Page 168 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“What?” she said in confusion.

The hand on her shoulder gave another squeeze. “There was no other way.”

Then she remembered. Fear rammed through her on a wave that brought the prick of tears. She turned her head to face Dayton St. Claire, who sat on the bed beside her. She shoved his hand away from her shoulder. Pain ricocheted off her skull.

Rhoslyn winced. “Why? I agreed to leave with you.”

“You know why.”

“Why not slay me at Castle Glenbarr?” she demanded.

His brows drew down in shock. “I am not a barbarian.”

Her heart pounded in tandem with the thud in her head. He intended to lock her in a dungeon? Ransom her? Nay, that didn’t make sense. If he intended that, she would not be laying on a soft feather bed.

“Then why am I here?” she asked.

“You will marry me instead of Talbot.”

Shock washed over her. Sweet God, it had been the light of madness she’d glimpsed in his eyes. “My grandfather will never allow it. If I have learned anything about your brother, neither will he.”

”Until I present our sons to them, they will not know where you are.”

“Sons?” Panic sent a tremor through her. “Sheila will have alerted someone.”

Sorrow filled his gaze. “I am sorry. She and your guard were dead five minutes after we left.”

She drew a sharp breath, ignoring the jolt to her head. “No.”

“I could not risk them telling anyone that you left with me.”

Rhoslyn fought panic. “Mistress Muira knows.”

He gave a small shake of his head.

Rhoslyn lunged at him. “Bastard.” She landed a blow to his nose before he seized her wrists. “Mistress Muira was a second mother to me.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to wrench herself free of his iron hold. “Sheila had yet to know a man. Ye craven whoreson.” Her stomach pitched and she gave a great sob, collapsing back onto the pillow, panting hard. His grip loosened and she yanked free. “I will not submit.”

“I pray you will, lady. I have no wish to force you. Think, once your belly swells with my babe, resistance will be pointless.”

The room spun. Breathe, she told herself, Breathe. She hadn’t allowed herself to consider the possibility of having another child. How could she fathom this man’s child growing inside of her?

He shifted and she jerked.

“Lady Rhoslyn,” he said in a gentle voice, “I offer you a good life. I will be a better husband than my bastard brother. Mayhap you believe his Scottish blood makes him more desirable, but you are wrong.”

“What of the woman ye love? Was that a lie?” Rhoslyn demanded.

“Never mind her.”

Rhoslyn couldn’t believe it. “You intend to keep her.”

“You think Talbot will be any different?” he sneered. His expression cleared. “Do you not see? I will give you the life you want. Once you bear me sons you may even return to Scotland, if you like.”

Panic escalated with the pounding of her heart. “They will find me.”

“Nay,” he said. “They will not.”

Rhoslyn did a quick calculation. Kildrum lay sixty miles from Stonehaven. That meant they had ridden into early afternoon. A slight thump caught her attention and she started at the realization that the sound had come through the floorboards. They weren’t in a cottage as he claimed. An inn, her mind raced. If he left her alone, she would be able to get help.