He blinked, the two of them already back to the fire while his thoughts had run away with him. She didn’t wait for a reply, but was already busying herself with arranging her blanket to one side like they had done the night before, Cameron’s gut clenching.
Would they be parted tomorrow? Was she eager to be rid of him when he could not imagine a day without her?
Regretting his anger, and regretting that he hadn’t praised her bravery and said so many other things that might have pleased her, including what he had learned from their prisoner, Cameron cursed under his breath.
Aislinn at once glanced up at him from where she’d lain down, her expression teasing as she drew a flap of the blanket over her.
“If you’re thinking you might be in danger during the night, I promise I won’t use the blade against you.”
With that, she rolled onto her side with her back to the fire, Cameron certain that he heard her chuckling softly to herself.
Women! What did he know about them—other than not much at all? Wishing he’d paid more heed to Conall’s practiced tactics when it came to wooing lasses, aye, his brother’s aim solely to bed them, Cameron knew that wasn’t how he thought of Aislinn De Burgh.
He wanted to wed her! His clan had made it clear that he must take a bride, and he had found the only one he could imagine becoming his wife.
The only woman who had made him speak as if he had no affliction at all—Cameron feeling whole for the first time in his life.
Staring at her still, his heart thundering, his hope growing, he had all he could do to lie down upon his blanket and attempt to go to sleep.
If he reached out his arm, he would even be able to touch her—och, but he didn’t want to lose his fingers, no matter what she’d said.
She was armed now, which gave him some comfort that she wouldn’t be defenseless if any danger came upon them.
Or if she rushed headlong into peril again—God help him, was there any doubt of it?
Chapter 10
“That man knows something of my father?” Stunned, Aislinn looked from Cameron to the English soldier who had been hoisted onto one of the pack horses, his hands tied behind him and a rag stuffed in his mouth.
“Not of Lord De Burgh… only that prisoners held for ransom in Scotland will be moved tae Carlisle where King Edward has amassed his forces. He must have learned of recent captures from his spies and wants the gold in his coffers—notthose of nobles who owe him their land and estates. Then he’ll have the prisoners executed.”
“You said this is good news?” Her cheeks burning, Aislinn stared in disbelief at Cameron, who solemnly nodded his head.
“Aye, as good as can be hoped for. The prisoners will be out in the open and not locked away in a dungeon where they canna be reached. At least this way, if your father and brother are still alive, there will be a chance tae rescue them.”
“Still alive…” Disheartened now more than she could say in spite of Cameron’s surprising revelation, and with the porridge she’d eaten sitting like a lump in her stomach, Aislinn lashed out at him. “Why didn’t you tell me this last night? You could have, you know—”
“And risk you running over tae the prisoner and pointing your knife at his throat? At least with me telling you now, we got some rest without you demanding we ride out at once in the dark. You would have, you know, dinna deny it!”
Cameron’s ire up—aye, anger always made him speak so easily!—and his eyes darkened to a stormy blue, Aislinn did grasp the hilt of her knife as she glanced at the soldier.
The man must have been listening for he looked back at her with widened eyes, his face gone white.
“What else did he say? There had to be more.”
“Aye, he and the other two were ordered tae deliver King Edward’s edict tae a stronghold along the Firth of Clyde, but they were swept off course. A MacGodfrey stronghold rumored to have Irish prisoners—”
“MacGodfrey?” Aislinn broke in, a chill running through her. “The De Burghs are kin to that clan. One of them convinced my father to sail to Scotland in support of King Robert—Clive was his name… ah, God.”
She fell silent while Cameron looked at her grimly, shaking his head.
“MacGodfreys were among Earl Seoras’s courtiers, many of them slain. I released the few that still lived, an act of mercy, but I should have killed them all. They must have plotted with Earl Seoras tae capture your father and share the ransom. The most valuable prisoners taken tae the nearest stronghold, while the rest of you tae Seoras as proof of the ambush.”
Aislinn winced as memories of that stinking black pit assailed her, but something did not yet make sense. She glanced at the soldier, who still eyed her nervously. “Cameron, some of those attackers were English and dressed much like that one—”
“Aye, I wouldna be surprised if that MacGodfrey stronghold is filled with English soldiers—since that clan has its nose stuck so far up King Edward’s arse. Your father trusted the wrong man. Blood isna always thicker than water when it comes tae gold—och, enough, we must go.”
Aislinn nodded, not offended at all that Cameron had spoken so bluntly, while he cast a dark look at the prisoner.
