“They’re here!”

Murine glanced up sharply from the message she was writing as her maid entered the room. She waited until Beth closed the bedchamber door before asking, “Did ye find out who they are?”

“Nay.” The brunette looked vexed. “None o’ the maids or the lasses in the kitchen seem to ken, or if they do they’re no’ telling me.”

“Oh,” Murine said with disappointment, then shook her head and returned her gaze to the message she’d been writing. Mouth tightening, she signed her name to the bottom. “It matters not. They’re Scots. Surely their trip home will take them past the Buchanans or the Drummonds and they will deliver this for me.” Biting her lip, she began to wave the parchment about to dry it and added, “I ha’e a couple coins left I can give them fer their trouble.”

“Most like they’ll pocket the coins, say they’ll deliver it and toss it away as soon as they’ve left Danvries,” Beth said unhappily. “I do no’ ken why ye just do no’ send one o’ yer brother’s men with the message.”

“I have sent three that way and got no response,” Murine reminded her grimly. Mouth flattening with displeasure, she admitted, “I begin to suspect Montrose is not sending them at all.”

“But why would he do that?”

“’Tis hard to say with my brother,” Murine muttered unhappily. “He’s a . . . difficult man.”

Beth snorted. “He’s a selfish, greedy cur, hell-bent on wagering his life away and yours with it. But I see no reason for him no’ to send yer messages to yer friends.”

“Neither do I,” Murine admitted unhappily. “But if he did send them, then . . .” She bit her lip, unwilling to give voice to her biggest fear. If Montrose had sent her messages, then Saidh, Jo and Edith just weren’t bothering to answer.

That thought was a troubling one and made her worry that she had said or done something when last they were together to upset them all. Murine had wracked her brain trying to sort out what that might be, but could think of nothing. She’d then switched to wondering if perhaps her brother wasn’t sending them as he assured her he would. She couldn’t imagine why, but was actually beginning to hope that was the case. It was certainly preferable to thinking her three best friends had turned their backs on her for some reason.

“It should be dry enough now,” she muttered and quickly rolled, then sealed the parchment.

“How are ye going to get it to the Scots without yer brother seeing?” Beth asked worriedly as she stood up.

“I heard Montrose ordering Cook to be sure he has lots of food and drink on hand when the Scots get here,” Murine explained as she slid the parchment up her sleeve and checked to be sure that it was concealed and wasn’t being crushed. “I shall slip the message to one of the men when Montrose is distracted with eating.”

“Yer brother is offering food and drink to someone?” Beth asked dryly. “I never thought to see the like. The bastard’s so cheap I’d think he’d choke on the offer.”

“I expect he’s hoping to fill them with ale or whiskey to make them more amenable to accepting credit rather than demanding payment for the horses he wants,” Murine said, satisfied that the parchment would be fine up her sleeve.

“Aye, well, Lord knows he has no’ the coin to actually buy them. He’s already gambled away all of his own money, and your dower to boot,” Beth said bitterly.

“Aye,” Murine agreed wearily. It was not a subject she cared to contemplate. She’d been horrified when she’d learned that bit of news. She’d thought her situation dire enough when she’d had a dower but no betrothed, but without dower, it would be impossible to find anyone willing to marry her. It now looked like she would live out her days here at Danvries as an old maid, dependent on her selfish brother, and that was only if he didn’t tire of her presence and send her off to the Abbey to become a nun.

Pushing that depressing thought from her mind, she brushed the wrinkles out of her gown, straightened her shoulders and headed for the door. “Come. We will sit by the fire in the great hall until they come in. Then once the food arrives, we will use that as an excuse to join the table and slip my message to one of the men.”

“I’d been told your animals were superior and they certainly are that.”

Dougall waited patiently as Montrose Danvries ran a hand down the mare’s side and then circled the horse, examining every inch of her.

Lord Danvries next moved on to the stallion and gave him the same attention, examining his withers and legs, sides and head just as thoroughly. His expression was a combination of wonder and appreciation when he paused at the beast’s head. Rubbing one hand down the stallion’s nose, he murmured, “Exactly what I was hoping for.”

“If they meet yer expectations, perhaps we should discuss payment,” Dougall suggested.

Danvries stiffened, several expressions flickering across his face. Settling on a wide, fake smile, the man turned away toward the keep. “Come. Let us go inside for beverages.”

