bloodline over the garrison walls in order to save his own sorry arse.” Toran faced her. “I hope ye know that I’ll no’ betray ye as my own blood has.”
Despite the men surrounding them on the wall, Jenny took her husband’s face between her hands, lifted on her toes, and pressed her mouth to his. For half a beat he was stiff against her, but then he softened, sliding his lips over hers.
“I love ye, Toran Fraser, my husband, and I trust ye. Know this.”
Toran’s blue gaze searched hers, finding what he needed, and he kissed her solidly once more. “I know it, my love, and I return your trust wholeheartedly.”
“Whether this is an ambush, a trick, or some other such wretched plan done up by my brother or your uncle, I will stand beside ye proudly.”
“’Tis I who stand proudly beside ye, lass,” he whispered.
“We willna be beaten.”
“Nay, never.”
“Ride with me.” She studied his face, taking in the look of pure adoration and admiration when he locked his gaze on her.
“Anywhere ye ask.”
Down in the bailey, their horses were already saddled and waiting. Jenny and Toran mounted, followed by dozens more of their men.
“We will stop the visitors in their tracks and see what it is they want. And if it is the prince, we shall return joyously and host our rightful sovereign for supper. Until then, ride hard, fight harder, return victorious, or die a glorious death.”
The men sent up a volley of cheers that echoed against the ancient stones of the castle and walls.
“We ride,” she bellowed and urged her horse into a gallop through the gates with Toran and Dirk by her side.
They flew over the moors, horns blaring, making the air sing with noise. They gained the attention of the approaching riders who halted their advance and waved the Stuart flag rather frantically in the air.
Jenny signaled her men to slow, for the closer they drew, the more she realized that it was in fact their prince at the head of the army.
Prince Charles himself waved at her, a smile of greeting on his lips. “Ah, Laird of Mackintosh, you must have seen our approach. I hope I can beg another night of your hospitality. But this time I have come bearing a gift I think you’ll be very pleased to receive.”
The prince swept his arm back, and his men parted to show her brother, tethered behind a horse, his proud gaze focused on her face, his teeth bared in a snarl.
Hamish.
Jenny’s mouth fell open in shock. How could it be? She didn’t know quite what to say. She blinked, trying to see if she was mistaken, perhaps even dreaming. For it had never once crossed her mind that her brother would be captured by Bonnie Prince Charlie. The other way around, aye, but this? Never in a million years.
“Hamish,” she breathed, her body stiffening all over. “Alas, it has come to this.”
“We caught him just north of here, skulking about,” Prince Charles said. “Perhaps he hoped to abduct me away from the might of the Mackintosh army. However, he was foolish to believe I’d let him take me.” The prince winked at her, and Jenny flushed.
“Aye, verra foolish.” When Jenny spoke, she kept her gaze directly on her brother. His chin went up a notch, defiant. “What is your plan with him?” she asked the prince.
“I’m glad you should ask, for I had hoped to parole this prisoner into your care.”
Jenny dismounted from her horse, approaching her brother with the same caution a child might approach a wild boar. Nerves flooded her limbs, making her gait bounce just slightly, her toes feeling a wee bit numb.
When she reached him, she stared up at his towering form, the rigidity in his posture, and wondered just what she was to do with her brother as her prisoner. Words were hard to form. Everything she wanted to say sounded stupid or contrite.
Jenny worked to make use of her dry tongue. She was laird now, her brother in chains. For more than two years she’d been tormented by the way he had turned traitor, fearing him as the nighttime demon that might come and attack her. She had nothing left to fear, for the demon had been brought to heel before her.
“Your servant, Captain.” The sarcasm of her chosen words and his title in the English king’s army was not lost on her brother.
“Nay, but I am your servant, Colonel Jenny, your prisoner.” There was a sneer in