I shall see you tomorrow. Remember, we leave at dawn.

Ada knew she had been dismissed. Like a wounded animal, Tina wished to nurse her hurt alone. But Tina knew exactly what she must do, exactly what she would say. No force on earth would stop her from taking her revenge. Revenge would be her raison detre, her reason to exist!

She threw back the sheet and took the bedgown from her empty wardrobe with shaking hands. She forced herself to breathe deeply and slowly to calm herself.

She wanted to fly at him and scratch out his eyesor better still, to take her knife and disembowel him. She schooled herself to patience. His physical strength would overpower her in seconds if she attacked him.

She intended to be the victor in this battle of the sexes and so must mask her intent from her enemy and glove her weapons with velvet. She knew her victory would not be immediate, but it would be total and complete.

She tapped softly upon his chamber door and opened it quietly. She saw the look of surprise upon his dark face before he masked it. She came as a supplicant. Before he could question her, she spoke softly but firmly. My Lord Douglas, I understand that I am free to withdraw from this union. I wish to do so. Tomorrow I shall return to Doon.

Yell do no such thing. A hand-fasting is a trial marriage.

Well try it for at least six months, he stated flatly.

My Lord Douglas, she said softly, I cannot endure it for six days.

He stared at her in disbelief. The delicate hue of her pink robe was like a blush. She could have no notion of her breathstopping beauty at this moment, with her eyelashes spiked with tears.

Neither of us can withdraw yet. Tis ridiculous! he growled.

Her legs had no strength. She sank onto the edge of his bed and lifted her eyes to his so she might impart something confidential. My lord, I was told that when a man makes love to a woman, it is heavenly. With us, it is hellish. You spoke true when you said we were two totally incompatible personalities, she whispered.

Ye liked it not? he asked, stung.

Her golden eyes widened. It was the disappointment of a lifetime, she said solemnly.

She was criticizing his expertise as a lover! He, who was called Hotspur and whoremaster because of his finesse in fucking!

Tina left him with his mouth open. By the time she reached her chamber he was only two steps behind her.

She backed away from him toward the bed, where the bloodied sheets screamed their accusation.

Damaris said, Thank God you had the presence of mind to make him return to the scene of his crime!

His black eyes swept from the sheets to Tinas face, wondering what trick she played. A feeling of horror began to wash over him, and his hands tore open the pale pink bedgown to reveal his suspicions.

Her white silk nightgown lay in shreds about her mons.

Her thighs were smeared with blood.

Why didnt ye tell me ye were a maiden? he thundered.

You were so sure I was unchaste, you would have it no other way.

Splendor of God, he had honestly thought her sexually experienced. She was a virgin! His brain tried to adjust to this revelation about Valentina Kennedy. His conscience smote him deeply. He had ravished her!

What he had done in the dark to this lovely creature was akin to rape. No wonder she wished to flee from him.

There were not many young women in this day and age who came to their marriage beds with their hymens intact. Valentina was a rare exception. She had too much pride, too much self-respect to be a trollop. He cursed himself for a vile lecher. He wanted above all to undo what he had done, but he knew that was impossible. He would try to heal her hurt. The first thing he must do was beg her forgiveness.

His eyes softened as he saw the anguish on her lovely face. Tina, I humbly apologize for hurting ye.

One small shoulder lifted in a half-shrug. It wasnt the first time you hurt me, she said softly.

He remembered finding her lying in the rain and throwing her over his saddle like a sack of grain. He recalled vividly the blazing anger hed felt the night hed ridden to Doon, when hed rolled her in the grass and longed to rub dirt in her face. At every meeting since, hed done his utmost to humiliate her, and he had finally offered the ultimate humiliation to a nobly born ladya hand-fasting instead of marriage! If he proposed now she would fling it in his faceand who could blame her?

Im shamed of my insensitive behavior. Im quite capable of showing tenderness toward a lass.

She actually had him on the defensive, a position he was totally unused to, she thought with satisfaction.

