Page 155 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
The man stiffened, his face turning a red several shades darker than his hair.
“Perfectly, my lord,” Constable Gow said. “We meant no disrespect.”
Blair shot his companion a dirty look but held his fire.
“Where’s Mr. Fletcher?” Victoria asked.
Blair’s contemptuous gaze swept over her. “I take it yer the one we’ve come to fetch.”
“This is Miss Knight, and whether you take her remains to be seen,” Alec said. “Now, please answer the question.”
“Mr. Fletcher remained in Arrochar, sir,” Gow said. “He thought the carriage might be a bit crowded if he came along.”
“A more likely explanation is he thought I’d throttle him if he set foot on my lands,” Nicholas said, giving the sergeant a cold smile.
“Probably not the most helpful of comments,” Victoria whispered.
“Sorry,” he whispered back, clearly not sorry. He held out an imperious hand. “Is that the warrant? Give it to me.”
Blair scowled but handed it over.
Nicholas perused the document before handing it to Victoria. “That is not a warrant. You have no authority to arrest Miss Knight.”
“No, but it is a very strong request,” she said. It wasn’t as bad as she’d feared, but the short, sternly worded missive from the Justiciary officer made it clear it would not be appreciated if she failed to appear before him.
Alec plucked it from her hand and quickly scanned it. “She’s right, Arnprior.”
“The lass will be comin’ with me if I have to bind her hands and march her out to the carriage,” the sergeant growled.
Ainsley took a hasty step forward. “Be quiet, you horrible little man. If you dare touch her, I will rip off that ridiculous mustache.”
“And ye’ll be goin’ with her, if ye try to interfere with the law,” the sergeant blustered. For a small man, he had a large and annoying voice.
Royal took Ainsley’s arm and reeled her back. “Your courage is duly noted, sweetheart, but we must let Nick handle this. I promise it’ll be fine.”
Ainsley blinked, looking a bit stunned. When Royal pulled her back to the fireplace, she started to berate him in a fierce whisper. He rolled his eyes before shushing her.
“Is there anything else, Sergeant Blair?” Victoria asked. “If not, I am ready to go with you.”
The man seemed startled by her acquiescence. “We can go.”
“I’ll be going with her,” Alec said.
“Ye will, eh?” Blair said. “And who might ye be?”
“Captain Alasdair Gilbride, Master of Riddick. My grandfather is the Earl of Riddick. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.”
Blair raised no further objections.
Nicholas took Victoria’s hand and led her out to the hall. She clung tightly to his fingers, trying to convince herself this wouldn’t be the last time she would feel his touch.
When they reached the hall, he took her pelisse from the footman and helped her into it. Then he placed her bonnet on her head, carefully tying the ribbons under her chin. His warm fingers brushed against her throat before he briefly cupped her cheek. Victoria swallowed hard as she stared up into his solemn features.
“You’d best be off, Arnprior,” Alec said. “Time waits for no man, especially a bastard like Fletcher.”
“I’ll see you in Glasgow, yes?” Nicholas murmured to Victoria.
She managed a nod.
