“That is where Amiel is going. Where they are all going.”
“If they are fools enough to try and attack Scarglas they will need more men than they have and that will take time. I am hoping that land ye think the DeVeaux want from Lucette and their need to use ye for some old and should be forgotten vengeance on your clan willnae seem so verra important once they get a good look at Scarglas.”
“’Tis more than the land. Amiel will let them have his kin, too.”
“What do ye mean?”
“Amiel said he didnae like the idea of being but one of many landed and titled Lucettes. He intends to use the DeVeaux to help him thin out the crowd.”
“Jesu.” Sigimor sat back on his heels as Brian got Arianna fully dressed again. “He means to turn the Lucettes’ worst enemy on them? To kill off his own family?”
“Aye, little by little until he is heir to it all, or most of it,” Arianna replied. “And the DeVeaux cannae get the land they want until my laddies are dead. Claud held that land himself, nay as part of an inheritance or entailment. He could dispose of it as he wished and he left it to the boys in his will, something I wasnae invited to hear read so I didnae ken it all. My bonnie wee laddies now hold what the DeVeaux want.” She panted softly in a vain attempt to overcome the pain washing over her as Brian urged her up into a seated position. “Claud made me their guardian.”
“He hung a target on all your backs.”
“He did. Aye, the DeVeaux might want to use me to avenge themselves upon my family but they also need me dead. As guardian I nay only control the lads but the land.” After pushing the last few words out, Arianna gave in to the darkness flooding her mind and escaped the pain wracking her body.
Brian felt her go limp in his arms and panicked. He pressed his fingers against her throat and used the steady throb of her pulse to push the fear away. She was better off being unconscious. The ride back to Dubheidland would prove to be a long time in agony for her otherwise.
“She will heal,” Sigimor said as he stood up.
“Ye sound verra sure of that.” Brian got to his feet, holding Arianna in his arms and trying not to jostle her too much.
“Bones are nay broken, there isnae any bad bleeding from open wounds and, although verra colorful, the bruising didnae have the look of the ones caused by something bleeding inside her.” He started toward the others who had brought the horses to them. “Jolene and the women can give her a closer look but I think we reached her in time.”
“She shouldnae have fallen into the bastard’s hands at all,” said Brian, fury at himself a bitter taste on his tongue. “If I hadnae left her ...”
“Then they would have found ye, too, and there wouldnae have been anyone to come and get help for her. Aye, ye are a good fighter, but I think e’en ye would have had a wee bit of trouble fighting off so many men. Ye had to be certain the path was clear, that ye wouldnae be riding into a trap. Ye are a clever lad. I suspicion ye will understand that soon enough if ye think on it a while.”
Brian doubted his guilt would ease much until he was certain that Arianna would heal. “What do ye think happened to the people who lived in this wee cottage?”
“They ran when they saw armed men coming,” replied Sigimor, holding his arms out for Arianna when they reached the horses.
“Ye are certain of that?” Brian asked as he mounted his horse and then took Arianna back into his arms.
“Aye. Brice found their trail. They will return as soon as they ken that the men are gone.”
A quick glance around was proof enough that Sigimor had reason to be confident of that. The two bodies were gone, taken away from the little home and left for the carrion. Since Brian saw no sign of any livestock, he knew the family had undoubtedly had some warning of the men’s approach. Isolated as the little house was, it was no surprise that the people living in it would always be alert for any sign of danger.
They started back to Dubheidland, and Brian adjusted his hold on Arianna. He hoped to save her from as much movement as possible. Since galloping all the way back to Dubheidland was out of the question, he prayed she stayed unconscious for a very long time. She would face enough suffering when they reached Sigimor’s keep and her wounds would be tended to.
“I sincerely hope you intend to kill that man,” said Jolene when she stepped out of the bedchamber where Brian had placed the wounded Arianna. “Slowly.”
“I intend to,” answered Brian. He straightened up from where he had been leaning against the wall and staring at the door to that bedchamber for the last two hours. “How is she?”
“She will heal. I think many of the bruises look far worse than they truly are. Her skin is much akin to mine. I have occasionally noticed a very vivid bruise yet have no memory of any serious injury. Cool cloths and some of the salve I left by the bed will quickly bring those bruises down. She is sleeping now. She will also need a few days of rest.”
“She will have it.”
“You are dealing with a madman, you know. She told me of his plots. To unleash your family’s worst enemy upon them? To murder two innocent boys and an equally innocent woman? To kill your own brother? To plot the deaths of what might be every male Lucette who could possibly inherit something? Aye, he is definitely a madman.”
“I ken it. I also intend to make certain the Lucettes realize how fortunate they are that Amiel and his allies didnae leave this land alive.” He watched as Jolene rubbed her lower back. “Go rest, lass. I can care for Arianna now. Salve and cool cloths.” He winked at her. “Have something to eat and then go rest ere that large husband of yours comes stomping up here looking for you.”
He watched until she made it safely down the steps before he went into the room where Arianna slept. His first sight of Arianna since giving her over into Jolene’s care made his heart clench with sorrow. She looked so small in the large bed, the bruises on her face and her bandaged hands an abomination in his eyes. After changing the wet cloth draped over her eyes for a cooler one, Brian sat in the chair that had been pulled up to her bedside.
Brian knew he loved her. The emotions that had torn through him when he had thought her lost to him had made that clear, too clear for him to continue to try and deny it. It changed nothing, however, if only because he did not have any idea of how she felt about him. Worse, the fact that he had given her her first taste of passion could easily confuse her. He had thought himself in love with the first woman he had bedded down with. It was far too easy to think passion was born of something deeper, richer, and longer lasting, especially if it burned as hot as what he and Arianna shared.
Neither did his love for her change the fact that she was far above his reach. She deserved more than he could give her. He had seen enough mismatched marriages to know how discontent and bitterness could grow to turn the union into a living hell. Lady Arianna deserved a man equal to her in birth, wealth, and breeding, a man who could make her happy and content in all ways. Brian doubted she would stay unwed for long after he let her go and was sure that her family would be far more cautious in choosing her a husband this time. She would soon have all a lady like her deserved. It was only honorable to let her go, to not try to bind her to him with passion. Brian just wished he could be happier about doing the honorable thing.
