Page 87 of In the Highlander's Bed

“Aye, she’s become the closest I have to a sister,” Fiona answered.

“Which we won’t be much longer if someone doesn’t help me with this dog,” Grace said in a harried, hushed voice from the other side of the wall.

They all laughed. Gordon sobered enough to say, “Are you ready, Constance? Will you leave with me now?”

“Where’s the gate?” was her answer.

It was close by, hidden behind some shrubs. Gordon pulled back the branches and lifted the latch, but before he could let the womenthrough, there was a male grunt and a heavy-sounding thud. A man cursed the garden’s uneven ground. Constance recognized the voice.

“It’s Colster,” she warned.

Gordon started to swing open the door but Constance didn’t move. She knew they were seen. Their light-colored ball gowns had to stand out in the moonlight.

She was right.

“Constance? Is that you? We’ve been looking for you everywhere. You disappeared from the ballroom. What are you doing out here?” he asked as he moved closer.

She moved to stand in front of Fiona and Gordon. “Please, Justin, keep your voice down.”

“Why—” he started, then stopped as he recognized Gordon, who held the garden gate half open. “So the devil does live.”

“’Tis good to see you, too,” Gordon replied, his voice guarded.

Tad chose that moment to push his nose through the partially open gate. He sniffed and then shouldered the gate open, breaking free of an exasperated Grace so he could attack Constance with a glad, joyful run. Coming up on his hind legs, he embraced her with so muchforce, she fell back against Justin. There was a rope around his neck.

Grace followed him, blowing on her palm. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t hold him, not once he heard Constance’s voice.”

“I’m glad to see you, too,” Constance told the wolfhound, who had the good manners to come back down on all fours after his initial happiness was registered.

“Glad to see who?” Phillip asked. He was moving toward them, and would momentarily join their growing band beneath the protection of the trees. “Justin, did you find Constance?”

Gordon groaned his frustration while Justin said in a low voice, “I found her. She’s here.”

Phillip came closer and stopped dead in his tracks when he realized Constance wasn’t alone. “Lachlan,” he said coolly. “Are you mad?”

Gordon frowned his response.

“This is Fiona Lachlan, Gordon’s sister,” Constance said to fill the sudden silence. “And this is Grace McEachin.”

“Scots,” Phillip said, pressing his lips together with distaste. “Have you come to try and take Constance with you?” he demanded, not bothering to lower his voice.

“Yes,” Gordon said. He held out his hand and Constance went to him. Tad moved around tonudge her hand and let her know he was there, too.

Phillip shook his head. “We can’t let him, Justin.”

“Yes, we can,” Colster answered. “Do you not see, Phillip? They belong together with the same fierce passion you and Charlotte have.”

For a long moment Phillip stood still. “But what of Constance? What life can he give her?”

“The only one I want,” Constance said.

“I’m leaving the country,” Gordon informed them. “I want her with me.”

“Where are you going?” Justin asked.

Gordon’s hold around Constance tightened. “Wherever a ship will take me.”

“And the sword?” Phillip wondered. “What will happen to it?”