Page 84 of Keeping Kate
Looking up at him, Kate was speechless. His concern, touched with outrage, his willingness to challenge her kinsmen gave her a sudden, strong feeling. He did love her. He did care. Her heart began to pound.
“Now, hold on a minute until you understand, sir,” Rob said.
“I understand, sir, you and your kinsmen and friends likely knew more of the risks better than she did,” Alec went on. “A beautiful young woman with an irresistible charm about her should never have gone out alone to do what she was doing.”
“It was my choice,” Kate said. “It was not their order.”
“I would never have let you do that,” he said.
“Nor would I have asked your permission,” she snapped. “I told my kinsmen I would manage without them. They always sent someone with me.”
“She is a stubborn lass,” Rob said. “But she wanted to help. Wanted to be involved.”
“I am wondering,” Connor said, “why the captain is more interested in her safety than her supposed offenses.”
“Aye. Interesting,” Rob agreed.
“She is a fiery bit lass, I know that,” Alec said, “and if she wants to do something, it is nigh impossible to stop her. She is brave, resourceful and bonny,” he said as he continued quickly, “and she willingly risked life, limb, and reputation for you lot and the Jacobite cause.”
“You seem to care a good deal about this,” Connor observed.
“I do. I care that she could have been ruined or hurt. I care that she was poorly treated in that damnable prison. And where were you lads then?”
“Searching for her. Going place to place for word of her. The whole irresponsible lot of us,” Rob said sharply.
“And she was with you all the while,” Allan said. “So the question may be, Captain, what the devil wereyoudoing with her, while we were searching?”
“Watching after her welfare best I could,” he said.
“He would not let me escape,” Kate said, “but that kept me safe, I think.”
“The lad is as stubborn as she is,” Rob said, arms crossed as he regarded them. “And did the man treat you well?”
“He did.” Kate looked at Alec. “He took me away from the prison as soon as he found me there. He treated me with respect, always—careful of my comfort and safety.”
Alec inclined his head toward her, listening. She glanced away, still feeling a secret thrill that the topic of her welfare had stoked him to a fiery outburst.
“Then we owe you our gratitude, sir,” Rob said. “And in answer to your question, we may have let Kate help with some...clandestine activities. Our Jacobite loyalties will be no surprise to you, so I will not skirt it.”
Alec nodded. “Why involve her in intrigue?”
“She is able to go places we cannot go and obtain information we cannot get. We gave her protection as we could. But her ability protects her too.”
“This fairy business?” Alec shrugged. “You realize that Katie Hell now has a reputation for magic and spellcasting, along with some unsavory traits.”
“The rumors were part of the risk, but so long as she stayed protected and her true identity was not known, that reputation would stay apart from Kate MacCarran. As for the fairy legends, those may seem foolish to some, but we know the power of them.”
Alec shook his head slightly. “The lass has wicked charm and is as clever and as stubborn as they come. But you all sincerely believe in this fairy gift?”
Rob and the others shrugged, glanced, nodded.
“I sympathize with you, Fraser,” Connor said. “I was in this situation myself.”
“Situation?” Alec asked.
Connor inclined his head. “Being spun about by one of the MacCarran lasses and having to sort out the fairy nonsense.”
Alec half-smiled. “Indeed, Kinnoull.”
