“I have no intention of harming either of ye. But she’ll be frantic with worry, so I’m going to send my smartest and bravest kinsman to her right now to allay her worries. As shocking as itmay be, that is Mongo’s brother, Douglas Lanark. Fortunately, he is the elder of my cousin’s sons and my likely heir. So, there is still hope my clan might remain prosperous beyond my lifetime,” he said in light jest, hoping to inject a little humor amid the tension.
“Is that supposed to put me at ease? None of you seem very bright.”
Bram overlooked the insult, although it did gall him. “What is yer niece’s name? No doubt, she’s called in the local magistrate to find ye. My kinsman will explain what happened.”
“I demand to be taken back immediately, as well. And I shall be the one to tell the magistrate what happened. I do not need your kinsman, this Douglas fellow, reporting convenient lies and spreading doubt as to my respectable character.”
“He will report thetruth, but I hope ye’ll find it in yer heart to go easy on Mongo and his companions. They meant ye no harm.”
“They abducted me!”
“By mistake, apparently,” Bram hurried to point out.
She shot to her feet, her eyes glowing like fiery emeralds in the firelight. “Because they mistook me for my niece, a dear, sweet girl who must be frightened out of her wits right now.”
He rose as well, towering over her because he was a big bear of a man.
To Lady Miranda’s credit, she did not flinch at all upon staring at his imposing size. Nor did she turn fluttery or delicate over the fact he wore no shirt.
He liked this about her.
Then he realized she only had on her nightgown beneath her cloak.
Dear heaven.
She had no shoes on, either.
Fortunately, she had worn woolen stockings to bed. He hoped this had served as sufficient protection to keep her feetfrom freezing as his idiot kinsmen hauled her onto their horses for the ride from Edinburgh to Lanark Castle. That was a two-hour ride toward the North Sea coast in daylight and must have taken at least three hours at this time of night.
“Sit back down, Lady Miranda. Ye need to warm yer extremities because frostbite is a dangerous thing. After ye’ve had a spot of tea and slice of pie for sustenance, I’ll summon my housekeeper to find ye some suitable clothes to wear. Forgive me, but there is no Duchess of Solway, so I can only offer ye whatever decent attire can be scrounged.”
“You have no wife?” she asked, sinking back into her chair. “But you are no youngster yourself. Or are you a widower?”
“Never married.” He once again knelt beside her and raked a hand through his hair. “Never found a woman to love. And, aye, love is important to me. I had no wish to burden myself with a wife in name only.”
The admission appeared to surprise her, for she studied him with a gentle frown. “Surely there must have been ladies who wanted you beyond your ducal title. Several must have fallen in love with you, since you are not allthatunsightly. They would have been good to you.”
He laughed. “Ye truly think so? Look at me, m’lady. I am a big oaf of a fellow.”
“So what? Since when does big and muscled scare a woman? Or do you have a bad temper?”
“If I had a bad temper, I would have shown it when ye hurled that vase at me. If anything, I have learned extreme patience when having to deal with kinsmen like Mongo every day.”
That brought a smile, albeit a brief one, to her lips.
Pretty smile.
Lovely lips.
He shook his head and continued. “But that is neither here nor there. The fact remains, there hasn’t been anyone who loved me that reliably.”
She frowned at him. “Do you drink to excess?”
“No, never. What sort of example do ye think that would make for my men?” He sighed. “Most of them are good and decent, too. Hardworking and diligent. Of course, I exclude Mongo and hisidjitcompanions from this description.”
“Do you beat your women or children?”
His eyes rounded in horror. “Never! Is it no’ my duty to protect the weak and innocent?”
