Duncan’s arms dropped. “I’ll kill him. Where did they go?”
“That way.”
Duncan saw only red rage as he cut through the trees. Ines taken. Ines taken. He didn’t feel the branches snapping against his face or the cut of the brush on his legs. Stratford was beside him a moment later, panting as he ran to keep up. “Emmeline says they want to meet at the crofter’s cottage at sunset.”
Duncan slowed. “Cottage?”
Stratford nodded, bending to catch his breath. “It’s to the east. They’ll trade you for her.”
“Trade me?” His voice was deadly calm, giving no hint to the rage within him. If Ines had been hurt... If anything happened to her...
Duncan couldn’t allow himself to think about it. He couldn’t let his emotions take over. This was why he had tried to keep away from her. He hadn’t wanted to risk this pain, this loss. But somehow she’d managed to worm her way into his heart because it hurt now when he thought of losing her. “Trade me?” he repeated.
“For a fat purse.”
Duncan’s vision grew dark crimson. “I’ll trade them, I will.” He started away again, looking for any sign of the men’s movements.
“I’ll look for the crofter’s house,” Stratford said. “You track the men. We need a plan.”
“I have a plan,” Duncan said. “I’ll kill them.”
An hour later, Miss Wellesley looked up sharply then relaxed when she saw it was Duncan who stepped into the clearing.
“Reivers,” Duncan told her. The shadows had grown longer in his absence. Duncan tried not to think about what the reivers had done to Ines while she’d been away from him.
“What are reivers?” she asked.
“Raiders,” he said. “They cross over into England and steal then race back over the border. But they’ll steal on this side of the border too.”
“I take it you didn’t find them,” Stratford said.
“Nae. They ken well enough tae keep hidden. Did ye find the crofter’s cottage?”
“I did. I have a plan too.”
Duncan smiled tightly. “As long as it ends with me killing them.”
Stratford explained the plan, and Duncan nodded in agreement. “But Duncan,” Stratford said, “if this is to work, you have to follow the plan. You can’t go in, ignoring everything I’ve said, like you usually do.”
“I’ll already be in, so it willnae matter, will it?”
“Just follow the plan. Wait for my word.” Stratford looked at the sky. “We should go soon in case they arrive early.”
“You haven’t explained what I’m to do,” Miss Wellesley said.
Duncan turned on her. “Yer to stay here and nae get in any trouble. Ye’ve done enough for one day.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. It wasn’t her fault Ines had been taken.
But instead of looking hurt or angry, she stood and walked to his side. She put her hand on his arm, and Duncan glanced at her warily. “I know you care for her,” she said. “I’m so sorry I failed you. I tried. I really did, but they cut her—”
Duncan’s hand landed on hers. “What did ye say?” The red was back, and he saw nothing else.
She looked at Stratford who closed his eyes. Clearly, there was something they were keeping from him.
“When I asked them to release her, she started to struggle, and the man holding her nicked her with a knife.”
His grip tightened.
“It was only a nick,” she said weakly.
“Duncan,” Stratford said, his tone thick with warning.
Duncan lifted his hand. “It’s nae yer fault,” he told Miss Wellesley, his voice cold and deadly, even to his own ears. “It’s my fault. I’ll make it right.”
“I know you will, but Mr. Murray, you can’t blame yourself.”
Oh, how many times had he heard those words? It might have been a different time, a different circumstance, but the words were the same. But the ending would not be the same. He wouldn’t allow it. He was a man now, not a boy, and he had atoned for his past. He would save Ines if it was the last thing he ever did.
“Then who is tae blame?” he asked her, but his gaze was on Stratford. “If they touch her, Draven will kill me. And I’ll ask him tae do it.”
Duncan gathered his few things, wanting to be ready to follow Stratford to the house. He didn’t want to think of Ines right now. He only wanted to think of his plan. He’d been trying not to think about her for the past few days, trying to keep his distance from her. He didn’t want a repeat of what had happened that first night under the tree to happen again.
Not because he hadn’t enjoyed it. He’d enjoyed it too much. Every time he looked at Ines, he wanted her mouth on his and her body pressed against his. And so he kept his distance.
But now he wished he hadn’t. Now he might never see desire on her face or passion in her eyes again. He might not be able to make her his, but he could not be expected to go on if she wasn’t alive in the world somewhere. Ines had appeared in his life seemingly out of a dream. Not only was she beautiful and passionate and exciting, she was kind and loyal and steady. He hadn’t even known those were things he needed or wanted in a woman. She’d barely known him, but when he’d been shot, she had stayed at his side, alternately coddling him and shocking him. He’d never met a woman like her because there were no other women like her.
Duncan knew a rare gem when he saw it. And he knew things of value needed to be protected.
He should have never left her side. He should have known the dangers about and should have kept her close. If anyone knew what reivers were capable of, it was Duncan.
He couldn’t lose someone else he cared about to them.
“Duncan!” Stratford said, and Duncan looked up.
“I’ve called your name three times,” Stratford said. “Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.” He glanced at Miss Wellesley. “What aboot her?”
She frowned at him. “Loftus and I are to stay here.”
“Good.” Duncan nodded. “The dog will keep ye safe, and we dinnae have tae worry aboot them taking ye for a hostage.”
She snorted. “They did not want me.”
“Only because yer not an easy target, lass. They’ll take ye if they get the chance. Stay hidden, aye?”
She nodded. Stratford walked past him, and Duncan looked back, saw he was going to speak to his cousin, and turned back around. This might be farewell. No one knew how the night would turn out. Duncan didn’t intend to die, but then neither did the reivers. He moved away, giving the two of them their privacy.
When Stratford finally joined him, Duncan looked at him. “Are ye wearing yer dancing shoes?”
Stratford nodded. “Bring on the devil.”
STRATFORD
Stratford stood in the open area in front of the old crofter’s cottage, looking out of place and impatient. At least that was how he hoped he looked. He’d made a show of walking up to the cottage by the main path and then looked all about him, like any man about to meet someone might. He was well aware Duncan was inside the cottage, crouched below a window, keeping watch. He just hoped that, for once, Duncan would listen to him and follow the plan. He hoped Emmeline would follow the plan and stay put as well. She was better at following plans, but only when she wanted to.