Tenderness? she echoed wistfully, compelling him to elaborate.

Let me hold ye, let me take away the hurt, he said gently, still struggling with his conscience.

Her head lifted pridefully. That is completely unnecessary, my lord. I will survive in spite of you.

He was filled with admiration for her courage.

His mood was lifting. He was more than pleased that she had known no other men. Christ, hed even suspected she might be carrying his enemys child, which had been the reason for his inexcusable behavior toward her after the ceremony. He had a foul and filthy mind, and his temper was no better. We will begin anew.

She drew the delicate bedrobe about her and shook her head sadly. Everything is ruined between us. Our personalities clash, and even our bodies are unsuited, she said with a blush.

Her words, though said gently enough, challenged his very manhood. That is untrue! Give me another chance, and I swear to use ye gently, my lady. Even kissing has its own foreplay.

Her cheeks were rosy although not by intent. When he saw her almost imperceptible hesitation, he pressed his advantage. In good faith, neither of us can dissolve the union at this early stage. We would both be accused of not even trying.

They heard a loud scuffle outside the door, and Ram threw it open to see who dared disturb them. Tina watched the Boozer tear into the room after the cat. Oh, hell kill it! she cried.

What? he asked blankly.

The catoh, where did it go?

Ram looked into her eyes to observe her reaction to his words. He cannot kill the cat. It is a ghost.

She gave him a startled look, then something seemed to dawn upon her. He knew she did not reject his explanation out of hand and think him a madman. The cat belongs to Damaris. Its name is Folly.

The lady they spoke of stood in the corner with Folly in her arms. She was delighted that their minds were open enough to accept the possibility of her existence, yet she felt totally frustrated that she could not communicate with Valentina and protect her against Ram Douglas.

The Boozer, now realizing where he was, slunk to the door and whined pitifully to be let out.

Please go, Tina asked. I must bathe.

Ill send a maid with hot water immediately, he said gently, knowing he had received no answer from her but hoping against hope that she would not go running back to Doon.

Damaris went looking for Alexander. She found him in Rams chamber. Alex, he raped her!

The son of a whore! Alex swore angrily. If I were alive, Id beat him senseless! He crashed his fist into his cousins skull. Bloody Black Ram!

Oh Alex, its happening all over again. One of them will kill the other.

Damn it, womanonce and for all time: I didnt kill ye!

Dont start with me. Oh, how I wish they werent off to Castle Douglas! If she were here, where I could watch over her, I just might be able to keep her safe. I think she is aware that Im here.

We may be able to go to Castle Douglas with them. I think its possible to move to another place. All ye have tae do is bond with a living entity, and they will take ye with them. Ye try tae bond wi Valentina, and Ill bond wi Ramsay, just for the journey.

You really believe Id ever trust you again? And I would never leave Folly, Damaris said to cover her nervousness at moving from the castle where shed spent fifteen years.

Take yer cat wi ye.

NoId be afraid she might get lost. Shell be safer here, I think, and so will I.

Sweetheart Dont sweetheart me. Youre a bloody Douglas, and nothing can ever change that. She faded from the chamber instantly.

Chapter 20.

Tina lay in her pretty bathtub a long time. The warm water soothed her battered body but not her thoughts. Ram Douglas was a force to be reckoned with, not unlike a violent thunderstorm. She would need to be extremely clever and resourceful to keep abreast of him, let alone one step ahead of him. No wonder the name Douglas inspired fear; she had more reason than the rest of the population to know why.

She finally climbed into bed, but sleep was as far away as the man in the moon. If she lay perfectly still, she didnt hurt, but she was so restless she tossed and turned the night away. Black Ram Douglas was so what? Not coarse exactly, like Angus. So male, so masculine, it made her shudder involuntarily.

She tried not to think of his naked body touching her, covering her, entering her, but it was such an unseen mystery to her, she could not free her mind of it. She had seen his naked chest, so wide, so darkly furred, but the rest of him, the male core of him, remained a frightening unknown.

