Page 106 of In Search of a Husband
The marquess looked as if he had been set upon. His clothes were messed, his hair as well, and his face bruised.
“Who were they, and what did they say?” Gabriel snarled. He tossed the marquess against the horse, then turned, and raced for the castle, throwing open the door and striding into the family library, where he neatly ripped the sword off the wall and marched for the door.
“Finn,” he bellowed.
Oscar raced up and down the hall as Gabriel’s voice echoed in the empty castle.
“I ken ye’re here,” Gabriel yelled again. “Finlay Wallace!”
The marquess rubbed his elbow, standing by the front door, swaying back and forth as if he wasn’t certain where he should be. The cad let them take her. Take all of them.
“If they touch a damn hair on their heads,” he yelled.
“What is it?” Finn leaned over the balcony, squinting. “God, man. Let me sleep.”
“Duncan took Kate, the girls, and Elsie.”
Finn jumped back from the balcony and raced down the stairs to Gabriel, mumbling the entire way. “Who’s he?” Finn asked, coming to a stop and pointing to the marquess.
“The blackguard I almost let Kate marry.”
“Kate left?”
“We’ve nae time.” Gabriel pushed by the marquess to the drive and swiftly mounted the horse. “Finn, head to the stable and ride for the village. Fetch the constable. Duncan wants a fight, so he willna be far from where they were taken. But we’re up against nightfall. Hurry!”
He dug his boots into the sides of the horse and sped through the forest, his heart drumming in his ears.
A feral rage coursed through his body. He would burn down all of Scotland to find her and see her safe. It was a fool’s errand to spur him on. Duncan didn’t know the depths of Gabriel’s wrath when harm was done to those he loved.
But he was about to find out.
The sun sank lower as he thundered through the forest. Gabriel’s thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. He couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at him, knowing that his decision to send Kate away had left her vulnerable.
He hadn’t listened to Duncan’s threats for months. Hadn’t taken stock in what could happen. And now she was gone.
And the girls. And Elsie.
Everything he held dear in this world.
He wouldn’t let Duncan McQuarrie win.
Gabriel heard Finn and the marquess behind him as he pressed on, riding hard to reach the village before sunset.
“Look for the carriage and start your search there,” the marquess shouted from behind as they finally rode by the inn. “I’ll bring the constable. Ride on, Finn.”
Twenty minutes later, Gabriel reached the abandoned carriage left on the side of the road. He dismounted, then clenched the hilt of the sword he’d retrieved from the castle. Her parents were gone, but there were no other signs Duncan had remained close by.
But he could see where they had dragged her off.
“I won’t lose her,” he growled as Finn rode up behind him and tied off his horse.
“The constable and the marquess are on their way. Do ye want to wait?”
There was no time to waste. The sun was quickly sinking into the sky, and soon dusk would collapse into night, and Duncan would once again have the advantage.
“They can follow.”
Gabriel stormed into the thick forest, scanning the treeline for any movement. They hadn’t set up a campsite as he didn’t smell a fire. Where had he taken them? He tightened his grip on the sword and pressed on, checking for broken branches and turned over leaves or stones. Anything that would signify a struggle.
