Page 86 of A Sinful Night with a Scot

“I kent it,” she spat. But then, something didn’t add up. “It would have taken us days tae get here. I ken I was knocked out, but surely, I would have woken ‘afore now.”

The man eyed her carefully. “From what I heard when the guards brought ye in, they gave ye laudanum tae keep quiet.”

That would explain the sick dizzy feeling she had experienced when she had roused earlier.

He stood looking at her for a second, and then started to back away. “I’m sorry. I have tae go.”

“Wait! Wait! Where are ye going?”

Still looking remorseful, he said, “The laird instructed me tae let him ken the minute ye woke.”

The man appeared no happier than Elsie that she was locked away, and in that second, Elsie saw an opportunity.

“Ye could let me out,” she pleaded. “Ye could tell him I escaped. Please. Please, ye have tae help me.”

The old man lowered his eyes, as though by doing so, he did not have to look upon her plight. “I cannae. He’ll have me hung.” The man was stepping away at each word he spoke. “I’m sorry.”

And then, he was gone.

“Damn it all tae hell!”

Now all she could do was wait.

A little while passed, and then she heard footsteps again, only this time, it was the sound of more than one person. The prison guard arrived back, jingling his keys, followed by two guards. Keeping his eyes low, so he did not have to look at her, he unlocked the gate and pulled it wide open.

The guards stepped inside, each grabbing her arms, before yanking her out and into the corridor.

“I’m sorry,” the old man whispered as they hurried past him.

Elsie’s feet barely touched the floor as they continued up steps, through doorways, and along corridors. With their faces like stone, neither of the men dragging her said one word.

Eventually, they arrived at a door. One of them lifted a hand and thumped on it loudly.

“Enter,” a deep voice came from inside the room.

The guards opened the door and continued to drag Elsie in. Clearly, she had been led into Laird Gunn’s study, for the books, ledgers, and the huge desk at the far end of the room gave it away. He was not at his desk however, and instead, stood glaring at her from beside the fire.

“Lady Mackay, me laird,” one of the guards announced.

“Leave us,” he demanded.

Immediately, the men turned on their heels and left the room.

“Well, isnae this nice?” he snarled. “At last, I havemebride inmecastle.”

“I’m nae yer bride,” Elsie spat, glaring back at him.

“Nae. And whose fault is that?” he snapped. “Yer treacherous scheming has caused yer faither and I a lot o’ trouble. By now, ye should have been me wife, and yer faither and I would have been allied. But nay. Ye were determined tae ruin it all, and so ye did.”

Like her father, Laird Gunn was clearly under the impression that she had conspired with Keane to work against them. It was not the case, but she had no intention of denying it. What was the point? Like her father, Laird Gunn would not believe her either.

“But ye will be me wife, Elspeth. In fact, I have a priest here, willing and eager tae marry us.”

“I’m already married,” Elsie said, feeling that she was stating the obvious.

No doubt her father had run back to the laird and told him all that had occurred after he had visited her and Keane. Surely, the man was bound to know.

“Och, I ken that. But nae fer long.”