chamber, he made his way down the
corridor.
“I trust that I will gain a more genial acceptance from you in
time.”
Tamhas froze. Turning his head, he saw that Lennox Fingal had
sauntered down the corridor after him. “I doubt that very much.”
Tamhas refused even to look directly at the man, for something
was there in his eyes. Witchcraft was at the back of it. Tamhas was sure the
good council leader had been swayed. A favor had been granted, of that he was
almost certain. The blackguard must have wheedled his way into MacDougal’s good
graces by dubious means. He intended to find out what it was, too. He would soon
set them all to rights, and take his rightful place as head of the council.
“That is a shame,” Fingal said, “for we are almost
neighbors.”
“You are no neighbor of mine, and I’ll have you know I’ve sent
your kind running from Saint Andrews before, and I’ll do it again.”
“My kind?” He raised an eyebrow. “Fair-minded members of the
burgh?”
“You jest.”
“I don’t.” He smiled, seemingly at ease. “Oh,” he added, “I
meant to compliment you on your taste in women. Your wife and your pretty cousin
were looking most fetching when I saw them in Market Street this morning.”
Tamhas’s hands fisted at his side. “Your attempts to rile me
only make me more determined to obtain the evidence I need to see you and your
people put to death for your evil doings.”
To his annoyance, his adversary only laughed softly. Standing
his ground, he gave a shallow bow. “Farewell, Master Keavey.”
Tamhas had no choice but to leave. He stormed out of the
council chambers and elbowed his way through the crowded streets outside,
furious that Lennox Fingal had gained a foothold within the burgh. He would have
to pay closer attention to the man’s activities. He needed evidence to oust him.
The man had the ability to sway opinion, and that was dangerous. He was able to
enchant people with favors and charm, but Keavey saw past that and he would make
sure others did, too.
The insinuation that Fingal could get close to his womenfolk
nagged at Tamhas, for Fingal was widely known as a man who could charm any woman
into his bed. Had he spoken to them in the market? Had he dripped his evil charm
on them?
Tamhas decided that he would have to question them on it.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Did you fare well in Saint Andrews today, ladies?”
Tamhas addressed them both from the head of the table.
Chloris forced a nod when he looked at her. “It was most
reviving.”
She concentrated on her food. The suckling pig was quite
delicious but Chloris could eat only a small amount of the dinner. When she
thought of the events of the day she could scarcely manage a morsel, fretting as
she was about the illicit rendezvous she had somehow agreed to. Here in the
rather splendid dining room she could hardly believe the arrangement she had
made. It was one of the most sumptuous rooms in Torquil House, with a long and
heavy table and bulrush chairs. The fireplace was large and expensive carpet
covered the stone floor on the area from the door to the table. Tamhas lived
like a laird, and at his bequest dinner was always a grand occasion. It was his
way. He wore fine wigs and expensive clothing, for it was important to him that
his wealth and position were visible to all.
“It was a most pleasant outing and Chloris and I enjoyed the
market,” Jean replied, “until we saw that Lennox Fingal prowling about the place
as if he owned it.”
Chloris reached for her wineglass, her heart tripping.
Tamhas’s expression altered, a scowl developing. “The heathen
had the audacity to present himself to council.”
Chloris took a swig of claret. Her situation felt strangely
dreamlike. Earlier that day she’d been compelled to question her cousin’s wife
about her comments regarding Master Lennox, but now she had a sense of
foreboding that made her very uncomfortable about the rendezvous that had been
arranged for that
corridor.
“I trust that I will gain a more genial acceptance from you in
time.”
Tamhas froze. Turning his head, he saw that Lennox Fingal had
sauntered down the corridor after him. “I doubt that very much.”
Tamhas refused even to look directly at the man, for something
was there in his eyes. Witchcraft was at the back of it. Tamhas was sure the
good council leader had been swayed. A favor had been granted, of that he was
almost certain. The blackguard must have wheedled his way into MacDougal’s good
graces by dubious means. He intended to find out what it was, too. He would soon
set them all to rights, and take his rightful place as head of the council.
“That is a shame,” Fingal said, “for we are almost
neighbors.”
“You are no neighbor of mine, and I’ll have you know I’ve sent
your kind running from Saint Andrews before, and I’ll do it again.”
“My kind?” He raised an eyebrow. “Fair-minded members of the
burgh?”
“You jest.”
“I don’t.” He smiled, seemingly at ease. “Oh,” he added, “I
meant to compliment you on your taste in women. Your wife and your pretty cousin
were looking most fetching when I saw them in Market Street this morning.”
Tamhas’s hands fisted at his side. “Your attempts to rile me
only make me more determined to obtain the evidence I need to see you and your
people put to death for your evil doings.”
To his annoyance, his adversary only laughed softly. Standing
his ground, he gave a shallow bow. “Farewell, Master Keavey.”
Tamhas had no choice but to leave. He stormed out of the
council chambers and elbowed his way through the crowded streets outside,
furious that Lennox Fingal had gained a foothold within the burgh. He would have
to pay closer attention to the man’s activities. He needed evidence to oust him.
The man had the ability to sway opinion, and that was dangerous. He was able to
enchant people with favors and charm, but Keavey saw past that and he would make
sure others did, too.
The insinuation that Fingal could get close to his womenfolk
nagged at Tamhas, for Fingal was widely known as a man who could charm any woman
into his bed. Had he spoken to them in the market? Had he dripped his evil charm
on them?
Tamhas decided that he would have to question them on it.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Did you fare well in Saint Andrews today, ladies?”
Tamhas addressed them both from the head of the table.
Chloris forced a nod when he looked at her. “It was most
reviving.”
She concentrated on her food. The suckling pig was quite
delicious but Chloris could eat only a small amount of the dinner. When she
thought of the events of the day she could scarcely manage a morsel, fretting as
she was about the illicit rendezvous she had somehow agreed to. Here in the
rather splendid dining room she could hardly believe the arrangement she had
made. It was one of the most sumptuous rooms in Torquil House, with a long and
heavy table and bulrush chairs. The fireplace was large and expensive carpet
covered the stone floor on the area from the door to the table. Tamhas lived
like a laird, and at his bequest dinner was always a grand occasion. It was his
way. He wore fine wigs and expensive clothing, for it was important to him that
his wealth and position were visible to all.
“It was a most pleasant outing and Chloris and I enjoyed the
market,” Jean replied, “until we saw that Lennox Fingal prowling about the place
as if he owned it.”
Chloris reached for her wineglass, her heart tripping.
Tamhas’s expression altered, a scowl developing. “The heathen
had the audacity to present himself to council.”
Chloris took a swig of claret. Her situation felt strangely
dreamlike. Earlier that day she’d been compelled to question her cousin’s wife
about her comments regarding Master Lennox, but now she had a sense of
foreboding that made her very uncomfortable about the rendezvous that had been
arranged for that
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