Will slid on a shirt that was almost as punishing as the trews, snatched up the plaid, and followed Josette down the spiral stairs. She led him without stopping through stone halls whose walls leaned toward each other, and up another, much longer, staircase.

He was winded by the time they reached the top, where Josette opened a trapdoor. She scrambled out with a flash of plump leg, and Will followed her more slowly onto a rooftop of crumbling stone.

Will paused to catch his breath, but Josette wasn’t flagging at all. Of course, she hadn’t been held for three days with no food or water or place to relieve herself.

Before Will had left the kitchen below, he’d feasted on bread, a hunk of cheese, ale, and a dram of whisky. The whisky had been indifferent, nothing like Mackenzie malt, but he’d drunk it thirstily. He’d left the roasted chickens for the ladies, not wanting to deprive them of their supper.

“Ye know your way about the castle,” he observed as Josette wandered to the edge of the parapet.

Wind gusted from below, catching a dark curl that fell to her shoulder. “You taught me to learn the lay of a place, and quickly. I know every route in and out by now.”

“How long have you been here?”

“A month, perhaps a few days more.”

Will reached her side, her warmth cutting the chill. “Ye’ve stayed in this godforsaken place a month? Why?”

Josette didn’t answer as she gazed over the wall to the valley below.

They were in the Highlands all right. A treeless land spread under gray skies, hills rising to misty mountains in the distance. A loch shimmered about half a mile from the base of the walls—at least the ladies had fresh water and fish to go with their meager chickens.

Will didn’t recognize the immediate area, though it couldn’t be far from familiar territory. Much of the northern Highlands looked like this, rust-colored land tumbling from stark hills as it reached for the sea. He peered at the sky, but the sun didn’t penetrate the gray, and he could not make out a direction.

“The nearest town is …?”

“Ullapool.” Josette pointed over the loch to the gray horizon. “About fifteen miles to the southwest.”

That would put them near the river Canaird, which ran through empty country of rocky ground, bogs, and isolated farms. This castle, half ruined, could only be one place.

“Strathy Castle,” he said. Which was in Clan Mackenzie territory, though very near that of the MacDonnells and MacLeods. “Or was. Been abandoned since the battle of Glen Shiel in ’19.”

Yet another ill-fated plan to put James Stewart, the Old Pretender, on the throne of Scotland, which rasher members of Will’s clan had supported. Good men had been killed in that venture, as they had been in the 1715 uprising, and now the ’45. Will wondered when Highlanders would realize God was trying to tell them something.

“Well chosen,” he said in admiration. “Far enough off the beaten path for a hiding place. No one has lived here for years, and the nearest village is a day’s walk.”

“I remembered you mentioning it,” Josette said. “And Lillias knew where it lay.”

“She would.” Will pulled his gaze from the land to Josette. “Watch her, love. She is a staunchly loyal Highlander—wouldn’t betray a soul to the English—but you’re not a Highlander. She plays by her own rules, has since she was a wee one.”

Josette gave him a nod. “Lillias and I have reached an understanding. She has lost much, as they all have.”

Will had no doubt of that, but he’d seen Lillias’s desperation. Highland women were no less scheming, determined, and violent than the men, a fact many outsiders did not understand. Highland wives could inherit lands, be lairds, and lead men into battle. Didn’t matter that she was female, only that she’d been left in charge.

“How did you manage to get me here?” Will lounged against the wall of the parapet, pretending to be relaxed, but he was alert, aware of every creature that moved in the grass below, every flutter of bird. “A journey over a mountain pass and through a few glens?”

Josette’s smile sparked heat inside him. “In a cart, pulled by a donkey not very happy with us. We buried you under a load of turnips.”

“Ah, that’s why I’ve gone off the things.” He remembered none of the journey, but Josette would have made it in silence, she and Lillias hunched in shawls like farm women delivering a load to market.

“You groaned a bit. We had to stuff a rag into your mouth. I’m sorry about that.”

She didn’t look very sorry, as the twinkle in her dark eyes betrayed. Josette must have been happy to at last find a way to shut Will up.

“Ye seem to have an able contingent here. What need for me?”

“Because if there is something dead secret that needs discovering, you are very good at it.” Josette flushed, as though reluctant to admit this. “You can ferret out whatever you like, whenever you like, out of whomever you like. As soon as I decided to help the ladies, I knew immediately we’d need your skill, and started a search for you. I knew from some stories I’d heard that you must be in Scotland. We scoured the Highlands for a long time—you certainly know how to hide yourself. Then Mysie got rumor of a lone but tall Highlander having been captured by soldiers and dragged to an army camp. We watched that encampment, and then I got myself in and saw it was indeed you. You know the rest. Don’t worry yourself about payment for helping us—we’ll give you your fair share.”

