Free Highlanders by Tarah Scott Page A

dagger lying on the floor between the foot of the bed and the hearth. She looked back at him, a challenge in her eyes, and Talbot realized she was unsure how he would react to the fact that she had tried to kill his brother.
    “If it pleases you, my lady, I will bring him here, tie him to that bed, and let you finish the job.”
    Her mouth parted in surprise and he was shocked to see her eyes shimmer with tears. The tears were gone as quickly as they appeared and she nodded. The burgeoning respect that had begun to form when she defended herself against him on the road swelled in his chest. How was it possible that he had been betrothed to a woman of such mettle? How was it possible she had been in his care less than a day and she had come to harm?
    She took a step forward and gave a small cry. Ross started for her, but Talbot reached her as her knees gave way. He caught her and swept her into his arms.
    * * *
    Strong arms gathered her close and Rhoslyn wanted to collapse against the solid wall of warmth, but realized that St. Claire was headed for the door. It was enough that he and Ross had witnessed her shame. She could not bear for strangers to see her raw wrists and the hair falling from her braid in a tangled mess about her head. They would discern at a glance what had taken place in this room. 
    “I will walk.”
    “You are safe with me, Lady Rhoslyn,” St. Claire said. “No one will ever again harm you.”
    She snapped her head up, startled by the harshness in his voice. The hard line of his mouth was set in the granite of his face.
    “Put me down,” she whispered. He didn’t respond. “St. Claire!”
    He halted and looked at her.
    Ross reached his side and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Lad, mayhap we can find a more discreet exit. If ye carry your wife out the front door there will be talk. ‘Tis best for Lady Rhoslyn if we avoid gossip.”
    St. Claire stared down at her, intense eyes filled with an emotion she didn’t understand. The need to cry nearly overwhelmed her.
    “I will walk,” she managed in a shaky voice.
    He hesitated, then lowered her feet to the floor. The tremble in her stomach reached her legs and she feared her knees wouldn’t hold her weight. She couldn’t deny that she was thankful he kept a strong arm around her back.
    “There must be a servants’ entrance, Ross,” St. Claire said.
    He nodded and left. Rhoslyn realized she was alone with the man whose brother had violated her. Her husband. Suddenly, she wanted to be as far away from him as possible, as far away from anyone as was possible.
    “You do not know where he went?” St. Claire asked.
    He spoke soft and low, but Rhoslyn discerned the ice in his voice. “He did no’ tell me,” she replied. “Though I believe he wanted to speak with the captain of a ship.”
    St. Claire’s gaze sharpened. “Which ship?”
    She shook her head.
    “He gave no hint of anything?”
    Oh, he gave a great many hints; said too many things. A noise in the hallway caused her to start. St. Claire laid a hand on her arm. She jumped back.
    “No one will ever harm you again, Lady Rhoslyn,” he said.
    Ross appeared in the doorway. “There is a servants’ entrance, just as ye said. But we must make haste.”
    St. Claire took a step toward him. “Has Dayton returned?”
    “Nay, but Seward has arrived.”
    “Damn him,” St. Claire cursed in unison with her “Sweet Jesu.”
    “He must no’ know—” Her voice broke.
    St. Claire hesitated.
    “Please,” Rhoslyn begged. “My grandfather can never know what happened here.”
    He nodded. “Ross, take Lady Rhoslyn out the back way and go to the inn on the way out of town. I will deal with Seward and meet you there.”
    “He will want to see me,” Rhoslyn said.
    “Leave him to me. By the time we meet again, you will be—” his mouth thinned “—more rested. Lust for my brother’s blood will distract him once I assure him you are safely away.” He looked at Ross. “Engage a room