Page 348 of Wicked Highland Heroes

With the resounding bang of the door as it hit the wall the lass gave a small cry. Iain narrowed his eyes on Johannas, who was sitting far too close to her. Johannas’s gaze moved from Iain, to her, then back to Iain again. Understanding formed on his friend’s face, and Johannas stood as Iain advanced.

A wary look crept into her eyes, and Iain feared that the gossip was on the mark this time.

“Is there something you want, my lord,” she asked when he stopped beside them.

“What are you up to?” He looked at Johannas.

“I am working,” the lass replied.

The short response wasn’t what he’d expected, but a quick assessment of the document she held confirmed she was, indeed, immersed in something. Iain took the document, startled to see the plans for the waterwheel Johannas had left on his desk two days ago.

Though curious when they’d mysteriously disappeared that same day, recent events had forced the mystery to the back of his mind. His attention snagged on the notations, and he realized he was looking at the final stage of the plans. A quick total of a few of the calculations that outlined the placement of the wheel in the water told him the mind that had created them was keen indeed, far keener than the one that had dabbled in the earlier version.

“Please.” She tried snatching the document from him.

When Iain dodged her efforts, he was well aware her wariness increased, but his own curiosity drove him. He turned a questioning eye on Johannas, who shrugged, saying, “You might want to let the lass finish, Iain.”

Iain shoved the paper back into her hands and motioned Johannas toward the door.

“What is going on here?” he demanded once they were outside.

Iain listened to the story of Johannas discovering her in the library already well on her way to correcting the problems in the original plans. In his mind’s eye, Iain saw her bent over the large desk in his library, Johannas leaning over her much in the same manner he had been when Iain discovered them. Iain broke from the mental picture when Johannas’s voice grew insistent.

“What?” Iain asked.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Aye,” he replied. “You found her in the library.” Johannas gave him an odd look. “You know

Rory’s death left us without an engineer?” Iain nodded.

“Franklin had not studied enough to know a cursed thing. To tell the truth, I did not think the lad is worth a pile of horse dung. Although,” Johannas made a clicking sound with his tongue, “he did draw the second set of plans a might better than the first.” “So, you now have the lass acting as engineer?” Iain asked.

Johannas cocked his head, his expression a mixture of amazement and admiration. “I never saw the likes of it. Even Rory could not have done better.

Why did you not tell me she was your engineer? Granted, ’tis a bit strange.” He laughed. “Where did you find a Sassenach wench willing to leave the comforts of her English home?”

“Montrose Abbey,” Iain grunted. “And she was not so willing.”

* * *

Too much ale, Iain thought. Then again, his mind countered, as he reached for the mug in front of him, mayhap not enough. His eyelids felt heavy as he tried to focus on the postern door when it opened. Afternoon had given way to night. His mouth tightened. No sign of the lass. Christ, he’d have to go in search of her again. He looked across the table at Johannas, who still wore a wide grin. Iain knew the wine had contributed to his clansman’s good mood, but also knew the tale of kidnapping an unwilling woman was at the heart of his delight.

“By heaven,” Johannas said, “but I would have given a week’s harvest just to have seen you take her.” He allowed the boy who passed the table with a pitcher of ale to refill his mug. One of the large hounds bound into the hall and made for Johannas. “Surry, laddie.” He gave the dog several affectionate scratches before throwing a bone some distance from the table. Once free of the animal, he finished off the contents of his mug and motioned for more.

The night wore on and even the large quantities of ale Iain consumed didn’t lighten his mood when the lass failed to appear. It struck him that she would likely use the excuse that her patient needed her more than he did. Iain gave a word of command to one of the serving girls to fetch her and, as expected, she soon emerged from the staircase.

Her expression said she didn’t appreciate being summoned, but Iain was having none of that. With a jerk of his head, he indicated she take the vacant seat to his left. Once she lowered herself into the chair, he set a goblet of wine in front of her.

Iain reached for his ale. “Do not to try my patience further by moving from that chair until I give you leave.”

“Evening, lass.” Johannas raised his mug in salutation.

Iain kept his gaze fixed on Johannas as she answered in a soft tone. The two huddled together in her cottage flashed in memory. How much Johannas was to blame was yet to be seen, but Iain felt sure the lady had declined to advise him she belonged to another. No doubt due to the fact that she refused to acknowledge it herself. Seizing the mug in front of him, Iain ignored the ale that sloshed onto his hand as he again drained the contents.

* * *

The merriment seemed as if it would go on all night. Victoria had been surprised to enter the great hall and find what appeared to be a celebration in full swing. As it turned out, the men had simply decided the night was made for drinking. She cast a cautious glance in her keeper’s direction, then at the kitchen door. Her gaze came back on Iain, and she read the warning in his eyes.