Page 413 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Robertson now.”

* * *

Faint fingers of light streamed over the horizon. They would arrive at Edwin’s camp anytime. As Victoria had suspected, Thomas knew his precise location. Despite the MacPherson men she knew who lay in hiding about the hills, the trepidation she felt upon learning Edwin was only three hours away increased as they drew nearer. The two men who rode beside her were in no better mood than she.

“It will not be long now,” Victoria addressed Liam, who had maintained a stubborn silence throughout the morning.

He growled an unintelligible answer and Victoria felt sure he was further commenting that she should be back in her room, the door barred from the outside. Thomas had seen things differently and, until Iain MacPherson returned, there existed no higher law on MacPherson territory than Thomas MacPherson.

“It will do you no good to remain in such a foul mood,” Victoria said, but any comment Liam might have made went unsaid when Edwin’s camp became visible in the distance.

“They have seen us,” Thomas said. He looked from Victoria to Liam. “I will go on ahead alone, as planned.”

“Thomas—”

“Nay, my lady. We are agreed, oui?”

She recognized the resolve behind the soft answer and sighed. “Aye. If you are sure.”

“He is sure,” Liam said with much more fervor.

Thomas spurred his horse into a canter until entering the midst of the armed men who stood in front of the camp. Victoria’s heart jumped when one man turned and hurried to the middle of the compound where the largest tent stood. A moment later, Edwin emerged. He paused outside the entrance and glanced in her direction, then strode to where Thomas waited. The two men spoke for what seemed too long before Thomas whirled his horse around and headed back toward them.

Moments later, he reined up alongside her and gave a nod. Victoria took a deep breath and nudged her horse into a walk.

When she reached the camp, Edwin had disappeared, and one of his men escorted her into the tent she had seen him emerge from earlier.

“Thank you,” she murmured when the man pointed to the pile of thin cushions scattered on a carpet located on the opposite side of the tent. A low table with wine and goblets sat beside the cushions. Another group of larger cushions covered with furs lay to the far left.

Once she lowered herself onto the cushions the man had indicated, he left. The moments she waited seemed an eternity until the tent flap drew back and Edwin stood in the opening. Despite his guarded expression, Victoria knew he hadn’t expected her. He released the flap and strode to the table where he wordlessly poured two glasses of wine. Edwin handed one to her, then lowered himself onto a cushion beside her.

“I know how you despise lengthy explanations, my lord,” Victoria said without preamble, “therefore,

I will speak plainly.”

He looked over his glass. “In this case, I find the notion of a lengthy explanation interesting.”

A tremor ran through her midsection. “I have come to ask for your help.”

“So I understand.” With a quick flourish, Edwin finished his wine, placed the goblet on the ground beside him, and looked expectantly at her.

“My husband has been kidnapped.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes, but he said smoothly, “Who has your illustrious husband offended this time?”

“David Robertson,” Victoria replied. She dropped her gaze to the full goblet she held and, against her better judgment, took a drink.

“What is to keep me from taking you home with me?” Edwin asked.

Though her heart skipped a beat, her reply was instantaneous, “I would imagine the men I came with.” She sipped more wine.

“Those few men would stand no chance against our numbers.”

Victoria tilted her head to one side just as she’d rehearsed in her mind. “You think they are the only ones?”

“How many more lurk about in the forest beyond my camp?” he asked, clearly not surprised.

She shrugged. “I did not ask.” And she hadn’t. There had been no need. She knew full well Thomas would not come unmatched.