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

by Hunt, Brenda

  Lili gave him a look of pure hate. “You leave her alone and I promise I will not try to escape,” she promised. She would promise anything to keep Alysa out of his hands.

  Edward laughed. “I thought as much. I suggest when you finish eating you get some sleep. I want to be back on the road before the sun comes up. I have to be back in London in seven days. That will mean riding hard and as fast as we can.” He took a blanket from the other bag he had tied to his saddle, laid it out next to tree a short distance from where Lili sat.

  Lili finished the food she was given. He handed her the flask of water. She drank from it washing down what she had eaten and handed it back to him. The food and water churned in her stomach. She prayed she would not be sick in front of him. She watched him spread out his blanket on the ground and lie down. Soon she heard the soft snoring that told her he was asleep.

  She thought about undoing the rope but she didn’t trust Edward not to fulfill his promise of going after Alysa. She laid her head back against the tree she sat under and closed her eyes. She would just rest for a few minutes then decide what to do.

  Lili felt a hand on her shoulder and she woke with a start, swinging.

  “Enough! Its time to be on our way again,” she heard Edward say.

  She looked about disoriented to where and why she was here. The events of yesterday flashed through her mind. She looked into Edward’s face just above hers. And then he was gone. She watched him go to the horses and tugged on the rope.

  Lili rose stiffly from her spot under the tree. She didn’t know if it was from riding all day yesterday or sleeping on the ground. Every muscle protested when she moved, but relieving herself made movement urgent. “I need to -----.”

  “Go and hurry. I want to be on our way,” replied Edward impatiently.

  Lili hurried as fast as she could. She could feel Edward’s eyes watching her. She came back to the horses. Edward gave her another piece of bread and cheese. Lili ate it quickly. Again, it did not sit well with her stomach but she could see Edward was anxious to be on their way. She pushed it back in her mind. He did not tie her hands but he kept the rope tied about her waist. When she mounted her legs protested but she had no choice but to ride on.

  Again, they rode hard the whole day. Just before dark, they stopped at a small village. Edward gave her grave warnings of going back for Alysa, if she said or did anything. She did not. They ate at the village inn, some sort of stew. But it tasted so much better than the bread and cheese they had earlier. Her stomach did not churn on itself this time. As soon as they were done eating, they were back on the road. Everyone in the tap room had treated her as a young lad. No one had noticed she was female.

  They continued and rode until the darkness had settled. Lili watched Edward warily. She did not trust him. She would not let her guard down. He tied the rope about her waist and again reminded her, if she escaped, he would go after Alysa. She watched as he settled down for the night, just as he had the night before. She lay down near the base of the tree on her side so she could watch him. As much as she wanted to be watchful, exhaustion took over as it had the night before.

  Days and nights on the road to London were continuation of the first two days. Miles were covered, miles that took Lili further and further away from Glendenning. Lili tried to keep her spirits up, but as escaping became more and more impossible, her mood became downhearted. She was so tired both physically and emotionally. As bad as times had gotten the last two years, she had never once thought of giving up. But here she was and she did not understand these feelings.

  At night, her mind dreamed of Colin, only to wake to the morning hours and realize she was just dreaming. Reality totally destroyed her dreams. The whole situation weighed heavily on her mind, on her heart. She realized how much she had come to depend on him these past few months. Be honest with yourself, she told herself. She had fallen in love with Colin. It wasn’t just the physical things he could make her feel. It was the security, the comfort, the peace he brought to her. Now, she wondered if she would ever see him again, feel his arms holding her again. Her heart cried Yes. But her mind wondered, if he would find her, could he find her.

  They stopped for the night. There was something different about tonight. Lili couldn’t put her finger on exactly what, but something was afoot. The hairs on the back on her neck told her so.

  Edward handed her the canteen of water. Lili drank from it.

  “We should arrive in London by evening on the morrow,” announce Edward.

