Chapter 5

Jeb woke early the next morning and went down to break his fast. The whispered conversation he’d shared during their game of whist had begun to answer his questions. It was indeed Mariah who had sent the jewel to Her Majesty.

He walked into the breakfast room to find MacFarlane already there. So was his daughter. Her theatrics throughout the game of whist had thoroughly mesmerized him. She communicated so much with her eyes, the tilt of her head, the set of her mouth.

This morning was no different. Her eyes spoke of confidence and trust and a veiled warning not to betray her secret. And was that another hint of flirtation?

“I see you are an early riser, too,” MacFarlane said, interrupting his speculation. “I thought you might be. Your father always started his day early. Said he accomplished more without everyone getting in his way.”

Jeb smiled. “He instilled that same philosophy in his children as well. And the army reinforced that habit.”

“I’m sure it did.” MacFarlane pointed to a sideboard where a variety of food waited to be eaten. “Please, help yourself. We don’t want it said that we allowed you to go hungry.”

“From the amount of food here, that would be impossible.”

Jeb filled a plate with eggs, sausage, and bacon, then added toasted bread. He took his plate, heaping with food, to the table and sat down across from MacFarlane’s daughter. Both father and daughter raised eyebrows at his voluminous selections.

“Losing at whist made me lose my appetite,” he joked, evoking laughter from both MacFarlanes.

“You’ll need a full stomach for what Mariah has in store for you today, Danvers.”

“Really?” Jeb said, spreading jam on a piece of toast.

“Yes, Mr. Danvers,” Miss MacFarlane said as she slid her empty plate away from her. “I forgot to mention last evening that I want you to see the Langholm stables. I’m confident you’ll find our horses equal to MacKinnon’s. Then we can go for a ride and you can test one of them. I’m sure you’ll be impressed with whichever horse you choose.”

“I’m sure I will be, too,” Jeb said as he tucked into his food.

“My apologies, lieutenant. My daughter is a bit delusional when it comes to her horses.”

His rude comment stifled conversation, and the moment Jeb finished eating Mariah rose. Jeb stood as well. “Would you care to join us, MacFarlane?” Jeb asked, hoping he wouldn’t, yet knowing he had to ask.

“I shall beg off, if you don’t mind,” MacFarlane answered. “I have business to take care of here. But I’ll send Tavish with you.”

“Of course,” Jeb answered, knowing he wouldn’t be allowed to escort the laird’s daughter without a chaperone.

“If you’re ready, then, my lady.”

There was a glimmer in her eyes as she placed her hand on his proffered arm. “I am.” It was obvious she looked forward to showing him her horses.

They walked to the foyer, where a servant stood with the lady’s cloak. It was short, barely reaching her fingertips, and made of the same herringbone as her elegantly understated riding habit. Jeb took it from the servant and placed it over her shoulders. When they were ready, a footman opened the door, and they stepped out into a crisply crystal day—the sort that a Londoner coveted and a Highlander took for granted.

Jeb hoped they’d have an opportunity to talk while on their way to the stable, but one of the staff was always too close. He wanted desperately to tell Mariah he meant to take her away from here but couldn’t risk it so soon. Her father would send the hounds of hell after them if they both left at the same time. Yet everything she’d whispered to him at the card table assured him she believed that safety lay only as far from Langholm Castle as she could get.

They arrived at the stable, and Jeb got his first look at Mariah’s horses. They were indeed excellent—stock as fine as he’d seen at MacKinnon’s stable—and it didn’t take Jeb long to select the mare he thought was the most exceptional.

“You’ve chosen well,” she said when he indicated the horse he wanted to ride. “Frances is one of my favorites.”

“Which one is your most favorite?” Jeb asked while he saddled the horse he’d chosen.

“You’ll see,” she said, then stepped back when a stable hand brought forward a magnificent mare. She was as elegant an animal as he’d seen thus far in Scotland. Perhaps even more so.

Jeb walked to the mare and ran his hands over the horse’s neck and down her flanks. “She’s remarkable,” he said in a voice that indicated how impressed he was with the horse. “I can see why she wasn’t included among the horses you showed me.”

“Milly is my pride and joy,” Mariah said. “I didn’t want you to choose her and force me to refuse to allow you to ride her. She could never be yours. I would never consider giving up Milly.”

“I don’t blame you,” Jeb said, locking his fingers to help Miss MacFarlane into the saddle. She easily tucked a leg over the sidesaddle pommel and settled her posture as she waited for him to mount.

But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. There atop the most beautiful of horses she was poised like a queen, comfortable in every way, her face anticipating the ride.

He grinned. She couldn’t wait to run her horse.

And he couldn’t wait to watch.

He turned and lightly swung himself onto his horse without need of a stirrup, enjoying the momentary rise of her eyebrows. He was showing off. But then, so was she.

They rode away from Langholm Castle. From out of nowhere, two men appeared and rode a close distance behind them.

