Taken By Storm (18 page)

“My concern has nothing to do with my husband. It has to do with a man who deceives people and will always deceive people. The earl cannot now or ever be trusted. He sets a trap and will see your
brother dead before turning him over to you, though after taking ownership of your gold mine.”

“Now you wound my intelligence,” Burke said annoyed. “I’d never let that happen.”

“You won’t see it coming.”

“I’m a cautious person—”

“Not cautious enough when it comes to the earl,” Storm warned.

“You managed to break into his prison and free your husband and he never saw it coming. I think I can manage the same.”

Storm rubbed her forehead and leaned against a thick tree trunk. “He didn’t expect me, a mere woman, to make such a foolish attempt. I had the element of surprise on my side.”

“And Tanin to help.”

Storm sighed. “Tanin wasn’t with me in the prison.”

“You told me that Tanin had plans to free his wife and you asked to join him.”

“Yes, but I changed his plan since I knew it was doomed to fail and we executed my plan instead.”

“You had a plan all along? You intended to free your husband on your own?” He shook his head. “Something happened that night with the earl, didn’t it? That’s why he is so determined to catch you and make you pay. What happened, Storm? What did you do to the earl?”

S
torm wasn’t interested in reliving the night her husband died, but she wanted Burke to understand the Earl of Balford’s true nature. He was a man who cared for no one but himself and would do anything to get what he wanted, at any cost.

She couldn’t let that cost be Burke. She had foolishly allowed the American to steal her heart, and she realized just how much when she caught sight of him in the carriage safely returning to her.

She had barely taken a breath while he was gone. She had worried every minute of his absence and had already had a rescue plan formulated in case it became necessary.

Under no circumstances would she allow Burke to remain a prisoner of the earl for even one day and chance his being carted off to Weighton like his brother.

“Storm,” Burke said softly.

She stared at him for a moment. She loved looking upon his face. His features defined a man of strength and honor, while his quick smile warned of his humor, and his dark eyes betrayed the depth of his feelings.

He was a man easy to love and one who loved her with the same ease. Love had found them both or as Burke would remind her—it was fate.

Storm cleared her head with a shake. “I had a rescue plan ready when I approached Tanin. Naturally, he thought his plan better until he heard mine and then he realized mine was the one more likely to succeed.”

“It involved the earl, didn’t it?” Burke accused.

“It couldn’t help but involve him,” Storm admitted. “If the earl’s life was in danger, then the guards wouldn’t dare stop a rescue.”

“How did you manage to get hold of the earl?”

“I didn’t have to. I knew my husband was close to death and I knew the earl would offer to release him if I submitted to him.”

Burke shook his head. “What? He would free your husband in exchange for sex?”

“Only when he knew the prisoner lay close to death. He wasn’t about to really let him free, regardless of what money he had collected or promises he had made. He had done it many times before to other prisoners’ wives, so I knew I could count on him to do it again, especially since he was casting overtures in that direction the last few times he had spoken with me.”

“I’m going to kill the bastard,” Burke snarled.

“I wish I had, but I needed him to free my husband in hopes that I was not too late. The earl was shocked when I pulled a knife on him.”

“How did you ever get him from the manor house down to the prison without anyone seeing you?”

“We were already in the prison,” Storm said. “You see, the earl liked to take a prisoner’s wife in front of him.”

“Damn, now the man really has to die.”

“I made the guard free Ellie and she trussed up the two guards, and then with me pressing the point of the knife to the earl’s neck and drawing enough blood to frighten him to remain still, Ellie tied him up. We secured them, and Tanin saw to the guard outside and was waiting for us when we came out. He helped me with Daniel and we all took off.”

Storm took a breath and fought back tears. She would not cry and she would not linger on the sad memories. She told Burke this story for a reason and she hoped it served the purpose she intended.

“You understand now why you should not trust the earl?”

“I understand even more, and believe me, I don’t trust him. Once the papers are signed, Cullen and I will leave Weighton immediately—”

“Weighton? The earl wants the exchange to take place at Weighton?” she asked, shaking her head. “The earl doesn’t intend for your brother or you to leave the prison.”

“My captain and several sailors will be with me.”

