"Do you think I care? You're going to tell the guards to allow me entrance. You're still chief… until the hearing, at least. The clan may side with the imposter, but the battle isn't over yet."

"I don't think you should see or talk to McMurdo. He is a dangerous criminal and he could hurt you."

"He'll not be able to touch me!"

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "What are your plans?"

Why was her wee son now questioning her actions? He'd never done that before. "I'm not going to break him out. He deserves to be there. He's a murderer after all, but I need to speak to him for a few minutes about the grave site he paid your father and the church for."

"Very well, but I must ask a favor of you."

"Anything, my dear. Do you not know I would do anything for you?" she cooed, hoping her naïve son would believe her.

"I will count on it, then. I ask that you leave Dirk be. I ask that you not harm him nor hire anyone else to harm him."

"Why, Aiden," she said as dramatically as she could muster, given that she wasn't the least bit surprised that he'd sided with his big brother. "What sort of person do you think I am? I would never hurt anyone, imposter or not. I simply don't want him stealing what is rightfully yours."

"I don't see how you can say that when you know he is Da's eldest son."

"I'm sorry, but I honestly don't believe he is your brother."

He scrutinized her with intelligent eyes, and she wondered if he was going to believe her. Maybe she hadn't been genuine enough.

A shocking thought occurred to her. Had he been the one to tip off Dirk and his men to go chasing after McMurdo? Aye, somehow they'd known she was to meet McMurdo at the church. By the time she'd arrived, the place was deserted. Two hours later, McMurdo was in the dungeon and Aiden and Dirk had returned drenched. They'd been together, of course.

What a little traitor her son was. He was the one she risked everything for! Did he not realize being chief was the only way to secure his and his brother's future? He was from a long line of powerful leaders here in the north of Scotland, but all he wanted was to be a troubadour. No more than a servant. She was beyond disappointed in him.

If he didn't want the chief's position, Haldane would. She didn't care which, but one of her sons would be chief.

"I shall not lay a hand on the imposter. Come now, let's go. You're a good son." She led the way into the corridor and he followed.

Outside in the blustery morning air with icy snowflakes stinging her face, they crossed the stone-paved bailey together. Although the guards cast them strange looks, they allowed Maighread and Aiden entrance to the dungeon with no complications. After the hearing, if Dirk was made chief, he would bar her from talking to McMurdo.

Her son was right, the dungeon was a nasty, damp and dark place, but that didn't matter. She'd worn her oldest clothing.

The guard set the lantern outside the cell door and Maighread squinted toward the man shackled to the wall inside.

"McMurdo?"

"Aye, m'lady."

"Go find Haldane for me, Aiden," she said, turning to her son.

"Nay, I'll not leave you here alone with him." Something about wee Aiden as her protector seemed out of place.

"He's chained to the wall. He cannot come near me. I must speak to Haldane immediately."

Aiden's eyes narrowed, and he addressed her in a hushed whisper. "If you and Haldane break McMurdo out, the guards may hurt or kill you both."

"We're not going to break him out, darling. Do you think I'm mad? I told you he deserves to be exactly where he is. He's a murderer. Go bring your brother to me."

Aiden gave her one last glare and shuffled away to do her bidding as he always did. She was glad he was easy to control despite his scruples.

She turned toward the prisoner. "McMurdo, listen to me. Are you awake?"

He grunted and his beady black eyes peered at her. "Aye."

"I paid you a great sum of money to do a job several years ago. But you didn't do that job, now did you? You stole my thousand pounds. That's about the same amount you paid for that crypt in the church, is it not?"

The chains rattled. "I thought he was dead. He fell down the cliff. I swear it. I have no notion how he survived. 'Twas a miracle."

"Lie all you want. I'm making you another deal. Either complete the job now or I'm taking my thousand pounds back."

"How? I have no money."

"You will not be buried in your crypt."

"Nay, m'lady! How will I finish the job now? I'm chained and locked up."

"I might be able to find someone to help you escape."

"Aye, I beg of you, m'lady. Help me out of this hell-pit and I will do whatever you wish. You will allow me to keep the tomb, aye?"

"When I see with my own eyes that the job is complete, aye. And you're not to open your mouth about our arrangement to anyone. We have never spoken."

"Agreed. I'll do it." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I'll kill Dirk MacKay this time."

Chapter Eighteen

A half hour after Isobel left Dirk's chamber, a knock sounded at her bedchamber door. Her heart vaulted into her throat. Could it be Dirk?

When she opened the door, she found Dirk's sister waiting there, wide-eyed.

"Isobel, the servants are gossiping," Jessie whispered.

Isobel dragged her friend into the room and closed the door. "About what?" she asked, glad Beitris had gone to the kitchen for a small meal for her since she'd missed breakfast. And, of course, Beitris had had plenty to say about why Isobel had missed the meal.

"They are saying you didn't leave my brother's bedchamber all night," Jessie said.

Isobel's face heated. "He is injured and required someone to stay with him." Although she considered Jessie a new friend, she couldn't confess all to her.

Jessie raised an auburn brow. "What are you not telling me?"

"Naught."

"Come now, Isobel. I'm not a naïve and innocent lass. I was in a temporary marriage for a year and a day."

"Aye." Isobel remembered what Jessie had told her earlier.

"And you're a widow. We both ken what goes on betwixt a man and a woman in the bedchamber."

"Indeed." Did she ever! She would never be the same after experiencing such passion and intensity. Now she knew who had all the fun. Wanton women. No wonder they always looked so smug and happy.

"Well?" Jessie prompted.

"That is to say… I ken now… for a certainty."

Jessie frowned. "What does that mean?"

"My former husband and I didn't… have relations. He was unable." Isobel held up a hand. "Before you say anything, I wanted to know what it was like. I had to know, truly, what happened during the coupling. I'm five-and-twenty, after all."

Jessie gaped. "Last night was the first time for you?"

"Aye."

"But Dirk is injured."

"Do you think that matters to a man? He dragged me into bed with him."

Jessie sucked in a quick breath, her blue gaze sharpening, so like her brother's. "How dare he!"

"Nay, I did not wish to object." Isobel smiled as heat washed over her.

"You enjoyed it?" Jessie asked in a skeptical tone.

"Aye, 'twas far more amazing than I could've ever imagined."

"Amazing? I would never call it amazing." Jessie grimaced as she paced back and forth.