Page 29 of Never Kiss a Scot
On the floor, Brock groaned softly. Joanna knelt beside him and held out a hand to her brother.
“Your knife, please.” She wanted to cut Brock free of his bindings.
Rafe removed the blade from his coat but didn’t give it to her. “I will free him once he’s calm and knows we mean you no harm. He’s liable to kill us if he wakes up angry and afraid for you. I don’t suppose there’s any chance we could convince him someotherband of highwaymen attacked him?” her brother teased.
Joanna brushed her fingers over her fiancé’s face. “Brock, please, wake up.”
His dark lashes, ones she envied, fluttered before he finally blinked and gazed around.
“Joanna,” he murmured. Then in a flash, he struggled violently, trying to free himself and get to his feet. “Get behind me, lass!”
“I’m fine! Please, calm yourself. Look around. The men from the cave are Rafe and two of his friends.”
Brock’s gaze darted from Rafe to the other men before returning to Joanna.
“They didn’t hurt you?” he asked.
“No,” she promised him.
“Lennox? What the bloody hell were you doing, attacking us in the dark?” Brock spoke to Rafe, looking more clearly around at the room.
“My apologies, Kincade. I didn’t know why you had my sister. I thought it best to take control so I could talk to her without you around in case she needed rescuing.”
Brock glared at him. “You shouldna have put a blade to her throat. She could’ve been hurt.”
Rafe swirled his wine, chuckling. “She’s not the first lady I’ve held like that. I knew exactly what I was doing. The angle of the blade was down, and it would have pushed into her cloak if you’d tried to fight me. Also, it was not a sharp blade.” He held out the blade and dragged the edge on his palm, showing how it couldn’t cut him.
“It is indeed dull,” Brock muttered.
“Now this”—Rafe slipped a second dagger out of his coat and knelt by Brock, easily cutting the ropes—“is my dangerous one.” He then held out a hand to Brock and lifted him up on his feet.
“And these men?” Brock nodded at Falworth and Amberly.
“This is Viscount Falworth and Mr. Amberly.” He jerked his head at his two friends, who kept a smart distance away from Brock.
“Friends of yours?” Brock asked.
“Yes, since we were lads. Gentlemen, this is Lord Kincade. He has one of the Scottish earldoms,” Rafe explained.
Brock nodded at them.
“Sorry about all this. Rafe didn’t tell us he knew either of you until a moment ago,” Falworth said.
Brock ran a hand behind his head and winced.
“As I was telling Joanna, you may both stay here tonight. Your horses are safe in our stables. We have plenty of food and drink.”
“Thank you.” Brock glanced to Joanna, and she nodded in encouragement as he accepted a flask from Falworth. Brock took a drink. “Fine whiskey.”
Falworth grinned. “Took it off some gentleman we stopped on the road a few weeks ago. Nasty brute, but he does know his liquor.”
Brock chuckled, but he carefully examined the hunting lodge.
“We have two bedchambers. Joanna, you may have my room.” Rafe pointed to the room where she’d been moments ago. “I’ll sleep on a bedroll out here.”
“Did Joanna tell you why we were in” Brock stopped himself, a concerned look in his eyes.
“She did. And you won’t find any resistance from me. But youwillsleep out here with me tonight. I may not be the best brother, but I insist on her sleeping alone.”
