When Kara awoke to find herself alone, anger and irritation coursed through her. She’d told Ronan the truth; he’d agreed to let her help, and he’d still left her alone to sit like a useless statue in his manor.

Aislin entered with a fresh gown and tunic for her to change into. Her face warmed as she realized that Aislin probably gleaned what happened between her and Ronan the night before. But the smile Aislin gave her was neutral—and there was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

“Do you know where the laird is off to?” Kara asked, hoping she didn’t sound too needy.

“I assume he went tae the castle,” Aislin said, looking surprised by Kara’s inquiry. Kara could detect the silent question in her eyes: Ronan goes to the castle on a daily basis. Why would today be any different?

Because he knows who I am. We made love last night. I opened up to him, and him to me.

Her mind still humming with frustrated thoughts, Kara made her way to the study once Aislin left her alone. This time Luag didn’t stop her, and she flipped through records that looked like land deeds, but there was no mention of a Suibhne or Orla.

It was midday when she set down the last deed, rubbing her eyes. How thoroughly had Ronan’s messenger checked the village for her family? Alice had told her that the most important records about each village’s residents were kept in its church. If she could go the village church and take a look at the records herself, perhaps there was something there that Ronan’s messenger had overlooked.

Kara found Luag in the courtyard, flirting with a different young female servant. He stiffened as she approached, regarding her with wary appraisal.

“M’lady,” he said with forced politeness, giving her a curt nod.

“I’m going to the village,” she said, hating that she had to ask permission. She reminded herself that an unaccompanied woman wasn’t common—or safe—in this time. “I assume Ronan wouldn’t want me to go unaccompanied.”

“The laird gave ye his permission tae go?”

I don’t need his permission, damn it.

“Yes,” she lied. “He—wants me to check something for him. At the church.”

Luag still looked uncertain.

“I’ll go on my own if I have to,” Kara said with impatience.

Luag glowered at her; he understood her meaning. She’d snuck off to the castle just the day before.

“All right. But ye stay close tae me.”

Moments later, Luag rode alongside her as they headed to the nearest village, which Luag told her was a few miles south of Ronan’s manor.

A sense of awe flowed through her when they arrived at the village. Alice would have loved this, Kara thought, taking it in. Thatch-roofed cottages, winding dirt streets, taverns, workshops, villagers wandering to and fro. The pungent scent of butchered meats, the shouts of merchants hawking their wares. It was times like these that it hit her she was truly in another time.

Kara tried not to stare too much as they entered the village, but other than her sojourn to Macleay Castle, this was the first time she’d ventured out of Ronan’s manor to see the outside world as it was in 1390.

They soon arrived at the church, a small steepled building in the center of the village. Luag tied their horses to a nearby post and accompanied her inside. A short portly man who looked like a clergyman approached, his eyes straying to Kara with curiosity.

“Luag,” said the clergyman with a broad smile. “Did the laird need something?”

“He wants me to review the church records,” Kara said, stepping forward. “He’s . . . looking for someone.”

The clergyman’s eyes widened—not only at her strange accent, Kara guessed, but over the fact that she could read. He looked to Luag, who gave him a curt nod.

The clergyman turned, entering a back room and returning with a records book. He handed it to Kara, his eyes narrowing as she sat down in a pew to flip through it.

To her relief, Luag stepped forward and engaged him in conversation as she read. The clergyman’s wide-eyed stare would have made it difficult to concentrate.

The records book had logged baptisms, weddings, tithes—along with names. But there was no Suibhne and Orla listed.

Defeat roiled through her chest, and she thanked the clergyman before she and Luag left to ride back to the manor.

Your ancestors are here somewhere, she reassured herself, through her cloud of disappointment. You’ll find them.

She felt Luag’s curious gaze on her face as they rode, and she glanced over at him. He looked away, training his attention on the dirt road ahead. She didn’t know how much Ronan had told him about her, and curiosity lurked in his eyes.

“Thank you for accompanying me,” she said. “How long have you been working for Ron—for the laird?”

“A long time,” he said, and there was a trace of warning in his eyes as he continued, “Long enough to be loyal.”

