Every Heart Has Its Day (15 page)

They stopped gathering their own fare and faced her.

“Have I misspoken?”

“I be Malcolm, milady.” The stocky lad bowed and handed her a spoon. “We serve those of import first.”

“I said I could wait.”

Robert’s beard swung back and forth. “Ye be a lady, therefore ye be served afore us.”

“Nay.”

“I dinna understand.”

She looked toward the man who had tended her. “Each of us be ranked depending upon our import. Agreed?” Kasey waited until each man bobbed a chin or grunted assent. “The king takes precedence over all since he bears responsibility for every Scot. Within each clan, the laird ranks highest. His heir be vital for continuity of the bloodline, so he comes next.”

“Please go on, milady.”

She sat and set her bowl in her lap. The stew smelled so good, she could wait no longer to eat a spoonful. She closed her eyes to savor the fare. With her mouth still full she said, “This be the best stew I have ever tasted.”

A blushing man bowed. “Thank ye, milady.”

“I wish to hear more of this hierarchy.”

Startled by her captor’s voice, she swallowed too quickly. A piece of venison lodged in her throat. She coughed several times. One of the men slapped her back. She shot up her hand.

Thankfully, he heeded her signal and stopped. She wiped away tears, wrought from her coughing spell and the pain of his strikes. Someone handed her a cup of wine, and she gulped down half. “Thank ye.”

“Be ye better now?”

She nodded, though she doubted her captor cared.

“Then I wish ye to continue. Ye stopped at the heir.”

“Next in line be the commanders, followed by the warriors, for without them none have security. Then the tradesmen and stablemaster since their weapons and horses be vital to safety. Warriors would be too weak to protect the others without food, so the farmers come next.” Kasey paused to take another bite. She had the hierarchy beaten into her head—and her back—so often that she would never forget it.

Her captor sat across from her. “Ye failed to mention the ladies of the manor.”

“I shall,” she assured him. “The cook must prepare the food. The craftsmen’s wares enrich life and provide monies for the taxes. Now,” she glanced at the bearded mountain, “comes the laird’s wife. After she produces two sons, she may lead a separate life so long as she leaves the keep in capable hands.”

“Where does the laird’s daughter place?” Dillon asked.

“Since the clan must support her until she weds, and then it must pay a dowry, she be naught but a burden.”

A muscle in her captor’s cheek twitched. “Ye have much to learn, milady.”

She snorted, and then wrinkled her nose. “What be burning?”

Marcus swore as he removed the pot from the fire. He threw the singed fare into a clump of bushes, then returned to the gathering and sat next to Kasey. “May I ask a question, milady?”

She nodded as she swallowed another bite.

“Be this ranking the reason ye never look us in the eye? At first I wondered if ye thought yerself too good, but now I believe the opposite be true.”

She pushed the rest of her stew around the trencher.

“Have ye been taught to seek permission before ye look a person in the eye?” Her captor stood braced for battle.

At the risk of his wrath, she nodded.

“Lady Cameron.” Dillon knelt at her side. “Ye have permission to look me in the eyes any time ye wish.”

Kasey turned away.

“Please, milady.”

“Be this a sick game ye play?”

“Milady, I have seen yer clan, and I understand yer doubts, but things be different now.”

Kasey contemplated Dillon’s claim. What was the worst that could happen? Another lashing would be unlikely for she saw no whips. Come to think of it, none of the horses bore any marks of abuse. She took a deep breath, turned to Dillon, and met his gaze.

“Ye have beautiful eyes, milady.”

Marcus shoved Dillon aside and dropped before her. “She looks like an angel.”

Malcolm and Robert nearly stepped on each other in their rush to grant her their leave.

Though she smiled at each of the men, disappointment weighed heavily on her shoulders. Both the man who tended her wound and her captor left before granting permission.

“I beg yer pardons.” Kasey yawned. “Dillon, would ye point me toward my pallet?”

He led her to the small clearing he had prepared and bid her good night.

