Highland Barbarian Part 64

"If you were fighting to save Meredith, how did she manage to elude you?"

Brice's smile grew.

"Your sister seems to have become a master of disguise."

At the incredulous look on the faces of the two young women he added, "She pretended to be a hunchbacked seamstress, and slipped past everyone."

"Even you?" Megan asked.

"Aye. I confess I did not recognize her."

"And now she is ahead of you again," Brenna said thoughtfully.

"Not for long." Brice strode to the door and peered at the darkened sky.

"Already the clouds are breaking to the west. Within the hour we will be once more on the road to Edinburgh."

"Do you make haste because you love Meredith?" Megan asked boldly. '

"Or are you merely angry that a woman has bested you?"

Brice stood by the door, illuminated by a flash of lightning. At that moment he looked as fearsome as any barbarian.

"You have the right to know my feelings for your sister. And so I will tell you." He turned toward the quiet, regal Brenna.

"Both of you." In a voice that managed to be both tender and fierce he said,

"I love Meredith."

"If you love her as you claim," Megan demanded," 'why did you not immediately return her to her home?"

"I did not trust Gareth MacKenzie. I feared for her safety here in the Lowlands."

"And so you placed her in even more danger in your Highlands."

"Sometimes, little one," Brice said to Megan, "we are asked to choose between the lesser of evils. I thought that by keeping Meredith with me in the Highlands, I could be close enough to always come to her aid." He turned to study the progress of the storm. His face was ruggedly handsome in profile. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"I.

have learned that I cannot always be beside the woman I love, to protect her from every harm. I pray the Fates are there to guide her hand and her sword."

"You are a patient man," Brenna said with quiet conviction.

"Nay." Brice almost laughed at the thought.

"I am far from patient.

But I have had to learn a valuable lesson. When we love someone we are sometimes called upon to make terrible decisions. Decisions that cause pain for one while offering great rewards for the other."

"I do not understand," Megan said.

"He means," Brenna said softly, "that by allowing Meredith to return to the Lowlands to clear his name, he risks losing her."

At her words Brice's hands balled into fists by his side.

"My lord," Brenna said softly.

He turned to her.

"Would you pay any price for my sister's happiness?"

"Aye. Any price." His tone was low, vibrating with feeling.

"I would even risk losing her if it meant her happiness."

Brenna s.h.i.+vered. The intensity of his words frightened her. She prayed that neither her beloved older sister nor this fierce Highland warrior would be forced to pay the ultimate price.

Dusk was settling over the city when Brice led his tired party through the streets of Edinburgh.

"It is too late to approach Holyroodhouse this evening. We will have to wait until the morrow to arrange an audience with the queen. For now I will see about lodging."

Leading the way down a narrow lane near the Canongate, he stopped before a tidy inn. Leaving the women with Angus, Brice went inside.

Within minutes he was back to help the women dismount. Lifting their supplies from the packhorse, he led the way to a suite of comfortable rooms.

"Angus and I have the rooms across the hall," he explained.

"The innkeeper will provide us with a meal. As soon as you have refreshed yourselves, you may join us below stairs to sup."

Megan and Brenna were grateful for the chance to wash away the grime of the journey. Running a brush through their tangled curls, they smoothed their gowns and draped shawls of delicate lace about their shoulders. Then they made their way to the dining room.

Brice and Angus were standing before a roaring fire, enjoying tankards of ale. Their conversation was low, muted. They looked up as the two young women entered.

"We will sit here." Brice led them to a table set with fine linen and china.

Under the direction of the innkeeper a serving wench offered goblets of wine to warm them. She pa.s.sed around whole roasted goose, suet pudding and sweetbreads. With tea there were biscuits warm from the oven, spread with clotted cream and jam.

At last they sat back, content, replete.

"I do not remember when a meal tasted so lovely." Brenna sighed.

"Aye.

"Twas a difficult journey. But you were true to your word,"

Brice said, emptying his tankard.

"You neither complained nor slowed us down."