Chapter 4
Upon seeing her former fiancé and his Lindsay clansmen, terror flashed through Mairiana.
"Oh, good lord!" she gasped and fled to the opposite side of the ferry, stumbling into other passengers.
She looked about for an escape route, but found none, other than the plank where she'd boarded and that was close to Alec.
He now stood conversing with the captain, who shook his head.
She scanned the area for Darack. He waited in line at the food cart, further along.
He had not noticed Alec and his men. He couldn't help her now anyway, and she didn't want to draw Alec's attention to Darack. That would put his life in danger, too.
What could she do?
Frantic, she darted her gaze back to Alec. He dropped coins into the captain's hand and pushed past the other passengers boarding. "Out of my way!"
Good heavens, there was nowhere to hide. His malevolent, ice blue gaze locked onto her as he rudely jostled people aside.
"Why the hell did you leave?" he yelled as he strode toward her, his face a red mask of fury.
"Stay away from me!" She backed toward the rail.
"I ought to throttle you," he growled.
Two large, kilted male passengers moved in front of her. "Watch yourself, sir!" one of them warned. "What is your quarrel with this woman?"
"She's my betrothed. Move aside!"
"I'm not marrying you, Alec!" she yelled. "Leave me be."
"Why? What happened between supper last night and this morn?"
Murder, she wanted to say, but she dared not infuriate him even more. "I've simply decided we do not suit."
He narrowed his eyes, observing her with that astute, intelligent gaze. Her stomach knotted, for she had never received such a cutting and murderous glare from him. She now knew that, deep down, he was ruthless. What might he do to her if he got his hands on her?
"Where are you running off to? Rornoch?" he asked.
She was certain that must be obvious to him but she didn't confirm it.
"I won't allow it!" He pointed a finger at her. "You're getting off this ferry and returning to Lenor Castle with me now."
"Nay, I won't!"
"Stay back, sir!" one of the men shielding her ordered.
"Do you know who I am?" Alec demanded of them. "The future chief of the Lindsays of Lenor. My cousin is an earl. I'll have you both arrested and thrown in the tollbooth for kidnapping my betrothed."
When they didn't move, Alec flung a quick fist at one of them, striking his jaw and knocking him to the floor of the ferry.
"Nay! Leave them be!" Mairiana shouted. "I don't even know who they are."
"They will learn to stand aside!" Alec swung at the other man and he fell under the powerful blow.
What a bastard! With no one and nothing standing between her and Alec, Marianna searched desperately for an escape.
She knew how to swim, she suddenly realized, though she hadn't done so in almost a decade. Surely she would remember how. 'Twas her only chance of escaping him. She climbed across the rail and leapt overboard.
Holding her breath, she splashed into the icy water of the harbor and it enveloped her, head to toe.
She kicked her feet and paddled with her arms, but could hardly move.
'Twas her heavy clothing! A split second of a memory flashed through her mind—when she'd been a young lass, she'd secretly swam in the nearby loch in naught but her thin smock.
Quickly, she untied the belt holding the arisaid in place, but she did not have time to remove her silk dress or her petticoats.
Swimming hard, she pushed herself to the top of the water, at least, and took a deep breath.
The air burned her lungs. Loud shouts echoed over her head.
She did not want to look up and see Alec.
Instead, she tried to swim beneath the docks, but her clothing dragged her under the surface.
The water bubbled, loud and disorienting in her ears.
She couldn't tell how deep she was. She only knew she had to hold her breath.
Without warning, an arm snaked around her waist and lifted her. She opened her eyes to find her head above water again. She sucked in another breath. Though hesitant, she glanced back, expecting to see Alec, but nay, 'twas Darack. "Thanks be to God!" Relief flowed through her.
"What the hell, Mairiana? Why did you jump in?" Darack demanded.
"Alec was going to grab me," she gasped, glancing across the water toward the ferry, searching for him.
"I saw him. Several men were restraining him when I arrived on the scene. But you could've drowned by jumping overboard."
"I ken how to swim."
"It didn't appear you were doing a grand job of it," he muttered and swam with her further beneath the wooden docks into the dimness.
"My clothing weighed me down and it has been years since I swam."
"Aye, exactly. And that could've gotten you killed."
"So be it! I wasn't going to let him grab me."
"Aye. All is well now. I'll get you out of here." He propelled her past several boats and between the dock piles. Finally, they neared a rocky bank and he helped her onto dry land. Her knees trembled from the waning fright and the weight of her heavy clothing.
She glanced back and was glad boats blocked her view of the ferry. If she couldn't see Alec, then hopefully he had no idea where she was.
