Highlanders (5 page)

He turned and started to the door. Rhoslyn took two steps to the fallen warrior and quietly slid his dagger from its sheath and slipped it into her cuaran along the inside of her ankle. She glanced at the warrior, then gave a prayer of thanks that his chest rose and fell with even breath. She rose and stepped away from the man. He would have a headache when he woke, but likely nothing more.

The creak of the door sounded behind her. “There is no one in the hallway,” Dayton said. “Come, we must go.”

Sheila stepped up, swung the cloak around her shoulders, and tied the cord.

Rhoslyn grasped her shoulders. “Say nothing of this, Sheila. Do ye understand?” The girl nodded, wide-eyed. Rhoslyn pulled her into a hug and whispered, “Wake the knight when we leave.” She drew back and said, “Hurry back to my bed and stay there until someone comes. Say you do not know where I am.”

Rhoslyn whirled and hurried to the door. 

* * *

Thin curls of fog swirled about three approaching horsemen. Talbot assumed the one in the lead was Aodh Roberts. Of the two men who flanked Roberts, one carried a white flag of truce, the other a torch. Talbot shifted his gaze beyond the riders, past Roberts’ warriors, to the battlements of Longford Castle. Seward and the young Earl of Melrose must have watched Talbot’s approach, seen his and Seward’s banners. Each banner-man carried a torch to ensure the banners were recognized—a risky move, but he didn’t relish the idea of getting shot by a
stray
arrow if mistaken for one of Roberts’ men. There was, of course, the possibility they would shoot him on purpose.

Roberts neared, then came to a stop a few feet from Talbot.

“I am surprised to see ye here,” the Highlander said. “I expected you to wait at Castle Glenbarr for the good news that you are the new Baron Kinsley.”

“Go home,” Talbot said.

Roberts grinned. “So ye wish to kill the old man yourself.”

“Kinsley is my wife’s grandfather. You will not harm him.”

The Highlander’s brows snapped downward. “What? Ye should be glad to rid yourself of the old man.” He snorted. “Save those words for your wife.
She
might believe you.”

“Beware trying to deduce my thoughts, Roberts. Now, leave peaceably so my two hundred men may return to their beds.”

Dawn inched across the horizon, but it was the torchlight that allowed Talbot to read the shock on Roberts’ face. 

“Ye have no right to interfere,” he snapped.

“Think,” Talbot said. “Even if I allowed you to kill Seward, the Earl of Lochland would hang you for murder. He is your lord as much as Seward’s.”

“Hang me? God’s teeth. Have Englishmen no bollocks? Here in Scotland we take what we want.”

Lady Rhoslyn was right. Aodh Roberts was a man who would rather take what he wanted than work for it, laws be damned.

“And ye have it wrong, St. Claire.” Roberts’ tone turned friendly. “Lochland will welcome you as the new baron. He understands you are Edward’s man.”

Talbot suspected it was Roberts who hoped to ingratiate himself into Talbot’s—and Edward’s—good graces. Lochland wouldn’t be so eager to trade a willing Scottish vassal for an English knight.

“Leave,” Talbot said.

Roberts urged his palfrey so close that Talbot’s horse snorted and sidestepped. Talbot tightened the reins to still the animal.

“Lochland willna’ interfere.” Roberts locked gazes with him. “Neither will you.”

Talbot lifted a hand over his head and made a ‘come forward’ motion with two fingers. He didn’t have to look back to know that a hundred of his men separated from the shadows of the trees.

Roberts’ eyes narrowed. Then he reached for his sword.

Talbot had his sword out and had slapped the flat of the blade across Roberts’ shoulder before the Highlander’s sword left its sheath. He tumbled from his horse. His two men drew their swords in unison with Talbot’s men.

Talbot leapt from his horse and pointed his sword at Roberts’ face. “Hold,” Talbot ordered the men. Then to Roberts, “You dare draw a weapon under a white flag?”

