Highland Devotion (The Band of Cousins Book 7)

by Keira Montclair

  Linet shook her head. “Nay, Gregor. I did. Go away.”

  She rubbed her nose and whispered, “We can never be.” And it was true. Because of what had happened to her, what had been done to her, it was unlikely any man would want to marry her. Still…how nice it had felt to step into his arms for a moment, to soak up a wee bit of his strength.

  She was losing hers.

  Linet made her choice and headed back into the building, her heart heavy with thoughts of brown eyes and warm lips.

  The memory of Gregor Ramsay would have to last for a lifetime.

  Chapter Ten

  When Linet arrived back at the manor home, she climbed up the stairs, still lacking the strength she had before she’d taken ill. Once in her chamber, she found the small sack of healer’s salves and potions she’d brought with her to Edinburgh, going through the bag and carefully cleaning it. Hopeful that by the end of the night, she’d be a healer again, she placed it back in her sack where she could reach it quickly.

  The door banged open, and Ivetta waltzed in as though she owned the chamber.

  Linet jumped to her feet, afraid to see what she was about. She hadn’t even spoken to the brute since the night they’d arrived.

  “Did you miss me, wench? Probably not, but in case you’re wondering why I didn’t keep my promise, ’tis because I didn’t need to.” The smug look on her face told Linet she wasn’t going to like whatever came next. “I just found out I’ll be fighting you this eve.”

  Linet gave her a puzzled look but said nothing, not wishing to aggravate her.

  Ivetta stepped close enough that Linet could smell her sour breath. “I’m going to kick your arse.” She chucked her under the chin, then left, laughing over her shoulder.

  Linet was furious. She’d had enough of being yanked around, ordered about, told what to wear, where to sleep, who to sleep with, and so many other things. Doing her best to embrace the fury rather than force it down as she usually did, she left the room and strode down the passageway, down the staircase in search of Sela. She was not in the main hall, nor in the kitchens, so she took her journey down the passageway with many doors on it, hoping to find someone she could speak with because the place seemed nearly empty.

  She strode past door after door, hoping to find out where Sela was but something stopped her at one particular door near the end of the passageway. Shouting voices carried through the thick wood of the door.

  Sela was arguing with a man, a familiar voice, but not one she recognized right away. She held her breath so she wouldn’t miss a word of their conversation.

  “Tender-hearted? What the hell do I care about tender hearts? She’ll fight because I tell her to.”

  “You don’t understand. If you wish to keep them around to fight and earn you coin, you must keep them from getting ill or injured. Leena is the best healer we’ve ever had. She’s not capable of fighting. If you put her against Ivetta, she’ll kill her and you’ll have no healer.”

  “What the hell does she do for them but sew up the ones who need it? I can do that. She’ll earn me coin like the rest of the lasses. Stop favoring her.”

  Linet gasped. Sela was actually standing up for her, defending her skills and her ability to heal the others.

  “She has the salves that keep the fever at bay. Otherwise, you’ll lose half of your fighters to poisons. You have to use her for that.”

  “Find out where she keeps this salve and I’ll take it. You’ll not change my mind, Sela. You are overstepping. Just because you handled female fighters in Inverness doesn’t mean you have a head for men’s business. Mind your tongue or I’ll send you to England.”

  Sela gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

  “You are easily replaced. Many of the lasses would love to have a chance to play your role. Don’t push me. Do as I ask.”

  “But you know what would happen to me if you sent me there for the wrong reasons,” Sela said, her voice breaking.

  Linet couldn’t help but wonder if the statuesque woman was actually close to crying.

  “’Tis not my concern. I’m willing to try the fighting because I’ve heard the wagering is good on women, but I’ll not have you trying to usurp my power here. Do as I say or face the consequences.”

  For so long, Linet had tried to be good. She’d stayed quiet, as she was told women should. She’d listened, even when the man speaking to her was wrong. She’d let him do with her as he liked, pushing down the rage, the hurt, the disquiet. She’d let the people around her convince her she wasn’t good enough for the love of a man as fine as Gregor Ramsay. But something inside Linet burst when she finally recognized the bastard’s voice.

