Chapter 30
William and Philip entered the camp, forcing Burke to release Storm, for which she was grateful. For an instant, though, she thought perhaps it would have been best for him to continue to hold on to her, since she feared her trembling legs might fail her and she’d collapse, so weak did she feel.
Burke’s remark had hit her hard. Did he really presume that she would wed him? He had yet to claim to love her, and here he stated that she would be his wife. The man certainly was a fool, or was he hopeful?
He was an idiot.
She spoke with William and Philip and spent a few moments with Tanin before she wandered off to find a secluded spot in the forest. She needed time alone to think.
Burke was making a mistake that he would surely regret, and yet she could not convince him of it. He was so intent on rescuing his brother that he couldn’t see that he was making the wrong choice.
How did she convince him not to keep that meeting tomorrow?
How did she make him realize that he was about to do his brother more harm than good?
How did she let him know that she would never be his wife and that she would never go to America with him? And why did the thought upset her?
Hope.
There was no hope for the likes of her. Burke did not understand that and foolishly wasted time and thought on an impossible notion.
She, however, was practical, and already a plan had begun to form in her mind.
It was a dangerous one for sure, but if it proved successful, Cullen would be free, and she wanted that for Burke.
She wanted to see him set sail for America with his brother at his side.
It would break her heart to say good-bye to him, but she had no other choice. Whether she loved him or not didn’t matter.
Love.
Lord, she didn’t think she’d ever love again. She really didn’t think it was possible. Yet Burke had made her feel things long buried, not to mention new feelings that crept in and confused her even more.
She smiled and hugged herself. She so enjoyed making love with him. He was so very attentive and so gentle and so…
Her smile faded and her arms fell from around her. She couldn’t dwell on Burke, couldn’t even consider that she loved him. It would only make their parting more difficult.
“You forever try to run away from me.”
Storm startled and shook her head at Burke. “You should have warned me of your approach, and I don’t run from you. I seek solitude.”
“You run out of fear,” he argued.
“Fear of what?” she asked, and then thought it too late to retract her answer for she was sure of his response.
“Fear of my love, fear of being my wife.”
She threw her hands out in front of her. “This cannot be and I will not discuss it.”
“Why? Because it might make sense?” he asked and eased closer to her. “Because the very reason we enjoy making love is that we are in love?”
“There are more important matters to discuss,” she insisted, attempting to dissuade him.
“Nothing is more important than love,” he said adamantly. “Which means nothing is more important than you.”
“Your brother?”
“Would my brother put me before Alaina? I know he would not. His love for her would come first, and rightfully so.”
She held her hand in front of her to guard against him, or was she guarding against herself? Was she preventing her own feelings from surfacing?
“There is too much to presently consider. This must wait for another time,” she said.
“No! Why do you refuse to acknowledge what you feel?”
“You do not know what I feel,” she accused.
Burke stared speechless at her until finally he spoke.
“How can you believe that, when every time we make love we feel each other’s need, each other’s love?
It is there in our touch, in our kiss, and when we join.
It cannot be denied, ignored, or dismissed.
You will have to face it eventually. You love me, Storm, and you fight it.
I, however, do not fight my love for you.
I cherish it, embrace it, and welcome it.
I love you, Storm, and there’s no changing it or denying it. I love you!”
“Don’t love me,” she shouted at him.
He laughed. “You can’t command my love.”
“It can never be,” she said, shaking her head.
“It is,” he said, reaching out and drawing her into his arms.
She didn’t have the strength or the will to fight him. For the moment, his arms seemed like the perfect place to be, for she knew they offered comfort and security, and she presently needed both.
She drifted gratefully into his embrace, and when he wrapped his strong arms around her, she near sighed with relief.
She rested her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.
It always reassured her, though she couldn’t say why.
She only knew that the strong beat gave her strength and comfort.
She would allow herself this short reprieve before having to return as a leader. For now, she was simply a woman who cared deeply for a man. As far as love, she couldn’t consider that. She wouldn’t. It would only worsen matters.
It would only serve to break her heart—and his.
They remained in an embrace for several minutes until finally Storm realized that it could go on no more. The situation had to be faced, decisions finalized, and hopefully commands obeyed.
She eased out of his arms reluctantly and stepped away from him. “Tell me you will not go meet with the earl tomorrow.”
His hesitation warned her of his response and her body grew taut, prepared to battle.
“I must take the chance, even if it is a slim one, and meet with the earl.”
