Page 106 of Tempted
The men looked at the three women who stood defenseless before them and felt hot shame. The oldest stepped forward. “I will take ye home, Lady Valentina,” he said grimly
When Tina arrived home, she learned that her father had taken her mother to Castle Kennedy to be with Donal and Meggie because Meggie’s time was near Tina’s heart sank. She had counted upon her father to take her to the king Ada cast her an anxious glance Tina had only just begun to recover from the double ordeal of the poisoning and the miscarriage She must be ready to collapse.
Tina kept on her feet by sheer willpower alone. There was no time to think of herself There was not one moment to lose She knew without a doubt that Henry Tudor would hang Lord Vengeance when he was delivered to London Tina went out to the stables to speak with the Kennedy grooms. “Ada and I will be riding to Edinburgh at dawn. I want the two best mounts you have, and I’ll need an escort of at least two men. I don’t want young boys,” she told the head groom.
“I’ll attend ye myself, Lady Kennedy,” he offered, thinking his young mistress looked ill.
Tina felt almost uncomfortable in her old home. Beth was distant with her, and she was at a loss for the reason. Kirsty, however, was her old hateful self. She looked down her long nose at Tina’s slim waist and said snidely, “I see yer not breeding yet. ‘Twould be a pity if ye proved barren when the Douglas only agreed tae take ye tae provide him with an heir.”
Dear God, there would be no Douglas heir if they hanged Ramsay. “I’ll say good night,” said Tina stiffly. “I must be away at first light.”
“Oh, I have your bedchamber now,” said Beth ingenuously.
Tina pressed her lips together. “That’s all right. I’ll sleep in your old chamber.”
Kirsty said smugly, “I now occupy Beth’s old chamber.”
Ada intervened. “Tina, come, I’ll ready your parents’ room for you.”
Kirsty pressed her thin lips together in outrage. “Ye canna use the master bedchamber!”
Ada fixed her with a steely eye. “Watch me!” she challenged, and took a menacing step toward the woman. Kirsty fell back instantly. She was no match for Ada.
Valentina could not sleep, but at least she rested her body. They arose before dawn and dressed warmly for the long ride to Edinburgh. When they arrived at the stables, Tina felt weak with relief when she saw the burly, mail-clad figure of Bothwick armed to the teeth. “Oh, Bothwick, this is so good of you. But I’m honor-bound to tell you that Dacre and his soldiers were as close as the River Doon yesterday. What if they return and attack the castle?”
Bothwick clenched a meaty fist. “When I saw what the whoresons did tae Fisherton, I sent messages tae all the clan, including the Earl o’ Cassillis. They should ha’ men here by tonight,” he assured her.
Tina wore the fox cape whose fur was identical to the color of her hair. She sent Ram a whispered thanks upon the wind for buying her such a luxurious garment to keep her warm. The head groom had done an efficient job of strapping her luggage and food for their journey to the backs of two packhorses. He had also chosen a sure-footed garron for her to ride, and another for Ada.
The journey of about thirty-seven miles would take five or six hours, depending upon the weather and the stamina of their mounts. Tina thought with pride that Hotspur could do it in just over two hours. The first part of the journey seemed to invigorate her. She was racing against time, and danger had ever been a spur to her. They did not stop to break their fast but ate bannocks and washed them down with ale as they rode.
After almost three hours they stopped to water the horses in the Clyde, very close to Patrick Hamilton’s castle at the town of Hamilton. When Tina thought of the young man she had almost married, goosebumps stood out upon her skin. What a close call that had been. Only Fate, much wiser than she, thank God, had saved her from a disastrous marriage with the immature son of Scotland’s admiral. Her mind could not help comparing him with Ram Douglas, and he suffered greatly by that comparison. Just thinking of Ram’s capture made her lean against her horse, weak-kneed.
Bothwick said gruffly to Ada, “She’s as pale as a corpse.”
Ada bit her lip. “She shouldn’t be riding this hard. She lost her bairn only last week”
“Christ, woman, do ye want tae kill her?” he growled.
Tina felt herself lifted in Bothwick’s strong arms. It was exactly like being picked up by a bear. Thankfully, she slipped her arms about his neck and clung to his strength. He mounted and tucked her in the crook of one massive arm. “Rest child, auld Bothwick will get ye tae Edinburgh, though I canna promise the king will see ye.”
“Angus,” whispered Tina.
Bothwick was alarmed. Surely this child wasn’t courageous enough to beard Archibald Douglas? Tina smiled up at him. The golden eyes slanting from the red fox hood reminded him exactly of a sleek vixen. “He has a soft spot for me.” Bothwick’s heart did a little dance inside his massive chest. Valentina Kennedy was indeed a man’s woman.
They caused no little stir at Edinburgh Castle. The beefy giant with the fiery red head and beard swept along the stone passageways carrying the beautiful young woman wrapped in furs, her flaming tresses trailing to the floor. He hammered his beefy fist upon the Earl of Angus’s apartment door and contemplated belting anyone who refused to admit her. Tina was tired, cold, and hungry, and in that moment he was her gentle parfait knight in armor, fulfilling the quest she had set him.
When Angus’s servants saw who it was, they were admitted immediately, and a page was dispatched with a message to the earl. When he arrived and Bothwick saw with his own eyes that the full power of Clan Douglas was at Tina’s beck and call, he departed for Doon with a much easier mind.
“When did they take him?” growled Angus.
“Yesterday, early in the morning,” replied Tina, fiercely ashamed that David had tainted the Kennedy name.
“Ye did real good, lass, gettin’ here so quick. But where in the name of Christ were his men?” he demanded.
“His first lieutenant, Jock, took a score of men from Douglas after three towns were raided. Ram was busy looking after me—I drank poisoned wine.”
Granite-faced Archibald Douglas looked shocked.
