Rams deep voice spoke intimately to her as they climbed the rough stone stairway. When ye recall yer identity, sweetheart, send for me. If ye are no known tae be a friend, perhaps yer a foe, he teased and gave her an audacious wink. He stopped at his own chamber door and handed her over to Gavins waiting arms. Ill change my wet clothes and look forward tae seeing more of ye later. His words were accompanied by a devilish leer as his pewter eyes dipped to her wet breastsshe could not mistake the double entendre.

Tina trembled in Gavins arms, and he felt oddly protective of her. She was grateful to be relieved of that other ones presence. He was more swarthy than any Gypsy. His pewter eyes had had an arrogant gleam, his mouth a reckless slant that intensified his magnetism, yet everything about him was dangerously dark and hard and threatening.

Who are youand where am I? Tina whispered, knowing he would be putty in her hands.

Im Gavin Douglas, and this older man is ma cousin Colin. The handsome devil grinned down at her.

Colin reprimanded his levity. Stow yer foolishness, Gavin. The lass has injured her haid. This place is Douglas, mistress. Just north of the border country atween England and the cities o Glasgow and Edinburgh. The rough stone passageway was cold, and she shivered uncontrollably in Gavins arms. Ill soon ha ye out o yer soakin gown, lass, he said, grinning.

Hoots, Gavin, yeve no the brains ye were born wi Can ye no see shes a lady? She must be frightened witless tae waken in the clutches o Black Ram Douglas.

Tina jerked and stiffened. My God, that had been the infamous Black Ram!

They entered a most elegantly appointed chamber, one that had been decorated with the sure hand of a gentlewoman with taste and breeding. A cat that was curled in a chair awoke with a start and ran beneath it.

Gavin reluctantly put her down on the edge of the wide bed, and Colin limped over to a clothespress and brought her towels and a warm plaid.

A deep voice from the doorway said, Dont stand there grinning like a gargoylethe lass will think shes in a madhouse. Order a servant tae build a fire so she can get warm and have a rest.

Something inside Tina responded to that deep voice.

His eyes told her that he found her special. As Gavin moved to the door, the tone of Ram Douglass voice changed. Ye can show me this prisoner ye took.

Colin said with disgust, Hes a bairnwi down on his cheeks.

Then it should be childs play tae break him, Ram said.

Fury almost choked Valentina. She loathed herself for responding momentarily to his animal attraction. The cruel bastard had one count against him for throwing her over his saddle like a sack of grain. Two counts against him for invading her body with his filthy hands.

But in the moment hed spoken of breaking her wee brother Davie, a deep hatred for the man had been born.

It was a personal hatred, spawning a personal vendetta.

If one hair on Davies head were harmed, she would settle the score with Black Ram Douglas if it was the last thing she ever did in this lifetime.

Chapter 5.

The servants departed after building her a fire, and a moment later she stripped off her woolen gown and wet underclothes and hung them over the foot of the bed to dry She concealed the knife from her boot under the mattress and took up a large linen towel to dry her long red tresses. She noted that the towel was finely woven from the best flax and embroidered with an elaborate letter D. She tested the quality of the Douglas plaid between her thumb and forefinger and felt an overwhelming distaste for the tartans dark greens and blues. Her pride forbade her to wrap herself in its warmth until she heard a knock upon her chamber door.

Then without thinking, she grabbed the finely woven length of woolen cloth and wrapped it about herself like a cloak.

Colin Douglas entered, balancing a tray upon his stiff, almost useless arm. Let me help you, she offered as a rush of sympathy swept over her. This man was not nearly so dark as the others. He had a square, honest, clean-cut face, and his manners set him apart as being more civilized. She was curious to know what had ruined his once-magnificent physique, but she had more breeding and sensitivity than to even stare at him.

Ive brought ye some broth an bread. Tis rough fare, unfit fer a lady, but were a household o men without womenfolk, save fer servin and kitchen wenches.

Thank you. It smells good, she offered. If there are no women here, whose chamber is this? The lady in the portrait? she asked, indicating a painting above the fireplace.

My brother Alexanders bride, Damaris. Shes deceased, he said shortly, and limped toward the door.

Tina almost choked on her broth. Dont burn yerself, he warned before he closed the heavy door.

Tina sprang up to examine the lovely face in the portrait.

Her fingers reached up to trace the fine lace of what must have been her wedding gown. Aunt Damaris, she whispered, how unearthly fair you were. A lump came into her throat as she noticed how young and innocent the girl must have been.