  Earc. He was a Ramsay guard, or at least he had been, and now he thought he could threaten Sela and tell Linet and the others what to do?

  She threw the door open and slammed it closed behind her. Both faces turned toward her in shock.

  “You son of a bitch,” she shrieked, swearing for the first time in her life. “Earc, I recognized your voice. You’re supposed to be a Ramsay guard, you traitor. You think you’ll tell me what to do?” She glanced around her for a weapon and saw an array of goblets and daggers on a nearby table. Filled with rage, she grabbed whatever she could and flung it at him.

  She threw one object after another, some connecting with him, some missing him because he ducked. He barked out commands that she hated. “Guards! Remove this daft woman and tie her up.”

  Before they came in, she charged him, slapping, biting, and kicking everywhere she could. She must have caused him some pain because his yelling turned into bellows. She kicked him in his bollocks just before she was grabbed from behind.

  “You bitch! I’ll kill you for that.”

  Unfortunately for him, he wouldn’t be killing her right away. He was too busy writhing in pain. Men attacked her from behind, grabbing both of her arms and holding her down, though she kicked and spit at will, scratching one’s face and another’s arm. Her fury knew no bounds.

  It felt good.

  At one point, she glanced to the side and noticed Sela standing against the wall, her expression one of shock and something else—approval? Pride?

  By now, five guards had entered the room. They’d tied her up and thrown her into a chair, putting her below Earc, who’d fought his way back to his feet. His attempt at intimidation was slightly undermined by the way he covered his privates with his hands. From the look in his eyes, he was almost as angry as she was, but not quite.

  He shouted, “Silence!” and the chamber quieted immediately.

  First he pointed to Sela and said, “I’m sending you to England. You are banished. The man in charge of our operations can decide what to do with you. I told him ’twas foolish to allow a woman to run things.” Turning to one of the guards, he said, “Take her out of here. She’s allowed to get her things, but then you’re to take her straight to the Borderlands. He’ll decide what to do with her.”

  Earc waved his hand and Linet witnessed something she had not thought possible. Sela began to beg.

  “Please do not send me with a bad recommendation. You know what’s at stake for me, Earc. I’ll go, but just reassign me. Please do not banish me.”

  The fear in her face made Linet almost sick to her stomach. Sela took a step toward Earc, still begging, but he slapped her ruthlessly in the face. The emotion dropped from Sela’s face in an instant, her cold mask slipping back into place. She squared her shoulders. “Fine, but know that I will remember this, Earc.”

  She marched out the door without another glance at anyone inside, but the fear had not left her gaze. It told Linet there was much more going on in England than she cared to know. Who would a woman like Sela fear?

  But this wasn’t the time to worry about Sela. Once she left, Earc instructed four guards to escort her, then turned his full attention to Linet.

  The first thing he did was slap her across the face. “Do not ever dare to touch me again. Aye, I was a Ramsay guard. ‘Was’ is the
key word in this conversation. Now I am your boss, and I will run your life until my partner arrives. That starts this eve.” He nodded to two guards and said, “Take her into the chamber in the cellars. At dusk, have her escorted to the fighting area in the next building. Perhaps Sela was right about one thing. These lasses will put on quite a show for us.”

  Earc turned to smile at her, running his finger down her jaw. “You’re going to fight all night for me. Whatever happens, happens. If I’m lucky, you’ll be dead by the end. In fact, I might allow wagers for the lass most likely to be dead by night’s end.” He snickered. “Aye, what a great idea. You’ll win me tons of coins.”

  Linet spat at him.

  How had she made such a mistake?

  She knew how. Because her choices were all poor.

  The guards tugged on her, forcing her to hop along behind between them since her legs were tied together. When they arrived at the stairs, one of the men bent over and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder. She kicked fast and furious, but he slapped her backside with a laugh.

