She nodded and took his arm once more, which gave him comfort—and hope.
At length, she said, “You’re right. I want to tell the story because it would be the greatest story of our generation. Perhaps the century.”
“I’m not right. I didn’t know the answer. That’s why I asked. I should have asked sooner.”
She looked at him askance. “Is there really a secret organization that searches for the treasures?”
“Yes. And they’re dangerous.” He met her gaze. “I promised I wouldn’t lie—that’s the truth as I know it. My uncle liked to tell tales about our family. It got him killed, or so my father told me when I was young.” How he missed his father, lost to illness more than a decade past.
Miss Marshall sucked in a breath and squeezed his arm. “I’m so sorry. I believe you. About all of it. And I…understand why you didn’t tell me.” Her brow furrowed, then she pushed her shoulders back and her face smoothed. “You can trust me to keep your family’s secret. I promise. We are in league together now, my lord.”
He stopped and faced her. “Please don’t. I’m still Tavish—to you.”
“Will you tell me something else?”
“Anything.”
“How do you really help these Jacobites?”
He hesitated and saw her reaction—a darkening of her eyes and stiffening of her hand on his arm. “The only reason I’m reluctant to tell you—and I realize the same is true of Lann Dhearg and who I really am—is because the more you know, the more danger that knowledge presents for you. If an English soldier thought you could help him find Jacobite soldiers, he might go to any length to get that information out of you.”
She lifted her free hand to her mouth. “That’s—” She didn’t finish her thought. Instead, she lifted her chin. “I would still like to know, but I’ll understand if you don’t tell me in order to keep these men safe.”
“That is my primary concern.” He gave her a slight smile. “If I tell you, I’ll just have to keep you close.”
The darkness in her gaze shifted, heating as she edged closer to him. “Like this?”
“Perhaps a trifle closer.” He put his free hand on her waist.
“Don’t tell me,” she breathed as she put her hand on his chest. “I would hate to be the cause of putting someone in danger. Especially after all you’ve done to help them.” She pushed her hand up and cupped the side of his neck.
“Someday, I will,” he whispered just before he put his lips on hers.
He took his arm from beneath her hand and clasped her back, drawing her against him. She tipped her head back as he plundered her mouth. With every brush of her lips and sweep of her tongue, he recalled the kisses they’d shared in Dunkeld, kisses that had owned his dreams these past two years.
After several long moments, they parted. His heart beat a rapid pace. Her lips were kiss reddened, her pupils dilated.
“You are a sorcerer, I think,” she whispered. “Are you sure you aren’t descended from Merlin?”
He chuckled. “I am sure.” Then he stroked his thumb along her cheek. “I really am sorry.”
A snowflake fell and landed on her nose. He licked it off, and she laughed. “We should get back to the inn.”
He didn’t disagree, but he had a goal to accomplish. “I need to find the sword.”
“Oh! Of course. We didn’t get to that part, did we? There were too many things to share.”
“Particularly the kisses.”
She blushed. Then she took a step back, and cold air swept between them. “What happened to you and the sword at Culloden?”
He offered her his arm once more. “I was wounded, and I lost consciousness. When I awoke, someone had dragged me from the battlefield. I went back the next day, but of course, Lann Dhearg was gone.”
She put her hand on his sleeve, and they continued toward the inn. “You’ve been looking for it ever since.”
He nodded. “In the wrong hands, it can cause incalculable destruction. The fire it can cause is particularly hard to extinguish. If someone with evil intent were to wield it, there’s no telling what could happen.”
“Is Neil Kerr the only person with a firsthand account?”
“As far as I’ve found. Everyone else who has heard of it was either lying about having seen it, or it’s the same as the other men from the inn—someone they knew saw it.” He wanted to make sure she understood his intent. “Let me be clear: I want to find Neil Kerr to keep him safe. If he can help me locate the sword, I will be grateful. But that is not a requirement for my assistance.”
“I didn’t think it was. I’m the one who demanded a trade.” She grimaced.
“I thought you were flirting.”
She laughed, a lovely sound that encircled his heart with warmth and joy. “I probably was. I don’t have much experience with that, I’m afraid.”
“Good.”
She jerked her head to the side and blinked at him. “Jealous?”
“Maybe. When I accompany you to Dunkeld on the morrow—or the next day, if it snows too much tonight—I may want to find this cretin who wanted to handfast.”
A sardonic smile lifted her lips. “Don’t bother. He found a willing party. Their year was up in August, and neither wanted to continue. He decided to leave Dunkeld.”
“How fortunate for him.”
“What would you have done?”
He shrugged. “Just made sure he didn’t bother you again.”
“Oh, I quite took care of that.” She gave him a confident smile.
He let out a loud laugh. “I would have liked to have seen that. And I am not the least surprised. I should have known you wouldn’t need my protection.”
“It’s still nice to know you would have given it.”
“Any time, Miss Marshall.”
As they neared the inn, it seemed their gait slowed.
“You may call me Elspeth. And probably should if you plan to continue kissing me.”
“Will you allow me to?”
“So long as you don’t lie.”
“I meant what I said.” He bent his head and spoke next to her ear. “I look forward to more kisses.” He felt the tremor that ran through her and smiled.
She exhaled. “They shall have to wait as I must go check on my aunt. I’ll see you at dinner?”
“Yes. I think I may do a little exploring and see if I can learn anything about Neil Kerr. I do wonder if Dougal wasn’t entirely truthful, not that I blame him. He is clearly worried for his brother, as he should be.”
They walked into Balthazar’s yard, and she took her hand from his arm. “You’ll find him. I suspect you’re exceptionally good at that.”
He turned toward her, his body thrumming with desire. “I’m good at whatever I put my mind to, Elspeth. I hope you’ll remember that.”
Chapter Five
After dropping her gloves and cloak in her chamber, Elspeth knocked on the adjoining door to her aunt’s room. She was still working on reining in the tumult of emotions and thoughts rioting in her brain.