In Pursuit of a Scottish Lady (Moonstone Magic Book 2)

by Hunt, Brenda

  Aiden hugged her back suddenly feeling as young as he was. “Miss you, too. But we’ll be back soon.” He turned and hugged his twin sister. This would be the first time since they were born they would be separated.

  Lili watched them with tears in her eyes. She would have to make certain she gave Ali most of her attention. She turned to find Colin at her side. She felt his hand about her waist and pull her close to him. She looked up to him for a moment, wide eyed until his lips came down and claimed hers like a dying man taking his last drink of water. When he released her, she took an unsteady step backwards and gazed at him stunned.

  With the knuckle of one hand he traced a line down her cheek. “When I get back my sweet, there is much for us to talk about.”

  Lili nodded. She didn’t have to look. She could feel the open stares of everyone.

  Colin mounted Athena. Lili had insisted he use Athena. “Come, young Aiden. Let us be on our way, for the sooner we leave the sooner we return. He reached down and aided Aiden into the saddle before him. Then with a nod to Lili, they rode off.

  Lili stood and watched them ride down the road away from the keep. She could feel his absence already and he was barely out of sight. She turned to find Elsbeth, Rab and Ali smiling at her.

  Lili wanted to ask What? but was afraid of the answers she was going to get from the trio.

  “Lili kissed Colin,” teased Ali with a smile.

  “T’is I thinks Master Colin kissed Lili,” teased Rab with a big grin.

  Lili gave him a narrowed eyed look which only made him grin the more. “Well, Ali, what shall you and I do today? It seems it is just us women,” said Lili as she took Ali’s hand.

  “But Rab’s still here,” argued Ali.

  “Aye, so he is,” answered Lili giving him another hard look.

  “Aye, lass,” said Rab as he walked off to the stables.

  Lili turned to Elsbeth who had a smile on her face. “What can we do Elsbeth?”

  “A thought we’d make some jam from the berries ye picked yesterday.”

  Lili nodded.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As long as the days were since Colin and Aiden left, the nights were the hardest to bear. Ali afraid to sleep alone, having shared a room with Aiden since she was born, slept with Lili. Lili welcomed the diversion. But there were times when she awakened during the night with a deep ache, she knew only Colin could appease. One night the ache was so bad, she went to Colin’s room. She walked about, touching little things of his he left behind. She opened his wardrobe to find one of his shirts hanging.

  She pulled it to her face. It smelled of him. That clean smell of Colin with just the hint of sandal wood. She thought it would ease the ache deep within her. It didn’t. It only made it stronger. For a moment she lay on his bed and wrapped his shirt about her, pretending it was Colin’s arms about her. Silent tears fell down her cheeks. She fell asleep, but her dreams were a myriad of scenes that made no sense. When she woke up hours later, she felt unsettled. She couldn’t shake the feeling of doom. It had been in the back of her mind since Colin had left.

  She placed Colin’s shirt back in the ward robe and silently returned to her room. She lay back in her bed. She was glad that Ali occupied her bed. She didn’t feel so lonely knowing Ali was near. But the feeling of impending doom did not go away. She stared at the ceiling of her bed till the sun rose in the eastern sky.

  Colin had said he would be back in about a fortnight. He and Aiden would be returning at any day now. It couldn’t be too soon. She never thought she could miss Colin so much. She missed Aiden as well. She knew Ali missed Aiden. There were a couple of times when Ali was very quiet and appeared distant. When asked, she always said, she was talking to Aiden. Lili just smiled and let it go. She knew they had a close connection. She had seen it often between the two of them.

  Lili sat at the table staring at the porridge. That feeling of something not right still permeated the air around her. Aiden and Collin needed to return and return soon. She was afraid something was happening where they were concerned. She had asked Ali in a round about way if she felt Aiden was enjoying his trip. When Ali said he was, she tried to relax but she couldn’t.

  “We need supplies from town. A was plannin’ to do something special for Master Colin and Master Aiden,” stated Elsbeth.

