The Ghost by Greyson, Maeve (best motivational books to read .txt) 📕

bearing a tray of food, she sagged back against the door she had closed behind her. “Thank the Almighty. I didna ken who might have entered without my permission.”

Magnus hurried to her, while the maid held back and waited beside the entrance to the suite. “Forgive me for startling ye,” he said quietly. “One of our outliers just arrived. ’Tis Commander Barricourt, along with what must be his personal guard from Fort William, headed this way. Alexander means to offer them a meal with all of us present in the hopes of starting off right with the man. Show him a united front of calm, respectable horse breeders, ye ken?”

“But Lord Crestshire said it would do no good. Said the man was beyond despicable.”

“Aye, but we are stuck with him, so we’ll do what we can to keep the peace until forced to do otherwise. Our lands run next to Fort William. For the sake of our people, we shall attempt to forge an alliance.” He waved the maidservant forward. “Greer brought Keigan’s supper and will stay with him while we are downstairs.”

While Greer was a kind enough lass, Brenna hated leaving Keigan while the vile British were in their midst. Her stomach knotted as she looked at the girl, then turned to Magnus. “I dinna wish to leave him. What if something happens? She’s but a slip of a girl. How can she protect him?”

“I know all the passages, mistress,” Greer assured in a voice much stouter than what she looked. “If aught goes amiss, the lad and I’ll hie to the tunnels and hide until it’s safe to come out. I swear it.” She gave a firm nod. “I willna let yer bairn be taken, I grant ye that.”

“She’ll keep him safe, mo chridhe.” Magnus rested his hand on her arm. “I would never entrust her with my son otherwise.”

“Ye’ll run like the wind with him?” Brenna asked the girl, pressing a hand on Keigan’s bedchamber door as though to bless it.

“I swear it, mistress.”

While Brenna understood the soundness of the plan, her heart pounded in denial with every beat. She was the one to protect Keigan. Always had been.

“Come. Let us tell the lad that we’re needed in the hall. We must make haste.” Magnus opened the door and gently nudged her forward.

Still kneeling beside the opened trunk, Keigan looked up from his collection of throwing stones. He jumped to his feet, both hands filled with the flint missiles. “Are we to fight, then?”

“Nay, son.” Magnus rested a hand on his shoulder. “At least, not yet. But I do have a very important task for ye.”

Suspicion narrowed the boy’s eyes as he peered up at his father. “Aye?”

Brenna remained silent, clasping her hands to her middle. Keigan was a canny lad, wiser and more mature than his years. God bless the poor mite. He had already been through so much. It would be best if Magnus didn’t try to shield the boy from what might happen if things went awry.

Magnus motioned for Greer to join them. “Mistress Greer has brought yer supper so ye dinna have to listen to the boring Sassenachs the chief has invited to dine with us.”

“Aye, and the task?” Still clutching his weapons, Keigan folded his arms. Brenna could tell by his stance that the child was onto his father’s tactics.

“Keep Greer safe until we return, aye?” Magnus rubbed his hands together as though proud of the way he had worded his weak deception.

“If the Sassenachs are boring and just coming to eat, why wouldna Mistress Greer be safe? We’re here in our private chambers. Second floor of the chief’s wing. Why would the soldiers come up here?” Keigan sheathed the stones in his belt, then bent and fetched more, stuffing them into his sporran. He paused and looked at Brenna. “Do ye need more, Auntie? Ye shouldna go below without plenty in yer pockets.”

“I have enough, thank ye.” Brenna nudged Magnus aside. If they were to make haste and join the others, she best handle this. “We dinna know for certain why the English have come, Keigan. ’Tis our hope all will be peaceful, but we canna know until we’ve met with them. If aught goes wrong, Mistress Greer knows all the secret passages running through the keep. Go with her and hide until it’s safe, aye?”

“Secret tunnels?” His interest perked, Keigan turned to the maidservant for confirmation.

“Aye.” The lass set the supper tray on the bed, then went to a wall covered with a colorful tapestry of a hunting scene. She reached behind it and did something none of them could see. But a low rumbling, the grinding of heavy stone against stone, rewarded her efforts, and the wall opened. With a glance back at Keigan, she smiled. “Come see.”

The lad disappeared behind the tapestry. “Can we explore them?” he asked, his voice echoing as though he stood inside a cave.

“After yer supper, we can explore a bit,” Greer promised.

“Come here, Keigan,” Brenna called.

The lad emerged with wide eyes and a big grin. “Secret tunnels, Auntie. I bet I can find some rats for Merlin.”

“That is indeed grand.” She waved him forward. “Now, tell me what ye’re to do whilst yer father and I are down below.” With his excitement about the tunnels, she had to be sure the boy understood the gravity of the situation.

He grew quiet as he looked up at her. “If aught goes wrong and the Sassenachs attack, Mistress Greer and I are to hide in the tunnels ’til it’s safe to come out.” He threw himself against her as if suddenly realizing things could become dire. His arms tightened around her. “Hide with me, Auntie. Da, too. Please?”

Heart aching but satisfied that her precious one finally understood, Brenna gently untangled herself from his hold, then crouched down in front of him. “We canna hide with ye, my fine wee warrior. This is one of those things we must do. Remember how we’ve talked of sometimes having