Page 320 of Wicked Highland Heroes

He threw his head back in a hearty laugh. “Come, my lady.” He slipped a hand under her arm, moving her in the direction of the castle. When they reached the kitchen door, he bowed again. “Thomas

MacPherson, at your service.”

Victoria smiled. She had been right. He was a handsome devil. Almost as tall as Iain MacPherson with similar dark hair, but his eyes were a deep green instead of the brown ones belonging to the devil who was her captor.

A ruckus in the vicinity of the gate caught her attention and she turned along with Thomas. A dozen men were entering the front gate. Victoria noticed a slight difference in the green of their tartans.

Thomas must have caught the question on her face, for he said, “They are the Hyram MacPhersons. Soltion Castle is little more than an hour’s ride to the north.”

Victoria glanced at him. “There is another castle close by?”

He nodded. “There is a village forty-five minutes northwest, and Dawilneh is the closest, only twenty minutes to the north. You thought we alone occupied the land?”

“I—I had not thought of it.”

“Twenty minutes alone in these hills is a lifetime,” he remarked.

“With all these MacPhersons running about, how dangerous could it be?”

A smile curved his full mouth. “Ahh, but not all of them are Iain MacPherson.”

She snorted. “Aye, well, one must take what one can get.”

“You would prefer a Fraser?”

Her blood chilled. “I would guess not all Frasers are the same, either.”

“Just as all MacPhersons are not the same.”

“If that is intended to discourage me, your efforts are wasted.”

“There are MacPhersons who would not hesitate to act just as the Frasers did. Though Iain would not let such actions go unanswered.”

Victoria gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “So, the MacPherson lord will not tolerate rape, but has no qualms about holding a woman against her will until she consents?”

“Aye,” he agreed with obvious amusement. “There is a world of difference.” His expression sobered. “A difference you have already learned firsthand.” Giving her a push in the direction of the door, he turned.

Her name, as if whispered on the wind, met Victoria’s ears. She whirled, nearly colliding with a tall warrior. She fell back in unison with his sidestep, and he shot her a frustrated look. Another man following close behind said something low in Gaelic.

They passed from view, and she saw Thomas striding toward the well. As if sensing her scrutiny, Thomas looked over his shoulder. Their eyes met and she searched his face, but found nothing to indicate he had just called to her. With a polite nod, she turned and entered the kitchen.

Victoria halted inside the door. Preparations for the day’s meals were in full swing and the bustle made the courtyard seem almost deserted.

“Come in, lass.” Maude said.

Victoria hesitated and the housekeeper patted the chair beside hers with a flour-covered hand. The women made no effort to hide their interest as she crossed the room, and Victoria realized she’d been right; her story was already common knowledge.

“I’ve been thinking,” Maude said once Victoria seated herself.

Victoria glanced at the bread the housekeeper pounded on the table and nodded a thank you to the young girl who set a cup of tea in front of her. “What about?” Victoria lifted her cup and blew across the top of the steaming liquid.

“The lasses and I think you ought to tell us your name.” Victoria started to respond, but Maude cut her off. “You need not worry, we will not tell Iain. In fact, we think that is the best part.”

Victoria looked over her cup at Maude. “What do you mean?” She sipped the tea.

“We find it interesting that you do not want to tell him your name.”

“I explained last night.”