Page 65 of Love with a Scottish Outlaw
“My father would never—” And then she stopped. “I want to leave. Now. Give me supplies and a horse.”
“Nay, I’ll not allow it.”
“And I won’t let you run my life ever again!”
“It has nothing to do with trying to control ye. But I won’t let ye put yourself in danger because ye’re angry with me. I’ll take ye back myself. But I cannot do it yet. There’ve been rumors of another child kidnapped, but I have no clues yet. I cannot be absent.”
She breathed deeply, quickly, as if she would protest, but she didn’t. “I don’t want to be here,” she whispered forlornly, closing her eyes. “I want to go home.”
He said nothing, and hoped her good sense would win out so he didn’t have to tie her up.
“Very well,” she said at last. “But I won’t wait long.”
“I understand. And what will ye do at Castle Kinlochard?”
“What business is it of yours?”
“Do I need to evacuate the village and the cave, find another place of safety for my people when ye lead your brother to this glen?”
She gave him a look of disdain. “Do you think I’m like you, ready to use innocent people for my revenge?”
“I think ye’re a better person than I will ever be,” he said quietly. “But I need to make my plans.”
“My brother will learn what you’ve done, but I’ll be too confused to lead him back here. Will that satisfy you?”
“Aye, it’s more than I deserve.”
For a long moment’s silence, they simply looked at each other.
“Why are you still here?” she demanded.
He hesitated, then said slowly, “I want to apologize for what happened in the woods.”
Her glance was cold. “I’m not going to thank you for being decent by stopping what we did.”
“I never meant to frighten ye, or overwhelm ye.”
“Don’t come near me again, or so help me, my scream will let everyone know what kind of man you are.”
He knew when he’d succumbed to his desires that it couldn’t last. But now that he’d touched her, kissed her, aroused her, those memories would never leave him.
He took a fortifying breath. “Shall I escort ye back to the cave?”
“Back to my prison, you mean? I hadn’t realized how much I’ve been feeling trapped there, until I followed Ivor and the clansmen.”
“I wanted ye to feel safe, not trapped.”
“Safe, that is laughable. I thought I was so incredibly lucky to find someone who protected me and didn’t try to take advantage of my confusion. I was such a fool.”
The stab to his conscience was as if a sword pierced him. But he’d borne it this long, and would continue to do so until he returned Catriona to her family without betraying his clan’s secrets.
She turned and walked away, and Duncan looked once more over the cliff. Perhaps he was just as much of a monster as her father had been.
Chapter 15
As Duncan left her with the women, Cat fisted her hands to stop the shaking. Sheena seemed far too aware of Cat’s stifled emotions, and it seemed to give the girl pleasure, though she quickly turned away when she saw Cat glance her way. Cat didn’t care—the girl could have Duncan.
She felt so very alone, trapped with the knowledge of the truth, but unable—unwilling—to confide in these women, her companions these last weeks. If everyone knew she was a Duff, she’d lose their friendship, perhaps even their respect. And if she had to be with Clan Carlyle for several more days, she didn’t want to see that wariness, maybe even disdain, in their eyes.
