“She’s my child.”
“Which is exactly why ye’re stayin’ here.” He rounded on her, his size and presence overwhelming. “I willnae have ye put in danger. I willnae have them take ye too.”
“You can’t make that decision for me!”
“I can, and I will.” He stepped closer, his grey eyes blazing. “Ye’ll stay in this castle where I ken ye’re safe, and ye’ll let me do what needs to be done. That’s nae a request, Francesca. That’s an order.”
“An order?” She laughed, the sound brittle and sharp. “You think you can order me to sit here while my daughter is out there, terrified and alone?”
“I think I’m the laird of this clan, and what I say goes.” His voice dropped lower, more dangerous. “And right now, I’m sayin’ ye stay behind these walls where nothin’ can touch ye. Do ye understand?”
“No! I don’t understand!” She shoved at his chest, knowing it wouldn’t move him but needing to push back against something. “How can you expect me to just wait here doing nothing while she’s… while she’s out there alone.”
Her voice broke, and suddenly his arms were around her, pulling her against his chest in a grip that was more restraint than comfort.
“Listen to me.” His voice was still hard, still commanding, but something had gentled in it. “I ken ye’re terrified. I ken ye want to tear apart the world to find her. But ye runnin’ into danger willnae help Eloise. It’ll only give them another hostage.”
“I can’t just sit here.”
“Ye can, and ye will. Because I’m tellin’ ye to trust me.” He pulled back enough to tilt her face up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Trust me to bring her home. Trust me to keep ye both safe. Can ye do that?”
She wanted to scream no. Wanted to fight him, to demand he let her help, to do anything but stand helplessly by. But the absolute certainty in his eyes, the way his hands held her like she was precious and breakable and his to protect, cracked something open inside her.
“If anything happens to her, I’ll not forgive myself.”
“Nothin’ will happen to her.” It wasn’t a promise. It was a vow, delivered with the full weight of his authority behind it. “I swear it on me life, on me clan, on everythin’ I am. I will bring Eloise home.”
He released her and turned to Fraser, his entire demeanor shifting back to the ruthless commander. “Gather the men. I want our best trackers, our fastest riders. We move in ten minutes.”
“The note said to come alone.”
“I daenae care what the damned note says.” Declan’s voice could have cut stone. “These bastards took a child from me home, from under me protection. They’ll learn what that mistake costs.”
“Aye, cousin.” Fraser’s expression was grim. “What about Lady Gretchen?”
“Send for her.” Declan glanced back at Francesca. “She’ll stay with ye until we return.”
Then he was striding away, barking orders that sent men running in every direction. Francesca stood in the courtyard, watching him organize the search with ruthless efficiency, and felt utterly helpless.
“Come, Me Lady.” Betsy appeared at her elbow, gently guiding her back toward the castle. “Let’s get ye inside. I’ll send for yer aunt right away.”
“I should be out there searching.”
“The Laird is right, though it pains me to say it. Ye’re safer here.” Betsy’s voice was gentle but firm. “And if those villains are watchin’, they’ll expect to see ye here, distraught and waitin’. That’s what will keep them from suspectin’ the Laird has every man in the clan trackin’ them.”
Francesca let herself be led inside, each step away from the courtyard, feeling like betrayal. They settled her in the morning room, where Krista appeared with tea that Francesca couldn’t bring herself to drink.
“She’ll be all right, Me Lady,” Krista said softly. “The Laird will find her. He always protects what’s his.”
“But what if he doesn’t find her in time? What if they,” Her voice cracked. “What if I brought her all this way just to lose her?”
“Ye didnae lose her. Someone took her.” Krista knelt beside her chair. “That’s nae yer fault.”
“Isn’t it?” The words burst out, raw and aching. “I thought Scotland would be safer than London. I thought bringing her here, away from the gossip and the scandal, would protect her. But I was wrong. I failed her.”
“Ye protected her from yer father’s coldness and London’s cruelty,” Betsy said firmly. “Ye gave her a home and love.”
“And put her in danger!” Francesca stood abruptly, pacing to the window. “If I’d left her with my aunt from the beginning, if I’d never taken her as my own, she’d be safe right now.”
