She stood up, scanning his face and seeing nothing but sincerity. “So you don’t deny it?”
He met her gaze. He’d removed his helm, and in the cold light of dawn she had to admit he was an impressive sight—if your tastes ran to dark and dangerous brigands oozing virility, which, humiliatingly, hers appeared to. With his dark, wavy hair, striking green eyes, and chiseled, perfectly aligned features, he was sinfully handsome.
Even noticing it felt sinful. Because as much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, it wasn’t an abstract observation of the sort she’d made over the years when a handsome man had been allowed near her. The spike in her pulse, hitch in her breath, and prickle on her skin told her that.
Good God in heaven, what was wrong with her?
Perhaps her husband had been right. One night out of his prison, and her body was reacting like an awestruck young girl who’d seen her first handsome knight. Except Lachlan MacRuairi wasn’t a knight, and she was a grown woman who should know better.
It was disconcerting that she—or her body at least—could be so shallow. No matter how objectively pleasing to the eye, there was nothing remotely attractive about Lachlan MacRuairi.
“Why should I?” He shrugged matter-of-factly. “Money is as good a reason to fight as any. Better than most, actually.”
The man had no shame. “Do you care nothing about what is going on around you?”
His mouth curved in a wry smirk. “Oh, I care about a lot of things.”
She nudged her chin up disdainfully. “Things that aren’t gold and silver?”
“I’m partial to land as well.” His smile infuriated her, although why, she didn’t know. She wouldn’t expect a man loyal only to his purse to understand.
“Is there nothing you would fight for? Sacrifice for? What about integrity and beliefs? What about duty and responsibility? What about the good of your clan and Scotland?”
He laughed in a way that made her feel as if she’d just walked out of a convent. “God, you’re priceless, Countess! Such passion and conviction. But let’s see how well those lofty ideals of yours hold up in a month or two.”
Bella fisted her hands at her side so she wouldn’t give in to the childish urge to slap that condescending smirk off his face. His cynical, self-serving attitude was everything that was wrong with Scotland. “Don’t you believe in Robert? Don’t you think he can win?”
He shrugged indifferently. “Bruce has a chance if everything goes right. But it’s a gamble against a very powerful enemy.” He gave her a hard look. “Edward won’t be so forgiving of those who defy him.” His eyes slid over her coldly, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on her as heat spread over her skin. “Even pretty countesses.”
She flushed. “I know what I risk.”
If she didn’t fight for what she believed in, how could she expect anyone else to? If everyone were like him, they would never have a chance to rid Scotland of Edward’s grasping iron fist. Sometimes there were things bigger than yourself. This was one of them. She believed in Robert Bruce. Believed that Scotland should be freed from English domination, and that he was the man to do it.
What she was doing was right.
“Do you?” He gave her a long look. “We’ll see.”
He turned at the sound of an approaching rider. It was MacKay, and from the frown on his face, she could tell something was wrong.
“We’ve got a problem,” he said.
Though not as menacing-looking as Lachlan, the gruff warrior was equally imposing. But he wasn’t threatening—not in the way MacRuairi was. And he was one of the rare men who looked at her without the taint of lust in his eyes.
Lachlan swore. “Buchan?”
The big man nodded grimly. “Aye.”
“On our tail?” Gordon asked, coming up and leading the horses.
“Aye, and ahead of us. He has the road blocked about a half-mile from here.”
Bella tried to calm the sudden burst of panic fluttering in her chest. “But how did he find us?”
She’d directed her question to MacKay, but it was Lachlan who answered. “He knew the road we’d take to Scone. Our path wouldn’t have been too hard to follow. I hoped the rain would help.” He looked back to the other two men. “He must have discovered her missing right away.”
A trickle of ice shivered down her spine. “So he knows where we are?”
“He’s guessing we’re in the area,” MacKay said.
