My Highland Love: Highland Lords Series (14 page)

Chapter Eight

Marcus stared at the warrior standing before
him in the great hall. The anticipation he had felt only an hour
ago had given way to a throbbing in his head that threatened to
incite him to violence. "You found her buying a ticket for an
Australian-bound packet?" he managed in an even voice.

"Nay, laird," the warrior replied.

"Ah," Marcus said, "I forget, you intercepted
her at the pawnbroker's shop."

"Not in the shop, exactly," he hedged.

Marcus glanced at his father, who sat in his
chair sipping ale as though they were discussing nothing more
important than the weather. Marcus looked back at the warrior.
"Where, then?"

"She, er, had left the pawnbroker—you see,
Daniel reasoned we couldna' just go inside and take her. She would
bring all of Glasgow down upon us."

"Indeed," Marcus murmured.

"She near did—or would have, had we not
dragged her into the alley."

"Dragged her into an alley, you say? This
alley was deserted then, a place you could have done with her as
you wished?"

The man swallowed. "Aye."

"Angry, was she?" Marcus realized he had
clenched his hand into a fist.

The man looked sheepish. "You can't blame the
lass, she thought—"

"Aye," Marcus interrupted savagely, "I know
what she thought. The little fool is damned lucky that isn't what
happened. You are certain no Campbell accosted her?"

"Not so much as a scrap of Campbell
plaide
was found between here and Glasgow."

"How far behind were Elise and Daniel when
you left them?"

"They were riding fast—not so fast she
couldn't keep up," the man added quickly, "but I rode harder. I
left them at early light."

"By all rights, they should be arriving
anytime," Marcus calculated.

"Aye," the warrior agreed.

Marcus jerked his head toward the postern
door in an indication the man should leave, and he hurried from the
great hall. Marcus faced his father. "What the bloody hell was she
selling—and Australia? I thought Winnie said she was bound for
America."

"'Tis strange," Cameron agreed.

"If anything has happened to her…"

Cameron's gaze remained steady. "Ye heard
what John said. She is well." He motioned to the seat beside him.
"Sit, have an ale, and wait."

"By God, she had three days head start."
Marcus slammed a fist down on the table. "Anything could have
happened."

"Not three, less than two. 'Tis been three
days since she left. I can see how you would confuse the time, but
our lads took after her night before last. Elise and Peter's tracks
indicated they rode slow, and our men rode fast. Did you not
comprehend John's report?" Marcus opened his mouth to retort, but
Cameron added, "Our men lagged but two hours behind them yesterday
afternoon. I sent more men to meet them. They are on their way home
and willna' dare dally."

"How could you have let her go?"

"I didn't let her go." Cameron regarded him.
"You plan on making her a prisoner?"

"Would you have her alone on that ship?"
Marcus demanded.

His father's mouth thinned. "We should beat
them both." He glanced in the direction of the kitchen where Winnie
worked.

"Aye," Marcus said, agreeing with his father
for the first time since he'd returned home an hour ago. "Beat her,
I will. If I don't get the chance, I will take it out of your hide,
Father
."

Cameron took a large swig of the ale sitting
before him, then set the mug on the table. He wiped his mouth with
the back of his hand. "The lads will return with her soon."

Marcus shot his father another unforgiving
look. "So you have said a dozen times the past hour."

His father's expression hardened. "I realize
you are upset, lad, but you aren't giving me enough credit. Do you
believe I would sit here drinking ale if I thought she was in
danger?"

Marcus hesitated.

"She will arrive safe."

Tramping feet approached the postern door.
Marcus whirled as the door opened and Daniel entered, followed by
half a dozen men.

"Where is she?" Marcus demanded.

The men parted to reveal Elise, head
downcast, hair damp. Marcus frowned, his first thought was
Why
had she not been given a tartan?
But she raised her head and
the fire in her eyes ignited an answering fury in him. He strode to
her, grabbed her by the shoulders, and began shaking her.

"What do you think you were doing?" He shook
her harder with every word.