Will peered into a pocket of mist nestled into the gray land as he listened, impressed. Josette had learned very well how to seize opportunity. “Ye have much confidence in me,” he remarked. “I haven’t been able to discover where the gold is no matter how much I’ve listened at keyholes or tried to trick men into telling me.”

“You believe it’s still out there, then.” Josette moved closer to him. “Else you’d not be listening at keyholes.”

Will’s body tightened, but he made himself keep his arms folded. He had no idea what was between them now or if she’d push him off the parapet the instant he tried to touch her.

“The French never got it back,” Will said, as though her nearness didn’t matter. “Mal or Alec would have told me—they’re chummy with the French king and his new, glorious mistress. The gold never left the Highlands, is my guess. But I don’t see any Highlanders parading about, spending it on luxuries. I see men and women barely surviving the winter. So it’s well hidden.”

“Maybe it was lost,” Josette said. “Maybe it’s lying at the bottom of the sea, or in a bog.”

Will shook his head. “Then every fisherman and ghillie would be searching for it. What I believe is that someone is sitting on it, hiding it. Hoarding it. For what purpose, I don’t know.”

“For what purpose?” Josette flashed him a sudden grin. “Spending it, of course. Buying food and clothing, or maybe purchasing their way into the good graces of the king.”

“Aye, maybe.”

With Josette a step away from him, smiling her beautiful smile, Will was rapidly losing interest in the conversation. Her cheeks were pink from the cool air, and her mouth was soft and sensuous, lips parted. A mouth worth kissing. Often.

God’s blood, he’d missed her. Will hadn’t realized how deeply until this moment, when they stood atop the Highland aerie, miles of nothing around them. Josette was here, exposed to wind and weather, and to his longing.

He’d tried to push her from his thoughts while they were apart, to go on fighting battles and long-term, secret wars. But always Josette had been in the back of his mind—her dark eyes, the low note of her voice, her softness beneath him in the night, the joy of waking in daylight to find her beside him.

What she was truly doing here he didn’t know, but he’d find out. Josette was compassionate, yes, but there had to be more to her decision to help these women. He’d need patience to learn all her secrets, and Will could be so very patient.

She stood too close, the dim light brushing her hair. Will couldn’t stop himself reaching to smooth back a silken lock.

Josette stepped away before he could touch her, her smile vanishing. “I’m sorry, Willie—I’ll tell you right now, this won’t be like Salisbury.”

Her words stung like a blow from that mad captain’s fist. Damn, she knew how to kick him.

Will forced a shrug. “Of course it won’t. There we had solid walls, glass windows, soft beds. Ah, Marsden House—so many memories. And the food. I recall that velvety smooth lemon bisque. Chef was a bloody genius.”

Josette’s eyes narrowed. “I believe you know what I mean.”

“We were pretending to be man and wife.” Will made his expression go reflective. “Sir William Jacobs and his bride, Anna. Returning to beloved Britain after a long sojourn on the Continent—ostensibly for Anna’s health, but as she was in such fine fettle, speculation was they’d fled to the Continent to hide from creditors. An influx of income from a deceased distant relation had made certain all was well again. The guests at Marsden House winked and laughed behind our backs, just as I wished them to.” Will twined his fingers and stretched his arms. “One of my finer creations, was Sir William.”

Josette sent him a look. “’Twas not difficult for you to play a reprobate. Even a mostly reformed one.”

Will leaned one elbow on the wall, feigning nonchalance. “And you were excellent as my frivolous wife, Anna, who loved to shop. Easy to understand why Sir William went bankrupt.”

A hint of Josette’s smile returned. “Those aristos were so distracted by feeling superior to us that they never tumbled to what you were really about. Yes, ’twas well done.” She held up a hand as Will started to lean to her. “But not to be repeated here. You know why.”

Yes, he did. Will had found the information he’d needed at the huge estate called Marsden House near Salisbury, which had caused one man to flee to the West Indies and saved a few Highlanders a pile of cash and stretched necks.

The mission had grown dangerous, both physically and to Will’s heart. Josette had told him in no uncertain terms that it was the last time she followed him into peril. She had Glenna to take care of, and she could not risk her daughter being hurt.

Will had complied. He’d set her up as landlady of the boarding house in London, where Will had fondly supposed Josette still resided, with Glenna to help her run the place. Josette had assisted Alec and Celia when they’d eloped, and Celia, who never forgot a kindness, had kept up correspondence with her.

“If you’re determined to search for the French gold I can’t promise you’ll be in no danger,” Will said. “’Tis a dangerous business.”

Josette scowled. “I meant, blast you, no liaison between you and me. The danger is comparable, I grant you, but this time, we’ll be in separate bedrooms.”

Will hadn’t realized she’d been so angry at him. He’d granted her wish after Salisbury and walked away. That should have been that.

