His Stolen Bride (Stolen Brides Series Book 0) by Thacker Shelly

Author:Thacker, Shelly [Thacker, Shelly]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Summit Avenue Books
Published: 2015-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The sanctuary lay a few hours’ ride north of the border. It was no more than a single chamber, hidden behind the ruin of a church, carved out of the rocky side of a large hill. It had been there for more than a century. After sheltering the horses in a corner of the ruin, Darach carried Laurien inside.

He and Malcolm had stocked the hiding place with supplies before leaving for France. They had known that once they returned to Scotland, one of them would have to ride on to the village of Kincardine, the Scottish patriots’ secret headquarters, to ensure that all was well before bringing the demoiselle there.

He gently laid her on the furs before the hearth, removed her torn gown, and covered her in warm blankets. Stripping off his own sodden garments, he started a fire, then wrapped a plaide around his waist, a long length of woolen fabric, woven in a pattern of crossed stripes. He secured it with his belt.

Rain kept up a steady patter, accompanied by the occasional sound of thunder advancing like a charging army and retreating before the wind. He stoked the flames until they blazed, and sat beside Laurien, brushing her damp hair back from her face.

He felt like the lowest sort of knave. Damn him to the furthest corner of hell, he fully deserved her fury, after the way he had treated her. Had he been thinking clearly, he would have realized that she would never give herself to the Englishman.

But he had not been thinking clearly. When he had seen her in the bastard’s arms, allowing his kiss, touching him… A thighearna, the sight of his woman with another man—

His?

Aye, he admitted to himself. He had started to think of her as his. And not only because of his need to protect her, or the admiration that he felt for her strength and her intelligence, or even desire. This feeling was stronger than all of them, and entirely new.

He stroked her cheek. The ruse with the drugged wine had been both clever and brave. Once more, she could have gained her freedom—the one thing she wanted most in the world—but she had sacrificed it to help another.

To help him.

And instead of showing gratitude, he had treated her coldly, harshly.

Cursing himself, he edged closer to the fire and eased her into his arms, holding her while she slept.

He was unaccustomed to voicing his feelings… especially to a woman. But he wished, not for the first time of late, that he had more skill with words.

He rested his cheek against the top of her head, his throat feeling tight.

“Welcome to Scotland, milady,” he whispered.

~ ~ ~

Slowly, Laurien floated upward out of the darkness fogging her senses. As she came to awareness, the first thing she realized was that she felt warm, and safe.

The second was that she was naked… and wrapped in Darach’s arms.

She opened her eyes with a start to find herself covered in blankets, curled up against his chest, her head nestled beneath his chin.

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