Chapter Ten

L izzie’s pink tongue darted out and wet her lips and he had to hold back the groan that had naught to do with his sore knuckles and everything to do with how he wanted to wrap her in his arms and capture her mouth in his.

The feeling he’d had when she called out as he scanned the woods earlier was one he did not want to experience ever again. The cretin that was aiming to strike Lizzie might live, but he didn’t deserve to.

Not after what he’d done.

He couldn’t stop stroking her cheek. The way she leaned into his fingers and closed her eyes had his cock stirring to life.

Dropping his hand he tamped his lust and pulled his other hand from her grasp.

“’Tis fine, Lass. ’Tis just a bruise. I’ve suffered much worse.”

Her brows furrowed at that, but she gave him a quick nod, and went back and settled beside Mary.

“What do we do now?”

His intuition had been right that something was amiss.

Both of the men were tied securely, and even when they woke up, they wouldn’t be able to free themselves. Once John returned with help, he would send the men back to alert the authorities.

It was just a matter of how long that would be. Mayhap he would get lucky and come across a well-stocked village that had an extra wheel to spare along with a few men. That would be the best scenario.

“Now we wait. We canna go anywhere with the carriage in its current state.”

“Do ye think there will be others?” she asked quietly.

She didn’t have to explain who she meant. She was worried that other men with ill intentions would try to attack them.

“Nay. Men like them dinna usually share the areas they control. I am certain we are safe.”

“What if they awaken? They will attack again, aye?”

He shook his head. “They are’na getting out of the ties that bind them to those trees. They will still be there when authorities come to collect them later.”

She nodded and clasped her hands in her lap.

Not kenning what else to say, he remained silent as he watched her. Mary wrapped her arms around Lizzie’s shoulders and the lass collapsed into them, a soft sob falling from her lips, piercing his heart.

He was telling the truth about them being safe.

But seeing how frightened she’d been tugged at him. Made him want to kiss all her worries away. Promise her that he would always protect her.

All the while, that little voice niggled in his head. Reminding him she was a thief. He was just doing a job.

Minutes ticked by, then hours, until finally they heard the sounds of hooves pounding on the road outside the carriage.

Lizzie sat up, her back rigid, eyes round in fear.

“Shhhh.” He held his finger to his lips.

A familiar whistle sounded, and he smiled. “’Tis John. Let us hope he brings help.” He patted her on the leg. “Stay put for now.”

Outside, on the road, John approached, followed by four burly men.

“My lord. As instructed, I’ve brought reinforcements.” The men dismounted, and a grunt from the trees had them shifting their sights to the woods.

“My lord? What has happened?”

“We were attacked. The ladies are fine,” he quickly added as John’s face grew dark with concern. “When ye return to town, ye will need to alert your authorities,” he said to the men there to help.

Two hours later, the carriage bounced along the rocky road, good as new. The men John had found were all farmers, used to tilling the land, hence their strength. They had made quick work of lifting the carriage out of the ditch and assisting with getting the wheel changed.

Before they left to return home, they gathered the attackers, securing them to their horses to bring them to town to face their punishment.

John explained the town was quite nice. The people kind. There was an inn that they could rest for the night. It wasn’t where they had originally planned to stop, but this delay had put them way behind schedule.

The women were quiet as they rode along. He thought Lizzie may have fallen asleep until he caught her eyes watching him.

Something had changed between them. He couldn’t explain it.

The carriage slowed before rocking to a halt and John swung open the door, announcing their arrival.

He looked out the door. They were stopped in front of a whitewashed stone building. Atop the door, a wrought iron sign with the letters INN swung to and fro in the wind.

Inside, Lizzie and Mary hung back as he spoke with the innkeeper, who, unfortunately, informed them he had only one room available.

Gazing out the window at the dark sky, he nodded, accepting the key. It was too late to push on, and the women had been through enough for one day.

And the horses needed rest.

Up the stairs, he pushed open the door, waiting for Lizzie and Mary to walk through before following them inside.

Lizzie cocked her head to the side, confused.

“There is only one room available.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he held his hand up.

“Dinna fash. I will sleep in the hall, ’tis no’ an issue. But I would like to clean up first. After ye both have had the chance to do so, of course.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“I’ll have hot water brought up. I’ll return after ye’ve had time to tend to your needs.”

With a bow, he backed out of the room, leaning on the door after he closed it. Thoughts of the lass bathing flooded his mind and he pushed off the door. Shaking his head to rid it of his errant thoughts.

