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The scrape of the door above had Caelan reacted quickly, yanking her up and pushing a frightened Adelaine out of his cell. He pu
shed the open door back in place so that it looked locked then sank back to the far wall. “Attack me,” he hissed.
Adelaine was at a loss before she spat loudly. “You killed my brother, answer me once for all!” He did not speak and she slapped the iron bars, “Tell me!”
The sound of boots came loudly and she just prayed that who was coming would not look too closely at the bars and realize the gateway just an inch away from the rest of the wall. She stepped closer. “Answer me!”
“Me Lady, I have told yer faither, and ye multiple times, I tried to help yer brother as he was poisoned but he died anyway,” Caelan’s voice was laden with exhaustion. “There is nothin’ more to tell.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said. “I think you’re lying and I want the truth.”
“That is the truth,” Caelan said.
The sound of boots carried as the same guard from upstairs into the room. He took one look at her and then at Caelan. He stormed over and banged on the door, sending a loud clang echoing through the room. It was then Adelaine saw the key sticking out the lock and she bit back a cry of alarm as her heart thudded in her ears.
“Answer the Lady, you dog,” the guard snapped as Adelaine, with shaky fingers managed to yank the key out of the lock before the man saw it. Shoving it deep inside her coat, her fingers clenched hard around the iron until they went cold, numb and bloodless.
Caelan looked at the man coldly, “This doesnae concern ye, Tybalt.”
“My Lady is His Lordship’s daughter, a man I have sworn my alliance to,” Tybalt replied. “It does concern me, as it should to anyone who is under His Lordship’s governance.”
The Scotsman looked at the guard then deliberately turned his head away to face the wall. Tybalt called and snapped but Caelan gave him no reaction. Tybalt then turned to Adelaine, “Don’t mind him, My Lady, he is only showing us the animal he is. Miss Martha had sent for you. Please allow me to escort you back up.”
Knowing she had to close the door, Adelaine said, “Please, give me a few more moments with Mister McLagen.”
“My Lady—”
“Wait for me upstairs,” she ordered. “I’ll be up presently.”
Tybalt was not happy about it but turned and went up. Adelaine waited until she could hear the thuds of boots lessen before she put the key back in the lock and closed the inch to lock it. She then put the key back on the hook and sagged on the iron gates.
She looked at him. “Thank you for reacting so quickly.”
“Be careful around that man,” Caelan warned. “Be sure to keep up the charade when yer with him.”
Adelaine’s eye slid to the doorway and sighed, “I will…” she then looked at Caelan and tamed her blush, “I’ll never forget what happened earlier, either.”
He winked, “It gets better lass, believe me.”
Smiling, she took the stairs, curious as to what Martha needed her for.
Chapter 16
Her taste lingered on his tongue. Adelaine must have eaten something sweet because he tasted honey as he licked his fingers. He had not planned to become so intimate with the lass, but he did not regret it either.
We were almost caught yesterday…it might be wise to hold off on any more such…activities.
His hand clenched at his side. The question was, could he hold off on touching her after he had felt her? Even now, he ached to have her in his arms again, to touch her, kiss her, see that dark desire in her eyes. But even then, he was toeing a thin line with his control.
If he had been anywhere else, he knew he would have laid her on her back and tasted her but because the lass deserved a bed, not the rough stone of a dungeon, he did not go further. She deserved silk sheets instead of shale rock, the warmth of a fire instead of dark, damp dungeon coldness, and sweet love instead of a swift romp.
Green eyes opened into the dimness and he stared blankly at the cell walls before his eyes closed again. It was just after dawn and the cook was soon to come so though he leaned back, and his eyes were closed, his ears were attuned to hearing the screech of the door above.
In the interim, he kept wondering if he should start the letter to his Clan, but it all depended on Adelaine finding that tunnel route and where it led to. Only then, he could send for his men and God knew how long it would take to get them there. The stark reality was that he might have to run without any guards. At home, he could summon Sir Duglas to come and be his witness against these charges against him.
But the lass…Adelaine. Would she come with me? Would she run with me? I want her at me home where I can protect her, not here where she will pay for my actions.
The screech of the door above had him shifting and soon enough he heard the echoes of a shuffling walk coming toward him. He stood and went to the bars to have Mrs. Hertha come toward her. Her squat, rotund figure was in a dark grey dress, a little frumpy but he always gave her a compliment.
