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

for torches and, leading a wristbound Tavis by a rope leash, he marched with ten men toward the walls of Caraidland. They went under a white flag, for Sir Hugh intended to parley. He was confident that he would walk away with Storm in but the time it took to suggest the trade. Then he could take Caraidland on the morrow as a coup de grace.

Tavis hoped no trade would be made. He did not want his error to be paid for by Storm. There was little chance that he would be killed, for Sir Hugh would recognize his worth in ransom if, by what now could well take a miracle, Caraidland did not fall. He shrugged away the intruding thought that Sir Hugh could kill him out of spite or even rage, a state in which he reached near madness. C'est la guerre, as the French said, he thought wryly, as he struggled to stay upright and turned his gaze to the walls of Caraidland.

Seeing movement in the camp, Storm halted in her telling of sordid tales about Lady Mary. She strained to see clearly, to determine what was going on. Suddenly she tensed and grabbed Sholto by the arm. "Look, Sholto, there is a group approaching with torches and a white flag. Sir Hugh wishes to parley."

As Sholto woke his brother and father, Storm noticed the man on the leash. It was another moment before she recognized who it was that Sir Hugh led. Her heart seemed to stop and she turned stricken eyes to an ashen-faced Sholto.

" 'Tis Tavis. Sir Hugh has Tavis."

Chapter Eighteen

"MacLagan," Sir Hugh bellowed as his group stopped within feet of the walls of Caraidland.

"No need to shout. I see ye," Colin replied sardonically, causing Tavis to grin slightly.

Yanking Tavis forward, Hugh called, "As you can see, I have your son and heir, Tavis."

"Aye, I can see that just fine." Colin looked at Sholto and asked softly, "How in God's great name did Tavis fall into his hands? Tell me in as few words as possible what that young fool was doing outside these walls."

"He wanted to reach Athdara," Sholto said quickly. "We are sore in need of fighting men."

"Send out the Eldon girl, MacLagan, and I will give you back your son."

"Where the devil are ye going?" Colin snapped as he grasped the arm of a retreating Storm.

"Out to Sir Hugh," she gasped as he yanked her back to his side, "so that he will release Tavis."

"Dinnae be so daft, lassie. Do ye really think Tavis wants that? Nay, lassie, there willnae be a trade." Storm watched speechlessly as Colin replied, "Nay, Hugh, no trade. See, lassie," he added when Tavis waved his bound hands in agreement.

Hugh swore harshly in fury and disbelief. "Let me see the girl. Mayhaps you have naught to trade with."

Colin signaled two men to step forward as he undid the ribbon that held back Storm's hair. "That will leave him in no doubt o' who ye be, lassie. Go on. Step forward and call out to him."

Storm had no idea how well she stood out with her brilliant hair tossed by the wind and the torchlight illuminating it fully as she leaned on the battlement and called, "Did ye wish to see me, Sir Hugh?"

"Aye, I wished to see you," Hugh said, mocking her polite tone of voice, "I have your lover here, Storm."

"Ye cannae let him ken that ye care, lassie," Colin said quietly. "Play it hard, child. Play the cold bitch."

"So ye do. How goes it, Tavis?" she asked idly as she sat down, straddling the parapet.

"It has been better, little one," Tavis called back and, seeing the white of her slim leg against the wall added, "Ye have nay put on any wretched stockings, ye fool lass."

"Mayhaps I thought to incite Hugh's troops to riot," she replied, slowly swinging her leg, causing the people upon the walls to snicker and Tavis to grin fleetingly before an angry Hugh gave a vicious tug on the rope.

"Come out, Storm, and I will release your lover to his family unharmed."

"Why should I when his own father has said 'tis no trade?" she asked idly. "I care not to come to ye."

"Do you care not what happens to your Scottish stallion?" Hugh refused to believe that he had failed, that holding the heir to Caraidland would gain him little.

"Aye, I care, for 'tis a fine stallion he is but, though it will sore grieve me to lose his, shall we say, affections, he is nay irreplaceable." She caught Sholto by the hand and tugged him to her side. "I have a wide choice of stud, Sir Hugh." Sholto obligingly put his arm around her. "I will survive the loss." She fought down the embarrassment of speaking so crudely.

"Am I to believe that the proud Storm Eldon has become naught but a whore to the Scots?" sneered Hugh, unaware of how close Tavis had come to attacking his captor, bound wrists and all. "Are you now to be ridden by all?"

" 'Tis a sort ye know well, Sir Hugh. Nay, I merely see no point in giving myself over to a gelding. 'Tis a love of the horses Sir Hugh has," she murmured to Sholto, who laughed as he began to toy with her hair.

Sir Hugh clenched his hands and snarled softly before he shouted, " 'Tis your last chance, Storm Eldon. Come down to me and I will return Tavis to his family. You are the price for his freedom."

"Here is my final answer to your offer, Sir Hugh," Storm called back as she slipped her arms around Sholto's neck and proceeded to kiss him, finding a little too much cooperation on his part.

Tavis was surprised to find that he was not jealous, that he clearly saw it as only part of the little farce being played out for Sir Hugh and that he had absolutely no fear that Storm would really bed Sholto. Sir Hugh looked near