Page 16 of A Touch So Wicked

“Don’t ever do that again,” he warned.

“Donna insult me again,” Elissa shot back.

Elissa ground her teeth in frustration when Damian reined his horse back toward Misterly. “Where are you taking me?”

“Home. How did you leave the keep without being seen? The gate was closed. Is there a way in and out of the fortress that I don’t know about?”

Elissa glared at him, her lips clamped tightly together.

“Not talking?” Damian mocked. “Never mind, if a secret exit exists, I’ll find it.”

She made a sound of derision deep in her throat. “Your guards aren’t as vigilant as you think. There is no secret exit. I’m warning you, Lord Damian, there are no walls high enough to keep me where I donna wish to be. Send me to the convent if you wish, but I’ll not stay there.”

Her words created a firestorm in Damian’s brain. He hadn’t counted on the Maid of Misterly’s rebellious nature. Would the convent walls contain her? he wondered. He knew precisely what would happen if she escaped. Her people would follow her to the Gordon stronghold and that which he’d hoped to prevent would happen.

There had to be some practical way to keep Elissa from finding her way to Tavis Gordon. The problem seemed insurmountable, but Damian considered himself up to the task. He pondered the situation all the way back to the fortress.

Sir Richard met them. “You found her,” he said, slanting Elissa a quelling look.

“Aye, Dickon, soaked through but apparently unhurt. Have a tub and hot water sent up to my chamber.”

“Will she be traveling to the convent today?”

“Nay, Dickon, I’m not sure sending her away is the best solution.”

“What! Are you daft, Damian? The woman is a troublemaker. Send her away before she causes more problems. How did she escape without being seen?”

“If you think I’m trouble now, wait until they have me in the convent,” Elissa charged. “They’ll rue the day.”

“’Tis exactly what I’m afraid of,” Damian muttered darkly. “See to the tub, Dickon.”

“As you will, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“What do you plan to do with me, my lord?” Elissa asked.

“I haven’t decided. Until I do, you’ll remain locked in the tower.”

Damian saw her shiver and realized she was as cold and probably as hungry as he was. Grasping her arm, he ushered her through the hall to the winding staircase that led to his tower chamber.

“I demand to be returned to the solar.”

Damian gritted his teeth. “You have no right to demand anything. Your fate lies entirely with me. I don’t think the king cares whether you’re in a convent or…” His words ended in an ominous silence.

Elissa’s small chin notched upward. “Go ahead, finish your sentence. Nay, let me do it for you. I would be less of a problem to your country if I were dead.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth, lady. Right now I’m not too kindly disposed toward you. I’m soaked to the bone and in need of food.”

“And I’m not?”

Elissa’s prickly bravado amused Damian. She appeared fearless, but he knew she wasn’t as brave as she pretended, for her lips were trembling and her hands were clasped so tightly her knuckles were white.

When they reached the stairs, Elissa dug in her heels. Rather than argue, Damian swept her into his arms and carried her up the stone staircase as if she were weightless.

Damian’s chamber was the only one in that particular tower. His door stood open and he carried her inside, slamming it shut behind him. The moment he set her on her feet, Elissa whirled to confront him.

“Why have you brought me here? Don’t you dare touch me.”

“Fear not, lady. As thorny as you are, I fear I’d bleed to death from a thousand puncture wounds.”