As he tracked down a maid to request a tub of water, he still couldn’t rid his mind of the images running rampant through his head.

*

Lizzie groaned as she eased into the tub of hot water. The day had been filled with stress and as she soaked she felt her limbs loosen.

They’d been so taut. But that was no surprise considering all that had happened.

“How much longer do ye think we have until we arrive in Stonehaven?” she asked Mary as she passed Lizzie a soapy washcloth.

“I’ve no idea, Miss. I am certain Lord Kennedy can tell ye.”

“I fear he finds me naught but trouble, Mary. First, he thinks me a thief, then he has to save me from an actual thief.”

Mary giggled. “Och, I am no’ so sure he minds.”

Water sloshed over the edge as she sat up abruptly. “Whate’er do ye mean?”

Mary shrugged. “’Tis no’ my place to say, miss.”

“’Tis when I ask ye, Mary.”

She plucked the cloth from Lizzie’s hand and began to wash her back. “There is something about the way he looks at ye. I dinna think he truly believes ye are the prowler.”

Resting her hands on the sides of the tub, she rolled her head from side to side to ease some of the tightness there as Mary washed her back. “Mayhap no’. But I believe he still sees me as a nuisance.”

“Ye fash overmuch. He didna have to go to all this trouble to prove ye are’na the thief. There were other ways for him to do so. Nay, I think deep down he’s enjoying the time spent with ye.”

Lizzie scoffed as she leaned back in the tub. “He has a funny way of showing it.” She bit her lip and thought about the coming night. “I canna have him sleeping in the hall tonight. “’Tis bad enough he did last night when I was unawares. But now that I ken? I refuse to allow the earl to sleep on the floor in the hallway.”

“What do ye propose, then, miss?”

“He will have to sleep in here.” She nodded her head, mind made up.

“Miss?”

“I ken this trip has been unorthodox, but so far I have managed to ensure piety. I dinna ken how easy that will be if we share a room. ’Twould be most improper.”

“On the contrary, I think he believes he hasna ensured propriety. That ’twould be putting your honor and reputation in question. He doesna seem the type of man to do that.”

Mary held out a towel and Lizzie stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in its warmth. “Mayhap ye are right. I dinna ken what to think anymore. He confuses me. One minute he’s kind and caring, and the next he’s cool and dismissive.”

A knock at the door made her jump.

“Ladies?” Malcolm called from the other side. “May I enter?”

“Nay!” they both called out at the same time.

“Um, verra well. I shall return in a bit.”

“Come on, Miss. Let us get ye dressed before he returns,” Mary giggled. “We mustn’t make him wait twice. He is an earl after all.”

“Fine. But dinna forget, earl or no’, he is still my captor.”

Mary harrumphed as she laid a dress out on the bed. “Ye canna lie, miss. If he is your captor, then I am the queen.”

“Shush, Mary. Do ye think we would be on this journey on our own?”

“Nay.” She held up the dress for Lizzie to step into. “Howe’er, we would still be on our way back to Stonehaven, one way or another.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Why must ye always make sense?”

“Sit, and I’ll brush out your hair.” She pointed to the chair and Lizzie obeyed. “’Tis a tangled mess after the trials of the day.”

Lizzie watched Mary through the reflection of the looking glass as she brushed then braided her hair before finally twisting it onto a knot at her nape.

She handed her maid pins one by one as she secured the bun, ensuring it would stay in place.

“There, ye are all set.”

“What of ye?”

“Och, dinna fash about me. When ye and Lord Kennedy go down to sup, I will go with the other servants and clean up then.”

She felt a bit guilty that Mary couldn’t enjoy the same comforts she did.

But before she could think on it any longer, Malcolm knocked asking for entry.

His huge frame seemed to take up all the space in the room as he stood there. For a moment he said naught. Just looked at her as if he wanted to devour her and she couldn’t help the shiver that crept up her spine.

He cleared his throat and looked away.

“Ye look lovely, Lass.”

She curtsied in thanks. She grabbed Mary’s hand. “We will go downstairs and await ye there.”

“I shan’t be long.”

Nodding, she didn’t say a word as they left the room and Mary closed the door shut behind them.

“That look was pure lust if I’ve e’er seen it,” Mary whispered.

“Hush, Mary! Dinna say such things,” Lizzie snapped. But inside, deep inside her belly, was a warm sensation she couldn’t ignore.

