A Breath of Scandal (31 page)

“We’ll see,” Lara muttered as she began to undress. A few minutes later she slid naked beneath the sheets.

Julian undressed and joined her. His arms went around her and he pulled her close. “Sleep, love. You look exhausted. We’ll decide what’s to be done later.”

A week passed with no further attempts on Julian’s life. Whenever he left the protection of Glenmoor, enough Highlanders accompanied him to discourage even the bravest of men. At the end of the week the consensus was that danger no longer existed, that the Jackal’s men, fearing the Highlanders, had left. Neither hide nor hair had been seen of them since that initial attack.

Christy decided it was safe to travel to Inverness for winter supplies and consulted with Sinjun. Sinjun agreed and recruited several burly clansmen to accompany them.

Lara was looking forward to visiting Inverness. It was a fairly large city with many shops, and she was in need of warm clothing.

They started out early in the morning. Julian, Sinjun and the women rode beside the Highlanders. A wagon to carry supplies back to Glenmoor followed.

They reached the bustling city shortly before the noon hour. Lara’s stomach was grumbling so loudly that when she saw a pie seller hawking his wares, she asked Julian to buy her a meat pie. Julian complied, buying pies for everyone. He laughed as she gobbled down the savory pastry and licked her fingers afterward.

“Hungry were you?” he teased.

“Famished.” She and Christy exchanged meaningful looks, then joined in the laughter. Soon she’d have to tell Julian about the baby, but not yet. She wanted to give him every opportunity to declare his love first.

“Oh look,” Lara said, pointing to the shop bearing the sign of a mantua maker. “What a lovely fur-lined cloak in the window. Can we stop there?”

“It’s right next to the weaver’s shop where I buy woolen material,” Christy said. She looked at Julian. “Is it all right if Lara and I shop while you and Sinjun go about your business?”

“Only if guards accompany you,” Julian replied, looking to Sinjun for confirmation.

“Aye,” Sinjun agreed. “Normally the women would be safe in Inverness, but no sense taking chances. We’ve seen no sign of the Jackal’s men, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still around. Gavin and three other men will accompany them while they shop.”

The party split up then, four men tagging along with the women and the rest forming a protective ring around Julian.

“I knew if we bided our time we’d find the opportunity we’ve been waiting for,” Crockett said gleefully.

Crockett and Dorks were disguised in plaids and bonnets, making them difficult to differentiate from the townspeople going about their business on this fine market day. “They didn’t even know they were being followed,” Crockett continued. “Had we been stupid and brought all our men to town, we would have been conspicuous, but just the two of us raised no suspicion.”

“What now?” Dorks asked. “What can two men accomplish with those savage Highlanders protecting Scorpion?”

“ ’Twould be foolhardy to attack Scorpion with the odds against us, but we might fare better with his woman. Once we have her, Scorpion will follow.”

“Look!” Crockett crowed, “the group is splitting up. Come on, keep the wench in your sights.”

They turned the corner and dogged the women’s trail. With their bonnets pulled low over their foreheads, they followed on foot, garnering scant attention.

“The Gypsy wench is entering the mantua maker shop, and the Macdonald laird is going into the weaver’s shop,” Dorks hissed.

Crockett grinned delightedly. “Everything is working in our favor. Hie yerself to the livery and rent a closed coach. Bring it around to the alley behind the shops. Leave the rest to me.”

Dorks didn’t question his superior as he sprinted off down the street to do Crockett’s bidding.

The cloak in the shop window was exactly what Lara wanted. “Are you coming in with me?” she asked Christy.

“Why don’t you buy your cloak and browse around a bit while I duck into the weaver’s shop and purchase the woolen material I need. I’ll join you when I’m finished.”

She turned to Gavin. “Is that all right, Gavin?”

Gavin thought a moment, then nodded. “The shops are side by side, two men can wait for ye outside the weaver’s shop and the other two can wait for Lara outside the mantua maker’s.”

“I won’t be long, Lara,” Christy promised. “Take all the time you need. Our husbands will spend hours examining the weapons Sinjun intends to purchase as replacements for the old and obsolete ones in our armory.”

Lara entered the shop and looked around, delighted with the array of ready-made clothing. A small, birdlike woman came from behind a curtain and flitted around her.

“How may I help ye, my lady?”

