“So ye know,” Cain said. “Thomas will be stationed on the steps, there are two guards outside your windows in case ye manage to dig the nails out, and another set of guards at the bottom of the back stairs from the chief’s room, which I will now be occupying.”

She turned her gaze to him, a look of boredom on her face. “I will still escape.”

Despite the disappointment of their conversation in the barn, the side of his mouth quirked upward into a half grin in anticipation of her next move. “Challenge accepted.”

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Ella tightened the front ties of her stays and slid a green gown over her head. It had a simple bodice of soft, thin wool and curved low to expose the edge of her white smock.

Challenge accepted. Cain’s words from the night before slid around in her mind. Getting her to wed him and gaining a solid hold on Dunrobin Castle was only a challenge to the legendary horseman of conquest.

“Damn Sinclair,” she murmured. And damn her girlhood memories of his kind smile.

She lifted Boo to her face to stare into her sweet eyes. “Even if I told Cain about Jamie, he wouldn’t care. He was raised to conquer lands and people and would still capture Sutherland lands. He is hollow inside,” she said. The kitten sniffed, her little white nose scrunching before she meowed as if in agreement. His kindness last night to the horse and foal showed he had enough heart to care for animals, but so had Ella’s father, a father who didn’t hesitate when exacting brutal punishment on people.

She set Boo down and walked to the window that she’d pried open with one of the daggers she’d taken. The crowd in the bailey below moved in a wide mass to enter the great hall. Today, the clan was coming to swear allegiance to Cain, their new chief.

Rap. Rap. “Ella, the taking of oaths ceremony is going on below.” It was Hannah, and Ella opened the door. Boo instantly dodged past her legs to go out.

Ella’s stomach growled with disappointment. “From your empty hands, I suppose I need to come below if I do not want to starve.”

Hannah smiled. “I think that is Cain’s intention.”

Ella stepped out and shut the door behind her. “Does your brother actually think that I will join in swearing allegiance to him?”

Hannah walked with her to the top of the dimly lit stairs. “I do not know. All of my brothers are very cunning. It would be best for you not to answer any questions down there then,” she whispered as if she conspired with Ella. Maybe she could be turned to help her escape.

“Do you like living here at Girnigoe?” Ella asked as they continued down the steps.