She shifted on her knees. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s the reason you took me prisoner.”
The Butcher’s eyes lifted, and he studied her careful y.
“Aye, but are you sure you want to knoweverythingabout your fiancé? It might change how you feel about him.allyour romantic dreams of your handsome Prince Charming on a fine whitestallionwould be crushed. Then what would you do? You wouldn’t know east from west.”
“Of course I am sure,” she replied, refusing to be daunted by his patronizing tone. “Besides, there is nothing you can say thatwillchange how I feel, because I know in my heart that Richard is a brave and noble soldier in this war. It is unfortunate that he is your enemy, but he does his duty for his country—that isall.”
Duncan finished tending her wounds,balledup the cloth, and tossed it into the pot. “Al right, then. I’lltellyou the reason why you’re here, though I cannot give youallthe particulars, because it’s best if you don’t know the identities of the people involved. But what you need to know is this: Your betrothed is a tyrant, a rapist, and a murderer of innocent women and children. He’d burn every peaceful homestead in Scotland if he could.”
She sat back and scoffed. “That is ridiculous. You are obviously mistaken.”
“Nay, I am not.” The Butcher rose to his feet and crossed to the other side of the cave where the food was stored. He seemed to be evaluating her expression in the dim light.
Amelia shook her head. “Yes, you are. IknowRichard. He is a good man and an honorable soldier. He served under my father, who was also a good man and anexcellentjudge of character. He would never have given our engagement his blessing if Richard were unscrupulous. My father loved me and cared for me very much. He wanted me to be safe and happy. That’sallhe ever wanted, so you are wrong.”
He had to be.
“I am not wrong.”
“Yes, you are.” She watched him tear off a hunk of bread from a loaf he withdrew from a basket. He crossed the cave and held it out to her.
“And you are a fine one to accuse another man of being a tyrant and a murderer,” she said, accepting the bread. “You are the Butcher of the Highlands. Your acts of brutality are legendary, and I’ve seen them with my own eyes. Not only did you kidnap me, but youkilledLord knows how many soldiers on the way into my bedchamber, and youfully intended to chop off Richard’s head once you got there. So Iwillnot hear any more of this fictitious talk. Youwillnot convince me that he is a tyrant when clearly I am looking at the very essence of tyranny, right here.”
She stuffed the bread into her mouth and only then realized, with some anxiety, how boldly she had just spoken to the infamous Butcher.
He watched her chew andswallow, then turned in silence to the basket of food. He tore off another hunk of bread.
For a long time he said nothing, and she was uncomfortably aware of the massive broadsword at his side and the inconceivable strength in those muscular arms and shoulders.
Despite the fact that he was her enemy, she could not fail to acknowledge the inarguable truth that he was a magnificent specimen of manhood, a born warrior. In the field, she had been completely incapacitated by him, while he had seemed almostpleasedwith her efforts to fight him.
That was probably what had prompted her to surrender.
But when he’d washed the blood off her arm just now, he’d shown that he was at least capable of some kindness.
“Get up,” he said, with his back to her. “I’m in need of sleep.”
“And whatwillyou do with me while you are sleeping?” she asked.«Willyou tie me up again? What if the other Highlander returns?”
She glanced uneasily at the cave entrance, which had grown bright with a shimmering morning mist, while the Butcher moved deeper into the den toward a bed of fur at the back.
“You’llbe lying beside me, lass, nice and close.”
Amelia tensed immediately. “Iwillnot.”
“You have no choice in the matter.” He removed his leather scabbard and sword and placed it—along with the pistol—on the ground next to the fur. “Come to bed.”
Come to bed?
“I am a virgin,” she blurted out in a rush. “I do not know if that means anything to you, it probably doesn’t, but I would like to remain so.”
He regarded her with displeasure. “You’re saving yourself for Bennett?”
She wished there were another way to answer the question—a way that would not stoke the fires of his vengeance—but there was not. “Yes, I wish to save myself for marriage.”
His eyes turned toward the light outside the cave, as if he was careful y contemplating her reply.
“If you leave me with my virtue,” she added, “I promise Iwill…” She was not quite sure what to offer in return for such an act of kindness on his part. “Iwillgive you five hundred pounds. Or rather, my unclewill.”
