Page 20 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
But ye havenae, and thus, ye can assure him o’ that.
Yes, she could. If he would believe her, that is. But she was running ahead of herself. She would cross that bridge when she came to it. There were far mor important things she needed to consider. Like, figuring out how she was to escape. And she did need to break free. It just couldn’t be now. For a start, she had no idea where she was, and thus would likely get completely lost. Secondly, and more importantly, Keane had too many men with their eyes on her.
For now, she would pretend she was going along with this farce. Besides, the more she won the laird’s trust, the more freedom he was likely to give her. Was she now not on a horse of her own?
Elsie was still a little confused about that. Only the day before, he had bound her to him with rope. It was a rather big leap in such a short period of time.
It’s because he did yer hair.
That could be true. There had definitely been a moment there, yet another one, where the tension had sparked between them. It was she who had created that disaster in the first place. She could certainly braid her own hair. Indeed, Lucy, her maid, had taken care of that for many years and Elsie was used to someone else doing it. But she wasn’t an imbecile. The mirror was only so she could check that she looked presentable and tidy.
But, of course, once she had lied, she could not take it back, or he would know she was lying, and she had no choice but to sit there and let him attempt to do it for her. It had been the first time, since he had snatched her, that they had conversed in any civil manner. In fact, she had actually made him laugh.
Dinnae get any ideas. Ye’re still a prisoner.
Yes, she was. No matter what happened between them, Elsie had to keep that in the forefront of her mind.
The morning continued with little occurrences. They had been travelling for some time when Keane announced that they would take another break.
“There’s a river up ahead. The horses need water, and we too, can eat.”
The men about her nodded, and then Keane turned and looked at her. “Besides, her majesty isnae used tae riding,” he sneered, nodding to Elsie. “I’m sure her behind is well and truly bruised by now.”
His remark sent the men into fits of laughter, while Elsie’s face flamed with embarrassment.
What a pig!
She was still fuming when they finally came to a stop near a group of trees beside the river. Instead of waiting for Keane to come and help her this time, she dismounted as he approached, landing on her feet just as he got to her.
Turning to glare at him, she watched as his eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Ye dinnae need me help, I see,” he smirked.
“Indeed, I dinnae,” she spat back.
“Fine.”
The horses were led to the river, and then the men sat about under the trees, eating bread and meats, and drinking the wine Keane had purchased from the tavern.
“Here,” he said, handing her the wineskin. “Take a drink. It’ll cheer ye up.”
Elsie snatched it out of his hand and took a sip. The wine slipped down her throat, quenching her thirst, but it did little to temper her anger. He had humiliated her once too often, and she was getting sick and tired of him using her as some kind of release for his own pent-up frustrations.
From the utter embarrassment the day before, when she had gone to bathe, to all the snide remarks he had made from then. She had had enough. She had sworn she would get him back, and that’s exactly what she intended to do. Indeed, tossing the ale over him yesterday had given her a great sense of satisfaction, and she was eager to feel that exhilaration again.
Thinking about the vessel in her hand, that same idea at the tavern entered her mind again.
Surely, he willnae fall fer it a second time.
No. Arrogant he may be, but a fool, he was not. She had to think of something else. Her eyes wandered around about her, and taking in the area, she noticed a bush with fresh, plump blackberries hanging on the vine, ready to be picked.
Och, aye. That will dae very well.
She handed back the wineskin and waited for Keane to turn his back. She then took her opportunity and ran.
“Me laird,” one of the men hollered.
But Elsie did not look back and with her feet pounding against the damp sod beneath her feet, she made it to the bush. Snatching the berries from branches, she grabbed as many as she could, before continuing to run.
