Page 51 of A Highlander's Bride

Joshua hurried down the stairs, Daniel right behind him. His mind was in a whirl. All this time Lady Beth was here in the castle? In the dungeon? After five days she could have starved to death.

After three, she could have died from lack of water.

The two of them raced through the great hall, ignoring everyone at the dais and shouts from Gregory. Stopping abruptly, he looked over at his cousin. “Get Emma. Have her go to the bedchamber Lady Beth was assigned.” When the man just stared at him, he yelled, “Now!”

His heart pounded as they descended the slimy, cold, smelly stairs. Just as he believed the lad was leading him to his own death, Joshua turned and headed down a corridor, both of them slipping and sliding on the moss-covered ground as they moved as fast as they could. Joshua stopped at one of the cells, removed the bar and flung the door open.

Daniel immediately spotted someone curled up in the corner. Having been in the dark staircase, his eyes had adjusted and he recognized Beth wrapped in a filthy blanket. He squatted next to her and with a howl of agony, scooped her into his arms. “Get me out of here,” he growled at Joshua.

They went back the way they came. Daniel didn’t have time to stop and see what shape Beth was in, or if she was even still alive. He just had to get her out this hellhole.

When they arrived at the great hall, he shouted to Gregory, “Put Lady Chisholm under house arrest and get Lady Munro and Lady Grant and have them go to Beth’s bedchamber.”

Just as he hit the bottom of the stairs, Emma came racing into the great hall, her basket of medicants over her arm. “I’m here, Laird, just tell me what to do.”

He nodded and she asked no questions, just followed Daniel up the stairs. He burst into Beth’s bedchamber, thinking of the night he’d made love to her in this very room. He prayed with everything he had that they had saved her in time.

“God’s bones!” Emma said as Daniel placed Beth on the bed. He placed his fingers on her neck and took the first solid breath sinceJoshua had appeared in his solar. Her pulse was weak, but steady.

As Emma approached the bed, Daniel turned to Joshua. “Go to the great hall and stay there until I come for ye.”

Still pale as snow, the lad nodded and left the room.

Lady Grant and Lady Munro raced into the room. “Did ye find Beth?”

“Aye. She was in the dungeon.”

Lady Munro covered her mouth, tears forming in her eyes. “Is she…dead?” She grabbed Lady Grant’s hand.

“Nay. Emma is about to examine her.”

Emma looked briefly at Beth and turned her attention to him. “Laird, ye are going to have to leave the room, I need to undress Lady Beth.”

He shook his head clenching her hand. “Nay. I am not leaving until she opens her eyes and speaks to me.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “’Ye canno’ stay, Laird. I need to get down to her skin to see about insect and rodent bites.”

He gritted his teeth. “I am the laird and I am no’ leaving.”

Lady Grant and Lady Munro looked at each other. He turned to Beth’s mam. “As soon as Beth awakens she will become my wife. Therefore, I am no’ leaving her.”

Emma touched him on his arm. “I ken ye are overwrought Laird, but ’tis no’ proper for ye to stay.”

“Fine. Send for Father Matthew and he can marry us right now.”

“The lass is unconscious!”

He spread his feet in a show of defiance. The three women looked at each other. Lady Munro stepped up to Emma. “Doona make a fuss, lass. Let him stay. We can no longer delay seeing to my daughter.”

Her chemise was filthy and it was obvious she had emptied her stomach on herself. Probably more than once.

Daniel closed his eyes at the condition of the woman he loved. Lady Chisholm would hang for murder if Beth died. Then he said aquick prayer that Beth would return to him.

Once Emma had removed all her clothes, she laid a piece of linen over Beth’s breasts and private parts. She turned to Lady Grant. “My lady, I hate to make a servant out of ye, but I need a pan of warm water, some strong soap and clean cloths.”

As Lady Grant left the room, Emma turned to Lady Munro. “I will need a clean nightgown to put on Lady Beth.”

Both women left the room and Emma looked over to Daniel. “I doona think Lady Beth is in mortal danger, but some of these bites can cause infections. Plus, depending on whether she got food and liquids while held captive, it may take her time to recover.”