Chapter 27

I t was several hours past nightfall when Alex dismounted from his tired, sweating horse in the courtyard of Blackloch. The journey to Lochrose Castle and back had been long, but well worth it as far as he was concerned. Within a few short weeks, unless anything untoward occurred, he would truly be a free man.

He threw the reins to one of the young grooms who appeared, and with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, he headed for the Great Hall. Bandit bounded out from the stables, tail wagging madly, but he only gave the collie a quick pat. He couldn’t wait to hold Sarah in his arms again.

However, as soon as he pushed through the double oak doors, he sensed something was wrong. For one thing, the flickering light of the wall sconces and the blazing fire in the large stone fireplace revealed a long dark smear—perhaps blood—on the threshold.

When Dobson approached him from the shadows by the door, a grim expression on his face and a sword at his hip, panic flared.

“What’s going on?” Alex demanded. “Has someone been hurt?”

Dobson bowed. “I’m verra sorry, sir.” His gaze shifted to the back of the Hall and he added, “Isla had best explain.”

Isla? What the Devil was she doing here?

Sure enough, Isla was seated on a padded wooden bench beneath the display of mounted weapons at the back of the Hall. There was something white about her neck—good Lord, surely it wasn't a bandage?—and the way she sat that made the hairs rise on Alex’s nape. Her shoulders were hunched and her gaze touched everywhere but him. She had the look of someone who was defeated...and guilty.

“Where is Miss Lambert?” he demanded, glancing between Dobson and Isla. There was a snap in his voice but he couldn’t help it.

Dobson nodded his daughter’s way again. “Isla. Stand up, lass, and answer the master.”

“Tell me.” Alex approached the girl as she rose on shaky legs. “What’s happened?”

“’Tis all my fault,” whispered Isla and a tear slipped down her cheek. “MacLagan is grievously injured and...” She swallowed. “Miss Lambert… She’s gone.”

Alex grasped her by the upper arms. “What do you mean, Sarah’s gone? Gone where? What happened to MacLagan?”

Isla’s hand shook as she brushed another tear from her cheek. “I-I saw Lord Tay pass through Aberfeldy. And I...”

“You what?” A muscle twitched furiously in Alex’s jaw as he fought against the impulse to shake the information out of the girl. “What did you do?”

She swallowed again. “I went to him and told him Miss Lambert was here. At Blackloch.”

Alex’s next words snapped like a lash. “ What? Please, for the love of God, tell me you’re lying.”

Isla’s tears flowed in earnest now. “I know what I did was verra wrong, sir, but ye see, I love you and she’s a Sassenach. Ye deserve?—”

Alex shook his head as a great wave of horrified fury crashed through him. “Don’t tell me Lord Tay took her. Please don’t say that, Isla.”

The maid wrung her hands. “I’m sorry, but, aye…he did.”

Oh, dear God, no. My poor love.

Alex had to get her back.

He dropped his hands from Isla. He didn’t want to touch her anymore. “When? How?” he barked, not caring how angry he sounded.

“Early this afternoon,” answered Dobson. “Aileen, Miss Lambert, and MacLagan were on their way back from Kinloch. Isla stopped by here first, found out where they were by questioning one of the young chambermaids who didna ken any better, then she helped Tay waylay them in the Black Wood.”

Alex shot Isla a withering glare. The little turncoat. “Is Aileen all right?”

“Aye, sir,” answered Dobson. “Shaken but muckle well enough, thank God. MacLagan took a nasty shot courtesy of Lord Tay—a graze to the temple—and he’s a wee bit dazed, but he’ll live. Aileen’s tendin’ to him. Tay also held a dirk to Isla’s throat, to coerce Miss Lambert into going with him.”

Sweet Jesus. Tay was clearly unhinged. Terror twisted Alex’s guts, but he couldn’t give into the fear. He needed to keep a clear head in order to rescue Sarah. “Isla, do you know where Lord Tay was going to take Miss Lambert?”

“Back to Taymoor Castle, sir,” she whispered, her face ashen. “I think he still wishes to wed her. Verra much.”

