When Lucas retired that evening he expected to fall asleep immediately. The journey had been hard and today had been the worst part of it. He was exhausted. He wanted to sink beneath the covers of his own bed and get a sound night’s sleep.

But now he lay awake, staring at the canopy, thinking about Ailsa.

For the last four nights he’d held her in his arms while she slept and he’d liked it.

Of course he liked it. He always enjoyed sleeping with a woman in his arms. Maybe that’s all he needed now. He could go down to the tavern in the village. He never had trouble finding a willing partner. But the thought of seeking out someone else tonight didn’t stir him in the least. To his utter surprise, the only person he wanted in his arms was Ailsa MacLennan.

He sighed. How had he fallen for Ailsa MacLennan? He shook his head. Surely, he’d get over it eventually. He had to. She was a MacLennan and as soon as her ransom was paid he’d probably never see her again, much less hold her while she slept. He hadn’t wanted to leave her in William’s solar this afternoon. But it had probably been for the best. The sooner he exorcised her from his thoughts the better.

Nay, the sad truth was, being separated from her hadn’t helped him stop thinking about her at all. She was on his mind throughout the afternoon. Initially, he’d told himself he was simply concerned about her wellbeing. But the voice deep within him—which always told the painful truth—laughed at that notion. He knew he had no reason whatsoever to be worried about her wellbeing. Nina and Emily would be kind and make her feel as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

It wasn’t concern he felt. That little voice knew she was on his mind because he missed her. He missed her sunny disposition. He missed holding her sweetly-curved body on his lap. He even missed her cheerful chatter. She was a bright light when she was happy.

Again that awful voice spoke up. But she’s not happy now and that’s yer fault. Ye lied to her.

“I didn’t lie,” he said to the empty room.

Perhaps not technically, but ye intentionally misled her.

Again, that voice told him the painful truth. He had intentionally misled her. He’d told himself it was for her safety, so that she would come willingly with him to Castle Grant. She’d have been miserable for a much longer time if he had told her the truth and then had to keep her bound.

But ye didn’t have to hold her for ransom. Ye could have just taken her home.

He sighed again. That was another painful truth. He wanted to believe that he was better than the Galbraiths. He hadn’t drugged her and stolen her away.

But ye took advantage of the fact that they did.

Damn. He really was as bad as the Galbraiths and it was all out of his hands now.

His thoughts wandered to dinner. When he’d entered the hall and saw Archie all but dragging her to the table, white hot anger had flared within him. As he reached them and saw the fear in her eyes he wanted to pull the man’s arm from its socket.

When he’d had the chance to calm down, he realized that most of the guardsmen and men-at-arms in the clan, would only see her as a hated MacLennan and a prisoner. If their hostage was a man, he wouldn’t have cared. After all, intimidating a captive was one way to keep them in line.

But she was adorable, vivacious Ailsa. They didn’t need to intimidate her—just being here did that. And they certainly shouldn’t hurt her. Lucas would talk to William about this in the morning. As laird, he needed to be the one to demand she be treated gently.

With that resolved, perhaps he could get some sleep.

~ * ~

Lucas was up early the next morning. Not surprisingly, he hadn’t slept well. He wanted to speak to William right away. Luckily, his brother was already at the table when Lucas reached the great hall. “Good morning, brother.”

William looked up. “Good morning. I trust ye slept well after yer rather eventful journey.”

“Aye, I did,” he lied. “And I’m glad ye brought up my journey because I’d like to talk to ye about something.”

“What’s concerning ye?”

“Well…uh…it’s about Ailsa.”

“Put her out of yer mind, Lucas. Ye don’t need to worry about her anymore. We have her well in hand.”

“Aye, but that’s just it. She’s being treated like a prisoner.”

William snorted. “She is a prisoner. Ye were the one who took her captive in the first place.”

“I know that, but last evening I saw Archie yanking her along by the elbow.”

“And yer point is? We’ve already established that she’s a prisoner, not to mention a MacLennan.”

“But she’s also a frightened lass who has never harmed any of us.”

“She’s still a MacLennan.” He glared at Lucas for a moment before adding, “What do ye want me to do about it?”

Lucas shook his head in exasperation. “Issue an order that she is to be treated gently, as they would a clanswoman.”

“Lucas, she isn’t a clanswoman and hatred for the MacLennans runs deep. I saw Archie bring her into the hall. He didn’t seem to be hurting her—not really.”

“She was terrified.”

“It never hurts for a captive to be a little afraid. Ye know that. It makes them cautious and less likely to try to bolt.”

“William, I can’t believe ye’re saying this. Ye have two daughters. What if the MacLennans get their hands on one of them someday? Would ye want them terrorized like that?”

“Ye’re being overdramatic. She wasn’t in any danger.”

“Damn it all, William, show some compassion.”

William’s eyes narrowed, clearly Lucas had stirred his ire. “Ye were the one who brought her here. And I’m glad ye did because we need the money. But now she is my prisoner. If ye don’t like the way my men are treating her, perhaps I should make her yer responsibility again.”

“I’ll be happy to guard her.”

“All day? Every day until the ransom is paid?”

“Nay, of course not. But when she leaves her chamber for meals, I’ll escort her. It’s no great chore and she won’t be afraid of me.”

William barked a laugh. “I’m not so sure about that. She was none too happy with ye when she arrived yesterday.”

His brother was as bad and the voice of his conscience. “Perhaps not, but I will make sure not to hurt her.”

William gave a dismissive wave. “Fine. She will remain locked in the tower room unless ye’re with her. Under those conditions, the guards would have no other reason to interact with her, so I won’t have to play the mother hen and tell my men to be nice to the little MacLennan.”

It wasn’t exactly what Lucas had wanted, but it would do. “I understand. Thank ye, William.”

“But Lucas, I’m warning ye, don’t fall for her feminine wiles. Other than guarding her, she is off limits. Women have a way of manipulating men by giving them romantic notions. I will not tolerate that. Don’t let her talk ye into doing something stupid. I promise, ye will taste my wrath if ye do. Just remember, she’s a MacLennan.”

“Don’t worry. I have no romantic notions about her and she hasn’t the power to manipulate me.”

He didn’t have romantic notions about her. What did William think? Lucas was not the type to fall in love. Not even with the beautiful and charming Ailsa MacLennan. He was fond of her. He cared about her. That was all.

That annoying voice spoke up again.

Ye’re an eejit and ye love her.

Fine. He loved her. But he knew that meant very little. She hated him. His brother knew it and she’d said so herself. Besides, like William said, she was a MacLennan. Lucas was absolutely aware of where the limits were.