The man’s face mottled with rage. “Are ye daft, man? Think what you have to gain by joining forces with me.”

“What have
you
to gain?” Talbot demanded.

“Longford Castle.”

That was probably the most honest thing the man had said all night.

“Then take it when Seward is not there.” Talbot sheathed his sword and stepped into his saddle. “You have until I return to my army to leave before I attack.” Talbot whirled his horse toward the trees.

Roberts lingered a few minutes before leading his men past Talbot and his warriors. It was the Highlander’s way of saving face and letting Talbot know he wasn’t cowed. But leave he did. Talbot waited until the last of the men filed past before taking Iain and leading a dozen of his men and all of Seward’s men to the gates of Longford Castle under his and Seward’s banners.

“Call up to your lord,” Talbot instructed Iain.

“Kinsley,” he called up to the battlements, “’tis I, Iain. St. Claire is with me. He is a friend.”

A moment later, the gate opened and Talbot led the men inside. They were met by half a dozen men, Seward, and a young noble Talbot assumed was Melrose. Talbot swung his leg over his horse’s rump and stepped to the ground.

“What are ye doing here, St. Claire?” Seward demanded.

The baron was a large man, almost as large as Talbot, still well-muscled and more vigorous than many men half his sixty-two years. Talbot liked the man, and respected his desire to marry his granddaughter to a Scotsman. Seward understood King Edward’s power grab. None of that changed the fact that the old baron had miscalculated in defying
him
.

“You are damned lucky I came,” Talbot said. “Especially given that you went behind my back to try and marry my wife to this pup.”

Surprise flashed in the old man’s eyes. The younger man reached for his sword.

Kinsley’s head snapped in the boy’s direction. “Keep your sword in its sheath, Jacobus.” He then said to Talbot, “Where is Rhoslyn?”

“Where she belongs, at Castle Glenbarr.”

“Ye devil. You have no right to take her.”

“Take her? A man does not
take
his wife. I made sure she was delivered safely to her home. I did not take you for a fool, Seward. What did you hope to accomplish?”

“What do ye think?”

Talbot nodded. “She is my wife. Nothing will change that.”

Seward studied him. “You could have left me to fight my own battle. Why interfere?”

“Because my wife would hate me if I did not help you.”

“Your king would have been better served if ye had left me to my fate.”

“It is short sighted to believe that your money has greater value than your life,” Talbot replied.

“‘Tis more likely ye wanted my gratitude by appearing to save my life,” Seward said.

Talbot grunted. “I imagine I could arrive with a heavenly host and not receive your good graces. If you wish, I will send Roberts back to resume his attack.”

Kinsley snorted, then turned his attention to his captain. “I suppose I have ye to thank for interfering?”

“Roberts had another fifty warriors on their way,” Iain replied without hesitation. “’Tis my duty to see to your safety.”

“’Tis your duty not to conspire with the enemy.”

“Are you truly set on pitting yourself against your granddaughter’s husband?” Talbot asked.

“I was set on you not being her husband.”

At least the man was straightforward. “I
am
her husband. Nothing will change that. You know that as well as I.”

“I have no intention of dying anytime soon,” Seward said.

“I am sure Lady Rhoslyn will be relieved to hear that.”

“You dealt easily enough with that dog Roberts. Did ye threaten to bring down the entire English army on his head?”

“He was caught between my men and yours. He was wise enough to recognize the weaknesses of his position.”

Kinsley glanced at his warriors, who remained mounted. “Three of my men are missing.”

“They died defending my wife. One of my men died as well. I expect you to pension his young wife.”

“I am no’ obligated—”

“You will pension his wife or I will take the money from your granddaughter’s store of silver, then find a way to replace it with a large piece of your hide.”

“Ye will spend Rhoslyn’s money anyway,” Seward shot back.

“I do not spend hard earned money unless necessary. I pray no necessity arises anytime soon.”

Seward stared for a long moment. “If ye harm my granddaughter in any way—”

“She is my
wife
,” Talbot repeated forcefully. “I will protect her, not harm her.”

