There was a light chuckle from Darach. “Now, why am I disappointed with hearing accusations from ye?”
“Because ye should be disappointed in yerself for touching me!”
Jane got up and slowly moved a couple feet away from him. She stared him down until his eyes flickered, and he smirked at her. “I think ye’re only this shocked because ye liked my touch so much.”
A tinge of mortification, anger, and some other emotion she couldn’t name filled her mind. She turned and ground out her words to Darach through clenched teeth. “I couldnae care less about yer touch! It's the inappropriateness of attempting tae touch an unmarried lady.”
“Really?” he said softly. “I dinnae think so. In fact, I think yer body enjoyed such inappropriateness from me.”
Jane forced a laugh. “Nay!”
Darach’s eyes narrowed. Standing up, he sauntered toward her. Jane felt heat emitting from him and stepped back away from his approach. His presence was all-encompassing—he sucked the breath right out of her. She retreated until her back hit a tree, and she gasped, looking up into his dark eyes.
“If truly ye could nae care less about me, then why does yer heart pound so hard?”
Jane did not have an answer to that. Instead of saying a word, she pushed past him and proceeded to hurl his clothes at him.
“Ye said we leave at first light. ‘Tis time tae leave now then, I think.”
With a dry chuckle, Darach took his clothes and started pulling them on. Jane was grateful for the silence, but she couldn't help but wonder what the new day had in store for her.
CHAPTERSIX
As soon as they crossed over the border onto Robertson lands, Darach heaved a sigh of relief. He knew that soon enough some of the scouts would pick up their trail, and their approach would be relayed to Morven. He was also glad to be finally out of the grasp of MacThomas. The laird would’ve realized his daughter’s disappearance by now, and he probably had his riders scouring the woods already.
The sun was at the highest in the sky, and the flask of water he’d stolen from the keep was now running empty. He spared a glance at Jane. She twisted her fingers nervously as she dragged her feet across the ground. She’d blatantly refused his offer to carry her two hours ago and had trudged on gallantly albeit the pain in her foot.
“If ye need water, I kept some for ye.”
Darach raised the flask, but she just glanced up at it and shook her head. He gaped at her, feeling slightly remorseful that he’d dragged a lady through such a harrowing journey. However, he also felt quite annoyed at her disregard toward everything he did. It was all he could do not to shake her senseless. The little chit had a determination that matched her impudence, he’d give her that. Other women would have broken down and begged him to go back, but she’d held her nerve so far.
She looked weary. Her face shone with sweat, and her hair was bedraggled with its curls loosened from her plait, hanging all the way down to her waist. She showed none of her tiredness in her pose, as she’d turned her chin up in defiance of him since the moment he’d challenged her in the morning.
As they descended a hill, Darach heard her inhale sharply, and he looked up to catch sight of what she’d seen. He chuckled with relief as he watched distant riders galloping toward them. The banner carried by the front rider was unfurled and flying, and it bore the sigil of the Robertson clan.
Jane gasped when she saw it, and Darach understood what that meant for her. She’d probably realized at the sight of the crest that no one could come to save her anymore, not without an open battle.
Her eyes flickered around the hillside, and she picked up her skirts as if she was preparing to run again. Darach cast a glance at the riders and back at thewoman. He didn’t know if she’d heed or trust him, but he knew he should reassure her before the imminent arrival of his clansmen.
“I assured ye that nae harm would come tae ye in my keep, Jane.”
She stood back and gazed at him, her bottom lip clenched tightly between her teeth. “Dinnae call me by my given name as if we were friends, my laird.” Emotions spread like wildfire across her face. She opened her mouth again, but the hooves of the horses circling around them drowned her voice out.
“Brother!”
Darach turned around to see Morven ride out in front of the company as the horses spread out and cantered into a wide circle.
Morven rode through the others and pulled the reins to a stop. He dismounted and clapped his brother’s arm, then a frown spread across his features as he looked from Darach to Jane. “What happened to the rest of the company, and why are ye with the lady?”
Darach took another glance at her. She seemed to have her guard back up and looked warily at the soldiers. Her proud stance faltered a little, and she swallowed before slightly relieving the pressure on her left leg. She was trying valiantly to hide her discomfort, but it was clear enough to Darach’s discerning eye.
His brother’s questions would have to wait. Jane needed care and could no longer be neglected.
He raised his hand and motioned toward one of the guards gathered at the perimeter. “See to her needs,” he ordered. “Get her to the keep and have a bath drawn. Hand her over tae Lorna tae see that the maids prepare her a plate of food.”
Two of the riders hurried forward, and each took an arm of the lady still standing by Darach.
“Careful now,” Darach cautioned. “She’s injured. And for God’s sake, give her something for her leg. She’s been in pain all day, even if she’s been pretending otherwise.”