“Ifhe had taken another few steps, I might not have been able to help.” Craytonlooked toward the wood. “I can go in there. Aye, at times I am pulled thereagainst my wishes, but I dinnae go there of my own accord.”
“‘Tisthe place of your tragedy?”
“Aye,”he whispered and faded away.
“Ithought Ruari collapsed because he was still weak from his wounds,” saidBeatham as he and Ruari were gently but firmly steered back toward Dunweare byRobert and the other men. “Ye say it was your ghostie?”
“Utternonsense,” grumbled Ruari as he slowly regained his balance and walked moresteadily.
“Thenyeareunweel.” Beatham quickly put a supporting arm around Ruari.
Ruarishook off his cousin’s light hold. “I amnotunweel. I wasnae felled bysome insolent spirit, either,” he snapped, glaring at Sorcha.
“Yestumbled, then, did ye?” asked Sorcha, biting back a smile caused by hisstubborn refusal to believe in Crayton.
“Aye,that will satisfy as an explanation.”
“Iam pleased to be able to give you some satisfaction.”
Sorchaflushed beneath the sudden sharp look he gave her. Even in the dark she couldread in his expression what he was too polite to say before others. He was notso reticent whenever they were alone, so it was easy for her to guess at whathe wanted to say. Although remaining at arm’s length had saved her from theblinding effect of his heated kisses, it had not halted the constant seductionof his words. He knew she wanted him, and he constantly prodded at that. Sheforced herself to simply smile briefly and then concentrate on getting him andBeatham secured inside Dunweare.
Asthey ushered the Kerrs toward their bedchambers, Margaret suddenly approachedthem, and Sorcha sighed with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. Her cousinwore a voluminous white nightrail, and her thick blond hair tumbled freely toher tiny waist. The spellbound look upon Beatham’s face warned Sorcha that theromance between the two was probably already beyond halting. The scowl on Ruari’sface told her that he was no happier with the situation than she was.
“Wheredid ye go?” Margaret demanded of Beatham, making no effort to hide her anger orher hurt.
“Ruariand I tried to flee,” Beatham replied in a weak voice. “‘Tis our duty.”
“Yourduty is to worry me to death?”
“Wewere safe enough.”
“Margaret,”Sorcha said, halting the conversation before the two could reveal more thanthey might wish to before others. Although, she mused a little crossly, theromance was certainly no secret. “Why dinnae ye take Beatham back to hisbedchamber and see that he is made dry and warm.”
Margarettook Beatham by the arm and dragged him toward his bedchamber, softly scoldinghim every step of the way. Sorcha could not hear what Beatham murmured inreply, but his tone indicated that he was doing all he could to smooth downMargaret’s ruffled feathers. He was certainly not sternly reminding her thathis duty as a Kerr was to try to thwart the Hays’ attempt to collect a heftyransom on his head.
“Ican take care of this fool from here, Robert,” Sorcha said, grasping Ruari’sarm and trying not to worry so much over the state of Margaret’s heart. “Ithink our prisoners now realize the folly of any attempt to escape.”
“Areye sure ye dinnae need any help strapping this stallion down?” muttered Robert,eyeing Ruari with blatant distrust.
Sorchainwardly grimaced when she saw the look on Robert’s weathered face. Herproblems with Ruari were clearly no secret despite all her attempts at denial.Although it was comforting to know she could depend upon Robert for support ordefense, she wished he had remained blissfully ignorant of all that passedbetween her and Ruari. It was a little embarrassing to have so many peopleknowing her private business. It also meant that most people at Dunweare wouldundoubtedly know what decision she finally made about Ruari and when. Shedearly loved the people of Dunweare, but at times like this, she would alsodearly love a little more privacy.
“Ibelieve I am capable of tethering him,” she told Robert.
“Weel,first ye will let my son get him out of those wet clothes. His lordship isnae abadly wounded mon any longer. Go on, Iain.” Robert nudged his son toward Ruari.“Take the fool into his bedchamber and make him dry and warm.”
Ruariinwardly cursed as Iain took him into his bedchamber. He would unquestionablyneed assistance in shedding his wet clothes, but he had hoped that Sorcha wouldbe the one to help him. She would not be able to stay out of reach if she hadto assist him in undoing his sodden laces. He had looked forward to his firstgood chance in days of stealing another kiss, of stoking the fire that burnedbetween them to such a height it finally robbed her of all reticence. Inwardlysighing, Ruari grudgingly accepted the help of a silent Iain.
Hethought it odd that he could go so quickly from the hearty disappointment of afailed escape attempt to wondering how and when he could get Sorcha Hay backinto his arms. It was increasingly evident that he did not really know what hewanted. One moment he was anxious to get as far away from Dunweare as possible,and the next he wanted to hold tightly to the very woman who made him aprisoner. Ruari wondered if the madness that was so rampant at Dunweare wasbeginning to infect him.
“Weare all verra fond of wee Sorcha here,” Iain abruptly announced as Ruari,dressed only in a clean, dry pair of braies, sprawled on his bed. “She has farmore wit than her reckless brother.”
“Thewoman talks to the air, and ye all coddle her madness,” Ruari snapped.
“Simplybecause ye dinnae believe her doesnae make her mad. ‘Tis such thinking thatforced us to move here. Ye didnae think wechoseto live in the midst ofreivers and outcasts and so close to the cursed English, did ye?” Iainshrugged. “Many folk believe in angels and saints, plant rowan trees to wardoff witches, and fear the devil and all his unseen minions, yet no one suggeststhat they are mad.”
“Theteachings of the church feed such beliefs. Howbeit, they dinnae speak ofghosts.”
“Nay,but the church does speak of the soul and the spirit of a person. It doesnaematter. If ye dinnae believe, then there is little I can say to change yourmind. I just wished to warn you that any hurt dealt to our Sorcha willnae setweel with any Hay.”