“I told ye,” Conran muttered, stepping up beside Dougall. “The bastard has no’ the coin. He lost it all in that last wager with his king.”

Dougall sighed at his brother’s words, recognizing satisfaction amidst the irritation in the younger man’s tone. Conran had always liked saying I told ye so.

“Come along, gentlemen,” Danvries said without looking back. “There is much to discuss.”

Mouth tightening, Dougall glared at the man’s retreating back. Danvries should have tossed him a bag of coins, and bid him on his way. The only time the buyer wanted to “discuss” matters was when he didn’t have the coin, or wanted to talk down the price. Dougall was not one to be talked down. Despite knowing this was a great waste of time, though, he waved away his brother’s further mutterings and trailed the Englishman out of the stables and toward the keep. He didn’t need to look around to know that Conran, Geordie and Alick were following. It had been a long journey here and they were all thirsty. The least Danvries could do was see them fed and watered before they took their beasts and headed home to Scotland.

“He’ll try to cheat ye,” Conran warned, on Dougall’s heels. “Bloody English bastards. Most o’ them’d sell their mother for a coin.”

“Nah,” their younger brother, Geordie, put in behind them. “It’s their daughters they sell. The old women wouldn’t be worth a coin. They’re too bitter from years living with the English bastards to be worth anything. The daughters, though, are usually sweet and pretty and have not yet grown bitter. Get ’em away young enough and they’re almost as good as a Scottish lass. Almost,” he repeated, stressing the point.

“Lord Danvries has neither a mother nor a daughter, so I’m sure that’s no’ a worry,” Dougall muttered impatiently.

“He has a sister though,” Conran pointed out. When Dougall glanced to him with surprise, he nodded. “An old maid left to whither on the vine thanks to Lord Danvries wagering away her dower.”

“He wagered away her dower?” Geordie asked with surprise when Dougall didn’t comment.

“Is that even allowed?” Alick added with a frown.

“From what I heard, he was named her guardian in the father’s will so had control over it,” Conran said with a shrug.

Dougall shook his head and they all fell silent as they trailed Danvries into the great hall and noted the people milling about.

There were soldiers at the table enjoying their noon repast, servants bustling about cleaning, and a lady seated by the fire. Dougall’s gaze slid over the woman in passing, and then almost immediately moved back to her. She was young. Not in the first blush of youth, but perhaps twenty or so and still retaining some of its dew. Dougall guessed she must be Danvries’s bride. If so, he was a damned lucky man, for she seemed to glow as brightly as the fire in that dim great hall. Her gown was a pale rose color with white trim on a shapely figure, and her hair was a halo of golden tresses that poured over her shoulders and down her back. She was peering down at some needlework she was stitching, but when Danvries called for ale, she glanced over briefly and Dougall’s attention turned to her face. Heart-shaped lips, large doe eyes and a straight little nose all worked together in an oval face to make her one of the most striking women he’d ever seen. Danvries was definitely a lucky man.

“Come sit.”

Dougall dragged his eyes from the vision by the fire, suddenly aware that he’d stopped walking and the Englishman was now at the great hall table while he was still just inside the door with his brothers at his back. Danvries was eyeing him with a tinge of amusement that suggested he was used to men ogling his wife.

Forcing himself to move again, Dougall led the men to the table and settled on the bench where Danvries indicated, noting that it left him with a clear view of the woman by the fire. Women, he corrected himself, for a dark-haired maid accompanied the blonde, working diligently over her own stitching. But the lady’s beauty seemed to cast the maid into shadow; he’d hardly noticed her ere this.

“My sister,” Danvries said quietly.

Sister? The word echoed in Dougall’s mind, and he felt a sense of relief he didn’t really understand. She definitely wasn’t the withered old maid Conran had described, but what did it matter to him if she was Danvries’s wife or sister? It didn’t, he assured himself, and turned determinedly to his host, pausing as he noted that the man was eyeing the woman with something like speculation in his eyes. He frowned over that and then said, “About payment fer the horses . . . ?”

“Ah, yes,” Danvries offered a somewhat tight smile and said, “Your horses are, of course, every bit the quality animals I’d been led to expect. Lord Hainsworth did not oversell them when he told me about your abilities at breeding quality mares and stallions.”

Dougall nodded, waiting for the but.

“Howbeit,” Danvries began and Dougall just restrained himself from rolling his eyes. But, howbeit . . . However the man chose to phrase it, it was a but.

