"Ye daenae have a choice, lass,"he said quietly. "Ye're me prisoner, remember?"
Some of the fire dimmed,replaced by uncertainty.
"Ye can take the bed.I'll take the chair or the floor. But we're stayin' in the same room, and that's nae negotiable." He started up the stairs again, his hand still firm on her waist. "Now move. We're drawin' attention."
It was true,the serving girl had stopped mid-pour to watch them, and one of the travelers at the nearest table was openly staring.
Maia's mouthpressed into a thin line, but she allowed herself to be guided up the stairs. Her bare feet made soft padding sounds on the worn wood, and Ewan found himself hyperaware of every inch of her body that pressed against his side.
The room wassmall and spartanly furnished with a narrow bed against one wall, a single chair near the window, a washstand with a cracked basin, and a chamber pot discreetly tucked in the corner. But it was clean, or clean enough, and the bed looked reasonably comfortable.
Ewan closedthe door behind them and turned the key in the lock.
Maia immediately putdistance between them, moving to the far side of the room and wrapping his cloak more tightly around herself. "I meant what I said. I'm nae sleepin' in the same bed as ye."
"And I meantwhat I said. Ye can have the bed. I'll take the chair."
"Oh."She blinked, clearly surprised. "Ye… ye'll really sleep in the chair?"
"Did ye think I was lyin'?"
"I dinnae ken what to think."Maia's hands twisted in the fabric of the cloak. "Ye kidnapped me. Ye set fire to the servants' quarters. Ye killed me friend. Why would ye suddenly care about me comfort?"
The accusation stung morethan it should have. Ewan leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm nae a monster. I took ye to send a message to yer uncle, aye. But I daenae force meself on women, and I daenae harm them unnecessarily."
"Ye killed Mollie."
"I—"He stopped, swallowing the words that wanted to escape. He couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet. Not until they reached Castle McGill and she was secure within his walls.
Lether think the maid was dead. Let her hate him for it. Let her believe him ruthless enough to burn innocents without a second thought.
Fear would keep her compliant.Fear would ensure she didn't try anything foolish during the journey. And right now, he needed her obedience more than he needed her trust.
It was safer that way.
"Like I said,it is what happens durin' war," he said instead, echoing his earlier words. "I'm sorry yer friend was one of them. But that doesnae change what yer uncle did, or why I took ye."
Maia's eyesglistened with unshed tears. "Me uncle willnae care. I've been tryin' to tell ye, he doesnae value me. Ye might as well let me go now and save yerself the trouble."
"We'll see about that."Ewan moved to the chair by the window and dropped into it, his body grateful for the rest after hours in the saddle. "Once he receives me message, we'll ken exactly how much he values his niece."
"Ye're wastin'yer time." Maia's voice was flat now, resigned. "He's probably celebratin' right now. Grateful that someone else solved his problem for him."
"What problem?"
"Me."She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I'm the problem. He believes me a disgrace to the MacMahon name. He has been lookin' for ways to be rid of me for a long time. Ye've just saved him the trouble."
"We'll see,"he said again, though the conviction in his voice had wavered slightly. "ye'll ken the truth soon.”
Maia shook her head."Ye'll see I'm right. And then what? What will ye do with me when ye realize I'm worthless as a hostage?"
It was a fair question.One Ewan didn't have a good answer for.
"We'll crossthat bridge when we come to it," he said finally. "For now, ye need rest. Take off the cloak and get in the bed."
7
"Ishould… what?!"
