Page 47 of Beguiled
David turned to her, as the dance demanded, and looked into her eyes. “Listen to me,” he said. “This is what we are going to do. You’re going to the theatre on Tuesday, aren’t you? You must be ready to leave then, that very night, in the clothes you are wearing. I will speak with your father about money for you. I will also speak to Euan about arrangements for getting you to London. Are you willing to travel with him to a safe place?”
The dance parted them. They turned away from each other to stroll down parallel lines of the set, coming to face one another once more at the end.
“If you trust Mr. MacLennan, I will trust him too,” she said.
Did he? Did he trust Euan MacLennan?
He thought of his history with Euan. Two years ago, Euan had held him at gunpoint and threatened to put a bullet in him. But he hadn’t done it—and his every action had been for his brother and his beliefs. There was no greed in Euan, no selfishness. He was passionate and idealistic. Impetuous and perhaps somewhat naïve, but a good man.
“A man will fight for hate for a long time, but he will fight for love to the death.”
“I would trust him with my life,” David said simply. He’d done it once before.
“Then I will trust him too,” she whispered as she curtsied to him, ending their dance. “And I will be ready on Tuesday, at the theatre. What time will it happen?”
David bowed to her, thinking quickly. “Half past nine,” he said. The play would be well underway by then. “Get away from Kinnell, however you can. And make your way to the front door. I will try to get a ticket so I can meet you inside, but even if I cannot, Iwillfind you. I promise.”
“Half past nine,” she said. “Pray, do not fail me.”
Chapter Fourteen
“I hope it was worth it,” Murdo said under his breath as Kinnell escorted Elizabeth away, his hand at the small of her back. “I fear she may pay for this, later.”
David glanced quickly at the other man. “Why do you say that?”
“Did you notice how angry he was when he found her talking to us? I don’t think my attempt to take the blame cut the mustard with him somehow.”
“I thought he believed you,” David replied. “You were quite convincing.”
“Oh, I think he believed me, but he’ll be angry with her anyway. He doesn’t want her talking to anyone on her own, does he?”
David pondered that acute observation with a sick feeling. He had a feeling Murdo was right, and he didn’t want to think of what Elizabeth might be facing when she got home tonight.
“I shouldn’t have interfered,” Murdo said flatly. “It was impulsive. I didn’t think—”
“I’m glad you did,” David interrupted, adding after a pause, “though I’m still puzzled as towhyyou did it.”
Murdo frowned. “It was her face when she said she wanted to speak to you. She looked desperate.” He paused, then added softly, “I think she still loves you.”
“She doesn’t love me,” David protested. He meant to defend her, but somehow the words felt like a betrayal, and fresh guilt bloomed in him. Elizabethhadloved him once, even if she had every reason to hate him now. “She is unhappy,” he added. “She needed to speak to me about her father. And I had—things to tell her from him.”
“You are blind, David,” Murdo said, though he smiled faintly. “If you’d seen the expression on her face…”
“Ididsee it,” David retorted. “And she is not heart-sore over me, I assure you. Not anymore. Though she is heart-sore, and for good reason.”
“I hope she’s all right tonight,” Murdo said. “I would not wish Kinnell’s anger on a dog, never mind a gentle young woman.”
“She’s stronger than she looks,” David replied. He said it with more firmness than he felt, then forced himself to change the subject before he revealed more than he ought to. “Tell me, how much longer must we stay here before our departure would be commented upon? Have we put in enough of an appearance, do you think?”
Murdo raised his brows, surprised. “We’ve barely been here an hour and a half.”
David shrugged. “Isn’t that enough? I’ve danced, and I’ve paid my respects to the King. Doyou want to stay?”
“Not particularly,” Murdo admitted, a small smile just touching his lips. “Do you want to leave right this minute?”
“Why not? I am not much of one for dancing, as you know.”
Murdo laughed at that, a warm chuckle that made David smile. “Would you care, perhaps, for a nip of brandy by a warm fire instead?” The look he gave David suggested that sitting by a warm fire was very far from what he really had in mind.