Actually there were five thieves hanging around the Cruaich but I didn’t think she’d appreciate me pointing it out. I immediately wondered if one of the others had taken a midnight jaunt to line their pockets but I knew none of them was daft enough. They wouldn’t risk this entire escapade for the sake of some silver and pearls. Nah: forget five thieves – there were at least six.

‘I didn’t take your necklace,’ I told her. And then, because I wanted to be honest, ‘I only take pretty things.’

Her mouth twisted angrily. ‘You…’ She seemed unable to get the words out.

‘Bitch?’ I shrugged. ‘I’ve been called worse.’

‘You’re almost as bad as your father,’ she spat.

‘Really? Because I understand he was really something of a good man.’

‘Apart from the time he murdered over a thousand of his own Clan.’

‘Did he really, Chieftain MacBain?’ I asked. ‘Did he really do that?’

She didn’t answer. ‘Just give it back.’

‘I didn’t take it.’ Understanding was beginning to dawn, however. Apparently Aifric Moncrieffe had decided that killing me at the Cruaich was too dangerous, even for him. Why assassinate someone and leave a bloody mess to clean up when all you have to do is discredit them by stealing a few choice items and letting others point the finger at your victim?

‘I don’t believe you,’ Chieftain MacBain sneered.

‘Until you’ve got proof I took it, your accusation is demeaning,’ I told her, using the Sidhes’ own warped sense of honour against her. I’d have offered to let her search the cabin if I didn’t think that the necklace had probably already been planted there. At least Bob had returned the place to its original squalid state before we left that morning. It paid to be careful; unfortunately, we’d not been careful enough.

The calm demeanour which MacBain had shown yesterday had vanished and turmoil was written all over her face. This necklace must be important to her. She wanted to clap me in irons but, without evidence to back up her claims, she didn’t dare.

‘Look,’ I said patiently. ‘I didn’t take your necklace and I’m not here because of it.’ I dug into my pocket and pulled out Matthew MacBain’s signet ring. She didn’t give me the chance to show it to her.

‘Until you return my necklace, I have nothing to say to you. Get out.’

‘But…’

She raised a trembling hand and gestured towards the door. Damn it; obviously she wasn’t going to listen to a single thing I had to say. I’d probably have to run back to the cabin to find the damn necklace and dispose of it before she sent out troops to ransack the place. So much for getting her on side for the votes I needed to participate in the Games.