Page 15 of Ruthless, But for Her

Disregarding his earlier words, she asked, “If you plan to return me to my husband, why have you taken me captive?”

“You are not my captive, Lady Cassia.” He paused. “You are surety, until we understand what your husband's new posting means for our men. Nothing more.”

She preferred that to a lie.

“Surety,” she repeated. “Against what?”

“That isn't yet clear to me.”

At least he didn't pretend otherwise.

“And once it is clear?”

His jaw tightened, just slightly. It was the first crack she'd seen in his easy manner.

“Then we will know what to do with you.”

A knock came at the door, sharp and urgent. Ashton rose, his hand at his belt before he'd even straightened.

“What is it?”

The voice from the other side was low and clipped. “Captain wants you. Now. Riders on the headland. They're flying the Warden's colors.”

Ashton looked back at her once, something unreadable in his expression, and then he was gone, leaving the door swinging open behind him.

She was alone. The door was open.

Cassia didn't move.

CHAPTER 9

Ashton

“Sir, where are you taking me?”

Despite his assurance that she wasn't a captive, Lady Cassia continued to ask such things. He didn't blame her. They had taken her against her will, a fact that someone would eventually take exception to, and she was clever enough to know it.

“Mere's End,” he said.

She blinked. The fog had cleared on the approach, and the port was visible now in the afternoon light. He often marveled at how peaceful it appeared from the water. Less grand than the coastline where Bamburgh Castle stood against the sky, Mere's End had a particular quality he'd never found the right word to describe. Enduring, perhaps? The kind of place that didn't need to announce itself.

“Home,” Ryker said from behind them.

Ashton said nothing. Ryker knew better than most that home was a complicated word for the men who'd built their lives here.

“The docks at this time of day are no place for a lady,” Ryker muttered.

“The docks at Mere's End at any time of day are no place for a lady,” Ashton said.

Ryker made a sound of agreement and moved off toward the bow.

Ashton watched the port come closer and thought about who waited there. Margot, who would take one look at Lady Cassia and understand more than anyone. Sorren, who would need to be told what had happened and why. The men, who would need to understand that she was not to be touched, not to be spoken of outside Mere's End, not to become a problem.

He turned to her.

“Would you have us send word to your husband?”

She looked at him, and for a moment, he thought she wouldn't answer.