Despair flooded through her. To have found happiness after all these years and have it wrenched away so cruelly was a crushing blow. Lachlan would never forgive her. Just like his wife and mother, she was just another woman who’d betrayed him.
Even knowing she hadn’t had a choice didn’t make it any easier. He had a chance in prison; her daughter didn’t.
He was right. Everyone was capable of betrayal because everyone had a weak spot. And they’d found hers.
She bowed her head on her knees, her heart twisted with anguish. Where was he? What was happening to him? Were they hurting him? Was he cursing her name right now for what she’d done to him?
She couldn’t bear to think about it.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, burning like acid. God, how miserably she’d failed! Not only Lachlan but her daughter as well. Now they were all at the mercy of Edward and his men.
Dear God, what would become of them?
The English were taking no chances of his escape.
The last thing Lachlan remembered before being doused with cold water was Bella’s anguished face as he was being dragged away. They’d manacled his hands, and then he’d felt an explosion of pain behind his ear. From the violence of his headache, he gathered a war hammer or the hilt of a sword had struck him from behind.
The ice-cold water brought him harshly back to consciousness. He sat up, only to feel his head explode in pain, followed by a surge of instantaneous nausea. Rolling over, he retched uncontrollably on the damp ground beside him. His vision blended into doubles.
“Looks like he’s awake,” he heard a voice above him say.
He looked up, seeing a man peering down on him from a square opening about ten feet above him. It was the only source of light in the dark pit, and Lachlan took a moment to memorize as much of the room as he could before responding, knowing that as soon as the guard closed the door it would be as black as Hades in there.
Bile threatened again, but Lachlan refused to let himself think about it. He needed to keep the panic at bay. But it snapped in the back of his mind unrelentingly.
The walls seemed to be closing in around him. He was choking, and he had to force even breaths through his lungs.
The pit was ten feet by fifteen of solid, jagged, rough-cut rock that had been built by God, not man. The floor was sandy dirt and rock. Bones, pieces of old straw, and hardened human excrement appeared to have been pushed to one corner by the last occupant. Though he saw no evidence of rats, he could almost hear the squeaks and scampering.
Sweat gathered on his icy brow.Stay calm. Think.
He found what he was looking for in the far corner.
When Lachlan didn’t respond, the man threw another bucket of icy water on him.
This time he realized the full horror of his predicament. The water hit naked skin. Before they’d dropped him in the pit, they’d stripped him of every last piece of clothing. He didn’t have his tools, his weapons, anything.
How the hell was he going to get his hands free?
Reflexively, he pulled against the manacles pinning his hands behind him. The iron bands suddenly felt tighter—stronger—now that he knew he wouldn’t be able to unlock them.
Panic snapped a little louder, a pack of rabid dogs just waiting to be set free.
He shook his head to clear it of those thoughts, spraying droplets of water from his sopping hair. “Thanks for the bath,” he replied. “Next time would you mind sending down some soap?” He sniffed. “It stinks down here.”
The man chuckled. “After a while, you won’t notice. I’m glad you are in such good humor. You’ll need it. They’re bringing in someone special for you.” He paused for effect. “The Extractor. I’m sure you’ve heard of him?”
Lachlan’s blood went cold. The Extractor was the King of England’s most feared torturer, known for being able to extract information from even the most unwilling of prisoners.
Lachlan’s mind filled with images—memories of what he’d gone through before and things he’d learned of since.
But he gave no indication of the effect the words had on him. “You can save him a journey; I’ve met men of his ilk before.”
Though his features were largely masked by the shadow cast by the light behind him, Lachlan could see the guard smile. “We’ve heard you can be difficult. But he’s not coming all this way just to meetyou.” He turned his head. “Bring her in.”
God, no!Lachlan’s heart hammered. Every muscle in his body flared with the urge to fight. But he knew he couldn’t react.
“Stop!” Bella shouted. “Where are you taking me?”