“He won’t let them in the prison. Rules, he will
claim, and in your zeal to free your brother you will imprison yourself.”

“Not so, I know what I do.”

“Didn’t you hear what I just told you? The earl will have his way. He will have your gold mine, your brother, and you. This will never work. We need another plan.”

“There is no other plan,” Burke warned.

Storm walked up to him and jabbed him in the chest. “You’re a stubborn American.”

“And you’re not a stubborn Scot?” he said and grabbed her finger, spun her around, his arms closing around her middle, and leaned his face over her shoulder to press his cheek to hers.

She struggled for a moment, then leaned back against him, resting her hands on his arms wrapped around her. “It serves no purpose to battle each other.”

“Then surrender and the problem is solved,” he advised with a kiss to her cheek.

“I cannot. This plan is doomed to fail.”

“We will plan it together so that there is no room for failure,” he offered.

“It will not work, Burke,” she said, wishing she was wrong, yet knowing she was right.

“It will. We will make it work.”

He truly believed in the plan’s success and she hated to discourage him, but how did she make him see the truth?

Then an idea occurred to her. “I think Lady Alaina could again prove helpful,” Storm said, drifting out of his arms to turn and face him. She would
know or could learn of her father’s intentions. She would be able to convince Burke of the folly of his plan. Then Storm herself would need to convince him that the only way out of Weighton for his brother was for her to go in.

“I don’t think her father would discuss his plans with her.”

“Probably not, but I believe Lady Alaina would have a way of finding out. She has known of Cullen’s whereabouts each time he was moved.”

Burke seemed hesitant.

“If we are to make this plan work, we need to make certain we consider all the variables and be prepared, or else we are guaranteeing our failure.”

“There you go making sense again,” he teasingly accused.

“I try,” she said and drifted back into his arms. He welcomed her as he always did, his arms going around her, protecting, comforting, loving her.

“Can we get a message to her?” Burke asked.

“I’ll see that one is sent right away. We’ll let her know of her father’s plan and ask that she keep us apprised of any changes.”

“Tell her also that we’ll let her know when to be ready.”

Storm nestled in the crook of his arm to glance up at him. “Ready?”

“She’s going with us to America.”

There was no point in addressing this subject again. Burke had his opinion on the matter and she had hers and they would never agree. She would let him believe what he wished to believe. It would
make the next couple of weeks easier. Then he would be gone and it would be done. She would never see him again.

The pain in her heart nearly brought her to her knees and she cursed herself for falling in love with Burke. But it was done and she could do nothing about it but bid him farewell.

“No disagreement?’ he asked with a smile. “Do I dare hope we’ve made progress?”

“We have much to plan. We can’t waste time on a trivial matter.”

“Trivial?” His smile faded and he dropped his arms from around her. “My love for you is not trivial. My wanting us to wed and have a life together in America is not trivial. My—”

His sudden pause had her eyes turning wide. He looked about to say something and she had a feeling that, whatever it was, she wasn’t going to like it.

“You’re coming to America with me and that’s the end of it.”

She broke into a smile, and she gave a little cough to clear her giggles before she spoke. “You are amusing.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Feel amused if you like but you are going with me.”

Storm turned blazing blue eyes on him. “I don’t take orders—”

Burke marched right up to her. “You’re going with me and that’s that.”

Storm took a step away from him. “We’ll discuss this at another time.” She turned and walked away.

“Put it off all you like, Storm,” Burke called out.
“It doesn’t change the fact that you’re going with me to America.”

They packed up and were soon on their way home. Storm didn’t want to waste a minute of their precious time. Philip remained behind as a contact for Lady Alaina. He would bring them news when it became available and he would inform her of when to be ready to join Cullen.

They would have little time once they returned to camp. It would take three days to get to Weighton, and with only two weeks left, that didn’t give them much time to plan and execute a solid rescue.

Time was running out fast for everyone, and Storm wasn’t sure if success was possible. That didn’t, however, prevent her from trying. The journey home was spent wisely. She formulated a plan in her head, making changes, perfecting it, and praying it would succeed.

She kept Burke out of her head as much as possible—not that he didn’t force his way in. She was reminded of his intentions every time she caught sight of his determination. It was etched in every line and curve of his rugged face and in the glint of his dark eyes.