  Lili nodded and lay down at the base of the nearby tree as she had done the last few nights. She turned on her side toward Edward. Something in her made her more cautious tonight. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Lili lay perfectly still and after a bit began to dose. Something brought her out of it. A noise, a feeling. She opened her eyes to slits and saw Edward standing above her. Lili made her breathing even as though she was sleeping. She wanted to scream and kick at him as Colin had taught her to do, but she waited. The seconds, the minutes ticked by like heavily laden turtles going nowhere. Then for some unknown reason, he walked away back to the place he had his blanket. Lili let out a sigh of relief. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the memory of crawling up the stairs flooded her thoughts.

  She watched him settle down for the night and wondered why he had stood over her as he did. Thoughts of what would happen tomorrow began whirling through her mind. He spoke of selling her. What did that mean? Could she explain her situation to whoever bought her?

  He woke her up early and they were back on the road quickly. She could feel the eagerness in Edward as they made their way. The scenery changed as they got closer to London.

  By late afternoon they rode into London. It was so much busier than Edinburgh. There were people everywhere. Lili tried desperately to keep close attention to what streets they traveled on, but Edward did so many twists and turns, she was completely lost. There was no way if she escaped him, could she find her way out of London. What hope she had harbored all these days of traveling quickly dissipated as she looked around her. Dusk was just beginning to fall when Edward stopped besides a three storied building. They slowly made their way to the back of the building to the small stable.

  A wizened old man with an old brown hat pulled down over his face. Lili couldn’t see his face.

  “Oi see ye back. Ye still owe me,” he told Edward in a raspy voice.

  “You can have the gray. He’s worth more than that what I owe you,” replied Edward haughtily.

  The old man snorted. “That’s if Oi can’t sell him.”

  “If you can’t, then I’ll pay you coin,” continued Edward irritated.

  “Ah, shall see.”

  Lili dismounted and gently rubbed Gray’s muzzle. “Thank you dear friend,” whispered Lili.

  Edward eyed her with disdain. “Come. This way,” ordered Edward.

  Lili smiled at the old man as he took the reins from her hand. He eyed her with curiosity, then shrugged. Lili followed Edward to the back door of the house. They entered a dark hall with stairs. She followed him up to the third floor, to a door at the back of the house. Edward opened the door and motioned her in.

  Lili looked about the room. Her eyes skirted the bed in the corner. So far he had not made any attempts but she did not trust him. He motioned her to an old brown stuffed chair in the corner that had seen better days, years ago. Lili sat down.

  “What now?” she asked.

  Edward looked at her through narrowed eyes. Lili did not like that look.

  “Tomorrow I get rid of you. You should fetch me enough to pay my debts and then some.”

  Lili looked at him. She had to ask. “Why are you doing this? I never, my family never harmed you. I don’t understand. Why?”

  Edward looked at her with contempt and sneered. “Your grandfather did. Your mother’s father. When my mother married your grandfather, I could never do anything right. And then when your mother was born. He doted on her. I
was sent off to school. And when he died, he left everything to a distant cousin because I was not his family. He left me with some mere pittance to live on. Then your mother married the Lord James McGowan. She gave me money for a while but then she stopped, too. Said I needed to be responsible and live on the money I received. She who had everything.” The hate and venom dripped off every word he uttered.

  Lili could only stare at him stunned. She had no idea of the history. “But I had nothing to do with any of that. Neither does Aiden or Alysa. Father left us with little money, as well,” Lili explained.

  “Makes no matter. You are worth something. Selling you will bring me the money I need.”

  Lili sighed despairingly. How did she argue her case with him? She couldn’t. The jealously and contempt he felt, was all consuming to him. She wondered if it had affected his mind. All of this sounded insane. Maybe, whoever he sold her to, she could convince them she needed to be back at Glendenning taking care of her brother and sister. Lili watched as he removed the rope from his bag.

  “Put your hands out so I can tie them. I have to go out and I want you still here when I get back. Not that your running away would help you any.” He laughed as he tied her hands and tied her to the chair.

