Claire knew which alternative she preferred.
She had no idea about Jules.
Last night’s storm had cleared, leaving the sky a pale blue and streaked with thin wisps of clouds. Jules stood in the courtyard of Kildare Manor with David, preparing the horse for the long journey ahead. With only two horses and four riders, the travel would be slow, slower than Jules preferred. But they would have more maneuverability if they rode the horses rather than travelled by carriage. Claire would ride with him. Penelope would double with David.
“I wish we could go with you,” Jane said. She and Margaret and their husbands were staying behind because of their pregnancies. Jane handed a saddlebag filled with provisions to David.
David offered Jane a smile. “You and Margaret are safer here with your husbands, despite the fact that the mysterious woman could still be nearby, or she could have partners who might act in our absence. If the intention is to hurt Jules, then there is no more vulnerable person than you.”
Nicholas appeared in the courtyard and handed a final saddlebag to Jules before moving to his wife’s side. “Hollister and I will make certain Jane and Margaret are safe.”
The arrival of Claire and Penelope cut any further discussion short. Jules was surprised to see both women were dressed in serviceable gowns. He was not certain what he had expected, but then again, Claire was not a frivolous woman. She carried no baggage, nor did Penelope. But the biggest surprise of all was the peach muslin splint Claire had devised for Penelope to rest her injured hand during their journey. The rustling of the horse might cause her pain, but the sling would help keep the movement to a minimum.
Jules turned away from Claire before she could see the look of admiration in his eyes. He refused to give her even that much. “Thank you,” Jules said, extending his hand to Nicholas. “Be well.”
“Godspeed,” Nicholas said in response.
Jules bent to kiss Jane on the cheek. “Take care of yourself and that baby.”
“I will,” she said, moving into Nicholas’s arms.
Jules turned away with jerky movements to stand beside Claire. With his hands on her waist he lifted her onto the horse, then mounted behind her. Instant awareness shot through him. The scent of lavender teased his nose, as did the flowing tendrils of her hair that brushed against his chest. His body clenched. Why had he ever encouraged her to wear her hair loose?
He had a sudden memory of her hair spilled across his chest after their lovemaking last night, the color of burnished copper in the pale candlelight. An aching sense of loss coiled in his chest. He looked down to see his hands clenched on the reins, and felt the horse prance beneath the pressure. Impatiently, he relaxed his grip.
They had a long journey ahead of them, and they needed to get under way. The rough travel ahead would at least help him keep his mind off the woman in his arms.
“You are very grim,” David said as they rode away from Kildare Manor. “You’ve spoken barely a word since earlier this morning.”
“There wasn’t anything to say.” Jules glanced back at his home. Instead of the aging gray stone, he saw Claire, her chin tipped up in pride as she presented the roasted pheasant he’d challenged her to prepare, heard the sound of her laughter as they danced in the ballroom she had transformed into an artistic wonder, recalled the sleek curves of her naked body as she swam in the loch. How would he ever go back to Kildare Manor and not be haunted by her every moment of every day?
He silently groaned at the memories and spurred the horse into a faster gait.
David matched his pace.
“Thank you, Jules,” Claire said, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two of them.
“For what?”
“Helping me find the girls.” Why he had decided to help her, she could only guess, but she was grateful for his assistance.
Jules inclined his head but didn’t speak, and Claire knew better than to push him. He was still angry with her, and who could blame him? She hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him the truth. And now he would make her pay for that decision.
The hours passed as they rode. Claire looked at the scenery until it all ran together in a blur of rolling hills covered in green shrubs and purple heather. Tired of the monotony, she dropped her gaze to Jules’s hands as they held the reins. His hands were large and strong, well shaped and masculine. They were the hands of a warrior. The hands of a man who was not afraid to fight for what he wanted.
The thought cheered her as much as it frightened her. Would he fight for the one part of their time together that had not been a lie? Would he fight for their marriage?
Without thinking, she reached out and touched the third finger of his hand, where a wedding ring should have been. She’d never given him a ring, and he had taken hers away from her. At her touch, he pulled his hand away.
“What are you up to now?” he asked suspiciously.
“Believe it or not, I still enjoy touching you. That hasn’t changed no matter what else has between us.” Claire clutched her hands together and twisted them in the fabric of her dress to keep from touching him again.
“There is nothing between us that my solicitor cannot change,” he said, his tone severe.
She went still. “Meaning what?”
“I’m starting divorce proceedings.”
David eased his horse back from the two of them, giving them at least the semblance of privacy.
“You’re what?” she breathed as the world around her swayed.
Jules must have felt her movement, because in spite of his words, his arm tightened around her, keeping her from falling off the horse. Her eyes filled with tears. Until that moment, she had hoped that somehow, someway, she might be able to reach past his anger and start anew. No matter the anger and vehemence in his voice now, they had shared something special, something worth trying to rebuild.
And God help her, she would find a way to make that happen. He would not abandon her yet, not until they found the girls. Claire sent up a silent prayer that they would find the girls alive and well, and that somehow in the next several days she would find a way through the ice encasing his heart.
