Ewan didn’t believe it either, but he’d be a fool to discount the possibility. He couldn’t imagine anyone in his clan trying to kill Mairin. Why would they? She represented hope. She was their salvation and there wasn’t anyone who didn’t know that.
But someone had.
Gannon and Cormac entered the hall, their expressions grim. Fatigue lined their faces and they made a direct line toward Ewan.
“Laird, we have a report.”
Ewan gestured for them to sit.
Cormac took a seat but Gannon opted to stand, his agitation evident in the way he clenched and unclenched his fists.
“We’ve determined the source of the poison,” Gannon said.
“Tell me,” Ewan bit out.
“It wasn’t in the food. We tested pieces from all the remaining plates, including Lady McCabe’s. The poison was in a goblet. It was nearly full, so she didn’t drink much of it.”
“Thank God,” Ewan breathed. There was hope yet.
“Laird,” Cormac said painfully. “We don’t believe the goblet was Lady McCabe’s.”
Ewan thumped his fists on the table and leaned forward. “Whose was it then?”
Gannon blew out his breath. “We believe it was yours, Laird.”
At that, Caelen and Alaric nearly unsettled their chairs. “What the hell do you mean?” Caelen demanded.
“We spoke extensively with all the serving women. There were three goblets. One that Lady McCabe upended when she rose from the table. That was her goblet, but it wasn’t placed correctly and we don’t think she ever drank from it. She took your goblet and drank a small portion. It must have tasted badly to her because she pushed it to the side and summoned one of the serving women to bring you another goblet. Soon after, she grew ill.”
“But why …?” Ewan’s voice trailed off, and he looked up at his most trusted men and his brothers. “The arrow. The arrow wasn’t intended for Mairin at all. It was meant for me.”
“Jesu,” Alaric said in agitation. “Someone is trying to kill you, Ewan. Not Mairin.”
“It makes more sense,” Caelen said grimly. “No one gains if Mairin dies. That’s not the case if Ewan dies and leaves Mairin without a husband and without child.”
“Cameron is behind this and somehow, someway he’s infiltrated our clan. Someone here is doing his bidding. Twice he’s tried to kill me and twice Mairin has nearly died as a result.” Ewan’s fist met the table with a sickening crack as he snarled out the realization.
“Aye, but who?” Alaric asked.
“That’s what we must find out,” Ewan said. “And until we do, Mairin must be watched closely at all times. I won’t have her injured by another attempt on my life.”
Chapter 28
Harsh shouting interrupted Mairin’s nice, hazy dream. She couldn’t be sure it was a dream, but it was all nice and floaty and she wasn’t feeling any pain. She much preferred the nice, quiet float over the alternative.
Then she found herself being shaken until her brain seemed to rattle inside her head. The pain was back and she heard Ewan’s voice.
Oh, but the man did love to roar. He seemed to enjoy a good lecture, particularly when it was aimed at her.
“You are the most disobedient lass I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet,” Ewan snarled. “I order you not to die and you’re determined that you’ll do just that. You’re not the lioness who championed my son. She would never give up as you’re giving up.”
Mairin frowned at his insult. It was just like him to act so shamefully when she was sick and dying. He acted as though she’d done it apurpose.
She heard him chuckle.
“Nay, lass, you might well be sick, but you’re not dying. You’re going to obey me this time or, as God as my witness, I’m going to turn you over my knee.”
She glared, or at least she thought she did. The room still seemed incredibly dark to her, and her eyelids felt like someone had laid stones over them. Sudden panic hit her. Maybe they were preparing her for burial. Didn’t they put stones over the eyes of the dead to keep them closed? Or was that coins? Either way, she didn’t want to die.
“Shh, lass,” Ewan soothed. “Open your eyes. You can do it for me. No one is burying you, I swear it. Open your eyes and look at me. Let me see those beautiful blue eyes.”
It took all her might but she managed to crack her eyelids. She winced as sunlight speared through her head, and she promptly snapped her eyes shut again height="0em">
“Cover the window,” Ewan barked.
Mairin frowned. Who was he talking to? It was getting to be a regular occurrence for them to have visitors to their chamber.
She heard a chuckle and she opened her eyes only to see a fuzzy shape that resembled Ewan. She blinked rapidly and then looked beyond him to see Alaric and Caelen in front of the now covered window.
“ ’Tis good you returned home when you did, Alaric. Ewan would need you for the funeral.”
Alaric frowned. “Whose funeral, lass?”
“Mine,” she said.
She tried to lift her head but soon discovered that she was as weak as a newborn kitten.
Caelen laughed and Mairin turned to offer him a frown of displeasure.
She sniffed. “ ’Tis not a laughing matter. Ewan would be most displeased if I died.”
“Which is precisely why you aren’t going to do anything of the sort,” Ewan drawled.
She turned her head to look at Ewan again and was startled to see him look so … haggard. His hair was unkempt, his eyes were red, and he had what looked to be several days’ worth of beard growth on his jaw.