Footsteps splashed away. She waited a few moments, listening for sounds of movement over the plopping of water droplets and the rush of sea. Once she was convinced he had gone, she tried to wriggle out of the sack but with no luck. She pulled hard against her bonds. He must have tied her to something.
She yanked harder, twisted her wrists this way and that. The ropes chafed and tore her skin but she couldn’t give up. Whoever had done this to her must know more about the fire. How else would they know of her identity? They could even be the person responsible. They had plans. Whatever those were she needed to put a stop to it and warn Tavish.
Leana froze at the feel of water seeping into her skirts. Bile rose in her throat. The water clung to her clothing then ebbed away. Then again, feeling deeper this time. He hadn’t intended to leave her here to starve. He’d meant for her to drown.
A clever move really. Tossed into the sea, her body might float and be spotted. Here, tied up, no one would find her.
She had to get out of here, and fast.
She twisted her wrists more furiously, gritting her teeth at the feel of the ropes breaking skin. At least the toughened, smoother skin on her arm might be of use. She concentrated on moving that arm back and forth until the ropes loosened. Stickiness that could only be blood aided her in slipping the one wrist free.
She flung off the sack and gulped down several breaths while her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cave. Sea water flooded in and out, now up to her hips. The tide came in fast.
Her shaking hands made it hard to free her other wrist. She fumbled with the ropes until finally free. Snatching her skirts, she dashed out of the cave and spotted uneven steps carved into the side of the rock. The thought of climbing such a sharp incline without having gathered her breath made her head swim but she had to get to Tavish and warn him.
If everything was going to truly change that could mean he was in danger too.
✽✽✽
“WHERE’S YER BONNY lass?” Tavish’s father asked. “I thought I saw ye both sneaking off together.”
Tavish ran a hand over his face. What could he say? That he’d left her in disgust when she’d admitted the real reason she was here? That she wasn’t even Leana? That he had little idea who she really was?
Oh aye, don’t forget that he also kissed her, and still wanted to kiss her, which made him the biggest fool in Scotland.
“I cannae say,” he said with a shrug.
His father frowned, rising from his chair by the fireplace. “Ye know this match is important, aye?”
“I know,” he muttered.
“If she’s not acquiescing to ye, we cannae force it but ye’d do well to charm her.”
Tavish glanced around. Not many people were in the hall at present, choosing to be in their chambers for a rest or attending to their duties. His mother was likely sleeping after dancing into the night and he certainly didn’t want to involve her in this mess.
Truth be told, he wasn’t sure he wanted to involve his father either. The man could go from being as calm as the seas on a mild, sunny day to being whipped up into a tempest of fury. Leana hadn’t done anything—yet. He didn’t want to risk the almost peace between the clans for a deed that hadn’t been done.
Or perhaps he wasn’t as strong a warrior as he thought if he could be brought to his knees by a scheming lass.
“If she doesnae wish to be charmed, there’s little I can do, Da’.”
“Ye were as keen on this match as I was.” He rubbed his stubbled chin. “Is she no’ as ye’d expected?”
It wasn’t a lie. He’d been happy to make the match. He’d known Leana as a child and it would ensure the clan’s survival against the Campbells. He’d been too busy fighting these past years to worry about lust, let alone love, so why not marry for duty? It was only a bonus that she was bonny and spirited.
He suspected if he married Leana it wouldn’t be simply for duty anymore. There was no denying there was a horde of lust involved too. Just thinking about their kiss had him aching.
“She’s no’ as I expected,” he confirmed.
His father put a hand to his shoulder. “I’ll no’ force a match between ye but we cannae send her home with a dislike of ye. We still need to mend the rift between the clans.”
“That might be too late,” Tavish muttered. “The Sinclairs still blame us for the fire.”
“Aye, I suspected as much. The wee lass is angry still?”
“Something like that.”
“I swear on yer grandfather’s life, the Macleans didnae do such a thing, but I dinnae suppose that will help convince yer lass.”
He lifted a shoulder. “She said some things...” He blew out a breath and turned away. “I dinnae know how she feels now.”
“Och, as much as I’m loath to suggest such a thing, ye might wish to speak with the woman. The lasses like that sort of thing ye know. Sometimes, ‘tis the only way to deal with yer mother.”
Tavish smirked. His father might be famed as a warrior, but he had a soft touch when it came to his mother, and it was greatly needed at times. But he didn’t think talking would do much. After all, he’d likely want to do more than talk. He’d want to take her in his arms again, feel her lips against his...Reveal that bare, mark-less shoulder that he knew existed and more.
It wouldn’t much help him with getting to the truth of the matter. She’d admitted she was wrong about them yet talked of revenge. And even if she no longer planned to go through with it, it meant she’d been lying to him.
“I’m going to go for a
