She laughed softly. “I do not think so.”
“Perhaps we can do it again,” he suggested.
“Not here!” she said, and he laughed.
“No, not here,” he agreed. “In a warm soft bed with down pillows and a goose feather mattress, with candles all around and a bottle of beautiful red wine to drink afterwards.”
“And...” she murmured. “I would like you to teach me how to pleasure you too.” She regretted that the moment the words came out of her mouth. She had gone too far.
“Gladly,” he replied, and then he began to kiss her neck just where it joined her shoulders. The touch of his lips made her moan with pleasure and desire, and she tilted her head sideways so that he could reach the sensitive skin on her throat. She felt his hand on the nape of her neck, then it skimmed over her sensitive breast and came to rest on her thigh. He stroked her there for a while, then picked up the reins again, leaving her bereft and wanting more.
“I have to see you when we are back, whatever happens,” he said, almost pleading.
She did not answer him for a moment, but when she spoke it was not what he wanted or expected to hear.
“Then stay,” she begged. “Stay in Inverinch and protect us all.”
“I do not know what you think I can do,” he replied, exasperated. “I do not have an army to command, as you seem to think I do. Even if I did, I am not sure they would fight on behalf of Scots. I do not have huge resources of my own.” Then he thought for a moment. “Emilia, I will give everything I have to help you...I am not sure that this is within my power, but you have my support.”
Emilia sighed. All her hard work had paid off; she knew he was on their side. He saw the Highlanders for what they were: kind and genuine. And she was beginning to fall in love with him...
“But we will not give up,” he went on. “I am one man, however, I have friends who may be able to help.”
Emilia smiled. There was hope!
The morning had worn away and it was midday before they got to Emilia’s house. They left the horses at the bottom of the hill so that Trojan would not have to climb it. He looked utterly exhausted.
As soon as she got into the house Emilia was almost knocked over by her mother, who ran across the room to fling her arms around her daughter. “Emmy!” she cried. “Where have you been? I have been so worried!”
“Be at ease, Mammy,” she said soothingly. “Adam’s horse hurt his leg and we could not have come home in time. We were fortunate to be able to find shelter. I am sorry.”
Agnes was just about to speak again when Father Gordon strode up to Adam and grabbed him by the neck, his face crimson with fury.
“If you have touched Emilia in any way I will kill you!” he growled.
Adam had acquitted himself well in many tavern brawls before, and this one was no different. Father Gordon was a small, sturdy man, but he packed a hefty punch and had the element of surprise on his side. He might have succeeded in besting anyone else, but Adam was more than a match for him in strength, height, and reach.
He wrenched himself out of the priest’s grasp and pushed him backward, then leapt forward, grabbed his collar, and swiped his fist around to catch the priest squarely on the jaw. Father Gordon staggered backward and fell on his backside on the stone-flagged floor. Adam raised his fist again, but the priest had curled up into a ball on the floor and was holding his hands over his face. Seeing the little man’s helplessness, Adam let his hand fall to his side.
“If you were not a man of God,” he spat, “I would have done much worse to you. Emilia told you what happened. My horse is wounded. Go to the bottom of the hill and see him if you do not believe me. A very kind family let us sleep in their barn and shared what little food they had with us. They were people full of Christian charity, unlike you, Father!” He bent down and shouted the last word in Father Gordon’s face.
He hauled the priest to his feet and the little man gathered the shreds of his dignity together and smoothed down his ruffled clothes.
“Father, Adam is telling the truth,” Emilia said earnestly. “We slept in the barn because there was nowhere else, but the family was very kind to us. Nothing at all happened between us, I swear.”
Nothing I did not want to happen, anyway,she thought guiltily.
Adam and the priest stood glaring at each other for another moment, then Father Gordon’s shoulders slumped. “Forgive me, Adam,” he said contritely. “I have always had a very quick temper and I made a wrong assumption about you.”
The scowl left Adam’s face. “Did I hurt you?” he asked anxiously.
Father Gordon laughed. “No more than I deserved, Adam.”
“I should not have retaliated against a man so much smaller than myself.” Adam smiled ruefully.
Agnes gave everyone a cup of ale and they sat down for a while to drink it.
“I am sorry you were so worried, Mammy,” Emilia said sadly. “There was no way to tell you. We were really fortunate to find those lovely people to help us.”
