Page 417 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Victoria fixed a hard stare on him. “Indeed, sir, you know well enough the pitfalls of hiding something, do you not?”

A flicker of surprise flashed across his face, then was gone. “Iain is not my husband,” he replied, a fine edge in his voice. “Our forces will be some ways behind, but someone will always be close at hand. If you need anything, you know what to do.”

“I have not forgotten.”

“Good. Our lives are in your hands.” She blinked, and he gave her a familiar smile. “If anything happens to you, it will not only be Liam who will seek recompense, and Edwin will not be the only one to pay. Iain is a fair man, but he is also a hard man.” With a final look, Thomas was gone.

* * *

When the sun began its descent into the west, Victoria started to worry in earnest. “What can be wrong?” she demanded of Edwin.

He looked up from where he sat on the ground.

“It is no more than a ploy, Victoria.”

“You are sure?”

“An educated guess.” He glanced at the sun and said what she was thinking. “I do not think you wish to entertain any other theory.”

She was saved from a reply when one of his men appeared on horseback. Edwin stood.

“There are two men approaching from the north,” the man said.

“Good.” Edwin strode to where she stood. “Remember, if you act anything but the frightened and obedient female, the game is up.”

“Aye.”

“And please, whatever spirit possesses you, keep quiet.”

She started to open her mouth, but Edwin grasped her by the shoulders. “No matter what, keep silent. If you voice a single opinion, ask any question, it could mean the end of us all.” He released her, then, to her surprise, added as he pushed her aside, “No matter how many of your husband’s kinsmen prowl nearby.”

Edwin motioned for the men to place themselves between him and Victoria. He stepped forward in readiness for the strangers who entered their company. Victoria recognized the lead man as David Robertson and lowered her gaze.

“What have we here?” David asked in an exaggerated accent.

Edwin widened his stance, and Victoria recognized the shift in his manner from calculated to bored as he waited for David to finish his perusal of the group.

“I see you took back what was yours,” David said.

Victoria looked up to find him staring at her. Their eyes met, and her cheeks burned as his gaze traveled in languid motion down her body.

“You have finished your business,” he went on, giving Victoria a final study before turning to Edwin.

“What do you want with me?” “Not quite finished,” Edwin replied.

David swung his leg over his horse’s croup and stepped down. “You have what you came for, is that not enough?”

“Would it be for you?”

Robertson laughed. “Nay, I suppose not. But I do not see how that concerns me.”

“Gold is always a man’s business.”

Edwin’s tone was such that Victoria wondered if he cared at all about finding Iain. Mayhap that was closer to the truth than he had let on.

David’s expression turned speculative. “What has gold to do with it?”

“Last I heard, it was still the best form of payment.”