"In a safe place, but only as long as you come with me peacefully and pay your debt to me without complaint. Once we get to my home, you can see him."
She clenched her fists. "If you hurt him…."
"Aye?" He raised arrogant brows.
"You will regret it. Mark my words."
Claybourne laughed.
Bastard!She wished she could grab his dagger and stab him now, but—she glanced around at the dozen or more men surrounding them—she could never get away with it.
She would endure any torture in order to save her son's life. But once he was safe, she would find a way to kill Claybourne, or make him wish he was dead.
"Come. You may ride with me, my dear." Claybourne grinned. "I will enjoy the carnal torture."
Calla's stomach turned, and she almost gagged.
Chapter Thirteen
In the quiet, dark corridor, Rebbie tapped his knuckles lightly at Calla's door.'Twaslate and all the other men were abed, tired from their travels. He couldn't sleep until he'd talked to her and tried to learn her secrets. How would he find out why she'd been spying on him in the hidden passage atDraughonwithout revealing that Angelique had given the information to Lachlan?
Despite not trusting her fully, he yearned for another kiss from her… and more. He hungered for her as if she were sustenance and he a famished man. He'd planned to keep his hands to himself, but the darker the night became, the more fiercely he craved her, like in the wood. The delectable scent of her, the sweet taste of her mouth, her soft curves against him… she distracted him, making him feel daft half the time.
He heard naught from beyond the door. Was she asleep already? He knocked again, a wee bit louder, but still not loud enough to alert anyone else sleeping in a nearby room.
No response.
He unlatched the door and stuck his head inside. By the low-burning fire in the hearth, he could see her nowhere in the room.
"What the devil?" he whispered and entered. "Calla?" he said in a louder tone. He dropped to his knees and looked beneath the bed. She wasn't there, of course. Why would she be? Where had she gone? To the kitchen for some food? Or had she slipped to his room and somehow they'd missed each other?
He returned to his chamber first. She was not there. Next, he descended the two flights of stairs to the kitchen.'Twasempty but still warm from the fires and the exterior door locked.
Where the hell was she? Fear for her safety sent prickles over him and increased his heart rate.
After rushing up the steps and entering the great hall, where several men's snores filled the silence, he approachedMacDadeandMacKinney, who posed as lookouts while the other men slept. "Lady Stanbury has disappeared. I need for you to help me find her."
"Aye,m'laird."
"MacKinney, go search the barracks and other outbuildings."
The man nodded and hastened out the door.
Rebbie ran up the stairs to the servants' quarters on the third floor and knocked on Mistress Hillman's door. She yanked open the portal, her kerchief askew and her eyes wide. "M'laird? What is it?"
"Lady Stanbury is missing. I need for you to search the rest of the servants' rooms for her."
"Oh, missing,m'laird! How can it be?"
"I know not."
"Don't you worry. I'll look for her."
"I thank you."
The only remaining rooms were where the lairds slept, and she couldn't be in one of those, surely. Only one way to find out. He would have to wake everyone in the castle.
He knocked on the door of the chamber where Lachlan slept. "Aye?" his friend called, then opened the door.
