Page 7 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

Castle Tor

Inverness, Highlands Scotland

I n the great hall, Sorsha stood by the hearth, tense and wary about meeting with Geoff.

She’d been summoned and when she arrived, he wasn’t there.

Dread filled her. Since Rodick’s death, she’d been forced to stay within her chamber.

The hardship of it wasn’t the loneliness or fear of Geoff, but the terror of what had happened to Gillian.

Geoff hadn’t visited her chamber once, for if he had, she would have pleaded with him to return her daughter.

“Milady Sorsha.”

Sorsha nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. She hesitated before turning to look at the man who had murdered her husband and abducted her daughter. For months, she had despaired at what would become of her and Gillian but now was her opportunity to change their circumstances.

“Laird Chattan.” She kept herself restrained as she took him in. His height, brawniness, and severity showed the warlord manner he was renowned for. Garbed in black garments, most of which overshadowed the Chattan tartan, did little to lend to an amiable mood.

His dark wavy hair and full beard were damp. She assumed he’d recently bathed. Geoff’s dark eyes peered at her in return and he neither smiled nor frowned at her.

Sorsha was uncertain why he’d called her to him. Her only hope was that he intended to free her and allow her to see Gillian. “You wanted to see me, Laird Chattan? Here I am.”

He grunted softly and approached to stand next to her.

Before the fire, she held out her hands and remained silent.

When he was ready to explain why he’d asked her to attend to him, he would tell her so.

A long moment passed and she sighed slightly because her fate rested in his hands.

The hearth waved before her eyes as she continued to stare at it.

Above a wooden mantle, the Chattan’s coat of arms, awarded to a previous war chief was sewn with the images of a ship, whortleberries, and a wildcat on richly dyed fabric.

“There are matters we need to discuss.”

“Aye, indeed. When might I see my daughter?” Sorsha continued to face the hearth and tensed in wait for his answer.

Geoff turned and walked to a nearby table. He snatched up two cups and filled them with wine. When he returned to her, he handed her a cup. “Drink, Milady, for I have much to say.”

“I shall listen,” she said and took the cup from him and held it but didn’t drink.

“I apologize, Milady, that ye witnessed what happened that night. Ye returned earlier from the festival and… My brother and I argued most of the day about clan matters. I had to act or our clan would be in ruin. Rodick was a spineless laird and was fearful of confronting our enemies. If ye had not born witness to what…happened…” He took a swig of the cup and was quiet for a moment.

Sorsha listened and understood the struggle of the clan and that Rodick was pathetic. Still, that gave no cause for Geoff to murder him, keep her imprisoned, or abduct Gillian. She took a breath and waited for him to say more.

“Rodick ignored ye and his neglect was intolerable. If I’d been married to ye, I would not have treated ye so inattentively. ’Tis the truth, I always thought ye too good for him.” Geoff took another drink from his cup.

“I do not understand why you are telling me this. I vow to speak not of that night or what I saw. You have my pledge to keep secret what you did. All I want is the return of my daughter.” She turned to look at him briefly but he kept his reaction shielded by facing the fire.

“Until I trust ye to keep the details behind your teeth, I cannot allow your daughter’s freedom. I shall permit ye to leave your chamber but I warn ye, Milady, one word of that night and ye shall never see your beloved child again.”

Sorsha swallowed at the anguish his words brought to her.

“For how long? Do you deem to keep her from me for a year or more…forever? I cannot bear it. Might I at least see her to ensure she is well?” Moisture threatened to burn her eyes with more tears of despair.

Remarkably, she resisted the urge to weep.

“There is a way for ye to free her and to secure your protection,” his gently spoken words caused her to gaze at him. “Agree to marry me. As my wife, ye will be unable to make accusations against me. In return, I pledge my fealty to ye and will never neglect ye as my brother did.”

Sorsha stiffened her shoulders. The last thing she’d ever do was marry him but he offered her a chance to regain her daughter. It mattered not what pledges he made and she cared not for his attention. Still, the offer was there and he awaited her answer. “I am taken aback…”

Aela entered the hall and in a quick stride, approached them. “My lady, Laird… The king has sent a missive along with an envoy. The messenger awaits to speak to you, my lady.” She handed the parchment to her and fled.

