Page 29 of The Scottish Bride
“Perhaps, since I do not know you or where we might be going.” She drew up the hood of her plaid cloak, shivering a little.
“Given the manner of your exit, someone will be looking for you. It seems to me you need help. So I am helping you.”
With an impatient sigh, she stomped ahead, passing him, her boots crunching snow and bracken. In her haste, she stumbled over a tree root and fell to her hands and knees. Helping her up, Liam set an arm around her shoulders to guide her. For a moment, she set an arm about his waist as if to help him too. That gesture of trust surprised him.
“You are limping. Did I hurt you when I fell on you? I am sorry.”
“Old injury.”
“Truly I am indebted to you, sirrah. I do not mean to be ungrateful. But have we met? You seem familiar.” She tilted her head, looking up at him. He tugged at the hood of his gray cloak and half turned away.
“I am a knight in the king’s service.”
She gasped. “King Edward? But—you do not wear the kit of an English soldier.”
“Later for that. Trust me or not.” Again, he took her arm.
He had to think. Providence had dropped Lady Tamsin, as if from heaven, literally into his lap. He had come here to find the widow and the book, finding that Sir Malise Comyn had arrived at Dalrinnie before him. Though he might have saved the lass, she had saved him from knocking at the gate, and receiving a possible knock to the head for it.
Why would she take that desperate route? Was the infamous book in her bag, or did Malise Comyn have it by now? The man had practically begged Edward to let him obtain it, though Edward—out of spite, perhaps—gave the task to a rebel.
First, get the lass to safety. Then sort this out.
Ahead, he heard a quiet hoot among the trees. Gilchrist stepped into sight, and the lady pulled back.
“They found me,” she gasped.
“Easy. He is not with the Dalrinnie garrison.” The lad’s accursed red-and-gold surcoat had alarmed her.
“Liam, we must go. Is she coming with us?” Gilchrist, who had likely seen Tamsin’s escape, acted as if a lass dangling on a rope and falling into his brother’s arms was nothing unusual.
“Nay,” she said.
“Aye,” Liam said at the same time.
“Will you seek entrance to the castle?” Gilchrist asked.
“It is not necessary now.” The lady was in his keeping, and he would prefer not to bang on Dalrinnie’s gates without an army at his back.
“Who are you?” The girl looked from one to the other. “Have we met? You both look familiar. What do you want at Dalrinnie?”
“We are not Comyn’s men if that worries you,” Liam said.
Her cloud-colored eyes narrowed. “How did you know Comyn is there?”
“They made quite a clamor riding in. Hard to miss. I came here—” He stopped. “I came here for you, lass.”
“For me?” She stared up at him. Her cheeks, pink with cold, went pale.
“But you seem eager to escape, so we will do that.” He took her elbow. Without protest, she came along beside him.
Ahead, Gilchrist cleared the way with long steps, crushing bracken and slipping between trees until they reached a small clearing where Finley waited by the horses. The dog bounded ahead and turned to wait for the others.
“By the saints, what a brave thing, lass! Are ye hurt?” Finley asked. “What bad thing would make a wee girl jump out a window like that?”
“I did not jump. I climbed down.”
“Is she coming with us, then?” Finley asked his cousins.
