IntoEternity

by Christina James

  “I had come to believe there was not a woman alive who could solve that riddle but you, Lady Gusty, have just proved me wrong. Clearly you are not only beautiful but intelligent as well. We shall wed at once. Aye, by the king’s command I will wed you, bed you and then get on with my life.”

  Before Gusty could stop him, he raised her hand to his lips and placed a sensuous kiss on her knuckles. A sparkle of humor filled his eyes as she gazed up at him, her cheeks hot at his unexpected attention. He settled his great arm around her shoulders and drew her tight to his side.

  “We will wed tomorrow at sunset, Augusta Sinclair.”

  At his loud announcement Gusty’s stomach clenched with dread. The great hall erupted in shouts as his clansmen voiced their obvious approval.

  “Now there you might have an itty bitty problem, Laird Ross.” She pinched the “mighty laird” in the side to get his attention.

  He glanced at her and she motioned him to lower his head so she could have his ear to speak.

  “I did not come here, my laird, of my own free will,” she told him, raising her voice to be heard above the clamor that still filled the hall. “I cannot be part of your bride competition. My grandfather has misled you if you think I am free to wed you. I am not. Though I am honored you would consider me for the position, I already have a husband. I am sorry but I cannot marry you.”

  “You are married?”

  “Yes. Something MacKay obviously forgot to mention when he gave me to you.”

  “Aye. He did neglect to relate that bit of information.”

  “Then you will let me go home?”

  “Aye of course, sweet lady, I would not think to hold you against your will.”

  “Then please lend me a horse and I will be on my way in the morning.”

  “I am afraid that is impossible. You will have to wait until I have time to take you back to this husband of yours. What kind of man would I be if I sent a woman off alone without escort? These lands are full of dangers you wouldn’t even want to imagine. It would not be safe and I would be decreed the vilest heathen in the Highlands if I let you go unescorted. The king would probably mandate something far worse than foisting a wife on me as my due punishment.”

  “If you send a couple of men with me and that nice maid Mairi, I will be just fine.”

  He arched a brow. “You will wait here at Ross Castle and I will send my best rider with a message to your husband. He will come here to escort you home.”

  “I don’t know if that is such a good idea. My husband is a very busy man and I don’t think he would be able to come.” She didn’t want Alexander walking into a death trap just to rescue her. She would just have to make it back to him on her own. Perhaps she could get one of the Sinclairs to take her to her grandfather’s holdings. MacKay could take her to Alexander.

  “I insist. It is the only way I am willing to let you go. Your husband must come to claim you from me in person. If he does not, you are mine.”

  “As you wish, Laird Ross.”

  She plastered a fake smile on her face, which seemed to placate him for the time being. He grinned at her and winked. The man was no lackwit. If he suspected she was hiding something from him, he would no doubt try to find out what it was.

  * * * * *

  “What have you done, you fool?”

  A very beautiful, very angry Brigitte Urquart stood over Bart Sutherland, prodding him in a very sensitive part of his anatomy with the sharp point of his own dagger. He had not expected to see her until he had returned to court and he would have welcomed her back into his bed. But at the moment she did not seem to be in the mood for a session of passionate sex. He inhaled sharply at the cruel look in her lovely eyes and the pain as the tip of the dagger pierced his tender flesh. Bart dared not move, barely dared to breathe. Angering her further would be like issuing an open invitation for a serious assault on his person. He needed to find out what had set her off, what he’d supposedly done to bring about her animosity.

  “W-what is it you think I have done, my love?” His hoarse whisper mirrored his paralyzing fear that this furious woman might castrate him.

  “I have never witnessed anything as idiotic as what you have done.” She pricked him a little harder and drops of blood flowed down his thigh.

  Bart sucked in his breath and beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead.

  “Tell me, my love. What have I done to displease you so?” he asked, his words no louder than a breath.

  “Think back, my love.” She mocked sweetly as she moved in a little closer, until they were nose to nose. “What did you do with the Sinclair girl, lackwit?”

