Page 35 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

“Here? Good God, why? She should be warming your bed.”

Cameron grunted. “That may not happen even after the marriage. I thought she had witnessed our earlier meeting. The wench has a penchant for putting her nose where it doesn’t belong. Should she discover our plans, not even a royal edict will keep her out of it.”

“Sounds like the perfect match for you.”

Cameron growled, “She is far too stubborn, too opinionated and too beautiful.”

James snorted. “Too beautiful?”

“Yes, she draws too much attention. As you know, I make it a point to blend in.” But more than that, she made him weak in the head, unsure of his decisions. She muddled his sharp thoughts with fantasies of her trim waist and full breasts.

“Cameron?”

The carriage jerked into motion and he jarred from his thoughts. For the first time in his adult life, Cameron was at a loss. How should he proceed? Then he knew.

“She is likely at the home of her cousin, Miss Lennox,” he murmured. Of course, where else would she go? If she returned to her own home, he would whip her. “When we reach town, we will part ways. I will fetch her from Lennox’s home.”

The carriage slowed, then turned left from the drive onto the road, and Cameron scanned the dark countryside for the man he knew was hiding, waiting for Napier to leave to meet his partner.

“You won’t see him,” James said.

Cameron nodded. “Good.” He returned his attention to James. “I assume the women got off safely?”

In the thin moonlight that streamed in through the windows, Cameron discerned James’s mouth thin before he said, “As safely as they can while in the hands of Napier’s brutes.”

“Miles and Will are looking after them.”

“I still don’t like using women to catch this slaver,” James muttered. “I should have followed the coach.”

“We must stay here. You may count on Napier having us followed. If we are not accounted for at any time, the suspicious bastard will cut all ties to us. Plus, lest you forget, each woman carries a pistol.”

James shook his head. “Women shouldn’t be put in a position to defend themselves with guns.”

“I think Sallie would disagree.”

His friend nodded. “None of this will bring her sister back.”

“Aye, but she is willing to try in order to save other girls.”

“Not at the cost of her own life, I pray.”

“Again, remember, Will and Miles are following the carriage,” Cameron said. “Once they reach their destination, our men will free the women, and the constable will be brought in to make the arrests. I wish I knew where they were headed.”

“You will be pleased to learn that Napier agreed to my suggestion that the carriage stop at the brothel in Dingwall.

Cameron looked at him in surprise. You suggested the brothel? But how could you know the carriage was headed in that direction?”

“Napier isn’t as clever as he thinks. I gleaned that the women had to reach their destination by tomorrow evening. A few well-chosen questions to the stable boy led me to believe that he was headed northeast. Dingwall would be a perfect place to stop and change horses. Napier even allowed me to send a man ahead to make the arrangements.”

Cameron shook his head. “James, I do believe you would make a good criminal.”

James grimaced, then his expression sobered. “Getting Napier to agree to the stop was not difficult. I am far more concerned about what will happen to the women once they reach their destination. Do you really believe the constable will care that half a dozen low born women were kidnapped in order to slake the needs of rich noblemen?”

Cameron gave a slow nod. “We swore that we would make them care.”

City lights came into view and they fell silent until they finally reached town.

Cameron pounded on the roof of the carriage. “This is where we part ways, my friend.”