Page 14 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

After unearthing it, she cradled the parcel she hadn't touched in a year and a half. Did she truly wish the past to envelop her? Craving the warmth and brightness of her best memories, she untied the crimson bow, parted the wrinkled cloth, and revealed the gold ring.

The dark blue sapphire still gleamed in the candlelight as it had when Brodie had placed it on her finger. Her throat tightening painfully, she clasped the ring in her fist.

He'd surprised her, proposing only six days after they'd met. When she'd whispered, tears in her eyes, that she had no betrothal gift for him yet, he'd said, "you're the only gift I need."

She shook her head. Brodie had been the gift, a good and honorable man, perfect for her. Yet she'd destroyed it all, for his sake, so he would live.

Taking a midnight blue braided cord from her trunk, she cut it to length, then looped it through the ring. She tied the cord around her neck like a necklace and hid the ring underneath her smock.

"I do this for you, Brodie," she whispered. In the deepest part of her soul, she wished she could make amends, but 'twould never be possible.

He might never know of her mission to help the selkies, but with her last breath, she would atone... for herself and her own soul.

If she could help someone else, mayhap she could forgive herself.

Doubts crowded into her mind again, for she had done nothing like this before. What was the best course of action? She knew of only one—to secretly follow Talnaroch and find out where and how he was abducting selkies. His guard had mentioned an island. Elsea might be able to slip on board one of the galleys. Where was he keeping them imprisoned? Corran had taught her how to pick locks, and she imagined breaking them out.

The task might be dangerous, but it called to her. She would help the selkie women gain their freedom from these brigands. She had naught to lose.

***

THE NEXT MORN, ELSEA awoke at daybreak, her eyes scratchy. She had slept little during the night. While pacing, she'd packed her valise with a change of clothes, then hid it beneath the bed.

Her stomach was still too unsettled for her to eat more than a few bites from the breakfast tray Tilly had brought. Elsea did not want to join her brothers and the earl in the great hall, giving the excuse it was too early. In truth, sitting beside the knave and pretending she might consider marrying him filled her with restless dread. Her hands were already jittery.

After Tilly had helped her dress, Elsea had given her the rest of the morning off. She didn't want her maid to know her plans.

In the kitchen, Elsea had filched a loaf of bread, a few bannocks, and some cheese while the servants were distracted. She'd wrapped the food in a cloth, crammed it into her valise, and taken it out to her horse's stall.

Aside from the Highland dirk sheathed on her belt, she carried four hidden, sheathed sgian dubh knives on her forearms and her calves, and a sgian achlais beneath her armpit. She strode outside into the frosty air with everyone else to see Talnaroch and his garrison off. The sounds of horses and men mounting filled the bailey.

Near the stables, Talnaroch took her hand into his gloved one and kissed the back. "I'll miss you until I see you again, beautiful lass."

She forced her lips upward in a brief smile. "Have a safe trip, m'laird."

He grinned. "You are adorable." Still holding her hand, he led her into the stables. "And I cannot wait until we're married."

Imagining it, she recoiled and hoped he could not see her expression clearly in the dimness.

"I promise to be a good husband to you," he continued. Once out of sight of those in the bailey, he leaned down and cruelly assaulted her mouth with his. His tongue was like a pike, stabbing into her mouth, then his teeth latched on to her bottom lip with a sharp bite.

"Ow!" she shrieked and almost called him a bastard to his face.

He chuckled and drew back. "You do play the virginal lass well. We shall get on famously."

She covered her smarting lip with her fingers, and he laughed again.

"I'll see you in a fortnight. Dream about me." He leaned toward her while she tried to get away. He yanked her close and forced her to accept a kiss on the cheek, then strode away.

She would dream about stabbing the blackguard.

She pulled her hand away from her injured lip, and blood smeared her fingers.

Brute!

Though 'twas a minor injury, he had enjoyed hurting her. She craved taking him down to the lowest level possible.

Her muscles tense, Elsea waited until he mounted and rode out the portcullis with his garrison.