Page 12 of Captured by a Laird
By his menacing stillness, she recognized him as the man on the black horse she had seen from the tower. This was the Beast of Wedderburn himself. Her heart beat so hard that the sound seemed to fill the room.
Dirks, a sword, and sundry weapons hung from leather belts and straps across his hips and chest. Unkempt hair of bronze and gold brushed impossibly broad shoulders that were covered in chain mail. What frightened her more than all his weapons were his fierce green eyes, which were fixed on her like a wolf that had found its prey.
Her daughters began to whimper behind her, and it tore at her heart.
“Stay back or I shall strike ye dead!” she shouted, holding the sword in front of her. She would die protecting them if she must.
“Drop the sword,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that reverberated in her belly and made her knees shake.
“Nay! I’ll not let ye touch us!”
“Drop itnow.”
His ferocious green eyes stole the breath right out of her. She could not speak, so she shook her head.
He moved so quickly that she did not know how it happened. And yet her hands were empty, and he held her sword at his side. He had disarmed her as easily as he had taken her castle.
He stood so close to her that the wall of his chest filled her vision. She felt the heat radiating from his body. Terror gripped her as she waited to find out what he would do next, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop him. Would he slice her in two with his ax as he had the door, or would he force her to the floor and rape her in front of her daughters?
Alison squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for a quick death.
***
David stared down at the lady of the castle, a wisp of a lass whose head did not even reach his chin.
He prided himself on how carefully he had planned each step to avenge his father and to protect his family and clan. Blackadder’s widow had always been the key. And yet he had never given the woman herself much thought. Belatedly, he realized he was wholly unprepared to deal with her.
Hell, he did not even know what to call her. Not “Blackadder’s widow.” Nay, he would not call her by his enemy’s name, as if the dead man still had a claim on her. He had heard her Christian name before. What was it? Alison? Aye, that was it. Lady Alison.
He should speak to her, tell her what her fate was to be. Before he could form the words, she tilted her head back and opened her eyes. He was struck dumb, lost in eyes the color of violets. He felt as if he’d stepped into a warm summer day. He could almost feel a light breeze on his face, hear the birds singing, and smell the wildflowers on the hillside.
Good God, was he going mad?
“Please,” she said in a choked voice. “Not in front of my daughters.”
Her words jarred him from his trance.Not in front of her daughters?Did she think he meant to harm her? God forbid, that he wouldrapeher?
He was insulted. While he had set out to create a fearsome reputation, he had never violated a woman, nor did he permit his men to do so. Yet this lass was clearly terrified of him. Her whole body was shaking.
He felt the need to reassure her. Instinctively, he lifted his hand to her cheek—and the lady crumpled at his feet.
Faith, what had he done? The two wee girls sprawled on the floor beside their mother in a feminine heap of ribbons, glossy black hair, and silk skirts. They were crying, reminding him again of mewling kittens.
“Hush,” he told them, and knelt to feel Lady Alison’s pulse. “She’s only fainted.”
Christ, he’d barely touched her. This did not bode well. What would he do with such a delicate creature?
He heard a cough behind him and turned to find several of his men hovering in the doorway. Did they think he could not manage a senseless woman and two bairns alone?
“Secure the rest of the castle,” he ordered them.
When he turned around again, the older of the two daughters was glaring at him with her hand on her hip.
“My mother does not faint,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow at her, then shifted his gaze to her younger sister, who was sucking her thumb. Both were dark-haired and pretty, like their mother.
“Stand back,” he told them, and slid his arms under Lady Alison.
