The Marriage Contract (Marriage #3) - Cathy Maxwell Page 0,64
to fetch Hugh’s hunting sack from the barn. “And don’t let the soldiers see you,” she warned.
The maid hurried to do her bidding, but Aidan stopped Cora and cautioned her in a low voice, “Don’t let Deacon know his brother has been captured. He’ll do something foolish.”
Bleakly, Cora nodded and left.
Aidan didn’t wait to see her gone, but headed for the stairs, grabbing Anne by the elbow as he passed and steering her up to the hallway, where they could be private. “You are not going,” he said, when he was sure they were alone. “It is too dangerous.”
“A little danger is a healthy thing,” she quoted, calmly walking into her room.
He swore violently at her using his own words to argue. She untied her straw bonnet and threw it, along with the Kashmir shawl, on the bed.
“I won’t let you go,” Aidan commanded. He stood in the doorway, blocking her way.
Anne glared at him a moment, frustrated by his refusal to see what was happening. “How are you going to stop Lieutenant Fordyce from carrying out his orders to fetch me for supper, Aidan? His men are armed. Of course, it’s a trap. They expect you to fight them over this—this dinner invitation. It sounds so silly.” She crossed her arms, a chill going through her. “Are you ready to fight? Hugh, Fang, and his sons will take up arms. They will battle to keep me here. Of course, any of them could be killed and their families destroyed. The English government will sanction Major Lambert’s actions. Worse, it will brand all of you as traitors. On the other hand, if I go with him, you have time to escape.”
Aidan pounded his fist against the door so hard the wood bounced. “I won’t run, Anne.” He gestured with the shears he still held in his other hand. “Lambert knows I won’t go anywhere as long as he has you. You will be his hostage to ensure I’m available after he’s tortured a confession out of Robbie.”
“Tortured?” Anne felt her heart stop. “He wouldn’t do such a thing. He couldn’t…” Her voice trailed off. Pictures of her father’s haggard, bruised face rose in her mind, pictures she’d attempted to erase from memory. Of course, the major would beat Robbie. The Crown expected him to use whatever means necessary to ferret out traitors.
“Lambert wants a knighthood. Ever since our days at University, he’s lusted for greater things. Marching the great-grandson of Donner Black to London in chains for treason will earn him the right to a title.”
“He won’t hurt me,” she insisted stubbornly. “I’ll be safe, and once you are away, I’ll contact your sister—”
“No, Anne. I won’t let you be dragged into it.”
“I already am,” she replied curtly. “Besides, I will play on Major Lambert’s honor. He’s a gentleman. He can’t be completely ruthless to a woman.”
“Any man is ruthless when he wants something.”
A footstep sounded in the hall and Aidan leaned back to see who approached. It was Cora. “I beg your pardon, but here is the sack my lady ordered me to fetch.”
Anne reached for the hunting sack. Her hand shook. It embarrassed her. She wanted to be brave—but she was frightened.
“Leave us,” Aidan said to the maid. He waited until she’d gone down the hall. He stared at Anne a moment and then came to a conclusion. “All right, we must think.” He began pacing the length of the room.
“Think of what?”
“A plan.” He paused. “We must be more clever than he is.”
“Aidan—”
“I’m going with you.”
“No! Then he has you where he can get to you if Robbie Gunn confesses.” Was he mad?
“Cut my hair.” He held out the shears to her.
His abrupt change of subject caught her off guard. “What? Why are you worrying about that now?”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “You said it was overlong. Do it up. Something currently in fashion. Make me a gentleman again.” He considered things for a moment. “Style it like that of the poet all the women swoon over in London.”
“Byron?”
“Yes, him.” He sat waiting.
She took a hesitant step. “Is this part of a plan?”
Aidan frowned. “Of course…although I haven’t thought the plan through. It will come to me. Cut my hair.”
“I don’t know if I can,” she admitted baldly.
“Then now’s the time to find out.”
“Aidan, this is absurd.”
He sighed in exasperation. “For once, Anne, can you do as I ask without argument?”
His words jabbed her conscience. If he wanted his hair cut before she left,