But until now, he hadn’t known he loved her. Loved her. The way his father loved his mother and Robert loved Annabelle. The way that made madness a pleasure.
He eased her down, unable to speak. With great reluctance, he withdrew his hand from between her thighs. He’d been cupping her there, holding her as long as possible so he could feel every sweet pulse. As he lowered her skirts, sound returned—carriages and horses and distant voices of pedestrians at both ends of the long, narrow close.
God, what had he been thinking? The close remained empty, and the doorway was deep in shadow, so he had no fear anyone had seen them. But he’d only meant to kiss her. A distraction. That was all.
He’d put his hand up her skirts, for God’s sake. He’d made her come. He’d nearly come, himself. In truth, he’d lost his bloody mind. And his cock still ached like a wound, demanding he finish what he’d started.
“Dinnae fash,” she whispered. Her cheeks flushed scarlet as she began to tidy his cravat and coat. “Yer hat didnae go far.”
“Annie.” His voice was shredded.
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry I kissed you here.” He chuckled dryly. “Next to a rubbish pile.”
“Aye. A nasty one. My toe is still smartin’.”
“But I’m not sorry I kissed you.”
She arched a brow. “Well, now, that makes two of us.”
“When we return to the glen, perhaps we’ll test a few locations. See what suits.”
She chuckled and smoothed his lapel. “I’m glad ye were here, English. Even if ye willnae tell me why.” When she raised her eyes, they glistened. “Today, we fetch Broderick from the Bridewell. Seein’ him promises to tear my heart from my body.”
He started to speak, but she pressed her fingers to his lips. “It will. I ken the pain is comin’. But all the way to Edinburgh, I kept thinkin’ how ye’d make it just a bit better. Seein’ that bonnie face. Hearin’ that braw voice, crisp as a Highland morning.” She smiled, her eyes shimmering with tears. They spilled over. “And ye did make it better, English. Ye did.”
She pulled him down for a kiss, and he gathered her tight in his arms. Held her close enough to make them one body. Wished with everything inside him that he could do more. When they separated for a breath, he offered, “I’ll come with you. Let me come with you.”
“No. This is MacPherson business.” She cupped his cheek. “But if ye were at home next time I visited the castle, if ye were to invite me inside to warm myself by yer hearth, I wouldnae say no.” Kissing him one last time, she slipped away, heading toward the inn.
John braced himself against the wall and breathed to ease the ache in his chest. For some reason, it took longer to dissipate than the ache in his groin. In fact, by the time he retrieved his hat and found Robert and the others at the tavern where he’d suggested they meet, he began to wonder if the vise tightening around his heart would only wrench harder until the moment he could hold Annie Tulloch in his arms again.
He sat down at the scarred table where his companions waited.
“Everything all right?” Robert asked.
John nodded. “It will be.” He met the eyes of the other men at his table. “As soon as I discover who targeted my future wife’s family and make him pay a very dear price.”
Chapter Fourteen
TlU
There was something perverse about a prison built to resemble a palace. As far as Annie was concerned, the Bridewell should be an eyesore. Instead, it was a four-story castle with symmetrical gabled wings topped by gleaming crosses. To the rear was a third wing, semicircular in shape. The whole was surrounded by high walls and iron fencing, to be sure, but the main gate was a turreted masterpiece.
Annie gaped as their coach passed through into the inner courtyard.
How she wished she’d taken Huxley up on his offer. Her hand reflexively gripped the wee thistle charm, but it wasn’t the same as holding her Englishman’s strong hand.
She leaned her cheek against the coach wall to get a better view out the window. Campbell and the taller solicitor handed a gaoler the papers ordering Broderick’s release. The gaoler was dark and small, his clothing neat. He nodded at something the solicitor said and waved to another set of gaolers.
“How bluidy many of ye does it take to read an order?” she muttered. The thistle dug into her palm. Her other hand hovered on the door handle. Angus and her brothers had warned her not to leave the coach. But, by God, if these damnable wretches didn’t bring her brother to her right this moment, she would walk into that prison palace and fetch him herself.
The second and third gaolers nodded their understanding, and they waved Campbell and Alexander through a second set of gates.
The coach door opened.
Angus gave a disgusted grunt and climbed inside, hunching as he took the bench opposite Annie. He looked haggard and old. “Not long now, lassie.”
She eyed the makeshift litter they’d installed diagonally across the benches. Made of a canvas sling lined with blankets and straw, it should prove comfortable for a normal man. But she didn’t know the extent of Broderick’s injuries. When she’d asked, Rannoch had gone deathly grim. “It’s bad, Annie.” Her youngest brother had run a hand over his eyes. “Very bad.”
Now, she saw her own dread reflected in Angus’s face. “Da.”
He glanced up.
“We have him back. He’s free. They cannae charge him again, can they?”
Her father didn’t answer straight away. Instead, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and patted the bedding she’d assembled. “This is fine work ye’ve done.”
“Da—”
“Ye’ll give him proper care, Annie; I’ve no doubt of it.”
“Of course I—”
Dark eyes met hers. “The truth is, we dinnae ken who hates him enough to do this.”
“What of Skene?”
Angus shook his head. “Merely the hand that pulled the trigger. He’s gone to ground. Even Alexander couldnae track him.”
Her heart sank. If they couldn’t locate Skene, they couldn’t find the man behind Skene. The one with the real power. She reached for Angus’s hand. “We’ll discover who did this, Da. We must.”
He squeezed her fingers and opened the coach door. “Aye, lassie. We must.”
Long minutes passed. Sullen rain began to fall.
She watched Rannoch and Angus pacing in the courtyard, glimpsed gaolers passing by on rounds, saw women and men beyond the inner gates working, chatting, and peering out at them.
Prisoners. They milled about as if nothing were amiss. Women carried baskets and men pushed wheelbarrows. Even children dashed by as though this were a normal castle inhabited by busy servants.
It seemed an absurdity to Annie. She closed her eyes and tried to think of something more pleasant. The scent of her kitchen when dinner was almost ready. The waterfall just north of Glendasheen Castle.