Page 6 of The Highlander’s Dangerous Desire

The only option left was a risky one, but she would take it if it meant she would see Niamh.

But do I really know that he is a messenger from Niamh? The letter… it is so unlike her…

Grace shook the thought away. The message about the ‘list of sins’ could only have come from Niamh. No one else knew about the secret game they’d played ever since they’d become young women.

“If I cannot be kidnapped, and we cannot arrange a meeting, there is only one other option for it. I shall have to run away, and do it in such a manner that my uncle shall not suspect where I am going. And you shall have to help me.”

“Shall I?” One dark eyebrow rose.

“Yes. I can write a letter to make Uncle William think I have gone to visit my father’s old holdings close to London, which will buy us time, but the ruse will not confuse him for long. I shall need your assistance to make it far enough beyond the border that he will not pursue without being certain of my location, or my destination.”

“I can manage that well enough.” Sharp green eyes studied her. “If ye dinnae think ye can get one o’ yer own, we can share a horse.”

Irritation sparked through her. “I can ride well enough to manage a gallop, thank you. And I can take a horse of me own. I can say I will go for a ride on the grounds of the estate, where I am protected. And it will certainly make my story more credible, once Uncle William finds my message.”

“As ye like.” There was a glimmer of amusement in his otherwise dour countenance. She would have taken offense, had it not been for the situation. “How dae ye intend tae get past the guards?”

Grace scoffed. “I have my ways. It will be harder, however, when I must also carry luggage. I shall need your help for that. And possibly, for a diversion on the way out.”

Niamh’s messenger shook his head. “We’re lookin’ for a way tae avoid me gettin’ an arrow or a blade tae the gut, nae tae make it more likely tae happen.”

Grace scowled at him. “What might you suggest, in that case?”

The Scotsman - Ewan, Grace reminded herself, as she was to plan her escape with him - frowned, but it was less angry and more thoughtful. “Can ye get out o’ here easily?” He gestured to the walls surrounding them.

Grace considered the question. “My chambers have windows, and they do open. It would not be too difficult to leave from there. But I would have some trouble with my luggage.”

The man nodded. “I can help ye with that. If ye can organize for the horse and get outside, I can get the bag and get ye away without much trouble.”

It wasn’t the way she would have preferred to do things, but then, there was no ideal scenario in which Uncle William would let her go visit Niamh and her husband. Especially not in the company of a Highlander. “Very well. I shall be ready within the candlemark. I will meet ye in the forest on the road for the village. I will send a trusted servant girl down with a bag for you shortly. Wait down there by the bushes.”

He glanced at the guards. They weren’t where they could overhear the conversation He nodded. “Very well. I’ll see ye later. I will wait where you said so I can help with yer things.”

Grace smiled. It wasn’t the most ideal of circumstances, but she would finally get to see Niamh again.

Ewan glared at bushes in front of him and suppressed a snarl of frustration. He’d hoped to start the return journey with less risk and now he was was waiting for the bag to before going back to his horse.

The servant girl still hadn’t appeared,. It made him wonder if Grace was truly planning to go with him, or if it was some plot to see him captured. He’d most likely be killed if that was the case.

He was just considering whether it was worth the risk of remaining where he was when a girl appeared with a bag. “What the devil…?”

“My apologies. It was hard to find the right moment to get here without being seen, sir.”

“Aye. I’m certain. Forgive me, I was just startled,” Ewan tried to moderate his tone. It was not the girl’s fault after all, he was just tense and would remain so until they got out of there.

He was acutely aware that he was standing in enemy territory, and in a position where the wrong move would see him dead.

Hurry up, lass. I dinnae want tae be caught for thievin’, and nae one will ask twice if they catch me.”

Ewan huffed and shuffled the bag into the deeper shadows of the forest where he wouldn’t be easily seen. Then he settled himself and relaxed into the stillness he most often adopted when on long watches.

All this trouble with one lass… I dinnae think I’ve ever spent so much effort convincin’ a woman tae come with me.

Grace surveyed her rooms carefully. Everything was meticulously in place, neat and tidy, the way her uncle liked it. On her desk was a carefully written letter, which she hoped would keep her uncle from raising an outcry. Nervously, she read it once more, looking for any details which might cause her uncle’s wrath to erupt.

Dear Uncle William,

Forgive me for leaving without informing you beforehand, but news has reached me that my good friend, Niamh, is in need of my assistance. She is with child, and requested I come to be with her.