The Clan MacDougall Series Read Free Page B

the ground and whisked down the hallway.
    Besieged with fear and pain, she could not cry out or struggle against the firm hold he had on her body. She could hear nothing but the blood rushing in her ears and the pounding of her heart. Freedom would not be hers this night. She could only pray that the person who held her would be merciful and kill her quickly.
    It was a familiar voice whispering in her ear as she was taken into the earl’s library.
    “Aishlinn! Please do not scream, do not let out a sound!” The voice was firm yet pleading. “I’m going to set you down but do not utter a word. If you scream out I’ll not be able to help you escape. Do you understand?”
    She thought she detected a slight note of fear in the man’s voice. She nodded her head in agreement as she tried to tamp down the wave of fear that was all consuming.
    Very slowly he set her on the floor and loosened his hold. She spun around to see who had grabbed her, but it was far too dark to see anything more than the black shadow. Aishlinn heard him step across the room and a moment later the sound of a candle being lit. Moments later the room was bathed in the soft light.
    It was Baltair who stood before her. But why? Why had he brought her here and why was he helping her? Uncertain if she should be fearful or relieved to see him, she stood still, holding her dress to her bosom, as she searched his eyes for any sign as to what his intentions might be.
    He looked clearly sorrowful, but Aishlinn could not begin to fathom why.
    “I am so sorry for what he has done to you,” he whispered. “I should never have taken you to him. It was fear for my own well-being that made me do it.”
    Baltair had not expected Aishlinn to fight as fiercely as she had. Baltair had remained outside the earl’s chamber room door after he had brought Aishlinn to him. He had worked for the earl for many years and knew all too well how he treated young women. When he realized that Aishlinn was not going to give in to the earl’s demands, no matter how harshly the earl made them, Baltair knew in his heart what he must do. He could not bear the thought of another young girl being killed.
    As fast as he could, he had left Aishlinn alone with the earl long enough to saddle a horse for her potential escape. He was both surprised and relieved to see her standing on the stairs when he returned. Baltair had grabbed her when he realized she was going to attempt to escape through the kitchens where people were still awake.
    “No one deserved what he did to you and it is my fault for it,” he told her, his voice solemn yet anxious. “I’ve a daughter about your age, Aishlinn. I’d never want her to go through what you did.”
    Seeing the guilt and sorrow in Baltair’s eyes, Aishlinn was fully prepared to thank him for helping her. He grabbed her hand and led her to the large fireplace before she could utter a word.
    “We must move quickly before anyone wakes,” he whispered. He drew back a large tapestry that hung on the wall next to the fireplace.
    “Say nothing,” he told her as he pulled her through a hidden doorway. “The sounds carry here.”
    Aishlinn had no choice but to follow him into the darkness. She stayed close, with one hand clinging to his, the other grasping firmly to the back of his coat.
    With each step, the pain in her ribs seemed to intensify, making it quite difficult to breathe. She pushed through the pain, for now she must concentrate on escape.
    Baltair led the way through a maze of corridors and tunnels that seemed to snake along endlessly. Aishlinn had no idea where he was leading her. She hoped the sound of her pounding heart would not echo through the hidden corridors. An eternity seemed to pass before they came upon a very narrow passage. It led through the thick walls of the castle and spilled out into the courtyard.
    Creeping quietly in the darkness, Baltair held a firm grip on Aishlinn’s hand. She wondered how Baltair was able to see