Highlanders Read Free Page B

tossed from his shoulder. She cried out and tensed for impact with the stone floor, but bounced on a mattress.
    The bed’s thick canopy curtain closed behind her. Surprise immobilized her for an instant, then the tread of boots on stone penetrated her stupor. Rhoslyn scrambled to the edge of the bed and threw back the curtain. She drew a sharp breath at sight of her abductor’s broad shoulders. His large body had nearly crushed her, but seeing him, she now understood how he had dispatched her protectors so easily—and why St. Claire sent him. He was even larger than the Dragon was rumored to be. That didn’t mean she would allow him to leave her in the bed where her husband died.
    Rhoslyn leapt from the bed and stumbled before catching herself, then lunged toward the door. The knight reached it several long strides ahead of her and passed into the hall. He slammed the door shut behind him and she collided with the wood.

Chapter Two
    A hard rap on the solar door alerted Talbot to his captain’s return.
    “Enter.”
    Baxter D’Angers stepped into the room as Talbot splashed water on his face from the bowl on the table then grabbed a clean cloth to wipe his face.
    Baxter crossed to him. “I am gone three days and everything goes to hell. Alexander tells me your bride fled her convent.” His attention caught on the bloodied cloths scattered about the table, then his eyes shifted to the bandage Talbot had wrapped around his wrist. “What in God’s name happened?”
    “Lady Rhoslyn decided Melrose would make a better husband than me.”
    “Melrose?” Baxter blurted. “What the devil? He is a supporter of Balliol. Seward openly supports Bruce—perhaps even William Wallace, if gossip is to be believed. He cannot possibly want to ally himself with a Balliol supporter. Seward’s support of Bruce is one reason Edward chose her as your bride.”
    Talbot lifted a brow.
    “I am not an idiot. Even I can see the obvious.” Baxter shook his head. “Is Seward fool enough to defy Edward—or you—and think he can succeed?”
    “Had his granddaughter reached Longford Castle it would have been very possible. I understand the castle is well fortified and could likely survive a siege until Lady Rhoslyn bore him a child.”
    Baxter shook his head. “Kinsley is a fool. Edward’s edict cannot be disputed. You have even taken possession of this hellish place.”
    “Glenbarr Castle is no more hellish than Nightwell Hold.”
    “Nightwell Hold is in England,” Baxter replied. “I told you the old baron was not to be trusted. How did you know—”
    A knock at the door interrupted Baxter, and Talbot bid them enter.
    Thom, one of his men-at-arms, entered and stopped just inside the room. “Her men are on the way here, including her two escorts. Three died in the fray.”
    Talbot tossed the clean rag on the table. “Seward will have to explain to their wives why his treachery got them killed.”
    “We lost one of our own,” Thom said.
    Talbot cut his gaze to him. “Who?”
    “Valance.”
    Talbot wanted to find the old baron and beat him senseless. “Valance had a young wife. Seward will pension the widow.”
    “You might take it out of his granddaughter’s hide,” Baxter said in a rare flash of anger.
    Talbot was inclined to agree. “Inform me when the men arrive,” he ordered Thom.
    Thom nodded, then left.
    Baxter nodded at Talbot’s wound. “Which of his men wounded you?”
    Talbot gave a harsh laugh. “Not a one. It was the lady.”
    Baxter looked taken aback. “She was willing to go so far as kill you?”
    “Aye, and she came closer than I care to admit.”
    “A month chained in the dungeon will give her time to remember her wifely duties.”
    “She will be chained, but to me, not the dungeon. She is in my bedchambers awaiting the priest who will officiate the vows.”
    “Your bedchambers?” Baxter blurted.
    Talbot nodded. “I sent word that Seward can attend us this week—at his leisure—for the