Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,16
out is how ye unlocked the door, and how ye did so without waking yer guard.” His voice stretched out, inviting an answer.
If he waited for her to give him one, he would soon be shaking hands with disappointment. Shuttering her expression before looking up, Anna asked with indifference, “Will I be beaten for my attempted escape?”
His smirk softened to a smile before answering. “Nae. Not this time. Indeed, I should thank ye. We are not in the habit of keeping prisoners. It seems yer adventure this morn pointed out certain gaps in our ability to hold captives.”
Anna realized she’d never seen him truly smile before. That he was such a handsome man further irritated her. He poured himself a draught from the pitcher and took a drink before pouring hers, demonstrating it hadn’t been tampered with. It tempted her to lower her guard, but she must not.
They ate in silence, then he put the items back on the tray and set it in the hallway.
“Ye have been isolated for three days. Would ye like to talk? I would know better the noblewoman my father keeps.”
His seductive burr willed her to see him as something other than her gaoler, willed her to see him as a friend—or a protector? No. Until the locks and barred doors were replaced with freedom, she would only see him as a warden.
Handing him back the cup, she responded woodenly, “No, thank you, sir. I am enjoying the solitude you offer and have been using my time productively.”
Duncan’s eyes danced. “I trust ye willnae attempt escape again?”
Anna nudged the stool over to him with a toe and scrunched her brow. “Why would you think thus? Would you cease if our places were reversed?”
He held her gaze before answering, his smile still roguish. “Nae, I suppose not. ’Tis the duty of every prisoner to escape.”
She dipped her head in agreement.
“Should ye change your mind about wishing to speak, inform yer guard. I will come when I can.”
The lock on the door snicked closed behind him, and a shudder snaked through her at the sound. The weight of her failed attempt bore down on her, the crush of helplessness replacing the frustration of failure. At least she’d receive no immediate consequence for her actions.
Duncan walked away, shaken by the encounter. Something inexplicable drew him to her. He fought the urge to kiss her, drinking from her full lips until they were both intoxicated. His bright mood dimmed as he recalled the need to tell his father of the morn’s adventure. He didn’t want to hear the auld man say he was right.
He found both his parents in the great hall, breaking their fast at the high table. When they saw him approach, his mother motioned for an additional bowl to be brought.
“What has ye so ill-tempered this morn, my son?” she asked, curiosity in her voice.
“Good morrow, Mother. I need to speak with Da when he has finished,” Duncan replied, staring at his second bowl of porridge of the morning. With appetite already sated, he merely stirred his food, needing something to do with his hands.
“The English lass?” she prodded.
Duncan sighed deeply and nodded with some reluctance. “How did ye know?”
She offered a vivacious smile and placed a hand on his arm. “Ye have been vexed ever since she arrived.”
They finished the meal in silence. Mairi rose and kissed them both on the cheek. “Please be civil, gentlemen.” With a meaningful glance, she exited the hall, leaving them alone as the servants retreated to the kitchen.
“Very well, what is it this time?” Kenneth leaned back in his chair, his tone exasperated.
On the defensive, Duncan shot his father a flinty look. “Yer prisoner escaped last night.”
The news stunned his father into silence, his eyes widening, mouth agape.
With a measure of satisfaction at seeing him so, Duncan continued. “I dinnae know how she opened the lock. She used fat from the stew to grease the hinges and somehow snuck past Alain whilst he slept. I happened to be walking the wall and spotted her creeping about. She made it to the stables undetected. She had her horse saddled and rode amongst a group headed for the fields.” Duncan did not bother to hide his admiration.
Kenneth stopped all pretense of eating. “She got away?”
Duncan shook his head, trying not to laugh at the expression on his father’s face. “Nae. I alerted the gate master to drop the outer gate. I placed a dozen men at the other end