With the king’s missive in her hand, she turned away from Geoff and neared the table. Her hand shook as she opened the parchment and read:

Lady Chattan, your hasty presence is required in Edinburgh. My envoy awaits and will escort you at once. It was simply signed with an A .

Geoff stood behind her and reached to take the missive from her. He read it and frowned. “What does the king want of ye? Why would he send an escort for ye? Tell me. Ye cannot have gotten word to him to beg for aid. I had ye carefully watched.”

Sorsha almost fell to her knees. When she’d first been imprisoned in her bed chamber, she’d known she had to act fast. Thankfully, she had sent a message with the stable lad to Margaret. That Geoff had her watched didn’t surprise her. “I know not why he’s called me but I must go. Aela,” she called.

The maidservant reentered the hall. “My lady?”

“Pack a valise for me. I am off to Edinburgh.” Sorsha folded her hands, pressing her fingers tightly together, fearful of what the answer to her next question might be. “Laird, may I take Gillian with me? I have vowed not to speak a word of—”

His brows furrowed as he cut her off. “Nay, ye cannot take your daughter to Edinburgh. Ye deem me a fool? If ye think the king will give ye aid, ye are most mistaken about that, Milady.” Geoff set the missive on the table and pressed his hands on her shoulders.

Cold fear sent a chilling tremor through her. Sorsha raised her eyes and prayed that he would have the smallest bit of mercy within him.

“Ye will go as the king commanded but until ye return and give me an answer to my marriage offer, Gillian will remain in my care. As her uncle, I will see to her protection. I trust ye not, Milady, but remember that I hold your daughter’s wellbeing in my hands.

If ye thwart me or try to deceive me, ye will pay the price. ” Geoff marched out.

Sorsha flopped onto the nearby chair and willed herself not to weep.

She was so close to getting him to agree to return Gillian but all was not lost. With the king’s aid, she might be able to get Gillian back.

But now, the king’s envoy awaited and she had no choice but to leave.

Her only hope was that Gillian was kept safe until she could gain her freedom.

When she secured herself, she would see to it that she rescued her child.

“My lady, are you ready to leave? Your valise is packed and I placed it by the door. The king’s messenger awaits you,” Edra called from the entrance.

“I thank you, Edra. Please look after my bairn and protect her if you are able. I promise you that I shall return for Gillian, Lister, and you. You have been so kind to me and I detest leaving you behind.” She sniffled back her despondency and tried not to weep.

Aela grabbed her hands and held them. “Be strong, my lady. I shall be here awaiting you and I will do whatever I can to help Gillian.”

She released Aela’s hands and walked toward the exit, saying over her shoulder, “Hopefully, Margaret will offer me sanctuary. When I get to where I am going, I shall write to you.” Sorsha yanked her cloak from the peg where she’d kept it and hurried outside.

A spacious carriage tethered to two brown horses sat before the entrance of the keep.

One soldier rushed forth and took her valise from Edra, while another set a crate beside the carriage.

He held out his hand to assist her aboard.

Within a moment, she was underway. Her chest twinged with the painful thoughts of leaving Gillian behind and the months of trepidation she’d endured.

Along the route to Edinburgh, Sorsha paid little attention to the view or the men when they’d stopped to rest or on the layover during the night.

The journey was tiresome but she managed to eat, sleep, and see to her needs.

Once she reached Margaret, she would be secure and with the queen’s aid, she would figure out how to escape the nightmare she’d found herself in.

*

At the sight of her longtime friend, Sorsha nearly fell apart. A tremble overwhelmed her insides and her heart tensed. For the last few months, she’d prayed to reach her friend, and now that she was in Edinburgh, relief brought burning tears to her eyes.

Margaret took one look at her face and then shooed everyone from her private solar. She took her in an embrace and offered comfort. Sorsha held her and sniffled back the sobs that threatened to overtake her.

“My dear friend, you are here at last. I was distraught when I received your missive and am sorry to hear that your husband died.”

Sorsha stepped out of her embrace to meet her gaze and realized to her dismay that the queen was attired in a beautiful gown shaded in a golden color that made her own overdress appear to be a tattered frock.

Not only was Margaret dressed as a queen should be, but she wore her brown hair elegantly pulled back with a braided gold band atop her head while Sorsha’s own hair was disheveled from her travel and her gown wrinkled from the long trek.