Page 80 of Bound to a Scot
“What are ye doin’ here?” she whispered.
“Lucky fer us, Lorn here kens the hidden passages in the castle like the back of his hand. We were able tae get down here without bein’ seen,” Maddox said with a grin.
“We need tae go, me lady,” Lorn said as he produced a ring of iron keys.
Emmeline’s heart jumped into her throat and she gripped the bars of her cell tightly. But as Lorn fit the key into the lock, the excitement that had bloomed in her chest suddenly withered and died. She took a step back and shook her head.
“Stop. We cannae,” she said.
Maddox looked up at her. “Like bleedin’ hell we cannae. We need tae get ye out of here, Emmeline,” he said. “Burchard has it in his mind tae have ye executed.”
“If we go, he’ll simply turn back tae Cecilia. Ye heard him accuse her?—”
“He only did that tae make ye jump in tae protect her,” Lorn said. “He kent ye’d dae that. ‘Twas a gambit on his part.”
Emmeline shook her head. “I’m nae willin’ tae run that risk. Nae with her life.”
“Me lady, he’d never murder his own daughter. Besides, she’s much too valuable to him,” Lorn said.
“Aye. He would. Or did ye forget it was part of his plan tae seize Maddox’s lands once he was wed tae her? He was goin’ tae murder both of them.”
She watched the men’s faces darken as their eyes narrowed. In all the excitement over what had transpired and the rush to free her, they apparently had not thought it through. But Lorn, stubborn as ever, shook his head.
“We dinnae ken that,” he said. “In the correspondence, there was only mention of murderin’ Maddox and takin’ control of his lands through Cecilia’s marriage tae him.”
“If ye think he’s goin’ tae let Cecilia live and challenge him tae control of the lands, ye’re a fool, Lorn. And I ken ye’re nae a fool,” Emmeline pressed. “He is goin’ tae kill me tae get me out of the way fer God’s sake. Dae ye really think there’s nay depths he willnae stoop tae?”
Her words were having the desired effect on both men. As much as it terrified her to think of what was to come if she remained in the cell, she had no choice. She would not condemn Cecilia to a fate she did not deserve.
“Ye need tae go,” she said. “Ye have tae let this happen. Ye both need tae protect Cecilia.”
Maddox grabbed hold of the bars, his face painted with anguish. “I willnae leave ye tae die.”
“Ye’ve got three days tae figure out how tae stop it without puttin’ Cecilia in harm’s way then,” she said. “’Tis when Burchard is plannin’ tae have a ceremony formalizin’ ye’re alliance?—”
“Sealed with the death of a traitor and then yer marriage,” Lorn said.
Emmeline nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis what he said.”
“He’s a clever man,” Lorn said with a sad shake of his head. “Too clever by half, that one.”
Maddox shook the bars and growled, his lips curling back over his teeth. “I cannae leave ye here. I willnae leave ye here.”
“Ye must. Cecilia is all that matters,” she replied softly. “Ye need tae see tae her.”
“Nay,” Maddox snapped. “I willnae leave?—”
Lorn put a gentle hand on Maddox’s shoulder and the man seemed to crumple in on himself. He covered his face with his hands and his body shook as he seemed to be trying to keep himself from crying. The fractures in Emmeline’s heart seeing him break that way opened wide, leaving a gaping hole running straight through her. But she knew this was the right thing to do.
“Ye both need tae go,” Emmeline said. “The guards will be back soon.”
“I cannae leave ye,” Maddox said weakly.
“Ye must or ye’ll find yerself in this cell beside me,” she replied. “And that willnae dae anybody any good now, will it?”
Emmeline met Lorn’s steady gaze, and she saw the flicker of fear in his eyes. It was the fear of knowing they might not be able to stop what was to come and it plunged a dagger of ice straight through her heart. But she gritted her teeth and gave him a firm nod. If anybody could figure a way out of this mess, it would be him and Maddox. And if not, she was resigned to her fate. She was at peace with it.
“We need tae go, lad,” Burchard said to Maddox gently.