“Tavish, I presume,” Jeb said.

“And Jasper. You seldom see one without the other. They’re two of Father’s most loyal henchmen.”

Jeb wondered at the term she used for her father’s servants. Henchmen implied something altogether different than what he would have thought. Something clearly more sinister.

The four of them rode from the castle. Although Tavish and Jasper kept a respectful distance, they remained close enough that it was impossible for him to talk to Mariah without being overheard.

“What do you think of her?” Mariah called out as they rode at an easy pace.

“She’s got an easy gait. I’m impressed.”

“Would you care to race to that large tree up there?” she asked, pointing to a tree in the distance.

“On the count of three?” Jeb said. He waited for Mariah to signal for the two guards to remain where they were, then he counted. On the count of three, they bounded forward.

The horses were evenly matched, and at the halfway point they were nose and nose. But by the time they reached the tree, Mariah’s mare was nearly a half length ahead of him.

Jeb didn’t know what he was more impressed with: Mariah’s mare or her riding ability. Both were remarkable.

“You’re to be commended,” he said when they brought their horses to a halt. “That was remarkable.”

“We have to talk fast. Get down and check my horse’s hoof.”

Jeb dismounted and did as Mariah said. As he began to examine the hoof, she leaned over as if watching him.

“You will stay the night, then leave in the morning. Travel toward MacKinnon’s estate, but turn on the first road going south. It will take you across the border into England. Wait for me there. I’ll join you before dawn of the next day.”

Jeb looked up. “What do you mean, wait for you? Surely you don’t intend to travel with me?”

“Keep your eyes focused on Milly’s hoof.”

Jeb lowered his gaze.

“If you want to return what I have, you have no choice but to take me, too.”

Jeb continued to feign attending to Milly’s hoof while he considered what to say. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Staying here will be more dangerous.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not now. We’ve stopped long enough. We have to get back, or Tavish and Jasper will come after us. I’ll race you,” she cried out. “One. Two. Three,” she counted and took off.

“That’s not fair,” he yelled as he leaped into his saddle and chased after her. She reached their starting point well before he did.

“Did you see that?” he said to Tavish and Jasper.

Both men were trying to hide their laughter.

“I think she lied that her horse had picked up a stone just to get me off my horse. She had the entire thing planned.”

“Tavish and Jasper know I’d never do anything so deceitful,” she said, trying to put an innocent expression on her face. “That wouldn’t be ladylike.”

“Judging from the laughter on their faces, Tavish and Jasper know nothing of the kind.”

Jeb’s comment caused the two men to laugh outright. Jeb wondered how long it had been since they’d laughed. How long it had been since they’d had something to laugh about.

“Follow us, men,” Jeb ordered, then took off at a gallop. Mariah kept up with him, and Tavish and Jasper followed at a discreet distance.

Jeb knew he would have to risk talking to Mariah before nightfall. He had to tell her that he refused to allow her to go with him. It was too dangerous. The instant MacFarlane discovered the jewels were missing, he’d send every man at his disposal after Jeb. Especially if he realized his daughter was gone, too.

Jeb followed Mariah’s lead as she went from location to location on MacFarlane property. He realized she was pointing out several escape routes from the castle, and put each path to memory.

After several hours, they headed back to the stable. When they handed their horses over to the stable boys, they went inside for lunch.

“So what did you think of Mariah’s horses? Did you find any that equaled MacKinnon’s?”

Jeb smiled, then turned his gaze to Mariah. “One, especially. Although your daughter informed me she is unwilling to give her up.”

“You’re talking about Mariah’s Milly,” MacFarlane said.

“Yes. She’s an outstanding animal.”

“I assure you that you are correct. When she first got the horse, that’s all I heard from her. How magnificent she was. But for you, that can never be. There’s not a chance that she would consider giving her up.”

“And you are correct,” Mariah answered. “There isn’t an amount great enough that would make me even consider parting with her.”

“Then I will have to continue my search,” Jeb said.

Mariah laughed—a magical sound that soared from her as if it had wings of its own. Even her father reacted to the sound as if it had been a long time since he’d heard it.

MacFarlane turned his gaze from his daughter and focused again on Jeb. “They’ll be ready to lay lunch soon,” he announced. “Perhaps you’d like to wash up after your ride. When you’re rested, I’ll have Cook serve a light meal. I won’t suggest anything too heavy since I understand she has a heartier meal planned for tonight. She wants to impress you with some of our favorite dishes, I do believe.”

Jeb smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Then we’ll see you in . . . say . . . an hour,” MacFarlane said before he turned and left them.

Jeb was dismayed that he would not have an opportunity to speak with Mariah, but the butler and two footmen stood within view. Nothing but small talk could be risked.

There wasn’t a chance they could formulate a plan under these circumstances. He’d have to wait until tonight. Perhaps he could get her away long enough after dinner to speak privately with her.

Because there was no way he would take her with him.