Free Highlander in Her Bed by Allie Mackay

gem-encrusted dagger… a dirk, you call them. A medievaly looking one. Have you ever seen anything like that in this room?"
    "Crikey, nay." Ailsa shook her head. "There might be a few dirks in the hall, along with the other medieval weaponry on display, but none of them are jeweled. Even if they were, they wouldn't be in this room."
    "Are you sure?" Mara could feel her heart beating madly, her face growing hot. "Maybe someone accidentally brought one up here? One you've never seen before?"
    "That's not possible. I dust in the hall every day. I'd know if there was a jeweled dirk about." The girl lowered her voice, cast a glance over her shoulder. "Murdoch would have our hides if we so much as moved one of those old relics. He even stands watch when we polish them."
    "I see." Mara stiffened.
    She saw indeed.
    The hottie Scottie had been in her bedchamber. And the lout had purposely tried to frighten her. "One more thing," she added, keeping her voice level. "Is there another way in or out of this room besides that door over there?"
    Ailsa smiled. "Oh, aye, through the windows. One of them is a door that opens onto the battlements. Didn't Murdoch show you?" She shot a look in that direction. "There's even a way from there straight down the cliff. The steps are cut right into the rock. They lead to the sea dungeon."
    Mara swallowed. "Sea dungeon?"
    She shivered and rubbed her arms. Heavens, sea dungeon sounded like something out of a Scottish medieval romance novel!
    But Ailsa was bobbing her head. "Och, well, it's actually a sea cave, but it used to be a torture chamber." She paused, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I've ne'er been down there, but the older folks hereabouts are e'er saying a crack in the cave floor opens into a lower chamber. Supposedly that was the dungeon. See you, when the tide comes in, anyone caught down there would drown."
    "How gruesome."
    "It's only a legend." Ailsa shrugged. "Besides, even if the stories are true, it hasn't been in use for centuries. I doubt anyone has even climbed down the cliff in years. The steps are too slippery and steep to be safe. No one would dare use them."
    Hah ! Mara almost snorted.
    She knew exactly who'd use those steps, and had.
    She waited until Ailsa left before she sat down to eat her breakfast. Although the hearty-looking feast had grown a bit cold, she'd clean her plate. Her morning plans had changed, and she'd need the extra fortification to see them through.
    Instead of exploring the interior of Ravenscraig Castle as she'd intended, she'd acquaint herself with its dungeon.
    She let out a deep breath. Something told her that's where she'd find last night's uninvited visitor. When she did, she'd show him two could play his game. Feeling better already, she poured herself a cup of lukewarm tea.
    This time it would be hunky's turn to be caught off guard.
    And she meant to enjoy his misery.
     
    Bracing his hands against the crenellated wall of Ravenscraig's battlements, Alex leaned forward and watched the MacDougall wench's tedious progress down the jagged cliffside. She picked her way carefully, seeming aware that one falsely placed foot could send her slip-sliding down the damp-slicked steps. Plunging to certain death on the razor-sharp rocks below, making a watery grave with naught but seabirds and drifting mist wraiths to mourn her.
    He certainly wouldn't.
    And with good reason. So he narrowed his gaze on her, feeling nary a shred of pity.
    Indeed, he almost hooted with derision.
    Only a MacDougall could be so foolhardy as to descend treacherous stone steps wearing such ridiculous footgear.
    If such flimsy black bits of nothing could even be called footgear.
    "Devil take her," he fumed, scowling at her back.
    Even her dog had more sense.
    The wretched beast, Ben, Alex thought his name was, had refused to follow her through the opening in the parapet walling. But neither had the dog left the wall walk. Instead, he planted himself in front of one of the