“But my maid…” She couldn’t leave Claire behind.
“She will be fine, I’m certain. Listen, Rosalind.” Brock held her chin and forced her gaze his way. “We didn’t just steal you away from him. I left Lennox’s sister tied up and gagged in the library. That man will want to kill me after what I did to her.”
She stared at him, remembering what he’d said before they left Lennox House. “What do you mean by that? Is Joanna all right?” When he didn’t answer right away, she punched his shoulder hard. “What did you do to her?” Sometimes it was the only way to get a much bigger man to answer her.
“I may have…” He mumbled something, so she smacked him again. “Christ, woman, fine! I kissed her before I tied her up. The little bluestocking was sitting in a chair by the fire reading a book, and I may have gotten carried away.”
“You idiot!” she groaned. “Poor Joanna. You compromised a perfectly lovely young woman? You’re right, Ashton will want to kill you, and I wouldn’t blame him!”
“Compromise? It was just a kiss. It’s not like I tupped her.”
Brodie shifted restlessly. “Maybe we should push the horses until we can reach an inn and trade them. I think Brock’s actions have put us in harm’s way more than we anticipated.”
Rosalind had to agree with that. Brock had kissed Joanna and left her in a frightened state of being tied up and gagged. If Rosalind had learned anything about Ashton it was that he loved his family and would do anything to protect them. Or avenge them.
Rosalind sighed. “Brodie’s right. We should keep moving. Ashton will be after us the moment Joanna tells him what happened.”
She would have to leave Claire behind for now, but she could send for her once she reached Scotland.
What a bloody mess.
*****
“Where has Rosalind gone off to?” Ashton grumbled as he climbed out of bed.
“Who cares? The woman is trouble.” Charles tried to shove Ash back onto the bed when he swayed unsteadily.
There was a fuzziness in his head he couldn’t shake. He needed to see Rosalind. Something in his gut clenched, a primal warning sign that something was wrong.
“Let me up. I need to find her.” He struggled against the blankets and his friend’s hands. He wasn’t going to admit to his friend that he was worried she would leave. He’d begun to open his heart up to her, and if she decided to go back to London because he kept shutting her out, she would never trust him. He couldn’t forget the hurt look in her eyes when he’d demanded that she leave him and Charles alone. He needed to find her and have a moment to explain everything.
“But—”
“No!” Ashton nearly fell out of bed, and Charles caught his left arm, holding him up.
“Help me with my boots. Imustfind her.” He panted, trying to catch his breath as the room began to spin.
“Now that I won’t do,” Charles said with a scowl. “Because I’mnotletting you leave the house.”
Ashton didn’t have the strength to fight him. “Fine. My slippers then. Help me find Rosalind. I have a strange feeling in my stomach.” He laid a palm over his abdomen as the muscles there clenched and knotted.
“Not so strange,” Charles said with a laugh. “You’ve barely eaten in days.”
Ashton gripped his friend’s shoulder. “Thisisn’ta joke. The last time I felt like this was the night you were in the river. Do you understand me?” How could he explain it? His instincts, ones he’d honed over the years and never ignored, were telling him something was wrong.
All color drained from Charles’s face. “I’ll help you look for her.”
“Thank you.”
They exited the room, and Ashton glanced about. It was quiet. The house had long settled in for the night. Even the servants had gone to their quarters.
“Should we try the kitchens?” Charles suggested.
“Yes.” They walked together in an awkward manner with Charles hovering close until Ashton regained some of his strength.
They were halfway down the stairs when they heard a muffled yelp from somewhere below.
“What was that?” Ashton asked.