“The problem is, Isla,” growled Alex, “I love her and want to marry her too. You knew that. And you had no right to interfere.”

With that, he spun on his heel, heading for the courtyard and the stables again. If he rode like the wind, he’d be at Taymoor in a matter of a few hours, perhaps even before midnight, to free Sarah from that cur’s filthy clutches. She was smart and courageous and capable, but even so, she must be petrified. And if the bastard had hurt her... Alex lengthened his stride.

“Sir!”

It was Isla. Alex paused at the door and shot her an icy glare. “What is it?” he ground out.

“I didna betray you. Lord Tay doesna ken who ye truly are, if ye take my meaning. I also made him swear no’ to hurt you.”

Alex shook his head in disgust. “Then you are just as foolish as you are selfish, Isla. The man is not to be trusted.”

The sharp clatter of horse’s hooves echoed off Blackloch’s stone walls, claiming Alex’s attention, and he spun around, heart pounding a ragged rhythm.

“Sarah!” Shock and joy reverberated through him at the sight of the woman he loved cantering up to Blackloch’s open door.

She reined in her shaking mare and he rushed to her, sweeping her off the saddle into his arms. As Sarah sagged against him, Alex hugged her with all his might.

He kissed her temple. “You got away. I just got back and Dobson told me everything.”

“Yes,” she murmured, her voice choked with tears and emotion. “I did.”

Alex drew back and framed her beautiful face with his hands. In the light emanating from the doorway, he could see she was pale, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed. But after an encounter with a mongrel like Tay, he couldn’t be certain. “I hate to ask, my love, but are you hurt?”

She offered a tremulous smile. “Only shaken and saddle-sore. I cannot say the same for Malcolm. I...I brained him with a brass candlestick and knocked him unconscious.”

Alex laughed, panic melting into a rough chuckle. “My clever brave lass. I shouldn’t say it, but I suppose all those times you thought about doing the same thing to me came in handy.”

“I suppose so,” she returned with a rueful smile. “Although the difference is, I never had to with you.”

Alex bent his head and claimed his beloved’s mouth in a brief ardent kiss. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered. “But I thank God you are mine.”

Tears suddenly filled Sarah’s eyes. “You shouldn’t though. Thank God, I mean.”

Alex frowned down at her as he brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “What’s wrong, my love?”

“I...” Sarah swallowed and a look of anguish washed over her face. “In the heat of the moment, when I was arguing with Malcolm, I let slip that I knew all about the terrible things he’d done in the past. And of course he worked out straightaway who you really are. I’m so, so sorry.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve betrayed you?—”

“Shhhh.” Alex pressed a finger to her lips. “It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”

Sarah shook her head. “But you’re in danger. I’ve put you in danger.”

“I’ve been in danger for years. It will be all right. Come.” Alex threaded his fingers through Sarah’s and tugged her into the Great Hall.

Once inside, he paused and spoke with Dobson to issue instructions that would increase security about the castle; the portcullis was to be lowered and he wanted a pair of armed guards posted at each entrance. Isla had disappeared from the Hall. Alex supposed she’d retired to her old room. But he didn’t want to think about her now.

He just needed to be with Sarah.

As soon as Alex took her hand, Sarah knew where they were headed—to his bedchamber—and she concurred with her whole heart. To have his hands on her, in her hair, cupping her breasts, to feel the warm rasp of his tongue plundering her mouth was exactly what she wanted too.

To feel loved and safe.

Cherished.

She’d given herself heart and soul to Alex—she’d give her life for Alex—and to feel that he needed her just as much as she needed him was intoxicating. Exhilarating.

The fact that Alex had immediately forgiven her for accidentally divulging his true identity to Malcolm spoke volumes about how he felt about her. If she’d ever doubted that Alex truly loved her, she didn’t now.

There was no holding back for either of them when the bedchamber door clicked shut. Impatient to touch his naked skin, Sarah tugged frantically at all the layers of Alex’s clothes, pushing off his navy-blue coat and tearing at the buttons of his waistcoat before ripping his shirt from his buckskin breeches.