Chapter Five

Rhoslyn hoped they would get no farther than the great hall before someone discovered them. Surely, some of Sir Talbot’s men had gone back to sleep there.

Dayton stopped when they reached the dimly lit second floor. “Where is the passageway?”

“In the scullery, there are stairs leading to the dungeon. From there, a passageway opens outside the walls.” She had never been a good liar. Did he believe her? 

“Act naturally,” he said. “We do not want to attract attention.”

“This is a dangerous plan.” She feigned fear. 

“Aye, but I see no other way. You must escape before Talbot has an opportunity to consummate your union. Unless—he has not yet bedded you?”

“He had to ride for Longford Castle. My grandfather is under attack,” she said, then wished she hadn’t answered so quickly. He might not have been so insistent upon helping her if he thought his brother had already consummated their marriage.

“So I heard. I am surprised that he left any ends untied.”

Was she an
untied end
? Even Sir Talbot’s remote manner didn’t make her feel so cold.

Dayton frowned. “Perhaps it is best you not wear a cloak. Anyone we encounter is sure to wonder why you are dressed as if to leave.”

“You are right.” She yanked the tie loose and swung the cloak from her shoulders, then tossed it near the wall. Cool air enveloped her and she shivered.

“I will see to your comfort once we are away.” He pressed a hand to the small of her back and urged her forward. “You need not fear, my lady.”

Rhoslyn realized her hand trembled. Curse her nerves. She had spent too much time in the peace and safety of the convent and her courage now flagged.

“Are you well, Lady Rhoslyn?”

His question startled her. Had she given away the truth in her expression? Surely, he couldn’t read her face in the meager light? Nay, but the man wasn’t stupid.

“Forgive me, I am no’ accustomed to fleeing in the middle of the night.”

“Aye, lady, I understand.”

Rhoslyn heard in his voice the same charming smile he’d worn upon his arrival. That smile had gotten him far in life and he knew it.

When they reached the stairs leading to the kitchen, Rhoslyn mouthed a prayer to Saint George that either someone worked in the kitchen or she could break free and reach the great hall.

Dayton grasped her arm. “I am sorry.”

She looked up at him. In the near-total darkness, she still couldn’t discern his expression. He shifted and her heart jumped. In the next instant, the back of his hand struck her cheek with mind-numbing force. Pain splintered across her face. She jerked with the force of the blow and fell forward. She crashed into a hard body and arms closed around her as the world went black. 

Pounding pain penetrated the darkness. Rhoslyn groaned, then winced at the way the sound reverberated against her skull. Where was she? What had happened? She couldn’t focus.

“Do not move. It will be easier.”

Rhoslyn jerked at hearing the deep voice and snapped open her eyes. Light bore into her eyeballs like a needle and she jammed her eyes shut with a cry. A hand grasped and gently squeezed her shoulder. The pounding in her head intensified. She gritted her teeth until the roar subsided to the duller sound it had been a moment ago.

“Where—” she swallowed against a dry throat, the simple action difficult. “Where am I?”

“Safe in bed.”

Bed? She struggled to remember what bed and why she felt as if she had run headlong into a stone wall. Rhoslyn touched her face and winced at the tenderness in her cheek. She released a shaky breath and slowly opened her eyes. Light pierced her vision, but with less severity than a moment ago. She turned her head away from the direct light and blinked the unfamiliar room into focus.

“Where is this place?”

“A cottage near Stonehaven,” the man said.

“What?” she said in confusion.

The hand on her shoulder gave another squeeze. “There was no other way.”

Then she remembered. Fear rammed through her on a wave that brought the prick of tears. She turned her head to face Dayton St. Claire, who sat on the bed beside her. She shoved his hand away from her shoulder. Pain ricocheted off her skull.

Rhoslyn winced. “Why? I agreed to leave with you.”

“You know why.”

“Why not slay me at Castle Glenbarr?” she demanded.

