Page 81 of Seduction in a Kilt

“If they left over an hour ago, there’s nae much chance of that, me friend,” Knox told him as they hurried over to their horses. “But we can try.”

Within minutes, he and Liam were astride their horses, at the head of around fifteen guards, all of them galloping out toward the woods, to search the route they had taken earlier. The eerie red light of the blood moon surrounded them, a harbinger of disaster to come, Liam was certain.

When they reached the tree line, Knox halted the party and split the men into pairs and threes. “Search the whole area, look fer any signs of Lady Ivy. Report back tae us at once if ye find anythin’.” He looked at Liam. “We’ll take the main track toward the crossroads.”

They rode into the woods and split up. Liam and Knox took the main track, following it until they came to the place where it split into two. Liam slid from his saddle and began examining the ground for signs of recent passing. Knox did the same. “There are nae fresh hoof marks this way,” he called out to Liam.

Liam was crouched down, searching the ground near the other trackway, the one bearing to the left. Suddenly, he saw a series of hoof marks that appeared much fresher than the others. “If ’tis them, then they went this way,” he said. Knox brought the horses over and waited as Liam continued following the tracks. They walked slowly along the left-hand track, looking for breaks in the surrounding foliage.

As Liam looked ahead down the path, he saw something on the ground that glinted unnaturally in the strange red moonlight. When he saw what it was, his heart stopped. He picked it up and stared at it. “’Tis Ivy’s ring,” he said, fresh terror washing through him. “She must have left it fer us tae find.”

Knox came to look. “The ring with the McAlister seal on it. Maybe she’s tryin’ tae tell us that’s where she’s bein’ taken, tae her braither’s castle.”

“I’m goin’ after them,” Liam declared at once, going to mount this horse. But Knox stopped him, laying a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“Nay, Liam, there’s nae point in tryin’ tae save her alone. Ye’ll only get yersel’ killed, and then she’ll be forced tae wed Gael anyway. Ye dinnae want that, eh? We need tae go back tae the castle and plan a rescue mission properly. ’Tis time tae put all that trainin’ ye’ve been doin’ with the men tae good use. This is our chance tae save Ivy and end this feud fer good. We’ll ride out as soon as we can, I promise ye.”

Liam hated the thought of having to wait to rescue Ivy, but at the same time, he knew Knox was right. Without a sufficient force, it would be suicide to try to get her back on his own. He would likely end up dead.

“All right,” he agreed reluctantly.

“Good. Let’s go then,” Knox said. They remounted and turned their horses back the way they had come, summoning the searching men as they went, and then heading home at a gallop to call off the search and plan their mission.

Ivy lay bound hand and foot on the bed in her old chambers, fearful about what Carson had planned for her, while also silently berating herself for getting herself in such a situation. She thought of Evander’s betrayal and hot fury boiled up inside her. How could I have been such a trustin’ fool? Liam was right all along! I should have trusted him instead! If Liam daesnae find me ring and work out what’s happened tae me in time, if he cannae convince Knox tae help him save me, then I’ll be wed tae Gael fer sure this time.

She struggled against her bonds but they were simply too tight for her to loosen them even a little. Suddenly, she heard heavy steps coming along the hallway outside her door. Recognizing them instantly, she froze.

The door opened, and her brother came in. He looked bigger and more fearsome than ever. He came and loomed over her with an intimidating grin on his dark features, but she refused to let him see how scared she was.

“Look what the cat’s dragged in,” she said scathingly, staring up at him with all the hate she could muster. She noticed her was carrying a dress over his arm, a gaudy pink gown with lots of frills.

“I see ye’ve nae lost yer usual sharp tongue, sister dear. But remember, I’m the cat, and ye’re the mouse in this game,” Carson replied in a deep, harsh voice. Its threatening edge sent chills up her spine.

“Damn ye, Carson, I hope ye rot in hell fer this,” she spat.

“Maybe, I will.” He shrugged. “More likely I’ll just get richer and more powerful after ye’ve married Gael. After that, our forces will unite, and we’ll hit yer friend Stewart with enough force tae wipe him out, along with this other feller ye’ve taken a shine too. What’s his name, Liam MacTavish, is it?”

She said nothing, refusing to implicate Liam lest he become more of a target.

“Aye, I ken all about him, ye wee hussy. I’m gonnae enjoy killin’ him in front of ye. By the way, ye’d best still be a maid, or it’ll be the worse fer ye when Gael finds out,” Carson warned her. “He’ll nae be happy if he’s nae the first. In fact, ye’ll probably nae survive yer weddin’ night.” He laughed hollowly. “I cannae see what he sees in ye, weak and skinny as ye are. Ye’re nae a proper woman, we both ken that.”

Ivy remained silent, gripped by fear. She knew that once she was officially Gael’s wife, he could do anything to her that he wished. And if he found out she was no longer a virgin, she imagined he would likely kill her for it.

“Speakin’ of weddin’s,” Carson went on sarcastically, “I ken how excited ye must be about yer own. I’ve brought ye a wee gift.” He flung the gown at her. “There’s yer weddin’ dress.”

She flinched when he reached for his dirk, but then she realized he was going to cut the ropes binding her and lay still and let him do it.

As soon as she was free, she flew at his face, scratching and kicking and punching him. He grabbed her flailing wrists and held them above her head, laughing as she struggled to kick him. “I ken the truth about ye now, Carson. Evander told me everythin’ about how ye plotted tae murder Ma and Da. Ye evil bastard. What sort of a monster daes somethin’ like that?” she spat at him, fuming.

“Ach, spare me. They were old and useless. Faither was nae makin’ the right decisions fer the clan. I kent I could dae better. They had tae go. I had tae let ye live, because I kent ye’d come in useful in the end. Ye owe me after all the trouble ye’ve given me,” he told her menacingly, tightening his hold on her wrists. She winced with pain.

“I’ll make sure ye dinnae get away with it, ye murderer,” she hissed. “I’ll make sure ye get what ye deserve.”

He suddenly let go of her, and she dropped to the floor, banging her knees painfully.

He laughed. “Ye and whose army? Ye still have delusions about bein ’a warrior, I see. Gael will soon knock that out of ye.”

“I’ll never wed him, whatever ye dae tae me!”

“Dinnae try me patience any longer, ye wee whore. Ye have an hour tae get intae that dress and get ready before the ceremony starts in the great hall. I’ll send someone tae fetch ye, and dinnae even think of trying tae escape. The punishment will be severe, and it’ll be a waste of time. There’s guards stationed everywhere.” He left the chamber, locking the door behind him.

Ivy knew there was no other way out of the chamber. She was high up on the third floor of the tower. She pulled herself up from the floor and went to sit on the bed. She rubbed her knees then looked at the dress with disgust.

“I swear, I’m never puttin’ that thing on, and I’m never gonnae wed Gael Hamilton,” she told the walls. But she knew she would be fetched at the appointed time and taken down to the hall for the ceremony, just as Carson had told her. “I’ll fight tae the death if I havetae.”

In fact, a plan was already forming in her mind, a way to show Carson, Gael, and everyone else she was no pathetic victim to be used and abused by them. She was a warrior, proud to stand up for herself and fight for the people of her clan, to free them all from the heavy yoke they had to bear under Carson’s corrupt rule.

She went over to her wardrobe and opened it at the section where she had always stored her fighting gear. Hurriedly, she began to put it on, intending to make a fine show when she presented herself for her wedding in an hour’s time. She was ready at last to embrace who she really was, not simply a pawn in her brother’s games, but a force to be reckoned with. The only thing she lacked was her sword.