“Howbeit?” Dougall prodded when Danvries hesitated.

“Well, I had the money here ready for you, but a bit of bad luck came my way.”

The wager with the king, Dougall thought dryly. That hadn’t been bad luck, it had been stupidity. The English king always won at wagers, and had backed La Bête at jousting, a smart move. Danvries betting against La Bête when the warrior had never ever lost . . . well, that was sheer stupidity. It wasn’t Dougall’s problem, though, except that it meant he’d made this trip for naught.

Sighing, he stood with a nod. “So ye do no’ want the horses now.”

“Nay, nay, I want them,” Danvries said quickly, catching his arm as the men rose to stand as well. When Dougall turned his eyes to the hand on his arm, Danvries immediately released him. “Sorry. Sit, sit. I do want the horses. Of course, I do.”

“Ye just can no’ pay fer them,” Dougall suggested dryly, still standing.

“Nay. I mean, aye. Aye, I can,” Danvries corrected himself quickly. “Of course I can.”

When Dougall remained standing and merely waited, Danvries muttered a bit irritably, “Do sit down so we can discuss this. I am getting a crick in my neck looking up at you.”

Dougall didn’t think there was much to discuss. Either he could pay for the horses or he couldn’t. However, a young maid had arrived with the ale, so he settled back on the bench. His brothers were quick to drop back in their seats as well. It had been a long dusty ride here. He’d give Danvries until he’d finished his ale, but unless the man could come up with the coin, he was leaving . . . and taking his horses with him.

Nodding his thanks to the young maid, Dougall took a drink of his ale, his eyes wandering back to the blonde by the fire. She and her maid were chattering quietly now and casting glances toward the table.

“I’m sure it will only take me a couple of weeks to get your coin,” Danvries announced, drawing his attention again.

The man’s words were abrupt and overloud, a sign of anxiety, Dougall thought and wasn’t surprised. He nodded slowly. “I can hold them fer ye fer a couple weeks. Ye can come collect them when ye have the coin. But if the month ends and ye have no’ arrived, I can no’ promise—”

“Nay, nay, nay,” Danvries interrupted. “You do not understand. I need them now. I cannot be without a horse. I—”

“What happened to yer horse?” Dougall interrupted.

Danvries dropped his gaze and looked away, a frown curving his lips. It was Conran who leaned close to Dougall and murmured, “Part o’ the wager.”

Dougall sighed. The man was gambling his life away. Shaking his head, he said, “Ye will no’ be without a horse. I saw a good thirty in the stables, and—”

“They belong to my men, not me,” Danvries said stiffly, and then added, “I need a horse. A lord without a horse is like a king without a country.”

“A sale without payment is no’ a sale at all,” Dougall countered with little sympathy. It was hard to feel sorry for someone who had willfully and foolishly gambled away his horse and his wealth. Danvries had been one of the wealthiest estates in England under this man’s grandfather, and then he had died and Danvries had inherited. Dougall had heard rumors the man was running through his inheritance with poor spending and worse bets, but had paid it little heed. His brother had apparently paid more attention.

“There will be payment. It will just take me a little bit of time to get the coin together,” Danvries said pleadingly. “Surely you can extend me credit for a bit of time?”

Dougall eyed the man, and then glanced to his sister. She was staring down at her stitching, but unmoving. He suspected she was listening and briefly considered extending Danvries the credit he requested for her sake. The man wasn’t just buying a stallion for himself. Dougall suspected the mare was for the sister. Obviously Danvries had also lost her horse in the wager and it seemed a shame that she would suffer for his bad habits. But in the end, Dougall shook his head. He never extended credit. He insisted on payment ere handing over any horseflesh and didn’t like the idea of changing that now. Especially not with a man who had gambled himself so deep that Dougall suspected he wouldn’t be able to pull himself back out.

“I do no’ extend credit,” he said calmly and stood.

“Wait.” Danvries grabbed his arm again, desperation on his face. He then glanced wildly around, obviously seeking something to trade or to convince Dougall to give him credit. Dougall’s stomach rolled over when the man’s eyes landed on his sister and stayed there. Surely he wouldn’t—

“My sister.”

Dougall’s eyes narrowed.

“Leave the horses and take her with you,” Danvries said.

“I’m no’ in the market fer a wife at the moment,” Dougall said dryly.

“I did not say you had to marry her,” Danvries countered at once.