“And if I command you not to do this?” she asked with an ache in her heart, for she feared she knew the answer.
Burke shook his head. “You know I must do this. You know you would do the same in my place.”
“I’m not in your place. I lead this group, so the decisions are mine.”
“That’s right. The decisions are yours, which means you can respect my choice, even though you disagree, and allow me this.”
He had replied with respect to her position and asked the same of her. He could have simply told her he’d do what he wanted but he hadn’t. He left the decision to her as to whether this would cause a problem.
“I think you’re making a mistake, but—” She stared at him, concern for his safety welling up inside her and squeezing at her heart. “It is your mistake to make.”
“That’s encouraging,” he said.
“I should encourage you to be a fool?”
“I have no other choice,” he argued.
“Perhaps there is.”
“I don’t agree and neither do the others,” Tanin said sharply, causing them both to turn and face him.
“What’s going on?” Burke asked, looking from one to the other.
“Tell him,” Tanin said accusingly.
“It could work but plans would need to be strictly adhered to,” Storm said calmly.
Tanin shook his head. “She wants to attempt to rescue Cullen from Weighton.”
Burke looked to Storm. “I thought you said Weighton was impregnable?”
“It is,” Tanin said.
“It might not be,” Storm advised, and both men shot wide eyes at her.
“How so?” Burke asked.
“I have an idea that might work, but I need to give it more thought before sharing it with you.”
“I don’t like it,” Tanin said.
“It may not matter one way or the other,” Burke said. “If the earl accepts my proposal, then this is a moot point. I don’t think we should worry about it until then.”
“She won’t stop thinking about it,” Tanin argued, pointing to Storm.
“It may be necessary for me to think about it. If I don’t, valuable time can be lost and a man’s life may be forfeited. I prefer being prepared just in case.”
“It’s unthinkable,” Tanin warned. “There’s no way it can be done. It’s certain death.”
“For Cullen,” Storm confirmed.
Burke stepped between the pair. “At the moment it is merely a consideration that tomorrow may prove nothing. There’s no point in arguing over something that may never see fruition.”
“Tell him, Storm, or I will,” Tanin threatened.
“I gave you an order to keep what we discussed to yourself,” Storm said.
“Not this time,” Tanin said, shaking his head. “Not what you proposed. It’s damned foolish and can mean death.”
Burke turned an anxious glance on Storm. “What’s Tanin talking about?”
“I told you, it’s an idea that needs further investigation and preparation.”
“It needs no consideration. It needs ignoring, forgetting, burying,” Tanin insisted.
“Storm,” Burke said firmly. “Tell me now.”
Storm thought to ignore them both. She was the leader and her word was law, though it seemed Tanin had chosen to ignore her order. She couldn’t, however, carry out her plan if she didn’t have the support and determination of her men. It would take a concentrated effort from all of them to succeed.
“Keep in mind that it is a fermenting thought that needs further consideration,” she advised before continuing.
“The one reason it is so hard to rescue anyone from Weighton is because no one knows the inner workings of the place. Every prison rescue we’re made was successful largely due to the knowledge we obtained about the prison itself. ”
Burke nodded. “When you rescued me I remember that you knew of the cells at the end of the corridor.”
Storm nodded. “We learned of that from people who had been held prisoner there and had been released. Then there were the greedy guards who were willing to exchange information for coins.”
“So we find ourselves some greedy guards,” Burke said.
Tanin shook his head. “The man who tried now rots in Weighton. No guard there would dare take such a chance. He’s only too aware of his fate, and no amount of coins would be worth the chance of being condemned to Weighton.”
“The only other way is for someone to enter Weighton as a prisoner, learn what they could for a few days, and be prepared when the others make the rescue attempt,” Storm said.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Burke said. “The fellow could learn the workings of the place and possibly even locate Cullen’s cell. He can even see if there’s a good escape route.”
Tanin rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, this fellow could do all that in between being tortured, beaten, and starved.”
“It’s a gamble, and the fellow would need to volunteer. I could do it. I wouldn’t expect someone to place his life on the line for my brother.”
“Wouldn’t work,” Tanin said. “Weighton is for special prisoners, mainly ones who have committed crimes against king and country. You’re a foreigner, and it would take time to make a case against you, and until then you would be held in another prison.”
Burke shrugged. “Then there is no one—”
Tanin nodded. “Now you understand.”
Storm kept her chin high and her stance firm while Burke rushed at her.
“You will not—will not—be a pawn to save my brother.”