She lay down on her bed of grass and leaves. The pain in her arm forced her to roll off that side. When her back touched the pallet she gasped and bolted up. She shifted her weight to her other hip and lowered her body.

If only her mind could find such relief.

****

Connor cursed dawn’s haste. Thrice Kasey’s restlessness had woken him. Thrice he asked if she dreamt, but she did not respond. He left her to her rest and ordered Robert and Dillon, who stood guard, to sleep while the others tended the chores.

He grabbed hunks of cheese and bread, then returned to Kasey. She moaned as she struggled to rise. A single tear slid down her flushed cheek.

“Kasey?” He took her hand to help her sit up, but dropped it like a hot ember. “Gavin!”

Chapter Fifteen

Time crawled until Gavin reached Connor’s side. Fear stole his words. He could do naught but point to Kasey.

Gavin knelt and placed a hand on her brow. “She burns.”

“Aye. Dinna just stand there.” Connor ordered. “Have ye vervain?”

Gavin pulled Connor aside. “When yer fever rose, Kasey warned me that some people canna tolerate certain herbs. To make sure I understood, she told me that members of her family had died after taking vervain. Be ye willing to risk her life?”

“I dinna come this far to retrieve a corpse. Even if we ride like the wind, our holding be two days away.”

“Aye, but we could reach Annie by nightfall.”

Connor nodded. Their sister would know what to do.

“Riders approach!”

Connor despised that warning under any circumstances, but he found it insufferable at this moment. “Gavin, prepare the lady to leave. Robert, bring my horse. We shall greet whoever dares to cross our path.”

“Connor?” Gavin called. “I swear I did my best.”

Connor nodded before he and Robert reined their mounts toward the highest point. On the rise, he took a calming breath. The banner of the king’s guard offered no threat. He goaded his horse down the hill and called out.

Broderick halted his mount. “Laird Mackintosh? What brings ye so far south?”

“Ye ken the reason I be in this God-forsaken place.”

“Forgive me, laird, but I understand not. The king ordered ye not to enforce his directive without an emissary. Ye would never disobey a command.”

“I shall deal with the consequences of my actions later. An urgent matter requires my attention.” Connor turned his horse around.

“Hold!” Broderick commanded.

Connor called over his shoulder, “I have no time to waste. If ye care to learn all that has occurred, I shall explain whilst ye ride by my side.”

As soon as Broderick’s horse drew even with his, he informed the emissary that Kasey burned with fever.

Broderick urged his horse to a full gallop and dismounted before his stallion stopped. He ran to Lady Cameron, then shouted to the guard’s commander, “We return to Inverness immediately.”

“Nay!” Connor shouted. “Lady MacPherson will tend Kasey.”

“The king has ordered Lady Cameron’s return to Inverness.”

Connor whispered to Gavin before he wheeled around and grabbed Broderick’s tunic. “If we delay, ye will have naught but her body by this time on the morrow.”

“Unhand me.” Broderick tore Connor’s hand from his shirt. “Ye have no right to decide her welfare.”

As the emissary argued his point, Gavin handed Connor a goblet. He drank half the contents and returned it to his brother.

“So help me, Laird Mackintosh, if ye have bed her afore ye wed her, I shall make her a widow posthaste.”

Connor glared past the emissary, who turned to follow his gaze. Gavin roused Kasey and held the chalice to her lips. Little time passed before he upended the empty goblet.

The emissary fisted his hands. “The sharing of wine means naught. A priest must bless the union.”

“Whether ye like it or not, old man, she now be my wife.”

“Bastard!”

Kasey’s groan quenched Connor’s desire to beat the man. “Gavin, Marcus? We leave for the MacPhersons now. Robert, Malcolm, and Dillon, return home and inform Ingram of our whereabouts. Tell him I order a contingent sent to the MacPherson holding. Double the guard at our holding. We ken not how the Camerons and Grants will accept their loss.” Connor turned to the emissary, “Ye may do as ye wish.”

Broderick conferred with the guard’s commander. “Half of the king’s men will escort ye to the MacPherson’s. The others will return to Inverness. Before we separate, ye will tell us all that has happened.”