He hadn’t walked away in his heart. Will could pretend all he wanted, but while he’d done everything in his power to make certain Josette was safe, happy, he regretted every moment apart from her.

He managed a faint smile. “Aye, well. A man can hope.”

Josette didn’t soften. “You know what happens when we come together. What always happens. I am weary of it. Never again.”

“Truly, lass? I rather enjoy … coming together.”

Her cheeks went a dark red. “When it ends, I mean. It’s awful. I can’t go through that again.”

Ye think I can? Will wanted to shout. “I remember you asking to do the leaving.” Will jabbed a finger at her, going hot when he imagined her seizing the finger and nibbling on it. “It’s never me.”

“Because of danger to my daughter,” she said, eyes flinty. “And my sanity. You’re a dangerous man, Will Mackenzie. You always will be.”

That was true. But Will being dangerous had ensured his family stayed safe—that is, until they’d all run mad and joined Will’s brother Duncan when he’d taken up with Prince Teàrlach in the Jacobite Uprising.

Will being dangerous had allowed his father and brothers to flee when hell descended, had ensured they’d been listed among the dead. Will continued to keep the king’s men from learning they were alive, as he went about his business finding out secrets and taking vengeance here and there on those who’d murdered his fallen brothers, Duncan and Angus.

But one day …

Will told himself that one day, he’d cease these wanderings and settle down, read books and keep his feet warm, hire a chef to make him lemon bisques, drink malt whisky, and go to bed with a fine woman.

That woman in his daydreams was always Josette. Children and grandchildren figured vaguely in this vision as well, and they had Josette’s sable hair and deep brown eyes.

Will lifted his hands in surrender. “If ye don’t want me near you, then why did ye bother rescuing me? You could have interrogated me about the gold and then left me tied to that stool.”

“Because I didn’t want to see you die.” Josette’s face remained uncomfortably flushed. “That major was going to kill you once he was finished with you. But that is not the point.” She stepped back again, as though determined to put space between them. “You were the only one I could think of who could help us. Alec could perhaps, but he is in France, and he and Malcolm have families to look after. And I have to admit, you are the best of your lot when it comes to deception and intrigue. I had no choice but to ask you.”

“I’m flattered.” Will folded his arms once more, tamping down his frustration. “Major Haworth wouldn’t have killed me in cold blood—he was a gentleman. He’d have tortured me until I was nearly dead and then given me over to his men to shoot, or had me sent to the Tower to be tried, fair and square, before I was executed. But no matter. I had already planned my escape. I always do.”

“You thought you had,” Josette corrected with chilling patience. “They knew it, and were going to let you go, and then shoot you as you ran. Major Haworth was no fool.”

He believed her. Letting Will slip away and then killing him as he escaped would put the major in a good light—he could boast that his captain and men had valorously shot a savage Highlander on the loose.

Will had had contingency plans even for that, but he’d come close to death in that camp and he knew it. He suppressed a shiver.

“How did ye discover all that, love?” he asked in a light tone. “Admirable work, by the way.”

“No one pays attention to a serving woman. They say things in front of her they wouldn’t speak about before their own soldiers. Helps if she’s cheeky.”

Most men completely underestimated women, Will had learned early in life, never believing that ladies could turn around and feed all they knew to people like Will. Josette had been instrumental in trapping the cardinal all those years ago, exposing his evil secrets and winning Will the gratitude of a king.

“I thank ye again, love.” Suddenly he was tired of it all. He yearned to hold Josette and bury himself in her, forgetting the petty cruelties of the world. “Can I show you how grateful I am?”

Narrowly avoiding death always made his passions run high. Fever high. A mindlessness stole over him, and all he wanted was Josette in his arms. Best if he carried her to the relative softness of his pallet, but the stones at their feet would do.

Josette stepped from him again. They’d sashay all over the roof at this rate.

“Have you not heard a word I’ve said? I’m asking you for help, and that is all. There’s no need for us to pretend to be man and wife this time—in any way whatsoever.”

“Not even if I’m dying for you?” By heroic effort, Will stood his ground and didn’t leap at her.

Josette’s pretty throat moved in a swallow. “I’m sorry, Will. Not even if we’re dying for each other. I can’t. Not again.”

That was the difference between men and lasses, Will’s dad would say. A man could take comfort in lying with a woman and be done. A woman would want the comfort to continue and be crushed when it didn’t.

Not that the old duke hadn’t been madly in love with his own wife and nearly drowned in grief at her passing.

Will also knew he’d never be finished with Josette. Not now, not ever.

He made himself nod. “Ah well, lass. If that’s what it’s to be.” He sighed like a man resigned, as though putting it behind him.