"Marcus!" Cameron's sharp voice cut through
the haze. "You'll shake her to death."

"Or mayhap shake some sense into her." He
shoved her away from him and raked his hand through his hair.

"Laird," Daniel said.

Marcus looked at Daniel, who tossed a small
pouch to him. He caught it and the clink of coin rattled inside the
leather.

"'Tis Elise's—"

Marcus jerked his gaze onto his captain.

"The money she received from the pawnbroker,"
Daniel finished.

Marcus loosed the tie and emptied the coins
into his palm. He counted five sovereign. A small fortune. He
looked at Elise. "What were you selling?"

She remained mute. He turned to Daniel.

Daniel cleared his throat. "A wedding ring,
according to the bill of sale."

Marcus watched dumbfounded as Daniel produced
a piece of paper from within his sporran. He strode to the table
and laid the bill of sale on it.

Marcus looked at Elise. "A hefty sum, even
for a gold band."

She lifted her chin a fraction. "How did you
find me?"

He slipped the coins back into the pouch,
then tossed it on the table. "The MacGregor can track you,
remember?"

Her cheeks colored and he knew she remembered
that day in the meadow when she had threatened him with the
MacGregor fury should he harm her and the children.
"I tracked
these children. You think he cannot track you?
"she had
said.

He broke eye contact. "Go change into dry
clothes." Silence followed and he looked to see she hadn't so much
as twitched a muscle. Marcus narrowed his eyes. "I warn you, Elise,
do no' try my temper any further. Go upstairs.
Now
."

She remained motionless. He lunged forward
and scooped her onto his shoulder. Whoops and cheers rang
throughout the room.

"Marcus MacGregor!" She thrashed.

He answered with a hard squeeze to her legs.
The men responded with more raucous laughter. Applause followed as
he strode across the room and bounded up the stairs. She twisted in
his grasp, but Marcus ignored the futile effort until he reached
her bedchamber, where he kicked the door open and, in three paces,
tossed her onto the bed. She landed on the mattress and immediately
made to scramble to her knees. Marcus leapt forward, one knee on
the bed, and planted his hands on each side of her.

"Get away!" she shouted as she scooted
backwards.

She fell back against the bed when he brought
his face to within an inch of hers.

"If you do not change into dry clothes, I
will do it for you."

Elise remained motionless, but he caught the
flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. He pushed away from her and
stood. She crawled off the bed, her gaze on him, as she fetched the
dress hanging in the closet. She faced him. Marcus waved toward the
screen in the corner.

"Kind of you," she retorted.

"Do not try me," he growled.

"Try you?" Elise snorted, then stepped behind
the screen.

"All I want to know is why?" he demanded.

The rustling of clothing paused. A long
moment of silence passed, then she said, "Exactly my question."

Marcus started to reply but threw himself,
instead, onto the couch opposite the bed. A moment later, she
appeared from behind the screen.

"Why did you leave?" he demanded.

"Why did you bring me back?"

He frowned. "I didn't. Cameron did. I wasn't
aware you had left until an hour ago."

"Cameron?" Her eyes darkened. "So I have him
to thank for scaring me half out of my wits."

Marcus leapt from the couch. Elise retreated
several steps.

"You truly have taken leave of your senses."
He stopped two paces from her. "Had I known—had I come for you—I
would have given you a scare you wouldn't have forgotten. Being
kidnapped by the Campbells clearly left no impression on you."

"I was well out of MacGregor territory when
Daniel found me
. I was
safe
."

Marcus seized her hand and yanked her close.
"So safe you were accosted in an alleyway. And a woman on a ship
alone—bound for America—no, Australia. No money, no
escort—although, money you had in abundance. Why did you
leave?"

Her lips pursed. "That is none of your
business."

"None of my business? Bloody hell, Elise, I
will have my answers." He yanked her so close he could feel her
breath on his face. "Why?"

He twisted her wrist slightly and she
winced.

"Elise," he repeated.

Silence followed, then she said, "I decided
it was time to go."

