Page 22 of Defy the Highlander

“Aye, m’lady. He was very brave.”

“And you like this man, do you? No need to deny it because I can see it in your face. You are more concerned for him than you are for yourself.”

Lilia lowered her gaze, trying desperately not to flush. “I… I feel a responsibility towards him because he protected me, m’lady.”

“Is he handsome?”

There was something in the woman’s questions that seemed rather pointed, beyond the usual inquiry, that gave Lilia pause. Lady Currie was known to be a purveyor of male flesh the way some people were experts on prized horses or sheep. If she told Lady Currie that Brody was handsome, undoubtedly she would allow him to come back.

… but more than likely for her own purposes.

The thought turned Lilia’s stomach.

“Nay,” she finally said. “I would not call him that, m’lady. He is a man who saved me and nothing more.”

Lady Currie’s gaze lingered on her, possibly to determine if she was lying or not, but she didn’t press. Finally, she shook her head.

“He will not come back,” she said. “That is your punishment, Lilia. Your friend is not permitted at Hawkhill and you are not permitted to see him again. This will be the end of it. Now, go and make sure the carriage is prepared. I want to leave soon.”

Lilia didn’t argue with her. If it was a punishment, it wasn’t much of one, nor was it one she planned to obey. As she moved to quit the chamber, she happened to see Colly as the woman sat up in her chair, surprisingly healthy-looking now that she thought Lilia was being punished. Even if she didn’t know what form that punishment was to take because she hadn’t heard the conversation, she still knew that her nemesis would see some retribution from Lady Currie.

When their eyes met, a sinister smile spread across Colly’s lips. In response, Lilia drew a finger across her throat, indicating what she’d do to the old woman if given the chance. As Colly began to wail again, Lilia fled the chamber. She wasn’t going to let that old woman get the better of her.

But it wasn’t the last volley in the battle of wills.

That came later in the evening.

As Lilia headed up a darkened stairwell to tell Lady Currie that her carriage awaited her, Colly was waiting for her in the shadows. Just as Lilia reached the top of the stairs, a blow to the face sent her tumbling all the way back down to the bottom. As she shook off the stars in her vision, she happened to see Colly’s dark form at the top of the stairs, moving away before any words were spoken.

That told Lilia that the battle between them had just turned into a war.

CHAPTER SEVEN

She didn’t have much time.

In order to make up for losing the sausages last week, Lilia had begged to go to the butcher’s again. When Lady Currie denied her and sent one of the stable grooms instead, Lilia offered to gather wildflowers for Lady Currie’s bedchamber. The woman was particularly fond of blooms called “treasure flowers”, which had pale purple petals, and others called “everlasting flowers” because they never seemed to die. The colors were very bright and Lady Currie loved them.

Therefore, Lilia was given permission to gather flowers for her lady’s chamber and she headed out on a bright, cool morning, her destination the hills to the north. At least, that was what she told Lady Currie and, in truth, she did manage to make it there.

Briefly.

There was a heavily-forested area surrounding a small loch and she picked her way through the bramble, cutting flowers with her knife and quickly tossing them into the basket. Anything with color, she cut.

But she had another destination in mind and flowers weren’t the focus.

Brody was.

It had been three days since she’d seen the man and she could hardly sleep for the thought of him. With her basket full of colorful autumn flowers, she hurriedly made her way into Edinburgh. She returned to the alley where it all started and, in truth, she felt some apprehension. It was a dangerous place but she doubted men would ambush her for flowers.

At least, she hoped not.

The alleys were dark and angled because Edinburgh was built on crags, so everything was sloped. That familiar smell of urine and human despair filled her nostrils as she entered the alley where she first saw Brody.

Lilia didn’t want to spend too much time alone, walking up and down the alleys, because that was asking for trouble, but she wanted to give Brody enough time to find her if he was anywhere near. She was about to head down another alley that had a livery when someone grabbed her from behind.

Terrified, Lilia swung the basket with all her might at the person behind her, hitting him in the head as the flowers went flying.

“Och!”