Page 353 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Both women looked up at sound of Iain’s deep voice emanating from the doorway.

“I am very glad to see you, my lord,” Victoria said.

His brow rose. “Are you now?”

“Aye. Now that you are here, you may explain to Jillian how you intend to protect her.”

He gave a low, “Hmm,” and studied Victoria before centering his attention to Jillian. “You may begin by explaining yourself.” His command elicited more incoherent sobs.

He winced, but Victoria wasn’t the least sympathetic to his obvious aversion to tears. “Really, sir.” She stood. “You are to reassure her, not send her into more hysterics. There now, Jillian.” Victoria looked back down at her. “You worry about finishing your meal. We will return in a moment.”

Victoria walked to where Iain still stood in the doorway. Waving him out of the room, she followed him, closing the door behind her. “What is amiss this morning?” The moment the words were out of her mouth, Victoria realized she wished no honest answer and rushed on. “It is unkind of you to add to her distress. You may consider it an inconvenience to show some tact, but you could at least try. She must wonder—”

“Enough.” Iain held up his hands. “I just want to know what happened.”

“Well, you cannot expect her to place trust in you when you are so gruff.”

“Gruff?” His brow furrowed. “I was merely being direct. Why can she not trust me? She is here, safe in my home.”

“Aye, but ’tis not so easy for a woman to believe.” She frowned at the incredulous expression on his face. An exasperated shake of her head freed several locks of hair from the yellow ribbon that had been their prison. Shoving them aside, she said, “How is she to know you are any better than her persecutors?

Do you forget what they did to her?”

“Nay, love,” he answered in a quiet voice. “I can never forget.”

“Good. Keep that in mind when you speak with her. You cannot begin to imagine how it feels to be at the mercy of a man.”

Victoria started to turn, but Iain caught her arm.

“Have you ever been beaten in such a manner?” “Oh no. Never so badly.”

A look straight from the depths of hell claimed his already hardened features. “How badly?” he demanded.

Her cheeks warmed and she looked from where his grip had tightened on her arm down to her feet.

“You know you need never fear such treatment from me?” he said after a moment’s silence.

Victoria looked up at him. Memories of the previous night, rushed forward. “Yes, my lord.”

“No matter what,” he went on as if he hadn’t heard, “I could never handle a woman in that

manner. You know that?”

“Aye, my lord.”

Iain placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face upward, saying, “You need not fear me at all.”

But she knew that was a lie.

* * *

Iain remained in the doorway of the modest room and watched as the lass again settled herself next to Jillian. She took the bowl Jillian handed her, placed it on the small table beside the bed, then took Jillian’s hand in hers and smiled. “Are you ready to tell us what happened?”

Jillian glanced at him, and he gave a small nod of encouragement. With a deep breath she began, her voice surprisingly clear. “I had been gone for near a fortnight. I went north to Auchtergaven. ’Tis the largest village for miles, you know.” A blush colored her cheeks. “I went there to find a dress for the wedding.”

“A wedding?” the lass asked.

Jillian nodded. “Jonathan and I were to be married.”