The sun ceded its battle to night as they entered MacPherson lands. Connor sprang from his horse and ran with his precious bundle cradled in his arms. He took the steps three at a time and burst through the door. He nearly ran over Euan MacPherson.

“Mackintosh? Ye do ken how to knock, do ye not?”

“Where be my sister?”

“The laird’s wife be right here, brother.”

Annie, ripe with child, stood inside the great hall.

“Be yer hunt triumphant?”

“We need yer aid.” Connor would beg if necessary. He could not lose Kasey now.

She nodded toward his bundle. “Did ye bring me a gift?”

“This gift be mine, milady.” Connor revealed Kasey’s face.

Annie rushed to his side and felt Kasey’s brow. “Take her abovestairs to the second bedchamber on the left. Euan, my love, please have the tub and buckets of warm water sent there and send for Maggie. I shall need her help.”

Euan glared at Connor, then turned a softer face to his wife. “Slow down lest ye harm yerself or our babe.”

“I love ye and our bairn as much as life itself.” Annie pecked her husband’s cheek. “I promise I shall only oversee the lady’s care.”

She glanced around. Her brother had not moved. “Be ye deaf? Get her abovestairs!”

Connor ran toward the stairs as Maggie ran down.

“I heard the fuss. Be it yer time, milady?”

“Nay, Maggie. Another matter needs our attention. Please take my potions up to the second bedchamber. She needs vervain—”

“Nay!”

Connor spun toward the two other voices that had joined his protest. Gavin paused in the corridor. Broderick called from the doorway.

Annie’s gaze darted between them. “It be the best for fever.”

“Ye must find another remedy, sister.”

Connor nodded at Gavin, then ascended the stairs two at a time. “All will be well, now, Kasey. Annie be nearly as skilled as ye. She will rid ye of this fever. Fear not, my love.”

He continued to ramble, more for his sake than hers, as they entered the chamber and crossed to the bed. He laid her on her back and sat by her side. Her whimper tore at his heart.

She pressed her elbow into the tick, as if to rise up, but her strength gave out. She moaned when her back hit the pallet.

Connor stroked her face, and when she tried again to sit up, he pressed her down. “Rest, Kasey.”

A tear slid down her cheek. Her breathing hastened.

Memories besieged him. Her body had tensed against his chest when she rode astride his mount. Both nights during her sleep, she quickly rolled off her back.

He slid from the pallet and pulled her onto her side. Immediately her face relaxed, and within moments her breathing slowed.

Why had his sister not yet arrived?

He ran from the chamber, through the corridor, and down the stairs. He stopped four steps beyond where his sister pressed against the rails. “Can ye not move faster?”

“No, we canna.” She rubbed her belly and looked over at her husband, “Euan, please keep Laird Mackintosh occupied. I willna tolerate him underfoot.”

Connor opened his mouth.

Annie held up her hand. “Dinna argue with me.” She ambled abovestairs.

If she thought to keep him separated from Kasey for even one moment, she had lost her wits. He stomped up the stairs and arrived at the chamber in time for Annie to slam the door in his face. “Ye best not be behind the door, Annie. I mean to come in even if I have to break it down.”

“If ye enter this chamber, I willna tend her.”

“Ye be not so cruel.”

She cracked open the door. Her crooked smile and raised brows gave Connor pause.

“I no longer be the little sister who had to obey. Ye stand in my husband’s home, and he will abide my decision.”

“We waste time. Kasey worsens whilst we argue.”

“The sooner ye leave, the sooner I tend her.”

He elbowed the door open, stepped in, and towered over Annie. With a swish of her skirts, she crossed to the hearth and dropped onto a chair. Connor’s gaze darted from his sister to Kasey. Before he could say aught, hands tugged on his arm.

“I beg yer pardon, milord, but ye stand in our way.”

He stepped into the corridor so Maggie and the servants bearing the tub and water could pass.

As the last servant exited, Annie said, “Close the door.”

