Chapter 4
Maddy brushed back Rory’s hair and then kissed him on the cheek. He didn’t stir except to mumble something incoherent in his sleep. He was exhausted and Maddy could hardly blame him. It had been one hell of a day for a four-year-old-boy. Heck, it had been one hell of a day for a twenty-something woman for that matter! She was as exhausted as he was, but she couldn’t allow herself the luxury of sleep.
She straightened from Rory’s bedside, left the room, and pulled the door gently shut behind her. The maid—Clara— had escorted her up to this suite of rooms, telling her that Rodric had instructed they be given over for her use. There were two bedrooms—one for her and one for Rory—along with a sitting room which was bigger than the bedrooms put together. Everything was done out like some kind of medieval manor, with dark wooden paneling, thick rugs over the floorboards, fireplaces in every room and sumptuous furniture covered in fine brocade covers. Even the stonework was decorated, with vines and animals carved into the fireplace and the corbels that held up the ceiling.
Was Rodric trying to impress her? If so, he was failing miserably. The man had yet to make an appearance, but his presumption made Maddy’s blood boil. Giving her and Rory bedrooms told her that Rodric assumed they would be staying. They most definitely were not. She’d only agreed to bring Roryup here for a nap because the boy was dead on his feet. The second she was able, she was taking him right out of here and back home.
Maddy crossed to the window and looked out. Beyond the castle walls she could see the hills marching into the distance and the path that she and Deryn had took to reach the castle gates. Her thoughts turned to her rescuer. Where was Deryn now? He’d left without giving her the chance to say goodbye and she regretted that. He’d been the only comforting thing in this day of insanity. Was he out there right now, marching into those hills? Had he forgotten her already?
She slumped onto a plush chair with a sigh, her legs suddenly feeling too weak to hold her up. What was this place and how had she ended up here? And what was Rodric doing here, acting like some medieval lord of the manor? It felt like a big hand had plucked her right out of her life and dropped her into someone else’s.
The only thing that kept her from panicking completely was the fact that Rory was safe. When he was rested, they would go home, and everything would go back to normal. It was the thought she clung to as her heart raced and her thoughts spun in dizzying circles.
She laid her head against the chair back. She hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep until she heard a soft knock on the door. Her eyes flew open, and she leapt up just as the door opened and Rodric MacKay strode into the room.
She hadn’t seen him in four years, but he hadn’t changed at all. Tall, dark-haired and devastatingly handsome with those chiseled cheekbones and icy blue eyes. Once, the sight of him would have sent her heart racing with desire. But she was not the giddy girl she had been and now all she felt at the sight of him was fury.
“Am I disturbing ye?” he said in that rich, deep voice of his.
“Yes,” she hissed. “Get out.”
He didn’t. He came in and shut the door behind him. Maddy moved to stand in front of Rory’s door protectively.
“Didn’t you hear me?” she snapped. “I said get out.”
He laughed softly. “Ye havenae changed a bit, Madeleine. Still as fierce as a wild cat.”
Maddy took out her phone and brandished it at him. “You have exactly five seconds to explain what the hell is going on before I call the police. Let’s see. Kidnapping. False imprisonment. Anything I’ve forgotten?”
He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. He looked amused. “Ye shouldnae have ignored my letters. I warned ye this would happen. I have a right to see my son, Madeleine.”
“Like hell you do! You think I’m going to let you waltz back into his life only to hurt him like you hurt me? Not a chance, Rodric.”
He watched her steadily. He was, she realized, wearing the same medieval-looking clothing as Deryn, although the breeches, shirt and plaid that swathed his broad frame looked to be better quality.
“I’ll tell you what’s going to happen,” she said, jabbing a finger at him. “You are going to call me a cab, me and Rory are going to go home, and you are going to stay the hell out of our lives!”
He arched an eyebrow. “And if I dinna?”
“Then I’ll call the police and get you arrested!”
“Go ahead and try but I think ye will find that device of yers does ye no good here. Cell phones have yet to be invented.”
