The Hunter (Highland Guard #7)(43)

“Why do you have to be so unreasonable!”

She looked so infuriated, he nearly laughed. Fearing a full-fledged rebellion and wanting to avoid having to drag her back, he said, “We have a ship at the coast in Ayr. If the king agrees to let you return, you can be back in ten days or so.”

She looked uncertain. “Ten days? You are sure? I have to be back by St. Drostan’s Day.”

He shrugged. It was feasible. Not that he thought she’d be in the position to find out, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her that. If she wanted to think she’d be permitted to return to Roxburgh, that was fine by him. As soon as he returned her to Dunstaffnage, she was Bruce’s problem. And Stewart’s, he reminded himself, his teeth gnashing together so hard his jaw hurt.

It’s up to you. Keep your head down, do your job, don’t do anything to anger the king. That was all he had to do. Simple. He couldn’t let her make it complicated.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you not telling me?”

He gritted his teeth. “Look, my lady, my job is to bring you back. A job I have every intention of fulfilling. But how I do that is up to you. We can make this as difficult or as easy as you want. The king has given you a direct order to leave the Borders and appear before him at Dunstaffnage. Refuse and you aren’t defying me, you’re defying the king.”

“Eleanor!”

Her head turned toward the sound of the cry, and then back to him. “They’re looking for me.”

She would have moved toward the voice, but he clasped her arm. “So what’s it to be, Eleanor?”

Her mouth pursed with annoyance. “What choice have you left me? I will go, but I can’t just disappear without word. Give me an hour and then come for me at the priory. I will say you are my brother come to fetch me home for an emergency.”

He nodded. They wouldn’t be able to leave until it was dark anyway.

“I’m here, Sister!” she yelled back, starting around the building.

“Janet.”

She turned, her big sea-green eyes looking up at him expectantly. “Don’t make me come after you.” He’d meant it as a warning, but his voice sounded oddly gruff.

Their eyes held for a long moment, almost as if she were waiting for him to say more. But he couldn’t.

Finally, she gave him a short nod, and then she was gone.

Ten

Janet was furious. Leaving now was a mistake. What if it took too long? What if her informant came to her with something important, and she wasn’t here?

If Ewen would just listen to her. But the man was utterly impervious to reason! She might as well have been trying to bend iron or dent stone. He had to be the most infuriating man she’d ever met.

All these months. All the time she’d wasted wondering about him. Thinking about him. She must have been daft.

In her memories—all right, in her fantasies—Janet had forgotten just how unreasonable Ewen Lamont could be. How could she have thought there could ever be something between them? The man was perfectly immovable. Utterly recalcitrant. Rigid and uncompromising. Who cared if he could take her breath away with his kiss and was so heart-stoppingly handsome that seeing him again after all this time made her knees turn to jelly? She could never care about someone so totally unreasonable and indifferent to her wishes.

Talking with him was an exercise in frustration.

But it was also exhilarating.

Janet’s heart was still beating hard as she stomped her way up the hill to the priory with the other nuns.

Of course, he wasn’t here because he had feelings for her. How could she have been so foolish as to let herself be disappointed even for a moment? The only reason he was here was because the king had ordered him to come fetch her. He’d probably forgotten all about the kiss. He didn’t even seem to care that she’d lied to him about her identity. She’d thought he’d be furious to discover she wasn’t a nun.

Heaven’s gates, of all the time to start acting like a lovesick girl. He wasn’t the man for her. There wasn’t a man for her. She was going to be a nun, wasn’t she? Of course, she was. How could she have let him make her lose sight of her plans for even a minute?

“Is something wrong, Eleanor?”

It took Janet a moment to realize Beth was talking to her.

She smiled at the young novice, whose big, dark eyes reminded her so much of Sister Marguerite. “Nay, why do you ask?”

The girl looked puzzled. “You were muttering.” She blushed. “I thought I heard you say ‘stubborn oaf.’ ”

It was Janet’s turn for hot cheeks. “I was thinking about my brother. He’ll be here to fetch me soon. I’ve had some distressing news from home and must return to Cumberland for a few days. My mother is ill.”

Beth appeared so distressed, Janet almost reached out to offer her comfort. Lying was part of the job—and she was good at it—but recently it had begun to chafe.

“How horrible!” the girl said. “Is there anything I can do?”

Janet started to shake her head, but then she thought of something. “If anyone asks for me at the hospital, will you tell them I will return soon?”

Beth nodded solemnly. “The patients will miss you. As will I.”

Janet felt a soft tug in her chest. As with Sister Marguerite, it was hard to keep herself distant from the young novice. But as Sister Marguerite had proved, a connection with her could be dangerous. Janet almost regretted making the simple request of Beth, but just in case she took longer than expected, she wanted their informant to know she would be back.