Chapter 10
The ride back was relatively uneventful, although Nicholas kept his hand on his sword hilt as they cantered along, and constantly glanced around to make sure that they were not being followed.
He had no idea if the intruder was alone, or if other men had trespassed into the estate too, but he suspected that he had been by himself. If he had any of his company with him he doubted that he would still be alive or that the arrow would have missed.
As he kept a lookout for his enemies, Nicholas was also keenly aware of Laura, who looked exhausted and fearful. She was clinging to the saddle pommel with both hands, having seemingly been badly traumatised by her near-fatal fall.
Nicholas was infinitely glad he had been on the spot to save her from serious injury or death, although he had to admit it was partially his fault.
An apology was needed if there was to be a reconciliation between them, he decided reluctantly.
It would be extremely uncomfortable, but he would do it.
The arrow’s near miss was something that he knew would keep him awake that night.
He could still hear it whistling past his ear as he rode along, and although it was not the first time he had escaped death, he knew from experience that he would relive it for weeks or even months to come.
Perhaps it was because Laura had been in danger too, and she could have been lost in the blink of an eye.
Not that he cared much about her, of course, he reminded himself.
Laura tried as hard as she could to make her mind a blank, yet despite her best efforts, the image of Percival Crowley simply would not leave her alone.
Her lips still felt the painful pressure of his hard hand as it clamped down on them to stop her from screaming, and she could still see the glint of his deep brown eyes, and their scornful, sneering glare. How she hated him!
She was also reliving the moment when she had felt herself slipping from the horse, and the strange feeling of resignation she had experienced when she thought death was imminent.
‘I should probably thank Nick,’ she thought, even though the accident had been partly caused by his reckless riding. He had redeemed himself, after all.
As the bulk of Cairnlochan Castle hove into view, Laura and Nicholas looked sideways at the same moment, and their gazes met and locked. For a single moment there was no one else in the whole world, and something passed between them that both would remember for the rest of their lives.
They drew near the gates and the shouts of the guards broke the spell between them. Nicholas urged Laura to go through the massive gates before him as he stayed behind to speak to them, and she disappeared from his view.
Laura wanted nothing more at that moment than to escape to her chamber and throw herself on her bed and weep till she had no tears left.
She had almost forgotten that she had tried to flee only hours ago.
Now that she was back in the castle she was overwhelmed with guilt that she had left the baby behind her, even though she had done it for his own good.
‘I am a dreadful human being,’ she thought, shaking her head as she chastised herself. ‘Andrew deserves better than me.’
She had reached the bottom of the staircase that led to her bedchamber when a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and she screamed in fright as her mind raced back to Percival Crowley.
“It’s only me, Laura,” Nicholas said soothingly as he steadied her, holding onto her upper arms in a firm but gentle grip. “You are safe now. You have my word.”
Again, Laura found herself looking up into his dark green eyes, and for a moment she was lost in their depths and unable to look away.
Memories of their kiss came back and her gaze drifted down to Nicholas’s full, well-shaped lips which had caressed hers, arousing passions she had never felt before.
She shook herself back to reality suddenly and said: “I need to rest, Nick. Thank you for saving me.”
Nicholas smiled gently and raised a hand to touch her cheek. “I caused the accident, and I am sorry,” he said, “but I have to insist, Laura. You can rest later. Now we must go and see Kenneth. The Laird needs to know what has happened.”
“No, I need to rest!” Laura insisted indignantly, but Nicholas only shook his head and said firmly: “Later.”
He took her hand in his, and Laura did not resist, realising it would be useless as they began to walk towards Kenneth’s study. His grasp was firm and warm, and Laura was surprised that his fingers and palms felt so rough and calloused, like an ordinary workman’s.
Once again, she was furious with Nicholas, but at the same time she felt sheltered and protected. He had shown that he could and would take care of her, yet he was still the most annoying man she had ever met! Her head was spinning with confusion and the beginning of a splitting headache.
And there was something else—should anything happen to Charlotte, it would be her fault for bringing Crowley back into their orbit again. She was the vehicle he had used to reach them again.
She was still lost in thought when they reached the study. They found Kenneth immersed in a pile of paperwork. His steward, a middle-aged and very handsome man called David McPherson was sitting by his side, but he excused himself as soon as Laura and Nicholas appeared.
Kenneth looked tired and frowned as he saw them. He looked at their joined hands and the serious expression on Nicholas’s face, one that he very rarely wore. His eyes narrowed as he took in their dishevelled state.
“Something has happened. Tell me.” It was a command, and Nicholas did not hesitate. This was Kenneth the Laird, not Kenneth the friend.
