Page 39 of Return to Clan Sinclair
He was torn between wishing to accompany them and protecting his own family. As he turned to look at Virginia, the choice was taken from him. She stood with her arms around Ceana’s daughters, her eyes watery and her cheeks still bathed with tears. The sight of her, frightened, brought back too many memories, including the time when her life had been in the balance.
He went to her, wrapping his arms around her, all three of the children caught up in their embrace.
“Don’t worry, my love, they’ll find her. She’ll be fine.”
She sighed but didn’t answer, and he prayed he hadn’t lied.
Bruce was in the stables, readying his carriage, when the three Irish brothers entered.
“We’re going with you,” Dennis said.
“I’m not going to refuse an offer of help, but there are going to be some rules first.”
“And why would that be? You rescue women a lot, do you?”
“I own a detective agency in America,” he said. “I work with law enforcement there. I was the one who followed Henderson to Scotland. If you can’t agree, then go away.”
Dennis finally nodded. After a moment his brothers nodded as well.
Ardan and Breandan helped the driver with harnessing the horses as Dennis stood around looking ducal.
“You’re an American,” the man said as Bruce came around to the door and opened it.
“I am,” he said, entering the carriage.
“You’re from Boston, I’m told.” The duke entered and sat beside him. A moment later the other two brothers got into the carriage.
“Nearby.”
“Would you be by way of knowing our kin? We’ve cousins in Boston.”
“Boston is a big city, Duke. I’ve never met a Mead before.”
“Well, now, you might be looking one up, then.”
“I might. Or not.” He studied the man. “What I say is the law,” he said. “I’ve a lot more experience in this than you do.”
“Where would you be thinking of going, then?”
“The road to Edinburgh,” he said.
“A carriage passed us on the way to Drumvagen. In a hurry. Would you care for me to tell you where it went? Or are you all for being the hero yourself?”
He was teetering on the edge of disliking the Duke of Lester, but he nodded.
Ceana couldn’t decide if she was angry or sad. How dare her brothers-in-law resort to such tactics to get her to return to Ireland. Had they no sense at all? From this moment on her relationship with them would be forever changed. She would never again look at them with fond exasperation. No, they would be fortunate if she even talked to them after today.
She stared out the window, wondering where the carriage was taking her. To Kinloch Village, she hoped. People loved Macrath in the village, she’d been told. All she had to do was cry out and tell them who she was. Hopefully, someone would intervene.
She focused her gaze on the ceiling of the carriage. It was quite a lovely vehicle, upholstered in pale blue silk. Evidently, her Irish relatives had spared no expense in this abduction.
Would Bruce come after her?
She had wanted her life to change, but she hadn’t envisioned kidnapping being a part of it.
When the carriage began to travel up an incline, she wondered if they were nearing their destination.
Please, God, let someone come after me.
