Chapter 4 #4
Nora took a sip of wine before she continued her inquisition. “Have you ever been to Aquitaine?”
“I was born just to the south of it.”
“Nay, truly?”
“Truly.”
Nora’s face turned dreamy and soft, making Ewan’s body react instantly. “Oh, I would love to travel about. You’re so fortunate to have an uncle who allows you to join him.”
“Aye, I am indeed.”
After a few minutes Bavel leaned forward. “Does your lady ever run short of questions?”
“Nay, she does not.”
“No wonder you drink.”
Ewan stiffened at the words that had been whispered under Bavel’s breath. Words he barely heard. “I beg your pardon?”
Bavel cleared his throat. “I said I would be drinking if I had to travel with such a woman.”
Ewan frowned. Had he heard the man wrongly?
“Ewan!” Nora called. “You must come taste this stew. ‘Tis marvelous fare. The best I’ve ever found.”
Catarina beamed in satisfaction. “‘Tis a recipe my mother taught me.”
“Does your mother not travel with you?” Nora asked.
“Nay, she is in Anjou with my father.”
Nora’s eyes glowed with appreciation. “And they let you come to England with your uncle? Alone?”
“My mother is quite understanding of my need for freedom.”
Nora sat back on her heels as if the thought was more than she could fathom. “I can’t imagine a mother such as that. My parents would have the vapors should I...” She paused and looked up as Ewan joined them. “I’m sure they are having vapors at this very moment.”
Without thought, Ewan reached out and touched her hand comfortingly. “We’ll send word to them as soon as we reach Lochlan’s castle.”
“You are eloping?” Catarina asked.
Ewan almost choked at that question.
“Nay,” Nora hastened to assure her. “Ewan is merely being kind enough to help me escape a dreadful situation.”
Ewan sat next to Viktor who handed him a cup of ale and then a bowl of stew. Nora sat to his right and continued to eat and chat with Catarina.
“So what brought you to Scotland?” she asked Catarina.
“We heard how beautiful it was here,” Viktor answered. “So we decided to come see for ourselves.”
“Are you planning on going home soon?”
“Perhaps.”
By the time Ewan finished his stew, his head had started buzzing. At first he thought he might have developed a headache from Nora’s endless curiosity, but the world around him was moving.
“Are you all right?” Nora asked.
“I feel strange.”
Nora frowned as she watched Ewan. He looked a bit pale as he swayed.
When he started to rise, he fell back to his knees.
She swallowed in fear. “Ewan?”
Lysander and Bavel caught him between them an instant before he passed out.
Nora’s heart pounded even more at the sight of her fierce guardian unconscious.
Whatever could have happened to him?
“Ewan?”
Catarina stepped forward and pulled her back from the men. “It’ll be all right, my lady. Viktor is a wonder with healing. We’ll get him into the wagon and tend him.”
“But-”
“We’ll take care of him,” Catarina assured her. “Where were the two of you bound?”
“The MacAllister’s castle.”
“Well, that’s no problem. We were headed that way ourselves. We’ll let the two of you ride in the wagon where you can watch over your man and we’ll get you there in no time at all, isn’t that right, Viktor?”
“Aye. We’ll get you both home, mark my words.”
Nora smiled at the kindness. It really was good of them to be so willing to help. “Thank you.”
Lysander and Bavel helped Ewan into the wagon while Nora stayed outside with Catarina. Viktor went inside to help tend Ewan and to see what he could do.
Nora waited several minutes before the men came back outside to join her.
Viktor patted her gently on the arm. “He’ll be fine after a little rest. You may ride inside with him if you wish.”
Nora crossed the short distance to the wagon’s steps.
With a curious look to Viktor, Bavel helped her inside.
Nora went to check on Ewan, then froze as she caught sight of him.
He’d been tied up and gagged.
Och now, this wasn’t any good at all.
She turned around at the same moment Viktor shut the door to the wagon behind her.
Her sight dulling, she went to the door only to learn it’d been locked from outside.
“Catarina? Viktor?” she demanded angrily. “What is the meaning of this?”
“All will be well, my lady,” Catarina said from the other side of the door. “Don’t panic. You’ll just be our guests a little longer than you planned.”
She heard Lysander scoffing at Catarina’s words. “Just tell the lass she’s been kidnapped, Cat. It’s not as if she’s not going to find that out anyway.”
Nora gaped at his words.
Kidnapped?
Och, this was a fine mess, now wasn’t it? Out of the pot and straight into the fire she’d landed.
And all because Ryan MacAren was a devil!
The wagon lurched as Viktor climbed up on it. She heard the others mounting and tying her mare and Ewan’s stallion to the wagon.
Kidnapped. The word rang in her head as she turned back toward Ewan.
Her irritable companion would be even more so once he awoke and learned of this new fix.
It was all her fault she was sure of it. No doubt the group had recognized her as the niece of the king of England and had sought to use her for ransom.
Now what was she going to do?