Highland Storms (33 page)

‘
Thank you, it’s lovely. What is it made of?’

‘
It’s jade, a stone much valued by the Chinese. It can be quite fragile, but they manage to shape it into objects as big as bowls sometimes.’ He fastened the pendant around her neck and smiled again. ‘There, it suits you much better than it did me. I’ve no idea why she thought I’d want to wear a necklace.’

Marsaili returned his smile, but her gaze was still troubled. ‘Brice, I …’

He put his fingers up to cover her mouth. ‘No, don’t say anything more now. I want you to have time to think. But please believe me when I say I truly want you to be my wife.’

He knew he was taking a risk by allowing her time to mull it over. He could probably have persuaded her here and now if he’d pressed his point, not to mention reminded her of the possible consequences of their actions the previous day. She was an intelligent woman, however, and he trusted her to make the right decision. Just in case she needed swaying in his favour though, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her properly. She responded without thinking, which made him believe he’d almost won the battle.

Sometimes it paid not to charge in like a bull.

Marsaili didn’t know what to do. She allowed herself to enjoy Brice’s kiss for the moment, because she couldn’t think with him so close. It was easier just to feel and save any deliberations for later. Her need for him seemed mindless and it frightened her, but she couldn’t fight it, not right now. She would think about what he’d said, consider her answer. He was right though, she needed time and she appreciated him allowing her the freedom of choice.

Unlike some people.

Brice’s mouth moving over hers melted her bones, even more so now she knew exactly what these sensations led to. She leaned into him, wanting more, craving his touch. His strong arms crushed her to him and her breasts reacted to the contact between them. She shivered at the delicious pleasure even this small friction gave her, then wondered if she had lost all reason. Because she wanted him to take her, right here in full view of the house. She didn’t care if anyone saw them, didn’t give a damn about anything other than this urgent need for him.

She must be mad.

Liath broke the spell with a series of short, sharp barks, heralding danger. Dazed, Marsaili looked up and blinked to clear her vision. The next thing she knew, Brice had pulled her onto her feet and along the jetty. She stared towards the nearby forest and fear coagulated in her gut at the sight of six fierce-looking ruffians approaching. Dirty and unkempt, she at first took them for robbers of some kind, perhaps come to steal cattle. If so, they were in the wrong place though and she soon noticed they had their eyes fixed squarely on Brice. That didn’t make sense, unless he had some enemies she knew nothing about, but there was no time to think about it. He thrust her behind him and hissed, ‘Run, Marsaili, back to the house! Fetch Ramsay and Alex. Now!’

She obeyed without even hesitating for a second. She trusted him to hold these men at bay until he could get help and it was up to her to find it.

I have to save him!

The thought pounded through her mind in time with the rhythm of her feet as she ran for all she was worth. She glanced behind her only once and saw the men advancing on Brice, but none of them had followed her. The sight gave her feet added impetus and she burst into the house, tearing along the corridors. The jade pendant bounced on her chest and she remembered Brice had said it was fragile. She reached up to unclasp it as she ran, clutching it in one hand to keep it safe. Out of breath, she erupted into the great hall. That was where Ramsay and Alex were usually to be found, but not today.

As she came to a halt just inside the door, her heart stopped beating altogether and if she could have made her limbs work, she would have run back the way she’d come. Unfortunately, she was frozen into immobility, unable to move so much as a muscle. All she could do was stare.

‘
Ah, Miss Buchanan, just the person I wanted to see. Take her, men.’

Captain Sherringham.
Damn him!

Her legs began to move at last and she backed away, shaking her head. A side table halted her progress and she knew it was too late to make a run for it. She clenched her fists, which made the jade pendant dig into the palm of one hand, reminding her she was still holding it.
No! I’ll not let them take that too!
Slowly, so as not to alert the men to her actions, she reached behind her and fumbled for a bowl she knew should be there. When her fingers found it, she placed the pendant at the bottom, then pretended to bolt for the door.

