Seven faces stared at Caitlyn as she playfully harrumphed. Alex was certain he was blushing. He hadn’t expected Caitlyn ever to be so blunt about their coupling. It was clear the other men hadn’t either.
“What? I’m married now. It’s not like none of us here doesn’t know what happens. You needn’t protect my ears.” Caitlyn grinned. “Eat up. We have a long day in the saddle tomorrow. I don’t want to stop because your bellies are rumbling and spooking the horses.”
As the group ate, Caitlyn and Alex kept up with the lively conversation, but they both sensed the stares and heard the ongoing insults. They forewent the dancing and retired before either of them got into a fight, either with their fists or their words. Caitlyn tried to hide how much the degrading comments about her skin and heritage bothered her, but they were some of the worst she’d heard since arriving at court. She understood it upset Alex and made him anxious. They slipped into bed and held one another, neither wanting to discuss the meal, but both taking comfort from being together.
Twenty
Alex stood beside Caitlyn as King Robert’s royal guards turned back northeast, making their way to Stirling Castle. They’d spent two uneventful days in the saddle until they reached Glasgow, where the couple spent the night in an inn and the men bedded down in the tavern or stables. Once the entourage disappeared, Alex, Caitlyn, and their six guards set off, continuing their course to Dunure. They’d seen few people traveling, so Alex thought they might be fortunate. It was approaching late autumn, and while there had been no more severe storms, the weather threatened an early winter. If the weather deterred others but held for them, they would reach Dunure in two days.
The sun was barely over the horizon as the group chewed on dried beef and fresh oatcakes the tavern owner’s wife gave them. Caitlyn wasn’t eager for another night sleeping outdoors. While she remained warm with Alex curled around her, she was aware he barely slept, and he woke with a sore arm from the cold. She glanced at him as the men moved into formation with Alex at the lead and her in the middle. She recognized Alex’s discomfort with the position, still thinking he wasn’t adequate to defend her or lead the men. But none of the guards had moved to take the position, instead waiting for Alex. Caitlyn said nothing, but she observed Alex grew pensive and withdrawn the longer they traveled.
When they stopped at midday, Alex nodded toward David to accompany Caitlyn into the trees, so she could have a moment of privacy. She smiled but shook her head. She cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head when her eyes met Alex’s. He scowled but followed her. She ducked around a bush but was soon shaking out her skirts as she peered past Alex. The men watered the horses and stood chatting. Certain they were close enough to call for help but far enough not to be overheard, Caitlyn backed Alex against a broad tree trunk and tugged at his doublet. He obliged without hesitation. They’d stolen a few quick kisses while the royal guards accompanied them, and they’d kissed beneath the blankets on their bedrolls, but none compared to the one they shared now.
Caitlyn was starved for Alex’s touch, and she longed to run her hands over him. Alex’s hand cradled her skull as she slid her arms around his neck. The kiss drew on, passion building to a near-roaring fire. With one hand tunneled in Alex’s hair, Caitlyn’s other hand skimmed down his back until she clutched his chiseled buttocks. She moaned as he shifted, and the muscles bunched.
“Caity,” Alex breathed. “You’re too much.” His grin, when he pulled away, showed his comment wasn’t a complaint. “How am I supposed to walk back to our men, and mount my horse, with this raging cockstand?”
“Mayhap I can ease that.” Caitlyn’s hand moved to his groin and stroked his rod. Alex caught her wrist in a light hold.
“Do that once or twice more, and I shall be just as embarrassed when I leave a stain.”
Caitlyn pretended to pout. “We spent the night alone, and that should hold me over, but it only made me want you more.” She stretched to kiss Alex’s jaw where the scar ended at the bone. He’d flinched the first few times she’d done it, but he remembered kissing his jaw was something she’d once dreamed of as a wifely privilege. He sensed it contented her, and he enjoyed the affection. “If only we rode Pegasus, and our mounts could fly as the birds do. We would be home before this eve.”
“Mon was meant to be on the ground and not soar so high. I would hate for the sun to scorch us like Icarus.”
“I’d take my chances on Pegasus to be in bed with you tonight.” Caitlyn gave Alex’s backside an affectionate pat before they rejoined the men. As Alex mounted, he froze. Something made him uneasy. Swinging into the saddle, he used the height to improve his view. As he swept his gaze over the surrounding area, nothing appeared out of place. The animals were neither overly excited nor eerily quiet. He spotted no metal glinting in the sun between the leaves. The ground didn’t vibrate with galloping hooves. Despite everything seeming normal, his senses warned something was amiss.
