Page 11 of Kidnapped By her Highland Enemy
“And I heard that,” Oliver growled from the doorway.
“Calm ye,” Lucas snorted. “I’m jesting.”
Ian came into the room, yawning. “Good morning. The other lass isnae awake yet, but she keeps asking to see her mistress. What shall I do?”
“That depends, I’ll speak to the lass first,” Lucas sobered. “If ye willnae mind, Eilidh, please warm some milk for her, and I’ll take one o’ the pies to her as well.”
With an agreeable nod, Eilidh set the pot on, and Lucas went outside to check the perimeter. He made sure to look for boot prints in the soft silt, or on crushed leaves, but found none. By the time he hurried back to the house, he realized that Eilidh had taken matters in her hands and had gone to see Maisie.
As quietly as he could, he mounted the stairs, edged to the half- open doorway, and leaned an ear to the room.
“—I daenae ken what he wants with keeping me here,” Maisie said, rather morosely. He was angled enough to see her picking at the pie on her lap. “I doubt he wants to harm me, for, if he had, he wouldn’t have kept me alive an hour after he took me away.”
“Lucas isnae a cruel man,” Eilidh said. “He is arrogant, aye, very cocksure of himself and acts like a madcap at times, but I have found him to be very kind, smart and willing to help. He doesnae do anything without prior thought, lass, be sure of that.”
“Then why all this?” Maisie asked, her tone laden with confusion. “If this is because of this sodden feud, I have told me faither to stop all this fighting, that it makes no sense. I would prefer for us to be at peace with our neighbor, even if it means to be subservient, than to keep this bloodshed.”
Stunned, Lucas felt a knot in the middle of his chest tighten. Had she done that—in truth?
“That is honorable of ye, lass,” Eilidh said gently. “Ye might be the first one to suggest such a thing. Ye might be the last, too, because Laird Barclay is as hard-headed as they come.”
Lucas rolled his eyes.
“Me faither is the same,” Maisie huffed as she stabbed at her food. “I daenae ken what is wrong with these stubborn men.Why does nae one want peace? Are they going to be fighting to the day of judgment?”
“Possibly,” Eilidh said. “But I am happy ye are willing to let this feud end. Perhaps ye can encourage Lucas to do it.”
“I’d love to ken why I am here.” She sat her empty bowl to the side and drew her knees up to her chin. Her dress drew up, showing the most delicate ankles Lucas had ever beheld. “I wish someone would tell me the truth.”
“Aye,” Eilidh nodded sagely. “I understand how this mystery would upset ye.”
Before he turned, his eyes coasted over Maisie.She is a bonnie lass.
Backing away from the door, Lucas made a quick decision that he hoped would not betray him in the days to come. He headed to the room where Ian stood guard over the second lass and after a quick word to him, went inside to see her staring out a widow.
“Get somethin’ to drink, Ian,” Lucas said, while nodding to the lady. “I need to speak with—”
“Heather,” Ian supplied while he stood. “And aye, sir.”
As the young soldier left the room, Lucas went to the lass’s side and waited patiently for her to look at him. When she did not, he had to stifle a snort; she and her mistress were the same.
“Heather, aye. I reckon it’s time ye see yer lady,” he said calmly. “As long as ye promise nae to concoct some malarkey escape plan that might kill both of ye.”
Finally, she turned to him, her expression stony and filled with antagonism. “Is that why ye kept us apart?”
“Aye,” Lucas said. “But I need yer word first.”
Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw worked. “I give ye me word.”
Nodding curtly, Lucas waited for her to stand, and they headed out of the room and up the stairs. As he opened the door, he saw that Maisie was alone and her head darted up as Heather entered the room. He cocked his hip on the frame, crossed his arms and watched as the two embraced tightly.
After a moment, he decided to leave and let the two reconnect as his presence would be a bit intrusive. Before he left, he met Maisie’s eyes and the look, one of weary happiness, made him feel uncomfortable. He did not want to see her look that way, as he knew she still harbored so many questions, but he could not answer them yet.
With a curt nod, he left the room, went down the stairs and headed out to the woods. He knew a secret path down to the seaside and took it. The path was camouflaged by rocks and he got to the place where two rowing boats, tied and placed there for an emergency flight, bobbed on the water.
He placed his hands on his hips, inhaled the salty scent, and gazed out on the horizon. Sunlight glinted off the waves, shattering the blue into various hued shards. For the first time, Lucas began to doubt his action of kidnapping Maisie. Would it have been better for him to go about this sensibly and gone to them about the threat?
What would Laird Gunn have done then? Would he have even listened to me?
