Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(60)

“I will not,” she assured him. “I will never leave my husband to answer for my cursed lot in life.”

Diocail offered her a slight curving of his lips before the large doors opened again. There was the pounding of a staff against the stone floor before the herald cried out.

“Diocail Gordon.”

“Wait.” She reached for his arm. “Where is Rolfe?”

Diocail sent her a hard look. “If he did nae come back through those doors, lass, he’s likely on his way to the dungeon.”

She stiffened and felt Diocail grasp her forearm. “Do nae rush in. Let us see what Morton is planning first.”

The herald was looking at Diocail, and Adwin was trying to decide why he was hesitating. She didn’t duck her chin fast enough, and Rolfe’s captain recognized her. There was a flash of fury before Diocail pulled her along with him and left her in the captain’s care.

“I’ll see what news there is of yer master.”

Adwin gave Diocail a brief nod before he clamped his hand around Katherine’s wrist and pulled her into a passageway.

“Are ye daft?”

He bit back the word woman.

“Determined,” she answered in a whisper. “I will not let Rolfe suffer for me.”

“He’ll no’ like hearing that ye are here.”

“Of course not,” she agreed, causing Adwin to lower his brows in vexation. “You both know I am not submissive or obedient.”

Adwin snorted in response.

“So it should not shock you to find I am here,” she said. “And I will give myself up to save Rolfe. It’s my cursed lot.”

Adwin looked around to see the other McTavish retainers had followed them. They were glaring at her in disapproval until she finished. She wouldn’t say they gave her their full approval, but their expressions eased as her words hit them.

“There might be another way,” Adwin said as he held tight to her arm. “I can nae in good faith allow ye to step into harm’s way.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” she reminded him.

Adwin merely grunted and cast her a stubborn look.

Katherine reached out and grabbed his jerkin. “I am a hellion, and I will not allow Rolfe to shield me from my fate.”

Adwin’s eyes twinkled with admiration for just a moment. But they were distracted by the huge doors opening again. Diocail and his two senior captains came striding out as the herald called another name.

Diocail strode past them without stopping. He sent a swift look toward Adwin that had the man following a few moments later.

“Release me,” Katherine hissed at the captain, who was still holding her arm. “Or it will be whispered that you prefer boys in your bed.”

Adwin responded instantly, but he glared at her. “Stay right beside me, gilly.”

He stressed the word gilly, making sure she understood she’d better act the part of his apprentice servant or he’d suffer the rumors. It was enough of a reprieve. She fell into step behind him, tucking her chin as she became just another of the McTavish retainers. It was a skill she’d been perfecting for years on MacPherson land.

Of course, she’d never thought she’d have so much to lose if she failed to dupe those around her.

“He’s in chains.” Diocail was waiting behind a huge stone pillar in the outer entryway. “Morton took a great deal of delight in telling me all about what happens to Highland lairds who do nae give obedience to him.”

“His fate?” Katherine asked.

“Undecided,” was the hushed response. “I’m forbidden to leave until the matter is settled.” He sent her a hard look. “I believe the earl wants to make an impression on me to carry home to the Highlands.”

Her belly knotted in response. Diocail reached past Adwin and grasped her arm because the blood was draining from her face. She drew in a deep breath and ordered herself to remain strong.

She was a hellion, not some damned weak-kneed girl.

“Go…” She had to roll her lips in because they were suddenly dry. “Go and tell Morton…Rolfe was just attempting to best him. That I am here.”

Adwin had crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe it will come to that. Maybe no’. For the moment, we need to strengthen our position.”

“Which means we’re no’ giving up our one advantage,” Diocail added.

The men around her grinned. She knew the look, had seen it plenty of times when they were raiding one another and trying to best each other.

“This is not about a few cows,” she argued.

“The earl sees ye as little more than a fine one,” Diocail corrected her. “We’d be fools to hand ye over, trusting in his mercy.”

“He doesn’t have any,” she was forced to admit.

“Exactly, lass,” Adwin said. “So we’ll have to see who is here to aid us, since Marcus dares not show his face.”

“Gordon and McTavish working together,” Adwin said. “The earl might approve, if we were nae intent on defeating him.”

There was a soft round of chuckles in response. Katherine would have liked to join in, but she was too busy fending off the dread trying to smother her hope.

She had to keep it alive, had to find the way to free Rolfe.