Josette knew good and well he hadn’t decided to give in, but Will was wise enough not to pursue the matter at the moment. There would be time enough later. Will would make the time. He’d not let go of his dream, even if Josette didn’t want anything to do with him at present.

He’d seen the spark in her eyes, the memories, the knowledge of what they’d had.

She didn’t like the leave-taking at the end, she’d said. Neither did Will—it had always been stormy.

This time, it would not end like that. Because there would be no leave-taking.

He was Will Mackenzie, the best man in the world for covert campaigns.

He’d finish what he’d returned to Scotland to do, and when he was done, Josette and Glenna would remain with him. He’d make them his mission, and this one, he would not fail.

In the morning, after a breakfast of leftover bread and a few fried eggs, Josette led Will to the chamber where they did their planning.

Without expressly saying so, Will had decided to throw in his lot with them. Josette knew this from the way he’d charmed the ladies over the meager supper, he eating little so the others would have more.

This morning he’d risen in good spirits, helped Glenna gather eggs from the hens a few of the ladies had brought to the castle with them, and charmed them once again over a meal. Even Lillias didn’t look as murderous.

The planning room had a carved table left over from when this castle had been a laird’s grand home. The windows held real glass, though the panes were old and warped.

Will moved at once to the maps strewn across the tabletop and began studying them.

Sunlight through the thick window slid across the sharp line of his jaw and burnished his hair red. Will leaned his fists on the table, the linen shirt, too small for him, tight on his arms.

Josette saw when his eyes moved from the coves on the western coast—potential hiding places for the gold—to the north, above Loch Ness and Inverness.

“You can’t go back there,” Josette said in alarm. “You know you can’t.”

Will didn’t look at her. “But I’ll have to, love. It’s what I came here for.”

Josette moved to him and brushed her fingers over the map, touching the area that contained the lands of Will’s family and his home, Kilmorgan Castle.

“Promise me ye won’t,” she said softly. “If you’re caught … They’ll kill you for certain. I don’t think I could bear that.”

“I can’t promise.” Will flicked his gaze to her, and Josette hid a flinch at the determination in his golden eyes. “I can’t promise never to go. I need to.” His look burned her a moment, then Will shook his head. “But I’ll not do so now. Don’t worry—I won’t bring soldiers down on your ladies by doing something foolish.”

Josette relaxed in relief. “Thank you.”

His roguish look returned. “Only if you tell me how the devil ye came to be leading a bunch of Highland lasses in a lost cause. What pried ye out of your safe London boardinghouse?”

“If you believe London safe, then you’re naive,” Josette said. “Mysie Forster was boarding at my house—she’d come to London to try to discover what had become of her sons. I couldn’t help seeing how upset she was. After a time I convinced her to confide in me. Her sons are awaiting trial, she said, but they’ve been waiting a long time. Seems the Uprising was a bit of a mess for the clerks and lawyers who keep track of everything and everyone. There the lads sit, not being tried, but not let go either. She’d been told that a large bribe might get her sons released, but of course, she doesn’t have that sort of money, does she? I remembered you talking of the gold, and I thought, if I could find it …”

She closed her mouth over any more words. The story of the gold had made her decide a few things, had given her a way out of a dilemma. But Will didn’t need to know everything at the moment.

Will regarded her with his Mackenzie stare. “What are you talking about? I never spoke to you about the gold. Never saw you after it came to Scotland.”

“Yes, it’s been some time since you showed yourself in my doorway,” Josette said dryly. “I meant you mentioned it to Alec and Celia, and Celia told me in her letters.”

“Celia is perceptive. And a very good wife to Alec. He needs the peace she brings him.”

Josette let herself smile. “Peace, you call it? They’re very much in love, if I’m any judge. Couldn’t keep their hands off each other. I suppose lying exhausted in bed every night is a sort of peace.”

Will’s answering grin flashed heat through her. “It is. I remember.”

Josette stepped back. “None of that. We’ve agreed.”

“You’ve convinced yourself we should have no truck with each other. I didn’t precisely agree.”

“Will.”

“Ye blush so hotly. ’Tis flattering, love.”

His smile would unmake her. Josette remembered it over her in the dark, and how his eyes would drift closed when he entered her …

Will turned away, the air his plaid stirred chilling. He leaned over the map again, blunt fingers moving down the paper, tracing the line of the coast. Josette refused to think of how those fingers at one time had skimmed her body, her breasts, moved along her belly to the join of her legs.

She jerked her eyes open, having no idea she’d shut them, and sucked in a breath.

Will’s hand stilled, and he frowned. “Hmm.”

“What?” She stepped to his side. “What is it? Where are you looking?”

The maddening man only rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing. “I wonder if—”

Outside, a dog barked. Will’s head came up in alarm.

Their gazes met, Josette going cold with fear as a man’s voice, raised in a shout, drifted through the ill-fitted diamond-paned windows.