"Marcus!" Cameron's sharp voice cut through the haze. "You'll shake her to death."
"Or mayhap shake some sense into her." He shoved her away from him and raked his hand through his hair.
"Laird," Daniel said.
Marcus looked at Daniel, who tossed a small pouch to him. He caught it and the clink of coin rattled inside the leather.
"'Tis Elise's—"
Marcus jerked his gaze onto his captain.
"The money she received from the pawnbroker," Daniel finished.
Marcus loosed the tie and emptied the coins into his palm. He counted five sovereign. A small fortune. He looked at Elise. "What were you selling?"
She remained mute. He turned to Daniel.
Daniel cleared his throat. "A wedding ring, according to the bill of sale."
Marcus watched dumbfounded as Daniel produced a piece of paper from within his sporran. He strode to the table and laid the bill of sale on it.
Marcus looked at Elise. "A hefty sum, even for a gold band."
She lifted her chin a fraction. "How did you find me?"
He slipped the coins back into the pouch, then tossed it on the table. "The MacGregor can track you, remember?"
Her cheeks colored and he knew she remembered that day in the meadow when she had threatened him with the MacGregor fury should he harm her and the children. "I tracked these children. You think he cannot track you? "she had said.
He broke eye contact. "Go change into dry clothes." Silence followed and he looked to see she hadn't so much as twitched a muscle. Marcus narrowed his eyes. "I warn you, Elise, do no' try my temper any further. Go upstairs. Now."
She remained motionless. He lunged forward and scooped her onto his shoulder. Whoops and cheers rang throughout the room.
"Marcus MacGregor!" She thrashed.
He answered with a hard squeeze to her legs. The men responded with more raucous laughter. Applause followed as he strode across the room and bounded up the stairs. She twisted in his grasp, but Marcus ignored the futile effort until he reached her bedchamber, where he kicked the door open and, in three paces, tossed her onto the bed. She landed on the mattress and immediately made to scramble to her knees. Marcus leapt forward, one knee on the bed, and planted his hands on each side of her.
"Get away!" she shouted as she scooted backwards.
She fell back against the bed when he brought his face to within an inch of hers.
"If you do not change into dry clothes, I will do it for you."
Elise remained motionless, but he caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. He pushed away from her and stood. She crawled off the bed, her gaze on him, as she fetched the dress hanging in the closet. She faced him. Marcus waved toward the screen in the corner.
"Kind of you," she retorted.
"Do not try me," he growled.
"Try you?" Elise snorted, then stepped behind the screen.
"All I want to know is why?" he demanded.
The rustling of clothing paused. A long moment of silence passed, then she said, "Exactly my question."
Marcus started to reply but threw himself, instead, onto the couch opposite the bed. A moment later, she appeared from behind the screen.
"Why did you leave?" he demanded.
"Why did you bring me back?"
He frowned. "I didn't. Cameron did. I wasn't aware you had left until an hour ago."
"Cameron?" Her eyes darkened. "So I have him to thank for scaring me half out of my wits."
Marcus leapt from the couch. Elise retreated several steps.
"You truly have taken leave of your senses." He stopped two paces from her. "Had I known—had I come for you—I would have given you a scare you wouldn't have forgotten. Being kidnapped by the Campbells clearly left no impression on you."
"I was well out of MacGregor territory when Daniel found me. I was safe."
Marcus seized her hand and yanked her close. "So safe you were accosted in an alleyway. And a woman on a ship alone—bound for America—no, Australia. No money, no escort—although, money you had in abundance. Why did you leave?"
Her lips pursed. "That is none of your business."
"None of my business? Bloody hell, Elise, I will have my answers." He yanked her so close he could feel her breath on his face. "Why?"
He twisted her wrist slightly and she winced.
"Elise," he repeated.
Silence followed, then she said, "I decided it was time to go."
Marcus tightened the tenuous hold on his temper. "Well, you can't go." He shoved her away from him. He closed his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger.
"I can't go?" she repeated softly.