She’d been too busy herself, trying not to stare at him during the meal, to realize he was being provoked unmercifully at the other end of the table. It had appeared they were only having normal conversation down there. She did notice he wasn’t eating yet when everyone else was. And then he left without eating at all.
His anger was obvious, if quiet and well contained. Hers was obvious as well, at the fact that he’d been driven off, and she wasn’t going to be quiet about it.
But her father beat her to saying anything, gave her uncles a severe tongue-lashing as soon as Lincoln departed the room. Lachlan was fond of food and figured every man shared that fondness, so he wouldn’t tolerate any guest of his being disturbed at mealtime. Any other time of the day, though, was apparently fair game.
Melissa hurried to the stable, her excitement building with each step. She didn’t expect anything to happen today of a sexual nature. That wasn’t what had her heart pounding. She did expect to be held by Lincoln at some point today, and to gather encouragement again so they could return to Kregora, both assured that everything would be fine in the end.
They needed that—at least she needed that—since postponing their marriage had been her idea, one she was praying she wouldn’t regret. But a little time alone and they’d be able to withstand anything, she was sure.
Ian Six was already in the stable readying their horses. He was alone, with only the two horses.
“He’s no’ here yet?” she asked. He didn’t look at her, seemed to be purposely avoiding it. “Well?”
“He’s no’ coming.”
“What! Why?”
He stopped what he was doing, sat down on an overturned bucket, and still wouldn’t look her in the eye. “It’s m’fault.”
She groaned. “What’d you do?”
“It’s what I didna do,” he explained. “I was hoping he’d trust me, so I didna actually say ye’d be joining us. But I told him he’d enjoy the ride when I invited him. I stressed he’d really enjoy the ride. It was a hint broad enough to knock him off his feet.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Bah, why would he trust you or your brothers tae do him a good turn, when you’ve all been sae down on him?”
He finally looked at her. “Because I’d already assured him I was on his side.”
“Are you, then?”
“Aye,” he said somewhat sheepishly. “I know I was wary tae start and hoping ye’d find yerself someone else. But I’ve seen enough tae agree wi’ ye. He’s no’ likely tae lose control as he did as a child. Besides, there’s no getting around the fact that ye love him, and love isna something we can direct wi’ will. It mun take the bad wi’ the good. There’s no choices in that, I’m thinking.”
She leaned down, kissed his check. “Thank you. But I gather he didna believe your assurances?”
Ian sighed. “Nae. O’ course, he may just hae other plans for this morning—or no’ trust himself tae having ye alone for a bit. D’ye want tae cancel the ride, then?”
“Nae, I want him joining us,” she said, then added in a determined tone, “I’ll see tae it.”
Forty-Four
MELISSA marched into the castle, stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and started shouting up them, “Lincoln Ross Burnett! Are you standing me up, then? You’re late! The horses are saddled and waiting!”
The rooms immediately emptied around the hall, everyone wanting to find out what she was shouting about—servants, clansmen, and closer relatives alike. Three of her uncles and her father filed out of the breakfast room. Her uncles were frowning. Her father merely looked curious.
“And where is it ye’re going, that ye’re shouting aboot?” Lachlan asked.
“Riding,” she told him. “Ian Six invited us. He figured we were due for a wee bit o’ time away from prying eyes and ears.”
“Is that wise?” Malcolm asked.
“And what has wiseness tae do wi’ it?” Melissa countered. “I’ve no’ talked tae the mon privately since he brought me back tae London.”
“Which is as it should be,” Charles humphed.
“We could’ve been wed at this verra moment, Uncle Charles. Give us some credit for wanting tae do this right so everyone can be happy for us—or at least at ease. We’re no’ running off. We’re just going for a ride, wi’ Ian along.”
“Ian doesna make a good chaperon. He’s too fond o’ ye, will let ye do as ye like.”
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Are you trying tae put wicked ideas into m’head, Uncle Charles?”
He blushed, mumbled a bit under his breath, too. Lachlan chuckled. He was relaxed about an innocent outing and had no objections. She had figured that being open about it would ease his mind.
Lincoln hadn’t appeared yet, though, which had Melissa remarking aloud to no one in particular, “D’you think he heard me?”
“Everyone else did. How could he no’ hear ye as well?” Lachlan replied.
“Unless you stuck him in the dungeon. He is upstairs, aye? I didna miss—?”
She didn’t have to finish. Lincoln—or someone—could be heard coming down the hall upstairs, not quite running, but close to it.
It was him, and he stopped at the top of the stairs for a moment, a distinct hesitation upon seeing the small crowd gathered below. As soon as his eyes settled on Melissa, though, he hurried down to join them.
Melissa grinned. “Well, then, you’re no’ standing me up? We’re still going for that ride?”
“Absolutely.”
She beamed at him for playing along without asking her what she was talking about. But she quickly took his hand and dragged him toward the front door. She sent a wave back toward her father and uncles.
“We’ll be back in an hour or two—or three,” she promised. “Or at least afore lunch.”
“I know ye will, darlin’,” Lachlan said significantly. “Ye wouldna want me tae worry.”
