Page 14 of Seduction in a Kilt

CHAPTER FIVE

Ivy was having the worst time of her life ever locked in the cell. At first, she had not really believed the men were serious about putting her in there and leaving her alone. Such cruelty did not fit well with what she knew, at least of Liam’s personality. He had even apologized for fighting with her, for goodness’ sake!

She had then been horrified by the sickening stench and sight of the dungeons, but she thought they must have been bluffing. She believed they were only trying to scare her into talking and were not about to lock her up down there.

So, when the laird pushed her inside the cell and slammed the door, telling her she could stay there until she decided to talk, she was truly terrified about what was going to happen to her. Her pride would not allow her to scream and beg as she wanted to though, so she bit her tongue.

As she looked around the dank, dripping walls and breathed in the stench, panic ran through her like wildfire. Fearful stories about the fates of prisoners filled her mind. She had heard of people being eaten alive by rats in such circumstances. As soon as the two men left, after a lengthy whispered conversation, she could hear the creatures scuttling about nearby, sending her to new heights of fear.

The time after them leaving her in the dank, gloomy cell, its accompanying foul odor permeating her nostrils, the sound of water steadily dripping, and the whimpers and groans coming from the other cells, was the worst of her life. She clutched her blanket around her, shivering in the gloom, afraid to sit down on the filthy straw for fear the rats would bite her.

Sometime later—she had no way of knowing how long—when she heard the main door swing open on creaking hinges, her fear reached its peak and stole her breath. What if they are coming tae torture me?

The door to her cell opened, and to her surprise and relief, two servants entered, one carrying a lantern that shed warm light on the horrible surroundings, and a pile of blankets. He looked around for a dry patch of floor and set the blankets down. The other man had a tray of food and a jug of something to drink. He handed it to her directly and said simply, “So the rats dinnae get it.”

“Thank ye,” she murmured as they went to leave, but before he shut the door on her again, the elder of the pair looked back at her.

“That’s by the orders of the laird,” he said, jerking his bristly chin at the items they had brought. “’Tis a damn sight more than other prisoners get.” Then the door slammed shut behind him, leaving her alone once more.

She despised herself for feeling grateful to her captors for this unexpected burst of concern for her welfare. But the lantern light was a Godsend, largely banishing the threatening shadows of before.

Rats dinnae like the light, she told herself, feeling marginally more confident they would not come and try to eat her. Trying to distract herself from her fears, she laid a blanket on the floor over the straw, wrapped herself in the rest, sat down, and forced herself to eat some of the bread, cheese, dried meat, and berries from the tray. It was her first food of the day, and she was starving. If I’m tae get out of this mess, I’ll need all the strength I can get.

The jug contained beer mixed with water, and it soothed her dry throat as she drank it.

By the time she had finished the food, her fear had abated somewhat. Warm and with a full belly, she settled down as best she could in her blankets, tried to shut out the other disturbing noises going on around her, and prayed silently that they would come to let her out soon.

But what good will it dae? They still believe I’m a spy fer Carson, and they’re nae gonnae give up questioning me. But if I tell them the truth about who I am, with Carson already threatening the Laird Stewart and his clan, they’ll likely send me straight back tae him.

He’ll find some way tae punish me for running and then force me tae marry Gael. I’d rather die than havetae lie with that vile creature. I’m caught in a trap, and I cannae think of a way tae get out of it, unless I can convince Liam and the laird tae believe me and let me go.

But the more she thought about it, the more unlikely it seemed, and the lower her spirits sank. The only thing she could hang on to as she fell into a fitful doze in the flickering lantern light was her trust in Liam, that he would not allow her to be hurt.

Liam and Knox were walking back to the laird’s study after dinner.

“She’s been down there two and half hours, Knox,” Liam said as they entered it. “That should be long enough tae scare her intae talkin’, if yer plan works, that is.”

“Aye, I ken. I could tell she was on yer mind all through dinner,” Knox replied. “Ye’re nae goin’ soft on me, are ye, Liam, just because she’s a lassie?” he asked with an uneasy laugh.

“Am I so easy tae read?”

“Aye, ye are.”

“I just dinnae like the thought of her bein’ down there when we dinnae even ken if she’s any threat tae us at all.”

“Remember the ring, me friend. If she can give a satisfactory explanation as tae why she has it, then I’ll be more inclined tae believe her. Until then, I have nae choice but tae regard her as a threat tae me security.”

“Aye, I ken.”

They went into the study and sat down to discuss what tack to take with Amy when they questioned her and what they should do to keep her secure, since neither of them was happy with keeping her in the dungeons. They had been talking for about fifteen minutes or so when Knox’s advisor Magnus tapped at the door and poked his head around the corner.

“Magnus, what is it?” Knox said, beckoning in his trusted friend. Liam had met him earlier. He was an impressive figure, about the same age as Knox, with long brown locks down to his shoulders, and watchful green eyes. His general demeanor struck Liam as serious, but he warmed up around Knox, and it was obvious to Liam that the two men had a deep friendship.

“We have a visitor askin’ tae see ye, Knox,” Magnus said in his gruff voice.

“A visitor? At this hour?” Knox exchanged a wondering glance with Liam. “Who is it, and what dae they want?”

“He willnae say, but he’s requestin’ an audience with ye on a matter of urgency,” Magnus explained.