Dangerous Pride (55 page)

Once she had control of her fear, Catriona turned her attention to examining the tiny room that now served as her prison.  The chamber was small and filthy, similar the rest of the holding.  She was able to walk the width of the room in only six paces, and the length was not much greater.  Moldy sacks of oats rested in one corner of the chamber, and there were barrels – ale, she presumed – scattered throughout.  Light traveled into the room through the tiny arrow loops that had been forged in the walls, but there was barely enough light for her to take in her surroundings.  That was probably for the best, she thought ruefully, for the scurrying sounds that came from the corners indicated that she was probably not the only guest in residence.

Knowing the light would not last much longer, Catriona hurried to inventory the room’s contents.  Though there were no blankets or plaids she could use for warmth in the cold, damp room, there were several empty sacks that she could use as a makeshift blanket.  The only indication that the room had ever been used for anything other than storage was a chamber pot tucked in the far corner.  Catriona suspected she hadn’t been the only hostage held in this repulsive setting.  She could only hope her stay would not be a long one.

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The door to her prison opened with a loud crash, pulling Catriona from a deep, exhausted sleep.  Pushing aside the sacks she had used as a pillow, she reluctantly pulled herself upright.  Her sleep-fogged brain took a moment to become alert to the movement around her as her eyes struggled to adjust to the light that now streamed into the pitch black chamber.

“I thought I would save the lads a trip to yer room by bringing this myself,” Calum Gordon said, his voice cheerful as he perched a small tray atop one of the barrels of ale.  The beeswax candle he set next to the tray cast more light on her dismal surroundings, a fact she considered to be a mixed blessing.  Calum paused to fastidiously wipe the grim from his hands before he turned to look at his prisoner.  “I would ne’er want it said I am not a gracious host.”

Catriona stiffly pulled herself to her full height, refusing to appear intimidated in front of the man who had destroyed what little happiness she had known in her life.  “I canna say I’m of a mind to greet you, Calum, for I had hoped ne’er to see your cowardly self again.”  She ignored the look of surprise on his face as it slowly darkened into anger.  “Where have you taken me?” she demanded as she pushed her heavy curls off her face, her expression determined.

“No time for pleasantries, Catriona?” he replied as he paused to brush some lint from the sleeve of his immaculate linen shirt.  “Yer in Kilchurn, a holding which has recently come into my possession.  The former laird was no’ much of a card player, as I can attest from personal experience.  You, my sweet, will call Kilchurn home until I have finished with you.”

The cold, disinterested tone Leslie affected was more terrifying to Catriona than if he had flown into a dark fury.  She had long assumed that the man had a fragile grip on his sanity, and his current demeanor only served to heighten her fears.  Despite the mayhem and uncertainty that surrounded him, the man was impeccably, meticulously groomed.  To Catriona’s jaded eye, he looked like a dandy, but she knew it would be folly to antagonize the man by saying so.  What little hope she had for escape depended on her ability to manipulate him into believing she posed no threat to him or his plans.

“Why have you brought me here, Calum?” she asked, struggling to keep her tone even.

“Bait, my sweet.  You will serve as the bait that will lead yer husband right to me,” he said, sighing as he settled his weight on one of the barrels.  “There is no question that you have been a challenge to deal with.  At every turn, you and yer husband have thrown obstacles in my path, but despite all the difficulties, I have persevered.  And I shall have my reward – mark my words.  Once the Forbes is dispatched, and you and I are wed, I shall have control of Tolquhon and all his holdings as yer lawful husband.  It will be only a matter of time before yer brother and da meet with an unfortunate accident, and then I shall have control over Boyne, too.  It’s all coming together quite neatly,” he added, his eyes flashing in the pale candlelight.  “I have you to thank for much of it, Catriona.  For as bothersome as yer meddling has been, you have presented me with two wealthy holdings, ripe for the taking.”

Catriona’s head whirled with the effort it took to absorb Leslie’s words.  She knew she had to keep him talking, to feed his vanity so she could learn as much as possible about his plans.  “What makes you so sure that yer plans will succeed?”

“I have been planning this for some time, my sweet, but both you and yer husband were too blind and too stupid to see my intentions.  Forbes was stupid enough to think I was naught more than a minor threat – he ne’er took me seriously enough, ne’er gave me my due.  He did no’ understood the number of men who have followed me faithfully, who have worked with me to set my plans in motion.”

