He moved, but it was sluggish, and she soon realized why as she moved the candle over his body. His hands and feet were bound by rope to the bedposts, trapping him with his legs and arms spread wide to each of the four posts of the bed.
“Christ!” She turned to Annis. “Fetch me a sharp knife, quick!” Horror and shame at what had befallen the man under her roof nearly robbed her of her breath.
The butler left, and Lydia leaned close to the Scotsman, hoping he could more easily see her face.
“What happened, Mr. Kincade?” she asked him.
“What happened? You ken very well what happened, lass. You willna take me to the altar. I’ll die first.”
“Altar?” Suddenly it all made sense. A pit of dread formed in her stomach, so deep that it felt bottomless. Lydia had never imagined that Portia or her father would resort to this.
“I’ll set you free at once,” she promised. “Try to rest.” She touched his face, and for a moment he leaned into the caress, but then his wild eyes flashed with rage, and he jerked his face away and groaned in pain.
The second Annis returned, Lydia carefully began to cut the ropes, but it seemed to take ages.
“Annis, have the coach brought round. I’ll take him to the doctor. He seems quite ill.”
The butler’s face was pale. “I believe it is the laudanum, miss. He’s been dosed heavily.”
“What? By whom?”
“First by the men who brought him here, then again either by your sister or your father. Otherwise, he would have come out of it by now.”
Lydia looked at Mr. Kincade, feeling helpless and ashamed at her family’s treatment of him, but he was asleep again, his breathing soft and his eyes closed. She worked even more frantically to cut him loose until the last bit of rope frayed and broke. She gave his shoulder a gentle shake, hoping it would rouse him.
“Mr. Kincade, please try to stand. You are free. I wish to take you to the doctor at once.”
He opened weary, bloodshot eyes and struggled to sit up. He kept his head in his palms, drawing in deep breaths. “I’m free?” he whispered hoarsely.
“Yes, but I believe you should see a doctor.” Lydia set the knife down on the table by the bed as she sat beside him and pressed the back of one hand to his forehead.
“So gentle now,” he murmured. “Such a sweet touch ...” He struggled for words. “But it doesna matter. It won’t change anything.”
In one swift motion, he swiped the knife from the bedside table and pointed it at her heart while he gripped her throat with his other hand. Barely able to do more than gasp, Lydia held still as the tip of the blade pricked her through her silk gown.
“You had me kidnapped, and now I shall do the same.” He stood from the bed on shaky legs but seemed in command of his body enough that he could spin her around and hold her captive against his chest. They stepped into the hall, and the knife now hovered at her throat as he held her in front of him like a shield.
Annis gasped at them from his position at the top of the stairs. “Miss Hunt!”
“You! Fetch her some clothes. I willna travel with a lass who looks unkempt,” Mr. Kincade barked harshly.
“But” Annis began.
“Please, Annis,” Lydia begged. The blade was resting against her skin. She feared that if she drew too deep a breath it would sink into her throat.
“Yes, miss.” The butler fled to do her bidding, and Brodie led her down the stairs, but it was slow progress given that he relied heavily on her for support.
“Please, Mr. Kincade, let me go.”
“After all you’ve done? No, I’ll not fall for any more acts of false sweetness. You’re as venomous and cunning as a viper, and I will have my revenge for it.”
“But I didn’t”
“Silence.”Brodie’s tone brooked no argument.
Lydia closed her mouth as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Annis held the small trunk and her valise, the ones Portia had packed for her supposed trip to London.
“You may tell Mr. Hunt that I have his daughter as my guest. And in exchange for his hospitality, I will send her back when I’m good and done with her.”