Sherringham’s men moved swiftly and she didn’t get far. In a few strides, they reached her. One of them lifted the butt of his pistol and she was vaguely aware of it coming down in an arc towards her head. The next thing she knew, everything went black.

Brice drew a dirk out of its sheath at his belt and prepared himself for a fight. He had no idea who these desperate-looking men were, but he could see they weren’t here to talk. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Liath come to take a stand next to him and his innards twisted with fear for the dog. He knew the assailants wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him.

‘
Go, Liath, back to the house!’ he hissed. ‘Go on, leave!’ But the dog ignored him and bared his fangs at the attackers, growling deep in his throat.

In the next instant, the men surged forward, dirks at the ready. Some dim recess of Brice’s mind wondered why they hadn’t just brought pistols to threaten him with, but apparently that wasn’t how they fought. He didn’t wait for them to fall on him
en masse
, but launched himself at the nearest man as fast as he could. Liath did the same, but although the dog managed to take one man down and make him howl with pain as he sank his teeth into flesh, he was no match for a dagger.

Brice winced when he heard the hound give a loud yelp, then a keening noise, knowing he’d been hurt, perhaps even mortally wounded. There was nothing Brice could do at the moment though, he had to defend himself. He made short work of the first man, feinting left, then right, before hitting the assailant with a powerful blow to the chin. The man had obviously been expecting a thrust with the dagger and therefore didn’t see Brice’s fist coming. He toppled to the ground and lay motionless.

The other four were cannier and came at him from different sides at once. Although he did his best, Brice couldn’t fight them all, especially with his body still sore and several bruised ribs. He wondered what was taking Ramsay and Alex so long, but didn’t have time to think about it too much. He could only pray they’d come to his assistance soon. He managed to get in a few punches and slashed one man’s arm quite badly, but when one of the assailants cut Brice’s own forearm, the sharp stab of pain made him drop his dirk. After that, it was only a question of time before he was overpowered. No one came to his aid.

With his arms twisted up behind him, they made him walk towards the forest.

‘
Who are you? What do you want with me?’ he snarled, trying to dislodge the painful grip without success.

‘
The name’s MacGregor and as fer wha’ we want, ye’ll find oot soon enough.’

Brice didn’t bother asking any more questions. He doubted they’d reply in any case so he was just wasting his breath. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Liath lying on the ground.
Damn it all to hell!
Marsaili was going to be crushed to find her beloved dog dead and he wished he could have spared her that pain. There was absolutely nothing he could do about it, however, and he had tried to tell the stubborn hound to leave. He was moved by the dog’s loyalty and sent him a silent message of thanks, wherever his spirit was.

Just before the group reached the edge of the forest, Brice heard a shout behind them. He turned to see Iain Seton come rushing out of the house, pulling his dirk out. ‘Hey, stop! What do you think you’re doing?’

The man next to Brice tsk-ed and shook his head. ‘Wheesht, is he a loon or wha’?’ the MacGregor muttered. Brice wondered the same thing, but hoped Iain wasn’t by himself and that his arrival on the scene heralded more help. It was a bit late in the day, but still better than nothing.

Iain didn’t remain alone for long, however. His father was suddenly standing next to him, grabbing him by the arm and holding him back. Brice could see they were arguing, but couldn’t hear what was being said. A suspicion took root in his mind and he noticed the MacGregor men all ignored Seton as if he was no threat to them.

‘
He hired you for this, didn’t he?’ Brice asked, but he already knew the answer. He could feel it in his gut, this was Seton’s doing. ‘Whatever he paid, I can give you more,’ he growled, anger filling him almost to overflowing. Was he never to be rid of the man? He should have hunted him down while he had the chance.

‘
Tha’s wha’ he seid too,’ the nearest MacGregor smirked. ‘Sae save yer breath. Ye’re goin’ tae need it.’

‘
Don’t even think about running to his aid,’ Seton hissed at his son, gripping Iain’s arm firmly. ‘Have you no sense? It’s our last chance.’