Connor stepped forward. “I beg ye, Annie, let me stay.”

Her expression softened. “I ken the hell ye have gone through all these years, brother, so I shall give ye the choice. Leave us to tend her, and ye will have many years together. Stay, and ye will regret what little time she has left.”

“Why can ye not tend her in my presence?”

“We need to get her into the bath without her kirtle. Ye be not yet wed. Save some surprises for yer first night together as husband and wife.”

“Do ye swear I shall have that pleasure?”

“I shall do my best.”

Connor hung his head. He could ask no more. “If ye need me, I shall wait in the corridor. And Annie, check her back.” His arm felt heavier than a caber as he reached out and pulled the door closed.

He backed across the hall. When the coolness of the stone wall greeted him, he sank to the floor. Each of Kasey’s moans cut like a sword. Though he could not understand their words, the concern in Annie and Maggie’s mumblings heightened his anguish.

How could he be so foolish? He had thought to earn Kasey’s love by showing her how much he had changed since Inverness. But he had not changed at all. His heedless actions had almost ended his life then, and they risked hers now.

Why did he not question her actions? Because she looked so frail, he feared his voice alone would harm her. But had he asked, she would not be knocking on death’s door now.

Why had she not told him of her injury? Because she did not trust him. Why should she? She does not know Connor. Mayhap if he had revealed himself as Hunter and explained his delay, she would have celebrated his arrival. Mayhap she would have confided in him.

When she wailed, he bound to his feet. To Hell with the past, only the present mattered now. He crossed the hall in two steps and threw open the door.

His mouth dropped open. Maggie held Kasey up as Annie lifted his lady’s wet chemise. Kasey’s bared back bore red inflamed stripes crossed with blue, green and yellow welts. Unable to contain the fury coursing through his veins, he roared.

“Out!”

Connor could not drag his tear-filled gaze from Kasey’s back, much less move his feet.

Annie shoved him into the corridor. She glared toward the approaching men before she slammed the door.

Connor had not cried since his mother passed, and even then he had done so in private. He leaned his forehead against the wood, determined to dam his tears.

“Milord?”

“Let me be, Gavin.” The concern in his brother’s voice could very well be his undoing.

“Come down to the hall, Connor.”

As he glanced at his sister’s husband, a single tear escaped. “I must stay here.”

“Ye can do no more here than ye can belowstairs. Let Annie concentrate without worrying about ye.”

“Ye dinna understand, Euan.”

“From the look on yer face, I ken whatever ye saw be not good. Would ye like me to summon the priest?”

Connor straightened. “She willna die. She canna die.” She still did not know he had not forsaken her.

“A prayer could help.”

“Come belowstairs.” Gavin pulled on his arm.

Connor allowed his brother to guide him down to the great hall. He shook his head when Gavin pulled out a chair at the table. Instead he chose the sole cushioned seat by the hearth. He rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands.

He should have realized aught more brutal than the Cameron’s idiotic hierarchy had wrought changes in the lady. His lady. She had been his responsibility from the day the king had granted his petition. Why had he not retrieved her sooner? Damn the king and his peaceful measures. The delay had cost Kasey too dearly. If she paid with her life—

Nay. He would not, could not think that way. But he knew another would pay with his life.

“I know how ye feel about scars, Connor.”

He looked up, surprised by Annie’s presence.

“Do Lady Cameron’s change the way ye feel aboot her?”

He nodded.

Annie threw up her hands. “I always knew ye to be vain, arrogant, conceited, self-righteous—”

Connor rose and towered over his sister. “Sit and calm yerself, Annie.”

In a heartbeat, Euan gained her side. “Shout not at my wife, Mackintosh.”

Connor glared at him. He wanted to beat someone. If Euan MacPherson wished to avail himself, so be it.

Annie stepped between them. “Both of ye hush. Euan, ye canna believe I grew up as this oaf’s sister without having my ears blistered? And ye,” Annie poked her brother’s chest, “put yer anger aside. Lady Cameron’s recovery may require all of us.”