Wild Hearts (37 page)

A fever of jealousy gripped him. He had to crush the childish urge to smash Orkney's gift. He bellowed, "Mooning over some damned toy he gave you. I won't have it, put it away!" His eyes lowered to the tempting swell of her breasts, beautifully displayed in the exquisite gown. "And another thing I won't have is you flaunting yourself naked before our company."

Her eyes widened. "I believe you are jealous," she said incredulously.

"Jealous?" He sneered, goaded beyond endurance. "I've a beautiful new mistress in the village of Cockburnspath. Why should I be jealous of you, madam?"

She couldn't be certain, but she suspected that he lied about the girl, else why would he be here every night, watching her undress? Nevertheless, she experienced a jealousy of her own and was stung to retort, "While you are off playing your silly games of war, I shall be free to enjoy Edinburgh and choose a lover."

His emerald eyes pierced her with their icy glitter, and his hands cupped her shoulders roughly. "If you ever yield to another that which you deny me, you sign his death warrant!"

CHAPTER 16

When James returned from Douglas with his hundred men, Shannon ran out to greet him as if he had been gone two years, rather than two days. Paris watched her run like some wild thing, the object of her love blotting out everything else in the world, and he knew that was what he yearned for himself.

The hundred Borderers alerted everyone at Cockburnspath Castle that a large raid was imminent, and the seeds of a plan began to form in Alexandria's head. She knew without being told that it involved the Gordons, and a thrill shivered along her spine as she thought of handsome Adam Gordon. When she saw the ships being provisioned, she could have jumped for joy! Ships were so easy to hide upon, they provided dozens of places for concealment.

By the early hour at which the men retired, Tabrizia knew the venture would begin on the morrow. James and Shannon went to her chamber the moment the evening meal was finished, and even Troy went upstairs instead of out on his haunts for the evening.

Alexander sat alone, staring into the fire, biting lips gone pale.

"Do you accompany my lord, Alex?"

"Aye," he said- bitterly, "but only because he gives me no choice."

Paris was almost stripped by the time she joined him. As she began to take the pins from her hair, he gave her his full attention. His eyes lingered at her wrists and neck as her fingers undid the buttons of her rather prim gown. She stopped in mid-button and turned to him. "You know Alexander's reluctance to go on this raid does not stem from fear?"

"Do I?" His eyes followed her hands as she lifted her skirt to remove a stocking. She continued firmly, "He simply disapproves of punitive raids. On principle," she emphasized. She lifted her gown over her head to remove it and found him almost beside her. "Did you hear me?" she asked.

He looked at her blankly, and she reminded, "I was speaking of Alex."

He growled. "If you think I'm going to discuss that young devil, you are sadly mistaken. Come to bed, I must be up before first light"

She sighed and knew she mustn't press him further if she didn't want his temper to erupt like a volcano. The room was overly silent for long minutes, then he said into the darkness, "Tabrizia... dammit, it's too painful for me..." The words seemed to catch in his throat. "I can't go any longer without..." He sighed deeply. "What I'm trying to-say is, Alexander can stay aboard ship; he need not come on the road."

She smiled into the darkness and whispered, "Thank you."

When she awoke in the morning, Paris was long gone, and she felt a great emptiness. She had let him go without a word, and though she feared greatly for his safety, pride had forbidden her from letting him know. If anything happened to him, she knew she would grieve forever over what might have been. If only he felt a small part of the love she felt for him, her life would be perfect.

Mrs. Hall came bustling in with a tray for her, and the moment she smelled the food, she was overcome by a wave of nausea and began to retch miserably.

"Och, my little lamb, don't tell me yer breedin'. My lord, all he had to do was throw his trousers on the bed."

"How can you joke about it?" exclaimed Tabrizia in a stricken voice. "Anyway, 'tis impossible. Don't you dare say a word about this."

