When Dunn moved again, it was to bring a piece of fruitcake to Elayne’s lips. She laughed softly and let him feed it to her, her lips momentarily wrapping around his fingers just to see the hunger reigniting in his gaze.
“Ye’re a seductress,” he chided softly as he slipped his hand under her shift, cupping her breast. He did nothing but hold her, though, his thumb swiping idly over her nipple. “I tried tae go back tae the study but this time it was locked. Blaine doesnae have a key either, he said, but McCoy has one. I saw him alone in the study the other night.”
Elayne pushed herself up to her elbows, brows knitting together. “McCoy has a key? I cannae understand why me faither trusts him. After actin’ the way he does with me?—”
Elayne stopped herself before she revealed anything else, but Dunn’s curiosity was piqued. “Like what?”
There was no way out of this conversation, Elayne knew, so she decided to get through it as fast as possible. “He… touchedme as if I belonged tae him. He always has, but he tried again this mornin’. Me faither doesnae ken about this last time, but I dinnae understand why he ever allowed it.”
Blood rushed to Dunn’s face, rage contorting his handsome features. “He hurt ye?” he asked, sitting up, his hands balled up into fists. “I will kill him. I will make him regret ever bein’ born.”
“Dunn,” Elayne said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want him to go against McCoy or her father. “Please, promise me ye willnae dae anythin’. I am fine, but I will be devastated if somethin’ happens tae ye. Let’s just leave things as they are.”
She could tell Dunn wasn’t convinced, but he sagged against her, letting her wrap her arms around him and hold him close. “Once I have what I need, we will flee,” he mumbled against her.
“We?” Elayne asked.
Though Dunn didn’t move, she felt him stiffen against her as if in uncertainty. “I have fallen in love with ye, Elayne. This may have begun as a lie, but I truly fell fer ye an’ I wish tae be with ye. If ye’ll have me, I’d like tae take ye tae me family. They would love tae meet ye.”
Stunned, Elayne remained still and silent for so long that Dunn pulled back, looking at her with concern. The moment their eyes met, though, she rushed forward and kissed him, tears of joy threatening to spill down her cheeks.
Not only was Dunn all hers now, but she could have a family for the first time since her mother’s death.
“I’ll come with ye, o’ course,” she promised him. “I love ye, Dunn. An’ I’ll help ye dae this quickly, so we can leave.”
She was confident she could take her father’s key from him. All she had to do was find the right moment, and then both she and Dunn would finally be free.
CHAPTER TWELVE
It had been a while since Dunn had last written a letter to Alec and he knew that if he didn’t send one that very day, his brother would send someone after him. It had been their agreement all along: Dunn could take on the dangerous role of scout as long as he communicated with Alec often enough to prove that he was alive and well. The last thing Dunn needed now, though, was a panicked Alec barging into Macgillivray Castle, demanding to know what happened to him.
After writing a hasty letter and sending it off, Dunn made his way to the great hall. It would soon be time for dinner and he knew the laird would grasp any opportunity to declare him unfit for his daughter, including being late. Just as he rounded the corner, though, he almost collided with Laird McCoy and came to a halt, looking curiously at the man.
Had he been waitin’ fer me?
It seemed more likely than Dunn would have liked.
“Laird McCoy,” he said, bowing his head in greeting.
Laird McCoy seemed to have no desire for pleasantries, though. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them, but Dunn remained still. He wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.
“I think it’s time that ye begin tae consider what is best fer everyone,” Laird McCoy said. “If ye leave now, nae one will get hurt. All ye have tae dae is tell Elayne ye dinnae love her an’ leave. I’ll even give ye a hefty pouch o’ gold. More than she’s worth, surely. An’ then ye’ll be free tae dae as ye wish.”
Rage coursed through his veins and threatened to spill over, but Dunn tried to keep himself calm. He could have killed Laird McCoy right then and there, but what good would that have done? It would only make his position worse.
Instead, he asked, “An’ if I refuse?”
“Then I suppose I have nae choice but tae make this bloody.”
Laird McCoy was about to say more, but he stopped when he glanced over Dunn’s shoulder. Dunn followed his gaze and saw Elayne and Blaine there, approaching them on their way to the great hall, identical expressions of concern on their faces.
Smirking, Dunn turned back to Laird McCoy. “I understand very well what is expected o’ me.”
The answering smirk on Laird McCoy’s face made Dunn’s stomach churn, bile rising to the back of his throat. He truly was a vile man, inspiring nothing but disgust to those around him.
The moment Elayne was in his reach, Dunn grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into a kiss, much to her surprise. For a moment, she flailed, not knowing how to react, but then her hands came to rest on his shoulders, her lips turning pliant against his.
When he broke the kiss, everyone looked at him with wide eyes, shocked at the sudden display, but Dunn didn’t care. He had made his point.