As the lavender dawn spread its fingers up the sky, Tina had not slept at all through the long night. She felt drained, exhausted before the day had even begun. Ada cast her a worried look as she helped her fasten the gray riding dress and handed her her gloves and riding crop.

Nell staggered in with a tray holding enough breakfast for the three of them, but Tina could not face the food.

Ada gave her a warmed cup of ale, and Tina flashed a grateful look and sipped it slowly. When she emerged into the bailey and saw her groom holding Indigo, she knew a moment of panic. My god, she was too sore to ride any distance. But Ram Douglas and his hard-bitten mosstroopers were already in the saddle waiting for her.

He felt an overwhelming relief that she intended to accompany him to Castle Douglas, yet his hooded eyes gave no hint of it. He missed nothing. He saw her wince as she mounted, saw her head lift and her back straighten with pride. The gray riding habit made her glorious hair blaze in contrast, but it emphasized the delicate pallor of her skin and the blue marks of fatigue beneath her eyes.

His conscience pricked him, but he vowed hed make it up to her. He couldnt believe his good fortune. Valentina could never be described as innocentshe was far too beautiful and had received the randy attentions of a score of menbut she was inexperienced, thank God, and if he taught her skillfully all the mysteries of sex, she would be a ravishing woman indeed. Granted, he had made a bad start, but if he put all his efforts into pleasing her, he knew there wasnt a woman alive who could resist his Douglas charm.

One thing was certain: He had hurt her, and she could not ride all the way to the borders. Fifty miles was no great distance to his men, but with the wild horses and the supply wagons, they would be in the saddle hours longer than usual. She was almost as stubborn and blood-proud as himself, and he knew that if he offered to take her up before him, she would reject that offer. He must think of something subtler.

Ramsay seemingly ignored her while they rode through the Southern Uplands and the Leadhills, but when they passed from Lanark County into Dumfries, he rode up beside her. His shrewd eyes saw her drawn face and her weariness. Perhaps Im mistaken, but yer mare seems tae have a slight limp.

She had not noticed but felt too tired to argue Ill take a look, he decided. They drew rein, and he dismounted and lifted Indigos hoof. Mm, just as I thought. Her shoe is loose.

Tina felt resentful that he cared more for the horses discomfort than her own, but she also felt guilt that she had ridden Indigo in such condition. Ram remounted, came alongside her mare, and lifted her before him. She protested, I have my other mount, and stared up at him defiantly.

He grinned down at her. Yer precious Mr. Burque rides yer other animal. Do ye want me tae take him up in my arms before all these rough men?

She couldnt suppress her laughter at the picture he painted, and she had to admit to herself it was a relief not to have to ride astride any longer.

At first she held herself stiffly aloof, but once they stopped to water the horses at the River Nith, Ramsay settled his mount into an even, rhythmic, slow gallop Her body started to relax, then her eyelids began to droop He was acutely aware of her. The delicate scent from her warm body made him become instantly aroused. He shifted in the saddle to ease the pressure of his swollen manhood as it bulged the leather of his breeches, and his movements made Tina open her eyes and sit up straighter Before long, however, she was again lulled to sway back against him, and he slipped an ironlike arm about her to prevent her from falling.

As she slumped against his body he became aware of how small she was Desire pulsed at his groin with a sweet, almost unendurable ache. She was full asleep now, and he half-turned her so that she almost faced him. She lay heavily between his thighs, the heat from her body mingling with his He was marble hard now in an agony of need, and he doubted hed ever grow soft again in her presence Her breasts swelled against him, filling his arms and his lap with her loveliness. God, he wanted her in the bed like this, both of them naked Hed never take her in the dark again!

Valentina missed all the beauty of the wild, rugged, often inaccessible land through which they rode As they cut through the range of mountains bordering Kirkcudbright, there were precipices of rock, caverns, and morasses full of deep ruts Then they passed one of Ramsays favorite spots on earth It was a waterfall that cascaded in three tiers He had seldom passed it in his life without stripping and bathing there, diving from the second tier into the deep pool at the bottom. Today, however, he realized he would rather be right here in the saddle with his woman asleep between his thighs.