“Och,” she grumbled as soon as they were outside. “He would have tae put it that way.”
“What are you up to?” Lincoln asked.
“The ride Ian suggested, o’ course—and wondering why you didna want tae join us?”
“‘Us’? He didn’t mention any ‘us.’”
“He hinted I’d be coming.”
“The hell he did.”
“He didna tell you that you’d enjoy it?”
“Well…blast him, why didn’t he just be specific and tell me outright, instead of leaving me to guess what he had in mind?”
“Because he wants you tae trust him. You can, you know. He wants tae see this turn out in our favor. And it was his idea to offer himself for chaperon on this ride, so we could have some time tae ourselves.”
Lincoln sighed. “I appreciate that, more than I can say, but I doubt I’ll be able to trust any MacFearson—ever, even him.”
“You will.”
“When they’re still trying their damnedest to keep me from what I want most in the world?”
She stopped, turned to face him, assured him, “If I didna think we have a chance tae change their minds about us, I’d be suggesting we leave here right now.”
“God, I wish I could be as certain as you, Melissa. Then this might not be driving me crazy.”
“Och, that’s the one thing we canna have happening,” she chided. “We’re here tae prove them wrong about you, no’ prove them right.”
He raised a brow at her. “Are you teasing me?”
“Are you actually in doubt?”
He snorted, took her hand again, and continued along the path. Ian had all three mounts ready and waiting just outside the stable.
His only question was “No objection from your da?”
“Nay, why would he? This is a normal outing. As long as we dinna try tae hide anything from him, he’s no reason tae restrict normal activities.”
Ian nodded, mounted up. “Let’s be off, then.”
The plan had been to ride about the lake, since it offered such pretty views, but with her ni
ghtmare still so fresh in her mind, she suggested they ride to the coast instead. It wasn’t that far. An hour there, an hour back, they’d still be home before lunch.
Ian rode behind them so he wouldn’t have to crane his neck constantly. He meant to allow them space to talk privately, but he still took his role seriously, so they weren’t to be out of his sight.
They had a bit of sun, but it didn’t last long. The weather was still nice in that it wasn’t raining, and they were in no hurry to get anywhere, really. They rode side by side at a slow clip, easy enough to talk, though they weren’t talking yet, but rather spending most of the time just glancing at each other now that no one was around to curtail that pleasant activity. Most subjects they needed to discuss weren’t going to be as pleasant.
Melissa expected some complaints. It couldn’t be easy, what Lincoln was having to deal with. She broached that after they reached the coast. They stopped on a high bluff overlooking the ocean and a good deal of the coastline. Ian dismounted to see if there was an easy way down to the shore from there, or if they’d need to ride farther west first.
“How are you holding up?” she asked Lincoln. “No’ feeling like killing anyone yet?”
“How should I know? I went crazy two days ago.”
“Bah, you’re teasing me now.”
“If I were teasing, the answer would have been yes.”
She sighed, dismounted as well, and walked to the edge of the bluff. A gust of wind shot up to disturb her skirt, enough that she needed to hold it down. Her hair was a lost cause, a riot of tangles after the ride.
She stared out at the gray water and the darker gray clouds beyond. “I’m sorry.”
“Shush, it’s not your fault you come from savage stock,” she heard behind her.
She swung around with a gasp but this time found him grinning at her—and standing right next to her. The wind was playing havoc with his hair as well, black strands whipping about his face. She’d forgotten just how windy the coast could be—and chilly.
He put his hands on her shoulders, started to pull her closer. Ian’s voice moved them apart again.
“There’s a path o’er here,” Ian shouted as he headed back toward them. “I thought I remembered one from years ago when I came this way.”
“Why were you here afore?” she asked.
“It was long ago. Charlie, Neill, and I made a day o’ it, followed the coast for a good five hours once. We found a few sea caves. At least we called them caves, though they were no more’n crevices worn away by eons o’ the Lady Ocean dancing around her cliffs.”
“Getting poetic in your old age, Ian?” she teased.
“Bah, nay, it just sounded better’n calling them holes in the cliff wall. Leave the horses here. The path is a wee bit too narrow for them.”
“Is there a point to going down to the shore?” Lincoln asked.
“Aside from its being interesting? No, it’ll just give me something to do while ye two get reacquainted.”
“By all means, then.”
There was only a small strip of rocky shore between the cliffs. It was picturesque, something of a cove, with the ocean butting up against the cliff and blocking them from going farther in either direction without swimming. Which made it very private. And Melissa and Lincoln were both wishing that Ian weren’t with them by the time they reached the bottom and saw just how private the area was.
“Your caves are down here, Ian?”
“One is. That big boulder is hiding it.”
She went to look. Sure enough, there was a low overhang of dirt and rock with a few tufts of grass and a dark pocket behind it. It would require almost crawling to get inside.
“Think anything is in there?”
“Other than sea urchins and spiders?”
She chuckled. “The kind o’ thing for young lads tae explore. I’ll settle for this brisk air and—Och, where did that come from?”
