"I did not intend to come here, only to a village. I wanted to know if anyone had heard of a lost lass. I meant no harm here."

"You know why she fled Dunstaffnage?"

The Campbell took another gulp of wine, then said, "I wish to see her."

'To make sure their tales matched?'

"Why did she leave Dunstaffnage?" he asked again.

"What did she tell you?"

"I want your version."

They were circling around each other like two dogs ready to attack.

Campbell's jaw set. "You cannot think she is a spy."

"Nay."

"How did she come to be here?"

Rory did not like being on the receiving end of the questions, particularly when he knew he was in the wrong. Campbell had ventured on Maclean land after Campbell raids on Maclean villages. Rory felt no compunction about taking him prisoner. However, his men had gone on Cameron land to abduct a young woman who had done nothing to harm them. But would admitting that make his clan guilty of treason, since Felicia was meant for the king's choice?

He had no good choices. He just didn't know what the worst ones would be.

It wasn't like the sea. There he had responsibility for his men, but each of them knew the risks when they signed on. Too many innocents were at risk now. No matter what move he made, people would probably die.

His only chance was the man in front of him. But could he trust a Campbell?

That was the reason for his visit, to take measure of the man. Would he be of more value as a hostage or as an ally? Could he possibly become an ally?

If the Campbell truly cared about Felicia, perhaps.

But Rory had so many conflicting emotions inside, he did not know whether he could make the right decision. There was anger, jealousy, loss, fear for his people, even terror for Felicia if she was, indeed, to marry Morneith.

"You haven't said yet why Lady Felicia left Dunstaffnage."

The Campbell stared at him for a long time, then shrugged. "I was in London delivering a message from King James. She left in Janet Cameron's stead with the Cameron escort. An escapade gone bad. She was separated in the fog." His eyes did not flicker, but Rory sensed the tension in the man's body that belied the words.

'He was protecting her.'

And Rory knew why. If Felicia had openly defied the king, 'she' could be charged with treason.

Rory made his decision. The Campbell appeared to have ethics that he had not believed Campbells possessed. James Campbell probably felt Rory had none. Yet they needed each other if James Campbell was to save Felicia, and Rory his clansmen.

"If I release you from here, do I have your word you will not try to escape?"

James Campbell stared at him. For a moment, Rory thought he would refuse.

"I can see Felicia?"

"At my pleasure," Rory granted reluctantly.

Campbell continued to hesitate, and Rory knew how difficult it must be for him to yield to a Maclean. He could see that the Campbell probably preferred the discomfort of the cell to accepting a favor from a Maclean.

"What do you want in return?"

"Your ear. We might have common purpose."

Campbell still hesitated. "And Felicia?"

"She is comfortable enough."

Campbell finally nodded.

"Say it."

"You have my word. As a Campbell."

Rory wished he had not added the latter. The Campbell word was suspect, even when it came from Felicia. Especially from Felicia.

He did not need to be reminded.

"You will stay in one chamber," he said, "albeit a far more comfortable one than this. We have clansmen here from villages recently raided by Campbells. Family and friends died. I would not like to find you with a dirk in your back."

James Campbell's stare drilled through him.

Rory took his foot off the chair. He had always considered himself a good judge of character. He certainly hoped that he was now. Never had it been so important.

It went against everything he was and had been to trust a Campbell. And he might well be dooming the Macleans.

*Chapter 16*

Robina appeared at the door of Felicia's chamber just minutes after Rory left.

Had he ordered it, or had Robina been hovering around?

How long would it take before everyone in the keep knew that she was a Campbell? She had no fear for her safety, though she did fear seeing the stunned disappointment and accusation in their faces.

The same expressions she had seen on the face of the Laird of Inverleith.

She did not know what she should have done differently. She could have tried harder to escape the keep, or she could have allowed herself to be taken to the Cameron keep. She might have told him sooner. But she simply had not known what he would do. She wished she had explained.

She no longer had his trust. Jamie might pay for her silence. She could not bear it if he were killed because of her actions.

Robina took one look at her hair, and her eyes widened. "Oh, my lady, what have ye done?" Then she clapped her hand over her mouth as if horrified by her utterance.

"It is all right, Robina," Felicia said. "I know I look..."

Robina burst out in tears.