  Lili looked up. “Yes, that’s a good idea. I expect them back at any time now. Yes, you and Rab go into town for what we need. Ali can go with you, too.”

  Ali looked up. “No, I don’t wanna go. Aiden’s coming home.”

  “Ye and Rab go,” said Elsbeth.

  “No, I want to be here when they get home,” answered Lili.

  “Me, too,” said Ali.

  “T’is not likin’ leavin’ ye alone,” replied Elsbeth. She too felt like the two travelers would be returning soon.

  “If you and Rab leave now, you will be back about noon day. If they come in today, I feel it will not be till late. Just a feeling I have,” answered Lili. “Ali and I will be fine till you get back.”

  “Yes, I wanna stay with Lili.”

  Elsbeth looked from one to the other. It had been several months since she had last been to town. There were several things she needed. They would only be gone a couple of hours. Lili had stayed alone before. Then why did she have this uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  Lili could see Elsbeth wanted to go. “Go on now. Ali and I will be just fine.”

  “T’is certain?” she asked again.

  Lili smiled. “Yes, I am very certain. While you get ready, I will get some coin for you.” Lili ran upstairs to her room and retrieved the last of the coin she had hidden. Back downstairs Elsbeth was placing her wrap about her. Rab waited for her the door.

  Lili handed Elsbeth the coin. “T’is the last of it. I didn’t think it would last this long. I suppose I will have to discuss our financial problems with Colin when he returns. Perhaps, he can help us.” Lili hated admitting the fact, she needed his help but she did.

  Elsbeth nodded. She and Rab knew Colin had paid for supplies bought the past several times. “Come, Rab. Let’s be away, the sooner to be back.”

  Lili and Ali followed them to the yard to the small wagon they used. Rab helped his mother onto the seat and climbed up beside her.

  Elsbeth looked one last time. “Are ye certain to stay alone with Ali?”

  “Yes, of course. We shall be fine.” Something deep within her told her maybe not. Lili put on her biggest smile to convince her.

  Elsbeth nodded.

  Lili stood with Ali and watched as Elsbeth and Rab rode off in the wagon. Lili took Ali’s hand and walked back into the keep. “What shall we do till they return?” asked Lili.

  Ali shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Lili looked at her for a moment. “Do you feel like Aiden is near?” She knew the twins had a connection. She had seen often.

  Ali nodded. “Them gonnae be home tonight, I think.”

  “Well then let’s make sure their rooms are ready. Will you be glad to have your brother back?” asked Lili.

  “Un-huh. I miss him. I miss Colin, too. Is he gonnae now stay with us? Cause Aiden said he will.”

  Lili sighed. “Ali, I’m not sure whether Colin will stay. That will have to be his decision.”

  Ali looked at Lili. “You can make him stay.”

  Lili shrugged. “What we want makes no matter. It is what Colin wants.”

  “But you will ask him to stay,” she continued.

  “Yes, but we can’t make him stay, Ali.”

  Ali nodded.

  In Colin’s room, Lili and Ali cleaned and made certain his room was ready for his arrival. They moved on to Ali’s and Aiden’s room.

  Lili came down the stairs in search of some rosewood to place in the rooms. She stepped into the great room to come face to face with Edward. For a moment, she was stunned to see him standing there.

  “Hello, Lilias. I told you I would be back.”

 
Lili felt the pit of her stomach turn. Edward. Lili narrowed her eyes in anger. There was the man who took everything from here. Fear turned to hate. “There is nothing for you here. Whatever of value we had, you took when you left.” She was looking about her for some sort of weapon.

  “Perhaps, perhaps not,” he sneered. “I know you are alone. I saw Elsbeth and her dumb son leave earlier.”

  Lili did not like the way he looked at her. It made her skin crawl. Those dark beady eyes, that thin lipped sneer under that hawk like crooked nose. It was the ugly face she saw in her nightmares.

  “Lili?” called Ali from the bottom of the stairs.

