It was an unpleasant reminder, and he had to shut his eyes against the image of her death.
Bloody hell, he had proposed to her!
And she had refused!
And yes, by God, hehadconsidered the notion that it might be a brief marriage, but it would be better than no time at all.
He would give anything to know that the curse could be lifted, that she was not in any real danger. He would marry her either way, of course, which was why her refusal had pushed him over the edge.
Had she really thought so little of their lovemaking? Did she not understand? Did she not feel what he felt?
He was overcome suddenly by a terrible rush of grief.
Bloody hell!He never asked for this. He didn’t want this kind of pain.
And he meant what he had said. He would kill Raonaid if he had to. He would do anything to protect Catherine, even if it meant she would hate him forever.
He would protect her at any cost. Even that.
Because he loved her.
***
It was past midnight when the coach finally rolled to a stop outside the Edinburgh hotel. Catherine sat up groggily and rubbed her eyes. She had fallen asleep at some point and had no idea what time it was.
The latch on the door flicked open, and she squinted as light from a lantern spilled across the floor of the coach. It was Alex, holding the lantern aloft.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Lady Catherine,” he gently said, “but we’ve arrived. Lachlan has already secured a room for you. I just need to take you upstairs.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
She sidled across the upholstered seat and took his hand. A few minutes later, she was collapsing onto a soft feather bed with freshly laundered sheets and closing her weary eyes. It had been an exhausting day, crossing the Lowlands with few stops other than to change horses. Catherine could barely move.
Each endless mile of the journey from Drumloch Manor to Kinloch Castle—then south again to Edinburgh—seemed to merge together into one grueling blur of movement and scenery. Her body groaned in protest from all the jostling about in the coach that day. All she wanted to do now was sleep for an eternity.
***
When Catherine opened her eyes, it was pitch-dark in the room. She was still dressed in her day clothes, lying flat out on her back, on top of the covers. Every muscle in her body ached and throbbed.
Sitting up drowsily, she cupped her forehead in a hand. “Good Lord, what time is it?” She swung her legs off the edge of the bed to touch the floor.
“It’s four o’clock in the morning,” a voice said.
Lachlan.
Instantly awake, she noted his shadowed figure in a rocking chair by the window. He held a musket across his lap.
“Could you light a lamp?” she asked, squeezing the edge of the mattress with her hands. “I need to see where I am.”
He rose from the chair and lit a candle. The room brightened to a warm golden glow.
“Are we in Edinburgh?” she asked.
“Aye. We arrived a few hours ago, but none of us are in any condition to meet Raonaid or Murdoch. It’s been a long day. The others are sleeping. We’ll ride out to Blue Waters first thing in the morning.”
She ran her tongue across her dry lips. “I’m thirsty,” she said. “Is there anything to drink?”
“I’ll pour you some wine.”
