Christine Dorsey - [MacQuaid 02] Read Online Free Page A

and tried again. “I’ve done a wee bit of tracking in my time and I can’t find any sign that you came by way of the path.”
    “I didn’t.”
    “There be not so much as a crushed leaf or a disturbed spiderweb in the forest.”
    She merely shrugged shoulders that shone pearly white even in the dim light from the smoldering fire.
    “Well now if you didn’t come up the path nor through the forest, that leaves but the face of the cliff out yonder, and we know since you pushed me—”
    “I did not push you.” Rachel folded her arms. “I saved you.”
    “So you keep saying.”
    “Because ’tis true. You were going to jump off the edge.” Why else was she sent?
    He only shook his head while he rested the rifle back against the wall, and crossed his arms in a masculine mimicry of her stance. “I was but standing there admiring the view before you came.”
    Rachel paused. “I don’t believe you.”
    He shrugged as if what she believed or did not believe was of little concern to him. “Now, how did you get here?”
    “You tell me.” Rachel stuck out her chin. “What way is left?”
    “Well, as far as I can tell there’s but to come flying down from the sky like a...” A strange light shone in her eyes and Logan could barely get the word “bird” past his lips. Then she looked away and he let out his breath on a ragged laugh. “Now you’ll not have me crediting that, wench.”
    “Credit what you like.” She turned her back to him. “’Tis all the same to me.” Two could play at this game, Rachel thought with a smirk. Then she remembered where she was. Why was she still here? Why?
    “Who are you?” Logan realized there was more puzzlement than command in his question, but he couldn’t help himself. He saw something. In her eyes. In the expression on her face, that made him question his own judgment.
    But then that was hardly a new predicament. Still...
    She glanced at him over her shoulder, the tilt of her rounded chin still arrogant. “I told you did I not? I’m Lady Rachel Elliott. A ward of the king. One of the queen’s ladies in waiting.”
    “And that would be Queen... ?”
    Rachel whirled around on a sigh of exasperation. “Her Royal Majesty Queen Charlotte, of course.” Was the man such a pudding head not to know his own sovereign?
    “Ah,” he said, leaning his brawny shoulder against the wall and crossing one ankle over the other. “Of course.”
    She didn’t like his tone. Rachel’s body tensed and she stared at him through narrowed eyes. He was mocking her and nobody, nobody , did such a thing without chastisement. Yet there didn’t seem to be anyone about to mete out her punishment. And she certainly couldn’t do it. He loomed over her and he obviously had no respect for her station.
    It was nigh time she returned to her own world.
    Rachel sucked in her cheeks. Perhaps she was to find her own way home. Of course. How silly of her not to realize that before. She would have this creature take her to the Queen’s residence and all would be as it should be. His eyes widened when she gave him her most gracious smile. “If you would be so kind as to escort me to Queen’s House, I will—”
    “I’ll not be going anywhere till spring, Your Highness.”
    “Till spring. But... but ’tis barely autumn.” His response to that was a mere shrug. “I must return to my home.”
    With a lazy motion he shifted away from the door, offering her an unobstructed exit. Rachel hesitated before pride lifted her chin. Fine. She would go alone. Her gaze drifted to the wild, untamed land framed by the open doorway. After taking a hesitant step she paused. “Would you be so kind as to direct me toward London.” She heard him laugh, a deep, booming sound, but when her eyes found his face it was sober.
    “Head east,” he began, “once you cross the mountains you shouldn’t have too difficult a time... till you reach the sea.”
    “The sea?”
    “Aye, the Atlantic Ocean stands between you