Page 389 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“There are a dozen possibilities for why she is not in her room.”

“Such as?”

Iain hesitated. The truth was, he couldn’t think of one. “Perhaps she took a stroll,” he said. His logic brought no response, and he grinned. “Mayhap she fancies our Highland men, after all.”

“Trust a man to reason thusly,” Victoria muttered as he shoved her in the direction of the castle and nodded to the nearest guard to escort her.

* * *

Victoria jolted awake. Pain shot through her neck where she’d fallen asleep against the hard wood of the kitchen chair. She cupped the spot with her hand and rolled her neck. Movement in the corner near the external door drew her attention. She paused, squinted in the faint light cast by the fireplace embers, and made out a human form.

“Who is it?”

When no answer came, she stood. “Who is there?” Still no answer. She took a step forward and the form retreated. “Why do you hide?” Another movement and Victoria recognized the flutter of a cloak. “Katherine?” A small gasp said she’d hit the mark.

Victoria rushed forward, grabbed her arm, and dragged her to the fading fire. She yanked back the girl’s hood. “Where in Hades have you been? I have been sick with worry.”

Katherine yanked free. “Calm yourself. I simply took a walk.”

Victoria cursed. Her husband had been right. “Surely rest would have served you better?” she snapped.

“I have been traveling ten days,” Katherine answered, a peevish note to her voice. “My body has grown stiff.”

That, Victoria could sympathize with. Her trip to Fauldun Castle had been but four days and her back had been stiff as a board. “You cannot go about this time of night,” she said, despite her empathy. A lesson learned the hard way.

“’Tis safe enough.”

“The keep is large, much larger than Hockley Castle. You cannot—” Victoria halted when Riley rushed into the kitchen through the back door.

His eyes met hers and he paled.

“What has happened?” she demanded.

His gaze riveted onto Katherine, and Victoria looked from him to her stepdaughter. Iain’s words ran through her mind. “Mayhap she found she fancied our Highland men, after all.”

“Perhaps the two of you would care to explain?” “Explain?” Riley said in a dazed voice.

“I know tomfoolery when I see it.”

“Nay, my lady. No tomfoolery.”

Victoria raised a brow. “What, then?”

“There is nothing to explain,” Katherine interjected. “I told you, I was out for a walk.”

“A walk, is it?”

“That is all,” Katherine replied with maddening aplomb.

Victoria addressed Riley. “What have you to say?”

“What could he add?” The girl gave a regal wave of her hand. “I have already told you, I was out for a walk.”

“Riley can speak for himself,” Victoria said.

But he remained mute.

“Riley, fetch my lord.” She almost felt sorry for him when his face turned even whiter.