Page 48 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
CHAPTER19
Lily was dozing,and Ailis was beginning to feel a little tired herself when the sound of the door opening made her bolt upright, wide awake.
A man entered the room, wearing a laird’s torc and a bored expression on his face. Ailis tensed.
There was no question he was the man who’d ordered her kidnapping and Lily’s. She studied him at the same time he was looking at her.
He was tall and lean, and fair, whereas Duncan was dark. His hair was a shade or two darker than her own, and his eyes were a pale green, like seafoam. His expression was cold and distant, with a cruel twist that made her stomach churn.
When he spoke, his voice was a pleasant baritone that made his words all the more chilling. “Ye’re a bonny lass. Pity ye’ve been with Muir. But either way, there’s nay point in ye clingin’ onto the child. As soon as I’m finished with me plans, ye’ll never see the brat again.”
Lily had been awakened by the first words, and she whimpered. Ailis hugged her once to comfort her, before she gently extricated herself from the child’s arms and pushed to her feet between the strange Laird and Lily.
“Ye’ll take this child over me dead body, Me Laird.”
“It would be a shame to waste such a pretty lass, but I’ve nay problem with that. As Laird Muir’s woman, ye’re nae worth much in any case.” He waved a hand. “Ye have a choice. Ye can get out of me way and make this easier, and mayhap I’ll let ye return to yer lover alive, or ye can be stubborn.”
“I said it afore, and I’ll say it again,Me Laird…” She spat the title like a curse. “I’m nae movin’, and ye’ll touch this child over me dead body.”
“As ye wish. Over yer dead body it is.”
“Actually, Scott, I’m thinkin’ the only dead body that will be in this room is yers. And I’ll thank ye to step away from me betrothed and me daughter. Now.”
Ailis’s heart leaped at the sound of a familiar and very welcome voice. She thought she’d faint with relief when Duncan’s form stepped through the door, blade in hand.
“Duncan!”
“Ailis.”
As he moved inside to stand with his back to the nearby wall, she saw other men in Muir tartan taking up positions outside, including Jack.
Duncan’s stony countenance took on a faintly mocking expression. “Lady Ailis Anderson, I present to ye Scott Ferguson, the current Laird of Clan Fraser.”
“I was wonderin’ if ye’d turn up.” Laird Fraser sneered. “Though I’ll say I didnae expect to see ye so soon.”
Duncan snorted with clear derision. “As if I didnae guess who had me daughter as soon as I noticed she was missin’ and found me injured guard. Beyond that, the man who took Ailis…” He tipped his head in her direction. “… left carriage tracks plain as day. ‘Twas a simple matter to gather a small group of warriors and come here. And a simpler matter to make me way inside through one of yer side gates.”
Laird Fraser’s lip curled. “I suppose ye’ve dispatched me guards?”
“The quiet ones are takin’ a nap. The rest willnae be wakin’ up any time soon.” Duncan smiled back coldly.
“As I expected. Though I dinnae ken why ye’d bother. It’s nae as if ye’ve any right to keep me from seein’ the whelp. I’ve more claim to her than anyone else.”
Ailis had no idea what he was talking about, but she did know this was not a conversation any child should be listening to. Lily didn’t deserve to be talked about like she was a possession or a pup to be traded, and she certainly shouldn’t have to hear the things being said.
She turned and leaned close. “Lily-love, can ye do somethin’ for me?”
The little girl looked up at her, confusion and fear plain on her face, and then nodded.
“Good lass. I want ye to put yer hands over yer ears, as tight as ye can, and think about nice things.”
“Nice things? Like… puppies? Or kitties? Or dessert?”
“All of those things. Close yer eyes, think of those, and dinnae listen to anythin’ else until I touch yer shoulder, all right?”
Lily nodded again, then slapped her hands tight over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, the way she sometimes did when they were playing hiding and seek.
Ailis turned back to the conversation just as Duncan snarled a reply to something Scott Ferguson had said.
