Page 9 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

He must have heard us talking!

Scarlett moved to the back of the bar and flung open a cupboard door.

“Ye wish tae put me in there?” Eloise asked, skidding to a halt. “But it’s covered in cobwebs, and I…” She said nothing more, but looked at her fine clothes.

“It’s only a few webs. Ye’ll be fine.” Scarlett knew there was no further time to discuss the situation. She took Eloise by the arm and pushed her into the cupboard. A small squeal escaped her, and then all fell quiet as Scarlett shut the door.

Darting across the room, she snatched up a whisky glass and returned it to the bar just as the door to the tavern opened. Pretending disinterest, she shot a vague glance at Athol’s way.

He leaned on the door frame, drunk; his shirt half undone as he stared at her, bleary-eyed.

“I thought I heard noises. Why have ye nae gone to bed yet, Scarlett?”

“My mind cannae settle. I was having a drink to calm myself.” She lazily gestured toward the remaining glass on the table. “I shall sleep soon.”

“Hmm.” Athol didn’t question her story, though his eyes darted around the tavern restlessly.

Nervous that he would stay to investigate further, she sought to drive him away.

My sister is here… I have a family! I willnae waste my time dealing with Athol any longer than I have tae.

“Is yer courtesan nae missing ye?” she asked, concentrating on cleaning the glass. “I would have thought she would wish tae get as much money out of ye as possible.”

“One of these days ye will learn tae curb yer tongue, lass,” Athol warned, his gaze narrowing. “I will make ye.”

“How will ye?” Scarlett asked. “Ye and I both ken I willnae let ye hit me again.”

Athol hovered in the doorway. When his hand balled into a fist at his side, Scarlett laid her palm to the dagger at her hip, making her threat plain.

“Ye have spirit in ye. ‘Tis fire, I’ll say that.” He scoffed at the idea and turned on his heel. “Someday, a man will put out that fire, and ye’ll learn what obedience means.”

“I cannae think of anything worse,” she murmured so quietly that he never heard her.

“Hurry up with yer duties and get tae bed,” he snapped before closing the door behind him. His feet went up the stairs, making each step creak beneath his heavy weight. When a door closed and muffled voices followed, Scarlett knew he had returned to the attention of his courtesan. The woman would happily attend to him all night, just to get the cash she wanted.

How she can bear it I dinnae ken.

Pushing the glass away, Scarlett returned to the cupboard and flung open the door to find Eloise inside waving her arms maniacally, her face bright red as she tried to bat away the cobwebs.

“What is wrong?”

“There’s a spider in my hair!”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Calm yerself, have nae fear.” Scarlett laughed as she reached for the spider in her Eloise’s hair. Eloise wriggled past her, shaking off the cobwebs. She returned the small creature outside before assisting her sister in removing the remaining webs. “There, yer as good as new.”

“Thank ye,” Eloise worked to calm herself after her brief ordeal.

Scarlett helped her return to her seat, then sat opposite her, thinking about the night’s events.

“Ye spoke of a brother?” she murmured. “Is it true?”

“Aye.” Eloise’s smile didn’t last. “Avery. The best of brothers.” She moved her elbows to the table, leaning toward Scarlett as she spoke. “He left home years ago after an argument with our father. He was always so kind and protective, when out of nowhere… he left.” She swallowed, pained as she wrung her hands together. “When our mother died, she asked two things of me. First, she told me of ye.” The smile suddenly appeared, then tempered once again. “She asked me tae find ye, and tae find Avery too. Tae bring him home, and ye as well.”

“That is a big task.” Scarlett sat back in her chair, stunned. Eloise didn’t look much suited to trekking through the highlands on a hunt. She was dressed well, expensively so, and a wee spider in her hair had almost undone her. “It speaks of the strength in yer heart tae look for us both.”

“I am determined tae keep my promise,” Eloise spoke with feeling, sighing. “I have found ye, thank heavens.” She reached her hand across the table tentatively, and Scarlett didn’t hesitate to grasp it tightly, her heart full.