The Hawk (Highland Guard #2)(76)

Why shouldn’t he be attracted to Ellie? So what if she didn’t have big br**sts and look as if she’d just alighted from Mount Olympus. Any fool could see how pretty she was, with her big green-flecked hazel eyes, tiny nose, and that smart little mouth of hers.

If that bastard had hurt her feelings, his royal connections weren’t going to save him. He glanced over at Ellie. From the sharp thrust of her chin and the two high spots of color on her cheeks, she’d obviously understood the implication—and, by the looks of it, was about to give Edward Bruce an earful.

Erik should have anticipated her reaction. Ellie did not base her worth—or anyone else’s—on physical beauty. It was one of the things he admired about her, and why her good opinion mattered.

But he didn’t want her near Edward Bruce any longer than was necessary. “You’re right,” he said, stepping between her and Edward. “Ellie is too unique to be compared to anyone else.”

He frowned, realizing he meant it.

Ellie was watching him with that too-observant look of hers that made him feel like fidgeting. Not wanting her to be confused by his words and jump to any erroneous conclusions, he went on the offensive. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s my fault,” Meg intervened. “I didn’t realize you were busy. We came down to collect the cooking pots.”

Erik was glad to see that Edward had realized—belatedly—that he shouldn’t have shown himself and had gone back into the cave.

Ellie watched him go, and something in her expression gave Erik a prickle of unease.

“I’ll have one of the men bring them up,” he said. He could see Meg was feeling bad for having interrupted them. It wasn’t her fault; he should have been more explicit in his orders. He wondered what had really brought them here. He didn’t believe they’d really come for cooking pots.

“It’s late,” he said. “Why don’t I walk you home.”

They both protested, but Erik would hear none of it. Meg might be used to walking along the cliffside at night, but Ellie wasn’t. When he thought of how easily she could have slipped or taken a misstep in the darkness, it made him angry all over again.

Just to make sure, he kept a firm hand on her arm as he walked them up the path. Ellie might be slim, but she sure did tuck in nicely against him.

Both women were unusually quiet, and no sooner had they walked through the door than Meg yawned dramatically and excused herself for bed.

Erik had the distinct feeling it was intentionally done to leave him alone with Ellie. But Ellie seemed unusually anxious. She took an inordinate amount of time removing her cloak, and then bustled around the room until she finally decided to warm her hands before the fire.

“Was there something you wanted, lass?”

“Nay,” she said quickly, then amended, “Yes.” She folded her hands in her skirts and turned to face him. “Your guests. Is that why you didn’t come tonight?”

Damn. He’d forgotten. Perhaps that wasn’t quite true. Randolph’s words were weighing on him more than he wanted to acknowledge. “Aye, I’m sorry,” he smiled, “but business before pleasure.”

His attempt at lightheartedness, however, was utterly undone by her next words. “You aren’t a pirate, you’re with Bruce. That’s why the English are after you.”

He laughed as if she’d just made a joke, though inside he was furious. She must have recognized Edward Bruce. “Still inventing noble activities for me, Ellie? I thought you were going to leave the tale-telling to me.”

“Don’t,” she said softly. “Don’t joke about something like this.” Her eyes fixed on his. “Don’t lie to me.”

He should. He should turn his back and walk away. It was already too complicated. But he couldn’t force his feet to move. He didn’t want to lie to her. “It’s safer for you if you don’t ask questions.”

“I don’t care about being safe. I want to know the truth. Why else would the king’s brother be here?”

“Damn it, Ellie, I care!” He dragged his fingers through his shorn hair, trying to get a rein on his frazzled emotions. Couldn’t she see that he was trying to protect her? “Do you know what they would do to you if they thought you knew anything? King Edward will stop at nothing to find Bruce. Do not let the fact that you are a woman make you think that you are safe.”

The vehemence of his reaction didn’t seem to have any effect on her. “The queen.” She stepped forward anxiously. “What news do you have of Queen Elizabeth?”

He frowned at the strange intensity of her question, until he recalled her position in Ulster’s household. “None since she parted from the king a few months ago.”

“I’ve heard rumors that she’s gone to Norway. To take refuge with Bruce’s sister, the queen.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know.”

He could see her disappointment and wondered if despite her position in Ulster’s household she was sympathetic to Bruce. With Bruce’s connections to Ireland, he would not be surprised. But it didn’t matter. Sympathetic or not, Erik had a price on his head and any connection with him was too dangerous.

“Why were you in the cave below Dunluce?” she asked.

“Ellie …” he warned.