Dougall glowered at the man and then deliberately misunderstood his offer in the hopes that he would rethink and recant it. “Are ye suggesting I keep her as a marker? A hostage until ye pay fer the horses?”

Danvries hesitated, his eyes on his sister, and then he turned back, determination on his face. “Or you could keep her in place of payment. Until you think you have got your value for the horses. Of course, you would have to return her eventually.”

Dougall’s gaze shifted to the women by the fire as a gasp slipped from the blonde. She had been looking over her shoulder toward them with horror, but quickly jerked her face away now. If he’d been tempted by Danvries’s offer, and if Dougall was honest with himself, the idea of having this woman in his bed was a tempting one, the woman’s reaction was enough to make him forget it. He had never forced a woman into his bed and didn’t intend to start now.

He shifted his gaze back to Danvries, dislike rolling through him. The man cared so little for the lass that he’d sell her as a sexual slave in exchange for horses. It made it hard to believe that he was actually buying one of them for her. Now Dougall suspected it was for another woman, his betrothed perhaps, if he had one. All of which mattered little, he thought and said coldly, “Ye shame yer sister, yerself, and me with the offer.” Turning to his brothers, he added, “Our business here is done.”

He needn’t have bothered; Conran, Geordie, and Alick were already getting to their feet.

When the Scots all stood to leave, Murine released a little shudder of relief, and then drew in a deep breath. It was only then she realized that she’d been holding her breath ever since her brother had offered her to the Scot in exchange for horses. Her mind was still reeling from that event. She couldn’t believe he’d done it. She and Montrose had not grown up together and, in fact, had spent very little time in each other’s company until her father’s death had left her in his care, so there was little in the way of affection between them. Still, he was her brother and she was his sister and charge, and the idea that he would offer her out like some lightskirt . . .

Murine swallowed and got stiffly to her feet, eager to escape the great hall and the possibility of having to deal with her brother after his monstrous action. She glanced to Beth to see that the other woman was already on her feet and ready to follow. Relieved, Murine hurried toward the stairs. They’d managed to mount the first few steps when she heard Montrose cry, “Nay. Please wait! If you will not—I can get you the coin.”

Murine didn’t slow, but she did glance around to see the leader of the Scots shake his head in disgust as he reached the great hall doors.

“By tonight!” Montrose added, sounding desperate. “Ye can enjoy a nice meal and a rest and I’ll ha’e the coin by tonight.”

Murine noted that the Scot stopped at the door and turned to eye Montrose as if he were a bug scuttling out from under a rock. When his gaze then slid to where she and Beth had been seated, she hurried up the last few steps in case he glanced around in search of her. Murine didn’t look again until she’d reached the safety of the shadowy upper landing, then she slowed and turned to have a good look at the men below. It was something she hadn’t really been able to do until now. While seated by the fire in the great hall, she’d only dared cast quick, furtive glances at the visitors. Now, however, she examined each of the Scots in turn.

They were all tall and strong with dark hair, but Murine found her eye returning to the one who appeared to be their leader. She couldn’t have said why. They were all good-looking men, but for some reason she found him the most compelling. He was obviously angry and disgusted by her brother’s proposition, but then all of the men appeared to be. However, when he’d looked toward the fire for her just now, there had been something else in his eyes. Not pity, but simple concern and perhaps sympathy.

“I can get you the coin by tonight. Tomorrow morn at the latest,” Montrose repeated, drawing Murine’s reluctant gaze away from the leader of the Scots and back to her brother as he added, “My neighbor and friend, Muller, has always had an eye for my sister. He’ll give me the coin for the chance to spend time with her.”

Murine actually had to cover her mouth to stifle the cry that wanted to slip out. Offering her up to these men for horses was bad enough, but offering her to Muller for coin? Her stomach turned over violently at the suggestion. The Scot had been kind and chivalrous enough to refuse the offer. Muller would not. He would jump at the chance and would not care whether she was even willing. She would be no better than a—

“I’ll no’ be a party to yer turning yer lady sister into a whore.”

Murine winced as he said the word she was thinking.

“Coin or no coin, the horses are no longer fer sale to ye,” the Scot added coldly.

When he then turned on his heel and walked out of the keep with his men hard on his heels, Murine almost wished she could give chase and go with them. Instead, she whirled and caught Beth’s arm to rush her down the hall to her room. She had to get out of there, and quickly. Montrose would waste no time setting his plan into action and she needed to be far away from here when Muller arrived to claim his prize.

