Page 53 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

CHAPTER TWENTY

Blaine MacIver was in possibly the best mood of his life. He walked his horse along the high-banked lane, a couple of his best armed men riding at his back, whistling a merry little tune.

He was returning from a short trip to oversee an arms purchase, and before heading back the castle, he intended to keep the appointment he had made before sending the infernal MacTavish out on the fictitious scouting mission. He smiled to himself to think that, by now, the fearsome warrior would have realized the whole thing was a trap. A trap that would end in his death.

Within a few minutes, the sprawling outline of the MacIver lands appeared before him, sharpening his excitement. He and his men rode into the cobbled courtyard of the inn, dismounted, and hitched their horses to the rail provided.

The trio entered the bar, which at this early hour was almost empty but for a few diehards. “Go and have a pint, lads,” he told his companions. “I have some business tae take care of, but I’ll nae be too long.” The men went off to the bar, seemingly happy at the prospect of an ale. Blaine left them and slipped through to the vestibule. He was about to start down the rickety staircase leading down the inn’s cellars, when the door below flew open, and a heavyset man came careering up them and almost crashing into him.

“What the devil d’ye think ye’re playing at, Lawson?” Blaine complained angrily, shoving the man in the chest. “Ye almost sent me flyin’. What’s the rush, eh?”

“Sorry, Sir, I didnae ken ye were there,” Lawson replied contritely, pulling off his woolen cap and giving a rough approximation of a respectful bow.

“So, what’s the hurry? Ye have what I want, d’ye nae?”

“There’s been a… development, Sir. I was hurryin’ tae tell ye about it,” the lackey replied, cowering on the stairs.

“What are ye talkin’ about? A development? Are ye sayin’ ye dinnae have what I want?” Blaine asked, his good mood starting to fade.

“Nay, Sir, I have it, I assure ye. But I seem tae have somethin’ else as well.”

“Stop talkin’ in riddles, will ye?” Blaine demanded, his irritation rapidly rising. “I’m runnin’ out of patience.” As though to underline his point, he grabbed Lawson by the scruff of his neck and dragged him back up the stairs before setting him on his feet. “Now, what are ye mitherin’ about, ye dummart? Hurry up and tell me or I’ll kick ye back down those stairs.”

Lawson turned his cap nervously in his hands, a picture of servility that made Blaine despise him. “Sir, I dinnae ken how it came tae pass. Me associates did all that ye asked. But when they took the man last night as ye commanded, they brought back the woman that was with him too,” he explained.

Blaine felt like he had been pole-axed. Had he not made sure to send Tadhg alone on the scouting mission? “Woman? What bloody woman?”

“She says she’s Lady Alana MacIver,” Lawson said, cowering like a whipped cur.

The news was so startling that for a moment, Blaine could hardly take it in. “Christ Almighty!” he exploded, seeing his carefully laid plans shot to pieces. He put a hand to his head and turned away from Lawson to hide his confusion, fighting to gather his scattered thoughts.

“All right,” he said finally, turning back to the waiting Lawson. “I want ye tae punch me, here.” He pointed to his chin.

“What, Sir? Punch ye. Nay, I cannae dae it,” Lawson replied fearfully, backing away. Blaine seized Lawson’s grubby neckcloth in his fist. He put his face close to his and stared down at him menacingly. “Punch me on the chin, I tell ye, or I’ll send ye tae the bottom of those stairs as sure as eggs are eggs,” he hissed. “Jaysus, man, ye stink like a cess pit!” he added, screwing up his face in disgust as he thrust Lawson away.

He stuck out his chin, to give the smaller man a helping hand. “Go on then, hit me, and dinnae pull yer punch. This has got tae look convincin’.”

Still looking doubtful, after a few moments of hesitation, when he realized his employer was serious, Lawson drew back his meaty fist and punched him.

With pain splintering in his head, Blaine staggered back but managed to remain on his feet. He tasted blood in his mouth, and when he licked his lips, they felt sore and swollen. Blood ran down onto the front of his padded leather vest.

“I said tae punch me on the chin, ye bloody fool. Ye’ve gone and split me lip,” he complained, nursing his face. Lawson ducked just in time to miss being cuffed around the head. “Ach, well, maybe a bit of blood will help,” Blaine added after some consideration, using his sleeve to staunch the crimson stream trickling down his chin. “Now, go and fetch me men from the bar,” he commanded. “Tell them there’s been a change of plan.”

A few minutes later, Blaine and his men rushed down the stairs and burst through the door into the cellar, doing their best to look as though they had fought their way there. “Get out of me way, ye bastard!” Blaine yelled, immediately launching himself at the guard, who put up only token resistance before sliding down the wall onto the floor, his nose bloody.

With that charade satisfactorily completed, Blaine spun around and rushed to where Alana was tied to a chair, just as Lawson had said. “Alana! Are ye all right?” he cried, genuinely worried for his future bride.

“Aye, I’m all right, but Tadhg’s hurt,” she replied at once, looking stunned at his sudden appearance. “Can ye help him, please?”

“Of course,” Blaine said, signaling to his men. “Untie him and give him a drink,” he commanded, assigning himself the task of freeing her.

“But what are ye doing here? How did ye find us?” she asked, rubbing the red marks on her wrists as he loosened her bindings.

He stooped to untie her ankles. “I was worried about Tadhg, so I sent a man after him tae help him,” he told her. “That was how I kent something bad had befallen him. I had nae idea ye were with him. I’m so sorry ye’ve gotten mixed up in this nasty business. Thank God I was able tae rescue ye both.”

“Aye, thank God,” she echoed, able to stand up at last but he noticed she looked at him suspiciously. Blaine could not help marveling at how beautiful she looked, even after her ordeal. What a grand wife she’ll make, he thought. “Thank ye, Blaine, I’m sure Tadhg will thank ye when he recovers a bit. The other man was beatin’ on him,” she explained, hurrying to help Tadhg as Blaine’s men finally dispensed with his bonds and lifted him up out of the chair. Blaine’s men stood either side of him, propping him up with their shoulders.

Blaine watched with silent resentment as Alana ran to her husband and touched his face with all the tenderness of a loving wife. “Tadhg, can ye hear me?” she asked solicitously as the battered warrior found his feet and started to regain his senses. Her relief was sickeningly obvious when Tadhg peered at her from swollen eyes and managed to nod.