Page 45 of Highland Spy

She wanted to glance back at him one more time to confirm for herself, but Connor was already ahead of her and moving quickly. Faster than the sound of the footsteps approaching them.

Ariana pulled her hood over her face and slipped into the darkened alcoves of the shops and homes, skimming her body against the coarse walls as Connor did before her.

Her feet, she noticed, were not as quiet, no matter how hard she tried to let her shoes land softly against the ground.

Connor was quick and silent, like he’d been during the attack. This was a different man than she had ever seen in the course of their training.

The shouts of concern behind them had died down, and though no one gave chase, neither Connor nor Ariana slowed.

The buildings became more spaced out and the shadows broadened.

They were almost free.

Ariana’s breath came in smooth, even huffs, the same as when she ran in the morning. Now she understood the true purpose of incorporating the activity into their warm up.

The gravelly sand of the village gave way to soft grass, and both she and Connor opened into a full sprint to the tree line.

They did not stop until they reached the crude stable among the trees.

Ariana’s breath did not come so smoothly now. With each ragged gasp of breath, the folded parchment at her breast jabbed against her skin until they reached the makeshift stable.

They readied their horses without speaking. Connor’s face held a tight expression and he did not once look at her. The silence thickened between them.

Though she willed it not to, realization swelled ugly and heavy in her chest.

He was disappointed.

In her.

• • •

The impatient edge Connor had worked so hard to smooth was now jagged and hot.

Ariana had put herself in danger, and almost compromised the mission with her impulsive decision to follow the man upstairs.

“What the hell were ye thinking?” he asked for the second time.

“I did nothing wrong.” Her defense was simply stated and without the pitch of a whine.

He expected nothing less.

Still, he slowed his horse and looked hard at the woman who spoke with such clear confidence.

Moonlight washed over Ariana, casting a bluish sheen over the blonde hair of the wig and leaving her fair skin glowing like a pearl. Even though she wore the attire of a tavern wench, she kept her back straight like a highborn noble.

Damn it, she was beautiful.

“Nothing wrong?” he countered. “Why did ye go upstairs with the man?”

“Cuthbert.” She slowed her own horse, but did not stop, so he was forced to urge his forward once more.

“What?”

“His name was Cuthbert.”

Rage simmered inside Connor, like a kettle of water near boiling. He didn’t want to know the fool’s name.

He counted a slow, steady stream of numbers in his head in an attempt to gather patience. “Why did ye go upstairs with Cuthbert?” he asked in a level tone.