Page 59 of Sutherland's Secret
“Aye,” he said gruffly. “That ye are.”
She leaned up and kissed the bottom of his chin before settling back into his arms. They rode in silence for a bit, he lost in thoughts, Eleanor dozing. It was a memory he would keep with him for the rest of his days.
He was nearly asleep in the saddle himself when he heard a noise that put all his senses on alert. He stiffened. Eleanor came awake; his hand went up to cover her mouth quickly. She went silent, her body taut.
Brice guided Galad far into the trees. He dismounted, then held his arms up for Eleanor to dismount as well. They crouched behind thick bushes as a group of English soldiers came into view.
Eleanor gasped and Brice dug his fingers into her arm. The soldiers were young. They laughed and spoke to each other in normal voices, unaware that they were being watched. Brice had to wonder how in the world the English had won the battle at Culloden. Their soldiers were far too lax and undisciplined, in his mind.
They passed without incident, but it wasn’t until several minutes had passed that Brice relaxed. Eleanor looked up at him, the fear still in her eyes. It struck him that no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t keep Eleanor here. Every time they encountered soldiers, they would have to hide in fear.
They mounted Galad and rode in the opposite direction of the soldiers. The peace that Brice had been feeling was long gone.
“Ye have no’ told me what happened after yer Charles was killed,” he said. He’d held off asking because he knew it would be difficult for her to tell and for him to hear. But there was more to her story than her husband being killed. He wanted to hear it and yet he didn’t want to hear it, but time was running out and he feared he needed to hear her story in order to protect her during the short time she was here.
Eleanor took a long time in answering, so long that he feared—and maybe hoped—that she wouldn’t answer.
“He never even gave me time to grieve,” she said softly. “Blackwood came to me that afternoon, just hours after they hanged Charles. They’d not given me the body to send back to his family in England for a proper burial. They’d taken that from me as well. I was numb with disbelief. It had all happened so quickly. I hadn’t had time to write to either of our families. I’m certain that was what Blackwood wanted. He’d planned it that way.”
Blackwood was a cur who preyed on weakened women. Brice hadn’t liked him before, but now he despised the man.
“He told me that my husband’s ‘treason’ should not taint me and that since I was now unprotected, he would be happy to step in as my protector. He was so sincere, so worried about me, and I was so grief-stricken, that at first it seemed like the natural thing to do. After all, he was a colonel in the English Footguard. He was honorable because all English soldiers are honorable. Or at least that was what I thought.” She laughed, but it was a bitter laugh filled with irony and despair. “I was such a fool.”
“Ye were naive, I’ll give ye that,” Brice said. “Ye were protected by yer family and then by yer husband. I’ll warrant that before yer Charles’s death, ye’d never been left alone before to make a decision on yer own.”
“You would be correct. It seems so stupid now. How was it that I let everyone control my life?”
“ ’Tis not yer fault, lass. It’s the way of the world for the men to protect the women. We do it in Scotland as well.”
“I can’t see Hannah falling victim to the likes of Blackwood.”
He smiled. “Nay. But Hannah is a special woman. She’d have to be, to put up with the likes of Lachlan.”
“I still should have known better.”
“Blackwood knew from the first that ye were easy pickings. No offense.”
She laughed again, this time a little more lightheartedly. “No offense taken. You’re right. I’d never thought of it that way. He’d had this planned since he met me at the ball.”
“Maybe not exactly, but he’d known he wanted ye. Seems to me he’s a spoiled bastard, taking what he wants. I’m certain he’s done the like before. Maybe not had someone killed for his needs, but he’s ruined other lives. I would bet all of Castle Dornach that he did no’ come by his status honorably.”
She was silent for a bit. “I’ve never thought of it that way.”
“Because ye’ve never met a man like Blackwood before. I’ve met my fair share to know them when I see them. My guess is that his promise of protection came with some provisions.”
“Yes. He invited me to his quarters to discuss the best way to tell Charles’s family about his death. I was happy for help, because I had no idea what I was going to say to them. But when I got there, he…”
Brice’s body went tight with fury, for he could guess what had happened next.
Eleanor took in a deep shuddering breath. “Well, I told him in no uncertain terms that his…proposition was unacceptable, and I left.”
“Good for ye, lass, for sticking up for yerself.”
“A lot of good it did me. The next morning I was arrested for treason as well.”
Brice pulled in an outraged breath. When Eleanor held up her fists, his eyes were riveted to the scars that circled them.
“He clapped manacles on me and threw me in the dungeon. He didn’t have to say anything, but I knew that I would be released if I accepted his terms. I refused.”
