Mad for the Plaid by Karen Hawkins Page B

gathered D’yoval’s reins even as he scowled at Apraksin. “Why are you even here?”
    â€œI came to say good-bye and good luck.” The courtiershoved his hands inside his pockets. “I wish I were going with you.”
    Rurik shook his head. “You have a duty.”
    â€œI know, I know. Do you have the map I found in the library?”
    The guard nodded and climbed onto his horse. “We will trail Lady Ailsa and her men, as they will take the quickest route through the mountains. We will join them at the end of the day, when they are too committed to alter their course.”
    â€œWhy travel with them at all?” Apraksin asked.
    â€œIt will be safer to travel in a group. It’s been reported that thieves roam the higher trails.”
    Nik nodded. “Then let us go. We will walk the horses to the forest and stay far enough back that we are not heard.”
    â€œHave a care, Your Highness.” Apraksin stepped back from the horse.
    â€œOf course.” Nik turned D’yoval to a path that led to the ridge where Ailsa and her party had just passed through, Rurik falling in beside him.
    As they rode across the moor, the dark woods loomed before them. They were almost at the forest line when Rurik said into the quiet, “Lady Ailsa will not be happy to see us.”
    â€œBut I will be happy to see her.” They had unfinished business, and Nik was determined to see it through.
    He remembered again the unexpected passion that had flared at that damned kiss. There had been fire there, a surprising amount, for such a plain woman.
    And she was plain, although there were momentswhen, glowing from that kiss, her gray eyes had turned silvery bright, and she’d looked almost pretty. It could not have been false, the passion I sensed. I will not believe it.
    â€œI hope they do not have a guard posted on their flank,” Rurik said.
    â€œThey are not soldiers, and do not expect to be followed. We will not be noticed.”
    They followed the trail where it disappeared into the black forest, the trees reducing the light. Before them in the snowy path, hoofprints gleamed. As dawn broke, the forest came alive around him, and Nik found himself admiring the beauty of it. It had grown colder as they went, snow and ice frosting every green bough, brown tree limb, and waxy shrub with a glistening veil. The scent of pine mixed with that of fresh snow, and a deeper, richer peaty scent that he was beginning to realize was pure Scotland.
    Only once did they hear the party ahead. Mr. Mackenzie’s voice carried over the others, complaining about the cold, and the pace. Nik reined in D’yoval and motioned Rurik to stillness. After ten minutes the voices faded to nothingness, and Nik signaled that it was time to continue.
    Ah, Lady Ailsa, you are in for a surprise. One I look forward to delivering.

Chapter 8
    â€œWe’ll make camp here.” Ailsa glanced up through the trees at the fading sun before she returned her gaze to their campsite. The small clearing was backed on one side by a huge boulder, and was encircled by trees that provided some relief from the relentless wind.
    MacKean, the reticent, lean, dark-haired tracker who’d so far led their expedition, eyed the area with a critical look. “It’s nae verrah large.”
    â€œâ€™Tis large enough,” Ailsa said firmly, dismounting. She refused to look at MacKean, but she held her breath until he, too, climbed down off his mount.
    She gave a silent sigh of relief. When she’d first taken on the duties as head of Castle Leod, winning the trust of the servants who worked in the castle hadn’t been nearly as difficult as commanding the respect of those who worked in the fields and stables. They were unused to taking orders from a woman, and she’d had to start from scratch, especially with MacKean and Stewart, the two gamekeepers escorting their party to meet Greer. Independent by