A pale and troubled Tabrizia found Shannon vibrantly laughing and shouting orders to the servants. Shannon stopped abruptly and said, "Tab, whatever is the matter?"

"I'm afraid about the raid. Aren't you worried at all?" she asked in amazement.

Shannon gave her a firm, "No! If I admitted fear, it would show that I had less than supreme confidence in my man. He's doing what he must do, and I'm getting on with what I have to do. I need a million things before I go to Douglas, so I'm going into Edinburgh for a few days. Damascus is coming with me. If you hurry, you can come, too. It will take your mind from worries of Paris. Tell Alexandria she can come as well, but we are leaving very shortly."

Tabrizia smiled her apologies. "I think I've had enough traveling for a while. Did Paris leave behind enough of his men to give you safe escort?"

"There must be at least two kicking their heels about the barracks. I must hasten Damascus, or we'll never get started. Good-bye, darling, I'll see you in a couple of days."

Tabrizia didn't run into Alexandria, and it wasn't until the other girls had been gone for two hours that she began to hunt for her. When neither Mrs. Hall nor Tabrizia could find her anywhere, a ghastly suspicion began to form in her mind. She put on her cloak and went to the stables to see if the twins' horses were both gone. When she discovered the empty stalls, her worst fears were confirmed. Now she not only had to. worry about Alexandria's safety but also Paris's temper when he discovered his sister had gone on the -raid.

The
Ambrosia
and the
Sea Witch
were under full sail by first light on that second day of February. At first it had been undecided whether to make port in Aberdeen and ride north to Huntly, or sail right up around Kinnairds Headland and ride south to Huntly. They decided to let the temper of the Atlantic decide for them. They sighted Aberdeen just before the light failed and decided the seas were not angry enough to make them seek harbor. Further up the coast they anchored in Cruden Bay by Old Slain's. Castle for the night, and went over their plans. They decided to anchor their ships a short way into the mouth of the River Deveron, just north of Huntly. They would hit the castle first, after dark, in a surprise attack; inflict what devastation they could, carry off valuables and a Huntly or Gordon hostage, then fire the villages and the surrounding countryside on their way back to their ships. Paris sought out Alexander and told him he need not accompany them inland. As Paris searched his young brother's face, he could see he was tortured with indecision. Alexander opened his mouth to confide something to Paris, then clamped his lips firmly, his resolve taken.

The anchorage proved an excellent spot for concealment where the riverbanks were heavily treed. The horses were disembarked and allowed to graze all afternoon. It was mutually agreed that Douglas would command his own men and Cockburn would do likewise. Dusk fell early this winter's eve, followed shortly by a deep, ebon darkness, moonless and all concealing. The assault was planned for the midnight witching hour, when most would be abed.

Paris was surprised when he glimpsed Alexander ahead of him on the road to Huntly. He was not displeased. He would have been enraged had he realized it was Alexandria who rode out with them. The distance they had to cover was less than a dozen miles. Half the horses were left on the blind side of the outer walls of the castle, and the rest in a copse just beyond, each group well guarded for a quick, safe getaway. The few guards at their posts were instantly dispatched before they could call alarm. The guards on the inner gates of the castle were either drunk or asleep or both, and therefore no deterrent to the determined gate-crashers.

Alexandria wished with all her heart that she had not ventured on this madness. The reality of a surprise raid was blood and savagery and death. She was running through the castle kitchens when a Douglas man beside her spitted an assailant in the throat. The blood spurted across her sleeve, and she ducked into a dark passageway and up a short flight of steps as the contents of her stomach indelicately disgorged over the flagstones. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve and was horrified as she remembered too late that it was blood-splattered. She sank down in an alcove because her rubbery legs would not support her. As soon as she felt better, she would retreat, search out her horse and head back to the ship.