  The rage that had been unloosed within her still flowed freely.

  “You pig,” she said. “Have you no honor at all? You just beat women whenever it strikes you?”

  The brute laughed and said, “Aye. ’Tis exactly what I do.” All his friends laughed with him. When they reached the bottom, he tossed her onto a cot in the small room. He pointed to his peer, who grabbed a pitcher, bowl, and goblet, setting them all on the small table in the corner. A third brought in a pail and set it on the floor with a grin.

  “Mayhap I’ll come back and watch you use the bucket.” He winked and left the cell.

  The rest of the group left, shouting indecencies back at her, but she ignored them. At least Ivetta could not reach her here.

  The last thing she heard was, “We’ll be back to take you to your fight. Three hours, lass. Rest up.”

  Linet lowered her head to the pallet and sobbed.

  Her world had taken a sudden turn for the worst. She’d not only lost Gregor but she’d lost her protector.

  Why had she turned down Gregor’s offer when she’d wanted to do anything but?

  Something occurred to her. Gregor had never said why he was in Edinburgh, and if she were to guess, she’d wager he was still here. Was there any possible way she could free herself and search the burgh for him?

  She had to try. Sela was headed for England to meet with a man she feared so much, the mere mention of him had reduced her to begging. That man was Earc’s partner, a thought that frightened Linet more than anything.

  She had to find a way out.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gregor sat in their inn, fiddling with items on the table in front of him. Their chamber abovestairs was just large enough for the four of them to sleep, so they usually convened here in the main hall to chat. It was nearly always empty.

  That afternoon, he grappled with all that had transpired outside the dress shop. He’d failed Linet. He’d allowed his interest in her sway him, when he should have concentrated on convincing her to leave Sela. Clearly, she was not interested in him at all, although he could not say the same. He’d dreamed of her luscious lips all night long, dreamed of holding her close, her lavender scent enticing him.

  Connor sat across from him, giving instructions to the lads. “See what you can learn at the house where the ladies are. I want to know where Linet and Sela are staying, though I doubt they’re together. If you cannot find them there, then go to the house we were at before.”

  “The house with the whores?” Thorn asked innocently.

  Gregor asked, “Why does that term not bother anyone? Nay, not the house with whores. Go to the house in the middle of town that is home to mostly women.”

  Nari whispered to his friend, “He means the whorehouse, does he not, Thorn?”

  “Aye,” Thorn replied with a whisper. “But do not call it that.” They both turned back to Connor.

  “If you learn anything at all, come back and tell us right away,” Connor instructed, handing them each a coin. “For a meat pie. One each.”

  Gregor could almost see Thorn’s mouth watering. “My thanks. We’ll do just as you asked.”

  The two disappeared, and Gregor couldn’t help but smile as he stared after them. “If Loki could see those two, he’d have a laugh, would he not?”

  “Aye, he would.” Connor leaned back in his chair, then sat up and leaned forward. “We must talk about your experience. Why did you not bring her out anyway?”

  “Because she refused. It was an odd thing. We kissed, and I could feel her passion, then she suddenly shoved at me as if I were a villain. I don’t know what crossed her mind, but she told me to leave and that we could never be. How could I not do as she asked? I would never force myself on a lass.”

  “Nay, I’m not suggesting that. But you could have been more forceful. When someone is in the hands of those kinds of characters, they cannot think clearly. You should have brought her to a separate place, away from the women in the whorehouse. Then mayhap she would have come around.”

  The door opened to reveal two familiar faces. Their cousins Braden and Roddy stood outside, grinning at them. “Finally, we’ve found you.”

  Connor and Gregor jumped to their feet to greet them. “Braden, Roddy, so good to see you. We weren’t expecting you,” Connor said to his cousins.

  “Maggie thinks we may finally be close to ending this. We said we would help when the time came.”

  “And how is Maggie doing? They were in rough shape in Inverness, but I think she was worse off than Will,” Gregor said.

