His Bonnie Bride by Hannah Howell (the beginning after the end read novel .TXT) 📕

"I cannae believe a man could treat the lass so harshly," Colin said after Phelan had been sent to bed. "Oh, aye, she's got a right sharp tongue, but it doesnae deserve such a beating."

"She was witness to the man's humiliation," Tavis said, "and she wasnae too kind to him after he rebuffed the plea she made on his behalf. He also wants to wed the lass, needs her fortune, but she willnae do it. He didnae look an even-tempered sort to me."

"Things have got a wee bit confused," Sholto remarked, frowning into his flagon of ale.

"How so?" Colin asked when his youngest son failed to elaborate upon his observation.

"Weel, when all's said and done the lass is our prisoner, yet it seems to me we've lost sight o' that. 'Tis more like we have taken her father's place as her protectors."

"Aye, but I owe the wee lass my life. She didnae have to save me from Janet's treachery. An I died, I'd been ane less MacLagan to do battle with. I cannae forget that. Eldon she may be, aye, and a Sassanach as weel, but it doesnae mean a thing next to her bringing me back from the brink o' death."

"Father's right," Iain declared. " 'Tis not the time to be thinking o' who she be, only what she has done. Then, too, who she be doesnae mean we can like what has been done to her nor stop me from wanting to rid the world o' scum like that Sassanach what treated her so. This has naught to do with the long-surviving battle atween the Eldons and us. 'Tis a thing apart. Aye, and she's earned our protection."

Sholto nodded. "Do ye think the man will come after her? Finally come out into the open to fight?"

"There's no telling, lad," Colin replied. "We can only wait, but he'll nay get his hands on her again if'n I can stop it." His grim tone ensured that no one questioned the truth of his vow.

Many a plan was put forth to cover all contingencies on the chance that Sir Hugh and his forces came to take Storm back to Hagaleah. As with many of their contemporaries, the idea of battle, especially one with a cause, was invigorating. Their only activity since winter's end had been the raid on Hagaleah, and that had offered little challenge. This offered them grim amusement; Lord Eldon could well return from France to find that his old enemy had rid him of his new one.

Much later, as Tavis readied himself for bed, Storm began to moan and writhe, plainly reliving her ordeal in Hagaleah in her dreams. Slipping into bed beside her, he took her into his arms, ignoring her thrashings as he tried to get her free of the grip of her mind's terrors. Here was the fright she had kept hidden while awake.

"Tavis!" she called frantically as she burst free of the bonds of her nightmare.

Feeling a strange exhilaration at the way she had awakened with his name upon her lips and was clutching him so tightly, Tavis caressed her hair and tried to soothe her. "Aye, lass, 'tis Tavis."

"Oh, God." She shuddered as she sought to bury herself in his protective warmth. "I thought I was ..."

"Nay. Forget it, sweeting. Ye are back at Caraidland. He will nay get hold of ye here."

"It hurts so," she murmured, already comforted by the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear.

"Ye'll nay be scarred, lass. Ah, weel, ane or twa, but not badly."

"I care not about that. 'Tis only the pain I wish gone."

"It will pass, Storm. 'Twill just take a wee bit o' time. Go back to sleep. Rest will aid ye most."

She held on to him tightly, disgusted by her fear but unable to quell it. "Stay with me, Tavis."

"I wasnae planning on staying anywhere else. Why did ye anger him so?"

"Hugh was set on punishing me no matter what I did or said. Aye, my words may have added to his rage, something he is prone to, but I could not take the drubbing meekly though I did try." She shivered, and felt Tavis's grip tighten briefly, although not enough to hurt her. "Vicious words kept me from crying out or pleading for mercy. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me quail before him."

Tavis listened in growing fury as she replied to his request for more information about her short sojourn at what had once been her home. Despite that, a laugh of honest amusement, made harsh by the turmoil of his emotions, escaped him as she told of the things she had said. This further proof of her spirit and courage gave him a feeling of pride, especially when he thought of how, despite all that had happened to her, she had found some source of hidden strength to attempt to escape.

Recounting the incidents of the night made Storm recall certain things she had seen but only now began to wonder about. There had been the look upon Lady Mary's face as the woman had watched Sir Hugh abuse her stepdaughter. As unconsciousness had tightened its grip upon her, Storm had thought she had seen something, but her mind had shied away from the memory. No one could possibly behave so basely. Shyly, but needing and hoping for reassurance that she had been mistaken, Storm decided to speak to Tavis. Since they were lovers, it could not really be wrong to speak to him of such things.

"Lady Mary was witness to it all," she said quietly, her hands enjoying the hard smoothness of his back.

"Put the bitch from your mind," he ordered gently, his lips brushing across her forehead.

"I shall as soon as I clarify something. Lady Mary not only watched, she enjoyed it. There was a look upon her face as if ... as if"—she felt a blush tinge her cheeks—"she were