Page 156 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.” He lifted her chin and pressed a kiss to her lips, one that held the taste of desperation. Then he released her, gave Alec a terse nod, and stalked from the hall.
Victoria watched him go with a hand pressed to her mouth, as if she could capture the warmth of his kiss.
Ainsley enveloped her in a fierce hug. “Take care of yourself, Victoria. I’ll see you in Glasgow in a few days.”
“Yes, I’ll see you then,” Victoria said, forcing a smile.
The girl hastily turned away, almost careening into Royal. “Get out of my way, you lummox,” she said, giving him a shove and disappearing in the direction of the library.
“Royal, you’ve got your hands full with Lady Ainsley, I fear,” Victoria said.
“I’ll handle her. Now, you try to relax and do what Nick and Alec tell you.” He bent and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Everything will be fine, pet.”
All she could do was nod.
Alec escorted her to the courtyard. By the time Andrew appeared a few minutes later and finally got the luggage organized and strapped to the back of the carriage, the sergeant was dancing with impatience.
“We’re trying to slow things down so Nick can get a good head start,” Alec murmured as he helped her into the coach, then followed.
“Is it working?”
He nodded. “He rode out a few minutes ago, hell-bent for leather, according to Andrew. He’ll arrive in Glasgow hours before we do.”
Sergeant Blair hoisted himself into the carriage and plopped onto the bench opposite them. He threw an irritated glare at Constable Gow, who squeezed in beside him.
As the vehicle pulled away, she glanced out the window. Royal, Taffy, and Angus stood in the courtyard, watching them go. The old man had made himself scarce the last few days, since Nicholas was still furious with him. Now he stared after the carriage with a shocked expression on his wrinkled face. When he saw her looking out the window, he raised his hand in a forlorn good-bye.
Even though she was still annoyed with Angus, she had to blink back tears. She remembered that first dreary November day at Kinglas, when she’d been appalled at the idea of spending the winter in a drafty old castle with a rambunctious group of men. Now her heart ached to have to leave the place and the family she’d come to love.
Alec squeezed her gloved hand. “Chin up, my dear. You’ll be back before you know it.”
“We’ll see about that,” Blair said in a snippy tone.
“Sergeant, unless you wish me to file a complaint with your superiors about your unprofessional behavior, I suggest you keep a civil tongue in your head.” Alec’s gaze shot daggers at the man.
Although the sergeant fell into a grumpy silence, Victoria noticed Constable Gow repressing a smile. When the young man was certain his superior wasn’t looking, he gave her a wink.
It was a silly and entirely inappropriate gesture, but immensely cheering.
After several minutes of jostling along in uncomfortable silence, the sergeant glanced out the window. “At this rate, we’ll be lucky to make it halfway to Glasgow before nightfall.”
“The horses haven’t been changed since Arrochar,” Gow said. “I reckon the coachman doesn’t want to push the poor beasties.”
More likely, someone back at the castle had bribed the coachman to go as slowly as possible.
Blair shot his colleague a dirty look. “Constable, when I want yer opinion, I’ll ask for it.”
“Are you familiar with horseflesh, lad?” Alec asked Gow in a friendly voice.
The young man flashed him a grateful smile. “Aye, sir. My da is a farmer outside Glasgow. I grew up around horses and all sorts of beasties.”
“Really? How did you end up as a police officer?”
For several minutes, Alec and the constable had a friendly exchange about the young man’s life and policing in Glasgow. Alec was clearly trying to decrease the tension in the confined space, and perhaps gain an ally. Eventually, the conversation tailed off and silence again fell over their little group. The sergeant fell into a doze, and the constable occupied himself with studying the scenery.
There wasn’t much to see. They’d just gone through the pass with Victoria cravenly wishing for another avalanche, and were rolling slowly through the forest that marked the edge of Arnprior lands. She shivered, although she couldn’t tell if it was from a chill as they passed into the shadow of the trees or the thought of leaving Kinglas behind.
Possibly forever.
