Page 72 of In the Highlander's Bed

“Sleep, my dear sister,” she said to Constance. “Don’t worry about us. Nurse your heart.”

Tears burned Constance’s eyes as she closed them. Miranda could be counted on to understand. Charlotte was too pragmatic. She always fretted over what they should do next. She did so now with her usual indefatigable energy.

“We shall have to see her married, and quickly,” Constance overheard her whisper to Miranda. “Mr. Fryson said that most of the girlsknew she had disappeared from the school. Rumors will start. However, if there is a babe from that Scotsman, she’s more than ruined.”

Miranda hushed her. “There’s time to worry about that later. I’m just happy we have her back without bloodshed.”

Constance thought of Brian and his poor ear. She could tell Miranda what Alex had done. She was certain it wouldn’t surprise her. Alex could be ruthless…So could Gordon. Look at what he’d done to her.

In the end, before she escaped into sleep, Constance decided that of the two, Gordon was the more hardened.

“We have the Sword of the MacKenna!” Thomas burst out triumphantly, nodding to the sword Gordon had looped through a piece of leather on his saddle. “I didn’t think you would succeed,” he said. They were halfway back to camp and Thomas couldn’t hide his pleasure.

He grinned at the other men riding with them. “Wait until this news is spread throughout the Highlands,” he crowed. “The man with the sword could become King of Scotland. There are those who would pay the price on your head and more for that sword.”

Gordon kept his own counsel. Thomasbragged enough for both of them. Some of the men agreed with him, but a good number more were as silent as Gordon.

Instead, his thoughts were on Constance.

Colster had been right. He had nothing to offer her, nothing save his heart. Or what was left of it now that he’d given her up.

Over the past months, years, he’d forced himself to believe that they could fight the English. He’d nursed every injustice—the clearing of the lands, his father’s death, Fiona’s rape—using them to keep his belief in the Cause alive.

Gutted by Constance’s loss, he faced stark reality. There was no way all the Highlanders together could fight the English. The clans were too weak, although that wasn’t the only reason. No, the times had changed. His countrymen had grown more English.

Always before, he’d taken pride in his rebel status. He was not afraid of death…or so he’d thought.

Constance had made him want for other things. To yearn for a family, for peace. He could see himself practicing law…coming home to a wife and child. These were visions his anger had barred him from seeing before.

But was it too late to have those things?

“What is eating at your mind, Gordon?”Thomas asked, trotting alongside him. He didn’t wait for an answer but said, “If it’s the woman, forget her. There are plenty enough women in the world. And more than a few anxious to climb into your bed.”

“It’s not like that, Thomas.”

“She hasn’t turned you soft, has she?”

Guilt pricked Gordon’s conscience. “I chose the sword, didn’t I?”

Thomas hummed his doubts. “What were you and Colster discussing when you had your heads together back there? You appeared close as mates.”

“He didn’t want to give me the sword,” Gordon said, fobbing the question off.

The giant frowned. “There is something wrong here. She’s changed you.”

Gordon made a half laugh, but he didn’t deny it. “Does it matter?”

Thomas’s gaze narrowed. “You wouldn’t be thinking of turning on us, would you now?” he suggested.

The charge shocked Gordon. “You know better.” Had he not just proved himself? But then an errant thought caught him off guard. Why would Thomas leap to such a conclusion? Gordon knew enough about men that they rarely accused someone of thoughts they hadn’t had.

“What an odd idea, Thomas.”

A dull red flush crept up Thomas’s neck. “What do you mean?”

“I would not doubt you,” Gordon said with a shrug.

“’Twas not loyalty I was questioning,” Thomas averred. He snorted his disgust. “And you’ve spoiled my good mood. I’mproudwe have the sword.” His tone implied Gordon wasn’t.