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Andrew took four steps and was on her, his hand entwined itself viciously in her hair and yanked her head back.

His mouth clamped down so hard on hers that she uttered a small yelp of surprise.

He kissed her roughly with no passion or emotion, and it was used purely for the fact that he wanted to discover everything she knew about the castle.

The woman was big, hard, and heavy as he took her to the bed.

She was moaning and writhing, and was pulling at his hair as he ripped away her bodice and cruelly sucked on a nipple that was the size of a small apple.

His hand went up her skirt to the most private of places, and began stroking her expertly.

“Esme,” he breathed. “Do you know anything of the castle?”

She squirmed. “Like what?”

“Daily business.”

She gasped as he hit a tender spot. “Mostly,” she said. “The soldiers come here all of the time.”

Andrew thought that might be the case. “And you see the business coming to and from the castle?”

“Always.”

“Were there any special visitors today?” he asked, his lips brushing against her hard nipples. “Did you see anything? Or… hear of anything?”

The woman parted her legs, begging for his male organ, but Andrew wasn’t even aroused. All he wanted was information.

“Such strange questions, m’lord,” she panted. “But I did see that a woman was brought in today.”

“How would you know that?”

“Because we are very close to the castle and visitors must pass by the tavern to enter the grounds,” she muttered, trembling when he rubbed her in just the right spot.

“She passed by with one of the king’s knights.

I’ve seen the man before; he’s Sassenach .

And a large troupe of actors and musicians also came in today. Why? Are ye an entertainer?”

He didn’t answer her, but began to manipulate the sensitive nub between her legs. She bucked and cried, and Andrew felt oddly detached, watching as if he were a disinterested bystander. It was the most un-arousing thing he’d ever done.

“Where are the guests housed?” he whispered hotly in her ear. “Do you know?”

She cried out before answering. “My sister serves at the castle,” she groaned. “In the past, I think she has said visitors are in the residence to the south of the gatehouse. That’s where she works. But the entertainers are housed with the servants. Why do ye ask so many questions about it?”

Any more questions and she would more than likely become suspicious, but Andrew had heard most of what he needed to know.

At least, he had an idea now. In the residence to the south of the gatehouse.

He could find it once he was able to gain access to the castle.

And then, hopefully, he could find Josephine from there.

His fact-finding mission was over and he needed to get away from the woman. He manipulated her quickly until she reached her climax. Then, he jumped from the bed, going over to the basin of water to wash the smell of her from him.

Esme stretched like a cat and smiled, putting herself back together as she sat up. He turned and looked at her coldly.

“Get out,” he said.

Her smile faded and she looked at him questioningly, but she obeyed. He waited until she left before he pulled off his leather vest and threw it on the bed. Then, wearing only his trousers, black linen tunic, and thigh-high black war boots, he strapped on his sword and went to find Sully.

*

Sully was having a merry time where Andrew had left him. He and the three women were howling with laughter when Andrew came upon them.

“Montgomery,” he said and jerked his head towards the door.

Sully nodded, patting the women as he stood up and followed. He waved and blew a kiss as if he were actually sorry to be leaving.

“God in heaven!” he exclaimed softly once they were outside. “I thought you would never come back!”

Andrew looked grim. “I had to discover what I could,” he said. “Believe me when I say that I took no pleasure in it.”

“What did you discover?”

“That Josephine was probably brought in today,” he said. “She said a woman had been brought in by a knight. Who does that sound like to you?”

Sully’s eyes narrowed as he pondered that question. “A knight brought her in?” he said. “Who could that be? The king took everyone with him when he left.”

Andrew shook his head. “Clearly, not everyone,” he said. “He sent a knight to retrieve Josephine and bring her to Edinburgh. Did you meet any of the knights that the king brought with him?”

Sully thought hard. “I think there were a few,” he said. “But I think I saw them with the king when he left.”

“All of them?”

Sully shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure,” he said honestly. “But who would he have sent after Josephine?”

“His best, probably.”

A light went on in Sully’s mind. “What about that bodyguard who shadows him?” he said. “The big bastard. Someone told me he was an English knight, gifted to Alexander from Henry.”

Andrew knew to whom he was referring and, suddenly, what Esme told him made some sense.

“ Sassenach ,” he hissed. “The woman told me the knight who brought the woman to the castle today was a Sassenach. It had to be the bodyguard. I met him when I went to greet the king’s entourage when they first approached Torridon and he was out in front, protecting the king. De Reyne, I think his name was.”

“De Reyne?” Sully repeated. “I think I ran into him once or twice, but I can’t say we shared any conversation.”

“Conversation or not, he is the only Sassenach I know within the king’s entourage and Esme identified him,” Andrew said.

“He is our culprit. Esme also said that visitors are housed in a structure south of the gatehouse, so I would assume that was where he took Josephine. We have a starting point now.”

“One of the vultures you left me with in there told me that her sister is a kitchen servant at the castle,” Sully said with a twinkle in his eye. “She will do anything for the right price.”

That was good news, exactly what they’d been hoping for. They’d reached their horses at this point and paused, determining what they were going to do next.

“Mayhap she can tell me where Josephine is,” Andrew said. “How do we find this woman?”

Sully was rather smug in his reply. “Even as we speak, my new friend is sending word to her sister at the castle that there is money to be made for information,” he said.

“Her suggestion was that we stay until very late tonight or even tomorrow morning and wait for her sister to come to us. We will need the woman’s help to enter the grounds because there is only one way in and one way out. We will need her advice.”

Andrew glanced up at the massive castle behind them, perched high on a rock.

The crag itself was rocky and sheer, and to try and climb into the castle would be impossible at best. He hated that he was so close and could do nothing to get any closer to Josephine; anxiety ate at him but he fought it off, knowing that there was literally nothing he could do until the morrow.

But the thought was killing him.

I am coming, Joey! Be brave!

“Very well,” he said unhappily. “Then we will stay here tonight and meet with this woman when she arrives. I suppose there is nothing we can do until then, anyway.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Now that their path for the night was set, they collected the horses and headed over to the livery across the road to bed them down.

But after that, they would return to the inn for a good meal, a warm bed, and to fight off the women they’d so openly seduced.

It could prove for a very interesting evening.

“Tell me, Sully,” Andrew said as they collected their weary horses. “How did you obtain such information without resorting to physical bribery?”

Sully grinned. “Quite simple,” he said. “I am persuasive as well as handsome and charming. Have you not noticed?”

He could hear Andrew laughing all the way into the livery.