“You just try and stop me,” she replied, jumping into his arms.
He kissed her then and he did not stop. His lips pressed against hers as they held each other in the bedchamber.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he said between embraces. “That you would go back to your own time and I would never see you again.”
“No such luck,” she replied. “You’re stuck with me now whether you like it or not.”
“Och, I like it,” he said, his smile broadening as he moved her across to the bed. “I like it very much indeed.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Will they find him?” Cam asked.
Philip raised an eyebrow in response. “Of course they will. He can’t hide forever.”
Cam leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath before speaking again. “Thank you, that will be all.”
Philip nodded before turning, leaving Cam alone in the great hall.
Tor and Alice had vanished together. In the weeks since their disappearance Cam had been able to piece together exactly why the clan had been so hard to manage.
Tor, his trusted Man-at-Arms, the clan member responsible for vetting newcomers and protecting the castle. In league with the barefoot man. It shocked him to find out the truth. Tor and his sister had worked together for months to undermine Cam’s control, planting rumors, whispering in ears, maintaining contact with the villain.
Worst of all was finding out that Tor had killed Mistress Abernathy. One of the servant’s found Tor’s ring between two of the barrels in the stores, a drop of dried blood still stuck to the stone.
Philip had taken over Tor’s role, sending out several patrols to hunt for him while also looking after the castle. The only problem was the patrols were manned with men trained by Tor. He knew better than them where they would look.
Would he evade justice for good? Philip seemed certain he would be caught but Cam was not so sure.
“Hey,” a voice said, interrupting his thoughts.
He looked up and managed a smile as Rachel walked across the room toward him. “Good morning,” he said, holding out a hand to her.
She sat beside him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to you getting up so early and leaving me alone in bed.”
“I have much to do to heal my people. They are drowning in shame for the way they treated us.”
“And you could have punished them severely but you did not.”
“My father always said you win more people over with sweetmeats than with branding irons.”
“We have something similar. You win over more people with honey over vinegar. I’m glad you’re that person, not the vengeance type.”
“Did you think I was some mindless brute?”
“For a while, yes. But there’s more to you than that. I saw you giving those sword lessons to Roger.”
“The spitboy? Well, there’s nae harm in having more trained men guarding the castle.”
She smiled, poking him in the side. “I knew it. There’s a nurturing father figure in there after all.”
“Dinnae tell anyone.” He smiled.
“Your secret’s safe with me. Are you ready to get going?”
“Aye, and it’s a grand day for traveling.”
Cam stood up and took Rachel in his arms, holding her tight and breathing in the scent of her hair. She always smelled so good.
