Page 429 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“He is not here,” she whispered.

He approached the wagon, face grim.

“Something is amiss,” Aurari said. “Need we fear?”

Victoria placed a hand over hers. “Nay, ’tis Thomas. He will protect you even as my lord would.” “I am sorry, mistress,” Aurari said.

Victoria ignored the pain the understanding in Aurari’s voice called forth as her attention remained on Thomas. His eyes never wavered as he passed through the crowd, coming to a halt in front of her. He lifted Victoria from her seat on the wagon and, to her great surprise, clasped her hand to his lips and fell to one knee at her feet.

“We had given you up for dead,” he murmured the words against her hand.

“Dead?” she repeated. Victoria pulled at his hand in an effort to force him to his feet, but he paid her no heed. “Thomas,” she whispered, keeping the trembling in her body from her voice, “I am well.”

He looked up at her. She gave him a reassuring smile and he rose.

Victoria laid a hand on his arm. “Where is my lord? The rescue attempt, it was…not successful?” She gripped his arm as her knees buckled.

Thomas grabbed her around the waist. “Take heart, your husband is in the north, scouring

Robertson and Menzies territory for you.”

Panic shot to the surface. “Robertson?” “My lady.” Thomas steadied her. “Are you ill?” Victoria shook her head.

“Courage,” he said. “You have come so far.”

“Please, Thomas,” she said, choking inwardly at the thought of the word courage being associated with the emotions that swept through her, “may we go inside?”

He began leading her through the Gypsy’s ranks, and Victoria asked, “He is well?” The hesitation in his eyes frightened her. “Do not spare me. Quickly, what is it?”

“He has all but given you up for dead. Indeed, I, too, thought you were gone. Though he searches day and night, I know he fears the worst.”

Victoria’s knees weakened. He fears for you. The thought rang through her mind and a cloud seemed to envelope her. Dim awareness of a shout from Thomas and movement when MacPherson men began to surround the Gypsies drew Victoria’s attention.

“Nay—nay! You shall not touch them!” She ran to where the Gypsies stood, positioning herself between them and the men who now clearly reveled in the possibility that their thirst for Gypsy blood might yet be slaked.

“They are friends.” Victoria said, looking around at the men, her gaze settling on Thomas. “No one lays a hand on them. They are under my protection—and my lord’s.”

Thomas cast a critical gaze on the Gypsies. “I assume there is sufficient reason for this promise?”

“Aye,” she answered. “They saved my life.”

* * *

The evening meal would have been the most joyful of her life if not for the empty chair to her right. Victoria looked at Thomas and wasn’t surprised to discover his gaze on Aurari’s face. The man’s attention hadn’t wavered from her since introductions had been made. Even Katherine was subdued, her head bowed as if to avoid Victoria’s gaze from across the table.

“There is no safer place you can be, Aurari,”

Victoria had assured her when Evan protested against Aurari lodging the night within the castle walls. “Is there, Thomas?”

“Aye.” He stepped forward and raised Aurari’s hand to his lips. “I will guard her door myself.”

The look on Evan’s face at that pronouncement read so plain, Victoria had laughed. “Rest easy, Evan.” She laid a hand on his arm. “The door is barred from within.”

Amusement faded as another memory imposed

itself on the recollection. “I must go to him,” she had told Thomas a few short hours ago.

“Iain could be anywhere, my lady. I can imagine his anger were he to return and find you gone in search of him.”