Once in her room, Murine paused and glanced around wildly before turning to Beth and ordering, “Fetch me an empty sack from the kitchens, please. But do no’ let anyone see ye take it.”

Beth nodded and was gone almost before the last word was spoken. Murine immediately hurried to the chests against the bedchamber wall to begin sorting through her belongings, trying to decide what she should take and what she could not. Traveling light seemed the smartest option. A spare gown, a spare shift, coins . . .

Her mouth tightened at that thought. All she had were the few coins she’d intended to give to the Scots for taking her message. She would be delivering that message herself now, and would need those coins.

By the time Beth returned, Murine had chosen the few things she would take with her. She’d even rolled her gown and shift in preparation of packing them away.

The maid handed over the sack she’d gone to fetch. Her gaze then slid over the few belongings on the bed and she frowned. “Ye’re fleeing?”

“Aye,” Murine said grimly.

Beth hesitated and then asked worriedly, “Are ye sure this is the right thing to do, m’lady?”

Murine’s lips tightened and she merely nodded as she stuffed the rolled-up gown into the sack the woman had pinched from the kitchens.

“But ’tis dangerous to travel at the best o’ times, e’en with a large party. A woman alone . . .” Beth shook her head at the very thought. “Could we no’ send a message to Lady Joan, or Lady Saidh instead? I’m sure one o’ them would send an escort fer ye.”

“Montrose is probably down there writing up his offer to Muller as we speak,” Murine said bitterly. “If I do no’ leave now, I shall no doubt be ruined by nightfall.”

“But, m’lady,” Beth said, tears in her eyes. “Ye can no’ travel alone. Ye could be killed by bandits . . . or worse.”

Murine stilled briefly at the words, thinking of her brothers Colin and Peter who had been killed on a trip two years earlier, but then shook her head and shoved a linen shift into the bag. “There are some things worse than death, Beth. And staying here where I will be sold off by me own brother . . .” She shook her head bitterly. “Thank ye, I think I’ll take me chances on the road.”

Beth was silent for a moment, her expression conflicted, and then raised her shoulders and said stolidly, “Then I’ll come with ye.”

Murine hesitated, briefly tempted by the offer, but shook her head on a sigh. “Nay, ye’ll not. Ye’ll stay here.”

“But—”

“I need ye to stay here and help hide the fact I’ve left,” Murine interrupted quickly.

Beth closed her mouth on her unfinished protest and asked uncertainly, “How am I to do that?”

“Stay here in me room. If Montrose comes looking for me, claim I am sleeping and send him away,” Murine said as she finished packing and closed the bag. She didn’t really think that ruse would work. Mostly she was using it as an excuse to keep from taking the maid with her. Murine had little hope of actually managing this escape attempt. She suspected she’d be hunted down and brought back ere the first night ended, but if she did manage to get away . . . well, as Beth had said, the road was dangerous. It was one thing to risk her own life to try to preserve her honor. It was another thing entirely to risk Beth’s life as well.

“Where will ye go?” Beth asked worriedly, following her to the door.

“I’ll slip down the back stairs to the kitchens and then sneak around to get Henry and—”

“Nay, I mean, where will ye go once ye leave Danvries?” Beth interrupted.

“Oh.” Murine breathed and then shrugged helplessly. “To Saidh. Buchanan is closest, I think, and she did say if I ever needed assistance to not hesitate to call on her. I am in definite need of assistance now.”

“Aye, ye are,” Beth agreed solemnly, and then reached out quickly to hug her. “Be careful m’lady, and pray stay safe.”

“I will,” Murine whispered, then pulled back and forced a smile. “I’ll send fer ye . . . if I can.”

“Oh, do no’ worry about me. I’ll be fine. Ye just take good care o’ yerself,” she said bravely, dashing away a tear.

Murine squeezed her arm gently, then opened her bedchamber door and peered cautiously out. Finding the hall empty, she slid out and rushed for the stairs.

“I can’t believe the bastard tried to sell his sister fer a couple horses.”

Dougall grimaced and glanced at his brother Conran at those bewildered words. After the debacle at Danvries, they had ridden to the village inn for a meal ere starting the long trek home. The conversation there had been focused on who they might sell the mare and stallion to now, and to wonder how they would find things at home. Not wanting to shame the sister in her own village, no one had even got near the topic of Danvries and his offer . . . until now as they left Danvries’s land.