Of course, when her glance happened to stray to his lips, that was an altogether different thought. She would lick her own lips and be reminded of his taste, so pungent and powerful. His kisses never failed to awaken her passion. Even the mere thought of them could heat her desire, and it took much willpower to refocus her thoughts.

“Lick your lips one more time,” Burke warned
from alongside her, “and you’ll find yourself being dragged off into the bushes for a rousing bout of lovemaking.”

“Promises, promises,” she teased.

“Don’t challenge me, Storm,” he cautioned, his dark eyes stirring with repressed passion.

Her own urges stirred like molten heat, and for a moment she was tempted to take his challenge. How much time was really left to them? Shouldn’t she make the most of the time left to her? Shouldn’t she taste his love as many times as possible before he bid her good-bye?

His love.

Wasn’t that what she would miss? His love, being loved, having someone to love?

“I won’t,” she said sadly and walked ahead of him.

He caught up with her and kept pace alongside her. “But you want to.”

“I won’t deny that I do. It’s just not the time or place.”

“Making love requires no specific time or place.”

She smiled softly, recalling the many times they had made love, and that none had been planned or expected. They made love simply because they felt the need and the desire to mate.

“You agree,” he said with his own smile.

“How can I not?” she asked, her smile spreading. “You have left me with wonderful memories.”

Burke reached for her hand and took firm hold. “We have many more memories to make together.”

She wished that were so. She wished things were
different and that she could love this man freely, without any complications. Unfortunately, that wasn’t so, and she could not continue to think on such a dream. She had to let go.

Malcolm suddenly joined them and signaled Storm that someone approached.

Everyone dispersed in directions away from the approaching footfalls. Burke naturally went with her, since he rarely left her side whenever they were on a mission. It was as if he had proclaimed himself her chief protector.

No one seemed to mind, but then her men knew that if their leader had not wanted the American near her, she would have seen to it.

She and Burke took cover behind the trunk of a giant spruce. It was wide enough to shield them both, and the bushes that grew around it offered further concealment.

Malcolm and Angus had hurriedly climbed two big spruces and perched on branches in order to see who trailed them.

Both men signaled Storm that they had yet to determine who approached, so silence reigned, as did patience.

Malcolm was the first to signal that all was well, and soon they all gathered around once again.

“It’s Philip,” Malcolm said.

“He has Lady Alaina with him,” Angus added.

Gooseflesh rushed over Storm. Something had to have happened for her to come this distance with Philip. And it couldn’t be good.

It took only a few moments for Philip and Lady
Alaina to finally appear. She seemed a bit out of breath, and Philip was quick to help her sit on a fallen log, while Malcolm graciously offered her water from the pouch he carried.

Lady Alaina accepted it gratefully and took a few minutes to collect herself.

“Lady Alaina has learned vital information concerning Burke’s agreement,” Philip offered as an explanation.

“So soon?” Burke asked, surprised.

Lady Alaina nodded, then took another swallow of water.

“Tell us, Philip,” Storm said.

“Lady Alaina did not share the news with me. She insisted that I bring her directly to Burke.”

Lady Alaina finally regained her composure. “I had to speak with you myself, Mr. Longton.”

“Please call me Burke. After all, you will soon be my sister-in-law.”

Lady Alaina pressed both hands to her chest. “How I wish that were true. Unfortunately, my father intends to see Cullen and you dead.”

“He never planned to honor our agreement?” Burke asked.

Lady Alaina shook her head. “After you left I made certain to remain near my father, though he didn’t know I lurked about. I learned when I was very young to become invisible to my father while watching his every move. It kept me safe.”

She paused a moment and stared at Storm. “I know you and yet…”

“My wife,” Burke reminded.

Lady Alaina shook her head. “No, you’re the infamous Storm. If I remember correctly, my father was instrumental in starting your career.”

“He was,” Storm said and, wanting to spare the woman any more obvious discomfort, added, “but it is the news you have we wish to hear.”

Lady Alaina nodded. “Yes. Yes, it is important. My father has no intentions of releasing Cullen and no intentions of giving up the gold mine you offer him. He intends for neither of you to live.”