“Or the number of women, I suppose,” Catriona replied quietly, before she could stop herself.  “It would appear Fiona has replaced my sister as the object of yer affections.”

Leslie’s laugh was cold and empty.  “For the moment, yes.  Fiona has been a verra effective means to an end.  Another wolf among the sheep at Tolquhon that yer husband was too ignorant to recognize as a threat.  Sadly, though, she will no’ be of use to me much longer.  It would no’ do to have a woman of such low birth as my lady.  No, I fear Fiona’s dreams will go unrealized, for I will need you at my side for my plan to succeed.”

“What makes you think that I will go along with yer plan?”

“You may fancy yerself brave now, but once you have a brat or two hanging from yer skirts, you’ll feel differently.  And once you have given me an heir, you’ll be bound to me forever, sweet.  My position will be secured, and no one will be able to question my claim to the lands.  It’s only a matter of time before you realize it’s pointless to resist me.  I think you’ll be smart enough to learn that lesson sooner rather than later, don’t you?” he asked as he leaned forward, tilting Catriona’s chin upward as he stared into her frightened eyes.  She had to fight to keep herself from flinching at the feel of his fingers on her flesh.

“Do no’ worry yerself overmuch, Catriona, for I have no desire to ravish you in yer present condition.  I have no need to rut with a filthy, travel-weary woman when there are others here who will serve my needs quite nicely.  It will no’ be long afore yer husband is in the ground, and yer my bride.  I can wait until then.”  Leslie withdrew his cold fingers from her skin, and turned to pick up the candle from the tray.  “I will leave you to yer meal then, my sweet.  The next time we meet will be before the priest, as we say our vows.  I trust you will no’ be too impatient for that moment.  It won’t be long now.”

As Calum shut the door behind him, Catriona felt all her bravado desert her.  Slumping to the floor, she burrowed her head in her hands as she sobbed.  The faint glimmer of hope she had felt earlier had been snuffed out like a flame.  The only person standing between her and a life as the bride of this monster was her husband, a man she know knew had found comfort and pleasure in another woman’s arms, all the while pretending to care for her.

She laughed bitterly through her tears at the irony that there was little difference between the two men.  But at least Calum had told her honestly how he planned to use her.  Lachlan had never offered her that courtesy.

Long hours spent in frantic pursuit of his wife had done little to soothe Lachlan’s heated temper.  He had reunited with the rest of Iain’s men near the Red Well, having ridden at a frantic pace to see if Fiona’s destination coincided with the trail of Catriona’s captors.  They quickly determined that the Red Well had been a meeting place for additional men to join the original small party they were certain included his wife.  The larger number of riders made the trail much easier to follow, and they were able to make good time in the day that followed.

Lachlan had sent his best scouts ahead, and they soon determined that Catriona had been taken to Kilchurn Castle, an ill managed keep in the lowlands.  The castle was well known as a gaming house for bored lairds and nobility who resided in the area.  Lachlan didn’t doubt for a moment that the owner would be willing to assist a scoundrel like Calum Leslie if he thought he might benefit in some way.

Under Rory’s supervision, Lachlan had set up a camp well outside the view of the keep.  Two Forbes men had been placed inside the holding, where Leslie was quickly enlisting the support of any warrior willing to lend his sword for coin.  Security around the keep was lax, since few of the men stayed true to their responsibilities as guards.  Most preferred instead to take part in the debauchery in the great hall, where ale, wine and whores were available all hours of the day and night.

Guards had been placed near the periphery of Lachlan’s makeshift camp, and if any of Leslie’s men stumbled too close, they had orders to deal with the intruders swiftly.  And without mercy.

The only time Lachlan had been able to relax in the frantic days following Catriona’s kidnapping had been when he had received the first reports from his spies in Kilchurn.  It hadn’t taken long for them to learn that a bedraggled woman of quality was being held in the keep.  Though none of his men had seen her, Lachlan had learned that she was being held in a small room next to the great hall.  One guard had been posted outside her door, but given the caliber of the men Leslie kept in his employ, Lachlan had little doubt he could be disposed of quickly enough.

