Rose In Scotland (38 page)

In answer he tightened his grip about her waist. “I am not mistaken, my lady,” he said, something in his voice making her frown. “I know precisely what I am doing.”

They rode in silence for several more minutes, her sense of unease growing ever stronger. Evidently she had misjudged Mr. Raghnall’s credulity, she mused. He had evidently tumbled to her scheme, and was returning her to Hugh instead of aiding her in her escape. But if that was so, wouldn’t he have turned around by now? They were a good three miles from the castle, she judged, going higher into the mountains where the shooting had occurred. The realization sent a frisson of fear through her, and she had an abrupt change of heart.

“Sir, I believe it is too late in the day for me to start for Edinburgh,” she said, doing her best to remain calm despite the way her instincts were clamoring at her to get as far from him as was possible. “Please turn around and return me to the castle. I wish to go home.”

The arm about her waist tightened so painfully as to make her cry out. “I am afraid I canna do that,
Sasunnach,”
he said, his voice dripping with cold menace. “I have plans for ye.” As if to drive home his point he pulled a dagger from his waistband and laid it against her throat. “English bitch,” he said, pressing the blade cruelly against her flesh. “This time I’ll make certain I dinna miss.”

Understanding dawned in a wave of nauseating terror. He was the one who had shot her! she
realized, the blood draining from her face. He was her deadliest enemy, and she had put herself and her unborn babe at his mercy. A tremor she couldn’t suppress rolled through her at the thought. Her babe! Tears filled her eyes. He was going to kill her babe!

Even as she was absorbing the horror of this, a band of horsemen came thundering from above them, and as Raghnall wheeled around to face them, Caroline saw Hugh at the head of the men, his sword held high in his hand.

“Let her go,
fear-brathaidh,”
he ordered, his hair and plaid cape whipping wildly about him. “Let her go and fight me like a man! I challenge you to the death!”

Lucien’s arms tightened, and he dropped his reins to wrap his hand more firmly about Caroline’s waist. “Traitor?” he roared, his face twisting with hatred. “You have the gall to call me a traitor when you have betrayed all you once swore to protect? When you’ve made a mockery of the clan whose name you bear? You’re the traitor, and a fool if you canna see it!”

Hugh’s deadly anger was replaced by momentary confusion. “What have I betrayed?” he asked, clearly puzzled. “What have I done to make you hate me so?”

“You
love
her!” Lucien roared, and Caroline was grateful for the brutality of his hold, for without it she would most surely have tumbled from the saddle. “That is your betrayal! You may have married her for Loch Haven as you claim, but you love the bitch now! You chose her against your own people, and that was when I knew she had to die. It is the only way to restore
the honor you have sullied with your foul love.”

Hugh loved her. Caroline shook as the shock of the realization hit her. He loved her! She could see it in the anguish in his eyes, in the way his face contorted with hatred and fear.

“Then kill me,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “If the sin is mine, then so let the punishment be. Kill me, Raghnall, and let my wife live.”

The other men cried out, and behind her she could hear the thunder of more approaching horses. She felt Raghnall tense, and he began to turn to face this new danger. Knowing she might have no other chance, and praying she would survive without getting her throat slit or losing the babe in the fall, she sent Hugh a final, desperate glance.

Her fingers tightened on the handles of her valise as she shifted away from her captor. He leaned forward, just as she expected, and she slammed the valise down as hard as she could against his groin. He gave a strangled cry, and the moment she felt his grip loosen, she used her arm to knock away the knife and threw herself to the ground, doing what she could to protect her stomach.

Above her she could hear the sounds of men shouting and fighting, and the sound of flesh striking flesh. A pair of strong arms reached out and snatched her up, carrying her away from where the battle raged. She sat up, watching in horror as Hugh lifted his sword a final time, and plunged it into Raghnall’s belly. The man gave a keening cry, and then grew still, his body twitching once as death claimed him.

Hugh stood over him, his cheeks streaked with blood and sweat, a look of terrible desolation on his face. It was that look that had her on her feet, her pride and her pain forgotten as she ran to him. “Hugh!” she cried, throwing herself into his arms. “Oh, Hugh, thank God you have not been hurt!”

He dropped the bloodstained sword, his muscular arms shaking as he gathered her against him. “Caroline,” he groaned, and she could feel the wetness of his tears against her neck. “Love, love, never leave me! I dinna want to live without you!”

“Hugh …” she drew back, her own eyes streaming with tears as she gazed lovingly up at him. “I—”

“Quick! Quick! Come quick!” an agitated voice cried out. “ ’Tis the old general!”

