Page 28 of Abducted By the Highlander
“Aye.”
She waited for him to elaborate, but it seemed that was all he had to say about the matter. And then she recalled he’d told her he had fought in Eire before accompanying Symon to the camp. “Why did ye go to Eire? I’m thinking that’s where ye met Symon before he invited ye back to his camp.”
He shrugged and narrowed his eyes, as though searching forsomething within the cover of the forest, but she recognized a diversionary tactic when she saw one. Since she was a small child, she’d witnessed how Amma used every strategy at her disposal when dealing with fellow clan chieftains. And before she’d wed William, Isolde had spent untold hours teaching her and Freyja of common attack strategies and how to recognize and deflect them.
Obviously, Hugh wasn’t about to attack her, but he was certainly trying to divert her attention. But if there truly was danger lurking among the trees, she was certain he wouldn’t be taking so long to do anything about it.
“Hugh?”
Finally, he caught her gaze. “I was a redshank.” He sounded reluctant to admit it. “I had nowhere to go when we returned to the Highlands, so I took Symon up on his offer.”
“But why didn’t ye go back to yer own kin?”
He sucked in a shuddering breath. “I cannot share my reasons with ye. My only home is wherever I pitch my tent.”
She contemplated that as they continued through the forest, her mind swirling with possibilities both practical and fantastical as to why he’d abandoned his former life for one, essentially, on the run. The most likely reason was he had done something terrible, and the Earl of Argyll had banished him from his lands, except she couldn’t imagine Hugh capable of doing anything so bad as to merit such a harsh fate.
“Do ye think ye will ever return home?” Her voice was hushed, and her heart ached at how dreadful it would be to be banished from loved ones and friends. She had been torn from her kin for barely a day and felt as though her world had turned upside down, but at least she knew sooner or later she’d see them again.
“I don’t know.” His smile this time was sad, and the ache dug deeper into her heart at the sight. If only she had the nerve to reach over to him and take his hand, just to show him she understood.
She clutched the reins tighter, in reaction against her absurdthoughts. The truth was, she didn’t understand. How could she, if he didn’t confide in her? And she was only guessing the earl had banished him for something minor. Suppose the truth was he’d done something unforgivable? Did she really want to know the truth, if that was so?
Since it appeared unlikely Hugh would ever confide in her, it wasn’t something she needed to fret about. But regardless, she would never believe he had done anything to merit exile from his clan.
“Maybe ye will, in time.” When she next saw Freyja, she’d ask her to see if Alasdair could speak to the earl on Hugh’s behalf. In fact, why hadn’t Alasdair already done so? They were supposed to be great friends. Or didn’t Hugh’s blood brothers know what he had been accused of?
It was a mystery, for sure. And since her sisters’ husbands seemed to share everything with them, she was certain either Isolde or Freyja would have told her had they been aware of Hugh’s fall from grace.
Up ahead, Symon came to a halt, before he looked over his shoulder at Hugh. “We’re leaving the forest now, Sergeant. The town is another hour eastwards, but there’s not much cover.”
He’d called Hugh Sergeant before. And while she knew redshanks were savage mercenaries who went wherever there was coin to be had, it hadn’t occurred to her they used military rankings until now. A small pain pierced through her breast at the realization Hugh had been so successful as a mercenary that he’d been promoted. It was almost as though it was proof that he’d embraced this fugitive life and had no illusions he’d ever return to his former one.
But if only he would.
As they left the shelter of the forest and joined a well-worn path that presumably led to the town, she shook her head to disperse the foolish wish. Even if the earl issued a pardon and Hugh returned to Balfour Castle, he wouldn’t necessarily want her to join him.
Why couldn’t she stop imagining a future with him? Only yesterday she’d wanted to hate him. And now she was back to weavingromantic notions about him, as though they had never left Eigg.
She couldn’t help the way her imagination always ran away with her. But at least she could control what she said and did when they were together. He’d never guess how she really felt about him.
It was a wise plan. She hoped he’d never see through it.
Chapter Ten
The town waslarge, enclosed by a ditch and palisade fortification, and as they approached the gates, where other travelers they had seen on the road were also heading, Hugh glanced at Roisin. When the town had come into view, she’d pulled a kerchief from her satchel and covered her hair, as befit a married woman, and he’d only just stopped a frustrated groan from escaping.
Damn the fates to hell. Pretending she was his bride, when there was no chance of that ever coming true, was a new kind of torture he’d never imagined. But there was no help for it but to play the part of a devoted husband and hope neither Roisin—nor Symon—guessed how wretchedly he wished it were true.
But that wasn’t his main concern. No one with eyes in their head could look at Roisin and think she came from a local village. It wasn’t merely the quality of her gown and shawl or the elegance of her gloves. He was certain even if she were dressed in the meanest of rags, her gentle demeanor and indefinable air of grace would ensure her heritage was as plain as day.
And that was before she spoke and dispelled any lingering question of her noble blood. But the likelihood of her speaking to any of the townspeople was remote, so at least there was that. As for the rest, it was his own shortsightedness in not suggesting she borrow her maid’s clothes.
They entered the town through the arched gateway and caught up with Symon who had come to a halt on the side of the main road neara farrier who, by the look of it, was enjoying a roaring trade.
Hugh eyed the bustling marketplace up ahead with approval. “’Tis busy. It means we can disappear into the crowd and be less likely to be remembered.”
Symon’s gaze strayed to Roisin. “Aye.” He sounded doubtful as to the possibility that she could disappear into a crowd of townsfolk, and he had to agree. But there was one thing they could do to become less conspicuous.
