A Laird and a Gentleman (All the King's Men #4) - Gerri Russell Page 0,46

toward her father. An iron kettle hit his head with a sickening thud. She turned to see her father’s mouth gape open before he slumped to the ground. Next to him was Mistress MacInnes with her iron weapon clutched in her hands.

“Nessie!” Relief ran through Mariam’s blood so potently she felt weightless. “How did you know?”

“I heard you make a noise.” She let the kettle slip from her fingers to clang upon the floor. “I would never let him take you. I vowed to protect—”

“What is the meaning of this?” Cameron appeared from the great hall with a brace of candles. The golden light dispelled the darkness. His gaze shifted from the crumpled body of her father to Mariam’s bound hands, then to her face. “How did he escape?”

“My maid, Thea, released him.”

Cameron set the candelabra down. He reached for the sgian dubh he kept in his boot and quickly severed her bindings. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “Oh, Mariam. I shouldn’t have waited to take him away.”

“I am unharmed.”

“For that, I am thankful.” His voice, so warm and rich, curled around her. “I will make certain that is the last time he will ever lay a hand on you. Where is your maid now?” Cameron asked.

Mariam burrowed deeper against his chest. “I do not know. I can only imagine the kind of persuasion it must have taken to get her to do something like this.”

“I’ll have my men search the castle to find her.”

“I’m certain she is gone. Would you remain after such a betrayal?” She shivered as the night’s events finally caught up to her.

“You’re probably right, but I’ll have them search, just to be safe.” Cameron’s arms wrapped more tightly around her, holding her close. Warmth and strength seeped from his body to hers, dispelling her fear and reminding her she was safe.

But others were not. Mariam pulled back. “Orrin and Kyle are injured . . . perhaps dead. Thea drugged their food or their drink in order to reach my father.”

Indecision flared in Cameron’s eyes as his gaze shifted away from her to the man on the floor. Cameron moved away and squatted beside her father, sliding his fingers along the exposed skin of his throat. “He lives,” Cameron said flatly. “You and Mistress MacInnes go see to Orrin and Kyle while I immobilize this man once and for all. I’ll wake the others to help you and to prepare for our immediate departure.”

“You’ll leave now, while it’s still dark?” Mariam asked.

Cameron’s features set with determination. “I’ll not have this man in my castle any longer. I’ll not give him another chance to hurt you or anyone else.”

Chapter Eleven

Less than an hour later, Cameron rode away from Ravenscraig with a contingent of twelve men as the first pink streaks of dawn lightened the sky. The small caravan surrounded a wagon pulling the bound and chained John Swinton. He would be transported like a criminal to a place where all those whom he had persecuted might finally see justice served.

The journey to Falkland Palace would take them ten long hours—longer than Cameron usually liked to push the horses over the course of a day. But he had to make this trip away from the castle and Mariam as short as possible. The lowland terrain would not be difficult. To the west, east, and north stretched glens and valleys, fertile pastures, a sprinkling of lochs, and winding streams. Only when they were much closer to Falkland would they encounter any difficulty from the landscape in the Lomond Hills.

Danger would come from other sources despite the fact that he and his men were well armed. Cameron set his jaw and scoured the landscape ahead of them. The pastures they passed through were lush and green, stretching for miles, and filled with herds of cattle that ignored them as they went by. At the sight of the animals, Cameron smiled as he remembered how Mariam had gathered the sheep. If she were here now, he had no doubt the beasts would follow them all the way to Falkland Palace. His smile slipped, and an empty ache suddenly filled his chest. He hated to leave her, but he’d had no choice. Her father had seen to that. A quick glance at the wagon confirmed the man was still unconscious. If only he would remain so for their entire journey.

An hour passed before Cameron’s second in command, Keith MacFarlane, came to ride beside him. “Judging by the