"Come." Darack took her hand and tugged her up the embankment.
Her chilly, wet clothing was plastered heavily to her body. A deep shiver shook her and her teeth chattered. "Go slower," she said.
He stepped back beside her and lifted her into his arms.
"Nay, I can walk. I simply cannot run up this bank."
"We need to hurry and get you out of these wet clothes... and out of sight before Alec or his men see you."
"Where will we go?" She could hardly think for all the panic and emotions bombarding her.
"I'll show you." Once on level ground again, he hastened behind the buildings which housed a multitude of businesses. Finally, they arrived at a nondescript back door. He opened it and walked right in with her.
"Felix?" he called. "Are you here, man?" Darack carried her into a warm kitchen where a huge black pot filled with bubbling porridge hung over a blazing fire. She smelled bread baking in a nearby oven. The heat felt wonderful.
"What is this place?" she asked.
"A tavern." He placed her onto her feet.
"Aye?" a man responded, striding into the room. Felix, she assumed. "Darack?" He smiled. "What are you doing here?" His gaze darted to Mairiana and back. "And why are you drenched?"
"This is Lady Mairiana," Darack said, then motioned to the man. "My friend Felix."
"A pleasure, m'lady." Felix bowed.
"Sir."
"We need your help," Darack said. "Lady Mairiana leapt into the harbor and I must get her warm."
"Leapt? A brave lady, then." Felix grinned. "Feel free to use the kitchen or the small family dining room." He pointed toward a doorway. "My serving maids will be in and out as they serve breakfast to the customers. But I'll give you privacy, m'lady."
"Would your wife or one of your maids have any old dry clothing she could borrow until hers is dry?" Darack asked him.
"Most likely. I'll head upstairs and ask my wife." He retreated through the main doorway.
"Who is he?" Mairiana whispered.
"Promise you'll tell no one?" Darack set a wooden chair near the fire, then led her to it.
She sat. "Of course."
"He used to be a MacGregor. Now he goes by Burnside."
"He's trustworthy, then?"
"Indeed." Darack knelt by the fire and added more wood. "I should've asked him for some food for you first."
"Nay, I'm well." She felt safer here than she had outside, but still her stomach knotted. "Do you think Alec will figure out where we've gone?"
"'Tis doubtful. Stop your fashing for a wee bit."
"I told him I wasn't going to marry him, but he wasn't taking nay for an answer. I hope he didn't injure the two men who defended me. Both Highlanders, bless them. I had never seen them before in my life."
"They were honorable, as most of us Highlanders are." He winked, friendliness lighting his gaze.
"Aye, you are," she murmured. Feeling her face heat at his wink, she glanced down and tried to pretend it hadn't affected her. Blast it, she was not supposed to be attracted to Darack, especially at a time like this. "And I thank you." She looked him in the eye again.
"You're most welcome."
Some tender emotion emanated between them, something she had never felt before, and she was unsure what to say.
A short, plump woman arrived, carrying clothing over her arm. "Aye, there you are, Darack! Good to see you, lad."
"Finola!" He leapt up, hugged her, and spun her around.
"Stop it now, you rogue!" She laughed. "Felix said you needed my help."
He set her to her feet. "Indeed. This is Lady Mairiana."
"An honor to meet you, m'lady." She curtsied. "I'm Finola."
"'Tis my pleasure, Finola." Mairiana stood and gave a brief curtsy.
"As you can see," Darack continued, motioning to her clothing, "she jumped into the harbor."
"Intentionally?" Finola gaped at Mairiana.
"Aye," she admitted. "I was escaping the man I was betrothed to."
"Och." Finola's eyes widened further. "The wedding is off, then?"
"Most definitely."
"Well, you've picked a wicked scoundrel to go on the run with." Finola elbowed Darack in the ribs and grinned. "But a handsome one, at least. You'd best watch him." She winked.
Mairiana blushed, for indeed she did find Darack handsome and was certain he could be wicked when he wanted to be.
Darack snorted and rolled his eyes. "I'm helping her return home. Her brothers are friends of mine."
"'Haps you'll be on your best behavior, then. Out with you now, and I'll help the lady get out of her wet clothes and into these dry ones."
"I thank you, Finola. Come fetch me when you're done." Darack exited into the common room.
"We'll go into the dining room, m'lady." Finola motioned toward the small room off to the side. Once they were inside, she closed the door.
Mairiana removed her wet cloak and left it in a heap on the floor.
"Och. What a fine silk gown!" Finola said. "I hope it isn't ruined."