MacFadden fidgeted. "H-he wouldn't say. O-only that he wished to spend some time with you without his friends knowing. He didn't want to embarrass you. He said to give you this." MacFadden drew a red rose from behind his back and thrust it through the crack.
"Oh." She took the rose and sniffed its spellbinding fragrance. Rebbie knew she'd loved the rose he'd given her yesterday afternoon. He was a romantic, through and through.
She knew not what would happen after they returned toDraughonand he broke the marriage contract. Elena might suspect Calla was to blame and never speak to her again. She would lose her job and her only means, at the moment, of earning a living. She knew Rebbie wasn't the marrying kind. She'd never had any aspirations of marrying him anyway, because 'twas too outlandish a dream to even contemplate.
The time here at Tummel Castle might be all she would ever have with him. Once they returned toDraughon, they would again need to act like mere acquaintances. If he paid off the debt, she would likely then be his employee.
"Pray pardon, m'lady?" MacFadden said. "W-what shall I tell him?"
"I'll be down in a minute." She closed the door and drew on the clothing she'd just removed a short time before. After pulling her cloak on, she picked up the rose and opened the door.
Carrying the candle, MacFadden led the way down the dark corridor and two flights of servants' stairs to the kitchen. The stone room was still overwarm but dark except for the orange glow of the coals.
"Where is Rebbie?" Calla asked.
"He was here. He must have stepped out into the garden." MacFadden opened the outside door and the wind extinguished the candle, casting them in near darkness. "M'laird?" he called in a low voice. "Where did you go?"
Calla stood so near the door, the wind whipped at her hair. A tall silhouette moved toward her from outside.
"Rebbie, what are you—?" Calla's words were cut short when the man yanked her to him and clamped a hand over her mouth.
She screamed, but the sound was muffled.
Oh, dear God.That wasn't Rebbie. Who?
She struggled to free herself from his binding grip, but the man picked her up and carried her through the windy night.
"Rebbie!" she tried to yell, but 'twas only a mumble beneath the man's strong hand.
What was happening? Icy chills covered her. Two silhouettes stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. Who were they?Claybourne'smen?
"Listen to me, my lady," said a raspy voice in her ear—that belonging to the man holding her immobile within the strangling grips of his arms. "Come quietly and no one will get hurt."
Remembering she hadn't even brought her small knife, she kicked backward into his shin. His hold on her tightened painfully and he growled in her ear. "'Twasa bad move on your part. The more you fight me, the more I will hurt you. Oh, and by the way, we have your son."
"What?" she yelled but the word only came out a blunted syllable. They had to beClaybourne'smen. She'd kill every one of them if they harmed Jamie. How had they kidnapped him? He was supposed to be safe with his aunt and uncle, under heavy guard. But, she was supposed to be safe here, too, wasn't she? Yet they had managed to seize her. They could very well have Jamie. Rage burned through her veins and tears flooded her eyes.
"Aye, now will you come quietly and peacefully?" the blackguard asked.
Though she wanted to kill the bastard, she nodded.
"If you so much as utter a sound, your son's life will be forfeit."
She felt lightheaded of a sudden, but ground her teeth and forced herself to nod. She'd do anything to protect her son, even becomeClaybourne'swhore. But she would figure out a way to rescue Jamie, if Claybourne did indeed have him. It might be a grand lie, but she couldn't risk it. Never had she thought herself capable of killing a man, but once an opportunity presented itself, she would stab Claybourne and leave him lying in his own blood, just as he had done to Stanbury.
The largest of the men tossed her over his shoulder, near knocking the breath from her, and carried her toward the postern gate. A third man opened the gate. Once they were outside the walls, the night wind blew harder against her. The men sprinted with her through the dimness toward the wood. Upside down, she grew dazed and disoriented. Turning her head aside, she saw no one at the castle's portcullis.
Please don't let them hurt Jamie,she prayed over and over.
In the wood, the men ran with her through the damp leaves. Abruptly, her captor set her to her feet. She swayed, all the blood rushing from her head leaving her dizzy.
Claybourne stood before her with a disgusting grin upon his face. "M'lady, 'tis so grand to see you again."
"Go to hell, Claybourne," she said through gritted teeth, her head pounding.
He gasped. "I'm shocked at your language, my darling." He chuckled.
"Where is my son?"
