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

the sheet with it. The Moor purred when Lady Mary found her goal, and Lawrence looked near to choking on his own lust as he watched.

Sir Hugh stopped his ranting and watched their games in disgust. "I am off to gather my men. This is too good an opportunity to ignore. I intend to raze Caraidland and send those MacLagans to hell."

Never stopping what she was doing, Lady Mary purred, "And gather your fortune."

"Aye. I will bring that Eldon whore back here on her knees," he snarled. "And on her knees she will stay."

"A position you have a particular fondness for," Lady Mary drawled, meeting his scowl with a smile.

It was hard to think of anything but how those long, pale fingers were playing over the Moor's dark treasures, but Lawrence managed. "My reward?" he croaked as the Moor arched and revealed more of herself.

"Ah, yes." Sir Hugh exchanged a speaking glance with Lady Mary, who nodded. "A reward you shall have, kinsman, never fear. You have served me well," he said, and he slapped the young man on the back as he left the room.

Finding himself alone with the two women, Lawrence took a tentative step toward the bed. Lady Mary smiled, beckoned him closer and silently invited him to take his enjoyment of the Moor. She watched with a mild interest that grew as he hurriedly shed his clothes, uncaring that he would be observed as he sought his pleasure. Seeing that Lawrence was as endowed as his kinsman, Lady Mary's smile grew, and she slowly removed her thin covering.

"White meat or dark meat, my fine young man?" She arched like the voluptuary she was.

Placing a greedy hand between each woman's shapely thighs, Lawrence drawled, "I have e'er been a man of diversified tastes. What say you to a bit of both?"

A smile crossed Lady Mary's face as she squirmed beneath his touch. "I say prove your worth."

Lying on his back on the bed, Lawrence settled the Moor upon himself. With a grin, he then grasped Lady Mary by her hips and pulled her toward him. She returned his grin as she decided that she would wait a while before she killed him. There were several combinations she wished to try out first.

* * * * *

Sir Hugh knew he would not reach Caraidland by nightfall. The days grew shorter, and his kinsman had used up most of the day bringing the news to him. Nevertheless, he assembled his men, determined to cover what distance he could before dark. If luck was with him, he could begin the attack at dawn's first light. He hoped his move would catch the MacLagans by surprise, but he did not count on it.

When Storm was not returned after the ransom had been refused he had begun to plot ways of attack that would cost him the least while gaining him the most. Lawrence's place within Caraidland, gained when Storm had first been taken, had been one way to help him in that plan. The lad's use was now at an end, and Hugh felt no qualms about being rid of his kinsman. He smiled grimly, knowing how Lady Mary would make use of the unsuspecting young man before she killed him with a heart as cold as his own.

Thoughts of Storm made him grind his teeth in frustrated rage. She was a thorn in his side, in his pride and in his purse. He lusted after her, yet she refused him. Her spirit was the sort that would not allow total dominance, and that drew him, for he ached to crush it, to see the proud beauty grovel before him. Once he had her back in his hands he would show her the true meaning of humility. No woman looked down on Sir Hugh Sedgeway.

Included in his plots for revenge was many a one for the Scottish stallion that had taken what should have been his. The fact that the proud Eldon bitch would take a reiver to her bed before she would take him was an insult that was hard to swallow. He would do his best to see that Tavis MacLagan died, preferably in a slow, agonizing way before the eyes of his English lover. Sir Hugh savored the vision as he rode.

Not all of Sir Hugh's force was pleased to be riding to battle. Lord Eldon's death, as well as the heir's, had put them firmly in Lady Mary's control with little hope of release, a fact they found distasteful. Many of them were trying to convince themselves that their vows of allegiance need not extend to the widow, whom many suspected had personally engineered her own widowhood. Unfortunately in this case, they were honorable men, and their oath meant much to them. Disgruntled and unwilling, they nevertheless rode on.

When they camped for the night they were but an hour's ride from Caraidland.

Fires were kept small and shielded so that keen eyes at Caraidland would not guess what advanced upon them. Sir Hugh was not surprised when Lady Mary, her new toy, the Moor, and her burly, handsome personal guard arrived. The woman wanted to be in at the start of her stepdaughter's downfall. In her thinking, it was Storm's fault that she had never enthralled her husband. She was also curious to see the man who had dishonored Storm Eldon.

Setting up her elaborate tent, she retired inside with her entourage, later to be joined by Sir Hugh, and indulged herself in an orgy that further alienated their fighting men. Honor demanded that they transfer their allegiance to their liege's widow, but honor was severely strained when that woman was an immoral whore, a woman who belonged in a brothel, not an earl's keep. Many wished for a return of their lord, grieving anew over the unprovable treachery that had brought him down.

* * * * *

Lord Eldon was doing his best to reach his keep, but he was still many miles away from Hagaleah. He and his