Free The Great Scottish Devil by Starla Kaye Page A

important to be put to such a job. And she was probably being foolish anyway. Surely there was no one watching her, following her. It was just that note.
    The two men seemed to be staring at each other in challenge, the tension straining. It puzzled her why Angus hadn’t immediately walked away when all but ordered to do so. She’d noted other times that he appeared to have too little concern for rubbing against his laird.
    She decided to end this competition—whatever it was—between the two grim-faced men. She would not have them fighting because of her. “Sir Gordon happened to be walking by and wanted to be sure I was well this morn. He knew I had been sent to...gone to my chamber early yesterday. Knew I had been feeling poorly.”
    Sir Douglas raised an eyebrow at her misspeak of “sent to” instead of “gone to.” But he merely backed down a bit with Angus. “I will accept the excuse. This time. Now, join the others, Gordon.”
    It took another tense second before Angus gave a curt nod and walked away. Her shoulders slumped in relief as he disappeared around the keep. Mayhap walking with him this night would be a mistake. Yet they wouldn’t be alone. There were always people milling about the baileys at night.
    “I dunna like the mon,” Douglas grumbled. “Neither does Brodie.”
    “Angus is still new here. I think mayhap he just takes a little more getting to know than some people.” Although she wasn’t sure whether or not she liked him, she felt the need to defend him. In truth, he’d never been unkind to her. Yes, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. She would walk with him this night and get to know him better.
    Douglas looked at her, his expression unhappy. “A rider came not long ago. Lady Stonewall and her party should be here sometime after the nooning hour.”
    Annabel’s stomach instantly tightened with dread. But she forced a smile. “’Tis a good thing, Sir Douglas. Lord Devil… I mean Lord Urquhart…is ready to move forward with his life. He is accepting he may never have his memories back, though I hope he is wrong about that. Anyway, he knows he can no longer dwell on that problem. He knows he must do right by his people, give them a strong leader once again, give them a lady of the castle, and…”
    She’d been babbling in her determination to justify what was coming. Yet as she’d started to say “and provide an heir for Urquhart,” she suddenly stopped. Her lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. With all of that, he would be lost to her forever. Nay! He is already lost to you!
    Douglas looked distinctly uncomfortable, but he pulled her into his awkward embrace. He patted her back as the weak woman in her quietly sobbed her heartache against his chest. His voice was gruff again, but gentle. “Our Brodie is a difficult mon at the best of times. But above all else, he is fearsomely noble and honorable. He canna go against his word, even if he doesna remember giving it.”
    She sniffed back her tears and drew in breaths to stop this foolish crying. Inching out of his embrace, she raised her chin. “You are all lucky to have him. I know this.” She swallowed down a lump in her throat. “I wish it could be different, that we had met under different circumstances. But things are what they are.”
    Douglas’s eyes revealed the depths of his frustration with the situation. “He must marry this Lady Stonewall. He has nay choice.”
    “I wouldna make him a good wife, anyway. He finds me too willful, too stubborn.” She dashed away her tears and glanced toward the paddock. “It is time I leave here.”
    Brodie strode from around the keep, surprising her as both Angus and then Douglas had done. Yet again she put a hand to her heart. He scowled darkly at her. “Ye are no’ leaving here until I give ye permission! I will have yer wagon dismantled if I must.”
    Furious, she walked right in front of him, planted her hands on her hips. “You will do no such