“I thought that word had been banned,” he laughed. Then, seeing her downcast face, he could resist her no longer, and tilted her face up for another kiss. He felt her arms creep around his waist and he hugged her to him in a tight but gentle embrace.
It had begun as a sweet kiss, but soon it became deep and passionate as their tongues touched and tangled, and as he heard her little moans of pleasure and desire he wanted to lose himself in her and take her to that place where only lovers go. His hand skimmed her breast, but she did nothing to repel him, then she spread her hand over his backside. At last, she drew away.
“Why did you stop?” he whispered, looking disappointed.
“Because, M’Laird, I am hungry,” she replied. “Anyway, we cannot kiss all day, and we have not had our customary argument yet!”
At this, they both burst out laughing.
“Just one more,” he murmured, before planting a soft kiss on her upturned mouth. “Did I tell you that you are adorable—even when you are angry?”
She smiled and blushed, then, to cover her embarrassment, she said, “I am so hungry that I may take a bite out of you in a moment!”
“Come.” He gave her his arm, and they went into the dining room, where they were served a hearty mutton stew with bannocks and fresh butter. Caitlyn took a few mouthfuls before she spoke again.
“Can you tell me about our prisoner?” Caitlyn asked. “What is her name?”
“Mistress Morag McColl,” he answered. “She has three children, one grandchild, and no husband. He was a merchant, but he died of cholera on board a ship from Italy, and her only income is from the jewelry shop.”
His voice was grim as he went on. “She knows she is working for criminals, but she has no other way to feed her two youngest children, who are eight and ten respectively, so I am sending someone to fetch them and bring them here so that they can do some kitchen work and earn themselves a little money.
“The gang leader told her that they will harm her family if she does not work for them, since she has a good knowledge of the merchandise they are handling.”
“Did you capture her from the shop?” Caitlyn asked angrily.
“One of my men saw one of the bandits coming in with their latest haul and confronted her,” he explained. “The other followed the man to the outlaws’ lair. It’s quite close to here, but the shop is closed today. We will raid them very early tomorrow morning to take advantage of the darkness. They will all still be drunk then.”
“Why is Mistress McColl in the dungeon?” Caitlyn asked indignantly. “Surely she is a victim and not a criminal?”
Here comes the argument,Alastair thought, laughing inwardly. He shook his head. “No, she is not a bandit,” he agreed. “I am keeping her there for her own protection. These are very dangerous men, Caitie. However, you need not worry. She has a bed, a table and chair, a fire to keep her warm, and even a mirror. She may have her freedom any time she wishes, and I have offered it to her, but she has refused it. All she is concerned about is the welfare of her children, and I have seen to that. They will be staying with her tonight.”
“You seem to have all the information you need. Why do you need me to be here?" she asked. “It seems that there is nothing much I can do.”
“You can be with Ava,” he said gently. “And talk a little to Mistress McColl. Who knows? It could be that she has more to tell us.” He put his hand over hers on the table. “And I need you. I thought women were supposed to have an intuition about feelings, Caitie. I love you. I adore you. Have I not shown you? Have you not felt it in my kisses?”
She sat, nonplussed, for a moment, and gazed at him. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Alastair, I have, and I love you too. I realized it at Christmas, but I was not sure if you felt the same, and I wanted to put all this business of the bandits behind us before I told you.”
He smiled and brought her hand to his lips. “You have made me so happy,” he smiled. “I cannot remember ever feeling like this before. Marry me, Caitie, please.”
“I will,” she whispered, putting a hand on his cheek. “Even if we fight for the rest of our lives, I will never love anyone but you.”
They sat for a moment, smiling at each other in a warm silence, then she stood up. “Now, shall we go to see Mistress McColl?” she suggested. “I would like to talk to her woman to woman.”
As Alastair had promised, Morag McColl was being well-treated. Her cell was very comfortable, if not exactly luxurious, and the little stove beside her gave her plenty of warmth as she sat sewing on her bed, her legs stretched out in front of her. She stood up and curtsied as she saw Caitlyn, but looked alarmed.
“No need to be afraid,” Caitlyn reassured her, smiling. “The Laird has told me about your circumstances. Do you have everything you need?”
Morag nodded. “Yes, Milady,” she said quietly.
Caitlyn had thought when she was in the shop that the woman looked hard-faced and bitter, but now she realized that the lines on her face were ones of hardship and worry. She was still looking at Caitlyn with apprehension.
“You have no need to be frightened,” Caitlyn said kindly. “Your children are being cared for and they will sleep with you here tonight at your request.”
Morag nodded. “I am happy about that, Milady,” she breathed. “It is a great weight off my mind. The leader of the gang is a ruthless man, and my children were never safe from him.”
“What is his name?” Caitlyn asked.
“I don’t know,” she sighed. “The men always called him Wolf. He is quite big, and very strong.” She paused to look up at Alastair, then her eyes met Caitlyn’s again and a signal passed between the two women. Caitlyn looked up at him and jerked her head slightly to indicate that he should go. He bowed and disappeared back the way he had come.
