Highland Heather - Highland Heather Part 34
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Highland Heather Part 34

His voice was rough.

"I have decided that we leave on the morrow for Greystone Abbey."

"Greystone Abbey?" Her eyes widened.

"My manor house in Richmond. Where you can be removed from anyone who might be persuaded to help you escape England. Once there you will do nothing without my permission. And where you go, my soldiers go with you. Is that clear?"

"And..." She hadn't known it would be so difficult to speak. She swallowed and tried again.

"If I wish to bathe, my lord?" Her voice dripped sarcasm.

"Will you at least have the decency to leave me to my privacy?"

His eyes flashed.

"Unless I say otherwise, even that privilege will not be granted." His lips curved into a thin, tight line. He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"I may, of course, enjoy keeping you under my watchful eye while you bathe."

She slapped his hand away.

His eyes narrowed.

"You will not be alone, do you understand?"

"I understand that you are a cold, unfeeling animal."

His hand snaked out so fast she had no time to move. He caught her by the arm and dragged her close, until his lips were mere inches from hers. Once again she felt drawn to him.

"I am neither cold nor unfeeling, my lady, as we both well know. But I am not about to become a fool for you. I suspect that you will use anything, or anyone" -his thoughts flew to the scene with Windham and his fury returned "--to help you evade your fate and return to Scotland."

"Scotland." Her voice broke and he saw the way her lower lip suddenly trembled as tears filled her eyes.

"Aye. I will never rest until I am allowed to return to my home."

"England is your home now." He turned, unwilling to be moved by her pain.

"The queen has decreed it. And I intend to see to it that you do not attempt another escape with the likes ofWindham."

He strode quickly from the room, suddenly eager to escape from her. As he moved to his own sleeping chambers, he heard the scrape of something heavy being moved in Brenna's room.

His eyes narrowed. Damn the woman. She was barring him from entering her room. Were he not so weary, he would tear down the door and send the barricade crashing across the room.

He entered his room and peeled his clothes away. He would deal with her even more harshly on the morrow.

Chapter Eleven

q^t^s^q

Urenna stood on the balcony and watched as the first light began to color the hills to the east. Her eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep. All night she had tossed and turned, running from demons that had relentlessly pursued her in her troubled dreams.

Her gaze followed the guards who patrolled in the courtyard below.

Were all of them there to protect the queen? Or had Morgan ordered them to see that his captive did not escape?

Beyond the door she heard the sounds of morning activity. Fresh tapers were being placed in the sconces. Logs were being added to the hot coals in the fireplaces. Servants scurried along the hallways, carrying fresh linen and basins of water. A few personal maids were already assisting their ladies with their morning toilet. From the refectory came the mouth-watering fragrance of bread and roasting meat.

Brenna tensed when she heard the sound of footsteps in the sitting chamber. Her glance flew to the heavy chaise she had pushed against her door. But before she could hurry across the room and move it, there was a tremendous crashing sound and the chaise was rolled end over end as the door was kicked in.

Morgan stood in the doorway, his feet apart, hands on his hips. He wore tight-fitting breeches tucked into his tall boots.

He was shirtless, and his dark hair was slightly mussed. A stubble of beard darkened his cheeks and chin.

His first thought upon awakening had been to teach this damnable woman a lesson.

"If you ever attempt to bar me from this room again, I will force you to sleep in my room, where I can watch you night and day. Is that understood?"

She thrust her chin out defiantly.

"If you had but given me a moment's notice, my lord, I would have removed the barrier."

"There was no reason to place a barrier at your door in the first place."

"I believed there was."

She forced herself to meet his dark look. She had never before seen a man who had just awakened. And though Morgan's arrogant stance and scowling face caused her heartbeat to race, she couldn't help thinking that there was something oddly appealing about his rumpled appearance.

What foolish thoughts, she reminded herself. Only an arrogant lout would appear before a lady in such an indecent manner.

His gaze swept her, noting the throw she had snatched from the bed and draped over her shoulders for modesty. He nearly laughed at her prudishness. Did she think that little bit of cover could hide her beauty? In his mind's eye he could still recall the way she had looked last night. Beneath the opaque night shift he could still see every lush curve of her body. His fingers could remember the flare of her hips, the waist so tiny his hands were able to easily span it.

Such thoughts had caused him a long, sleepless night.

Her hair was a mass of dark tangles that begged for his touch. He clenched a fist. His gaze roamed her body, then came to rest at her bare feet. Such small feet.

He forced himself to look away, and noticed the upended chaise. He seemed relieved to have something to do. Bending, he righted it as effortlessly as if it were a child's toy.

Brenna found herself staring in fascination at the powerful muscles of his back and arms. As he turned she studied the mat of dark hair that covered his chest and dipped below the waistband of his breeches.

Her cheeks were hot. She blamed it on anger.

"If you will be so good as to leave, my lord, I will begin my morning ablutions."

"And if I choose not to leave?"

She glared at him a moment, then turned her back, making an attempt to completely ignore him.

"If you insist upon playing the part of my jailer..." She poured water into a basin.