As silence once again settled between them, David kicked his horse abreast of theirs. He held a sleeping Penelope in his arms.
“How does she fare?” Claire asked, grateful for the distraction.
“She is still weary from the trauma and the laudanum the doctor gave her last night,” David replied.
“That might be for the best. At least the journey will be bearable as she sleeps.” Claire noted the protective way David held Penelope in his arms.
“Why did they cut off her finger?” he asked, his tone perplexed. “The threat was that they would kill her. I am glad they did not, mind you.”
“To a painter, losing a finger is certain death, especially a female painter,” Claire replied.
“How so?” David asked.
“With no other way to support herself, her prospects for survival grow slim.” At David’s darkened expression, Claire added, “I will not let her fall victim to that.”
His brows furrowed as his gaze shifted between herself and Jules. “But how will you—”
“I will find a way. I always have,” she said with a tilt of her chin.
David nodded. “We are on the right path. I can tell from the broken branches and displaced earth that three riders have been through here since last night. The storm last night would have slowed down their progress, but they have had a head start on us.”
“Then we had best make up for some of that lost time,” Jules said, kicking his horse into a faster gait. The pace forced their conversation to end. They rode hard for the rest of the day, stopping just once to rest the horses and eat by a brook in a glen.
Only when orange and red fell in silken threads through the twilight sky did they stop. Instead of lodging at an inn, Jules prepared a campsite. It wasn’t until he had created an overhang made from tree boughs and ferns, laid a fire, c
ooked the meal, and watered the horses did he finally speak to her again. “It’s late.” He stopped in front of her as she sat near the fire with Penelope’s head in her lap. “You should settle Penelope into her blankets, then do the same. I will keep watch.”
“No,” Claire said. Penelope’s eyes opened at her forceful tone. “You are exhausting yourself. We can all take turns keeping watch.”
“I’ll take the first shift,” David volunteered.
Claire nodded her thanks. “If we change positions every two hours, we will all be able to get at least a little sleep. Those who we seek are ahead of us on this journey. There is no imminent danger to us until we catch up with them.”
“You are wrong.” Penelope lifted her head from Claire’s lap and sat up. Penelope was marble-pale in the moonlight, her thin body swaying slightly. It was the first time she had spoken since last night. “These people are ruthless. They could be anywhere.”
Claire reached up and pulled the blanket that had slipped from Penelope’s shoulders around her once more. Penelope did not look away from the fire as she said haltingly, “Especially the woman. She took everything from me when she cut off my finger.”
“A female? Could she be the one the innkeeper warned me about?” Jules asked.
As Jules became lost in his own thoughts, Claire turned back to Penelope. “No,” Claire said fiercely. “That woman took your finger, but nothing else. You will heal in mind and body.”
Penelope looked away, but not before Claire saw the fear in her eyes.
Silence hovered over the campsite as Claire’s thoughts tumbled through her brain. What kind of vile creatures were they chasing? Creatures who kidnapped young women, then tortured and manipulated them for their own gain? Claire stood, no longer able to contain her emotions without movement. “David, thank you for taking the first shift. I will take the second, so Jules can have a chance to rest.”
She moved to grab one of the blankets piled near the fire when Jules gripped her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze. “This isn’t a game, Claire. This is real. The threat is real. If you’ve forgotten that, look at Penelope’s hand. How will you defend this campsite? With your paintbrush?”
The words hit her like a blow. She flinched. He was still mad at her deception, but she would not bow to his anger. Not this time. “Do not underestimate me, Jules. I am stronger than you know.” She shook off his touch and set her blanket near Penelope’s. “I blame myself for what happened to Penelope, but I will not let anything like that happen again.”
His face softened. “Do not blame yourself. You did not make them do such despicable things.”
She was raw and hurting, and wanted so desperately to go to Jules and find comfort in his arms. But she could not. She wasn’t welcome there any longer. Instead, she would have to live with the ache, the regret, and the sorrow.
She turned away, knelt on the ground, then settled herself beneath the blanket. “Wake me in two hours, David. My paintbrush and I will find a way to keep you all safe. A woman can do anything if she is strong enough.”
It was on that thought that Claire closed her eyes. She had to be strong enough to find the girls, and when they were safe, she had to find the strength to reach for what she truly wanted.
Jules.
Annoyed that she had shut him out, Jules grabbed a blanket and settled it on the ground next to Claire’s. He’d be damned if he would let her take watch alone. Did she not realize the danger? He reached up to touch the still-bruised flesh around his eye. These people, whomever they were, would not make finding the girls easy, nor would they give them up without a fight.
He lay down on his side, facing Claire. In the firelight, he could see that her eyes were firmly shut. She wasn’t asleep, not yet. He looked down at her hands on the outside of the blanket. Such small hands, fine-boned, graceful, and delicate. In that moment, he regretted his words about her paintbrush. He was angry, and without thinking the words had slipped free. He started to reach for her. The need to touch her was great. Then he stopped, letting his hand fall to the blanket a few inches from her hand.
