Page 26 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
She was glad for the darkness for he could not see her cheeks turning bright crimson as they warmed. She felt self-conscious.
I cannae even accept a kind word without blushin’!
“Can I ask ye a question?”
“Aye. Of course,” Isolde replied.
“I gave ye me word tae keep ye safe,” he said thoughtfully. “Why nae just tell me where they’re keepin’ Finlay?”
She frowned in the darkness, but the truth was that they were drawing close to Cluny House, the seat of Laird MacPherson’s power. Isolde trusted Struan, but she feared if she told him now, he would insist on storming MacPherson’s keep to save his brother before forming a solid plan that would not lead them both to death.
She couldn’t blame him for his strong will, of course. But it would make an already complicated situation even more tense. Not to mention far more dangerous.
Despite the prickling and sharp stab of guilt over withholding that information from Struan, Isolde thought it best to keep it to herself. For now.
“I will. I’ll tell ye everythin’ once we’re well away from me faither’s lands,” she said. “I gave ye me word just as ye gave me yers. And we’ll just have tae trust each other.”
A long, quiet moment passed between them. It was so quiet in fact, Isolde thought she could hear him grinding his teeth, undoubtedly frustrated with her reluctance to tell him where Finlay was being kept. But then he let out a soft sigh and the tension that had been crackling in the air of the chamber suddenly dissipated.
“All right,” he said. “Fair enough.”
“And where… where are ye goin’ tae take me?” she asked.
“I’m goin’ tae take ye back tae Achnacarry. Once we get there?—”
“Ye’re takin’ me tae yer lands?”
“Aye.”
“Why Achnacarry?”
“Because back home, among me own people ‘tis the only way I ken how tae keep ye safe,” he said softly. “I figure once we’rethere and away from yer faither’s men, ye can tell me where Finlay is and I can start plannin’ on how tae get him back. And ye can take a wee bit of time and figure out where ye’re goin’ tae go and what ye’ll dae.”
“And ye’ll let me leave? Just like that?”
His eyes glittered as he looked at her. “Did ye want tae stay with me, then?”
Isolde’s cheeks flushed and her heart leaped into her throat. Not over his words. But at the way he looked at her. There was something behind his eyes that sent a shiver of pleasure coursing up and down her spine. It made the hair on her arms stand on end and brought a smile to her face she couldn’t stop.
Isolde cleared her throat and tried to maintain some bit of decorum. “I was just nae sure what would become of me once we reached Achnacarry.”
“It sounded tae me like ye want tae stay,” he teased.
The flush in her cheeks made her face feel like her whole head was going to burst into flames. She sniffed and tried to control it—and failed. It made Struan laugh heartily.
“Did ye think I’d try tae keep ye? Or is that what ye wanted?”
Isolde knew he was teasing her just to get a rise out of her. He seemed to be taking an immense out of pleasure in making hersquirm and blush. She narrowed her eyes and a mischievous grin stretched her lips as she decided to turn the tables on him.
“Or is that what ye want?” she countered. “Is it ye who wants tae keep me? Is it ye who cannae bear tae be without me?”
Struan gaped at her for a moment, his face blank. He clearly hadn’t expected her to turn it around on him. After a long moment, he shook his head and chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“Ye’re a cheeky one, lass.”
“Aye. When it suits.”
“I vowed tae keep ye safe,” he told her. “I’m a lot of things and nae all of them are good, but I am a man of me word. And I can promise ye thatwhateverhappens when we get back tae Achnacarry will be up tae ye.”