Marcus tightened the tenuous hold on his
temper. "Well, you can't go." He shoved her away from him. He
closed his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose with thumb and
forefinger.

"I can't go?" she repeated softly.

He whirled on her. "I have just spent one of
the most hellish hours of my life and you think I'll be swayed by
your indignation?" Marcus moved an inch closer. "Think again, my
sweet." He inched even closer and she backed away from him. "I am
the master here, and I will let you push me only so far." He slid
closer.

Elise sidled to her left, but he grasped her
shoulders. He forced her back against the wall and pressed himself
against her. Their eyes locked. He broke the standoff, his gaze
dropping to her lips. The beat of his heart pounded against the
swell of her breasts. He breathed deep, then pulled her to the
couch and shoved her onto the cushion.

"Now, what is this foolishness?"

"I can't stay here forever. It's time I
go."

"It is not," he growled.

Elise jumped.

"Do not move. I won't strike you. Though, God
knows, I would love nothing more than to turn you over my
knee."

"Comforting," she said with a snort.

"Listen, you little fool, when I think it's
time for you to go,
if
I ever think it's time for you to go,
I will tell you."

"You can't stop me."

Marcus stared. "You think I can't stop you? I
can do anything I damn well please." Though this was the first time
he'd used his power to take advantage of a woman.
"Do you plan
on making her a prisoner?"
his father had asked.

"Cameron is master here, not you," Elise
said. "He can let me go."

"There's no real difference between my
father's authority and mine."

"There is enough difference. If he says I can
go, then I can."

"It doesn't matter. He will not."

"You are so sure?"

Marcus exhaled loudly.

"You don't mind, then, if I ask." She
stood.

He couldn't believe it. "You would ask
him?"

Elise raised a brow. "Afraid?"

Marcus paused. "You will let this rest if he
agrees with me?"

"He won't."

Marcus followed two paces behind as Elise
stepped from the staircase into the great hall moments later. It
was mid-afternoon, and only the men who had fetched her home
lingered in the hall with Cameron. She smiled and approached him
while Marcus sauntered to the hearth and propped an elbow on the
large mantle. Elise stopped before Cameron, who glanced from her to
Marcus, then back again.

"I would like to speak with you, Cameron,"
she said.

He motioned the men to leave. She seated
herself in the chair beside his. Once the men were gone, he looked
expectantly at her.

"Marcus tells me I can't leave."

"'Tis his decision."

"You can countermand this edict."

Cameron laughed. "I can, but will not."

"Aren't I free?" she asked. "Don't I fall
under the same law as every Highlander?"

Cameron's mouth twitched and he looked at
Marcus. Marcus raised a brow and his father turned back to her.
"Why do you want to leave, lass? Have we not been good to you? Have
no' we cared for you as one of our own?" His expression softened.
"You're a sweet lass. We would miss you."

Her eyes narrowed. "I feel certain you would
survive quite well without me." Her voice quieted. "I don't belong
here."

He frowned. "Who has been filling your head
with such silliness?"

She hesitated. "No one. It's simply obvious,
is all."

"Nonsense."

Elise leaned on the table and said in lowered
tones, "I must go."

"Why?"

She dropped her gaze to her hands clasped
atop the table. "There are certain… rumors about me."

His brow furrowed. "Such as?"

Elise leaned closer. "It is said that I am
Marcus's mistress."

"What?" Cameron burst out.

Marcus dropped his elbow from the mantel.

"Nay, lad." His father held up a hand. "Stand
where you are." Marcus halted and Cameron focused again on Elise.
"Who said this?"

She shook her head. "That isn't
important."

"But it is."

"No—"

"If I am to consider any petition," he
interrupted, "I must know all the facts."

After a moment's silence, she mumbled an
answer.

"What? Speak up, lass."

Marcus strained, but missed the single word
she repeated.

"Margaret?" Cameron repeated loudly.

Marcus started forward.

His father's attention jerked to him. "Hold,
Marcus." Their gazes locked, Cameron's mouth twitching, then he
looked back at Elise. "Is this what the two of you were fashin'
over?"