Page 51 of The Highlander Is All That

“Where do you think you’re going?” Hamish called after him.

“I’m going to rescue my woman.”

“Not without us,” Ranald growled.

Duncan sighed. “I appreciate your assistance, but you have a job to do here. What would the duke say if you abandoned his cousins?”

“They can eschew the season until we return,” Ranald insisted.

“They are women,” Duncan reminded him. “They willna want to eschew anything.”

“They are also Catherine’s friends,” Hamish said. “They will want her safe. They will understand.”

“Quite right.” Ranald nodded. “Now, let’s prepare for the flight north. We have a carriage to catch.”

Indeed, Esmeralda and the girls were more than understanding. Anne and Elizabeth even wanted to come along, but Ranald convinced them to stay. It was essential they hold up the fiction that Catherine was still at Sinclair House, should any gossip come sniffing around.

But hell, it was hard saying goodbye, not knowing how long he would be gone. It was hard saying goodbye in front of the entire household too, because there was no opportunity to pull Elizabeth into his arms and kiss her once more.

It ate away at him that he had no right to do so.

Beyond that, there was Twiggenberry. The bastard. No doubt he would continue to woo Elizabeth, or whatever it was wealthy lords did to win their brides.

Again, Hamish had no right to care, which irritated him more than it should.

His apprehension, however, gave him wings. As he, Ranald, and Duncan Mackay pounded to the north, they made excellent time.

Unfortunately, they saw neither hide nor hair of Tiverton’s coach and stopping at each roadhouse to ask if anyone had seen them slowed them considerably, as did stopping for food and sleep.

Several days in, when they reached the road to Leeds, Hamish turned off and headed for Tiverton’s estate while Duncan and Ranald continued northward.

When he determined that the coach had not passed this way, he turned around and rode back to the King’s Road to follow his friends to Scotland.

And damn it. This would extend the journey.

It would be worth it if they found Catherine and brought her back safely, but a part of him hated being away from Elizabeth. It was like a hole in his soul.

Another part of him, the logical part, knew it was a good thing that he would be away a week or more. Elizabeth needed to think, very carefully, about her choices. Twiggenberry was of her class. He had a fortune and a title and he would be a good match for her.

Hopefully, while he was gone, she would see that.

Hopefully, she could forget him and her foolish obsession with him.

Although that thought did not make him feel hopeful in the least.

* * *

“You seem down.” Anne jumped as Elizabeth spoke behind her. She’d been so deep in thought, she hadn’t even heard her sister enter the conservatory. “I’m sure Catherine will be all right.”

Oh dear. Anne could hardly admit she hadn’t been thinking about Catherine at all. She’d been thinking about Ranald, and how much she missed him.

She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to rely on him, and in such a short time. How much she enjoyed their chats and his support.

“I’m sure they’ll find her in time,” she said.

“Of course they will.” Elizabeth assured her. “And if they don’t, I doubt it will make a whit of difference.”

Anne flicked a curious glance at her sister.