Page 59 of Seduction in a Kilt

Liam frantically engaged with both of the remaining soldiers, who were now blocking the doorway and his access to Ivy. Suddenly, the end of a blade appeared in the middle of one of the soldier’s chests. It vanished just as quickly, and as the soldier fell to his knees, wearing an expression of shock, Evander appeared behind him and wiped his blade on the man’s coat.

Liam sprang through the doors and onto the back of one of the men holding Ivy, stabbing him hard and fast in the neck. Then he grasped the dying man by his collar and tossed him aside like a broken doll. Scarface was still dragging Ivy by the arm. As Liam threw himself after them, he saw Ivy reach down to her belt, pull out his dirk, and plunge it into Scarface’s chest.

The man dropped instantly to his knees. Ivy cursed him and pulled out the dirk. Scarface fell forward, clutching at the wound in his chest, until a gout of blood flew from his mouth, and he lay still.

Ivy stayed hunched on the ground, and when Liam got to her, he saw blood dripping from a long slash in her upper arm. “Ivy, Ivy, are ye all right?” he asked, ripping off his kerchief and using it to bandage her arm.

“Aye, I’m all right. Are ye? Are ye hurt?” She lifted her head to look at him. She was pale and exhausted.

“Aye, I’m fine. Can ye stand? We need tae get out of here and get ye tae Effie as soon as possible,” he told her.

“Can ye give me a hand up?” she asked, putting her uninjured arm out to him. He took it and gently lifted her to her feet, supporting her as she leaned against his side. “Me horse is over there.” She nodded to a gap in the trees.

“I ken. I followed ye, remember?”

She smiled weakly. “Oh, aye, so ye did. Just as well, really, eh? I would have been half way back tae Gael by now if ye hadnae interfered.” She looked around. “Where’s Evander?”

“Here,” came the reply. Evander appeared in front of them.

“Are ye hurt?” Ivy asked him.

“Nay, just a few nicks. I was lucky,” he said.

“Ye fought bravely,” she told him.

“So did ye, melady.”

“How d’ye think they kent where tae find us?”

“Most likely they followed ye. Since ye’ve been at Castle Stewart, they’ve had spies all over the place. That’s why I’ve been sneakin’ about, as yer friend here puts it.” He looked at Liam as he spoke.

“Ye fought well, aye, but I still dinnae trust ye,” Liam told him.

“I’m nae askin’ ye tae trust me,” Evander said. “I’m askin’ Lady Ivy here tae trust me.”

“What will ye dae now, Evander?” she asked him.

“Ask ye tae arrange fer me tar have sanctuary at Castle Stewart.”

She was surprised, but then she nodded. “Well, obviously it is nae me decision, but I’ll certainly ask the laird if that’s what ye want.”

“Knox will never grant that,” Liam said.

“He might if he learns that Evander can prove me braither and Gael plotted tae kill our parents and destroy the both of them,” Ivy pointed out. “Besides, Evander fought with us. What sort of folk would we be if we didnae help him out?”

“Christ!” Liam muttered. He looked at Evander. “All right. Ye can come back with us if it’s what Ivy wants. But the decision is down tae the laird. If ye really dae have this proof ye speak of, then he’ll wantae ken about it.”

“If he agrees, I’ll give him everything I have,” Evander said with a nod.

“All right, let’s get out of this place,” Ivy said.

“Aye, ye need tae see the healer right away.”

“Ach, man, will ye ever quit yer naggin’?” Ivy asked with a laugh as he walked her back to her horse.

“When it comes tae keepin’ ye alive, probably nae.”

As the trio rode slowly back to Castle Stewart, Liam had a lot on his mind. As had so often been the case recently, his emotions were scrambled. He was thankful that Ivy was safe, that her only injury was not life-threatening. Yet when he thought about how close things had come to her being taken back to Carson and Gael, he felt sick. He had to admit they would not have gotten out of that situation at the chapel if Evander had not been there and fought alongside them.