  Lili watched him leave and tried the ropes that held her. As before, they were secure. Darkness settled in. He had not left even one candle burning. She could hear people moving about. Loud talking floated up from the street. The stress of hard traveling took its toll. Lili dosed off even in the uncomfortable position of being tied to her chair.

  She woke with a start when Edward noisily banging the door as he entered. He swayed as he came in. She suspected he had been drinking. She became very wary of him. He laughed when he noticed her, as tough he had forgotten she was there. Lili became fearful.

  Edward came to her and grabbed her head, dislodging her cap. Her hair tumbled down. She could smell the spirits on his breath as he bent his head to kiss her. The smell turned her stomach. When he forced open her mouth and stuck his tongue in her mouth, she bit down hard and tasted the copper taste of blood in her mouth.

  Edward yelped in pain and slapped her hard across the cheek.

  The pain and the taste in her mouth became too much for her. She emptied her stomach.

  Edward backed away but not before some of the contents fell on him. “Ugh, you stupid whore.” Edward went to the basin, poured some water, and wiped down the front of his clothes. “You bit me. What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Lili shook he head. She knew why she had bit him but why she had emptied her stomach she didn’t understand. She did know her stomach had often been queasy on the trip but why she had no idea. Her stomach remained unsettled. Though some had flown on Edward most was on the floor at her feet.

  She watched him come back, go behind her chair and untied her.

  “Get up and clean your mess. It stinks in here now,” stated Edward as he walked away, looking at her with disgust.

  Lili rose slowly from her chair. “I need some water,” said Lili.

  “There’s some in the pitcher.” He pointed to the washstand in the corner. She could see him feeling his tongue. She smiled slightly. At least he would not be trying anything with her.

  Lili wet the cloth and cleaned the front of her. With her hand she cupped a handful of water and rinsed out her mouth trying the get the taste out. She could feel Edward’s eyes watching her. She knelt down and scrubbed the floor. She looked up to him.

  “Throw it out the window.”

  Lili did as she was told. She didn’t know which smelled more, inside of the room or the smells from the street. Her stomach churned again. She didn’t understand. She never had problems with her stomach before. Why now?

  “Back in the chair. I want to get some sleep tonight. I’ve seen to your sale. In the morning, I bring you and when Madame Demey looks you over, I will get my money. And I will be rid of you once and for all.”

  Lili sat back down in the chair. Edward tied her up again. She watched as he lay down in the bed. Soon, she heard him snoring. Lili leaned her head back against the chair and closed her eyes. She would need to be clear headed tomorrow to face what was about to happen. She hoped she could explain to this Madame Demey her situation. Hopefully, once she knew, she would help her. But the dreams that plagued her mind through the night were not comforting ones.

  Chapter 11

  Many a weary night and day

  ‘Tis since thou are fled away

  How shall ever one like me

  Win thee back again?

  Song

  Percy Bysshe Shelley

  The sun had sank in the western sky an hour or so earlier, but Colin pushed Aiden to make it to Glendenning. He was tired. So was Aiden but they were too close to Glendenning to stop for the night. He was anxious to get home. That fact surprised him. Glendenning felt like home. Why? Because Lili was there. Wherever Lili was, that would be home. He just hoped that learning he was a duke did not frighten her.

  He turned to Aiden to see him sagging in the saddle of the pony he had bought for him and Ali. “How are you doing Aiden?”

  “I can make it. I know where we are. The keep is not far.”

  “Davis, what about you? We are close.” Davis was a young man he had met in Edinburgh. Davis had made friends with Aiden while Colin had had business to tend to. When he found Davis was looking to get out of Edinburgh and work in the country, Colin had offered him the job to assist Rab at Glendenning. Davis had jumped at the offer.

  “Good, sir. I’ll be glad when we get there,” he answered.

  “We are almost there.” He was very pleased with the manner in which Aiden had conducted himself on this trip. He knew he was intelligent from tutoring but he had showed a very good head for business, even as young as he was.