“Aye,” Dougall acknowledged.

“Ye do no’ seem surprised.”

“People rarely surprise me anymore,” Dougall said, and then added in a lighter tone, “The only thing that surprises me is that ye were kind enough no’ to discuss it in the village and waited so long to bring up the subject.”

“’Twas no’ kindness,” Conran denied quickly. “I just did no’ want to ruin me meal. Was like to give me indigestion.”

“Oh, aye, o’ course it was,” Dougall agreed with amusement. He knew that wasn’t true. Conran just didn’t like to appear soft. Although, Dougall thought, talking about it now was making his own lunch roll in his stomach.

“Ye ken that now the idea’s occurred to him, he’s going to sell her off to his friend fer coin,” Conran said heavily.

“Aye. He’ll use her to make what money he can to make up fer his gambling,” Dougall said with distaste, recalling the glowing woman.

“If she allows it,” Conran said with a shrug. “Mayhap she’ll refuse.”

“Hmm.” Dougall muttered, but thought she might not be given the choice. Danvries was obviously her guardian, although she was of marriageable age. “Why is she still unwed?”

Conran shrugged. “As I said, talk is he gambled away her dower.”

“Aye, but how? It should have been protected,” Dougall said with a frown. “And she should ha’e been betrothed as a child and collected long ere this.”

“Mayhap her betrothed died,” Conran suggested, and then added, “And I’m sure the king would have stepped in and no’ allowed Danvries gambling away her dower . . . had he no’ been the one who won the wager.”

“So she’ll ne’er marry,” Dougall said thoughtfully.

“And be at the mercy of her brother all her days,” Conran commented, shaking his own head.

“Dear God,” Dougall breathed and almost felt bad that he’d turned down the man’s offer. At least he would have been kind to her, and mayhap had things worked out . . . Well, he had grown quite wealthy through his horse breeding. The only reason he hadn’t already purchased himself an estate was that their older brother, Aulay, had needed his aid raising their younger brothers and sister when their parents had died. A dower wasn’t an absolute necessity in a wife for him. On the other hand, he didn’t know the woman. She was pretty enough, but her brother was a weak man with a few bad habits, drinking and gambling among them. He also apparently had little in the way of moral fiber to him. For all Dougall knew, the same was true of her. But that gasp from her when her brother had offered her . . .

Dougall pushed away the memory. He had nothing to feel guilty about. He didn’t even know the lass.

“’Tis a shame,” Conran said. “She’s a lovely lass.”

Dougall merely nodded. She was indeed lovely.

“She looked sweet and demure,” Geordie commented from his other side when he remained silent.

“Aye, she did,” Dougall said on a sigh. “Mayhap me refusal to sell him horses no matter whether he has the coin or no’ will stop his plans.”

“For now, maybe,” Conran said dubiously. “Though I suspect he’ll go ahead with it in hopes ye’ll change yer mind when he presents the payment. On the other hand, he could buy horses elsewhere . . . were he to get the coin.”

Not wanting to encourage this line of conversation, Dougall didn’t comment. He had no desire to think the woman would still be sold off like a cheap lightskirt. Besides, he could see something on the path ahead and was distracted by trying to sort out what it was.

Noting his sudden stillness in the saddle, Conran glanced ahead and squinted. “It looks like someone on horseback, but . . .”

“But ’tis a very strange horse,” Dougall murmured. It looked short and wide, a squat creature that moved with a somewhat awkward gait.

“Is that a cow he’s riding?” Conran asked with amazement as they drew closer.

“A bull,” Dougall corrected as the rider shifted and he spotted a horn poking up into view. “And if I’m no’ mistaken, he is a she. That looks like a gown to me.”

“Hmm,” Alick murmured behind them. “A rose gown. Lady Danvries was wearing a rose gown.”

“Aye, she was,” Dougall agreed, and urged his horse to move more quickly.

“Damn,” Murine breathed when she heard the approaching horse. She’d spotted the men on horseback behind her just moments ago and had recognized them as the Scots Montrose had been trying to buy horses from. It could have been worse. Montrose could have discovered that she’d fled and come after her, but this was bad enough. These were the men her brother had tried to sell her to and the embarrassment and shame of what he’d done was overwhelming. She’d really rather not have to face them again.

“M’lady.”

