Page 98 of Highland Ruse

“She arrived after me. I was thrown in the dungeon.” Delilah winced against her next admission. “Along with Leasa.”

Sylvi’s brows rose. “And how, pray tell, did you escape that? How many of his men did you kill? Did he find out why you were there?”

“He didn’t know why I was there. I swear it.” There was a note of desperation in Delilah’s voice. She hated how it sounded in her own ears.

Sylvi strode to one side of the room. The heavy boots she wore thudded against the uneven floorboards. “Delilah, do you know what you’ve done?” She stopped and stared with a look of such stark disappointment, Delilah actually felt the force of it strike deep in her heart. “You haven’t just failed your mission, you’ve failed me, and you’ve failed your sisters.” Spots of color showed on Sylvi’s pale cheeks. “You’ve put all of us in terrible danger.”

There was a clatter outside the door before it burst open and Kaid strode into the room with Isabel staggering after him.

“I willna have ye talk to Delilah in such a way.” He planted himself in front of Delilah with a wide-legged stance. “If ye’ve rage to spew, direct it at me, but no’ at her.”

Delilah was stunned into silence. Part of her was outraged at the intrusion, at how clearly helpless he thought her. But there was another part of her, a wounded, sad part, which had never been defended before, and reveled in this masculine show of protectiveness.

Everything he’d said and done up to this point proved something rewarding enough to make all the hurt of this meeting worthwhile. He cared.

About her.

“Shut the door, Isabel.” Sylvi turned slowly and let her cold gaze slide down Kaid. “Who the hell are you?”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kaid stared at the woman dressed in men’s clothes and knew she would not be easily handled.

Her clothing was all black, and her hair was braided back from her face and twisted into a wild mass of blonde hair. She looked more Scottish and wild than English. Even a subtle underlying lilt to her words suggested as much.

Hostility shone bright in her pale eyes. The openness of her dislike made the black bow tied at her neck appear nothing short of ridiculous.

“I’m Kaid MacLeod of Sutherland, laird of the Clan MacLeod.” He squared his shoulders. “It is my people Delilah sought to help.”

“It is you who caused Delilah to abandon her mission?” The woman named Sylvi tilted her head and regarded him. “If I’m correct, I am assuming you’re the very man she was supposed to bring in to kill. And now you’re here. How very convenient.”

The tall, slender lass was obviously trying to intimidate him. It would have been funny were he not so concerned for Delilah.

“Nay, she aided my people because she has a good heart.” He glanced back at Delilah. Her face was flushed bright red. His explanation faltered into silence.

“Do not talk about me as if I’m not in the room.” She clenched her fist. “I helped your people because seeing the cruelty they’ve endured broke my heart.” Her shoulders sagged. “Sylvi, if you saw them…”

A wash of uncomfortable warmth spread over Kaid. He didn’t want his clan to be pitied, but wasn’t that the perspective he’d forced upon her when she arrived? It had gotten her to help him, which he had desperately needed.

Sylvi stood in front of the one window to peer out before speaking. The morning sunlight left her hair a glow of white around her shoulders and face. “Your heart has always gotten you into trouble, Delilah.” The words were said with more kindness than their previous conversation. “I know how much you wanted this mission.” A hard set returned to Sylvi’s jaw. “This meant everything to all of us.”

“I know.” Delilah spoke so quietly, it made Kaid want to stand in front of her once more.

“I dinna know what her success with ye would afford her,” Kaid said. “But what she’s done for my people will save lives.”

Sylvi looked between Kaid and Delilah. “You didn’t disclose the details of our mission?”

Delilah’s cheeks went red. “I told him it was Elizabeth’s father who ordered we bring any potential attackers to justice.”

The chilly touch of Sylvi’s gaze settled first on Kaid, then back on Delilah, and her expression relaxed. Somewhat. “I’d like to see your castle.”

“Ardvreck,” Kaid provided.

“Yes. Ardvreck,” Sylvi amended. “I’d like to see it.”

“Ye’d be a welcome guest.” Kaid gave her a bow. Probably an awkward one, most likely stiff. Hell, he didn’t know what he was doing, but he thought it might help his cause.

Delilah’s cause.