for Ian's capture. With the first sounds of battle, if she'd hidden him in the tunnels before confronting Gordon, he'd be safe now. But Jillian didn't blame Winnie. She'd tried her best.
    The secret passageway had been used for many generations to hide women and children during attacks on Lochstorm. During the lives of her parents, the passages had been used but a couple of times. In her own lifetime, they'd never been used as a place of concealment, but as a place to be explored by children.
    Jillian could only pray that Gordon knew naught of the tunnels, and if he once did—he'd forgotten. If he learned of their escape before they made it beyond his reach, Gordon would find them and bring them back. Jillian didn't wish to think about what he'd do to her if that happened.
    Since the latch hadn 't been used in such a long time, Jillian wanted to be certain 'twould open, unlike the ones in Ian's and her father's room. Getting onto her knees, she ran her