Most of the inhabitants who peopled Huntly Castle were in bed asleep, so only a handful of the castle's occupants realized they had been invaded. Rogue Cockburn's quest was a Huntly or a Gordon. He opened a chamber door, with his men at his back, and encountered a couple in
flagrante delicto
. The woman saw him before the man, who was too far gone in the throes of passion to notice the intrusion. Her eyes went wide, and fear gripped her throat as she let out a strangled cry.

"A thousand pardons, my lady, for my untimely interruption," Paris apologized with a leer. The man sprang up from the bed on unsteady legs, having just spent his strength in a more pleasant encounter.

"I have you at a disadvantage, sir," noted Paris, his wolf's grin widening.

"Who are you? What do you want?" demanded the man on a rising note of hysteria.

"I seek a Gordon," replied Paris.

"My older brother, Lord John, is not here," blurted Will Gordon.

The Rogue's eyebrows shot up. "Strange, for this seems to be his wife, Lady Gordon, in the flesh, so to speak. "I seek a Gordon for hostage, but I fear you will not suffice. Lord John would hardly be daft enough to pay ransom for a brother who is tupping his wife." Paris drew his sword. Will Gordon stepped back. "Just slip on your trews and lead the way to where the old earl keeps his coffers," said Paris pleasantly.

"My father's tower is well guarded. You will be taken if you make an attempt there," he warned.

Paris chuckled. "We are two hundred strong. You are outnumbered and outclassed, and I warrant even Huntly would be aghast at what I could tell him of your revels in your brother's bed. Just one small coffer will seal my lips. No, better make it two," Paris decided generously.

As Rogue's men struggled beneath the weight of their ill-gotten gains, Black Douglas met up with his friend. He had a young man gagged and trussed in his possession. His eyes could not conceal their merriment. "Lord John's son, Johnny. He has two sons, but I was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of the heir."

"Let's go. We've accomplished all our goals. I'll see you back at the ship." It was an old habit for Paris to count heads. He saw Ian ride off safely, then let out a sigh as Troy passed him at a high gallop. He called out, "Any sign of Alex?"

"No, he's probably already back at the
Sea Witch
."

Alexandria was desperately trying to find her way back out of the castle. Suddenly, she heard footsteps running down a flight of steps toward her. She pressed herself against the wall at the sight of the dark young man with a sword in his hand.

"This way, I've cornered one of the bastards," he shouted up the stairs, and suddenly she was surrounded by men brandishing torches and weapons. They prodded her up the staircase and ushered her into a private sitting room. Adam Gordon said with disappointment, "Damn, he is only a boy." Alexandria put up her chin and refused to speak. She was terrified, but she resolved to act as if she were invincible.

Huntly, the aging, corpulent earl, shuffled into the room waving a scroll. His skin was as rough as oats. He rasped, "I know the enemy. They delivered me a treatise of demands to my chamber. The Black Douglas and that devil Cockburn."

Will Gordon came in. Impotent fury made him almost speechless.

"Did you catch the bastards?" demanded Huntly.

"There were too many of them. Took us by complete surprise. Our men are after them. They even fired the villages as they retreated."

"Too bad John was not here," snapped Huntly, looking with contempt at his younger son. "Is this all we have of them?" he rasped as he indicated Alexandria.

"He's little more than a child," said Adam by way of apology to his grandfather.

A man-at-arms, the bearer of ill tidings, announced, "Yer Grace, yon swine have taken young Johnny hostage."

Adam's mouth tightened at the plight of his brother.

Will Gordon said, "We'll get him back. We, too, have a hostage."

"Aye," said Huntly, "I'll wager under his bonnet he's a filthy redheaded Cockburn!"

Trying to forestall the inevitable, Alexandria growled, "I'm Alex Cockburn, and damned proud of it!"

"The Rogue's brother, by God. We'll not only get Johnny back, but every guinea he lifted," swore Will, feeling guilty over leading the raiders to their coffers.

Huntly lifted his hand. "Throw him in the dungeon."

As a man-at-arms reached forward to grab her, she spat at him and sneered, "Do your worst."