Page 69 of A Virgin for the Vicious Highlander
“I kenned ye were smarter than ye looked like,” he said tartly. “But if ye were truly smart, ye would have stayed at the convent or gone back there with yer aunt. What ye shouldnae have done, under any circumstances, was pursue the Laird.”
Cecilia moved the wooden carvings of the donkey and the toad into her hands, hoping they were enough to cause some damage if he tried to attack her. Clearly, she had done something to anger him.
“We did what the council wanted,” she replied in a harsh hiss that echoed through the cold air. “Ye can ask Murdoch yerself. Ye have nay reason to get rid of me now.”
George scoffed. “Ye think I care about that? Ye think I care ifyecarry his heirs?” His eyes flashed with fury. “That is the last thing I want.”
Cecilia gripped the carvings tighter. “Then what is the purpose of this?”
“Ye should’ve drunk that tea when I offered it,” he growled, spittle flying out of his mouth. “It would have been easier for everyone. Ye wouldnae have felt any pain. Ye would have gone to sleep, peaceful and calm, nae kennin’ anythin’ was wrong.”
Cecilia opened her mouth to ask again what she had done wrong if it was not a matter of heirs or consummation. But George seemed to be in communion with himself, bitter words pouring out of him, leaving no room for her reply.
“Ye justhadto come and ruin me daughter’s future,” he spat. “And now ye’re goin’ to make a wretch out of me. This isnae what I wanted, Cecilia, but ye’ve left me nay choice. I cannae have ye stealin’ what is rightfully me daughter’s. Things were almost agreed upon, things were in motion, things wereso closeto goin’ me way, and ye unraveled all me hard work in one fell swoop!”
“Murdoch wasnae interested in yer daughter!” Cecilia said, determined to get a word in edgeways. “And she certainly wasnae interested in him. She’s terrified of him, for pity’s sake!”
George scoffed. “Ye ken nothin’. Ye think ye do because ye’ve connived yer way into his bed, but ye dinnae.” A dark smile crept onto his lips. “But ye’ve made it so simple for me now. Ye’ve laid yer own trap, wanderin’ off alone without tellin’ a soul.Everyonewill believe that ye decided ye’d had enough of the Beast and made yer escape while everyone else was occupied.Aye, because what lass could bear the embarrassment of such constant rejection?”
Cecilia faltered, her hands turning numb from the cold. “He hasnae rejected me. He’ll come lookin’ for me, and whether I’m dead or alive, he’ll figure out that it was ye. Ye were seen today. The villagers will tell him what they saw!”
“The villagers willnae breathe a word,” George replied, that smirk lingering on his lips. “They are terrified of yer husband, and now that they ken who ye are, they willnae speak for ye either. Even if they did, they dinnae ken who I am.”
Cecilia glanced toward the cabin, still visible through the trees. It was the closest thing to safety she had at her disposal, but she did not know if she could run there faster than he would be able to catch up to her. The castle itself was an even greater challenge—one she could not truly consider. She would never make it.
Or I can stand and fight him…
That seemed even more fruitless, but as George lunged for her, he gave her little choice.
She swung her right hand instinctively, driving the forelegs of the donkey carving into the side of his head. The legs cracked on impact, and he let out a roar of pain. She used the opportunity to run, keeping the somewhat camouflaged exterior of the cabin in her view.
Footsteps quickly followed her, thundering against the ground, crunching through what remained of the snow. Her heart pounded to that same terrifying rhythm, fear holding her in a vise as she urged her legs to move faster.
She had to escape. She had to get to the cabin and lock herself inside. Otherwise, she would be killed, and no one would ever know what had happened to her. Murdoch would believe she had run from him, when that was the very last thing she wanted to do. She understood that now.
I want to be at his side forever.I want to be the one to eventually make him smile. I want to be held by him. I want to fall asleep beside him. I want to make love to him. I want to?—
A heavy weight collided with her back, a strong arm snaking around her waist. Her legs gave way as the impact knocked her forward, helpless to stop her fall.
All of the air was squeezed out of her lungs as George landed on top of her, pinning her to the ground. She gasped and writhed as best as she could, desperate to draw in a breath to regain her strength, but he was stronger.
He sat up, digging his knee between her shoulders to keep her down. “Ye should have drunk the tea, Cecilia.”
“Ye should have… swallowed yer… ambition and greed,George,” she wheezed back. “Tara… doesnae like him. She wouldnae… marry him even if he were the last… man on Earth.”
She loves Lennox. And ye are completely oblivious, blinded by yer ambitions.
She squirmed with all her might, but he pushed his knee down harder, giving her a choice between breathing and speaking.
George tore the burlap wraps until they became a rope of sorts. He wrenched her arms behind her back and bound her wrists together, before slowly getting off her.
“Me daughterwillbe Lady Moore,” he said sharply, yanking her to her feet. “I couldnae care less if the Beast terrifies her. She’ll do as she’s told, just as ye’re goin’ to do. Now, walk.”
Cecilia glowered at him. “The only beast I see is the greedy rat standin’ before me, threatenin’ to kidnap and kill me.”
“It’s nae a threat, Cecilia,” George grunted, shoving her forward. “It’s a promise.”
CHAPTER 30
