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fear. Demonstrating it only got her more of his attention.
    “Well?”
    His voice was thunderous and loud. Due to the height of the library ceiling, it echoed. Ainslee lifted her shoulders slightly. Defensively.
    “Answer me!”
    “I…was reading, Father.”
    “Are my bookshelves of such dust, you appear to have been swimming in it?”
    Ainslee darted her eyes to his before looking down at herself. She could usually gauge his anger with one glance. Today was no exception. He was in a rage. It was going to be bad. The time he’d spent searching for her had only swelled it. She watched his fingers tighten on the riding crop in his hand.  
    “I…was looking…near the back,” she explained.
    “For what in particular?”
    “A book on…science.”  Her voice dropped.
    “Are you na’ under orders to stay from books and reading? And did na’ I just give this punishment but three day ago?”
    Ainslee’s entire body went cold as he started slapping the riding crop against his thigh. Oh, dearest God! She’d forgotten. In her rush to protect Lileth, she’d failed to recall that he’d forbidden her the library.
    “Well?”
    “I…forgot.”  The last word was whispered. There wasn’t enough moisture in her throat to say more.
    “Ronald? Go to your room,” Father commanded.
    “Now?”
    “Must I suffer disobedience throughout my home? Aye! Now! Return to your rooms this moment, or I’ll attend to you next.”
    Laird MacAffrey slapped a bookshelf with his riding crop, causing several volumes to jump. Ainslee followed suit. Her heart had turned into a wild caged thing. She didn’t care who noticed as she clenched her hands tightly together at her bosom. Ronald took off at a run. The door slammed behind him. That left William as a witness. It wasn’t helpful. She already knew he liked to watch.
    Ainslee shut her eyes, sent a quick silent prayer, and the very next moment got rescued.
    “Father. Please. I’m already late for my ride. I need Ainslee at the stable. My horse, Eros, will na’ accept a bridle for some reason. Can you na’ punish her later?”
    The MacAffrey laird’s pride and joy, Ainslee’s eldest half-brother, stood at the door, lazily saying the words that saved her. Mitchell MacAffrey was three years her junior, but towered over just about everyone. Already six feet tall, he was strong, thick-boned, spoiled, self-centered, and extremely selfish. He was everything that made her father proud. And all of that was perfect for saving her right now.
    He was standing just inside the portal, slapping his own riding crop against his thigh while he waited; the epitome of a MacAffrey clan heir being put-out at having to wait for something. Father sighed heavily.
    “Go then, lass. But do na’ think this will na’ be taken up with you later.” 
    Ainslee raced around her father and then skirted William, grateful for strength and agility as her legs didn’t even betray how they quaked. Mitchell gave her a grudging nod, and motioned for her to follow him. He needn’t have bothered with that directive. She was so close to his heels, she was in danger of tripping.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The first hint that they neared Straith Castle came a good span of time later. Neal didn’t have any way of checking time. That was ridiculous. It was 1803. It wasn’t the dark ages. Even Scot dukes should possess and carry a timepiece. Maybe not a wrist watch, but he should have a pocket watch, at least. He patted the open sides of his jacket for anything solid. Metallic. Checked his trouser pockets next. Got nothing but material.
    He’d have to go by instinct. Experience. It felt like an hour had passed. Could have been more. Or less.
    The castle grounds were an incalculable amount on acreage. There wasn’t any warning that he’d reached them, either. He’d been following a track that ran through a field of ripening grains when a chunk of dark stone appeared at his