Page 102 of The Highlander Who Loved Me
“Move away,” the countess said. “We no longer require your services.”
“Aye.” He bobbed his head like a marionette whose strings had gone limp. Without taking his eyes from the woman, he sidestepped out of her reach.
The countess’s gaze shot to Ross. “There is no need for violence. Not yet.”
With a grunt of acknowledgment, he released Johanna. Keeping Laurel in her sight, she edged away.
The countess tipped up Laurel’s chin with one finger. “So, my dear, tell me what you would like to do.”
“I want to go home…to London…with Aunt Jo.” Laurel’s voice was clear and steady. Brave girl.
“We would like that as well,” the countess said. “But first, your aunt must give us what belongs to us.”
“I have given you the book.” Johanna fought the apprehension that threatened to shred her fragile composure. “I came a long way to bring you what you required.”
The countess drew a fingertip over Laurel’s rounded cheek. “What have you been taught about telling the truth?”
Laurel looked away, as if she sensed the malice in the countess’s syrupy tones. “One must always tell the truth.”
“Then tell me, why is your dear aunt lying to me?”
Laurel’s face fixed in a frown, and she met the countess’s gaze. “Aunt Jo is not lying. If she is not telling you everything, it is because she knows…how very evil you are.”
Cold rage flared in the countess’s eyes. “Ah, child, you’ve no idea.”
“Let her go.” Johanna swallowed against the bile in her throat. “I’ll tell you what you want to know. Just let her go.”
“The chit needs to be taught to respect her betters.” The countess slid a hand along her skirts, seeming to smooth them as she’d done moments earlier. But this time, she produced a dagger. The excitement in her eyes betrayed her bloodlust as beams of light from the chandelier glittered over the razor-honed blade.
Johanna’s mind raced. Connor had vowed to rescue Laurel, to be there when Johanna needed him. In her heart, his words rang true. But deadly obstacles surrounded Cranston and his fortress. Connor would come to her if…no, she banished the doubt…whenhe could.
But that might be too late.
She could not wait to be rescued. She’d come to bring Laurel home.
And she would, whatever the cost.
The ivory hair comb would serve as a first line of defense. But the brooch with its hidden knife was a more effective weapon. How could she access the piece while Cranston and his evil shrew watched her every move? She needed a more powerful distraction, a convincing reason to remove the pin.
First, she needed to buy time.
“If you hurt her, I won’t tell you about the stone.”
“That’s better,” Cranston said. “I know MacMasters took the map. He’d think to look for it, even if you were fool enough to believe I’d gone to these lengths for a bloody book.”
“I don’t know anything about a map. I don’t need one.” Johanna prayed the lie sounded convincing. “You see, I have the stone.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Cranston and the countess studied Johanna, as if trying to work out the truth for themselves. Clearly, her declaration had set them off base, and for the moment, she’d gotten the upper hand on the curs. Now, to maintain that slight advantage.
The countess’s flinty stare reflected her distrust. “You have the Demon’s Heart?”
“Yes.” The single syllable was bitter on Johanna’s tongue. The words that followed were no less unpalatable. But they were necessary as a pungent tonic. “Did you really think I’d trust that ruffian with the jewel?”
Cranston surveyed her with an assessing eye. “So, you admit you planned to deceive us.”
“You are a man of the world. Is it reasonable to expect honor among thieves?”