Hugh and Caroline turned as one to see that the second group of riders had dismounted, and were clustered around a figure lying in the dust. Raghnall was forgotten as everyone rushed over to cluster around the fallen figure of the old man, who looked like a broken toy a careless child had tossed aside.

“Grandfather!” Caroline fell on her knees beside him. gently laying a hand on his grayish cheek. “Oh, please, do not die! I cannot bear to lose you now!”

“I told the old gentleman the ride would be a hard one, but he wouldna listen,” a bearded man apologized earnestly. “Indeed, he led the way for near half the ride, but when he heard Raghnall’s evil shouting it seemed more than he could take.

He clutched at his chest, and tumbled from his mount. ’Tis his heart, I fear.”

“Caroline?” Her grandfather’s eyes fluttered open, and he gazed up at her as if through a fog. “Is that you, child?”

“Yes, Grandfather, yes.” Caroline clung to a hand that seemed surprisingly warm. “Hugh saved me, Grandfather. He saved me! Everything will be all right now. But you must be all right too, else how shall I ever be happy?”

Her grandfather gave a sigh that was little more than a puff of air. “Knew he would be the man for you,” he said. “I took one look at the two of you together and I knew. You heard us, Caroline, didn’t you? You heard us talking this morning.”

She felt Hugh jerk and sensed his horrified gaze upon her. “Yes, Grandfather, I heard you,” she said, cradling his head in her lap. “But I forgive you. I know you and Hugh were only doing what you thought right. Please don’t worry.”

“I could tell the lad loved you the moment I saw him in London.” The general continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Saw his face and I knew. Now if I knew you loved him as well, I would know I had not failed you. I haven’t failed you, have I, popppet?”

“Oh, no, Grandfather, no!” Caroline was shaking with grief. “You haven’t failed me at all!”

“Do you love him, Caroline?” His fingers tightened weakly about hers. “Do you love the man your grandfather picked for you? Tell me the truth, dearest, that I might die in peace.”

Caroline didn’t hesitate, but reached out to grab Hugh’s hand, laying it on her belly and covering
it with her own. “Yes, Grandfather,” she vowed, her voice shaking with intensity. “I love him with all my heart. And I am with child, do you hear me? I am with child. You will have the great-grandchild you want.”

“What?” The general’s eyes flew open, and he popped straight up, his eyes bright with pleasure. “That’s marvelous!”

Caroline stared at him in disbelief. “You wretch!” she cried, torn between shaking him and kissing his lined cheeks. “You were faking!”

The general drew himself up haughtily. “What nonsense,” he said, his voice cool with pride. “I was acting, and very credibly too, if I do say so myself. Do you know,” he added, tipping his head to one side as if considering the matter for the first time, “I’ve always thought it rather a shame that those of our class do not tread the boards. I’d have done rather well, I think.”

Caroline and Hugh looked at each other, at the general, at each other again, and then they were laughing. Hugh caught her in a passionate embrace, crushing her to his heart and kissing her as if he would never get enough of her.

“Well,
leannan,”
he said, drawing back to gaze down at her with green eyes shining with love, “is it true, then? Do you really love me?”

“Aye,” she answered in kind, pressing a kiss to his smiling lips. “I love you,
annsachd
, more than words can say.”

His hand caressed her belly, his fingers cupping her protectively. “And you carry my son inside you?”

“Or your daughter,” she reminded him softly, her heart so filled with joy she felt like she could
float away. “What say you to that, laird of Loch Haven?”

“I say welcome home, lady of Loch Haven,” he murmured, pulling her close for another kiss. “Welcome home—and this time, mind that you stay there.”

C
APTAIN
J
ACK’S
W
OMAN
by Stephanie Laurens
A D
IME
N
OVEL
H
ERO
by Maureen McKade
H
IGHLAND
B
RIDES:
T
HE
L
ADY AND THE
K
NIGHT
by Lois Greiman
M
OUNTAIN
B
RIDE
by Susan Sawyer
A P
RINCE
A
MONG
M
EN
by Kate Moore
A T
OUGH
M
AN’S
W
OMAN
by Deborah Camp
T
HE
W
ILD
O
NE
by Danelle Harmon

Coming Soon

T
HE
H
EART
B
REAKER
by Nicole Jordan
T
HE
M
EN OF
P
RIDE
C
OUNTY
: T
HE
O
UTCAST
by Rosalyn West

And Don’t Miss These
ROMANTIC TREASURES
from Avon Books

A
FTER
T
HE
T
HUNDER
by Genell Dellin
B
RIGHTER
T
HAN
T
HE
S
UN
by Julia Quinn
W
ALTZ IN
T
IME
by Eugenia Riley