As Rams eyes surveyed his beloved borders, he knew them to be a perfect hiding place where thousands of men could remain in safe concealment The men and the horses picked up speed as they neared Castle Douglas.

Ram would have known he was near home even if hed been blindfolded, for the tang of the sea swept up the River Dee almost up to the very foundations of the ancient fortalice.

As Ruffian came to an abrupt halt in the bailey, Tina opened her eyes and gazed upward at the forbidding gray stones of Castle Douglas. Realization dawned that they had arrived and that she must have slept most of the way. She gave Ram a look of disbelief that he had held her between his thighs all the way. As he slowly grinned down at her, her cheeks flamed at the intimacy.

He made no effort to hide that he was pleased with himself, and she learned a valuable lesson. If she let him play the dominant, masterful male and she fulfilled the role of helpless female, his mood was almost pleasant.

Ram was amazed that on the ride his young brother and cousins had looked to the horses and his men had smoothed the way for the supply wagons, mending wheels and pushing the carts out of endless ruts and foxholes so that he could get on with the serious business of wooing his woman. Now that they had arrived at their destination, all was taken care of, so that he was free to show her his favorite castle and tend to her needs.

Ram dismounted and held up his arms. Tina looked down at him with hesitation in her eyes. Then she made a decision: She would take the first tentative steps to bind him to her irrevocably. She went down into his arms softly, sweetly, in a flurry of petticoats, and he lifted her to the ground. They stood with their bodies almost touching, and she made no effort to draw away from him.

Then he swung her into his arms again and carried her into Castle Douglas. Her face was warmed by the hard flesh beneath his leather jack. He set her on her feet and offered her his cast-iron armbut not before he caught her with an intimate look. He found her golden eyes intrigued him. They invited him to wickedness, yet at the same time they held him at a distance. He captured her hand, and she allowed him to keep it. This time ye wont be able to accuse me of not showing ye my chamberour chamber, he amended boldly, gauging her reaction.

She remained silent at his invitation, yet did not say him no. A protective hand went to the small of her back as he guided her up the winding staircase designed in the ancient style to free the sword arm against invaders.

Tina expected a replica of his other rooms, but she was most pleasantly surprised. The chamber was magnificent. One whole wall consisted of a huge fireplace. From floor to ceiling was polished-pink granite, almost as beautiful as pink marble. The floor was carpeted with black sheepskins, and the massive bed was covered by a luxurious lynx fur that was so large, it spilled to the floor.

He bestowed his first compliment upon her. This pink and black chamber enhances yer own lovely coloring.

You silver-tongued devil, she bantered. Have you been taking lessons from Angus? His laughter rolled about the chamber, and they said in unison, At least you have a sense of humor. Because they said the same thing at the same moment, they both went off into peals of laughter.

He took her through a door that led out onto the ramparts of Castle Douglas, where they stood together looking out toward the mouth of the River Dee and the sea beyond. As black and white terns glided and screamed above their heads, he said low, Will ye share this chamber wi me if I promise not tae ravish ye again?

She did not ignore him, but she made him wait a few minutes before she answered: Are you truly promising to be civilized?

He grinned. Never that, but next time Ill try tae seduce ye.

Seduction sounds most wicked and inviting, yet Ive never succumbed to it before.

Thats because ye werent seduced by Black Ram Douglas, he promised arrogantly.

She turned to him and said quite frankly, This first night I want only to sleep, my lord.

He looked into her eyes. So be it, he said solemnly, then his pewter eyes crinkled in amusement. That will give ye a fighting chance against me tomorrow night.

She sank down before him in an acquiescent curtsy, and he raised her and took her hands to his lips before he departed. She gazed after him. After a good nights rest, shed be more than a match for him. She was learning how to handle him. Tomorrow night, with Mr.

Burques tempting dishes laid before him, she would see who would do the seducing.