His brows drew down in shock. “I am not a barbarian.”

Her heart pounded in tandem with the thud in her head. He intended to lock her in a dungeon? Ransom her? Nay, that didn’t make sense. If he intended that, she would not be laying on a soft feather bed.

“Then why am I here?” she asked.

“You will marry me instead of Talbot.”

Shock washed over her. Sweet God, it
had
been the light of madness she’d glimpsed in his eyes. “My grandfather will never allow it. If I have learned anything about your brother, neither will he.”

”Until I present our sons to them, they will not know where you are.”

“Sons?” Panic sent a tremor through her. “Sheila will have alerted someone.”

Sorrow filled his gaze. “I am sorry. She and your guard were dead five minutes after we left.”

She drew a sharp breath, ignoring the jolt to her head. “No.”

“I could not risk them telling anyone that you left with me.”

Rhoslyn fought panic. “Mistress Muira knows.”

He gave a small shake of his head.

Rhoslyn lunged at him. “Bastard.” She landed a blow to his nose before he seized her wrists. “Mistress Muira was a second mother to me.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to wrench herself free of his iron hold. “Sheila had yet to know a man. Ye craven whoreson.” Her stomach pitched and she gave a great sob, collapsing back onto the pillow, panting hard. His grip loosened and she yanked free. “I will not submit.”

“I pray you will, lady. I have no wish to force you. Think, once your belly swells with my babe, resistance will be pointless.”

The room spun.
Breathe
, she told herself,
Breathe
. She hadn’t allowed herself to consider the possibility of having another child. How could she fathom this man’s child growing inside of her?

He shifted and she jerked.

“Lady Rhoslyn,” he said in a gentle voice, “I offer you a good life. I will be a better husband than my bastard brother. Mayhap you believe his Scottish blood makes him more desirable, but you are wrong.”

“What of the woman ye love? Was that a lie?” Rhoslyn demanded.

“Never mind her.”

Rhoslyn couldn’t believe it. “You intend to keep her.”

“You think Talbot will be any different?” he sneered. His expression cleared. “Do you not see? I will give you the life you want. Once you bear me sons you may even return to Scotland, if you like.”

Panic escalated with the pounding of her heart. “They will find me.”

“Nay,” he said. “They will not.”

Rhoslyn did a quick calculation. Kildrum lay sixty miles from Stonehaven. That meant they had ridden into early afternoon. A slight thump caught her attention and she started at the realization that the sound had come through the floorboards. They weren’t in a cottage as he claimed.
An inn
, her mind raced. If he left her alone, she would be able to get help.

“Forget my brother,” Dayton said. “My father will sanction our union and will press Edward to decree our marriage valid.”

He leaned forward. She shrank back against the pillow. He meant to kiss her! Rhoslyn rolled toward the far side of the bed. He yanked her back and swung a leg over her hips, then again bent to kiss her. She raked her nails across his cheek.

He seized her arms, shoved them above her head and kissed her. Rhoslyn bit down on his lip. He bolted upright, shock on his face. For an instant his confusion seemed to paralyze him. Then he dabbed at his mouth with his shoulder and looked at the blood that smeared his shirt.

His eyes returned to hers. “Do not make me hurt you.”

She emptied her lungs in a scream. He clamped a hand over her mouth, grabbed a cloth from the table and stuffed it into her mouth. Rhoslyn gagged and raked her nails across his face. He grunted and tightened his thighs painfully around her ribs. She wheezed and pulled at his wrists while he tied another cloth around her mouth.

“You leave me no choice,” he said. 

He clasped both wrists in one hand and grabbed another cloth from a stack on the nightstand. On a surge of panic, she bucked with all her might. He lost his balance and tumbled from the bed. Rhoslyn gagged against the cloth in her mouth, but yanked up her skirt and seized the knife hidden in her boot. Dayton leapt to his feet and threw himself on her. She drew back the knife, but he glanced over his shoulder and twisted aside so the blade only grazed his outer thigh.

