Page 13 of Seduction in a Kilt

Liam shrugged. “Back in the forest, she told me she was tryin’ tae steal me horse because she needed tae get as far and as fast away from her bridegroom as possible before he started searchin’ fer her. She seems genuinely terrified of him findin’ her. She said he’s a cruel man, and her life with him would be one of misery. That’s nae what I expect tae hear from a spy.”

Knox thought for a moment then nodded. “Aye, that’s true. I’ll bear in mind what ye say, Liam, because I trust yer judgement. But I cannae bring mesel’ tae believe she stole that ring she’s wearin’. That tells me she kens more that she’s lettin’ on, and I need tae find out what it is if I’m tae protect me people,” he argued softly.

“All right, I grant ye that,” Liam replied unhappily. “There’s somethin’ else too. Ye should have seen the look on her face when I mentioned Carson MacAlister. Ye could see she was terrified, but she tried tae hide it from me.”

“Aye, I noticed that last night when I saw the ring and accused her of bein’ a spy,” Knox said with a nod. “But I was in such a hurry tae get back here, I never gave it another thought. So, what d’ye make of it?”

“Well, we’ve asked her a hundred times about the ring, and she refuses tae say anythin’ other than she stole it. She claims nae tae be a spy for MacAlister, but she willnae tell us who this bridegroom is she claims tae be so scared of, so we cannae verify her story. Yet the mention of his name sparks somethin’ in her.”

“Ye think there’s more tae this than meets the eye?” Knox asked.

“Aye, I dae.” Liam nodded. “I think we may have accidentally stumbled on something involvin’ MacAlister that bears investigatin’. ’Tis just a hunch, but I cannae help thinkin’ there’s a bigger connection here than I first thought.”

Knox stepped out into the passageway. “Well, we can send some scouts out tae see what they can find out. But the quickest way to learn more is if she talks. I hate leavin’ her here as much as ye dae, but we need tae frighten her a wee bit if we’re tae loosen her tongue.”

“Can we leave a guard here so if she decides tae talk, he can let us ken immediately?” Liam asked, leaning on the doorjamb.

“Aye, that was me plan.”

“And can we get her some blankets and some food and drink?”

“Aye, I’ll see tae it when we get upstairs.”

“A lantern?”

Knox chuckled. “Aye, of course. It willnae hurt fer her tae ken we can be reasonable. I suggest we give it an hour or two for her tae change her mind. We can have dinner while we wait. Come on.” He jerked his head, and Liam at last stepped over the threshold, as satisfied as he could be in the circumstances about the necessity of leaving Amy down there.

After they retraced their steps back to the main hallway, Knox gave the orders to take the things they had decided upon down to the prisoner at once, commanding he be informed if she expressed a wish to speak.

Knox halted just inside the great hall upon their entrance and gestured around at the spectacular hall with a wave of his arm. Its massive double hearths were blazing, casting a warm glow over the bustling scene. The long tables were slowly filling up with castle folk, who made themselves comfortable on long wooden benches.

Around and above them, illuminated by the light of many candles, Liam spied the soaring walls crammed with colorful clan memorabilia, pennants, portraits of deceased family members, outdated weaponry, and other curiosities of all kinds.

“Welcome tae me humble abode, me friend,” Knox said, grinning.

Liam looked around him, taking in the impressive space. He smiled. The whole place had a welcoming feel, warm, bright, and bustling. It seemed to reflect Knox’s personality perfectly. He let out a low whistle of admiration. “Ye have a nice place here, Knox,” he told his friend, nodding his approval.

“Thank ye, I like tae think so,” the laird replied with a satisfied nod and a chuckle. “Come on, this way,” he added, leading Liam up the central aisle, between the rows of tables, to the laird’s table at the front of the enormous hall.

Dinner would have been enjoyable, if not for the fact that all Liam could see in his mind’s eye throughout the lavish meal was Amy. She was down there, alone, huddled in the cold on a bed of rotting straw, with rats scuttling about her.

He tried to hide his distress, putting on a friendly face for the many introductions that had to be made before dinner to Knox’s council and their families. He also met and talked with the military commanders he would be working with in designing and delivering the training Knox wished his army to have.

But always, at the back of his mind, the picture was there—her dark blue eyes pleading with him to let her go, the anguish painted on her beautiful face when she saw where she was to be locked up. He imagined her fear, down there, in the cold, dank bowels of the castle. He felt as if some giant fist had reached into his chest, gotten hold of his heart, and was squeezing it as though to stop it beating once and for all.

Scared stiff by this extreme reaction, he gave himself a mental shake. I’ve gottae pull mesel’ taegether. Knox is right, a scare might shake the truth out of her. ’Tis only fer an hour or two, and she’ll come tae nae real harm.

Even so, he had to fight the image of her suffering somewhere down beneath his feet.