‘He didn’t seem the type to care what his wife thought of him, or any woman for that matter.’
‘I have to get home, Peyton. My sister will be frantic. She will be searching for me.’
‘And it is best she doesn’t find you, even if it pains her. In time, she will get over your loss, and life will go on.’
‘My loss?’ she squeaked, her heart galloping. ‘What am I to do? Where am I to go?’
Peyton Strachan’s face was stony as he said, ‘You are not going anywhere.’
Chapter Ten
Cecily looked about her. They were in a lonely part of the estuary, where the land fell away to the water. No one could see them from the house. Peyton took a step towards her. His broad hands were fisted by his side, his eyes chilling. God help her. The man could throttle her where she stood or hold her head under the water until she drowned. Then his secret would be safe. There could only be one reason he had told her so much about himself. He thought she would never get a chance to tell anyone.
She backed away from him, clutching her skirts up, preparing to run. If she reached the house, maybe someone would help her. Cecily flinched when cold water seeped into her boots. She was up against the water. There was no escaping Peyton’s evil intentions. Her heart slammed against her ribs, and her legs trembled.
Peyton Strachan held her life in his hands, and judging by the grim look on his face, he didn’t think it had much value. ‘You’ve dug a deep hole for yourself by falling for all those English lies, Cecily MacCreadie,’ he said quietly.
Cecily shrieked and ran along the water’s edge, stumbling and screaming, ‘Murder! Help!’
She did not get far before arms like iron bars encircled her waist. Cecily struggled and fell, with Peyton on top of her. All the air left her lungs as she hit the ground, and his bulk pressing down on her did not help. His cheek came to hers, rough and harsh, and he said, ‘Calm down. There’s no use in running.’
He was huge, and he was heavy. ‘Get off. Get away from me, you fiend,’ she cried.
Peyton clutched her tighter. ‘If I let you go, do you promise not to run?’
She nodded, and he released her. Once she had scrambled to her feet, Cecily grabbed a rock and glared at him. ‘I know you mean to kill me, but I’ll not go easily. I can promise you that. If you touch me again, I will hurt you.’
‘Kill you?’ he laughed. ‘I could have done that already, many times over, you fool. Not that I’d ever kill a woman.’
‘But you just said I could never leave,’ she cried.
‘An exaggeration on my part. Forgive me. I have no wish to kill you now that I’ve saved your life. God, was there ever such a lass?’
‘So what are you going to do with me?’
‘Keep you here, out of harm’s way, where that mouth can’t get you into trouble.’ He looked down at her mouth and blinked rapidly before staring over the water and shaking his head.
‘But I will go mad if I am locked in that room one more day,’ she cried.
‘If you want to get out of that tower, you will have to become part of Clan Strachan somehow,’ said Peyton.
‘And how do I do that?’ Cecily still didn’t trust him, and her palm hurt from digging into the rock.
‘I fear it will be a fate worse than death for you, lass. We will pretend you are my mistress.’
‘How dare you!’
He flashed a grin. ‘It’s not that bad a prospect, is it?’
‘Aye, it is. As if I would want to…to…with you.’
‘I said, pretend, didn’t I? Trust me, my interest lies beyond you, Cecily MacCreadie. And becoming my mistress is the only way you are getting out of that tower. I will tell my clansmen that you are mine and out of bounds to them. And from now on, to hammer home the ruse, we will share my chamber. That way, I can make sure you don’t sneak out and try to escape in the middle of the night.’
‘But my marriage prospects will be ruined by such a scandal.’
‘Ruined is better than dead. And are you that keen to get married?’
‘No, not after what happened. I never want any man to lay a hand on me ever again. But what will folk think of me?’