It only happened when the earl was near. Her skin heated as if it were on fire and her stomach knotted. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat when Malcolm finished washing up.

Hopefully her stomach had time to calm before he joined them. As they waited, they sat and sipped tea.

A lass, appearing to be about Lizzie’s age, smiled and waved her over. Not wanting to be rude, Lizzie picked up her tea and saucer and walked over.

“I’m Rosalie. Ye look a wee bit lonely and thought I’d offer companionship. Are ye waiting for someone?” She pointed to the chair across from her. “Please, sit.”

Lizzie slipped into the chair. “Lizzie. ’Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Mary stayed behind standing near the wall.

“Is she your attendant?” Rosalie asked, dipping her head to Mary.

“Aye.”

“She can join mine to sup. She’s with the other’s near the kitchen.”

Mary gave a curtsy. “Aye, miss. I shall do that. If ye need anything, please call for me.”

Lizzie watched her walk out of the room and disappear down the hall.

“Where are ye traveling from?” Rosalie asked, her eyes darting toward the door.

“Stonehaven. I’m returning home from a brief trip to Twynholm.”

“Is that so? How did ye like it?”

“Pardon?”

“Twynholm. Did ye enjoy it?”

“Oh, well, I wasna there verra long. I just attended a party of a family friend.”

Lizzie couldn’t explain why, but the woman made her uneasy. The conversation, whilst could be considered small talk, seemed a bit intrusive.

“I am making my way back to Edinburgh.”

“That’s nice,” Lizzie said, unsure of what she was supposed to say.

She wished Malcolm would hurry up and save her from whatever this was.

Her prayers were answered when a few moments later, cleaned up from their travels, dressed in clean breeches, shiny black boots, a white linen shirt, and black waistcoat, Malcolm entered through the door. His eyes searching the room, until they landed on her and he smiled.

His honey hair was still damp, and even though it was short, it had a slight wave to it.

“Well, what have we here?” Rosalie commented as she watched Malcolm approach, licking her lips.

Lizzie looked at her at first mortified, but that was quickly replaced with fast rising anger. Or was it jealousy?

What did she have to be jealous about? Her captor catching the attention of a stranger?

“Ladies,” Malcolm drawled as he approached.

“Hello, Sir,” Rosalie drawled as she held her hand out.

Malcolm dipped and kissed it, and Lizzie scoffed, rolling her eyes.

He had never kissed her hand in greeting. Granted, she had never offered, but that was beside the point.

“Miss Barclay,” Malcolm addressed her, remembering their previous conversation about putting up the correct front in public. “Are ye ready to eat?”

Rosalie cleared her throat. “I believe introductions are in order, are they no’?”

Lizzie bit the inside of her cheek to stop her from saying something snide that she would regret. She took a deep breath and smiled.

“Of course, where are my manners? Lord Kennedy, this is Rosalie. I apologize, I didna get your last name.”

Rosalie waved her hand in the air, dismissing Lizzie’s inquiry. “Lord Kennedy? Well, ’tis a pleasure to meet ye, sir.” She stood and dipped into a curtsy, pushing forward so that her breasts drew attention.

Or at least that was her attempt. Instead, Malcolm cleared his throat and offered his hand to Lizzie. “I fear I am famished after our travels today. I am certain ye are as well.”

She nodded and stood, letting him pull her away from the table.

Rosalie sputtered, and Lizzie was pretty sure she would have stomped her foot on the ground if she wouldn’t look like a child having a tantrum.

Malcolm bent to her. “What was that all about?” he asked near her ear, his breath fanning her face.

Lizzie shrugged. “I honestly canna say. That was truly the oddest conversation I have e’er had.”

He pulled out a chair for her and she took a seat.

He settled across from her, unfolding the napkin and placing it on his lap. “Where is Mary?”

“She’s with the other servants, washing up and supping.”

Nodding, he looked over at the table where Rosalie had sat back down. She was currently shooting them a glare that Lizzie did not understand.

“I dinna ken what is wrong with her.” His brow wrinkled. “What was her name?”

“Rosalie.”

“Aye, I dinna ken what her issue is.”

“I think that is clear. Look at the way she keeps looking over here.”

He grunted in disinterest.

And a little spark of hope ignited in her chest.

“She is looking in the wrong place for whatever she is searching for.” He asked for a whisky from a passing server. “I’ve no need to look anywhere else.”