  At last the keep came into view. It was the most welcoming sight. They walked the horses into the stable. Colin looked around. His gray was not in his stall. Something was amiss here. A strange feeling began to grow in his gut, a feeling of dread, a feeling of fear. He knew the feeling too well. He never liked that feeling. It put him on edge.

  Colin assisted Aiden from his horse. He looked to Davis. “Come let’s get inside. We will see to the horses later.” He did not want to worry Aiden, but something was wrong. He needed to get inside as quickly as possible.

  He walked into the great room. He could fill the emptiness hit him. Elsbeth, Rab, and Ali sat at the table. The absence of Lili was like a big warning bell. All three of them were very quiet and had not heard them come in.

  “We’re home,” stated Aiden.

  Ali looked up. “Oh, Aiden, Colin! She’s gone. He came and took Lili,” she cried, ran to Colin and hugged him.

  “What are you saying Ali?” questioned Aiden now completely awake but confused.

  “Lili’s gone.”

  Colin wrapped his arms about Ali to comfort her. Dread filled him. Her words tore at him. He looked to Elsbeth who sadly nodded. Colin felt like he had been punched in the gut and all the wind knocked out of him. He couldn’t breathe. He knew exactly who he was. He was Edward. Now that he had taken in a breath, he saw red. He would kill the bastard.

  “What happened?” asked Colin through clenched teeth.

  Elsbeth stood up. She twisted her apron in her hands. “We went to town. Ali and Lili stayed here.”

  Ali looked up to Colin, big tears clouded her eyes. It tore at his heart. “She yelled for me to hide. I did, in our hiding place in the stairs.” She looked at Aiden. He knew the spot she was talking about. “But I heard him tell Lili, he was taking her to London. I watched from the window.”

  “When?” Colin asked. His mind was already making plans for going after her.

  “Yesterday morning,” answered Elsbeth.

  “She’s on your gray,” added Rab.

  Colin closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. A day and a half head start. That was not good. He would really have to push himself if he was going to ca
tch up with them, but catch them he would. He had no doubt on that case. If Edward harmed her in any way, he would make his death a slow one.

  “Colin, are we going after her?” asked Aiden.

  He could see Aiden was upset. “Yes, I am. I promise you, I will bring her back to you.” There was no doubt in his mind.

  “We didnae know what to do?” said Elsbeth.

  “A tried to follow them when we got back. A rode after them but A couldnae find where they went after a bit,” explained Rab. Colin could see how upset he was. He knew Rab would have followed Lili if he could.

  “I know Rab, you did the best you could. But I promise you, I will find them,” assured Colin. His mind was busy remembering what roads back to London they could take. Edward no doubt would take the shortest.

  “Who’s him?” asked Ali looking at Davis.

  Colin had forgotten about Davis in all the turmoil. He could see, he was at a loss at what they were talking about.

  “This is Davis Reid. He’s come to work here, to help Rab. Davis this is Elsbeth and her son, Rab. This is Ali, Aiden twin sister,” clarified Colin. “Lili is the lady of the house, Aiden’s older sister. You have heard us talk about her. It seems while we were gone, their uncle has returned and taken Lili to London.”

  “He’s a bad man. He made Lili cry,” stated Aiden angrily.

  “Yes, he’s mean and ugly,” added Ali. “We don’t like him.”

  Davis nodded. “What can I do to help?”

  “Can you and Rab see to the horses? Make certain Athena gets taken care of. I am going to need her to push her the next few days.” Colin began to pace. He always thought better when he paced. “It’s too dark to go after them now. But I want to be ready at first light.”

  “I’m coming, too,” interrupted Aiden.

  Colin stopped his pacing and looked at Aiden with compassion. “No, Aiden. I need to go alone so I can travel as quickly as I can. But I promise you this, I will find them. I will bring Lili back here to Glendenning. I promise too, Edward will pay for this. Of this, I promise you, with all that is my honor.” He knelt down and gathered Aiden and Ali close. He needed to feel them in his arms. They hugged him tight.