Iain shook him off and scowled at him. ‘No sense? You’re the one who’s lost all reason!’ he exclaimed. He glanced at the group of men rapidly heading into the forest, soon to be lost from sight. ‘Who are they? What idiotic plan have you hatched now?’

‘
It’s not idiotic at all, I’ll have you know. It’s perfect. Those are some of the MacGregor outlaws and I’ve paid them to rid us of the laird and his friends once and for all.’

‘
What, you’re stooping to murder now? That’s definitely taking things a step too far. I’m not having any part of this.’

Iain was about to take off at a run after Brice, but Seton pulled out a pistol from behind his back and cocked it. The soft click behind his left ear made Iain freeze and he turned incredulous eyes on his father.

‘
You move and I won’t hesitate to shoot, boy,’ Seton answered the unspoken question. ‘I won’t kill you, but I will make sure you can’t go very far for the foreseeable future.’ He gritted his teeth and hoped Iain couldn’t tell he was bluffing. He wasn’t at all sure he could shoot his own son, but hopefully the boy wouldn’t realise that. Besides, too much was at stake so perhaps he’d be able to pull the trigger if he had to.

Something which looked suspiciously like pure hatred flashed in Iain’s gaze. Seton knew there wasn’t anything he could do about it right now, but when they had Bailliebroch back and were restored to their rightful position in society, he was sure the boy would thank him.

‘
Now get back into the house and stay there. If I catch you setting so much as a foot outside in the next hour I won’t hesitate to use this.’ Seton nodded towards the weapon.

A muscle jumped in Iain’s jaw, but he did as he’d been told. ‘You’ll regret this, Father, mark my words,’ he gritted out.

‘
I doubt it, and neither will you,’ Seton said. He watched the boy go indoors and slam the door, then walked off towards the forest. He wasn’t going with the MacGregors, but he had to pay them the rest of the sum he’d agreed and that meant fetching more gold from his hidey-hole.

Once they’d been paid, he hoped never to set eyes on them or Kinross again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

‘
I thought the mon seid Glasgae? Wha’ are we doin’ here then?’

Brice lifted his aching head and listened to the bickering MacGregors. He was sitting inside an old carriage on the quayside at Leith, the port just outside Edinburgh. He couldn’t see much because the windows were shuttered, but there was a hole big enough for him to recognise the place he’d arrived at himself not so long ago. Unfortunately, he couldn’t call out since he’d been gagged. The foul rag in his mouth was making him thirsty as hell, but so far no one had offered him either food or drink. He doubted they cared whether he lived or died.

The first MacGregor was answered by one with a much more cultured accent. ‘I don’t care what he said. We’ll do whatever we bloody well please. He’ll never know. Edinburgh was closer and although they’ll have to make a small detour, they’ll be sent to the colonies eventually, as agreed.’

‘
Are ye sure ye can trust the captain o’ this here vessel?’

‘
Yes, I’ve dealt with him before. He knows what will happen should he fail me. Go find the others and let’s get this over with. I don’t want to stay here a moment longer than I have to.’

Brice glanced at the two dark shapes lying on the carriage floor next to where he sat propped against one side. Ramsay and Alex, unconscious. He’d been appalled to find them slung over a pack pony each as he left the forest with the MacGregors the previous day. He assumed they’d been ambushed before he himself was captured, but how or where, he didn’t know. Neither was aware of their discomfort, however, which was a blessing, and when they finally stirred, they were gagged just like him so there was no chance to find out what had happened to them. Just before reaching Leith, someone had clouted all three of them over the head again and Brice was the first to stir. He obviously had the thicker head, which was only scant consolation since it was throbbing like the very devil.

Damn Seton to hell!
Brice clenched his fists behind his back, where they were securely tied together. He would make the man pay for this, if it was the last thing he did, he swore. It may take him a long time, since he’d gathered from the MacGregors’ conversation with each other that he and his friends were being sent to the Americas. It would be his goal from now on though and no matter what it took, he was determined to return and take his revenge.