  “I have done nothing, I swear it. She should be in the Ross’ hands by now.”

  “Ah.” She stood back up but didn’t release his manhood from imminent danger. “You even admit it to me. What made you think I would approve of your actions? Did I tell you to do anything?” She paused, her eyes narrowing until they glowed like twin fires.

  “Nay, my beauty, I was wrong. I should have sought your advice. I am sorry.”

  “You don’t even know what you are apologizing for, you fat toad.”

  “I admit I am a little puzzled. What did I do?” He moaned, afraid she really had gone mad and he would suffer the consequences for some imagined transgression.

  “Because of the anonymous information you sent to the MacKay, he kidnapped his granddaughter and took her to the Ross to offer her for his bride.”

  “Aye, I know. I heard she nearly slaughtered the MacKay’s men. It makes me wonder where she has been all these years to learn such coarse habits.”

  “Be silent, you fool. Your ignorance in these matters has brought this affair to the attention of Edgar himself.”

  Bart smiled at this bit of information. “Good! The king will see who he is dealing with.”

  “He is dealing with me, you fool. I do not need Edgar breathing down our necks while we are maneuvering to relieve him of a large part of his empire.”

  Realization dawned on Bart and he closed his eyes, praying his love did not take his life for his stupidity.

  “I will make retribution, sweet love. What do you what me to do?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Alexander aroused slowly, his head still woolly from lack of sleep. Six days had passed since he’d last had a decent night’s rest. He was so exhausted by the time he and his men had ridden through the gates the evening before that he had barely made it to his bed before collapsing. They’d had little sleep in the last few weeks, having bedded down on the ground wrapped in only their plaids around the small campfires they had dared to burn while roaming over enemy territory. It had taken them much longer than expected to find Duncan and haul his scrawny little arse back to Sutherland Keep.

  After blistering the boy’s ears for the stunt he had pulled, Alexander had ridden all the way home, ignoring his young cousin throughout the entire journey. When they had finally arrived he had not even had the strength to punish the lad. Until he regained his vigor and could deal with the boy, Alexander had Duncan escorted to his room and locked in. Duncan was fortunate that exhaustion kept Alexander from beating the boy’s little bottom. Alexander decided the lad could cool his heals under lock and key for a day or two. He had more important things on his mind today. Time to ride to the abbey and bring his Gusty home. With that thought in mind he rolled off his bed and made his way to the wash basin. After a quick cleansing and a sharp blade to shave off his beard he changed into a clean tunic and plaid, pulled on his boots and headed down to the hall to break his fast.

  “You are in an almighty hurry, Alex.” Davin’s voice was filled with humor.

  Alexander chugged a mug of ale in one long swallow then slammed the empty tankard on the table. “I have unfinished business to attend to, my friend. Something I have put off far too long.” He winked and grinned.

  Davin roared with laughter. “Feeling a little randy, are you? It might be time to go get your wife.” He turned to
address his men. “Saddle up! We go to bring Lady Sutherland home!”

  A cheer met this announcement and there was a mass migration toward the outside door of the hall.

  * * * * *

  Several hours later, Alexander’s mood had darkened. Upon his arrival at the abbey, Sister Margaret informed him that his wife had mysteriously disappeared.

  “What do you mean, she has disappeared? How could this happen?”

  His outraged bellow filled the courtyard. Nearby a group of nuns glanced his way, crossed themselves then took off running for the convent house. His men mumbled under their breath and took a few steps back.

  “Please calm down, Alexander.” Isabelle pleaded as she placed a small hand on his arm. “It does no good to shout at Sister Margaret or any of us. The fact is Augusta went off on a walk alone and she did not return. We have sent men to search along the trail up to the high meadow and through the forest but there has been no sign of her.”

  “On her own? Why did she not take an escort? She is your daughter! For God’s sake, woman, have you no more sense than to let her wander away unattended?”

