Page 68 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

The sun was up. By now, it was possible others were rousing at the castle too. How long would it be before Helen discovered she was gone, and people started to wonder exactly where the lady of the clan had spent the night? If whoever was beyond that door, making their way toward Gilchrist’s chamber saw she was in here, the scandal would be notorious.

Och, imagine what the village would say of me? The lady of the clan who shared the bed of her captain while she was considering marrying the laird of another clan.

“Nay one will ken,” Gilchrist promised, kissing her forehead as if he could read her thoughts. “Quick, hide yerself behind that screen.”

Gilchrist was on the alert now as he climbed out of the bed.

Whoever was making their way toward his door halted and didn’t knock straight away. They must have been listening to see if there were any sounds in the room.

Thank the Lord above they didnae come by a few minutes ago.

He was not sure that he and Kyven could have stayed overly quiet in their lovemaking. They hadn’t been the loudest, but they had certainly made enough noise that any man pressing their ear to the closed door would have heard.

Kyven pulled on her chemise, shot him a smile and darted behind the screen. Gilchrist winked at her, wanting to assure her that everything would be well.

It will be, because all has changed now.

Now that he knew Kyven cared for him in that way, he was not going to let Laird Shay or any other man within a mile of get her near a church altar. That place was saved for the two of them.

He reached for his trews and pulled them on as someone tapped at the door.

“Who is it?” Gilchrist called, but no one answer.

Kyven peered around the screen, nonplussed. He pulled a loose shirt over his head and then his boots, shrugging at her. It was more than a little strange, for someone not to answer such a question, but then again, Kyven hadn’t when she’d called at the door the night before. She’d had every reason to stay quiet and not be heard by those wandering the corridor.

Kyven darted behind the screen once again, and Gilchrist moved toward the door.

He opened it wide, expecting to see someone there waiting for him, but there was no one. The corridor was empty with the sunlight beating through the window down onto the bare floorboards.

Something is nae right.

He glanced back, ensuring Kyven was completely hidden behind the screen, then he stepped out onto the landing. The sunlight of the morning wasn’t yet strong enough to light every corridor of the landing or the staircase. He took a step down, peering around him, trying his best to make out who was there. Was that a shadow on the bottom step? Was someone waiting for him down there?

There was a rush of wind and then something heavy clunked against the base of Gilchrist’s skull. It was so sudden that he didn’t have time to defend himself. He toppled forward, the shadows in the hallway appearing to grow as he tumbled down the stairs and fell to the bottom.

His hands braced the floor as he absorbed the impact and tried to roll over, but as he squinted through the darkness, a gag was thrust into his mouth and ropes were tied across his wrists. He had to fight – he had to, but the darkness was growing worse. He saw pistols pointed at him, and tips of swords. His attackers were all armed and ready for him, and he was slowly drifting into unconsciousness.

Fight this, ye fool. Fight back and go tae Kyven.

Yet his own body defied his wishes and the darkness closed in.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Kyven peered around the screen sharply, looking at the open doorway.

What was that thud?

No further sounds followed, nor did Gilchrist appear. She hastened to straighten the chemise she had pulled over her head haphazardly, continuing to stare at the doorway as she waited for his return. The door stayed open and the space empty. There was no sign of him returning.

He wouldnae leave like that. Nay, nae after what we just shared.

He had also only been wearing a shirt and his trews. There was little chance of him walking off through the barracks and not returning to put on more clothes, even if one of the soldiers had called him for an emergency. Surely, he would have returned at the very least to get something more to wear. And inform her.

Aye, something is wrong. What was that loud thud about?

She turned around, looking for her gown that they had thrown across the chamber in their franticness to get to one another. She pulled it over her chemise, thinking of the way Gilchrist’s hands had roamed over her bare body.

He dominated me…