“That cloak in the window. I’d like to purchase it.”

“ ’Tis of the finest quality, and feel the fur. ’Twill be warm and soft against yer tender skin.”

“How much?”

They haggled over the price a few moments before reaching a mutually satisfying conclusion.

“I’ll wear it,” Lara said, taking off her old cloak and replacing it with the new one. “Wrap up the old one, I’ll take it with me. Show me what you have in ready-made gowns.”

“This way, my lady,” the shopkeeper said, leading Lara to a corner of the shop where several gowns were displayed.

Lara heard the shop door open and close but paid it little heed as she inspected the gowns.

“Excuse me a moment, my lady,” the shopkeeper said, “while I take care of the gentleman’s needs. Take yer time. Browse to yer heart’s content.”

Lara found two gowns that would suit her and started sorting through a pile of petticoats. A strange sound behind her caught her attention and she turned slowly, gripped by a sudden chill. Her gaze scanned the small shop for the shopkeeper but failed to find her. She saw the man who had entered while she was browsing and a frisson of fear slid down her spine. Clutching her cloak about her, she sidled toward the door.

Suddenly the man was upon her, his large hand covering her mouth. “Be quiet, wench!” he hissed.

Lara struggled as he dragged her toward the curtain in the back, but it did little good. He was so much stronger than she. Then she spied the shopkeeper lying on the floor behind the counter and fear escalated to raw panic. Had he killed the woman? She prayed not. What did he want with her?

The ruffian pulled her through the curtain toward a rear door, and suddenly it dawned on Lara what was happening and why.

Protesting violently, Lara was shoved through the back door and hustled into a coach waiting in the alley. The ruffian relaxed his hold on her mouth long enough for Lara to gather a scream in her throat. Unfortunately it never left her mouth. Her attacker realized what she intended and let his fist fly against her jaw. Then she knew no more.

Christy hummed to herself as she left the weaver’s shop. She had purchased all the fine woolens she needed as well as flannel to make swaddling clothes for the baby, and she was eager to tell Lara about her purchases. The cloak Lara coveted was gone from the window, she noted as she opened the door and stepped inside.

The shop was empty. Alarm shot through her. She called Lara’s name. No answer was forthcoming. The Highlanders must have sensed her panic, for they rushed inside behind Christy.

“What is it?” Gavin asked. “Where’s Lara?”

“I don’t know,” Christy answered.

“She dinna leave the shop by the front door,” one of the Highlanders offered.

“Search the shop,” Gavin ordered.

The men spread out. Gavin found the unconscious shopkeeper lying behind the counter.

“Is she dead?” Christy asked, falling to her knees beside the woman.

“She’s alive,” Gavin said on a note of relief. “She’s beginning to come around.”

The woman opened her eyes and tried to focus on Christy’s face. “Who are ye?” she whispered.

“The Macdonald laird from Glenmoor. What happened to the woman who bought the cloak from you?”

“Och, I dinna know. A man came into the shop while she was browsing. I went over to speak with him and he struck me.”

“Can ye identify him?” Gavin asked.

“Och, nay, I dinna see his face.”

Consumed by misery, Christy sat back on her heels. Four strong Highlanders hadn’t been able to protect one small woman. And now Lara was gone.

How was she ever going to tell Julian?

“S
he’s what!” Julian roared when told of Lara’s abduction. “Where was everyone when my wife was abducted? How could it happen beneath your very noses?”

“We were right outside the door,” Gavin defended. “Only one other customer went inside. I peeked through the door and saw the customer speaking with the shopkeeper and Lara browsing through a stack of female frippery. Nothing looked amiss to me so we remained at our stations outside the door.”

Julian grit his teeth in frustration. “I checked behind the curtain and found the rear exit. ’Tis obvious he took Lara out that way. Where’s the shopkeeper?”

“Over here, Julian,” Christy called. “The poor woman is just coming around. She received a nasty clout on the head.”

Julian knelt beside the woman. Christy helped her into a sitting position. The woman’s eyes were still dilated and she moaned softly as Christy supported her in her arms.

“Can you tell me what happened to my wife?” Julian asked in a gentle voice. He wanted to yell and scream but was astute enough to realize his blustering would only frighten the injured woman.

