Alex peered back at Bryan over his shoulder with what appeared to be mild surprise. “Of course I can, Bryan. I’ve always been able tae before.”
“I still remain unconvinced that she ought tae be given so much freedom during her stay here, though,” Alex grumbled. “She is a valuable asset, and if she were tae escape, we might lose our only chance of preventing a war with the McGregors.”
“I tell ye, If we try tae tighten our grasp on this girl even slightly, or do anything which might be perceived as not having her best interests at heart, we’ll make her feel like a prisoner here instead of one whose better nature we are simply trying tae appeal tae. I have little doubt that she will instantly retract any hint of goodwill or cooperation toward us in that case,” Bryan informed him firmly. “It shall set our efforts back immeasurably.Indeed, I’d nay be surprised if such a tactic ended up withtwostubborn McGregor lasses in our dungeons, which would be no good tae anyone.” He paused, then said, “Her heart willnae open tae us if we keep her hands tied.”
“Huh! A rather florid sentiment for the likes of ye.” Alex considered this, then nodded slowly. “Aye. Perhaps ye are right. As I’ve said, Bryan, I trust yer judgment implicitly. That’s why I’ve entrusted her care to ye while she’s here. However, I would only caution that in yer optimism regarding her potential for cooperation, ye remain vigilant no matter what. After all,” he added ruefully, “wewererecently deceived by one of our own, as ye may recall.”
Bryan’s heart sank, though he knew he deserved such an observation from his laird—indeed, probably deserved far worse. “Once again, Laird Alex, I owe ye my deepest apologies for.”
Alex waved him off good-naturedly. “Nay, old friend, I didnae mention it so ye could fall on yer sword again. ‘Twas not yer fault, and I dinnae blame ye for anything that happened because of it. If there had been any way tae detect the man’s disloyalty beforehand, I have nae doubt ye would have done so. I only meant tae say?—”
“That I must be fully on my guard, no matter how I wish for this endeavor tae succeed,” Bryan finished for him briskly.
“Aye. And no matter how engaging ye happen tae find the lass personally.”
Bryan raised an eyebrow. “What the devil is that supposed tae mean?”
Alex shrugged mildly. “Desire can come from peculiar places, Bryan. She’s a fetching woman, and no mistake.”
The captain let out an incredulous guffaw. “I’m the one who took her away from her homeland! The idea that she could ever see me in such a fashion is…”
The laird held up a hand to stop him from going further. “There’s no need to become defensive. I’m merely urging caution. Such lines between duty and the heart can become a bit difficult to keep one’s eye on.”
Those words continued to ring in Bryan’s ears as he left the laird’s study.
Was he being unwise in trying to get too close to Katherine? In trying to forge an intimacy which might sway her from her loyalty to her own clan, was he setting himself up to be tricked and used by her instead?
He knew that he needed to heed Alex’s words of warning.
“Bloody knife’s edge tae walk on, if ye ask me,” he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, in her guest chamber, Katherine rose from her bed after a night of tossing and turning.
Her heart felt like it was being pulled in a dozen directions at once. There was the twinge of apprehension at beginning another day in unfamiliar surroundings—especially those teeming with Oliphants, whom her father had always spoken of as though they were nothing but a vicious pack of vermin.
How, then, could the truth she’d seen with her own eyes be so vastly different from that?
If anything, she felt she should be approaching the day with far greater fright and trepidation. That she ought to expect hostility, or at the very least, be on guard for any sort of subterfuge or manipulation on the part of her “hosts” in trying to solicit her aid against her own clan.
And yet…
More than anything, she found herself looking forward to the prospect of spending more time with Bryan.
Why did she feel so at ease with a man who had so rudely spirited her away from her homeland? She did not know; she only had a peculiar certainty that he meant her no harm, thenor now. There was something comforting and warm about his presence. He seemed to take much of life in stride, and she appreciated the glint of genuine amusement in his eyes when she’d sparred with him verbally. He’d had a quick wit, too, and could clearly hold his own.
Which, again, ought to have made him seem more formidable to her, and therefore ought to have made her inclined to be more careful around him.
Instead, she found herself lifting her dress from the back of the chair where she’d draped it the night before and staring at it forlornly.
She’d been wearing it for two days. She’d beencarried off strugglingin it, for pity’s sake.
Therefore, the garment looked, objectively, quite pitiful indeed.
Katherine knew that most people would probably consider it extremely silly for her to care about her appearance among her captors. When she thought of it that way, she supposed she found it rather silly herself! Still, the notion that she would have to don these same clothes, that Bryan would see her looking so rumpled made her heart sink
She did not have any other options at her disposal, though, so she pulled it back on anyway.
Just as she was finished dressing herself, and she was about to brush her hair, there was a knock at the door. She was partly thrilled and partly mortified by the idea that Bryan might be the visitor; for though she longed to look upon his handsome features again, she did not relish looking unkempt and frumpy for him.
