Page 76 of In the Highlander's Bed

“I’m not a child.”

“I didn’t say you were,” he answered, flipping the handle of the spoon around to her.

A part of Constance rebelled at this treatment. However, the lemonade had sparked her senses. She was hungry. She’d done no more than nibble at her meals. Still, he deserved some defiance. She ignored the spoon he offered and drank right from the bowl.

Colster sat back in his chair. “I imagine Lachlan had his hands full with you.”

She picked up a napkin off the tray and daintily wiped the corners of her mouth. The broth had been good and she could feel her body respond to nourishment. There was an ache in her legs as if they longed to be stretched.

“Would you like more?” he asked.

“I would like to know about Gordon,” she answered.

He offered her a roll from the tray.

Constance stuffed the roll in her mouth, glaring at him the whole time she chewed. After making a point of swallowing, she waved her hand, indicating it was his turn.

The duke didn’t disappoint. “I didn’t want to leave you. I asked him to think of you,” he said. “And he did.”

“I knew that was his reason,” she said tightly. “He was wrong.”

“No, he wasn’t,” Colster disagreed, shaking his head. “I know a rebel’s life sounds romantic, especially to a young woman such as yourself.”

“I may be young, but I’m not naive.”

“Did I say you were?” He poured some tea into a cup on the tray and offered it to her. This time she didn’t bother to argue but took the cup and saucer.

“I know my own mind,” she said. “I love him. I willalwayslove him…no matter what Charlotte or Miranda or the rest of the world thinks.”

“Then hewasa lucky man,” the duke answered.

“Was? What have you heard?” she demanded, her chest tightening in panic. She put her legs over the edge of the bed and set the cup and saucer on the tray.

“The camp where the clan was staying was attacked.”

Her heart stopped. “By whom? Did you betray him—”

“You go too far when you accuse me,” he said, cutting her off quickly. “I am a man of my word. And don’t think to accuse my brother. He was not pleased with my decision to give up the sword, but we are twins. He is as loyal to me as I am to him.”

“Then whom?”

“From the reports I’ve received from the clansmen who have come to me, it was a man named Thomas Ovens.”

“Thomas?He was Gordon’s right hand.”

“Gordon wouldn’t be the first man to be betrayed by a friend.”

Constance could barely think. A thousand questions bombarded her, but only one wasimportant. “Is Gordon dead?” she forced herself to ask. Breathing was becoming more difficult.

“No one knows,” he answered, and she thought she would collapse. No wonder he’d insisted she eat something before delivering this news.

She doubled over, folding her arms against her waist, attempting to hold herself together. “What happened? And what of the others? Please, Your Grace, please tell me the clan is safe.”

“From what I understand, most escaped. We are still piecing together the story from those who have come to me for shelter. The belief is that Thomas turned Gordon in for the ransom money. Clansmen say a party of English soldiers attacked, but after Thomas was killed, they ran.”

“Who killed him?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Gordon.”