Page 111 of Captured by a Laird
“I’m sorry I never told ye how verra much I love you,” he said. If by some miracle he survived this, he would tell her every day.
***
Alison cursed the birdsong and the gray light coming through the window, sure signs of dawn—and David’s imminent departure. From David’s breathing, she knew he was awake too.
“Patrick would take me in your place,” she said, running her fingers over his chest.
“Ach, ye can’t think I could live myself if I let ye do that.” David cupped the back of her neck with his hand and traced the line of her jaw with his thumb.
“But he wouldn’t kill me,” she said. “He’s always wanted me.”
“Nay!” David took a deep breath, then spoke more calmly. “Besides, Patrick wouldn’t agree to take ye in my place.”
“Why not?”
“Because he expects he’ll get ye in the end anyway,” he said. “With the castle in his possession, your daughters disinherited, and me out of the way, he’ll have every reason to believe your brothers will agree to a marriage.”
“But I’d never do it.” She would die first.
“I can face whatever comes so long as I know you’re safe from him,” he said, his eyes fierce on hers. “You’re strong enough to stand up to your brothers. Stay with my men, and they’ll protect you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she said, and brushed a long, sun-bleached strand of hair behind his ear. “I’ll be waiting for ye.”
“The time grows late,” he said. “I must get dressed and go.”
She crawled out of bed and fetched his shirt for him.
“While ye were sleeping, I used the tip of your dagger to pry the black stone from my pendant,” she said as she helped him put it on, “and I sewed it into the hem of your shirt.”
She took his hand and showed him where the bump in the hem was. The stone was flat and only an inch in diameter, so she did not think it would be noticed.
“I know they’ll take your weapons.” She swallowed. “But I couldn’t let ye go in there with no protection.”
David smiled at that.
“I know ye don’t believe the stone holds magic, but it’s brought me the best of luck since I found it again.” She paused, fighting tears. “It brought me you.”
“I’ll bear this burden lightly, knowing I have something of yours with me,” he said, and patted the hem of his shirt where the stone lay. “Now, lass, we must say goodbye.”
“This is not goodbye,” she said.
He brushed her cheek with his fingers, and the sad resignation on his face frightened her more than anything.
“From something Patrick told me,” she said, “I don’t believe he’ll kill ye right away.”
David did not speak, but she could see in his eyes that he believed the same.
“That gives us time,” she said, gripping the front of his shirt. “Promise me you’ll hold out until we can get ye released.”
“Dying easy isn’t in my nature, lass,” he said with a bittersweet smile.
“Trust me, my love,” she said, and gave him one last kiss. “This is not the end.”
If her brothers did not come soon, she had another plan.
David would not like it.
CHAPTER 45