When Iain joined them, a strategy was quickly devised to see to Catriona’s rescue.  Iain had argued vehemently that Lachlan not be involved in the plan, for they all knew the kidnapping had been nothing more than a trap to lure him into a vulnerable position.  Regardless of the arguments Iain and Rory made, Lachlan refused to be left behind, and his temper was such that no one dared challenge his authority.

When their strategy was finally agreed upon, the men settled in to rest until dawn, at which point they would put their plan into motion.  While the men around him slept, Lachlan could not cease his worry over Catriona’s well-being.  None of his men had actually seen her, and he was unsure if she had been harmed in any way.  He knew that Leslie was so bereft of morals – and so fixated upon his twisted goal – that he was capable of anything.

The prospect that his wife had been hurt plagued Lachlan relentlessly, though he struggled to push these thoughts to the back of his mind.  He owed his wife a great deal – more than he could ever hope to repay.  She had given him a sense of peace and contentment for the first time in his life.  Now, because of his carelessness, their entire future hung in the balance.

Lachlan knew he would see his wife rescued, or he would die in the attempt.  For without Catriona, he had come to realize, he had no life at all.

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Catriona reached a hand out from beneath her makeshift blanket to swat away what she assumed, in her sleepy state, was yet another rodent searching for food or warmth.  After going days without much sleep, she had fallen into a rest so deep it was almost as if she had been drugged.  “Stop it, Catriona,” a voice hissed, drawing her roughly from her troubled dreams.

Recoiling from the voice, Catriona took a moment to come fully awake, her eyes struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness.  Shielding her eyes, she was slowly able to make out her brother’s features as he hovered over her, carefully studying her for any signs of injury.  “Iain!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck so forcefully she almost knocked him to the floor.  “I ne’er thought to see you again,” she whispered as tears of gratitude poured down her grimy cheeks.

Iain held her tightly for several long moments before he gently pulled her back.  “I’m just as happy to see you, but I fear that we canna tarry for long.  Lachlan and his men are creating a distraction in the inner bailey, and we haven’t much time.”

“Lachlan is here?” Catriona asked stupidly, her thoughts still clouded by sleep.  “Why would he be here?”

“Why wouldn’t he be?  He is yer husband after all,” Iain whispered hoarsely as he shook his head.  Clearly Catriona was too chocked by all that had transpired to be able to think straight.  Tossing aside the filthy sacks that had served as her blankets, he grasped Catriona’s hand firmly in his own as he drew her to the doorway.

“I know about Lachlan,” Catriona whispered stubbornly, following closely behind her brother as they peered down the empty hallway.  “If you think I am going to return to Tolquhon with that miserable philanderer, yer sadly mistaken.”

Iain stopped short in his tracks, turning to face his sister just as she collided with his broad back. “What in the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.

Before Catriona could respond, the roar of men, horses and weapons enmeshed in battle thundered through the inner bailey.  Iain motioned to her to be silent and to say motionless as he crept back to the far wall.  Through the arrow loops, he could see Lachlan’s men pouring into the courtyard as streams of Leslie’s men raced from the castle.  Though Lachlan’s warriors were well-armed and ready for battle, most of Leslie’s men were ill prepared, either befuddled with drink, or without their weapons.  It was not going to be a difficult battle, Iain realized with relief, though it was important to see his sister free of the castle as soon as possible.

Quickly he returned to Catriona’s side, bending over her to whisper his instructions.  “Lachlan and his men are creating a distraction in the inner bailey, but it will no’ be long afore Leslie sends someone to see to you. Our only chance is to slip out of the castle while everyone is distracted.”  Reaching down, Iain pulled the hood of Catriona’s cloak tight over her head to disguise her features.  “It’s unlikely anyone will pay you any mind with all that is going on out there, but keep yer head low, and follow close behind me.”

Finding the way clear, Iain grasped Catriona’s wrist, half pulling her as they made their way down the empty hallway.  Though his sword was still in the scabbard at his side, Catriona saw that his hand rested on the hilt of his weapon, ready to be pull it free if they encountered any of Leslie’s men on their way.  They could hear the sounds of battle from the inner bailey, the crash of steel blades and men shouting, but no one paid them any heed as they rushed down the hallway and into the kitchen.  Most of the castle’s residents were too busy seeing to their own safety to pay any attention to the two strangers.