Page 57 of Kidnapped By her Highland Enemy
“I’d considered that too, but the men found us, Maisie. If they had come from another place, it could only be that they had thought they’d gotten away but we had come upon them.”
The implications that they were not free from the threat rested heavy on her and Maisie rested her spoon on the edge of the bowl, “Which means that the mastermind is still out there somewhere and might strike again.”
“Aye,” Lucas shook his head.
Unable to find her hunger, Maisie shook her head, “We’ll wed then.”
He reached over to her and grasped her hand tightly, “We’ll wed.”
20
Lucas entered his father’s meeting room and found him shifting through a pile of parchment, looking grim. He paused, “What is the matter, Faither?”
“Fishermen at the north seaside have lost their boats and traps because of thieves, and to make it worse, a storm claimed their houses as well,” Cinead said, then looked at him. “What do ye need?”
“I am going to wed Maisie in two days,” Lucas said. “I daenae want to let it linger any longer.”
His father pinned him with a knowing look, then his lips slanted. “She is carrying yer bairn, isnae she?”
“Perhaps,” Lucas replied. “We arenae sure yet.”
“I would have preferred it the other way around but—” Cinead shrugged. “— it happens.”
A knock came on the door and when Cinead permitted the person to enter, Laird McKenna came in. The other laird was dressed in traveling clothes and he bowed, “Pardon me for interrupting. I hope I wasnae disrupting anything too important?”
“Nay,” Lucas said. “I was only telling Faither that despite the threat lingering around us, Maisie and I will wed in two days.”
McKenna nodded, “Me best wishes, Barclay. I’ve come to tell ye, I must depart. I have taken too much time from me home, and I am sure me wife is questioning me absence.”
Lucas and Cinead shared a look, before Lucas inclined his head. “Safe travels, McKenna.”
“Thank ye.” He bowed again before leaving the room.
“Poor man,” Lucas shook his head, “That wife of his is a banshee if I’ve ever met one. I daenae doubt these past few days with us were the best he has gotten away from the old crone.”
“Aye,” Cinead replied. “Still, how are ye going to get the wedding done? Are ye going to the kirk or is the priest coming here?”
“I think it’s best that the priest comes here,” Lucas replied while rubbing his jaw. "It will give us less things to worry about.”
“Should I send for Faither Donald, or will ye?” Cinead asked.
“If ye could do it, that might be best,” Lucas said, “Ye’ve summoned him without explanations before so nay one will wonder about it too much. After we’re wed, I want to find this bastard who is giving us so much grief an’ send him off to meet the devil.”
Chuckling, Cinead waved Lucas off. “I’ll take care of it. Go find Oliver and get to planning.”
With a curt nod, Lucas left the room and headed to find his man-of-arms, but halfway to the cottage Oliver lived in with his wife, he decided to wait another day. The man needed time alone with his wife and newborn bairn, so he headed back to Maisie.
He found her curled up on their bed, and he quietly removed his boots and joined her on the bed, behind her. Wrapping an arm around her, he held her fast to his chest.
Maisie was awake and he kissed the back of her neck. “Daenae ye worry, we’ll wed, and this man, whoever he is, will pay for all this pain ye are feeling.”
“But what if we daenae find him,” her voice was muffled. “What if he eludes us for months, even years?”
Gently, Lucas turned her on her back and smoothed her hair from her face. Making sure his voice was steady and sure, Lucas said, “I will find him, believe me.”
She still looked worried, but Maisie nodded. “I trust ye.”
Their kiss began gently, soft nips, bare brushes of lips and almost-silent sighs until Lucas held her head fast and the kiss took on a life of its own. The kiss became heated and demanding. Lucas flicked his tongue against her lips, then traced them with the tip before he thrust his tongue into her mouth.
