“I am. Thank ye.”
He draped his arm over the back of her chair, and she scooted forward, trying to escape his touch. “I think we should move to the salon. We can enjoy the fire,” he said suggestively.
Clarissa slipped out of the chair, careful so that the knife stayed in place. She would not hold back on using it if the situation arose.
Jacob clapped his hands. When a servant appeared, he ordered the lass to bring a flask of wine. “None of that whisky that you all seem so fond of. No offense, but the taste doesn’t sit well on my tongue. I much prefer wine.”
Was the lass the same person that had cooked the meal? She had to assume she was.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the dining room. “Come, we’ll have wine in the salon.”
*
Alexander pushed hishorse forward. With each minute that passed, his worry grew. How long had Clarissa been in Kitt’s clutches? Had he harmed her? He clenched the reins, his knuckles white as his knees dug into the horse’s sides, urging him to run faster.
“We will get her, Alexander.” Gunn called out beside him, his voice barely registering over the sound of the horses’ pounding hooves.
The images flashing in Alexander’s mind were of every worst scenario that could possibly happen. After he confirmed that Clarissa was safe and hadn’t been harmed, he was going to make sure she kenned how stupid of a move she had taken.
Mainly, he just wanted to ensure she was safe. What the hell was she thinking going to Kitt? Especially alone and not telling anyone.
The ride was ostensibly long. He didn’t remember it taking this long when he had visited previously and that was when he traveled in his coach. A single horse should be able to make the journey in much less time, but time seemed to slow as they rode.
“Please, please be safe,” he pleaded to the wind. He wasn’t a religious man but found himself willing whatever powers to be that looked over the universe to also look over and protect Clarissa until he got there.
*
“Wine?”
“Nay, thank ye,” Clarissa declined Jacob’s offer.
He raised a brow in question.
Giving him what she hoped was a passable smile, she explained. “I must confess wine gives me the most horrid achein my head.” It was a lie, of course. She actually loved wine. But she didn’t want the drink to dull her senses. She had the feeling that she was going to need her wits to make it through whatever Jacob had planned for the rest of the evening and she wanted to be able to defer whatever he had in mind.
To do that, she needed to have her head clear and full use of all her faculties.
“I am sorry to hear that. If I had known, I would have had other drinks available.”
She dismissed his statement with a wave of her hand. “’Tis no’ an issue. I am fine, really.”
“I suppose you like the whisky I had previously dismissed.”
She could drink it, but it wasn’t her preference. She enjoyed champagne the best. But even if Jacob offered her the finest champagne from France, she would still deny the drink with the same excuse.
Standing by the fire, she watched as he finished his glass of wine and hastily poured himself another. Thankful he kept to his side of the room and didn’t approach her.
There was a chaise in the room, its light blue fabric faded and stained. She wanted to sit but refused to sit there. Doing so she feared would seem like an invitation for Jacob to sit down beside her and that was the last thing she wanted.
After finishing his current glass, and then immediately pouring another one and downing that one as well, Jacob started getting a flush to his skin, his eyes glassing over. Clarissa had seen the telltale signs of one imbibing too much a time or two in her life. He was definitely on his way to crossing that line.
His temperament changed. He straightened his shoulders, showing a confidence in himself that he had lacked previously. He sauntered over, his strides sure and strong. The wine giving him a bravado he hadn’t possessed before.
That was not the effect she was hoping for.
As he neared, she took a step back.
Clucking his tongue, he tsked. “Are you trying to run from me, Clarissa?”
