Page 47 of My Highland Fling
“And everyone ate stew?”
“Da,” he repeated in the affirmative.
“I’m sorry.I don’t know what to tell you,” Gabrielle said.“It’s time to serve dinner for Adrik, but if you’re still ill after lunch, I’ll ask my husband to call a medical man.”
The man paled, slapped his hand over his rumbling gut, and fled.
“Was it something I said?”Gabrielle muttered, keeping her voice low because she’d learned on the first day there were ears everywhere.
Someone chuckled, but not one man looked at her when Gabrielle whirled.Aware of the passing time, she returned to the dining room to clear the plates, making sure she knocked before she entered.Another lesson she’d learned on her first day.
“Ah, there you are, my dear.”Displeasure flitted across Adrik’s features, and everything inside her pulled taut.
“Did you require something?”she asked in a polite voice.
“James would like another vodka.”
“Certainly.Did anyone else require a top-up?”
“Drinks for everyone,” Adrik ordered.
A delicate shudder ran the length of her body, and she tried to hide it, but Adrik noticed.Not much escaped him, and he smiled, her fear pleasing him.
“I’ll clear the plates and bring back drinks for you.”Gabrielle tried not to show her nerves, but the cutlery and crockery jingled together.She delivered the dishes to the kitchen.
She was halfway to the lounge to get fresh drinks when Adrik roared for her.Terror flooded her, and she stood, poised to flee.She swallowed hard, retraced her steps on unsteady feet, and found the headguard with Adrik and the men.Damn it.She’d forgotten the fork.
“Do you know anything about the sick guards?”Adrik demanded.
“No, I’ve been with you.I checked on them, but I don’t know why the guards are sick.”
Adrik slapped her across the face so hard she hit the table.Her hand caught the white linen tablecloth as she fell and silverware, glasses, and candle arrangements rained on her head.Oh, this was bad.Adrik would blame her if he didn’t kill her for embarrassing him in front of his friends.
“Clumsy bitch,” Adrik growled and darted forward to grasp her by the hair.Panic bloomed in Gabrielle—a fear she’d pushed past his patience limits.Instinct had her grabbing the nearest fork and lashing out at him.Adrik released a pained screech and kicked her in the stomach.Agony suffused her.She gasped for breath, and it was like sucking through a straw.He’d winded her.Adrik screeched at her, a string of guttural Russian wasted on her because she didn’t understand.
When Adrik kicked her again, she tried to crawl away, to escape.A visitor grasped Adrik and dragged him away, stopping him from striking her again.
Adrik’s guard pulled his weapon, but Timur knocked his arm, and the shot went wide.An instant later, Adrik lay unmoving on the floor, and she wasn’t sure how.
A crash sounded to her right, and James toppled like a mighty pine.Gabrielle shook, unsure of what was happening.
“You’re okay now,” a female voice said.“It’s safe to put down the fork.”A woman with blonde hair crouched beside Gabrielle, her smile friendly despite the trickle of blood from a nick on her chin.“Do you know where our guards are?”
“Down the passage, the door after the kitchen,” Gabrielle said, her gaze darting left and right.She edged away.What had happened?Was she safe?Truly?Or was the woman just saying that?And where had she come from?Gabrielle hadn’t heard the door.
“I’ll go,” Timur said.
“Gabrielle, truly, you’re safe now or as secure as we can be until we leave here.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Isabella, Ramsay’s friend.We came to rescue you if that’s what you want.Put the fork down.I promise not to hurt you.”
Gabrielle hesitated because she didn’t think Ramsay had the resources to create a scheme like this.He was a chef.No.Was this a plot Adrik had hatched to test her loyalty?It was possible with his scheming mind.A laugh burst from her, and even to her ears, it sounded crazed.
“Who the fuck are you?”Adrik.He’d woken pissed, and a whimper escaped Gabrielle, but the blonde woman never flinched.
“Bitch,” he muttered, spying Gabrielle.“Get out of my sight.And you, Blondie, come here.I might need another wife.You look healthy enough.”
