Highland Scoundrel (Campbell Trilogy #3)(114)
A tear ran down her cheek. Her heart squeezed. He doesn't mean it—no matter how convincing he sounded. But the look on his face last night when she'd told him about Dougall was still too fresh in her mind.
Colin started to order his men to take the prisoners to the birlinn. Slowly, Leif backed them away to the safety of the inn's stables. “He's trying to keep you safe, lass.”
Jeannie sniffled and nodded. “I know.” I hope. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. She couldn't think of this now. Later her heart could break, right now she needed to help him. “We have to get to Inveraray before they do. Argyll will kill him. What are we going to do?”
The fearsome Norseman smiled—really smiled this time. It might have been more blood-chilling than his frown. “Beat them,” he said. Her surprise must have shown. “We aren't just infamous for murdering and pillaging, you know. No one can best a Norseman on the water.”
Jeannie didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified. Murdering and pillaging, good God!
Chapter 23
Duncan breathed easier when Colin's men returned from Dunyvaig Castle empty-handed. Lady MacDonald claimed that Jeannie had left the island first thing this morning. Whether it was true, Duncan didn't know, but he wanted her as far away from his brother as possible.
He allowed himself to be loaded onto the birlinn, trying to put aside his fear for Jeannie. He knew it was far safer for them both if he left the island without her. He didn't think Colin had completely believed his avowal of indifference and he didn't want to put it to the test. If she wasn't with them, Colin couldn't try to use her against him. Moreover, it might not be necessary to escape, but if it was, Jeannie's presence would make it a much more difficult proposition.
Still, the thought of leaving her went against every protective bone in his body.
She'll be fine, he told himself. If she'd gone to the castle, Leif would have seen her. And the Norseman would protect her with his life.
But why had she gone to the castle?
The thought that she might have left him as Colin had suggested, or turned him in as he'd asserted, had entered his mind for a fraction of an instant, but he'd never truly considered it. Whatever reason she'd had to return to Dunyvaig, he knew it wasn't that. She loved him. She would never have told him about Dougall if she didn't trust him completely.
And he trusted her. He knew it with a certainty that defied explanation. He could be looking at a mountain of evidence against her and still he wouldn't believe it. He didn't know what had changed, what had caused his trust not to waver, but it didn't. Not a hair.
He supposed he had Colin to thank for giving him the clarity he'd sought. When he'd heard the woman's scream everything had crystallized. He'd been angry at Jeannie for not telling him about Dougall, but the real source of his fury had been directed at himself. He was to blame for leaving her alone and with child. His lack of trust had cost him not just the woman he'd loved, but his son. It was a mistake that he would never be able to rectify, but he swore he would do everything he could to try.
He thought back to last night, regretting more than ever what had happened. He should have been falling to his knees, begging her forgiveness, and instead he'd walked out on her and threatened to destroy all she'd done to protect their son.
He supposed he wouldn't blame her if she had left.
But he swore he would make it up to her—if he had the chance.
Wisely, Colin had separated him from his men. But Duncan wasn't interested in escaping—not yet. Not until he had a chance to question his brother. Colin, however, did not seem eager to renew their bonds of brotherhood and had situated himself well away from Duncan on the boat. He'd have to wait until they landed at Tarbert. From there they would carry the birlinns (Colin's second boat had joined them as soon as they'd left the harbor) across the narrow one mile long slice of land that joined Kintyre and Knapdale to Loch Fyne which would take them north to Inveraray.
On the boat, Duncan took the opportunity to watch his brother's interactions with his men, and what he saw bothered him. Colin was quick to temper and hard of fist. There was little talking amongst the men, and none at all with Colin. The lack of conviviality didn't seem to bother his brother. In fact, he seemed to relish the detachment provided by his position as chieftain.
The wind was against them as they sailed north around the Isle of Gigha and the men took to the oars. The skies had darkened and the wind was cold and damp with the coming storm. The high, choppy seas made for perilous travel and Duncan could only hope that Jeannie was safely tucked away in Dunyvaig.
As the weather worsened, so too did his brother's temper. Colin had never been much of a seafarer and the turbulent seas made him even less of one. His skin had taken on a distinct green tinge. By time they sailed into the harbor at west Tarbert, night had fallen and the rain drizzled through the soupy dark mist.
Not eager to take to the stormy seas in the dark, Colin ordered his men to arrange for horses. They would travel the remainder of the journey to Inveraray by land. If the weather did not worsen, they should reach the castle before midnight.
As his men were being unloaded from the boat, Duncan was able to exchange a quick glance with Conall, telling him to do nothing—not unless necessary.
It soon became apparent, however, that escape was exactly what his brother wanted him to do. Colin seemed to be giving him every opportunity. More than once in the confusion of the boats being unloaded and the men readying the horses for their journey, Duncan was left with only a single young clansman guarding him. The boy barely had whiskers on his chin. Duncan had to be at least a head taller and three stone worth of muscle heavier. He could have overpowered the lad with both his hands and feet tied together.