Alex was possessed by the same sense of desperation. After yanking off his own shirt, he jerked the jacket of her riding habit open, scattering buttons. Her lace jabot and silk shirt quickly joined the pile of garments on the floor before he backed her toward the bed. All the while he devoured her mouth, his hot passionate kisses so long and so deep, Sarah was soon panting and quivering with need.

Pushing her down onto the bed, Alex deftly unlaced her stays before pulling her chemise down, exposing her breasts. He hovered above her on straightened arms, gaze searing as it traced over her body, making her nipples tighten to hard, aching points.

Sarah arched her back and gripped the tightly bunched muscles of his upper arms. “Kiss me,” she whispered. Desire had rendered her breathless and without shame.

“I want to look at you.” The dancing firelight threw Alex’s handsome features into sharp relief, highlighting his high cheekbones and strong jaw, his chiseled mouth. His gaze dipped to her breasts before returning to her face. “You are so beautiful.”

“So are you.” She splayed her hands against his hard pectoral muscles and reveled in the strong beat of his heart against her palm. “I don’t wish to spoil your perusal, but wouldn’t it be better if I had less clothing on? And you too, for that matter.”

He smiled his wolf’s smile. “Ah, you see, that’s my dilemma. I can’t decide whether I want to undress you to look my fill, slide my fingers underneath your skirts to see how wet you are for me, or use my mouth on you straightaway.”

“Oh.” Sarah bit her lip. Her lower belly ached with pulsing arousal at his wicked yet wholly welcome words. “My my, that is a dilemma. I suppose you could always put yourself inside me so you can take your pleasure too. But I’m sure you’ll let me know your decision soon enough.”

“Why don’t I show you?” He bestowed a swift yet searching kiss on her mouth, gently kissed the tip of each breast then slid off the bed. In the next moment, her skirts had been pushed up and his hands were on her thighs, gently nudging them apart.

Sarah closed her eyes then gasped as Alex blew across the damp furrow of her sex before spreading her apart. She was soaked with desire and her whole body burned as she waited for him to pleasure her.

Alex had turned her into a wanton. And she loved it.

When his tongue began to lave her intimate folds and the entrance to her sex, her fingers curled into the burgundy silk counterpane and she writhed, circling her hips, spreading herself wider. What Alex was doing felt glorious, but she needed more.

She reached past the voluminous folds of her wool skirts and petticoats to clutch his thick silky hair and he chuckled. “I know what you want,” he said, his warm breath tickling her inner thigh. “But all in good time, my sweet.”

Sarah lightly tugged on his hair again. “A good time would be right now, you cruel man,” she replied, voice husky with need.

“Cruel?” He flicked her most sensitive spot with the tip of his tongue then returned to teasing her inner thigh with whisper-soft kisses.

She mewled in frustration and with another soft laugh he capitulated, sliding two fingers inside her. At the same time he lightly suckled her throbbing peak.

Oh, sweet heaven. Oh, yes...

A moan tumbled from her and at last Alex applied himself to the task of ravishing her sex with the unfettered abandon she craved. His long fingers rhythmically stroked inside her and he gorged on her tight, throbbing bud, licking and sucking. As an exquisite coil of tension began to spiral tighter and tighter, Sarah’s blood raced, her heart pounded, her breath came in short, sharp pants. She writhed and thrashed and just when she thought she couldn’t bear a moment more of Alex’s sweet torture, pleasure took her. It rushed over and through her and she clung to Alex as the pulsating waves of bliss carried her away to paradise.

This is love. This is how things should be, she thought as she opened her eyes to find Alex staring down at her, his own gaze filled with burning adoration.

He’d released his manhood from his breeches, and with perfect precision, positioned himself at her entrance. On one smooth glide, he seated himself fully inside her.

Her inner muscles rippled, welcoming the powerful, rigid length of him and he groaned.

“Sweet Jesus, Sarah. You feel so good.”

She curled her hands around his granite-hard shoulders. “Love me, Alex.”

“Always.”

Alex bent his head and tenderly claimed Sarah’s mouth, hoping his kiss would clearly demonstrate all the love he felt for her, deep in his heart. She kissed him back, threading her fingers through his hair, pressing her naked breasts against his chest, stoking his need and setting every nerve alight until his entire body was ablaze with desire.

