Page 128 of My Highland Love

“Aye, my girl,” he rasped. “Scream. In this place, no one will care, and I like it.”

He released her hair and forced his hand into the small of her back where his belt had been digging into her flesh. His belt jingled and, for the first time, Elise felt loathing and fear vie in earnest with outrage. Her body trembled and her knees weakened. She twisted, but he yanked back on her arms, and she felt her arms begin to separate from their sockets.

His belt and trousers hit the floor with the buckle landing with a dull clank. He grabbed her skirts and yanked them up. Elise kicked backwards with the heel of her foot, hitting the hard bone of his shin. He grunted, but only spread his legs and thrust his hips into her.

“I will not be another of your victims!” she shouted.

She grit her teeth and jerked her head backwards. The back of her head struck Ramsey's hard skull. He shrieked, yanking hard on her arms as he fell back a pace. Pain reverberated through her head. Elise bit her lip to halt the pain as he unexpectedly leapt back from her. Iron fingers seized her arm and she barely registered the difference in this and Ramsey's hold as she was spun her around.

Elise gasped.

Price Ardsley stared down at her.

* * *

Two hours after the messenger arrived informing Marcus that Price had arrived at Danvers, a messenger arrived at the Josephine directing Marcus to come immediately to Price Ardsley's home. Half an hour later, Marcus was shown into his private study. A fire crackled in the hearth and Price sat behind the mahogany desk he had occupied when they had explained Elise's situation to Landen Shipping's board of directors. A tumbler of whiskey sat before Price. How would this man explain Elise's situation when the board members appeared here later this morning?

“Please,” Price motioned to the chair in front of the desk, “have a seat.”

Marcus sat.

“Would you like a drink?” Price asked, straightening.

“Nae.”

Price leaned back. “Word will arrive any moment that Elise has been safely deposited aboard the Josephine.”

“You had until this evening. Why bring her so early?”

“I thought her speedy return would please you.”

“Her not being abducted would have pleased me.”

“Rest assured she is safe. So long as she—you both—remain in Scotland. You've said nothing about the boy.” Price sipped his drink.

“He is no threat to you.”

“He won't take lightly that I kept his sister prisoner.”

“I have convinced him to accompany us to Scotland,” Marcus gave the planned answer.

Price seemed to contemplate this. “The longer the stay, the better.”

“Aye,” Marcus agreed.

The sound of boots on carpeted floor were heard, and Price said, “That would be our young friend now.”

As if on cue, the door opened and Steven entered. “Elise is safely on the Josephine.”

“She is well?” Marcus asked with as much calm as he could exert.

Steven turned his glare to Price. “She has a dislocated shoulder and looks as if she hasn't bathed since her abduction.”

Marcus jerked his gaze back to Price and barely managed to check the compulsion to lunge across the desk.

“Your brother-in-law will now take a message to the captain that he is to set sail before the hour is up,” Price said.

“I will not leave,” Steven shot back.