Jamie scrubbed a hand over his face. “Retrieving yer copies will no’ be so simple, now he’s suspicious of why ye were there. MacGregor locked ye up, but if he caught me in his solar, he’d kill me on the spot—or try to. For all we ken, he’s taken to sleeping in that room, waiting to see what else we’ll do.”
Caitrin shrugged. “Then we must wait him out.”
“That may be easier done than ye think. Yer da wants me to ride out with Uilleam in the morning to visit a cousin named Rabbie he says is an ally. If we need to get ye out of this keep in a hurry, Fletcher believes ye can hide there until it’s safe to move ye home.”
“But ye said I wouldna be safe there.”
“I said the same to yer da.” Jamie took a breath, then leaned forward, and took her hands in his. “I told him I planned to take ye to the Aerie. To marry ye and pay MacGregor the bride price.”
“Jamie!” Caitrin’s wide eyes didn’t tell him whether the idea pleased her or shocked her.
“Hush, lass. Malcolm will hear ye.” She frowned, and his heart sank.
“What did Da say to that?”
He shook his head. “That he would think on it while I go with Will. As long as he doesna plan to go forward with the betrothal while I’m out of the way, all will be well.”
“He wouldna. Would he?”
“I dinna ken, except he’s had Will out of the keep for a reason he wouldna explain. He may have visited the cousin already to see where his loyalties lie. So if yer da is already making plans for yer safety, I have to believe he doesna intend to go through with it.”
At Caitrin’s sigh, Jamie pulled her into his lap. “I dinna ken how far to the cousin’s, or how long I’ll be away. But my men have been keeping watch on yer guards. If MacGregor calls for ye or comes to see ye, they’ll ken it and do what’s needful to keep ye safe. He’ll no’ hit ye again, I promise ye.”
“Malcolm may help, as well. He’s done what he can for me.” Caitrin rested her head on his shoulder. “This could all be over in a day or two, if all goes well, aye?”
Jamie rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Aye.” Then, with a finger under her chin, he lifted her lips to his. Ach, sweetness! Hers was the taste he craved. He pulled her more tightly against him, and she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him harder until he eased her off his lap and stood, still holding her against him.
“I wish I could stay, lass. But Malcolm awaits outside the door. I should go.”
“But I willna see ye for days.”
“Or I could be back tomorrow night. Either way, dinna fash. But do what ye must to avoid Alasdair.”
“I will.”
****
MacGregor studied the young Lathan soldier, Ewan, his men had unhorsed, surrounded and bound with his hands behind his back. The chase had taken longer than he expected, but the delay hadn’t saved this unfortunate lout. It had only served to rile his captor’s temper.
“Ye made the mistake of telling the stable boy ye were riding out with a message for yer laird,” MacGregor informed him, walking slowly toward him once he’d dismounted. “I’ve been waiting for just such an opportunity.”
“The message I carry willna interest ye.”
MacGregor smiled, then back-handed his face, leaving a satisfying handprint. “I’ll be the judge of that.” He snapped his fingers, but his men just shrugged. “He doesna carry a note? Then ye have the message.”
The lad had stones. He managed to meet MacGregor’s gaze for at least three heartbeats before he dropped his gaze to his feet. “What do ye intend to do with me?”
Ah, the crux of the matter, then. MacGregor didn’t bother with an answer. “What message do ye carry? And where did the Lathan envoy and the Fletcher ghillie go? They left MacGregor the same time as ye.”
Ewan shook his head, sadly it seemed. “I dinna ken. Jamie only said to give his regards to Toran. We were to send word to assure Laird Lathan of our well-being.”
MacGregor had been forced to give the two men time to get well away before pursuing the lone Lathan, an inconvenient delay that still rankled. They might only have gone hunting, but that seemed unlikely. He’d had them followed.
“Toran Lathan, laird of the Aerie. Yer home, aye?” The lad’s gaze lifted to meet his, and MacGregor read the first glimmerings of concern in his eyes. Good.
“Nay, laird. I live in a croft beholden to Lathan.”
“Ye lie.”