  “She’s better. Said to tell you they expect to arrive in another day or two. Her sire is keeping her back until he’s sure she is hale. They’ll bring many more guards.”

  Connor called for a serving lass to bring two more ales and some food. The four cousins settled in at the table, and Gregor had to admit he was pleased to see the reinforcements. It felt like they could accomplish more with greater numbers.

  “In fact,” Roddy said, “Maggie suspects we’ll be forced to split into two locations—one group in England and one here in Edinburgh.”

  Braden said, “And she also said the part of the Channel in England is not in London as they first suspected but in the Borderlands. They’ve moved already.”

  “Truly?” Connor asked, surprised. “’Tis not so far from here.”

  “Aye,” Roddy said. “We’re to work with you on finding out all we can about this group in the Borderlands. Gavin and Merewen are on their way with Maggie and Will, and they’ll help Gregor get Linet to safety. Maggie said she and Will would go wherever they are needed, probably here for now. What were you two discussing before we arrived? Looked to be serious.”

  Connor said, “’Twas most serious. Gregor spoke with Linet last eve, but she refused his help. I told him the next time he sees her, he should get her away from those people before he speaks with her. She won’t agree to anything he says with her bosses watching her every move.”

  “He’s right,” Braden said. “If I’d listened to Cairstine every time she’d tried to refuse my help, we’d have never married.”

  Gregor groaned. “Do not forget she refused her own sister’s offer of assistance in Inverness.”

  “True,” Connor said. “But this situation is entirely different. I don’t think they’ll be as free to move about here. This is a large operation and Inverness was a small branch, aye, but ’tis closer to the Channel headquarters.”

  “I think you need to go back,” Roddy said. “She’s not safe with those people.”

  “We’ll help you find her if you wish,” Braden offered.

  The serving lass had just set a platter of cheese and two bowls of stew in front of the men when the door flew open. The two young lads stood there, eyes wide, struggling to put their thoughts into words.

  “Thorn, what have you to tell us?” Connor nudged.

  Nari’s eyes lingered on the newcomers, a
s if he weren’t sure whether they could be trusted.

  “You can speak freely in front of them,” Gregor said. “These are our cousins, Braden and Roddy.” He pointed to each of them as he made the introductions. “Braden and Roddy, meet our squires, Nari and Thorn.” He shot them a look, silently promising to explain all later.

  “You’ll not believe it,” Nari said in a quick burst. “She…” He cut himself off and stared at his friend.

  Thorn finally explained what had upset them so. “Sela.”

  Connor stood up to move closer to the two lads. “What about her?”

  “She…they… She’s been banished. She did something they didn’t like, so they’re banishing her.”

  Thorn hopped from one foot to the other while Nari couldn’t stop bobbing his head. Gregor got up and ushered the boys over to two free stools. “Calm down, lads. We’ll get you some food—” he waved to the serving lass, “—then you can tell us all that transpired.”

  Nari took a deep breath and sat down, staring at Connor. “’Twas quite frightening to see. Sela was on horseback surrounded by a dozen guards. I’ve never seen that many around one prisoner.”

  Thorn shot Nari a scathing look. “Nari, there were only four guards. The other men on horseback were just following along to see what the group was about.”

  Nari stared at the floor sheepishly. “Oh, my apologies. I thought there were more.”

  Gregor asked, “How do you know she was a prisoner and she was not riding to some new location?”

  Nari replied, “They had her hands tied but left them loose enough for her to hold the reins. And you know how Sela looks frozen all the time?”

  Connor nodded. Gregor smirked at his description, though it was quite accurate.

  “She looked verra upset. Upset and furious.”

  Gregor leaned toward Nari, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Now this is verra important. Do you know where they were headed? Did you overhear anything at all?”

  “The Borderlands. ’Tis where the people following them said they were going. The guards never spoke, but other people were following them just to gawk at Sela. She cursed them all, but we ran away before she did it again,” Nari said. “I don’t wish to be cursed by the Ice Queen. Would she freeze me, too?”