From a shadowed corner of the room, the spirit of Damaris focused on the young woman with flaming hair and whispered, Sweet Mary, you must be my niece, Valentina Kennedy! She hovered between Tina and her own portrait, more agitated than she had been for fifteen years. Begone! Begone from this place, she cried, then she was filled with a great sadness because she knew she could not communicate with the living, breathing Valentina.

What did the degenerate Douglas do to you? asked Tina, overwhelmed with pity.

Dont you know Alexander poisoned me? My own husband whom I loved more than life? He accused me of lying with his brother Colin. He struck me. Damariss hand went up to her cheek, still feeling the blow after fifteen long years.

Tina picked up a hand-painted porcelain powder bowl and matching toilet articles standing upon the mantel.

These were your things, Tina said in wonder. She moved across the chamber to touch the heavy, silver- backed hairbrushes and the brocaded bedhangings. Its so strange its almost as if I can feel your essence in the room, Tina said.

Oh God, I hope so, my dear. Get out, get out while there is still time!

Tina closed her eyes and lifted the stopper of a crystal perfume bottle to touch her cheek. They say you were murdered here, but all I can feel is love and warmth. You must have suffered unbearably, and yet I sense only your happiness in this lovely room.

I was happyhappier than Id ever been in my entire lifehappier perhaps than a woman has a right to be before that fateful day. Love is blind. Dont let the Douglas blind you, Valentina! Damaris passed an invisible hand over the garments hanging to dry.

Quickly, put on your clothes and depart.

Tina reached out her hand to touch her undergarments and was amazed to find they were already dry. She unwound the plaid from her body and donned her underclothes. Ada had sewn every stitch of them, and they were exquisite. She fingered the delicate mauve frills embroidered with violets and was willing to wager she had the most beautiful lingerie in Scotland. Lingerie was a French word that Ada had picked up from Mr.

Burque.

Hurry, Valentina! Damaris placed an urgent hand upon Tinas shoulder. Tina felt a sudden chill and hurried into her undershift.

When Ram Douglas inspected the youth his brothers had captured, he laughed outright. Christ, hes still on mothers milk. Whats yer name, laddie? Ram asked the pale young man incarcerated in the dungeon, one floor beneath the hall.

David Kennedy gathered a full gob of spit and aimed it at the Douglas. Piss off!

Ram grimaced. A length o hemp about yer throat will choke the spit from it.

Hang me an be damned tae ye! flung David.

Bloody little bantam cock! Gavin said.

Bravadohes scared shitless, Ram said, whistling past the graveyard.

Im scared o no fuckin Douglas!

Then its brainless ye are, laddie, Ram said cheerfully.

Then to Gavin, Ill give the Hamiltons a chance to ransom him. If theyre tightfisted, Ill hang him.

Upstairs, Tina reached beneath the mattress to retrieve her knife when without warning the chamber door opened. She whirled about to face her intruder, her golden eyes flashing annoyance, then fear. Dont you knock, sir?

Ram Douglas slanted a black brow. In my own castle?

Yes, in your own castle, before you enter the chamber of a lady.

Lady? he questioned. Then ye remember who ye are?

N-no. She again reached for the hated Douglas plaid to cloak her undergarments from his bold, dark eyes. The warm fire had dried her sodden hair, and it fell about her in radiant abundance. Tiny gold-red tendrils framed her face and Rams fingers itched to touch the tempting mass. She spoke from nervousness. I remember I was out riding I remember a torrential rainI remember your hands upon me, she accused.

Aye, well, thats something no woman could forget.

Her temper almost choked her, temporarily blotting out her fear. He thought himself Gods gift to women! He was so deadly dangerous, however, she knew she must not anger him. She bit her lip and managed a faint smile. Im sorry, my lord, to intrude like this. As soon as I remember where I live, I will leave. Tis the most maddening thing my name is on the tip of my tongue, then it escapes and eludes me.

His eyes ran over her as if he were assessing her fine points. His eyes lifted to her mouth, fell to her breasts now concealed by the plaid, then lifted to her eyes. She bit back a cutting remark, but she might as well have uttered it because his eyes filled with amusement. If worse comes tae worst and ye never recall yer name, Ill just keep ye. He laughed. Dont look so outraged, lass. If ye dont get total recall by tomorrow, I can soon learn who ye are.

