Page 12 of A Touch So Wicked

“My mind is made up, Mama. I’m leaving tonight. I’ll try to send word when I reach the Gordon stronghold.”

“Promise you’ll bid your sister good-bye before you leave,” Marianne begged. “Lora will miss you dreadfully.”

“I promise,” Elissa said. Tears blurred her eyes as she kissed her mother on the forehead and quietly retreated.

A few moments later she entered Lora’s chamber and closed the door behind her.

“Lissa! I’m so glad you’re here. Nan said there was no wedding. I’m ever so sorry.”

“’Tis all right, sweeting,” Elissa said. “You must concentrate on getting well. I have to leave, but Nan will take good care of you while I’m gone.”

“You’re leaving?” Lora cried. “Donna go, Lissa. I’ll be lost without you. Who will protect me from the dark lord?”

“I have to go, Lora, but donna worry. Lord Clarendon has promised to care for you and Mama and I…believe him.” Elissa prayed she wasn’t placing trust where she shouldn’t.

“When are you leaving?” Lora asked on a sob.

“Tonight, after everyone is asleep. Be brave, sweeting. I willna abandon you forever.”

Unable to withstand Lora’s pitiful sobbing, she kissed her sister and quickly left.

Elissa decided not to take the evening meal in the hall and asked Nan to bring a tray to her chamber. She was packing a small knapsack for her flight when someone rapped sharply on the door.

“Is that you, Nan? Come in.”

The door opened. “Nay, ’tis Maggie. Lord Damian requests yer presence in the hall.”

Maggie was one of Elissa’s kinswomen from the village who served in the keep. Elissa closed the knapsack and slid it out of sight under the bed. “Tell him I’m not hungry.”

“He said he willna take no for an answer.”

Rather than arouse Lord Damian’s suspicion, Elissa decided to honor the request. She saw him sitting at the head of the table when she entered the hall, his silver eyes fastened on her with brooding intensity. Head held high, she deliberately made her way to one of the long trestle tables and slid in beside Dermot. She paid scant heed to the Demon Knight’s sour look as she placed food on her plate and made a pretense of eating.

From the corner of her eye she saw Lord Damian rise and stride purposely toward her. Her heart began to pound when he stopped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Your place is at the head of the table,” he said.

She swiveled her head around to glare at him. “My place is with my kinsmen.”

“You made me a promise,” he reminded her. “Do as I say and your loved ones will remain safe.”

“Donna threaten me before my kinsmen, my lord.”

Damian’s expression hardened. He grasped her arm, pulled her up, and hissed into her ear, “Your kinsmen must believe that you accept your fate.”

“That would be a stretch of the imagination, my lord,” Elissa returned sarcastically.

Rather than cause a ruckus, Elissa let Damian usher her to the head table.

“Have you made your farewells to your mother and sister?” Damian asked.

“Aye,” Elissa answered sullenly.

“You will be given a proper escort for your journey,” Damian allowed.

Elissa picked at her food and sipped ale sparingly. Sitting beside the dangerous dark lord was unnerving. Power emanated from his pores, and his blatant sexuality flustered her. Dimly she wondered how many women he had tupped, and whether there was a special woman in his life.

“Are you married, my lord?” The question came unbidden, startling her. She hadn’t the slightest interest in the ruthless Englishman sent by his king to destroy her life.