Sarah’s fresh need must have been acute too. Moaning into his mouth, she tilted her hips, rocking against him, and he was overwhelmed by the urge to move, to take his pleasure as she had invited him to earlier.

He sank into a slow, steady rhythm, sliding in and out of her with long, sure strokes, holding her gaze, loving her with his eyes. Even when he increased the tempo, thrusting harder and faster, steadily driving them both toward release, she kept up with him. She gripped his shoulders, her rhythmic pants and moans pure music to his ears.

When the warm sleek satin of Sarah’s inner passage clenched around him and she cried out, Alex knew she’d found ecstasy again. His heart swelled and his own orgasm began to gather, the pressure building deep in his spine and his balls. He pumped harder, his cock thickening, his blood pounding until he couldn’t hold back any longer. With a hoarse cry he let go and blinding pleasure crashed through him. His body quaking, his chest heaving, he collapsed onto Sarah, boneless with a satisfaction that bordered on profound.

Dear God, he was the most fortunate man alive to have Sarah. And to think she loved him back, that was the true miracle.

Reluctantly, he pulled away from his love. As much as he wanted to undress her slowly and make love to her again, they had to make plans for the morrow and the coming days. And they needed to use the bed for its second purpose and get some sleep.

He called for hot water and supper, and once they were washed and their hunger sated—Alex couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten—they snuggled together on the settee before the fire. Sarah, wearing his dark blue velvet banyan with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, looked utterly content as she leaned against his chest. With a sigh—he hardly wanted to dispel the peace surrounding them—he asked Sarah to go through the events of the afternoon and evening in greater detail so he could better assess the situation.

When she described how Tay had threatened to disfigure her, he tightened his grip on his tumbler of whisky so much, he was surprised the glass didn’t shatter in his hand. The fact that Sarah had been able to think so clearly and cleverly, then take decisive action to extricate herself from such a terrifying situation, made his chest swell with admiration.

Alex kissed the top of her head when she’d finished her tale. “We will need to leave Blackloch in the morning and make ourselves scarce for a little while, just to be safe.”

“I know I knocked Malcolm out, but I’m still worried about what he will do. He wants me back. And I’m sure he wants to punish you.”

“I agree, we do need to be careful. But I believe we are safe for tonight. And I have the support of the dragoon captain here. Malcolm cannot do much to hurt us at the moment.”

Sarah put down her hot chocolate and frowned. “But the dragoon captain doesn’t know you’re Alexander MacIvor. What if Malcolm goes to him come morning and tells him who you really are?”

“Ah, but you see Captain Hamilton does know who I am, my love. And he doesn’t care.”

“Is that part of your ‘arrangement’ with him?”

“More or less. As I mentioned, he’s very grateful that I’ve been working with him to end the lawlessness that had been plaguing Kinloch and the whole area. Tay would have to convince another dragoon commander much farther afield to come and arrest me. So, for tonight, I trust we are not in any danger. I’ll send word to Captain Hamilton at first light, letting him know he may receive a visit from the irate Earl of Tay.”

Sarah smiled and rested her head against his shoulder again. “That is a relief to know.” She curled her fingers around his. It was a simple gesture that spoke of how close they’d grown in such a short space of time. He put aside his whisky, intending to kiss her but she spoke again. “You haven’t told me how your visit to your friend went. You said he might be able to help you gain a royal pardon.”

Alex grimaced with guilt. “I’m sorry. In all the excitement of having you back here safe and sound, I have neglected to tell you the good news. I have the support of another nobleman, one who is highly connected, the Earl of Strathburn. I’ll be meeting with him and the Lord Advocate of Scotland in Edinburgh in just under a fortnight. All going well, I will be granted clemency.”

“You will?” Sarah turned in his arms. Her blue eyes were alight with hope, and her smile was the brightest he’d ever seen. “Why, that’s wonderful.”

“Aye, it is,” he murmured huskily. “Very soon you will be Sarah MacIvor, Lady Rannoch. And on that day, when I see you walking down the aisle, I will be the happiest man alive.”