Page 9 of When the Laird Claims
“Ye will just have to see when we get there.”
“How do you know that I will not smother you in your sleep?”
“Who said we’d be sleeping?”
Her mouth fell open, speechless. This Scotsman kept tripping her up, making her feel all kinds of foolish… or, rather, out of her depth.
“Is that why the Earl ties ye up? Ye’re the murderous sort?” He shook his head. “Nay, I daenae ken what ye did, but I am sure that ye didnae deservethat.”
It was obvious he meant her wrists, her arms hugging herself tighter to hide them.
“What is it that you even wish from me? What is it you wish to do with the Earl? I will not help you in your objective when you are keeping me from mine,” she continued, feeling more exasperated the further that they traveled.
Her legs were uncomfortable, and she was going to be more than a little tender from the ride. Charles had not allowed her to go outside to do so much as walk of late, and pacing the short distance in her prison that her restraints permitted did not count for exercise.
Arran seemed reluctant to answer, so she continued to push.
“If you claim not to be like him, then why don’t you start by actuallytalkingto me? Or, are you just a beast like him after all?” Victoria sneered.
She did not even know what her objective was beyond not returning to the Earl’s captivity. But somehow, she truly did believe that she was not going to be in danger with this man. Of course, that did not mean she was not wary of him, as she had certainly learned her lesson about trusting men. The hard way, at that.
“It is nae somethin’ for a lass to concern herself with,” he replied eventually.
“I was set to marry him,” she reminded Arran. “I think that I deserve an explanation for your attack, and what appears to be my part in your plan.”
They rode for quite some time in a tense, uncomfortable silence as she struggled to think of a way to make him tell her what it was that she wanted to know.
To her surprise, Arran was the first to break. Perhaps he realized that she might be more willing to help if he were honest.
“We’ll lure him out, kill him, and then ye’ll be safe and free to go anywhere ye want.”
The bluntness with which he spoke sent a shudder down Victoria’s spine. While she did not feel as ifshewere in immediate danger, there was no denying the lethal edge under his words.
“K-kill him?”
Arran finally glanced down at her, his face wholly unreadable. “Did ye think I came for a friendly chat with the bastard? Did ye think I came to polish his candlesticks or drink his brandy?”
“Well, no, but…”
There was absolutely no part of her that did not think that Charles ought to pay for what he had done. He was not a good man, andhewould never think twice about doing anything wicked. But a death sentence? Was that too steep a price?
No one hated Charles more than Victoria did. Yet, she rather preferred the idea of him suffering the same fate that he had inflicted upon her: a lengthy imprisonment in a small cell, shackled and denied any freedom whatsoever. There, he might have the time and solitude to reflect upon his misdeeds andlearn that he was not above reproach, as he thought he was. Certainly, she did not think that he needed to be killed.
“Do you not think it would be of greater benefit if he were made to–” Before she could say anything more to that effect, the horse finally slowed from the brisk pace that had carried her away fromherprison.
Slowly, an inn came into view. Soft candlelight spilled from diamond-hatched windows, though that was where the beauty and the inviting essence ended. She had no idea where they were, and the wooden sign above the main door might have once held words, but was far too weather-beaten now to tell her the name of their location.
Did you make it to Emma’s residence?Her mind drifted to her sister, who, if she had done as she was told, would be arriving at far more luxurious lodgings. Perhaps Melody had already arrived and was safe before a roaring fire with a cup of tea in her hands, worrying over her sister as her sister was worrying over her.
In all nineteen years that Victoria had had Melody at her side, her younger sister had never felt so far away, so unreachable. Perhaps there would be paper and ink inside the inn, and she might be able to sneak a letter to her sister and attempt to explain things.
Not that she would know where to begin.
The inn was small, two stories at most. The stables behind the main building were nearly twice as large as the inn itself. The windows were fogged, but there were still hints of warm yellow light shining through the old glass panels. It was certainly not the sort of location that she would have felt comfortable going into on her own. Though she could only imagine what those of thetonwould say of their Diamond in a place like this.
I do not suppose they will be thinking highly of me for very long, anyway…
Arran slipped down from the horse with ease, not seeming any worse for wear whatsoever, a man accustomed to long journeys. He reached forward and placed a hand on either side of her waist without waiting for her consent, and lifted her as if she weighed nothing off the horse. She would never admit to it, but her legs were so weak that when she was put back on solid ground, her knees nearly buckled, and she had no choice but to hold on to him for balance so that she did not collapse into a heap at his feet.
