Page 4 of Highland Ruse

The word jolted through Delilah. Her, a spy. It sounded dangerous.

Her heart thrummed with a renewed vigor.

It sounded…exciting.

It wasn’t a boring life, married to a base noble’s youngest sons like her sisters, nor was it a position on a boat like most of her brothers had assumed, and it wasn’t living on the scraps of food her family was able to manage.

She would learn to fight and would possess the same self-assurance as the woman in front of her.

Sylvi was right—Delilah’s life was not over.

It was about to truly begin.

Chapter One

Cumbria, England

June 1607

There were two coaches in front of the remote inn, one for a noble lady and one for her imposter.

Delilah being the imposter.

There were similarities between the women, of course, or Delilah would never have been hired. They had matching curvy, petite figures presently clad in maroon traveling dresses, and the same shade of honey brown hair. At a rapid glance, one might assume them to be the same woman.

But the gems on Lady Elizabeth’s gown were genuine, hard and glinting.

And those on Delilah’s were paste—a shoddy comparison when placed next to the stunning original.

Like Delilah herself.

A paste decoy of a fine woman.

Lady Elizabeth glanced around the common room of the inn with an element of uncertainty. The light of dawn had only just begun to press against the dingy windows, and the soft tallow candles steeped the air with fetid, greasy smoke.

They were just within England, hanging on the border of Scotland—the perfect location to trade routes with Lady Elizabeth prior to her journey into Scotland for her wedding to Laird MacKenzie.

Elizabeth’s dark brown gaze met Delilah’s. “You look very similar to me.” Lady Elizabeth had a dainty, almost songlike voice. Her cheeks tinged pink, and her gaze flicked to Sylvi before darting back to Delilah.

Sylvi watched the noble woman with an unflinching stare, her arms crossed over her narrow chest and her stance strong and stolid like that of a soldier. She seldom wore dresses anymore, opting instead for leather trews and a black leine. Her multitude of braids had been twisted back into a splayed mass of blonde, which hung down her back like the feathers of a commander’s helmet.

Still though, she’d kept the black ribbon tied at her neck. Only now Delilah knew the reason for the uncharacteristic feminine adornment.

Many men found themselves intimidated by Sylvi’s appearance. The subtle glances Lady Elizabeth slid toward Sylvi indicated the noble woman was absolutely terrified.

Delilah stepped forward in an effort to put the other woman at ease. “We do look indeed similar. I am glad to aid you in ensuring your safe travels to meet your betrothed.”

A delicate smile teased the corners of Lady Elizabeth’s mouth. “I do appreciate the risk you take on my behalf.”

Delilah nodded. For truly she was putting herself at risk. It was not every day she allowed herself to be led into a potential trap where she might be kidnapped.

Dangerous, yes, but Delilah could not quell the skip of excitement in her veins. Finally, after nearly four years of combat training and weapons mastery, after countless plots uncovered and thwarted, and many successful assignments, she was being given the opportunity to operate entirely on her own.

Without Sylvi there to ensure all went according to plan.

The hard set of Sylvi’s face indicated how she felt about being excluded from the mission.

There was far more for Delilah to think on now than Sylvi’s attitude toward the circumstances. Like ensuring Lady Elizabeth made it safely to Edirdovar Castle, and the man who sought her harm was brought to justice.