  “Do not use that tone of voice on me, young man. I am not the one who left her here for the past few weeks. If you wanted to keep closer vigil on your woman, you should have taken her with you.”

  Her words stopped him in his tracks. She was right but his fear for Gusty made him lash out at everyone.

  “I apologize for my rudeness, Lady Isabelle. You are right. I should have taken her with me. It is a mistake I will not make again, I assure you. I promise I will do my best to find her and bring her back.” After I blister her round little arse. But he kept that thought to himself.

  “I know you will, Alexander. I know how much my daughter means to you. God keep you and my Augusta safe.”

  Alexander sent his men to question everyone who lived within the convent walls in an attempt to find a clue as to Gusty’s whereabouts. Out of the entire community only one person had noticed Gusty that afternoon. A young lad who had been carrying in firewood saw her walk out the front gate just before noon. Everyone else they questioned could not remember seeing her. She had simply walked out the gate and disappeared. They discovered no more than they already knew, except roughly when she had disappeared.

  Isabelle informed him she had already sent word to Malcolm Sinclair of his daughter’s disappearance and the great chieftain had arrived to organize a full-scale search. But as of yet no word had been sent of his success. So Alexander began his own search. With his men, he combed the wooded area around the lake and toward the east and the sea.

  After a fruitless two days of searching, Alexander began to wonder if maybe Gusty had decided to make her way back to the Sutherland holding on her own and had gotten lost on the way. He turned his search in that direction. But after spending a couple of long days looking in every ravine and gully, down creek beds and through hidden marshes, they still found nothing. Every day he sent messengers to the abbey to obtain news and to let Isabelle know how their search was progressing. Bedraggled, exhausted and defeated, they finally arrived at the keep.

  There, he found a messenger awaiting him.

  A messenger who wore Ross’ colors.

  “The bastard will tell us nothing.” Michael, the warrior left in charge while Alexander had gone out in search of Duncan, glared across the hall at the messenger who sat at the table eating and drinking. “I do not trust him. He is a Ross, after all. And we all know what scoundrels they are.”

  “The men are tired and hungry, see that they are fed and given plenty of ale. I will have a plate and a cup before I question him. See that no one disturbs him.”

  Alexander waved a hand and his tired men shuffled to the plank tables against the opposite wall. Servants brought out platters of food, along with skins of wine and pitchers of ale. Only the sound of men feeding filled the great hall. As Alexander ate in leisure he wondered what Donovan Ross wanted. They had not been on speaking terms for over two years, not since the Incident. That he would send his messenger now did pique Alexander’s curiosity mightily.

  Finally Alexander pushed back his trencher and signaled for the messenger to be brought to him. He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed, sipping his ale as he watched his guards drag the man across the room. Alexander wore a fierce frown and as the messenger was released to stand before him, the young man shuffled forward, sweat dripping from his brow, wringing his hands in obvious distress.

  “What is your name?”

  “I am called Cory MacGill, Laird. I am come from the Ross holding.”

  “Well, MacGill, what business has brought you to my gates?”

  “Laird Sutherland, I have come on a most urgent mission. I am dispatched from Lady Augusta Sinclair with a message for her husband. She is at the moment a guest of Laird Ross and he has given her leave to send a message. The lady was uncertain where I might find him and so I stopped by the abbey up the river thinking to find him there. But I was informed by Lady Isabelle MacKay that I would find Lady Augusta’s husband here at the Sutherland holding.” He paused a moment and glanced around nervously. “I do not mean to be so presumptuous as to question you about the man’s whereabouts. But if he does not come to fetch his lady within a fortnight, my Laird Ross means to keep her and wed her. The Lady Augusta gave me a personal message for her husband’s ears alone.” He swallowed hard and motioned with his hand. “If you would just point out the lady’s husband so I might deliver the message in private?”

  “Deliver your message, man. I have no secrets from my men.”

  “But, Laird Sutherland, the message is for Lady Augusta’s husband. I cannot in good faith give the message to anyone but him.”