  Lili turned and saw Ali. “Run, Ali! Run and hide! Run Ali! And don’t come out until Elsbeth comes home. Hide Ali! Hide!” shouted Lili as she turned around to block Edwards view of Ali.

  “Ah, so the little sister is still here. Did the little brother go to town with the other two? I didn’t see him but no matter. It is you I have come for.” He took steps toward her.

  Lili took a step backwards, thinking. Could she escape him? Could she get to father’s sword above the mantle? No, that was not a good idea. She needed to keep him talking while she thought of what she needed to do.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, as she slowly inched her way towards to open door.

  “As I said, it is you, I am here for. You see, I owe some bad people some money,”

  Why did that not surprise her, Lili thought.

  Edward continued, “but one of his associates will pay me good money for a red headed Scottish lass. Says you will be good for her business. I told her how good in bed you are.”

  Lili eyes grew wide with fright when she realized what he was saying. No, this could not be happening. She needed to get away from him but she realized he had backed her into a corner.

  “Come with me, without trouble, and I’ll leave the little one alone. I could sell her, too. There are those who like little girls.”

  Lili looked at him as though he had lost his mind. There was no way she was going to allow him anywhere near Ali. If she needed to go along with him willingly to save Ali, she would do it.

  “Well, my lady, Lilias McGowan, what is your decision?” he demanded.

  Lili did not like the gloating look in his eyes. She hated those eyes. They had haunted her dreams so many nights. But she would have to go with him to keep Ali safe. London was several days away. She would escape him along the way.

  Edward made the move to go up the stairs as though going after Ali.

  Lili made her decision in a second. “I will go with you.”

  Edward smiled. Lili hated that smile. She hated everything about him and about the situation he put her in. But there was no way, she would allow him anywhere near Ali.

  He threw a bag down at her feet. “There’s men’s clothes in there. You need to change into them.”

  Lili looked at him strangely. What was he up to?

  “In case we are followed, they will be looking for a young woman and not a young man. Besides we will make better time. I know, you know how to ride a horse astraddle,” Edward instructed as he sat down to wait.

  Lili grabbed the bag and made to turn and walk away.

  “No, m’lady. You will change your clothes where you stand. After all, I have seen everything you have to offer,” he sneered.

  Lili gave him a look of pure contempt. Damn him, she thought. She turned away from him anyway. She heard his laugh. She pulled the pants on under her dress. She would show him as little as possible. She unlaced her dress and let it drop to the floor at her feet. Quickly she grabbed the shirt and pilled it over her head. The shirt was too big. She pulled it tighter about her. The jacket was large too, but would hide her femininity. She turned to face him.

  “There’s a stocking cap in the bag. Put it on and cover that hair. I would hate to cut it off.”

  Lili threw him a disgruntled look but grabbed the cap and stuck in on her head, pushing all of her hair into it, hiding it from sight. She stood before him.

  Edward looked up and down. Lili wanted to slap that sick smile off his face. “Your boots are at the door. Put them on.” He followed her to the door and watched as she put her boots on. He motioned her out the door.

  Lili looked over her shoulder, hoping Ali was hiding. It would take days to get to London. There would be a chance to escape Edward. She would take it when it presented itself.

  In the stable, Colin’s gray was saddled and stood tied next to what Lili assumed was Edward’s horse. She watched as Edward pulled a long length of rope from his bag.

  “Give me your hands,” instructed Edward brusquely.

  “How will I mount?” asked Lili.

  Edward grabbed her hands and tied them together in front of her. “Get up.”

  Lili looked at him with disdain. She struggled to pull herself up. She felt his hands on her rear and push her up into the saddle. Lili threw him another look of disgust.

  Edward laughed. He uncoiled the rope, mounted his horse and tied it about him. Together he and Lili rode off.

