He smiled. She had a quick mind—he would need to remember that. “No, there was not.”
She shook her head. “You men and your schemes. The next time you plot something as foolhardy as this, please be sure you do not jeopardize innocent lives in the process.”
That comment struck a chord and Angus was on his feet in an instant, splashing water onto the floor. She stepped as he moved closer.
“You do not know one thing about innocent lives. You, who have led a sheltered life, do not get to judge the choices I make to protect those who rely on me.”
Angus turned to grab his tunic, and noted the surprise on Graham’s face. He donned his clothing and left the chamber, slamming the door behind him. Graham was at his heels in a heartbeat.
“What was all that about? Exactly what happened on the road from Linlithgow to here?”
“Do not start with me,” he said.
“Start with you? Angus, I have never seen you act like that around anyone, much less a highborn lady. What has gotten into you? I thought you were going to shake her.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “You try spending a day with her. She is beyond infuriating. If her cousin is at all like her, I almost pity King James to have to put up with them.”
Graham chuckled.
“What?” Angus said.
“I think you like her.”
“You could not be further from the truth if you tried. She is infuriating and confrontational, and stubborn and reckless. I do not like one hair on her head. She is a spoiled child who has never experienced anything of the real world and knows nothing about how common people live.”
“That is a pretty big justification, Angus. I wonder who you are trying to convince.”
Angus turned around and stepped toe-to-toe with Graham. “Drop it. Now.”
Graham put his hands up and grinned. “Very well if that is your wish. I will never mention her again in such a way. But if you do not want her, you will not be concerned when I tell you that I am quite smitten with her. I might like to spend some time with her while we hold her.”
Angus grabbed him by the shirt. “We do not hold her. I do. And neither you, nor anyone else, will touch her, or engage with her in any way whatsoever. Is that clear?”
Graham’s grin widened. “As Finlaggan Loch on a fine summer’s morn.”
Angus released him and found an empty table near the hearth. Within minutes, the tavern wenches brought stew and bread and ale. He and Graham ate in silence until his trusted confidant, MacLean, joined them.
“Is the rumour true, and you are holding the queen’s cousin in my inn? A Sassenach loyal to the Stewart king! Are you mad?”
Angus stopped chewing. He had been in such haste to get her settled and locked away, he had not thought to divulge all of his plan to MacLean upon arriving.
“Aye, ‘tis true. But we will be gone at daybreak, so you need not worry about any danger to any of your people.”
“How can I not worry, Angus? You will bring the king’s wrath upon us all by this act. What were you thinking in abducting the king’s own cousin?”
“That is what I told him as well.” Graham looked up from his food.
“Listen to me, both of you,” Angus said. “My father is not at Edinburgh Castle. I do not know where he is, or if he still lives. I have no other alternative but to resort to drastic measures, and Lady Annabella happened across my path at the exact moment I needed to make a decision. For good or bad, I have made it and I cannot go back on it now. She is here, and I will deal with this alone if I have to, but I would prefer to know that I have you both on my side.”
The two men exchanged glances while Angus waited. If he had had more time, it was likely he might have chosen a different course of action, but there was nothing he could do about it now. She was here, and the leverage he needed; these two men needed to get onside and stay there. He could not afford any conflict right now, or the whole scheme would unravel very quickly.
“Very well, Angus. I will help you in any way I can. But be damned if I will ever understand why you resorted to abduction.”
Angus shook his head. “Nor I, but here we are and we need to come up with a plan. I need to draft a proposal to send to the king straight away. Will you aid me with that?”
“Aye,” MacLean said. “Perhaps we can learn something from the lass that might be helpful.”
“No. I do not want anyone to engage her. Is that clear?”