Dayton seized her wrist, wrenched away the knife, and threw it across the room. Once again, he straddled her and grabbed her wrists.  She yanked, but he snatched up the cloth he’d dropped and wound it around her wrists in a flash, cinching the knot so tight she cried out. He grabbed another cloth, forced her arms over her head and tied her to the right post.

“This is your fault, Lady Rhoslyn. I begged you not to force me to hurt you.”

He pushed off the bed, unfastened his belt buckle, then tossed the belt onto the bench at the foot of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, then his tunic, and shoved his braies and hose down his hips. Her stomach roiled at sight of his full erection. The burn of bile rose in her throat and she swallowed for fear of choking. He stepped toward the bed. Rhoslyn screamed through the gag and kicked at him, landing a blow to his hip. He grabbed her ankles. She twisted. The bindings cut into her wrists, but she ignored the pain and twisted so hard that her arms felt as if they ripped loose of their sockets. He slammed her body back onto the mattress, yanked her legs apart, and fell on top of her.

His face was so close his breath filled her nostrils. “I will do this every day until you are with child.”

He dragged her skirt up. In a frenzy, Rhoslyn bucked, but his weight pinned her to the mattress. When his cock butted the soft flesh between her legs, her head swam.

“Next time, you will obey me,” he said in a strained voice. 

Saint George
, she silently screamed.
Help me.

* * *

“The horses cannot keep this pace any longer, and we’re still an hour from Stonehaven,” Baxter shouted above the pounding of hooves.

Talbot ignored him.

“Talbot,” Baxter called. “You will maim our horses and we’ll be left afoot.”

He was right. Talbot pulled on the reins and slowed to a trot. His horse gave a great snort, its breath curling in the evening chill. Baxter shouted a command to slow, and the men behind them obeyed.

Rhoslyn’s guard and maid were missing, and Talbot knew with certainty his brother had murdered them. It was the housekeeper, found unconscious, who, when revived, told them Dayton was behind her disappearance. Twelve hours had passed since Dayton kidnapped her. She had been at Castle Glenbarr less than a day—less than half a day—under Talbot’s protection.

Two years after Talbot had been sent to train under Sir Hugh, their father sent Dayton to the knight, as well. For the sake of their father, Talbot endured Dayton’s envy, jibes, and cruelty in those years before Talbot left to fight. But a father’s protection wouldn’t save Dayton now. Talbot would kill him.

A rider approached. Another moment, and Talbot recognized Cullen, the scout he had sent ahead, and Ross, Alec Harper’s captain. When they met, the men fell into a trot alongside Talbot.

“Their tracks enter Stonehaven,” Ross said, “but dinna’ leave it.”

Talbot gritted his teeth. “He intends to leave by ship.” Would Dayton attempt to marry Rhoslyn before or after he left Scotland? Talbot had immediately realized his brother intended to marry her. At least that meant he wouldn’t kill her.

“I spoke with the harbormaster.” Ross said.

Talbot jerked his gaze onto the man. “I did not give you leave to speak with anyone. If you alerted Dayton—”

“Dinna’ lose your temper, English,” Ross cut in. “I know how to be discreet.”

“I advise you to remember that I am your lord,” Talbot snapped.

“I advise ye to remember that you are in Scotland,” the man replied without rancor—or fear, Talbot noted. “The old harbormaster is more likely to talk to me than you, English. You might also remember that I have known Lady Rhoslyn since she was a lass of fifteen. I do no’ intend to let an Englishman steal
her
away from her home.”

So there were those who knew the story of his father’s Scottish mistress, and how he took her and their son away to England.

“What did you learn from the harbormaster?” Talbot asked.

“A man booked passage for himself, two other men, and a woman. They leave tomorrow morning. Though the man does no’ fit the description of your brother, he is the only Englishman to sail. There are two inns near the harbor and one other reputable inn on the road leaving Stonehaven.”