“You did not slip into Rebbinglen’s chamber last night as I commanded you to do.” Her father turned from the fireplace and pinned her with a dark glower.
“It could not be helped,” she said. “Someone told me he slept in the barracks with the rest of the men.”
“Aye, and why did he choose to do that?” her father asked, suspicion written on his face.
“I know not. I haven’t talked to him.”
“I’ll tell you why. Because you warned him of my plans!” His yell echoed off the stone walls.
Staring past her father’s shoulder toward the gray light at the window, Seona remained silent. Of course, she’d known he would figure it out. Her father was not only vicious but also canny.
“Did you not?” he asked.
“Nay.”
“You are lying again!”
She didn’t respond, simply stared past him. She didn’t care what he thought of her. If he came toward her, she’d flee out the door. If he caught her… she didn’t know. Could she stab her own father?
“Well then, you leave me no choice. You’ll marry Wentworth the day after tomorrow. I’ll talk to him and arrange everything.” His voice hardened. “And you’ll willingly marry him or you’ll find yourself far more bruised and battered than Talia was.”
Day after tomorrow? Mo creach! She had to find a way to escape her father’s plans.
“Next week, Talia will marry the Comyn chief,” he said. “That has already been arranged.”
“Does she know when she is to be married?”
“Aye. She also knows I will do her grievous harm if she doesn’t sweetly go along with the marriage.”
Seona gritted her teeth. Damn the man.
“I want you both married and gone from here!”
She would love to be gone from here, but she would not marry the man her father chose for her.
***
That evening after supper, Chief Murray waited in his solar for one of the chambermaids to bring Talia to him. He needed to see if her face was healed so that he might present her to Rebbinglen. If the earl took a fancy to her, mayhap a match could be made. Aye, Murray had already signed a contract with the Comyn chief, but he would come up with a good excuse… the earl compromised her or… stole her away. Out of his control. Besides, who would nay-say an earl?
Talia entered, but remained by the door. His guard outside closed the door back. In the dimness, Murray couldn’t see the tone of her skin.
“Come closer, lass.”
She inched forward timidly, but her dark, arrow-sharp gaze met his. Aye, she was rebellious, but also brave. He was proud to see she took after him in looks and temperament. Damn, why couldn’t she have been a lad? ’Twas the greatest disappointment of his life.
Perhaps her future son might also resemble him. And if the boy was sired by an earl, he’d be a powerful man one day.
Talia paused several feet away.
“Closer,” he commanded.
She took a couple more steps. “What is it you want, Father?” Her tone was submissive and he was glad for it.
“To see how your face looks. The bruise is gone, aye?”
“Aye.”
“I’m glad. Do not defy me again and you’ll not receive another one.”
Her eyes narrowed threateningly, and he wanted to snort with wry amusement.
“I’ll leave your door unlocked if you promise to conduct yourself as a biddable lady. I’ll not have you throwing tantrums like a maddening bairn.”
She stared at the floor. “I promise.”
“You’ll marry the Comyn chief next week… unless you can somehow convince the Earl of Rebbinglen to marry you.”
She frowned, her confused but wary gaze on him again.
“I will introduce you to him in the morn,” Murray said.
“Very well.” She clasped her hands before her demurely.
“Off with you, then.”
He was glad to see she quickly vacated the room instead of arguing, as she had done the last time. Aye, ’haps Rebbinglen would find her lovely and lose his head over her. Murray grinned.
***
Just before dark, Haldane and his men lurked outside the walls of Gillenmor Castle. He had lost several men in that last skirmish, but had enough left to get the job done. He’d hired over a dozen in Inverness days ago.
The MacKays had to leave the castle eventually, heading back home, and he intended to kill Keegan and any other MacKay he could. The fewer of them left, the fewer he’d have to fight in Durness. Seona would be the ultimate prize, of course, but he doubted she’d leave the walls anytime soon.
Moments later, his attention riveted on a lass of about Seona’s height, slipping out the postern gate. “It can’t be,” he whispered. She was covered head to toe in a dull plaid arisaid, keeping her identity a secret. She had to be a maid or someone of no importance. Didn’t she?
Haldane crept through the bushes as silently as possible, the brisk wind helping to conceal his movements. Transfixed, he knelt and watched her in the low light where gloaming meets darkness. The lass moved exactly like Seona. And he should know; he’d watched her often enough back at Dunnakeil last autumn.
When the lass hiked her skirts off her shoes and sprinted toward the village, he tore out after her. He easily caught up and grabbed her around the waist from behind. He covered her mouth with his hand to muffle her screams. He couldn’t let her alert the guards. Glimpsing part of her face in the faint glow of the distant torches, he saw that ’twas indeed Lady Seona. Why on earth was she fleeing?
She kicked her heels against his shins. Her sharp elbows drove into his stomach and ribs. Damnation, what a hellcat. No wonder he loved her. He smiled.
“Come on,” he growled low to McMurdo as he rushed past where he was stationed. “I’ve got her. Let’s go.”
McMurdo and the other men raced after him to the edge of the wood where they’d left their mounts.
“Get something to tie her hands and feet,” Haldane said. “A gag, too.”
Once they had her bound so she couldn’t escape or scream, he climbed onto his horse. “Lift her up to me.”
McMurdo and one of the new men named Edgings put her across Haldane’s lap. Her light weight felt good there, but he had no time for carnal thoughts. He had to get the hell out of here before anyone realized she was missing.
Though he was eager to leave posthaste, they walked their horses silently a few hundred yards, then picked up the pace, their horses galloping toward the shore. ’Twas time to head for Durness.
***
A soft knock sounded at Seona’s bedchamber door. She sat bolt upright in bed. Though ’twas the middle of the night, she had not slept, trying to determine a way out of this trap. Could Keegan have slipped along the corridors of the castle to visit her? She had not seen him all day. Her heart thumped in her ears, with both excitement and fear for his safety.
After belting the arisaid around herself over her smock, she moved close to the door. “Who’s there?”
“Abigail, m’lady.”
One of the chambermaids? What could she want? Although a bit disappointed, Seona was glad Keegan had not risked his life to come to her bedchamber. She opened the door to find a flaxen-haired woman of about her own age standing outside, holding a candle.
“Aye?”
Abigail stepped into the room and closed the door. “Laird Rebbinglen sent me,” she whispered, then pulled a folded paper from the pouch at her waist.
A missive? What on earth? Seona broke the wax seal and unfolded the paper.
It is time for us to make our escape. Bring a change of clothing.
It was signed with a K.
Saints! Dare she run away with Keegan now? Right under her father’s nose? ’Twould put both their lives in danger, for her father would send his men after them.
But maybe they could hide somewhere far from here. Life on the run with Keegan would be better than any sort of life without him. ’Twas a great risk, but this might be her only opportunity.