He scowled, genuinely annoyed this time. "Do you truly think I would leave you or any woman alone here, unprotected?" Too late, he noticed that his tone was biting.
She shrugged and looked up at him sheepishly.
"I wouldn't."
"Well, then, you're a better man than most."
Feeling an unexpected rush of pleasure, he gave a deep nod of gratitude for her compliment. "I appreciate that." He turned his mind back to the pressing issue. "In the morn, I'll send Fraser back to Rebbinglen with two of the guards."
Her arched auburn brows furrowed. "I hope they will be most careful."
"Fraser does not ken the meaning of that word, but I'll be sure to warn him of the dangers."
She nodded. "I know it isn't as important as Fraser's safety, but I'm concerned about my shops. I wish I could let my employees know what's going on. My seamstresses will wonder if something has happened to me. And what if Henry breaks in and destroys my merchandise?"
"We could send one of your male servants to inform them. The main thing now is to keep you safe."
"And you." The fierce and defiant look in her eyes amazed him yet again and inspired a glowing warmth in his chest.
"Have no worries over me, m'lady. I've been taking care of myself for a long time." He gave a wry smile.
"As have I."
He wanted to ask her how long but was afraid the question would be too prying. Humph, was he finally developing some tact? He would like to learn more about what her life had been like before he'd met her. Was it tough growing up as a merchant's daughter?
Damnation, why should he care about that? He didn't ken what was going on here. He certainly didn't want to form an attachment to her. Best to escape her captivating presence now, before he bungled things by kissing her again.
"I bid you goodnight, Lady Grey." He gave a deep nod of respect.
She curtsied. "M'laird."
As he walked away, he found that he craved hearing his given name upon her lips, whispered into his ear in the dark of night. A quickening of excitement shot through his groin.
"'Slud," he muttered. He'd become a madman of late, unable to understand how he could be so drawn to her. Nothing about that made sense. And yet, he felt more comfortable around her than he had any other woman in many years.
Cyrus found Fraser in the hall, drinking ale with Irving. "I need to speak to you."
"Very well." Fraser arose and followed him into the study.
Cyrus closed the door. "Are you up for taking two guards and riding back to Rebbinglen in the morn to retrieve the rest of the MacKenzies and hopefully some MacKays as well?"
"Aye, I'll be glad to." Fraser's pale blue eyes gleamed with eagerness. "Did you decide not to take Elspeth back there?"
"Aye, 'tis too dangerous on the road." Cyrus thought of the guards he'd sent two days ago. "I have no inkling if James and Sean reached Castle Rebbinglen. I hope they're well."
"Mayhap they were delayed in returning because the carriage is not repaired."
"I hope that's the reason. You could meet them on the road. But I cannot risk waiting longer. We need more men here as soon as possible."
Fraser nodded.
"Take Norval and MacNeil with you and be extra cautious as you're leaving this area. No doubt the gate is being watched and maybe the road."
"I ken well how to be stealthy. Any notion who's doing this?"
"Aye, we have a suspicion."
"We?"
Cyrus felt a pang of discomfort. "Elspeth and I."
Fraser lifted an inquiring brow.
"'Tis what I wished to speak to you about in private. The likely culprit is Henry Crawford, the new Earl of Dalacroy."
"I've never heard of him. What does he have against Elspeth?"