Murine kept her gaze straight ahead, hoping that if she pretended not to hear him, the man might just leave her be and travel on.

“Lady Danvries,” he said, a little more loudly and when she again didn’t respond, commented, “Yer brother did no’ bother to mention ye were deaf when he offered ye to me. I should ha’e guessed as much, though. He’s obviously a cheat and a louse, so o’ course he’d try to pass off a defective lass in exchange fer me high-quality beasts.”

Gasping in outrage, Murine gave up her pretense and turned to glare at the man as she snapped, “I’m no’ defective! And ye’d ha’e been lucky to ha’e me, I’m worth a hundred o’ yer horses.”

When his mouth quirked up on one side and one eyebrow rose high on his forehead, she realized what she’d said and quickly added, “Not that I’d ha’e agreed to such a shameful bargain.” Turning forward again, she muttered, “Me brother has obviously lost his mind to sink so low.”

“And so ye’re running away before he offers ye to someone who is no’ as honorable as meself and might accept?”

Murine’s mouth flattened with displeasure. That was exactly what she was doing . . . or trying to do. But now she was fretting over the possibility that this man might somehow interfere and prevent her escape.

“Dougall.”

Murine glanced around at that shout, her eyes widening when she saw that his men, who had been keeping back apace, were suddenly urging their mounts to catch them up.

“What is it, Conran?” Dougall asked with a frown.

“Riders,” the man explained, glancing worriedly toward Murine. “And I’m thinking it’s Danvries’ men after the lady here, to take her back.”

Cursing under her breath, Murine started to turn her bull toward the trees, intent on hiding, but found her way blocked by horses as the other men caught up and surrounded them.

“No time fer that, m’lady,” Conran said sympathetically. “They’re moving fast; ye would no’ make cover.”

“Then we shall have to be her cover,” Dougall said grimly. “Surround her, and cover her hair and dress. I’ll meet the riders.”

Murine opened her mouth to protest, but then let out a startled gasp when a cap landed on her head.

“Tuck yer hair up, lass,” someone said.

“And here, put this round ye to hide yer pretty gown,” someone else said, dropping a plaid around her shoulders.

Murine didn’t argue, but clumsily shoved her hair up in the cap, then clutched the plaid around herself and glanced about at the Scots and their horses. Her bull sat perhaps a hand lower than their mounts, which helped hide what the plaid didn’t cover of her skirts, but there were only three of them now and the two riderless horses they’d hoped to sell to her brother.

“Mayhap we should . . .” Rather than finish the suggestion, someone suddenly tossed another plaid over her, this one covering her head as well. She then felt pressure on the back of her neck as someone silently urged her to press herself flat to the bull’s back. Hoping it was enough, Murine ignored the fact that she found it difficult to breathe in this position with the heavy cloth over her, closed her eyes and began to pray.

Dougall managed to get about twenty feet back up the path before the oncoming English riders reached him. He hoped it was far enough away from the woman his men were trying to provide cover for, but there was little he could do if it wasn’t. The choice then would be whether or not to fight for the lass. Dougall hadn’t yet made up his mind on the matter. It wasn’t the fact that there were twenty of them. He and his brothers were skilled fighters. They could easily beat twenty lazy, poorly trained English soldiers. But he wasn’t sure if Lady Danvries was worth fighting, and killing, over. If she was anything like her brother, she definitely wasn’t . . . and really, this was none of his business. He supposed he’d have to play it by ear.

“Did Danvries find coin fer the horses, after all?” he asked lightly by way of greeting once the riders had stopped.

“Nay.” The man in the lead glanced past him to his brothers and then back. “We are looking for Lord Danvries’ sister. She went out for a ride and has not yet returned. Her brother grows concerned.”

“A ride ye say?” Dougall asked, feigning surprise. “Are ye sure? I understood she was without a mount. ’Sides, she was sitting in the hall when we arrived and ’tis sure I am that she went above stairs ere we left.”

“Aye.” The man frowned and glanced back the way he’d come. “I gather she left after you and your men, and we did not pass her ere encountering you. She must have gone another way.”

“That would make sense,” Dougall agreed and he supposed it did make sense if you didn’t know that he and his brothers had stopped for a meal ere leaving Danvries land.

The man nodded, and spun his horse back the way he’d come with a brusque “Good journey to ye.”

