Page 37 of Married for a Highland Debt
Ninian stood immobile. With his clenched fists resting on his hips and his feet planted widely apart on the floor, brows drawn down over his eyes, he looked like a statue of a Norse warrior: huge, fearsome, and threatening.
“I told you I will not eat or drink with you,” he growled. “Now tell me where my wife is.”
“I will tell you if you come and drink with me,” Kevin answered. His voice was pleasant, but his eyes were glinting with malice.
Ninian sighed with resignation, then went into the parlor and threw himself into a chair. He waved away the goblet of ale that Kevin offered him and waited as the other man settled himself comfortably down in his seat, deliberately taking his time, or so it seemed to Ninian.
“Bettina is with me,” Kevin said at last. “She is waiting for you in the wine cellar.”
Ninian stared at his uncle, aghast. “The wine cellar? Are you insane? What is she doing there?”
“Waiting for you to come and agree to my terms,” Kevin answered smoothly. He looked at his nephew with a steady gaze. “I expect by now you are wondering why I am holding her.”
“No,” Ninian replied. “I know exactly why. Because you are a heartless, grasping swine. Because you cannot bear to see me running the estate you wanted, and running it successfully. That is why you kidnapped my wife.”
Kevin threw back his head and laughed. “Let us not pretend you love her, Ninian. She was only ever a vessel to you, a womb in which to plant your seed, but it seems that you cannot even do that properly! Not much of a man, are you?”
Ninian leaped to his feet. “So you wish to argue about my manhood again?” he asked, teeth gritted. “Have you asked Bettina about that? Because she can tell you we have no difficulty where that matter is concerned.”
“A loyal wife would never admit such a thing, of course,” Kevin countered. “She would stand up for her husband under any circumstances.”
“So now she is a liar?” Ninian was seething. “I see. I do not have the time or the inclination to argue with you. Perhaps you can tell me what you want so we can end this farce once and for all.”
“I want the estate,” Kevin answered simply. “All of it. The castle, the lands, the village. I want it all. I have proved myself. I have a son and heir, so the line will be passed on. If it stays with you, it will die out because it is obvious you cannot sire a child.”
“And if I do not agree to your terms?” Ninian asked, trying to keep his voice steady. He was desperately afraid for his wife’s safety now, but he would not give his uncle the satisfaction of showing it.
“Then I will kill Bettina.” Kevin’s voice was flat, as if he had just announced that dinner was being served or that it was raining outside.
Ninian whipped his dagger out of his scabbard. “Why do I not just kill you first?” he asked.
“Because if you do, you will never leave this house alive, and neither will your wife,” Kevin replied. “I have only ten guards since this is only a house and not a castle, but they are perfectly capable of killing both of you before you pass through the door.”
Ninian sighed. The castle and lands or Bettina? He really had no choice; he would give up anything and everything for her.
“I accept your terms,” he answered, defeated.
Kevin bestowed a nauseating smile on him. “Excellent!” he said smugly, patting Ninian’s shoulder.
He flinched and swatted his uncle’s hand away. “Do not touch me!” he growled.
“I am deeply hurt.” Kevin laughed. “Now, I have drawn up an agreement for you to sign.” He slapped a piece of parchment on the table by his nephew’s side.
“I see that you were prepared,” Ninian said bitterly. “But I will not sign before I see my wife.”
Kevin sighed in exasperation. “Very well,” he said, raising his arm toward the door and ushering Ninian out into the passageway. They turned and walked for a short way before descending a staircase that clearly led to one of the more functional parts of the house.
They made their way further into the bowels of the building, then Kevin unlocked a heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor.
Ninian’s heart began to race as he looked into the musty space that was almost entirely shrouded in darkness except for the light of one lamp.
“Bettie?” he called. “Bettie, where are you?” Some innate caution kept him standing in the open doorway. If he had descended the stairs, it would have been far too easy for Kevin to shut the door and leave them both there to rot for eternity.
“Ninian?” Bettie’s incredulous voice came faintly out of the darkness. “Is that you?”
“Yes. Come to me!” he cried. “Hurry!” The pool of lantern light began to move toward him quickly, and in its glare, he saw Bettina at last, smiling joyfully at him as she ascended the stairs, then throwing herself into his arms.
“I thought I would never see you again!” she breathed. “I cannot believe you are real!”