“We have an intruder on the estate,” he said heavily. “Someone fired an arrow at us. It missed, but it was very close. I tried to find the archer, but he was nowhere to be seen, so he is still out there somewhere. We must search for him. This is deadly serious, my Laird. ”
Kenneth was furious. “Bi crivvens!” he yelled. “It must have been one of Crowley’s men, or even Crowley himself.”
Laura swallowed hard at the mention of Crowley, but did not speak.
Kenneth went on a rampage. “When is that swine going to leave us alone?” He looked at Laura, who was staring at the tabletop, wishing she was anywhere else in the world but here.
The memory of Percival, his threat against Charlotte—damn!
What was she to do? If she told them what he asked of her they would kick her out, but then they had been so good to them. How could she betray them?
As she looked up and saw the fierce dark grey eyes looking into hers, Laura decided that she needed more time to think.
“Laura, is there anything more you can tell us about Crowley?” he asked. “The better we know him, the easier it will be to fight him. He is a menace, and he must be caught.”
Laura sighed and frowned. “I have told you the story of how we met and how he treated me,” she replied, then she stopped for a moment to collect herself.
“There is one thing you might not know about him, though.
Although he is big-headed and full of himself, he is very intelligent and should not be underestimated.
“I heard him speaking a little Gaelic, and if I am not mistaken, someone is actively teaching him the language. So please don’t think you can talk to each other without him understanding.
He has some of the ladies in the village eating out of his hands already, and he may be using them.
” She paused for a moment to think, then she remembered something.
“I noticed that sometimes when he is tired he begins to feel pain in his left leg. I think he has a wound there, it may be a weak spot you can exploit.”
“Good to know,” Kenneth said appreciatively. “Thank you, Laura. If you can think of anything else, please come and tell me.” He stood up and fetched a bottle of wine and glasses for them, then poured.
Suddenly Laura turned to Nicholas. “If you hadn’t followed me, I would not have ridden so far into the woods,” she said accusingly.
Nicholas barked out a cynical laugh. “If I hadn’t followed you, you might have been dead!” he snapped back, glaring at her. “I am not to blame for your recklessness! If you’d simply stayed put I wouldn’t have to chase after you.”
“You savage,” she snapped back, but it lacked true vehemence.
Kenneth watched them for a moment, smiling inwardly as he remembered how a similar scene had played out between Charlotte and himself before they had fallen in love. Could the same thing be happening to Nick and Laura?
“Stop it, you two,” he ordered. “Nick, I want you to double patrols around the estate. Every inch of it must be watched at all times, and if Crowley’s men come calling, do whatever you have to.
Capture them if possible, but if you are threatened, kill them.
But I want Crowley alive. I have unfinished business with him. ”
Nicholas nodded firmly. “As do I,” he growled.
“And there is nothing I would like better than to see him lying in the dungeon dining on bread and water!” he thumped his fist on the table and finished his wine in one gulp, then offered his hand to Laura.
“You said you wanted to rest, so let me take you to your chamber.”
Laura ignored his hand but stood up, feeling desperately tired. Her head was pounding and she felt weak, the emotional strain of the day having caught up with her. She wanted to be alone to process her tangled emotions, but she was not prepared to argue with Nicholas in front of Kenneth.
“Goodnight, my Laird,” she said with a swift curtsey, then she turned to open the door, but Nicholas was there before her and ushered her outside before attempting to take her hand again.
Laura folded her arms so that he could not reach them, then said furiously: “I am quite capable of reaching my bedchamber by myself! Thank you, but I have no need of your help!”
Nicholas ignored her protest and continued to walk beside her, but he remained ominously silent until they reached the door of her room.
“Goodnight,” Laura said, with cold politeness. “I think I will be safe now.”
“Nay,” Nicholas said. “You will not be safe until Crowley and his men are caught. From now on, you will not go anywhere alone. I am not going to argue with you about this, Laura, you will do as I say.”
Laura felt like spitting at him, but restrained herself with an effort. “I can take care of myself,” she growled.
“I think we have proved that you cannot do that,” Nicholas retorted.
“And this is not up for debate, Laura. This is the only way to keep you safe until Crowley is caught.” He took her by her upper arms then looked down into her eyes, and at that moment she saw the sincerity and seriousness in his face, as well as a trace of—fear?
It was the last quality that made her nod in acquiescence.
“Fine, I will not be going anywhere alone,” she said, sighing. “But don’t expect me to like it.”
“You cannot like or dislike anything if you are dead,” he said grimly. “But as long as I am with you, you will be safe.”
And although she hated the thought of being under constant surveillance, Laura realised that he was right. She would simply have to endure it. And it would at least keep Crowley away from her. At least long enough until she decided what to do and who to trust.