“There is nothing either of us can do at this time but follow through with the original plan, lass. I have already sent the proposal to the Stewart, and now all we can do is wait.”
Annabella turned on her heel and headed for the door. Before she could lift the iron latch, Angus placed his hand flat against it and leaned in. “Where do you think you are going?
“I shall return to Linlithgow Palace to be with my cousin. I have been more than cooperative with you up to this point, and appreciate the care you have taken with my wellbeing. But I will not board a ship with you, and I will not leave the mainland to go to some island, never to be seen or heard from again.”
Angus placed his other hand on the wall, caging her in. “Why do you think that if you go to Islay you will not be heard from again, versus remaining on the mainland? What difference does travelling that extra distance make to your safety?”
She turned around and gasped. Angus caught her scent and his loins tightened. Was this what she was afraid of? Being close to him? “Answer me,” he said.
“I—do not—please…”
Angus could hold back no longer. He leaned down and brushed his mouth across hers, tasting the sweetness of her trembling lips.
“I promise you will come to no harm in my care,” he said. “I want you more than I have ever wanted another woman, but I will not touch you unless you ask it of me.”
He leaned back and gazed into her expressive eyes. She could not hide her feelings from him. Everything she thought or felt was there in her eyes; wariness had settled there.
This was not how he wanted her, afraid of him and unsure of herself. No. When she came to him, he wanted her to have no doubt whatsoever that she was giving herself freely, with no pressure from him or from the situation in which she found herself.
Angus stepped back and allowed her to pass. She scurried around him to put many paces of distance between them.
“I do not know what spooked you, my lady, but I assure you, you are as safe in my care today as you were yesterday. We sail within the hour and will dine at my table this eve. I suggest you get used to the idea.”
With that, he exited the room and locked the door behind him. Just as he was about to descend the stairs, he remembered that she now knew about the adjoining door. Angus walked slowly to the door of the room in which he had slept and waited. He leaned his shoulder against the wooden frame and grinned at the sound of a door creaking and light footfalls inside the chamber.
Seconds later, the metal latch lifted and the door swung open a crack. Annabella peeked out through.
She jumped when he said, “Going somewhere?”
She swung the door wide and stepped out into the hallway. “Oh! I was just seeing where this went.”
Angus smiled at her and took her by the hand. “Perhaps it is safer for you to accompany me downstairs to break our fast together. Who knows what mischief you will get yourself into up here?”
Annabella pulled her hand away. “I am perfectly capable of walking below stairs without your assistance, sir.”
“Oh, so it is ‘sir’ now, is it? Very well, Lady Annabella.” Angus exaggerated a bow and swept his hand toward the stairs. “After you, my lady.”
Angus grinned as she lifted her head, straightened her back, and walked away from him. Something told him the remainder of his journey with her was about to become much more interesting.
CHAPTER FIVE
Pebbles of sea spray caressed her face as Annabella gazed out over the water.
Her trepidation over sailing in a vessel was nothing compared to being so cut off from the mainland. For some reason, rescue seemed much more likely while at Oban. Out here, she had a sinking feeling she would never return to her family.
Annabella had kept her posture as straight as she could throughout the whole ordeal. Propriety and composure were the two things Angus MacDonald and his unrefined ways could not take from her. She gripped the deck rail and fought hard against letting the situation getting the best of her. As a noblewoman, she was used to a certain level of care, and up to this point he had shown that he was capable of treating her with decency. But how long would his patience last?
The king was not an easy man with whom to negotiate. Annabella understood some of the challenges he faced when dealing with these stubborn Highlanders, but she was now seeing first-hand just how determined and fearless they were, too—a dangerous mix, to be sure.
“Angus wants you to stand with him at the stern, lass,” a voice said from behind her. She turned to find Graham leaning against the railing, smirking. He did not need to hold on to ensure his footing. Did he have some sort of shoes that stuck to the deck? She looked closer at his feet and frowned. He looked down as well, and then back to her with a furrowed brow.
“Please tell MacDonald that I am perfectly happy standing right here, and that if he wishes to address me he can do so himself.”
Graham chuckled. “Suit yourself, lass, but we are heading out into open sea and it’s likely to get a little rough at the bow. We would not want you jostled about.”
With that, he turned and headed back to the stern of the ship, to where Angus stood frowning at her.
The ship was called abirlinnand resembled a Viking longboat that her tutor had described during one of her lessons, with high pointed posts and sea creatures carved at the bow and stern. Annabella had thought it stunning until she had to step onto the deck and tried finding her “sea legs”. Apparently she did not possess them.
