Page 25 of Border Lord’s Bride

The man's lips pulled up in a sly grin. "A thousand groats…ain't miserable. 'Tis good sense."

Someone paid these men to attack. Who and why? Lucius moved closer to hear the man's words over his ragged breathing. The Englishman's hands shot up to grip Lucius's neck, but there was no strength left in his fingers to do more than leave a bloody smear as his hands drooped to the snow-covered ground.

"Who paid you?"

The man's breathing stuttered.

"Tell me," Lucius growled, even though he feared he already knew the answer to his own question. He needed confirmation.

The man's smile went lax. His eyes rolled back and his breathing ceased.

Lucius growled his frustration. The sound of horses and shouts of the English filled the air as the remaining English warriors fled at the sight of their fallen leader.

Lucius stood. He released a harsh breath and wiped his sword on his tunic before sheathing the weapon. The battle was over, but he still couldn't shake the chill that snaked down his spine. A thousand groats.

"Something is amiss," Lucius said as he joined the MacKinleys and the Insleys, who'd already gathered their two injured men from the aftermath of the battle.

Lachlan slipped his ax into the leather sheath on his back and hurried to Lucius's side. "We fared better than I expected," the young man boasted.

"These were not English soldiers. At least not the heavily trained and armored ones we are used to confronting."

Malcolm nodded wearily. "Who were they then?"

"Hired mercenaries, if we are to believe their leader." Lucius frowned. "If only he hadn't died before he could say who hired him."

Silas shrugged. "So they were out for a pre-Christmastide plunder."

"It's more than that. Something much darker is at play here." Lucius's gaze drifted back in the direction of Midwick Manor. "God's toes—"

"You don't think this was merely a ploy to…?" Lachlan's face mirrored Lucius's dread.

Lucius's heart faltered. "Aye, I do."

Amos MacKinley's heavily bearded face paled. "You think they waited for us to leave, then marched on Midwick Manor?"

Lucius didn't bother answering. He ran to his horse, mounted, and spurred it toward his home. He knew in the depth of his soul that that's exactly what had happened. His heart pounded as fear took root inside him. He couldn't have allowed this to happen again. He'd failed Peter. Marcus. His father. Now his sisters, and… He gave vent to his emotions with an inhuman sound that was part howl and part cry. He had to get back to Elizabeth and his sisters before it was too late.

For the first time since Peter died, Lucius prayed. He breathed every prayer he remembered as he urged his horse to fly over the snowy terrain. Those prayers caught in his throat as he neared the manor and saw the two MacKinleys he'd left to guard the manor while the girls hid tumbled on the ground near the front of the house. Lucius threw back his head and howled in agony and rage. He jumped from his horse before it stopped, and rushed through the open doorway into his home.

He skidded to a halt inside the great hall to find Marie lying facedown in a pool of her own blood near the hearth. Lucius's stomach clenched as he hastened to her side and turned the old woman over. The flesh at her shoulder had been splayed open, yet she still lived.

Marie drew short shallow breaths. Her pale blue eyes flickered open and filled with agony. "My lord. I tried…"

Lucius grabbed a length of linen from the table behind him and pressed it against the woman's wound.

"Rest easy. You're going to be all right. I'll see to that."

She shook her head. "He took them all. I tried to stop him…" Marie choked on a sob. "He knew where they were hidden."

Only a family member would know about the secret chamber belowstairs. "Horatio," Lucius said, trying desperately to keep his fear and his anger in check.

Shuffling footsteps sounded behind Lucius. He drew his sword and turned as he came to his feet. Hadwell staggered through the doorway, his face covered in blood from a severe beating. From his injuries, it was apparent the steward had fought valiantly to try to save the girls from abduction.

"Horatio took the girls," the steward sputtered before he collapsed to his knees.

Behind Hadwell, the MacKinleys raced into the hall. Malcolm and Silas gripped the steward beneath his arms and helped him to his feet.

"Bring Hadwell here and sit him in a chair," Lucius directed as he lifted Marie and placed her in a chair. He signaled Amos MacKinley to join him. "Press this against her wound," he told the man, releasing the linen for Amos to take over. "Silas, heat your dagger in the fire and seal the wound on her shoulder when you can."