Page 143 of The Laird's Masked Passion
Her mouth tightened. Ordinarily, she would have answered. This time she looked toward the maps upon his table.
“Colin, I…” She paused to inhale. “I want tae see me maither.”
Colin went still.
“Nay.” The answer came too quickly.
Pain crossed her face before pride concealed it.
Colin exhaled and softened his voice. “Elspeth?—”
“Only fer a short visit,” she cut him off. “We neednae remain more than a night.”
“Nay.”
“We could take guards.”
“It isnae the number of guards that concerns me.”
“Then what?”
“Robert has men moving through these lands. He kens our roads, our patrols, perhaps even when riders leave the castle. The Crown is sending someone tae judge every choice I make. I willnae give either of them the opportunity tae find ye exposed beyond the walls.”
Her chin lifted. “Me maither may be hurt.”
“The letter said she is recovering.”
“The letter was written by me faither.”
Colin had no answer to that.
Elspeth stepped closer. “Ye ken what he is. Ye read his words. If she is still injured, he may deny her a healer. If she wishes tae leave, he willnae permit it.”
“I have already sent men tae learn what they can.”
Her eyes widened. “Ye did?”
“Aye.”
“When?”
“After I read the letter.”
Something warm entered her expression, but it lasted only a moment.
“Then let me go join them.”
“Nay.”
Her hand fell from her sleeve. “Ye said we would bring her here if she wasnae safe.”
“And we will.”
“When?”
“When I can take enough men tae protect ye both.”
“That may be months.”
