“Yes, though it was dark and she’d raised the hood on her cloak to hide her identity.”
“What about her voice?”
“Other than a few grunts and groans, she never spoke.”
“And you have no idea what she wanted?”
“No.” The image of the woman shaking the books entered her mind. “Although I suspect it’s something small, a letter or some other document.”
“With your permission, my lady, I would like to escort you back to your room. I shall send Mrs Hill to examine your injury while I make a thorough search of the castle.”
“Very well, but it will be a wasted effort. I watched the woman leave through the bailey. She met someone out on the heath.”
Mackenzie gritted his teeth. “I’d hate to be the traitor who has to stand before the Raven and answer for his crimes.”
Lillian’s heart lurched whenever anyone mentioned Fabian. The longer he stayed away, the more she craved his company.
“One thing is certain. From her shapely curves, the woman was most definitely not Mrs Bell, Nancy Hill or Penny.” As the words left her lips, she knew her attacker could only be one of three people: Heather, Ursula or Mary. They were all of a similar height and build, although Lillian had given Mary permission to return to her cottage for the night.
“That leaves but a few possible suspects. Whoever it is had better be running for the hills.”
After putting on his boots, Mackenzie walked Lillian to her chamber and went to find Mrs Hill. The woman came with a pot that smelt of honey and smeared the contents over the wound.
“I doubt you’ll need it stitched, and with this here ointment there’s little chance of it leaving a scar.”
A knock at the door brought Mackenzie. “Well, do I need to get my needle and thread?”
“Why don’t we wait and see how it is in the morning?” Nancy said. “No point causing more distress than is necessary.” Nancy wandered over to the washbowl and dipped her hands into the water. “Would you like me to stay with you, my lady?”
“Of course she wants you to stay. Are you forgetting I’m standing in her ladyship’s bedchamber?” Mackenzie turned to Lillian. “I’ve done some investigating and Heather returned to her cottage after supper. Ursula left an hour ago.”
“And Mary? I said she could go home to the cottage tonight to collect some of her things. That was just before supper. She promised to return tomorrow.”
Mackenzie shuffled his feet and peered over his shoulder at Nancy Hill who was busy tidying the books. He turned back to Lillian and whispered, “Mary left a little later than you thought. W-we ate supper together, got to talking about the old days when she worked at her father’s inn.”
Lillian shivered as a cold chill swept through her. “What time did she leave?”
“An hour ago, but it couldn’t have been Mary. As God is my witness, she’d never harm a soul.”
Lillian’s mind was a muddle. She wanted to trust Macke
nzie’s word. Mary didn’t seem like a woman capable of violence. But then the men had trusted her husband, Doyle, before he betrayed them.
Oh, she wished Fabian were here. He would know what to do. He would handle the matter in the same masterful way he handled everything. Lillian caught herself. What had happened to her desire for independence and freedom? All she wanted was her husband home.
“Let us hope Lord Ravenscroft returns tomorrow.” Lillian sighed inwardly. Leaving the island was no longer an option. With the master away, it was her responsibility to deal with any crisis. “In the meantime, we will continue as though nothing has happened. Should anyone ask, I fell and hit my head on the wooden chest. You will make discreet inquiries. I will converse with the women concerned and watch for any sign that might lead me to suspect them.”
Mackenzie bowed. “And what of Mrs Hill?”
The housekeeper jumped at the mention of her name. “On my oath, I’ll not utter a word to no one.”
“Good,” Mackenzie said, “as I doubt his lordship will allow the husband of a gossip to command his finest ship.”
Nancy smiled through gritted teeth. “I’m a woman of my word, Malcolm Mackenzie. You know that.”
“Aye, and a lot of foolish words they are to boot!”
Lillian raised her chin. “Strange things are afoot. I have taken you both into my confidence, and I expect you to behave accordingly.” It was time to act like the wife of the infamous Raven and not some naive lady from the city, crippled by scandal and gossip.