Now the real test began, and that would be to get her out of here alive.
It wasn’t long before he could hear the lass swearing in the hall, being manhandled by a burly Scot. Malcolm was glad to see that she appeared unharmed, but when she saw him, her eyes widened. “Wot are ye doing here?”
He wanted to give her some sort of signal that he was here to save her, but he couldn’t, so instead, he didn’t answer her.
“Well now,” Neacal stated as Edna was brought before him. “I see that ye know this Scot?”
Edna lifted her chin. “Aye, I do.”
Neacal looked over at Malcolm. “And this Scot, he was at yer manor house recently?”
Edna also looked at Malcolm, her mouth twisted. “Aye, he was.”
Malcolm could see the thoughts running through her mind, clear as day on her lovely face. “She doesnae care for me so much then,” he chuckled. “But we got along.”
Edna opened her mouth to say something but then promptly shut it, clearly thinking better of whatever she wished to say.
Neacal looked at the woman before him. “Have ye changed yer mind aboot mah proposal?” he asked, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I’ve treated ye well, havenae I not?”
“Aye, ye have,” she stated, her jaw clenched. “But I will never marry ye, no matter if ye drape me in diamonds and make me queen of all Scotland!”
Malcolm sighed inwardly as Neacal’s face reddened, and he rose from the chair. They were on precarious grounds as it was, and Edna wasn’t helping herself at all. Quickly, he rose from his own chair and stepped in front of her, giving the laird a knowing look. “Let me handle her,” he said, holding out his hand. “I can get ye wot ye need, but I need time.”
Neacal pursed his lips, looking at Edna over Malcolm’s shoulder. “If ye can, ye can have any position in mah clan.”
Edna made a sound, but Malcolm was already inclining his head, turning toward Edna. He would be apologizing for this later, but right now, he needed to get her away from this laird and somewhere safe.
“Give me yer hand,” he ordered, glancing at the warrior that still held her arm tightly. “And take yers off her before I remove it for ye.”
“Careful, warrior,” Neacal chuckled. “Tis mah brother Declan ye are addressing. He’s known for his brutality.”
The blonde Scot grinned at Malcolm, his shrewd eyes making Malcolm want to take his sword and run him through with it. “Aye, I enjoy blood. And this lass...her blood would run sweet from mah sword.”
“Careful,” Malcolm growled softly as he met the warrior’s eyes. “I’ve been known tae gut a Scot for lesser.”
Declan smirked, but he did let go of Edna, causing her to fall toward Malcolm. Malcolm wasted no time taking her arm, though his grip was looser than the warrior’s had been, and marching her out of the great hall toward the stairs.
“Get me wot I want!” Neacal called out behind them, his voice filling the silent space. “Or I will let mah brother have his turn with ye, warrior.”
“Wot are ye doing here?” Edna hissed as Malcolm forced her up the stairs. “Wot are ye doing working with the likes of him?”
“Shut yer mouth, woman,” he replied softly, “until we are well away from them.”
He didn’t want to explain any of it until he knew that they weren’t being listened to. This plan was risky, but it would work with her cooperation. Malcolm had seen the warriors that the clan had to offer. They wouldn’t be any concern of his, nor was the brother, but if they found out that he was double-crossing them, Neacal could take it out on Edna.
That was one gamble he couldn’t allow to come to fruition.
7
Edna couldn’t believe it.
Malcolm’s grip on her arm was tight as he forced her up the stairs, having fallen silent after telling her not to speak herself. As much as she wanted to go against what he wanted, there was a small flare of hope that he was here to rescue her and not here to work with Neacal.
She had to believe it until he proved otherwise.
“Where is yer chamber?” he asked gruffly when they reached the second landing.
“There,” she offered, pointing to the door down the hall a ways. “They lock me in.”
