Page 17 of Captured by a Laird
“A ransom,” he said, his hard green eyes assessing her. “Is that what ye think I want?”
“It would be foolish to harm us,” she said. “I am the queen’s sister by marriage.”
“From what I hear, the queen is none too fond of Douglases these days.” He tilted his head to the side. “I suspect the only way she’d like to see her husband is hanging from a rope.”
Alison had hoped word of the queen’s disenchantment with Archie had not reached Wedderburn’s ears, but clearly it had. No wonder he did not fear royal retribution.
“Ye make too much of a lovers’ spat,” she said. “I assure ye the queen loves my brother most passionately.”
“She did once, and that is the problem, aye?” Wedderburn gave a dry, humorless laugh. “Violent love slips easily into violent hate.”
In the queen’s case, that appeared to be true. Alison drew in a deep breath and decided to try a different tack.
“The Douglas clan is powerful in its own right,” she said. “My brothers will arrive soon with hundreds—nay, thousands—of warriors to rescue me.”
“I doubt that,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
“Then ye are mistaken, Laird Wedderburn,” she said, annoyed that he did not appear the least bit concerned by the prospect of hordes of Douglas warriors coming to wreak vengeance upon his head.
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. His coldly handsome face was so close to hers that she could see flecks of gold in his green eyes and drops of water from the well glistening in his hair.
“Perhaps I should tell ye,” he said, “I caught your messenger.”
“Ye caught Garrett?” Despair washed over her, quickly followed by guilt. “What did ye do to the poor man? Murder him?”
Wedderburn drew in a deep breath before answering. “Nay, I didn’t kill him.”
“Then what did ye do to him?” She would never forgive herself. “How could ye hurt Garrett? He’s an old man.”
“He’s unharmed,” he said.
“I don’t believe ye.” She turned away and blinked back tears.
“I am guilty of a great many transgressions, lass,” he said, “but I’m no liar.”
He got up and went to the door, where he spoke in a low voice to someone outside. Unease settled in her stomach as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded and once again examined her at length. The man’s capacity for stillness was unnerving.
“I’d prefer that ye leave my chamber now,” she said.
“You and I are far from finished, Lady Alison.”
Her pulse jumped at the implied threat. “Then I beg ye to say what ye will and be done with it.”
She barely got the words out when Garrett stumbled into the room, pushed by the guard at the door.
***
“I praise God that you’re alive,” Lady Alison said, taking Garrett’s hand and squeezing it.
David watched her greet the old man. Though he was a servant, she treated him with a warmth that put David on edge. She was too soft-hearted. Not the sort of woman who should be with him.
And yet there was no denying he wanted her. Badly.
“I am well, m’lady,” the old man answered.
“Though ye did not succeed in reaching my brothers,” Lady Alison said, “I am exceedingly grateful that ye tried.”
“But I did, m’lady,” the old man said, bobbing his head.
