Page 21 of Tempting the Highland Captive

CHAPTERTEN

Amelia slept restlessly, dreaming of the village fire. In her dreams, Rossell came riding through the flames and killed everyone. He saved her for last so that she might endure the terrible pain of watching everyone that she had ever loved die before her very eyes. She awoke with a start, tears rolling down her cheeks, breathing so hard in terror that she thought she might pass out. The darkness of the night closed in around her, only broken by the dull glow of embers in the fireplace. She searched the blackened shadowy corners of the room and found no signs of any life but her own frantically beating heart. It had not been real and yet it had felt as if her entire world had burned to ash at her feet.

Rising from her bed, she padded over to the washstand beside the door and splashed water on her face. She did not know the time but was certain that Ron had not returned from town yet. Most men she sent to town would stay the night not wanting to make the ride in the dark. Despite this, she walked across the corridor to his room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. Pushing the door open, she entered the room. It was dark, no fire having been lit as no one expected him to return so quickly. It would take time to gather supplies and bring them back safely. The thought occurred to her that she was invading his personal space, but as she was lairdess, this was her castle, and he was her husband, she justified her actions to herself as being within her wifely prerogative.

Crossing the room, she ran her fingers over the surface of the bed imagining his warm naked body lying there, muscles glowing in the moonlight from the open window. The image brought a delicious shiver up and down her spine. She had never seen a more beautiful man than he had been while bathing in the loch. She regretted not taking him up on his offer, but it was necessary if they wished to obtain an annulment. Lying down on the bed, she gazed out of the window at the moon and sent a prayer for his safe return. Without realizing it was even happening, Amelia drifted off to sleep, this time dreaming of her naked husband in the bath.

* * *

Ron rode carefully through the dark night back toward his wife’s castle. He had made quick work of finding everything on her list, and ordering what they did not have but could provide at a future date. He had seen the look of doubt in Amelia’s eyes when she had handed him the money and had wished to return to her as quickly as he possibly could to alleviate any of her fears about him as a man. The storekeeper had encouraged him to seek a room for the night and set out first thing in the morning, but Ron had refused. He knew it was a risk to travel through the highlands at night, but he had done it many times before and saw no reason to tarry. He did not wish for Amelia to worry any longer than she had to. She did not know him well enough to know his true character, but he was determined to convince her of his moral worth before he left for France. He wished for them to part on good terms. He was quickly growing to respect and care for her as a woman and a leader. He felt a brief pang at the thought of leaving her forever, but he pushed it aside. Their arrangement was quite clear. He was to go when the time came and never return. In the meantime, he planned to make himself as useful as possible.

To Ron’s surprise, he met Lucas in the woods as he crossed over onto the clan’s lands. “Lucas?” he greeted as the larger man stepped out from behind a tree, his large size and signature growl giving away his identity in the darkness.

“Convict,” Lucas growled back in return.

Ron laughed and dismounted to water his horse and let it take a moments rest. “What has ye all o’ the way out here? Did ye nae trust that I could find my way back home?”

Lucas snorted. “I would nae trust ye tae find yer way out o’ the great hall by yerself, but ye are nae the reason I am here.”

Ron’s ears perked up at this and the hairs on the back of his neck stirred restlessly as his skin prickled. “Is this about the fire or has something more happened?”

“Rossell returned and threatened My Lady. I followed him this far afore I lost him in the darkness.”

Ron’s anger boiled forth at the older man’s news. “Threatened her how?”

“With rape,” Lucas spit out this last part with the disgusted contempt that it deserved. “Forced marriage.”

Ron gripped his sword hilt and stepped menacingly forward. “How is he nae dead?” He could not imagine any circumstance in which Lucas would have let such a threat pass without retribution.

“He would be, but My Lady commanded otherwise.”

Even in the dark Ron could tell that the man was greatly displeased with having to obey such orders. It took all of Ron’s self-control not to turn around and slaughter Rossell in his bed. “She is kind tae a fault,” Ron murmured, gripping his sword hilt so hard he could hear his knuckles popping. “Did he harm her in any way?”

“Nae.” Lucas shook his head, a quick motion in the shadows. “I arrived just in time tae keep him from actin’ on his threats. I have instructed the men tae keep a watch on her, while I keep a watch on Rossell.”

“Aye.” Ron nodded, loosening his grip before he broke either his sword or his hand from the ferocity of it.

“We did nae expect ye tae return this night,” Lucas informed him in such a tone as to say that he had not been certain that he would return ever.

“I did nae wish for Amelia tae fash,” he explained, not angry at the other man for thinking as he did. He understood. Were he in Lucas’ shoes, he would have doubted a prisoner such as himself as well.

Lucas nodded. “That is good. I could use a warrior such as yerself when it comes time tae face Rossell. I have nae doubt in my mind that I will see him dead at the end o’ my sword afore tae much time has passed.”

Ron smiled grimly in the darkness. He did not doubt the man for a moment. “If only I had finished the job the first time,” he murmured regretfully.

“Aye,” Lucas agreed. “It would have saved us all a great deal o’ trouble.”

Ron nodded in agreement, then mounted his horse once more. “I will nae make the same mistake a second time.”

“See that ye dinnae.”

“I will look in on her upon my return.”

Lucas nodded, but said no more, waving him off toward the castle.

Ron rode through the night determined more than ever to get back to his wife. The thought of what she had endure without him there to protect her had caused a pit in his stomach that would not ease. Had anything happened to her while he was away, he would have never forgiven himself. He reached the castle at dawn, so tired he could have fallen asleep on his horse, but he managed to stay upright as he rode into the courtyard. Maggie came flying down the castle steps and grasped his arm, panic in her eyes. “We cannae find My Lady!”

Ron’s body sprang to life, every fiber of his being charged by fear and rage at the thought of Rossell having taken her. He bound up the stairs two at a time. Reaching the top and bursting into her room. He found no sign of her there. Her bed was cold, though it had been slept in at some point. “Where all have ye searched?” he asked Maggie who entered the room behind him.