  As they rode off, Lili looked to the keep. Ali stood in one of the upper windows, her face pressed against the window her hand raised in farewell. At least Ali was safe. She would bide her time. She would escape, when the moment presented itself. It would.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Lili followed Edward where he led. She had little choice being tied to him as she was. She tried working on the knots but it was difficult because she found herself holding on. They rode at a brisk pace. Edward mount was not as good as Gray. She had no trouble keeping up. But Gray was not Athena. He was not used to her commands the way Athena was. It would make escaping Edward harder. But she would look for any reasonable chance.

  Lili stared daggers at Edward’s back as they rode off. But after a couple of hours she became concerned how long it would take to ride to London. Days! And that meant nights as well. It was the nights that were more worrisome.

  Could she stop him? Yes! She told herself emphatically. She was not that frightened little girl he had attacked in the dungeons all those months ago. With Colin’s help she had gotten past that. No, she was forewarned. She now knew what Edward was about. She would be prepared this time.

  The sun rose high in the sky and still they rode on. They did not stop. She had no idea where they rode. The countryside was unfamiliar to her. She kept carful watch, memorizing any and all unusual landmarks, in case she would need them in the future. She would escape at the first chance that presented itself. She needed to be able to remember her way back.

  Edward came to a sudden stop. He removed a leather water flask took a long drink from it. He turned to Lili and hesitated for a moment before handing it to her. Lili grabbed it as best she could with her hands tied and brought it to her parched lips. She drank thirstily from it. The cool wetness of the water felt good as it traveled down her throat. Lili stared at him as she handed it back to him. Without a word, he started off again. Lili could feel her stomach rumbling but she dared not say anything.

  The road they rode on was quiet and not traveled. It appeared Edward was using back roads to get them to London. They skirted any villages they came across. She would not be able to ask for help from anyone like this. So many thoughts kept going round and round in her head. This was giving her too much time to think, to worry, to wonder what the future held for her. At the moment, the future that was upper most in her mind was what was going to happen when they stopped for the night. She did know she was going to fight him in every way she could, if he attempted anything. Colin had instructed her on ways to hurt a man. If given the chance, she would use them on Edward.

  Lili watched the sun sink in the western sky. Night would be coming soon. Lili dreaded the coming of the night, of the darkness. She could feel her stomach tying up in knots. From lack of food or from fear and anticipation of the darkness, she did not know. But the feeling of nausea, she had felt the past couple of days returned, just strong enough to be distr
acting.

  The sun sank beyond the horizon and darkness settled around them, yet, still they rode on. The full moon climbed into the nighttime sky illuminating the road they were on. The pace had slowed to a walk when the sun had gone down.

  Lili wondered how much longer she could ride. She was bone weary. She could no longer feel her legs. They had become numb long ago.

  Edward came to a small clearing not far from the road. “We’ll stop here for the night,” he announced as he dismounted.

  Lili stared at him. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid of him. She was almost too tired to even feel fear. But she did know, no matter how tired she was, she could not let her guard down. Lili slipped off her horse. She did not feel when her feet hit the ground and she slid right down and sat abruptly on the ground. Her legs had refused to hold her.

  Edward threw the rope that connected them at her feet with a contemptuous laugh. Slowly, Lili raised to her feet. She weaved a bit, but steadied herself on her horse. She gave him a hostile look. “I need to relieve myself,” stated Lili. She had been needing to for several miles.

  Edward shrugged. “Then go,” he replied as he tied his horse to a nearby small tree and took a bag from his horse. “Stay where I can see you.”

  Lili threw him a disgruntled look. “Can you untie my hands, please,” she added as she put out her hands in front of her.

  Edward nodded and untied her hands. “Remember.”

  Lili nodded. She took Gray to another tree next to Edward’s horse and tied him there. She went behind the horses. Edward watched her every movement. For once, she was glad he made her wear trousers like a man. It would be more difficult to get to her.

  He handed her a piece of bread and cheese. She took it and sat down beside a nearby tree. She nibbled on her food and watched Edward as took the rope and tied it to his waist then walked over and tied it around her waist.

  “To make certain you do not try to escape. Also remember, I can always go back for that little sister of yours, sweet little Alysa.”