Page 68 of Highland Crown
Jean was coming out of the tower chamber just as he reached the door.
“Steady there, Captain, and guard yerself,” she warned, going by him. “That wife of yers is raging about like a fishwife on a Friday.”
He took a deep breath to calm down, but it had no effect. What the deuce didshehave to be angry about?
Isabella stood by the window, and she whirled around as he entered. Jean was correct. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were spitting fire. And from the hands fisted at her sides, it was obvious she had a few things on her mind too.
He closed the door behind him, hard enough to let her know how he felt. “So I must hear it from Carmichael?”
“And I need to hear the truth from Blair Mackintosh?” She matched the sharpness of his tone.
Cinaed was stunned for a moment. She’d gone outside. Without him. “When the deuce did you speak tohim?”
“When I went with Mr. Carmichael to see for myself the arrangements he’s made for tomorrow.”
Cinaed tried to restrain his temper, but his simmering blood was about to boil over. She’d walked the streets of Inverness. Unprotected. This morning, while he’d been out with Searc and Captain Kenedy.
He hadn’t been gone for too long. They’d simply walked to Citadel Quay to inspect the first of the schooners being outfitted. The money Searc had “invested” for him was being put to good use. But they’d passed a dozen British soldiers, if not more. He’d seen new broadsidesbeing put up on the walls of the buildings. He didn’t go close enough to read them for fear of attracting Searc’s attention, but he guessed they were about Isabella and himself.
The entire time he was out there, his mind was at ease because she was here in the house. Safe. Out of sight.
“Why, Isabella? Why are you doing this?”
“I was about to ask the same question of you.”
She’d not just gone outside, but to the fields on the way to Longman. Downstairs, Carmichael had told him no other physician or surgeon in Inverness had agreed to help for fear of the possible violence or retribution later on. Cinaed had been ready to kill the man when he proceeded to thank him. And now he found out she’d already gone there to inspect the site.
“You lied to me,” she snapped. “You lied about how many men you were taking to rescue John Gordon. Blair told me that none of Searc’s gang could be spared.”
“I never mentioned a number.”
He may have mentioned a number, but that was beside the point. Cinaed couldn’t believe the Highlander would talk so freely, telling Isabella what they were and weren’t planning for tomorrow. Chattering away like a drunken magpie.
“You did.”
“You’re changing the subject,” he barked. “But what made you think you could safely go out and talk to those men? I’m certain I was clear about the risk. Youmustassume that everyone who passes you on the street is an enemy who will gladly take the fortune being offered for handing you over to the British. Every blasted one of them—man, woman, or child—cannot be trusted.”
“Blair was kind enough to escort me, watch over me, and stand guard while Mr. Carmichael and I looked over the inside of the building.” She planted her hands on her hips. “What was I to do? Not speak to him at all? Do you honestly think I wouldn’t ask him about how prepared he was to protect my husband tomorrow?”
Cinaed raked a tired hand through his hair. He didn’t know if he should continue berating her or make love to her.
“Iamyour husband,” he reminded her.
This was only a continuation of the argument they’d been having twice every night of this week. Once before making love and again while they lay in bed exhausted.
“How does that haveanythingto do with this discussion? Who is changing the subject now?”
“I came from Searc’s study just now. They’re expecting upwards of five thousand people out there. No one knows how many soldiers will come from Fort George. The local magistrates are worried that hotheads from both sides will turn the assembly into a riot and the dragoons will charge in to break up the protest. It could be another Peterloo. As yourhusband, I’m ordering you to stay inside this house tomorrow.”
Isabella snorted, letting him know exactly what she thought of his directive.
“We arenotmarried.” She waved her forefinger like a schoolmaster’s birch rod. “And even if we were, I would never allow you to bully me or order me about. I don’t care one whit what those wild-eyed clergymen say about the ‘sacred vows of matrimony.’”
Cinaed forced himself not to laugh at her imitation of a clergyman’s voice. “You think you can wave your fingerand make me forget what could happen to you if you were caught up in that violence?”
She threw both hands in the air and started pacing the room. “Then how does this sound? As your wife, fraudulent as that may be, I’m ordering you to send Blair and his men to fetch John Gordon while you stay here in this house with me.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
