Page 70 of A Touch So Wicked

“I don’t have time for this now, Kimbra,” Damian said, shoving past her, “but rest assured, I’ll demand answers later. Find Maggie and send her up to Elissa’s chamber. Nan might have need of her.”

Damian took the narrow steps two at a time. Elissa was still unconscious when he laid her on the bed. Her pale face was bathed in blood and she was as still as death. He stroked her face and murmured soothing words until Nan arrived a few minutes later.

“Will she live?” Damian asked anxiously.

“Move aside, my lord. I need to examine her before I can tell ye anything.”

“Bloody hell! I had no idea I was shooting at Elissa,” Damian defended. “Why did she do it? Who was her accomplice?”

“My lass was betrayed,” Nan spat. “She placed her trust in the wrong person.”

“How badly is she hurt?” He shuddered. “There’s so much blood.”

“Yer bullet plowed a furrow in Elissa’s scalp. She’ll recover, but she’ll bear the scar for the rest of her life.”

Damian heaved a grateful sigh. “Are you sure that’s all?”

Nan sent him an inscrutable look. “Donna fret, yer lordship, Elissa willna die. She will live to bear yer bairn.”

Damian thought he must have misunderstood Nan and let it pass. He had more important things on his mind.

Someone wanted Elissa dead.

Chapter Thirteen

Damian had intended to sit with Elissa until she regained consciousness, but duty intervened when Dickon came forward with the startling news that the Gordons had set fire to the village and that the villagers were at the gate, begging entrance.

“Open the gate,” Damian ordered. His expression turned grim. “The Gordons have gone too far this time. We’ll attack at dawn.”

Damian climbed to the bulwarks and stared at a sky turned blood red from the flames. Wishing Gordon to hell, he returned to the hall to address the villagers, who had been routed from their beds in the middle of the night. Father Hugh, the village priest, informed Damian that no lives had been lost to the fires.

“Do what you can to comfort your flock, Father,” Damian directed. “Tell them I will personally see the rebuilding of those cottages damaged by fire.”

The priest, a middle-aged man with thinning hair and kindly face, regarded Damian with new respect. “Thank ye on behalf of my people, my lord. The majority of Highlanders are Catholic, ye know. Their faith is an important part of their lives. As we speak, God has answered our prayers. Do ye hear it? ’Tis raining. A sign that God is on our side.”

Damian heard the splash of raindrops against the windows followed by a clap of thunder, and rejoiced along with the priest. “God is indeed looking after you and yours, Father. Are Lady Elissa and her mother of the Catholic faith?”

“Aye, did ye not know?”

“Nay. Lady Elissa has been sorely hurt. Would you offer her comfort?”

Father Hugh gave Damian a startled look. “Hurt, ye say? Aye, my son, I will go to her as soon as I see to my parishioners.”

“Thank you, Father.”

After Father Hugh left, Damian sought out Lachlan. “What think you of the Gordon chieftain now?” he asked harshly.

Lachlan shook his head. “I canna believe a man in his right mind would attack his own allies. He doesna deserve to wed our lass. How is Elissa? I understand she was hurt attempting to leave Misterly.”

“Aye. ’Tis a story better left for later. There are unused chambers in the keep. Sir Brody will help find beds for the women and children. The men can bed down in the hall.”

They parted company. Damian returned to the solar to check on Elissa. Maggie met him in the hallway, her brow creased with concern.

“Lady Marianne is distraught,” Maggie revealed. “She knew about Elissa’s attempt to escape and warned her against it, but Elissa wouldna listen. I told Lady Marianne that Elissa wasna seriously hurt but she is upset nevertheless.”

“I’ll speak to her,” Damian said.

Damian entered Marianne’s chamber and found her every bit as distressed as Maggie claimed.