“Ye must. We must. And we must remember that Duncan Keith is already there. If we had to send someone in our stead?—”
“It would be him.”
“Aye. We will trust our friend, and we will wait and watch to see who comes to celebrate your wedding. Truth to tell, I cannot stomach another complication.”
Tearloch burst out laughing, as did Leland, who said, “His Majesty may not appreciate our lass, sir.”
“Poor mon. He hasnae a whiff of what’s comin’.”
Later,when he was finally alone with no one hiding in his bedcurtains, Tearloch was ill with worry. He’d walked the battlements and done anything that might help keep his mind off what was happening across the peninsula. With his body spent, he looked for distraction for his mind. And he thought about Duncan.
He took a moment to appreciate all his friend had done for him—he had discovered Kenna’s danger and gone after her, hadsent the lads to stay Tearloch from marrying someone he did not wish to marry. And in return, Tearloch had shown the man every shade of green possible, worried he might be alone with his lass.
Lucky for him, Duncan had ignored the insult and done well by him.
He owed his old friend an apology. Maybe even a kerchief.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
In the dim light of a dying lantern, Kenna could see the devil’s white teeth. A more gleeful groom there never was.
“I cannot wait to see MacPherson’s face when I introduce him to my new bride.” He sang. “I wonder how he and his new wife are faring. I suspect you will not care much for her. And I know MacPherson will not.” He laughed and he removed his dark gloves.
Kenna backed against the door, but she had no intention of running into the waiting arms of the crew or their captain.
“I am not your bride.”
“Oh, but you are. Completely legal, I assure you. And from the documents I have from Carlisle Folly, I can prove that the signature is yours. And if you decide to protest, I just may have to cut your tongue out. It’s the most interesting sensation, slicing off a man’s tongue.”
Kenna visibly convulsed, much to Balloch’s delight.
“Die.”
His eyes batted. “What was that?”
“Die…please.” she said with a smile.
“You first, Lady Balloch. With the license and witnesses, I have all I really need. And since you are no longer innocent, we needn’t consummate our union...”
Kenna took heart.
He noticed. “But we will.”
That heart landed in her stomach with a splash. She started for the windows, looking for a place to empty her belly.
“Remember your vow, dear,” he said, making no move to try to intercept her. When she was violently ill out the window, he was satisfied that she would not jump, and relaxed. “Surely you would agree that a life as Lady Balloch is preferable to a messy swim with the sharks.”
Kenna’s eyes widened and she looked back out into the water. In the darkness, she could see only the chaos of the waves, but her imagination told her the deadly beasts were out there, waiting, watching. When she straightened, she felt him close behind her. When he put a hand on her shoulder and tried to turn her, she resisted. He ripped away her cloak, and a snarl sounded in her ear just before he bit into the flesh between her neck and shoulder.
Kenna screamed and spun away from him, but his teeth were sharp, his jaw strong, and she felt the flesh rip just before he released her.
Hoots of laughter resounded through the boards over their heads, but she was more concerned with the sensation of warm blood spreading down her breast and back. As horrified as she was, she would not swoon. She would wake up in the cold water, with all those teeth and tails!
She retrieved her cloak and pressed the thick cloth to her neck to stanch the bleeding and backed away from the madman, wary of what he might do next.
“Ye’re mad,” she said, watching him lick her blood from his teeth and lips.
He ignored her comment. “Let me tell you about sharks. They come from a great distance when there is as much blood in the water as is on your gown. And they stay until every scrap of you is devoured. So…” He gestured to the narrow bed. “You can submit to me or jump if you prefer.” He turned his back on her and strode to the desk, where he poured himself a drink. “Distilled wine, wife? It will help with the pain.”
