Page 108 of Captured by a Laird
He should lift his head off the table, but it was heavy, and he still suspected he was dreaming. But when he focused his eyes and saw fine lines of distress pinching her brows, he sat up. The abrupt movement gave him a blinding headache and roiling stomach, but he ignored them.
“What’s happened?” he asked. “Are my brothers safe?”
“They are. But David,” she said, her bottom lip quivering, “our girls are gone.”
David had been drinking for days, but he was suddenly stone cold sober. The image of Beatrix’s and Margaret’s sweet faces was as clear in his mind as if they stood before him.
“Sit down,” he said, taking Alison’s hand, “and tell me all ye know.”
“Flora woke to find them gone from their bed. She thought nothing of it at first, but when they missed breakfast, she went to look for them.”
“They must be somewhere in the castle,” he said.
“I had the entire household looking for them,” she said. “Will knows all their hiding places, but they were nowhere to be found.”
What mishap could have befallen them inside the castle? David’s heart lurched as he thought of the castle’s deep well.
“Then one of the guards found their pup barking outside the gate,” she said.
“Outside?” Good God, the lassies must have left the castle. The guards who let them pass would feel his wrath. “They couldn’t have gotten far on their own.”
“We called and looked for them,” she said, wringing her hands. “Others are still looking, but I came for you. I fear someone has kidnapped them from the castle.”
It was possible. The guards checked carts coming in, but not those going out. The pup must have followed the cart or horse with the lassies out, but he was too young to keep up for long.
“I am so sorry, love.” He enfolded Alison in his arms and kissed her hair. “I will get them back. No matter what it takes. If I have to move heaven and hell, I will get them back.”
“I know ye will,” she said. “But I’m so frightened.”
This time, she had sought his help, not her brothers’. He hoped he was worthy of her faith. She leaned back, and the warmth in her violet eyes made the ice around his heart melt.
“I intended to come for ye even before I knew the girls were missing,” she said, brushing her fingertips over his cheek. “I love ye, David Hume, and I want ye to come home.”
David pulled Alison against him and buried his face in her hair. With her in his arms, he was already home.
***
Patrick could not believe his luck.
“’Tis a pleasure to see you two lasses again,” he said, smiling down at them.
A couple of the Blackadder women Wedderburn had thrown out of the castle were in the village, probably asking for handouts, when they saw this pair. They caught them and brought them straight to Patrick, expecting a reward.
“I can’t help but be curious. How did ye happen to be walking on the road from Blackadder Castle to the village all on your own?”
The two exchanged a look, and the older one shook her head.
“I asked ye a question.” The smaller one was already weeping, so he picked her up and gave her a shake. “Tell me.”
“Put my sister down and I’ll tell,” the older one said.
“See, I can be verra agreeable if ye do as I say.” He set the sniveling bairn on her feet, then sat down in the ornate chair that had belonged to his father and propped his feet up. “So, lassie, tell me the tale.”
“We sneaked out when the gates were opened for carts bringing supplies for the kitchens,” the older girl said. “It was early and still half dark, so no one saw us.”
Patrick threw back his head and laughed. After all the trouble Wedderburn had gone to, the pair of wee lassies had walked out the front gate on their own.
“Ach, I’d love to see Wedderburn’s face when he realizes he’s lost his heiresses.” Patrick had not been this amused since he watched his father thrashing on the floor. “Where in God’s name did ye think ye were going?”
