His lips stretched into a sly, evil-looking grin.
Lawd, how unholy.
He straightened. “Touching, how you persist in protecting my brother. But here’s the thing, almost anyone will betray confidence when the purse is hefty enough.”
“Almost anyone will tell a tall tale if it means a hefty purse,” Honoria countered.
“True, but we Rom make for good spies, and Marco over there,” his head jerked to a man with a boyish, but still hard look about him, “told me an interesting tale about an auburn haired little girl tangled up with my brother in the stables.” He reached out to toy with a loose tendril of her hair. “You.”
They had seen her and Lash kiss?
Och that did not bode well. Could she deny it and claim disgust at the idea? She doubted she could lie that well. Even recalling it . . .
Stop!
Honoria tried not to blush. But when he laughed, a demon cackle, she knew she had failed miserably. Were her hands not tied so tightly, they might have trembled before boxing that smug look right off his face.
Her curl slipped from his grasp, and he took a step back, studying her with a sudden gleam in his eyes. “My brother took up with agadji. I never thought I’d see that day, either.”
She said nothing, simply narrowed her eyes at him.
“I suppose it should not have come as much of a shock,” he carried on, his smile not quite reaching his eyes, “Like mother, like son.”
Honoria’s eyes widened.
Like mother like son?
“What do you mean she’s gone?” The Highlander demanded.
“Six men on horseback cornered her south of the property border,” Ross explained.
Something dark swirled inside Lash, and he inwardly cursed. His every muscle pulled taut as rage dug its claws into his chest. He had never lived through such hopeless fury and nagging fear as in that moment.
Danior.
The rat bastard.
“You allowed her to ride when I explicitly expressed no one is to leave the castle?” Hugh exploded.
“She promised to stay on the property but left before I could saddle my horse to accompany her. I found her in time to witness her capture.”
Lash stared down at his hands. They trembled.
The fault lay at his feet. He had suspected his brother had not believed Honoria’s denial. He should have left then, but he had let his guard down. Again.
Only this time Honoria’s life was in danger.
He had to save her. Return her home. Had to hear her voice and glimpse her smile one more time. It was a raw need within him. And after Danior was dispatched of, assuming Lash survived the encounter, he would cut all ties.
“I cannot believe this!” Hugh exploded. “Is there anyone in this bloody country who listens to me? Why the hell didn’t you come and get me the moment she left?”
“I was afraid to let her out of my sight,” Ross answered, his face grim. “I followed them to a cottage about an hour’s ride from the castle.”
“Dammit! I told her to stay out of sight. I told her to stay inside.” His flinty eyes turned on Lash. “This is your fault, Ruthven.”
Lash did not deny it.
“That’s enough, Hugh,” Isla said, her gaze flicking between the men, lingering on Ross in particular. “Casting blame won’t get Honoria back. We must come up with a plan.”