“And to ye,” Dougall said cheerfully and grinned as he watched the English soldier lead his men away. He hadn’t even had to lie. Gad, the English were stupid. Of course, now he had to deal with the woman, he acknowledged, his smile fading.

Ah well. Dougall shook his head and turned to ride back to his own men.

“Lookin’ fer the lass, were they?” Conran asked as the men eased aside to allow Dougall to move his horse up beside the woman’s bull.

“Aye.” Dougall glanced toward Lady Danvries, expecting her to thank him for his aid. But she proved she was English by refusing to even acknowledge his presence. The woman was still huddled low on her cow, the plaid covering her like she was a sack of wheat.

Scowling, he tugged the plaid off her, and then leaned quickly to the side to catch the woman when she started to tumble from the back of her beast.

“Well,” Conran breathed with disgust when Dougall pulled her unconscious body across his horse to peer at her. “It looks like she’s gone and died on us. That could cause trouble with the English.”

“Nah, ’tis a faint,” Dougall said, but then had to tear his gaze from her pale face to her chest just to make sure she was breathing. She was, but shallowly.

“It can no’ be a faint,” Alick protested at once, standing in the saddle and craning his head to try to get a look at the woman. “If the lass is brave enough to run away on her own, she’s hardly the type to faint o’er a little scare like this.”

“Unless it was no’ courage that had her running away,” Conran pointed out.

“What else would it be?” Alick asked with a scowl.

“She could be lacking the sense God gives most,” Geordie suggested.

“Or she could be a few men short o’ an army,” Alick added reluctantly.

“This lass is no’ daft,” Conran snapped. “Nor is she witless. The two o’ ye ought to be ashamed to suggest it.”

“Well, why do ye think she’s fainted then?”

Conran eyed her briefly and then said, “Well, now, mayhap she’s ailing. ’Tis obvious her brother cares little for her well-being. Mayhap she’s taken ill.”

“And mayhap,” Dougall said, shifting the woman to a more comfortable position on his lap, “Ye should stop acting like a bunch o’ old women so we can continue on with our journey.”

Conran raised his eyebrows. “Are we takin’ her with us then?”

“Well, we can hardly leave her here by the side o’ the road in her state, can we?” he pointed out with exasperation. “We’ll carry her with us until she wakes.”

“And then what?” Conran asked, eyes narrowed.

“And then we’ll ask where she’s heading and if ’tis on our way, we shall escort her there,” he decided with a small frown. The woman was turning out to be a bit of trouble and he wasn’t happy about that.

“And if where she is going is no’ on our way?” Conran asked. “Or what if we’ve carried her right past where she was headed?”

“Then we’ll deal with that at the time,” Dougall said with forced patience, and then added irritably, “Right now, I’d jest be well pleased if ye’d get yer arses in gear and yer horses moving.”

“All right, no need to holler,” Conran said soothingly. “’Tis obvious the lass has set ye aback.” He glanced around and then asked, “What about her cow?”

Grimacing, Dougall glanced at the beast and shrugged. “Leave it behind. It’ll most like return to the keep. Then mayhap they’ll think she took a tumble and’ll waste days searching Danvries’ woods fer her.”

“But then she’ll have naught to ride when she regains her wits,” Conran pointed out.

“Then she’ll have to ride with me, will she no’?” he asked dryly.

“Aye, but what if her travels lead her away from us. She can hardly follow her own plans with no beast to ride.”

“’Tis a cow, Conran,” he pointed out with disgust. “No one with all their faculties would ride a cow anyway.” Sighing impatiently, he shook his head. “I shall supply her with a horse. We’ve two spare with us right now anyway.”

“Two fine beasts worth a pretty coin or two,” Conran pointed out sharply. “Ye can no’ be thinking—”

“I’m thinkin’ I’m tired o’ listening to ye bend me ear and am eager to be off,” Dougall snapped. “Do what ye like with the cow, but we are continuing on now.”

He put his heels to his mount, sending it into a gallop that had Lady Danvries bouncing around in his lap like a sack of wheat. Muttering under his breath, Dougall slowed the beast and rearranged her before setting out again. But he found himself glancing down repeatedly at the woman in his arms, wondering what she would have done had he agreed to the trade with her brother. Had she been offered and used thusly before? That thought hadn’t occurred to him ere this and now that it had, it angered him for some reason. He grimly turned his attention to the path ahead and urged his mount to move faster. But he also tightened his hold on the woman to ensure she wasn’t bounced out of his lap in the process.