His meaning was clear. He didn’t trust her, and he had every intention of telling Ronan about their little outing. She pressed her lips together and turned her attention back to the road. So much for her attempt to be friendly. They rode back to the manor in silence.

But there was no need for Luag to tattle. As soon as she dismounted from her horse, a furious Ronan strode out of the manor. She let out a startled cry as he gripped her arm and practically dragged her inside, just as he had the first day she’d arrived in this time.

Once they were alone in his chamber, he glowered down at her, his tawny eyes infused with anger. Even when enraged, he was ridiculously beautiful, and a heated awareness coursed through her body.

“I ken things are different in yer time,” he hissed, his voice low, “but in this time ye donnae leave whenever ye like. There are—"

“Your man accompanied me,” Kara snapped, fury flooding her. So he was going to keep treating her like a captive, even though he’d agreed to let her help. “And I just went to the village. I wanted to search the church records—see if I could find my family’s names there.”

“My men are trusted in the village, as am I. If they say yer family isnae in the village, ye must trust their word. Kara, things—things have grown more dangerous. I donnae ken what’s happening, but ’tis not safe for ye. The nobles ken about ye, and they’re suspicious. ’Tis best ye not leave the manor. At least, not without me.”

“Ronan— “

“Ye gave me yer word last night,” he said, his voice growing husky, and an image of his mouth on her skin filled her mind. She swallowed, as he continued, “That ye’d do as I commanded.”

Kara gritted her teeth. She had agreed to that, damn it.

“Fine,” she snapped. “But—I want to be included. I’m not going to sit in this manor doing nothing. I told you, I’m good at what I do. It would be foolish not to use me to help.”

“Ye can—within reason. I had tae leave in haste today because Elspeth has fled Macleay lands.”

“Elspeth,” Kara echoed, struggling to recall the name. “The widow? The one who was close to Clan Acheson?”

“Aye,” he said grimly. “We’re searching but I fear she’s long gone. I can only pray she just fled tae make a new life for herself, and not tae another clan tae work against us. I’ve arranged tae talk tae the chief of another clan tomorrow,” he continued. “It seems Dughall may have made an alliance with a clan to the north, Clan Sudrach.”

Kara stilled, her heart leaping into her throat. Could this be it? The soon-to-be-deadly conflict Alice had mentioned in her letter?

“Ye were right,” he admitted. “Dughall may have had allies.”

“Ah,” she said with a grin. “Say that again, Ronan?”

His eyes glittered, but his lips twitched with amusement. “I said ye were right, Kara.”

“Again.”

“Kara—”

“Ye were right. I willnae say it again, lass.”

“I’m coming with you. To talk to this chieftain.”

The amusement vanished from his expression.

“No.”

“I won’t say a word—I’ll stay silent. Please, Ronan,” she said, hating that she had to resort to begging. “You’ve already taken one piece of my advice and found useful information. Imagine how much more I can help.”

“Fine,” he grunted, his mouth tight. “But ye’ll remain silent and ye’ll not protest when I give ye orders.”

“You have my word,” Kara said, relief coursing through her.

“I’m sorry if I was harsh with ye—about going tae the village,” he said after a pause, his expression softening. “When I returned and didnae find ye here—I was a feared something had happened tae ye.”

Kara’s heart leapt at his concern. Did he feel something more for her than just desire? Not that it matters, she told herself, but the admonishment didn’t stop the delight that rippled through her chest.

“I understand,” she murmured. “I’ll be careful. I’m not used to the way things are here. In my time, women have more freedom.”

“I can tell,” Ronan said wryly, stepping forward. He reached out, grazing her lip with his thumb, and she stilled, her heart picking up its pace. "Yer not like any lass I’ve known, Kara. Witch,” he said with a wink.

A charge of erotic heat spiraled through her as he continued to stroke her lip with his thumb. He walked with her backward to the bed, lowering his thumb to her bodice, over the swell of her breasts, lower . . .

Kara moaned, and Ronan gave her a wicked grin.

“Ye may want tae press yer hand over yer mouth, witch,” he whispered. “We donnae want the servants tae hear yer screams.”