"I look that bad?" Felicia said.

"Yer hair, your bonny hair," Robina wailed.

Felicia had never thought it bonny. It was untamable and too bright a color. In truth, her head felt very good without it.

"The lord ..." Robina wailed again. It was obvious that she was among those who had harbored the unlikely hope that their lord and Janet Cameron would wed.

"The lord wishes nothing to do with me," she said. "And I must tell you. I am not Janet Cameron."

"Not Lady Cameron ... ?"

"My name is Felicia Campbell."

Robina's mouth fell open. Her eyes grew even larger. "Camp ... Camp ... bell," she stuttered.

"Aye, but it does not change what I am," Felicia said softly.

"But, but... how ..."

"Archibald took me by mistake, and I feared telling anyone."

Robina's face filled with confusion. "The Campbell the lord just brought in--"

"He is my cousin. I suspect he was searching for me." She paused. "I will understand if you no longer wish to serve me."

Robina shook her head. "No, milady. Ye are a kind soul. I saw it with Alina. Ye canna pretend that kind of caring. I will heat some water for yer bath and wash yer hair. Ah, milady, yer hair," she wailed again. She started to cry, and Felicia sensed it was more because of her shorn hair than the fact she was a Campbell.

Felicia wondered how many others would share that generous feeling.

And how could she bathe in comfort when Jamie was locked in some dungeon? If only she could see him. If only she could help him...

Instead, she took Robina's hand. "Thank you."

The girl bobbed, then hurried out the door.

Felicia went to the small, steel mirror and looked at herself. She had not had the heart to do it earlier. Truly she must be a terrible sight to make Robina react so.

And she was.

Jamie would be as horrified as Robina. Strange that Rory had not seemed to share that distaste. His horror came from the fact she was a Campbell. He had not seemed to care about her hair.

Felicia brushed it and ashes fell around her.

A bath first, then she would see Alina. She would scare the child to death if she appeared now.

She felt a little like death herself. The chill had not left her, nor had the great void left by Rory's rejection been filled by Robina's generosity.

Felicia took off the lad's clothing and wrapped herself in the nightrobe Moira had provided her days ago, then went to the window and looked out. A small group of horsemen were waiting for the gate to open. Each one was inspected by Archibald. Not so much as a mouse could leave without permission.

Robina returned, followed by several clansmen with buckets of water. They filled the wooden tub that was kept in the small room off the chamber. All of them cast quick glances at her, but she did not know whether it was because of her hair or because they knew who she truly was. She saw no antagonism, no hatred in their faces, only respect and curiosity. She decided it was her hair. They could not know.

When the men left, Felicia sank into the water, and Robina washed her hair, then, when Felicia left the tub and put on a chemise and gown. Robina brushed her hair dry.

Next she would see Alina and try to explain to the child and her mother. She did not wish them to hear from someone else if, indeed, they had not already.

Robina stepped back and looked at her critically. " 'Tis really not so bad now, milady."

'Not so bad'. Faint assurance. Mayhap Morneith would be so appalled he would refuse her.

She recalled the way Rory had touched her hair, even crusted with ash, almost as if... he cared about her. There had not been Robina's horror.

But there 'had' been anger. Deep anger and betrayal.

Would he take it out on Jamie? She did not think so. She would not think that of a man who had spent a day hunting for a lad, then riding all night to get him to Inverleith.

But she was only too aware of the hatred between the clans.

Hate twisted people. Had it done that to Rory Maclean?

She turned back to Robina, who eyed her warily, obviously wondering again if she had said the wrong thing.

"Thank you, Robina." Felicia took the few steps to her and took her hand. "You have been a true friend."

"A friend, milady?"

"Aye."

Robina smiled slowly.

"I am going to Alina," Felicia said. "I must tell her."

Robina nodded. "Her mother is helping in the kitchen. Alina is alone."

Felicia steeled herself. She would talk to Alina, then try to find out something about Jamie. If she must, she would beg to be allowed to see him.

Perhaps Lachlan?

But then Lachlan had not been to see her. Perhaps he, too, felt betrayed.

Felicia steeled herself and opened the door. There was no guard, but she had no doubt that Macleans had been warned to watch out for her if she wandered away from the two rooms allowed her.