Their Kidnapped Bride (Bridgewater Ménage 1)

Kane leaned down and whispered. "I rather like the dress as it is. Perhaps a few of these will pop off?" His finger flicked over the top button.

I rolled my eyes and grinned at him knowing how much he liked my breasts.

Once seated, the platters of eggs and ham being passed to me, did I realize we had some empty places. "Where's Ian? And, um...Mason?"

Sitting next to me, Kane took the platter of ham and put a slice on my plate, then another on his. "He's gone to Bozeman."

Gone? I paused. "I thought he had work or chores to do. He left because of what you said last night?" I looked to Simon.

The man nodded.

"Why?" I asked.

Everyone glanced at Kane. Perhaps, as my husband, he was to answer. "I told you some of us were regimented together in Mohamir under the command of a man named Evers. An incident occurred and Ian was implicated. He was innocent, but framed."

"Framed?" I asked, worried for Ian. "For what?"

"Killing a number of women and children."

I sat wide-eyed at Kane's words. Ian wouldn't kill women and children. I hadn't known him long, but could vouch for his character nonetheless.

"Yes, what Brody said is true. Evers killed a family. I won't go into detail of why or how as it is too gruesome to share."

I put my fork down, my food having lost any appeal.

"When word spread of the horror, Evers pinned the crime on Ian."

I frowned. "Why would he do that?"

"He's a Scot, not English."

"So?"

"You are not familiar with English history," Andrew said in his American accent. "Neither was I until I met up with this group." He tilted his head indicating the Englishmen around the table.

"The Scots have wanted their freedom from the English for hundreds of years. The Battle of Culloden in the past century finished off the clans, but hatred still runs through the veins of men on both sides. Returning to England, Ian could be tried and convicted for Evers' crime for being a Scot alone; the hatred is that strong."

Panic flared. "We must go to him. Keep this man from taking Ian!" I pushed back my chair, yet Kane's hand on the high back halted me.

"Emma, stop." Kane's voice was deep and clear.

I shook my head furiously. "No, we need to help him."

He lowered his head so his dark eyes met and held mine. "I do not wish to spank you for disobedience when you are clearly thinking of Ian's best interest."

"But–" He put a finger over my lip, his brows raised.

"Do you think I, or any of these men, would sit here eating breakfast if we truly thought Ian was in danger?"

When he put it that way, I saw that I was acting rashly.

I let my shoulders slump in a very unladylike way. "It's just that...."

Kane kissed my brow, his lips warm. "I know."

Did he really know how much Ian was coming to mean to me? In such a short time, I cared for the man. Love? Perhaps not, but I didn't want to see him come to harm. He'd only treated me with the utmost of care. Tender, even. The idea of someone using him falsely, and in such a cruel, ruthless way left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Does Evers have this much power?" I asked, needing the details. "He was stationed in Mohamir, a small country far from home. I beg your pardon, but that must not have been the most plum position."