“Och, I dinna know,” the woman wailed. “One minute I was speaking to a customer who had entered behind yer wife and the next I felt a crushing pain in me head. I knew nothing more until I awoke and found the Macdonald laird leaning over me.”

“What did the man look like? Can you describe him?”

“Och, nay, my lord, I dinna get a good look at him. He was wearing a plaid and bonnet and looked like a Highlander. I’m sorry, my lord,” she wailed, hiding her face in her hands. “Why would anyone want to abduct yer wife?”

Julian’s face hardened. “ ’Tis a long story.” He fished in his pocket and dug out a gold sovereign, pressing it into the shopkeeper’s hand. “For your trouble and pain, my good woman.”

“I hope ye find yer wife, my lord. Such a pretty little thing.”

“Aye,” Julian muttered, his voice harsh with determination.

Sinjun entered the shop and pushed his way through the Highlanders crowded around Julian. “I’ve checked the area, Julian, and no one seems to know anything. But one piece of information stuck out in my mind.”

“Out with it, man!” Julian exploded.

“A woman said she saw a closed coach speed from the alley about the time Lara was abducted. She said it nearly ran her down. When I questioned others about it, they too remembered seeing a black coach barreling down the street.”

“Bloody hell! The bastards who attacked us didn’t go away like we thought. They’ve been holed up somewhere spying on Glenmoor, biding their time for the right opportunity to strike. When they couldn’t get to me, they took Lara. They were that certain I’d follow.”

“What are you going to do?” Sinjun asked worriedly.

Julian’s jaw firmed. One had but to look into his eyes to see the dark promise of retribution burning within their glowing depths. “I’m going to get my wife. And God help those responsible for her abduction.”

“Amen,” Sinjun said. “Do you think they took her to London?”

“I have to believe that’s where they took her. It makes sense. The Jackal wants to lure me to London where I’ll be accessible to his hired thugs. He knows that as long as he has Lara I won’t continue my investigation.”

“I’ll go with you,” Sinjun offered.

“No. I’ve already placed your family in danger by coming here. I was naive to think the Jackal would give up on me. Stay here with your wife and children, Sinjun. I appreciate your offer but I’d rest easier knowing my life is the only one at risk.”

“Will you ask Lord Randall for help?”

“I’m not sure that would be a wise thing to do. I’ll do nothing to anger the Jackal and place Lara’s life in more danger than it is now.”

Julian strode out of the shop as if the devil were on his tail. One of the Highlanders handed him his reins. “I’m for Glenmoor,” he told Sinjun as he leaped into the saddle. “Then I’m off to London to confront Lara’s father. If that bastard knows anything about Lara’s abduction, his life is forfeit. I’ll find Lara if it’s the last thing I do.”

Lara regained her wits slowly. Her jaw hurt like the very devil and her head spun dizzily. The only thing she knew for sure was that she was inside a coach that was rattling down the road at breakneck speed, bouncing her about. She tried to steady herself against the seat and collided with a solid form.

Her abductor!

She raised her head and looked into the hard, colorless eyes of a man she recognized.

Crockett.

“Why?” she asked tremulously.

“Yer awake,” he growled.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Yer a nosy wench. Don’t fret none, I ain’t gonna hurt you. What will happen to ye once ye’ve outlived yer usefulness is another matter. ’Tis for the Jackal to decide.”

A shiver slithered down Lara’s spine. “You’re taking me to London, aren’t you? Am I finally to meet the Jackal?”

“Mayhap.”

“What does he want from me?”

“Nothing. ’Tis Scorpion he wants. Yer the bait to lure him.”

“I don’t know any Scorpion. You’ve made a mistake.”

“The Jackal doesn’t make mistakes, wench,” he snarled. “Julian Thornton, the Earl of Mansfield, is Scorpion, right enough.”

“If Julian is Scorpion, you’re making a big mistake thinking he’ll come after me. He doesn’t care for me all that much.”

Crockett gave a bark of laughter. “Yer crazy if ye think that, wench. Now shut up, ye talk too much.”

Lara’s mouth snapped shut. Not because she was ordered to do so but because she needed time to think. Julian
would
come after her, she knew it as well as she knew her own name. She loved him so much, yet it appeared that she was to be the instrument of his death. She wished, no, prayed, that he would remain at Glenmoor and escape the trap set for him.