  Alexander rose to his full height and he slammed his fist on the tabletop, rattling cups and platters, nearly splitting the wood. The messenger grew pale, and for a long moment the only sound in the room was the ominous creaking of the damaged planks.

  “I am Lady Augusta’s husband, you fool! Now let me hear the message!”

  “You? You are Lady Augusta’s husband? Oh dear Lord! This is not good, not good at all. I had no notion.”

  “What is the message, MacGill? I am growing impatient and when I am impatient I have a habit of breaking a few bones. Now speak!”

  “Aye, Laird Sutherland. Lady Augusta wished me to tell you that you are not to come for her. She has no wish to return to you.” He winced and took a step back as if he expected Alexander to attack.

  “She said that? You are sure those were her exact words?” he growled.

  “Aye, Laird, those were her exact words.” He reached into the pouch he had strapped to his waist and pulled out a small folded piece of leather. “She said so with tears in her lovely eyes and handed me this to give to you.” He set the leather package on the table and took a step back. “I await your reply, Laird Sutherland.”

  The messenger moved away from the table and took a seat near the roaring fire.

  Alexander stared down at the package without touching it. His mind was in turmoil at the words that had just been delivered so matter-of-factly.

  “I do not believe a word of it, Alex. Clearly the Ross means to taunt you.”

  At Davin’s words, Alexander looked over at the small man who had delivered the message that had been more painful than a sharpened dagger being thrust into his heart.

  “Lady Gusty would never leave you willingly. You know that.”

  But Alexander was not so sure. How much time had he actually spent with Augusta Sinclair? Did he know what she was really like? The only thing he knew for sure was that from the moment he had laid eyes on her, he wanted her. And when the chance presented itself he had taken her. Granted, he’d done so against her will but he had been arrogant enough to believe she would eventually come to accept him, and he hoped she would eventually come to love him. But now he began to think maybe he had made a mistake.

  Alexander fought to keep his face blank as he picked up the small leathe
r packet and slowly unfolded its wrappings. Inside he found a piece of Sutherland plaid—the piece of material he had used to bind Gusty’s wrist to his when they had handfasted. He laid the cloth across his palm and smoothed it out. A long, shuddering sigh escaped him as he stared down at the embroidered letters neatly sewn along the edge of the cloth.

  A. S. + A. S. Forever

  A furious grin split his face as he crushed the piece of plaid in his fist, raised his head and looked out over the somber faces of his men and servants.

  “I go to fetch Lady Augusta home!”

  A deafening roar of approval echoed off the walls.

  Alexander raised his hands and signaled for silence. After a moment his men quieted down.

  A movement near the door brought his attention to the Ross messenger, who’d apparently taken it into his head to make his escape. Davin signaled his men and the guards seized the messenger and hauled him away to become an unwilling guest of the Sutherland until he returned.

  “The Ross demands that Lady Augusta be fetched by her husband or he will not return her. I will take only a small force to retrieve her. Davin and Violet will accompany me into Ross Castle while the rest wait in the woods. We leave immediately.”

  “But the messenger said she did not want to come back. What of that?”

  Alexander opened his fist and held high the scrap of tartan.

  “This says she lies.”

  * * * * *

  After leaving his main force hidden in a small ravine a couple of miles from Ross Castle, Alexander and a small contingency, consisting of Davin, Violet and two other warriors, made their way through the rugged terrain that led up to the Ross’ holding. They were less than a mile from the keep when Alexander first became aware they were being followed. As they passed into a wooded copse, he decided to make a stand against a chance attack. The small closed area was a good place to hide and prepare a counterattack. He cursed himself for his failing instincts that had led them to this impasse in the first place. Throughout his entire life he had learned to make split-second decisions based solely on his gut feelings. He could count on one hand the number of times he had been wrong. But in this matter he had been caught completely off guard. He just hoped his men would not pay the price for his lack of attention while his mind had been on other things.