“Caity, no matter what, you remain in the center. There is nowhere near here that’s safe for you to hide. Trust that we will keep you safe.” Alex shifted in his saddle, turning toward Caitlyn, but his eyes continued to roam. Keeping his voice low, he spoke to the men. “Someone is there, but I can’t find them.”
“Aye.” Grant nodded as he and Devlin moved their steeds closer to Caitlyn’s. Goldie tolerated the Armstrongs’ horses but was far better behaved around the horses with which she was acquainted. Alex wrapped his left fingers around the reins before drawing his sword and resting it across his lap. The other men followed suit before they spurred their mounts. Alex couldn’t shake the trepidation, even as they put distance between them and the glen where they’d rested.
“Do you sense it too?” Caitlyn whispered to Devlin, who only nodded. He and the other men were on edge, making her wonder if they feared a warband rather than mere highwaymen. Even as an hour bled into two, then three, the men still hadn’t relaxed.
Alex glanced back at Caitlyn. “Ride!” He spurred Strong, whipping his destrier around and leading them on a mad dash away from the hill they approached. He heard the thunder of mounted attackers streaming over the rise, but he didn’t dare look back, worried about scaring Caitlyn more. They barreled down the road before veering sharply to the left and racing overland. Now the attackers were in Alex’s peripheral vision, and he could tell their pursuers vastly outnumbered them. There was at least a score, and he was certain they were gallowglasses. “Keep Caity in the center.”
As their foe teemed down the hillside, it was his nightmares come to life. It was reminiscent of his battle against the Scotts. But it was his nightmares he remembered as Caitlyn became caught in the middle. Try as they might, they couldn’t outrun the larger force. Alex swung his sword, thrusting and hacking at anyone who came near. He heard cries of pain, but they were all masculine. He prayed none were from their men, for his friends’ sake and for Caitlyn’s safety.
“Armstrong, come with us without a fuss, and your lady lives.” A booming voice sounded from behind Alex. He twisted to glance back, taking in the horrifying scene. Grant held his arm as blood poured between his fingers. Devlin’s chest moved, but he lay unconscious on the ground. And a mercenary held his sword to Caitlyn’s throat.
“How can I be sure you won’t kill her anyway?”
“You don’t. But they did not hire us to kill anyone but you. If your men suffer, so what?” The man shrugged. “They’re meant to fight. But we aren’t interested in involving the Kennedys. Our employers would prefer we didn’t.”
“The Scotts.” Alex narrowed his eyes as he recognized the man who held Caitlyn hostage. He’d been part of the second wave in the meadow when they’d gone riding from Stirling.
“We’re aware your wife’s family hasn’t learned of your marriage yet. She’s free to go, but she will be a widow before she arrives home.”
Alex shifted his attention to Caitlyn when he noticed her arm moved. Her hand slid toward her pocket where she kept her hidden knife. Their gazes locked, and Alex prayed she understood his silent warning not to draw a weapon on a battle-hardened man twice her size. Alex returned his focus to the gallowglass leader and nodded. Moving slowly, he dismounted from Strong and tossed his sword away from him. The moment he did, the mercenary released his hold on Caitlyn, who didn’t wait to maneuver her horse away. Men rushed forward and grabbed Alex.
“His arm!” Caitlyn cried out in anguish as she watched their enemy manhandle Alex and how it tested his stoicism.
“Caity, go home. Now.” Alex loathed each word that left his mouth, but he would do anything to get Caitlyn away from the mercenaries. He sensed it tempted her to argue, but she must have understood his meaning. They were closer to Dunure than Mangerton Tower. From where they were, she estimated it taking them six days to reach Mangerton, but about four days to reach the Scotts’ keep at Buccleuch. It took the same time to reach Redheugh Tower and the Elliots.
Her mind racing, Caitlyn nodded to Alex and mouthed, “I love you.” Alex returned the sentiment before turning his attention to the guards still tasked with protecting Caitlyn. Devlin was back on his feet, swaying as he reached for the reins. Grant continued to bleed, but it had slowed. He prayed the men were hale enough to protect Caitlyn the rest of the way. Once Devlin mounted, Caitlyn watched Alex as they left the clearing where mercenaries restrained her husband. She wanted desperately to believe in his survival, but her mind was already preparing her for the reality that there was little likelihood. As the tidal wave of grief threatened to pull her under, rage unlike any she’d imagined she could possess pushed back the pain.
“Stop.”
“Lady Caitlyn—” Stephen began.
