Page 173 of Taming the Highland Misfits
Larry stared at her, never having heard such a suggestion before. It had never even occurred to him, and suddenly he saw what an intelligent woman he was dealing with, even if he did not agree with her. He shrugged and smiled at her. “It is an interesting point of view,” he said noncommittally.
“As well as that, he has cost me the ladyship of two clans because of his negligence—or his guilt.” She looked up at Larry. “I want to tell him exactly what I think of him.”
Ailsa would make a fine wife, Larry thought as he gazed at her. She was clever, cultured, and last but not least, beautiful, and it would greatly enhance his status and prestige to have her gracing his arm on every occasion. If the two of them were to wed, then the two clans could unite and he would be the ruler of both clans, the dispute would be settled, and there would be peace.
However, he had never cared too much about that. The plan he had devised a long time ago was coming to fruition, and if it resulted in peace, then so much the better. However, what he really wanted was power, and now he wanted Ailsa. With this in mind, he decided to indulge her. “I will let you see Ramsay,” he conceded. “But not for too long. I do not want to keep everyone waiting.”
Ailsa nodded in agreement. “What I have to say will not take too long,” she informed him. “I just have to get rid of all this anger!” Her voice was a growl.
“I understand,” Larry said, nodding. “I feel exactly the same way. Follow me.”
20
Ramsay had cleaned himself up as best he could for the trial. He had washed his body, hair, and beard with cold water and coarse soap, but he had not been allowed a blade, so he was unable to shave off his beard, which was now thick, long, and itchy. He knew he looked like a tramp, and was glad that Ailsa was not there to see him.
He thought about her constantly, imagining the life they could have had together if things had been different. There would have been children, at least four, he hoped; two sons and two daughters. They would all have Ailsa’s auburn hair, bright green eyes, lively spirit, and sense of fun.
He could imagine playing with all of them, then sitting around the fire at night telling stories, and finally kissing them goodnight before tucking them into bed. He would make sure that he gave them all the love that he had been denied all his life.
As well as that, he could sleep in the same bed as Ailsa every night and make love to her as often as they wished. What a glorious life it would be!
Ramsay never dismissed his dreams as being foolish, for he knew that the life he had crafted for the two of them in his mind was the only one there would ever be. His fantasies did no harm and helped him to experience a tiny morsel of happiness in the drab days of his incarceration.
He stretched his arms out and thrust his chest forward, and then bent down to touch his toes. He found that a few exercises in the morning made him feel better and helped him to pass the time. Sometimes the days seemed endless.
Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching along the corridor and his heart began to beat fast and heavily; this was the moment he had been dreading. They were coming to try him and execute him; he knew that the verdict had already been decided.
When he straightened up, he found himself gazing straight into Ailsa’s bright eyes. A thrill of happiness shot through him as he feasted his eyes on the woman he loved most in the world, but just as he was about to smile at her, he saw Larry standing behind her.
“Well, Ailsa,” his cousin said to her, “do you want to say something to Ramsay?” His eyes were dark with malice.
“Open the gates,” Ailsa ordered. “I want to use more than words.” She was still frowning, and her heart was aching as she saw the hurt on Ramsay’s face and the way he was backing away from her. His grey eyes were questioning and puzzled at the hostile expression on her face.
Ailsa wanted to rush into his arms and tell him how much she loved him, but that was still impossible. There was something else she had to do first, something that would wound both of them deeply. Nevertheless, it had to be done.
Since Larry was behind her, Ailsa tried to signal Ramsay by widening her eyes as she stepped forward. It was against every instinct she possessed, but she slapped him across the face with her palm, then the back of her hand.
She could feel her heart breaking as she did so, especially since the pain brought tears to his eyes. When she had struck Molly she had felt almost triumphant, but now she was totally ashamed of herself. Ramsay did not deserve this.
“I will be at your trial to see that you get what you deserve,” she said scathingly. “You are not fit to live any longer, you piece of slime!”
She pushed him backward and he bumped into the wall, slidding down it to land on the straw-covered floor. She took another step towards him and almost burst into tears as he raised his arm to shield his face from another blow.
Behind her, she heard Larry laughing, then a loud male voice came echoing along the passage. Ailsa could not make out the words, but it was obviously a summons because Larry answered irritably, “I’m coming!” He turned back to Ailsa. “I can see how much you are enjoying this, Ailsa! I will leave you for a few moments as I have something to do, but I will be back.”
He looked at Ramsay, and his lip curled in disdain as he watched his cousin cowering in fear. “Scared of a young woman, big man?” he asked. “I never thought much of you, but I thought you had more courage than that.” He gave a sneering laugh then turned away, and they heard his footsteps retreating down the corridor. He was still laughing.
Ailsa turned to face Ramsay again. He had shifted his position so that his knees were drawn up to touch his forehead and his arms were wrapped around them. He was shielding himself from her as much as he could, and Ailsa hated herself for having to make him so vulnerable.
She knelt down beside him, but he did not look up. “Ramsay, I am so sorry,” she murmured. “I had to do that. I need Larry to think I am on his side. Will you forgive me, please? Let me explain what happened.”
Slowly, Ramsay looked up, and Ailsa found the look of hurt and reproach in his eyes almost unbearable. The mark of her hand on his cheek stood out, livid and red against his fair skin, and she felt such shame she could hardly bear it.
He gazed at her for a while, and understanding slowly began to dawn. Ailsa was not doing this to hurt him, but to save him—he hoped. He drank in the beauty of her bright green eyes, her river of auburn hair, and her curvy womanly shape. God, she was gorgeous. If only.
Slowly he managed to say the words, “I will forgive you if you tell me what is happening, Ailsa.” He sighed. “These may be my last few hours on earth, and I would rather not spend them arguing with you. I can think of better things to do.” His gaze drifted to her lips, letting her know without words what he needed and wanted.
Ailsa needed no second bidding. She wrapped her arms around him, then felt the answering pressure of his as he pulled her closer, and despite the peril of their circumstances, she felt somehow safe in his arms. When his lips touched hers she moaned with pleasure and relief, and when she felt his tongue sweeping into her mouth, she stroked it with her own, hearing Ramsay sigh with pleasure.
