Page 68 of A Virgin for the Vicious Highlander
George nodded. “Does the Laird ken that ye’re here?”
“Nay,” she admitted, feeling a pang of concern. “And ye mustnae tell him either. He’d be so cross with Lennox, and it wasnae Lennox’s fault. I confess I snuck out of the castle to see more of the clan.”
George pursed his lips, his eyes narrowing for a moment. “Ye realize that it’s me duty to take ye back to the castle though, aye? It’ll be dark before ye ken it. Ye dinnae ken these roads well, and a Lady shouldnae be outside alone. Moreover, if the Laird found out that I’d seen ye anddidnaebring ye back, he’d have me head.”
It was not what Cecilia wanted to hear, but she could understand the older man’s worries. Herposition in the castle was relatively safe, especially now that the marriage had been consummated, but George’s was not. If his actions displeased Murdoch, Murdoch would get rid of him and replace him with someone else.
“Aye, I suppose I understand that,” she sighed.
George offered her his arm. “It really isnae safe, M’Lady. Ye have to be more careful now that ye’re married to the Laird.”
She took his proffered arm, holding her purchases closer to her chest as she allowed him to guide her away from the village market. Evidently, being allowed to “do what she pleased” was just a facade designed to make her think she was free.
“Could ye nae get Tara to accompany ye?” George asked as they walked down a path between two cottages.
Cecilia shook her head. “She was out somewhere, walkin’ with me puppy.”
“And yer aunt?”
Cecilia shrugged. “I thought she might be here with Aileen, but I havenae seen them both.”
“What of the Laird?”
Cecilia heaved a frustrated sigh, already feeling her sour mood returning. “He left this mornin’ and gave nay indication of when he might return.” She paused. “I wasnae tryin’ to cause trouble—I just didnae want to be cooped up in the castle today.”
“Understandable,” George replied gently. “Nevertheless, it’s nae exactly… appropriate. Anythin’ could have happened to ye on the road from there to here.”
They continued on in an easy silence, leaving the chatter and village behind. The route was not the same one that Cecilia had taken, but she was happy to follow George’s lead, enjoying the passing scenery and savoring her last moments of rebellion before she found herself inside the castle again.
As they proceeded deeper and deeper into the forest, however, and even the creatures of the woodland fell silent, an eerie shiver slithered up her spine.
Something was not right.
“Is this a shorter path to the castle?” she asked, clearing her throat.
George glanced at her. “It is. Once ye’ve lived in Castle Moore for a while, ye’ll learn all the ways to the different villages and towns nearby. Someone ought to give ye a map, really.”
His words calmed her, though she looked around her anxiously as they continued down a vague path in the undergrowth. It did not seem like many people used this route, and there were no markers to show her in which direction to go.
She might have kept following George had she not glimpsed a familiar cabin up ahead, hardly visible through the trees thanks to its rudimentary camouflage.
We’re nae goin’ toward the castle at all,she realized as he led her west of the cabin—the very opposite direction to Castle Moore.
CHAPTER 29
Cecilia wrenchedher arm away from him, staggering back. “What are ye doin’?” she panted, glaring at him.
George raised a confused eyebrow. “I’m takin’ ye home.”
“Nay, ye’re nae.” She swallowed down her fear. “The castle is in the opposite direction. Ye were leadin’ me deeper into the forest, and I’d like to ken why.”
George continued to look bewildered. “M’Lady, ye dinnae ken these lands like I do. Ye’re mistaken. The castle is this way, I promise.” He reached for her again, but she recoiled from him. “M’Lady, if ye dinnae follow me, ye’ll get lost. Do ye really want to put the castle through that trouble again?”
“I might nae ken these lands, Mr. MacGill, but I ken where I am, and I ken which way is the right direction,” she shot back, breathing hard. “I remember.Thisis where Murdoch found methe last time, and I ken with all certainty in which direction we went. What I dinnae ken is what ye’re up to.”
A nasty sneer lifted one corner of George’s mouth, the facade of “concerned councilman” cracking in an instant. Now, his questions made sense. He had not been worried about her being alone; he had been overjoyed, wanting to make certain that no one else knew where she was.
But why?
