attack.”
The earl seemed to slump, his eyes growing cloudy. “’Tis truly a shame that ye are
nae drawn to Abigail. That lass needs a man with a sure hand, and I would see her
with one who wants more than what I can dower her with.”
But he brightened and waved Saer forward. “I’ve plenty of stone and will make ye a
better deal than anyone else.”
Saer felt a momentary tug of warning, but there was nothing out of place. He realized
it was the fact that he hadn’t seen Nareen yet. Both she and her mistress had missed
services.
He did need the stone, and the sooner he had it, the sooner he might depart for MacLeod
land.
With Nareen.
He refused to consider any other outcome. She would be his, if he had to use the savage
side of his nature to haul her home.
***
“We are leaving now.”
Nareen looked up as Abigail burst back into her chambers. Her face was flushed and
her eyes bright with excitement. In her hands, she had a small chest with a lock on
it that looked heavy, but she kept her grip tight on the handles.
“Good,” Abigail said as she looked at the trunks Nareen had been filling. “Close them
up, I’ve already instructed that the horses and escort be readied.”
“I did nae realize we would leave quite so soon.”
Abigail smiled slyly and moved closer to Nareen. “Me father has taken Saer MacLeod
off to the quarry. It’s the perfect time for both of us to take our flight.”
So he hadn’t left…
“But the king’s order for ye to be gone from court has nae yet reached its time.”
Abigail shrugged and put the smaller chest inside one of the larger ones. “The king
will nae have time to notice I have returned a week or two early. I shall stay out
of his sight and he’ll not even know I am there.”
Nareen doubted it. Abigail didn’t know how to avoid drawing notice to herself. “Hurry,
Nareen. We must be well away before me father returns. Now that Saer MacLeod has had
a taste of ye, I doubt he’ll think very long on riding after us if he thinks he can
catch us.”
A memory of Saer on his black stallion surfaced. A ripple of sensation traveled along
her spine and left her fighting back regret. But she’d made her decision, one that
did not include Saer MacLeod in her life. She couldn’t worry too much about him. In
fact, seeing him again would only grant her fickle emotions another opportunity to
soften toward him. He made it appealing to change her mind.
But trust was too much. More than one bride had discovered her groom’s kindness evaporated
after the wedding vows were spoken. Perhaps Abigail wasn’t so spoiled after all. It
was possible the woman was no fool and had decided to enjoy the ease of being courted
over the duty of being a wife.
Aye, there was a price for everything. Saer MacLeod’s offer to take her home with
him would be no different. He’d already told her what he’d expect. Sons. And if she
didn’t conceive quickly, or produced a daughter, his temper would rise. It was the
way things were. Her only choice would be to not wed him.
“I am coming,” Nareen replied. Abigail laughed merrily as she rummaged through one
of the open wardrobes for a dress suitable for traveling. Her smile didn’t even fade
when she pulled out a wool dress.
“Do nae be so pensive, Nareen.”
Abigail brought the dress over and carelessly tossed it onto the bed.
“I’ll find ye plenty of lovers at court to take yer thoughts away from that savage.”
“I do nae wish ye to do so.”
Nareen was busy unlacing Abigail’s gown. Abigail let out a long sigh.
“Ye really should mature, Nareen. There is much pleasure to be had if ye will stop
being such a child.”
Nareen slid the bodice off Abigail and began to help her with her overskirt. Abigail
stood still, waiting to be disrobed.
“I know who is a good lover at court,” Abigail continued. “The Earl of Matheson’s
sons are quite vigorous, and they do
The earl seemed to slump, his eyes growing cloudy. “’Tis truly a shame that ye are
nae drawn to Abigail. That lass needs a man with a sure hand, and I would see her
with one who wants more than what I can dower her with.”
But he brightened and waved Saer forward. “I’ve plenty of stone and will make ye a
better deal than anyone else.”
Saer felt a momentary tug of warning, but there was nothing out of place. He realized
it was the fact that he hadn’t seen Nareen yet. Both she and her mistress had missed
services.
He did need the stone, and the sooner he had it, the sooner he might depart for MacLeod
land.
With Nareen.
He refused to consider any other outcome. She would be his, if he had to use the savage
side of his nature to haul her home.
***
“We are leaving now.”
Nareen looked up as Abigail burst back into her chambers. Her face was flushed and
her eyes bright with excitement. In her hands, she had a small chest with a lock on
it that looked heavy, but she kept her grip tight on the handles.
“Good,” Abigail said as she looked at the trunks Nareen had been filling. “Close them
up, I’ve already instructed that the horses and escort be readied.”
“I did nae realize we would leave quite so soon.”
Abigail smiled slyly and moved closer to Nareen. “Me father has taken Saer MacLeod
off to the quarry. It’s the perfect time for both of us to take our flight.”
So he hadn’t left…
“But the king’s order for ye to be gone from court has nae yet reached its time.”
Abigail shrugged and put the smaller chest inside one of the larger ones. “The king
will nae have time to notice I have returned a week or two early. I shall stay out
of his sight and he’ll not even know I am there.”
Nareen doubted it. Abigail didn’t know how to avoid drawing notice to herself. “Hurry,
Nareen. We must be well away before me father returns. Now that Saer MacLeod has had
a taste of ye, I doubt he’ll think very long on riding after us if he thinks he can
catch us.”
A memory of Saer on his black stallion surfaced. A ripple of sensation traveled along
her spine and left her fighting back regret. But she’d made her decision, one that
did not include Saer MacLeod in her life. She couldn’t worry too much about him. In
fact, seeing him again would only grant her fickle emotions another opportunity to
soften toward him. He made it appealing to change her mind.
But trust was too much. More than one bride had discovered her groom’s kindness evaporated
after the wedding vows were spoken. Perhaps Abigail wasn’t so spoiled after all. It
was possible the woman was no fool and had decided to enjoy the ease of being courted
over the duty of being a wife.
Aye, there was a price for everything. Saer MacLeod’s offer to take her home with
him would be no different. He’d already told her what he’d expect. Sons. And if she
didn’t conceive quickly, or produced a daughter, his temper would rise. It was the
way things were. Her only choice would be to not wed him.
“I am coming,” Nareen replied. Abigail laughed merrily as she rummaged through one
of the open wardrobes for a dress suitable for traveling. Her smile didn’t even fade
when she pulled out a wool dress.
“Do nae be so pensive, Nareen.”
Abigail brought the dress over and carelessly tossed it onto the bed.
“I’ll find ye plenty of lovers at court to take yer thoughts away from that savage.”
“I do nae wish ye to do so.”
Nareen was busy unlacing Abigail’s gown. Abigail let out a long sigh.
“Ye really should mature, Nareen. There is much pleasure to be had if ye will stop
being such a child.”
Nareen slid the bodice off Abigail and began to help her with her overskirt. Abigail
stood still, waiting to be disrobed.
“I know who is a good lover at court,” Abigail continued. “The Earl of Matheson’s
sons are quite vigorous, and they do
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