The Chieftain by Margaret Mallory Page B

the castle as she had told Deirdre, she headed for the kitchens.
    “I can’t be seen in the hall,” Ilysa said in a low voice to Cook as she joined him at the worktable, “but I must know the
     moment Deirdre leaves the table.”
    Cook raised an eyebrow, but she shook her head to let him know she could not tell him why.
    “I’ll tell one of the serving maids to keep an eye on her,” he said, pitching his voice below the noise of the kitchen. “I’ll
     invent a reason.”
    Ilysa was relieved that he understood she did not want anyone else to know the request came from her.
    “You’re a good friend,” she whispered and squeezed his arm. Then realization dawned, and she turned to face him. “What do
     ye know?”
    “I have a suspicion about the lass’s interest in a certain warrior,” Cook whispered, “and I’m no the only one.”
    That meant half the castle was abuzz about Deirdre’s clandestine meetings with her lover. If Ilysa had any doubts before about
     the need to take action, they were gone.
    “I’ll wait in the wine cellar,” Ilysa said.
    Supper seemed to take an eternity, but at last Cook stuck his head through the door. “The lady’s excused herself to retire
     early again .”
    Ilysa picked up her skirts and raced out. She stopped on the dim-lit stairs where she could see into the hall without being
     seen, her heart pounding. She did not have to wait long before Connor and James left the hall for the adjoining building.
    Hurry, hurry , she chanted in her head as she fixed her eyes on Deirdre’s lover. When he finally left the hall and disappeared into the
     stairwell that led to the upper floors of the keep, Ilysa realized that her plan might actually work.
    She did not know how long to wait. Would Deirdre and her lover talk first? Ilysa recalled how the pair behaved in the storeroom
     and decided that, if they did talk, it probably would not be for long.
    Once they actually started, how long did it take to fornicate? From all the remarks Ilysa had heard from other women, the
     time varied considerably. She did not want to act too soon, before it all began. On the other hand, if she waited too long,
     it could all be over and the man gone.
    Ach, this would drive her mad. Ilysa took a deep breath and decided it was time.
    *  *  *
    “My sister has a sweet, biddable nature that would please any man,” James said as the two of them sat at the small table in
     Connor’s private chamber.
    “Aye, she has,” Connor said because it was expected, though Deirdre did not strike him as either sweet or biddable.
    “I can tell that her beauty has charmed ye as well,” James said, smiling.
    Deirdre was undeniably attractive.
    Over the last week, Connor had thought on it long and hard and concluded that he could do no better for his clan than make
     this alliance. Alexander of Dunivaig had the warriors and galleys Connor needed to fight the MacLeods, and he was offering
     an extremely generous tochar , or dowry, which Connor’s beleaguered clan could sorely use.
    And yet, Ilysa’s caution about Deirdre not being the right wife nagged at him. He was still annoyed with her for suggesting
     Deirdre would embarrass him.
    “There are two things that are essential to me when I take a wife,” Connor said.
    “Beauty and what else?” James said with a laugh.
    “My first requirement is that her clan commit to fight the MacLeods with mine,” Connor said. “Your father cannot fight for
     Trotternish while battling the Crown’s forces elsewhere, and I cannot risk an alliance that could draw me into the rebellion.”
    “As I said before, I believe my father is very close to accepting the Crown’s terms,” James said. “Very close, indeed.”
    Close was not good enough, but Connor needed this alliance, and he needed it as quickly as possible.
    “My other requirement,” Connor said, “is that I have my wife’s absolute loyalty.”
    James bristled, but it had to be said.
    “I’ve heard about