Drawing in a deep breath and visibly steeling herself, Melody swigged back the entire cupful of whisky. Her eyes widened, cheeks puffed, and she choked, a dribble of whisky escaping her lips.
To her credit, however, she did not spit it out. She screwed up her face andswallowedwith a determined effort.
“That,” she managed hoarsely, “wasvile.”
“It’s an acquired taste, to be sure,” he agreed, biting back a smile. “Ye daenae like it?”
“I do not!”
Callum allowed himself a quick, wide grin and turned to Kat. “Ye can stay here. Ye represent the Keep, so keep an eye on things. The soldiers can stay with ye. I will take Lady Melody back.”
“She’s nae eaten her supper,” Kat pointed out. “We were goin’ to eat here.”
“I’ll ensure that she’s fed,” Callum promised. He turned to Melody, lifting his eyebrows. “Are ye ready to go?”
Melody was still staring into her empty cup. She glanced up at him, meeting his eyes timidly. A shiver of desire rolled down Callum’s spine. Abruptly, without even knowing why he did it, he extended his elbow for her to take his arm, for all the world like a fine English gentleman.
She blinked, barely missing a beat, and took his arm. Her hand was soft on his, and he fought the urge to put his own hand over her cool fingers. Kat slipped away, leaving Callum free to walk Melody away from the noise and the chaos toward the pathway home.
“I never asked how you came to find me,” she murmured. “Had Kat seen me go?”
He shook his head. “She had nay idea where ye had gone. An old woman sellin’ hagstones pointed me in the right direction.”
Melody frowned. “Oh. How interesting.”
“If ye say so. Now come on, lass. We need to get home, and when we get back to the Keep, there’s somethin’ I want to talk to ye about. Somethin’ important.”
18
Callum was grateful for the ride back to the Keep. He approached his waiting horse, which ducked its head at him, nostrils flaring in greeting. He smoothed Thunder’s glossy flank, breathing in the clean, musky horse smell he loved so much. It helped him calm himself as best he could, breathing deeply and trying to banish the image of Melody, eyes wide with fear, shrinking before that drunken fool.
She’d done her best to fight him off, but if he hadn’t been there…
Enough, Callum growled in his head.Think nay more of this. Ye were there, and that is all that matters.
He had no doubt that in the morning, the drunk would be terrified when the memory of tonight came back. He’d understand then just how serious his situation was, and how badly he’d erred.
Perhaps he’s bothered women in the past, or perhaps tonight was the first night where he was drunk enough to attempt it,he thought, but either way, he’ll nae do it again.
Oh, yes, he wouldn’t do it again. Not if he valued his skin. The amusement of the thought eased Callum’s discomfort with the wide sky above him. The darkness helped, oddly enough. The expanse was less obvious. But once they were away from the glow of the lanterns, the darkness would begin to reveal all those stars, scattered across endless nothingness.
The quicker they got safely back to the keep, the better.
“A horse?” Melody quavered from somewhere behind him. “We’re riding a horse back to the keep?”
He twisted around to face her, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Well, aye.”
“I can walk. It’s not far.”
“I’ve nay doubt of it. But I came here in a hurry, so I rode. I cannae leave me horse here.”
“No, but you could ride, and I could walk.”
“I am not lettin’ ye walk through the dark forest alone. I might as well have left ye in the clutches of that drunk.”
Melody’s expression tightened. “I… I would rather not ride a horse. I don’t feel comfortable.”
“I understand. Look, it’s a short wee ride. I’ll nae go faster than a trot, and ye can sit on the front of the saddle.”
