Page 155 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Talbot knew he had to prove himself. But even if he saved all of Buchan, the one fight the Highlanders might not aid was the effort to drag his wife from one of their kinsman’s bed, especially if she carried that man’s child.

Frustration lashed through him. Even if Melrose got Rhoslyn with child, Talbot wouldn’t annul their marriage. He wouldn’t be the first man to raise as heir a son that wasn’t his. Before this night ended, Seward would understand that.

Talbot considered having the priest perform the marriage ceremony before marching to Longford Castle. He relished the idea of surprising Seward with that news once Talbot rescued him. Though there would be no consummating the union before he left. Lady Rhoslyn certainly expected more than a three-minute introduction to his skills as a lover.

He addressed Baxter. “Gather a hundred men and send them to Longford. Have Ross lead them with Iain and his men. Let us see what Harper’s captain is made of. You ride out, meet the men bringing Seward’s men-at-arms, and take them to Longford. Stay west of the castle in the forest, until I arrive. Send scouts to assess Roberts’ men. Sunrise is another three hours. If luck is with us, we can end this before daylight.”

He experienced an uncharacteristic hesitation. With the hundred men he was sending to deal with Roberts, Castle Glenbarr would be less well guarded than he liked. He had yet to discover who were his friends and who were his enemies. Then there was the lady to consider. God only knew what she would attempt while he marched to save her grandfather.

What could she possibly do locked in his chambers? One of her friends in the castle might aid her escape. She wouldn’t need help, he realized with a start. Castle Glenbarr had been her home for eight years. She must know every door, window and passage—including any passageways from the lord’s bedchambers he had yet to discover.

“Have Ross go on ahead,” Talbot told Baxter. “I will join you soon.”

“What if Roberts attacks before ye arrive?” Iain demanded.

“Then kill him.”

* * *

Rhoslyn slipped inside the room where slept some of the maids. She wanted information and hoped that one of the girls might have a knife, and so save her the risk of going to the storeroom. Embers burned red in the hearth, casting dim light across the room’s four beds. The two beds closest to the fire were empty, but the blankets were rumpled.

“Who is it?” a female voice demanded from one shadowy corner.

Rhoslyn recognized the voice emanating from one of several shapes huddled on the bed. “Sheila, it is I, Lady Rhoslyn.”

“Lady Rhoslyn?”

The girl jumped from the bed and hurriedly lit a candle from the hearth, then crossed to Rhoslyn. Her hand flew to her mouth, then she grasped one of Rhoslyn’s hands.

“My lady, thank God you are safe.”

Three more figures rose and crowded behind Sheila.

“Is something wrong?” Rhoslyn demanded. “Have St. Claire’s men abused you?”

“Nay. We are all treated well. But we have been afraid this last week.”

The Dragon had been there a week? “Did the Dra—er, St. Claire speak with Duncan?”

Sheila nodded. “They had a long meeting the day after he arrived.”

Of course they did. St. Claire would want to inform the steward that he was the new laird of Castle Glenbarr. But that didn’t mean Duncan had shown him the storeroom. Duncan was the steward, but Rhoslyn kept the rolls. Each month, she and Alec put a little aside that wasn’t included in the accounts the tax collector saw. The accounts that accounted for all profits remained locked in the storeroom. Rhoslyn couldn’t ask the women if St. Claire had visited the storeroom, for they knew nothing of the room’s existence.

”Is it true, my lady? Are ye and Sir Talbot married?” Sheila asked.

Rhoslyn gritted her teeth, unwilling to acknowledge the questions, but the more she thought on the matter, the more she wondered how they would pry St. Claire out of Castle Glenbarr.

“How many men does he have?” she asked.

“At least a hundred and fifty,” Sheila said. “And I hear talk three hundred more are on their way.”

“Four hundred and fifty?” Rhoslyn said. She envisioned their savings gone inside a year.

“Sir Talbot stocked the barn with cattle,” Shelia said.

Her cattle? “Have you a knife?” she asked.

Sheila’s eyes widened. “Nay.”