Tina sensed danger immediately. How? she asked blankly.

He stepped closer, and his fingers closed over a tempting tress of molten copper. Ive seen ye before.

The statement left her terrified. Where on Gods earth had he seen her? Shed never laid eyes on him before.

Shed remember that face for a lifetime. Wh-where? she asked warily.

In a mans arms, he said cryptically.

She thought that impossible. You mistake me, sir.

ImpossibleI could never mistake ye, he assured her.

More than anything else in the world, he wanted to taste this woman, and since Ram Douglas usually did whatever he wanted, he threaded his fingers into the crackling mass of flaming curls and lifted her mouth to his. A static spark jumped between them, producing a little shock.

Oh, let me go, sir! I am unused to men, she gasped breathlessly.

Ye delude yerself, he said flatly. I think yer very used tae men. A husband perhapslovers, of a certainty.

How dare you say such a wicked thing? Tina demanded in outrage.

Because ye had no trouble arousing me. His strong, brown hand tore the plaid from her breast. Yer underclothes are designed tae bring pleasure tae a mans eyes. They reveal the swell of yer breasts, emphasize yer tiny waist, tempt a mans fingers tae undo the ribbons and remove yer frilly laceslike so. In the space of a heartbeat he undid a ribbon and actually opened his palm to cup her breast.

Valentina was shocked to her very soul. She raised her hand to slap him full across the face, Douglas or no Douglas.

He caught her hand before it connected. Ye must be exclusive. I like that. He grinned.

She snatched back her hand and whirled away from him, then gathered the plaid high about her neck and clutched it desperately. Please leave me in peace so I may dress and come downstairs.

Dont ye like this luxurious chamber? he mocked Yes, its lovelyshes lovely, Tina said, indicating the portrait of Damaris.

The Kennedy bitch! She thought she saw a look of pain in his eyes before he spat.

Valentina felt as if he had slapped her in the face. If you hate her so much, why havent you removed it?

Ramsay Douglas laughed, but there was no mirth in that laughter. Dont think we havent tried When the painting is taken down, all hell breaks loose in the castle until its back in its place. The bitch haunts us, he said quite matter-of-factly.

She laughed derisively. Oh comethe infamous Black Ram believing in ghosts?

His eyes narrowed and gleamed with their strange pewter shade. Ye know me, wench?

C-Colin told me your name. He said it with such reverence, I assumed you must be a god at the very least A god? he snorted Perhaps an archangel, he conceded.

Valentina laughed and her eyes sparkled, her fear momentarily forgotten. Well, at least you have a sense of humor.

Ye too, he conceded. Perhaps we are alike in other ways.

I dont even know who I am, or who you are for that matter, she replied coolly.

Yer a woman, Im a man. It might be rewarding tae find out, he said, stepping closer. If he touched her again, Tina thought she might faint. There was a sound at the door, and impatiently Ram flung it open. It was his wolfhound.

Oh, please dont let him in, she begged, retreating to the fireplace.

Never fear, he wont enter this room. The specter keeps him at bay.

You are serious about her spirit haunting this castle?

Aye, he said grimly. My cousin Alexander brought her here as a bride over fifteen years ago. She was a whore, like all the Kennedy women. She had two brothers at each others throats over her. Alexander poisoned her, then took a dive from the parapets.

Tinas cheeks colored with anger at his offensive words.

Perhaps it is the evil shade of the poisoner Alexander who is condemned through eternity to haunt the halls of this cursed castle.

His phantom stands ever at my shoulder warning me against marriage. Wives are like spidersonce they are mated, the female slowly devours the male.

Valentina shuddered. She knew she must get away from this dangerous man. Women were obviously less than dirt to him. My lord, I beg you will allow me to finish dressing and also allow me the freedom of your castle. I know my memory will come back to me if I walk aboutperhaps get some fresh airtake a look at the spot where I fell. Perhaps seeing my horse will jog my mind so that all will fall into place.

He waved an arm. Feel free tae explore my cursed castle, if yer no afraid of bogles.

Tis the living I fear, she said pointedly.

Touche, my lovely vixen. Tis obvious ye would be rid o me. He smiled cruelly. Im off for an interesting encounter wi my nearest and dearest neighbors, the Hamiltons. I invite ye tae sup wi me when I return.

Thank you, she said faintly. She leaned her head against the door weakly after hed gone. Hed called her vixenher fathers name for her.

Never be alone with him again, warned Damaris.