Wild Hearts by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online Page A

turned out to be the unhappiest days of my life," she admitted wretchedly.
    Mrs. Hall fell to her knees. "My Lord Cockburn, I didna recognize ye, sir. Please forgive the disrespect she shows Your Lordship. She-is just an ignorant lass!'
    He grinned at the older woman to lessen her fear, "Can you ride, Mrs. Hall?"
    "I'll ride. And willing, too. If ye left me behind, ye'd have no alternative but to silence me, since I can identify ye."
    He frowned, annoyed that they thought him the villain of the piece, while Abrahams was the benefactor. "It is best she have a guardian who will be able to swear she still has her precious virginity." He looked at Tabby and mocked, "As soon as I collect your ransom, I will return you to the most generous man on earth!"
    Her eyes closed for a moment as she finally realized her plight. Suddenly, she was frightened, really frightened. He was a law unto himself. Ruthless, savage, the outward layer of civilization so thin, she could see the brute male animal beneath. Mrs. Hall helped her into a woolen dress and brought a hooded cloak for each of them.
    Paris studied her for a moment. She looked frightened enough to start screaming her head off once they were outside. "Give me a scarf or a stocking," he directed Mrs. Hall. "I'll have to gag you until we are out of Edinburgh," he apologized.
    Tabby's eyes were like saucers, and her lower lip trembled. He murmured Iow, "Trust me, lass, I'd not harm you."
    "I... I don't know how to ride," she whispered.
    "You don't think I'd give you a horse to escape on, do you?" He chuckled as he gagged her with a silk scarf. He didn't use the window this time but calmly walked down the long flights of stairs as if he owned the house. All inside were well trussed and gagged, but he knew they wouldn't remain so long, once his men quit the house. He was gratified to see Venetia and her escorts riding up Castle Hill toward him. When she reached his side, he told her to wait until the guard was called before beginning her dash down the hill. Paris put his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. When Troy rode up leading Paris's horse; Tabby found herself being lifted by one enormous redhead and passed up to the saddlebow of an equally enormous redhead. Fear of both the horse and the man held her paralyzed.
    "Troy, I'll meet you at Dalkeith Palace. Take her. quickly." He had been confident his men would encounter no difficulties. His second-in-command, Ian Argyle, was like an extension of himself and could be trusted totally. Ian and his men quit the house at last, sheathed their swords and mounted up silently.
    "We'll ride to Bothwell's Castle at Crichton. Its only eight miles off, and they'll never, catch up with us in eight miles. Being the King's High Sheriff, they won't dare enter his castle and challenge him." He grinned. "Throwing suspicion upon my friend Francis grieves me, but Bothwell boasts so damned much of his hospitality, I think you should sample it. I'll branch off before we get there." He signaled to his youngest man, Sandy. "Take this woman and her baggage to Magnus Cockburn's town house. Guard her well, for she can identify us. Tell my sister Venetia that she is to travel to the castle with her tomorrow. We cannot have her slowing us up tonight."
    There was a hell of a commotion going on in the house behind them. Paris gave the signal for his men to follow him. As they galloped off through the city, he knew that soon a troop of soldiers would be summoned from Edinburgh Castle, and wondered wryly which of his friends was on guard duty tonight. Soon they had left Edinburgh behind. They mounted a steep hill, and Paris held up his hand to stop. He listened carefully. Yes, he could hear the ground thunder with hoofbeats. To the east lay the sea, to the south lay Bothwell's lands and Crichton Castle. They gained the crest of the next hill where he drew rein and waved his men on past him, thundering down into the valley. He turned right and headed for Dalkeith,