The rain rolled in off the ocean so quickly that none of them had noticed it coming. There was no question about exploring the crevice now. They all hurried into it. It really was no more than a low recess eroded in the cliff wall though, with barely enough room for two to sit huddled in it, let alone three. And Ian, being the last to enter, got thoroughly drenched before he squeezed inside. It was dry inside though, the walls a mixture of dirt and rock, and not so dark once they were in it, with the light from outside filtering in. And no spiders—at least none willing to investigate the intruders.
A few minutes later the rain started to ease off, more a drizzle now, and, with Lincoln sitting so close to her, Melissa began thinking of other things. She stared at Ian, pointedly enough that he finally got the message.
“Och, lass, have a heart,” he complained. “It’s bloody well dropping buckets oot there.”
“You have a heart,” she countered. “And the rain is stopping. Give me five minutes alone wi’ him. You’re already wet. What can we do in five minutes?”
“Ye’re going tae owe me,” he grumbled as he pulled his wet coat closer about him.
“I already owe ye.” She grinned at him. “I’ll name m’firstborn after you.”
“Faith, spare us that,” he said as he began to crawl back outside.
He was no sooner out of sight than Lincoln was drawing her closer to him. “I should have wed you first, then brought you home and wed you again for their benefit. This would be much easier to get through if you were already mine,” he whispered by her ear.
“But I am already yours. D’you think I gave m’self tae you wi’oot knowing in m’heart it would be forever?”
He groaned. “I want to make love to you so bad I can barely stand it.”
“I want that too, but he’ll be back in a few minutes,” she replied wistfully.
“Then let me taste you while I can.”
His arms tightened around her. The kiss was ravishing, with pent up desire too long denied. He was crushing her. She didn’t care. She was gripping his hair too tightly without realizing it. He didn’t feel it. God, she loved kissing him. She couldn’t smell him—the scent of damp earth in their small space was too strong—but she could taste him, feel him—and she wanted so much more….
“Get out!”
It was Lincoln shouting. She was so surprised she couldn’t react for a moment. She hadn’t heard it, the sound of rubble falling inside the hole around them. Though she did now, he had heard it immediately, and there was a sense of urgency about him, and violence, as he shoved her out to safety.
No sooner was she on her feet outside the crevice than he was hugging her so hard she couldn’t breathe. “You’re all right? Tell me you’re all right!”
“I’m fine, Linc, really,” she assured him. “It was just a few rocks falling.”
He stepped back, put a hand over his eyes, tried to compose himself. He was still visibly shaken, though his voice was at least calm now.
“I know. I’m sorry for overreacting. But my father died like that. With dirt and rock crushing him. He only survived a few days, just long enough for them to dig him out and get him home. This brought it all back.”
“Hush, you dinna have tae apologize.”
“I wonder if my past will ever stop haunting me.”
“It will,” she said, and now she was hugging him as hard as she could. “You willna have time for past reflections when you marry me. Only laughter and sunshine are packed in my trousseau.”
He leaned back to see her face, smiled at her. “You promise, Meli?”
“Aye, I do.”
Ian came running over to them then. “What happened?”
“It’s no’ safe in there,” Melissa said. “The walls started tae crumble.”
“Then let’s head home and hope we don’t catch our death in this weather.”
That was easier said than done. Startled by the first onslaught of rain, their horses had run away.
Forty-Five
THEY were found late that afternoon about halfway home, crossing
an open heath. The riders came from the coast behind them, had missed them on the first pass through the area—possibly when they took cover in the charred ruins of an abandoned croft after the downpour had started up again in earnest.
Twenty-three riders. It was like an army bearing down on them—or a murderous gang. The foul weather certainly didn’t help tempers, and Lachlan had lost his own several hours ago because of his worry.
“There’ll be no more outings until this matter is settled one way or another” was the first thing he said to Melissa. “Ye’re trying tae make this a normal situation, but it’s far from that. No more.”
Melissa merely sighed. “You’re no’ e’en going tae ask what happened? Or d’you think that we were having fun, walking home in the rain?”
“Ye lost yer horses,” Adam answered her. “We already knew that.”
“Yers and Ian’s horse returned tae the stable, which was when we set oot tae find ye,” Ian Four added.
“Lincoln’s stallion isna familiar enough wi’ his new surroundings, though. He’s probably causing havoc somewhere and will hae tae be tracked down,” Johnny said, and then volunteered, “I’ll take a few o’ m’brothers and see if we canna find him afore dark sets in.”
“Ye should’ve returned home at the first sign o’ rain,” Lachlan admonished.
Lincoln couldn’t believe they were actually nit-picking over trifles, while Melissa was standing there shivering. “She’s caught cold,” he said curtly. “Do your scolding in a warm place.”
It didn’t help that he was, in effect, criticizing Lachlan. The MacGregor reached down and pulled Melissa into his lap, then rode off without another word. It would have been too much to hope that one of them might have offered him a mount so he could have carried her home.
Lincoln wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he’d be left to walk the rest of the way himself. He was, in fact, surprised when Ian One offered him a hand to ride behind him and they set out to follow Lachlan.
“You’re getting soft in your old age, MacFearson,” Lincoln remarked when Ian One’s horse slowed down a bit a few minutes later.
The Pursuit Page 22