Page 49 of The Highlander’s Improper Wife

“I am going to jump to that balcony.” She pointed to the neighboring balcony that opened to the lady’s suite.

Caroline scowled. “‘Tis five feet, maybe more. You will break your fool neck in the attempt.”

Fiona gave a decisive nod. “That would teach Taran a lesson.”

Caroline gave her a horrified look. “You are as insane as he is.”

Fiona barked a laugh. “It is well known the Blackhalls often skirt reason.” Her eyes shifted past Caroline. She gasped and pushed past her.

Caroline turned and startled at sight of three figures marching across the mist shrouded lawn. Young Huntly led, with Taran several feet behind, a lantern in hand, and Reverend Gordon nearly running to catch up.

Fiona grasped the balcony railing and leaned forward. “Stop!” Pale moonlight shadowed Taran’s face, but revealed the rigidity in his posture.

He shouted something to Ross. Fiona turned and lunged towards the railing near the lady’s balcony. Caroline caught her arm.

Fiona turned a tear stained face towards her. “He will kill my husband.”

Caroline glanced at the men, who were still heading deeper into the fog. Taran had nearly caught up with Ross. The dangerous note in Taran’s voice when he’d challenged her uncle rose in memory. Fiona was right, the threat hadn’t been idle.

“Stand aside.” She yanked up her skirts. Cold air rushed across her legs, sending a prickle of gooseflesh racing up her thighs.

Fiona glanced anxiously at the other balcony. “Are you certain you should jump? I am younger and more agile.”

Caroline scowled. “I am but two years your senior.”

“Yes, but—”

“For God’s sake, Fiona, will you stand here and argue while your husband takes a bullet?”

The girl paled.

Regret stabbed at Caroline, but she kept her voice even and said, “Pull yourself together.”

Fiona straightened and gave a nod.

Caroline hoisted a leg over the rail and lowered her foot to the outer edge of the balcony. She swung the other foot over. A quick glance at her feet caused a rush of dizziness. The ground disappeared into a dark, airy abyss. She lifted her eyes to Fiona’s face. The girl held her gaze for an instant, then her warm hand covered Caroline’s white-knuckled fingers gripping the railing. Releasing one hand, Caroline extended a foot towards the other balcony and leaned. Her toe nearly reached. She leaned further.

“Just one…more…inch.” She stretched, then cried out when her grasp on the railing loosened.

“Caroline!”

She swung herself back to the railing, insides shaking so badly, she felt as if she would vomit. She met Fiona’s wide-eyed gaze. Fiona gave a wordless shake of her head. Caroline blew out a shaky breath, then willed her racing heart to slow and again reached for the other balcony. She stretched until her arm felt as if it would disconnect from her shoulder, before cold iron grazed her fingertips.

“Just a bit more.” She gasped, stretching.

“You cannot reach.” Fiona tugged on Caroline’s fingers.

Caroline took a deep breath and leapt. Her fingers clamped around cold iron as her slippered foot made contact with the tiny ledge on the outside of the balcony—then slipped. Her hip crashed into the stone ledge and her shoulder wrenched with the weight of her body hanging from the railing. She cried out in unison with Fiona’s shriek. Pain seared her hip.

“Caroline,” Fiona choked.

Caroline grunted against the pain that pulsed with each beat of her heart. By God, if she had a revolver, she would point it at Taran and put a ball through his shoulder. Perhaps his sister had a point. Let him suffer alongside them. Caroline pooled her strength and swung her foot up onto the ledge.

Muffled shouts sounded in the distance. She pulled herself up, then twisted in the direction of the voices. Caroline gave a cry upon seeing Fiona pointing a revolver out across the lawn. The three men were racing towards them.

“Fiona—”

The report of the revolver reverberated back to Caroline as if she were caught between the blast and a roaring ocean. Her eyes instinctively jammed shut, but she snapped them open in time to see Taran stumble and fall to the ground. Her heart jumped into a pounding rhythm.