"I'll simply sign them over to you now." She would try near anything to avoid becoming his captive.
"Nay, mistress. That would not do at all. You must sign them in the presence of the solicitor and my witnesses."
"What about my solicitor and witnesses?" she asked, stalling for time.
His steely eyes hardened. "Nay, I cannot allow that."
"Of course not."
Smirking, he motioned for her to proceed out of the room.
"You'll regret this, you whoreson!" Cyrus roared. "Mark my words."
"Oh, I think not. The courts will be on my side. They'll realize my father was not of sound mind when he signed these properties over to his whore and took them away from his son and heir. And do not malign my mother." Henry took his sword hilt and knocked Cyrus on the head with it.
"Nay!" Elspeth yelled, feeling sickened. "You blackguard!" She ran and knelt by Cyrus, slumped on the floor. She touched his face and smoothed his dark hair away from his forehead. Good heavens, he was knocked out cold.
Henry grabbed her arm and yanked her painfully upward. "Shut your mouth or I will give you to my men, all of them. Carry her outside, MacGirk, and tie her to a saddle, facedown." He shoved her toward the guard.
Appalled by his threat, she ran to the hearth and snatched the fire poker. She would not willingly walk into a trap where she might be raped by the lot of them. 'Twould likely be her tragic fate anyway, after she signed the deeds.
"Come now, wench." Henry chuckled. "Do you truly think you have a chance against two dozen soldiers?"
Her stomach aching, she glanced around. She alone faced Henry and his menacing lackeys. All the MacKenzies were tied up or knocked out, and her servants were in the cellar. She gritted her teeth in determination. "I will bash in several skulls before you drag me from this place!"
Grinning bitterly, Henry crouched beside Cyrus where he lay insensible upon the floor. He grabbed a fistful of Cyrus's long hair, yanked his head up and held a dagger at his throat. "You will come peacefully with me or your lover's blood will be spilled all over this hall."
