Page 18 of Claimed by a Highlander
“With such bad blood between your family and the Hamiltons,” he said, “I’m surprised James Finnart chased after ye.”
“James has been annoying me since I was twelve,” she said, waving her hand as if shooing away a gnat. “At first, I believed his attention was just part of a Hamilton scheme.”
“What scheme would that be?”
“To remove me from our last king’s consideration,” she said. “My grandfather hoped one of us Douglas lasses would attract the king’s roving eye. The Hamiltons, like all the noble families, had similar hopes.”
“Ye were twelve when your family did this?” How had she survived such a family?
“I was thirteen when the king died, and I thought I’d be free of Finnart then as well.” She shook her head. “But he’s been dogging me ever since.”
“As my wife, ye can be certain he’ll never trouble ye again.”
“Finnart has a startling number of illegitimate children,” she said. “I doubt a lass’s marital status is overly important to him.”
“It may not be important to him,” Rory said, “but a man who disrespectsmywife will not live long.”
Sybil gave him a look he could not read, then she turned her gaze to the horizon and fell silent for a long while.
“We thought Archie’s fall from grace would be like the last time,” she said in a far-off voice.
“Reconciliation with Albany will not be so easy this time,” he said.
“Nay, it will not,” she said.
***
Rory had done Sybil a favor by reminding her of how dire her situation was. She had no more time to waste if she was to reach the safety of one of her sisters’ homes before nightfall.
“We should go.” Rory took her hand and helped her to her feet.
“Before we leave the Lowlands,” she said, “I must see one of my sisters.”
He had started to walk toward the horse, but he halted abruptly and turned to face her.
“I could be gone for months, even years,” she said, speaking quickly. “I may never see any of my family again.”
“The advantage we have is that the queen’s men don’t know who I am and therefore don’t know where I’m taking ye,” he said. “’Tis unwise to give up that advantage and go where your enemies expect to find ye.”
“My sisters’ husbands are powerful men. The queen will be hesitant to challenge them,” Sybil said. “She only came after me because I’m unprotected.”
“You’re protected now,” he said. “And that is why I won’t take ye.”
“Please,” she said, tugging on his hand. “My sisters will worry if they don’t know what’s happened to me.”
“Ye left a note for your cousin,” Rory said. “She can tell them.”
Damn, she had forgotten about that.
“My cousin is only eleven,” she said. “Her mother is the one who gave me up, and she certainly won’t permit Lizzie to visit any of her Douglas kin.”
He folded his arms. “I’ll not jeopardize your safety.”
“We needn’t stay long,” she lied. “A brief farewell is all I ask.”
She had learned to lie with ease—a necessary survival skill at court—and yet her heart beat rapidly as Rory fixed her with a hard gaze.
“Where are these sisters of yours?” His tone was unbending, but the question was a sure sign he was weakening.