He was hurting. He wanted desperately to pull her to him and—
Damnation, he couldn’t stand much more of this. He forced his hands to unclasp and release the wool blanket captured in his clasp.
Claire suddenly shifted onto her side, away from him.
His anger returned. How dare she try to calmly dismiss him from her life? Didn’t she realize she belonged . . . He blocked the thought before it could become fully formed. Again he clenched and unclenched his hands at his side.
Claire blocking him out should have been a relief. If she kept herself separate from him, it would be easier to obtain the dissolution of their marriage.
Yet, her behavior only fired his blood for more of the passion they had shared, and with fear for what she would do on her own. Jules settled against the hard dirt beneath his back and stared at the stars, glittering like diamonds overhead. Even the beauty of the night sky did not calm the turmoil inside him.
He was ready to rid himself of his wife, wasn’t he?
Hidden by the darkness and the trees, a cloaked figure looked down upon the small campsite. She drew a silent breath as she contemplated the situation.
Her plans for Kildare and his wife had been foiled by her own impulsive behavior. She’d intended to strike at the manor, while they were all on familiar territory and where they might have relaxed their guard. Yet, her own anger had forced her to react, and in the heat of her emotions, she’d destroyed the young girl’s hand, alerting them to her presence.
Instead of disappointment, anticipation burned through her body. This current situation was better than what she had planned. She smiled into the darkness as she watched the orange glow of the campfire. She would follow them to Edinburgh. She knew they were headed to the other girls. And when they’d figured out the trap she had set, she would strike them all. No longer could she be satisfied with punishing only Kildare.
They all deserved to suffer for what he’d done to her. She yearned to finally have her justice. She’d plotted and planned for years. Eagerness churned inside her. Too many years she’d been fantasizing about this moment. With it so close, it was hard to maintain control.
Her stomach clenched. And for a heartbeat she considered just killing them all now. Until reason returned. She drew a slow, steadying breath. It would be better to wait. She must not be impatient. Her thirst for revenge would be whetted more fully if she took the time to anticipate and enjoy the hunt that was about to ensue.
The time for revenge was almost at hand.
“Claire. Wake up.”
It was Jules’s voice, but it no longer held the anger and irritation it had held the night before.
Morning. Claire opened her eyes to the morning light. She sat up. Jules was beside her. His face looked softer than it had as well. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
His gaze ran over her tumbled hair and flushed cheeks, and a flare of desire came into his eyes. He stood and backed away. “You were sleeping so peacefully, David and I decided to let you sleep.”
She frowned, stood, and smoothed the wrinkles from her gown. “That wasn’t the arrangement.”
He turned away. “There are oats in the pot over the fire for breakfast. While David and I break camp, please see that you and Penelope have something to eat. We have another long day of riding ahead of us.”
Claire didn’t argue as she was suddenly eager to be on their way. By dusk they would be in Edinburgh. Perhaps by nightfall, the girls would be safe. And life could go on as it had for years. The thought left her empty inside, but she forced the sensation away. There would be time enough after this was over to deal with the loneliness.
She gathered the blankets she and Penelope had used and rolled them the way Jules had before they’d left. Penelope’s cheeks held more color today despite the lines of sorrow Claire saw in the young woman’s face. Relief lightened Claire’s mood. Al
l would be well, eventually. Penelope would adjust to the loss of her finger, and she would find a way to go on.
Silently, Claire moved to the fire and dished up oats for herself and her ward. When they had finished eating, Claire gathered the blankets she and Penelope had used and rolled them the way Jules had before they’d left. After handing the blankets to Jules, Claire started toward Penelope to help her up on the waiting horse. David beat her to Penelope’s side, lifting her onto the horse. A heartbeat later, he cradled the young woman in his arms. Claire bit back a smile as a tiny, sparkling ray of hope tightened her chest.
Perhaps things really would be all right in the end.
“May I help you up?” Jules asked. He reached out his hand to her.
“Yes, please,” she replied brightly as she was lifted, then she settled in front of him on the horse. He took the reins and led them farther into the forest. “We are keeping to the trees?”
She felt him nod behind her. “It is safer that way.”
“Are you worried that we are being followed?” She shifted her body to gaze behind her, into his face.
He tightened his arms around her. “I will not be at ease until we reach our destination.”
Claire fell silent as the horse picked its way through the dense forest. It felt strange to be riding across the same terrain she had crossed less than a fortnight ago. It seemed a lifetime since she had married a total stranger.
“You’re very quiet,” Jules commented. “Are you weary of travel already?”
“No,” she said, swallowing to ease the sudden tightness in her throat. “I was thinking about all that has happened since I left Edinburgh. I am no longer the same person.”
“Much has happened to you.” His hands tightened with violence on the reins.
“To you as well.” She could feel the tension in his body, and gazed at him with aching tenderness.
At the look, he straightened his shoulders and deliberately loosened his grip on the reins. “We were both caught in someone else’s game.” His gaze shifted to her face.
Highland Bachelor 02 - This Laird of Mine Page 16