Highland Hearts 03 - Crimson Heart (30 page)

They had left Edinburgh nearly two weeks before and were almost to Munro land. They must arrive home before the first snows and had insisted on leaving Edinburgh immediately after presenting information to Marie de Guise. Brother Peter’s quest for power to help Lord Arran overturn her rule had passed the line of traitorous fervor right into insane madman.

Father Renard had been obstinate about wanting to charge Searc and Rachel for practicing witchcraft. The foolish priest may have ended up with his tongue cut from his head by Alec until Hannah turned from a mouse into a tiger. The cleric had shut his mouth when she swore to tell Marie de Guise that he’d been part of the plan to oust her from power and had urged Peter to put the stinging nettles under her saddle. Since Peter had begun his quest to kill Marie based on Father Renard’s private rantings, he realized just how guilty he would look. Father Renard decided hastily that it was in his best interest to agree with the slightly altered story Elena and Rachel told of being rescued.

“I love that sound.” Searc kissed Elena’s temple.

She twisted to see him. “Your father cursing?”

He smiled that devilish grin that made her heart pound harder. “Nay, yer laughter, lass. Yer happiness.” He caught her chin, tilting her up for a kiss that made her melt into him. She completely forgot that she was on a horse and would have fallen off if he hadn’t steadied her. He ran his thumb over her flushed cheek. “Have a care, lass. If anything happens to ye I may never recover.”

She laughed gently. “I will try not to injure myself.”

“Ye have a penchant for disaster.” He raised one eyebrow, and she gave him a mock frown. “I best keep ye safely in my bed.” At his low voice, Elena felt that delicious ache to which she was becoming quite accustomed. “I promise ye it will be much more comfortable than the forest floor.”

“My rugged warrior requires a soft pallet.”

“Most assuredly.”

Elena laughed and Searc’s gaze moved past her to where his parents waited, their silhouettes in dark contrast against the fading sunset. Searc pressed Dearg to meet them and Elena surveyed a sweeping moor with mountains soaring up at the far end. At the base of the mountains, as if cut from the mountain itself, jutted the shape of a castle. A village of cottages with pale thatched roofs sat along several winding lanes leading from the castle out to the moor. Lights from torches twinkled like sparse stars and the smell of cook fires signaled civilization.

“It’s large.” Elena’s voice held reverence and she tried to quell the nervousness in her stomach. “It must be beautiful in the full light of day.”

“It’s home.” Searc’s features were stiff.

She leaned her face closer to his. “I love you. No matter what.”

He kissed her forehead though kept his serious expression. “And I love ye too.” She faced front, and he pressed Dearg into an easy gallop down into the basin. Cool evening air whipped about them, tugging on the plaid around her shoulders. Searc’s arms remained strong, an anchor around her as they flew through the twilight.

Alec and Rachel plunged forward too, all three horses eager for their home stables. The laughter and ease from moments earlier had vanished. Did they all worry about the reaction of their clan? Searc had warned her before that he may be turned away, but she just couldn’t believe it. Alec and Rachel had left too soon to know how opinions had settled out. But these people must know Searc was neither evil nor cursed if they lived with him, grown up with him. How could they condemn him? Elena’s indignation rose up in her, strengthening her for the battle ahead.

Elena startled when Searc blew a shrill whistle. She turned and stifled a gasp at the slinking shapes across the moor to the right. A large pack of wolves fanned out and advanced, but halted as Cheò tore past Dearg to meet them.

“Will he be safe?” Elena had never seen so many wolves.

“Aye, ’tis his pack. He leads them.”

She remembered Searc’s story of saving Cheò with his powers when the wolf was a pup. “He leads them because of you.” She watched the wolf slow and the others surround him. They tipped their noses into the air and began a howl that echoed in the valley. The sound made her heart race and Searc squeezed her.

“They are his pack now, but aye, ye have nothing to fear from them when I’m with ye. They know my scent and my power.”

He sounded so tense. She hated the doubt he still had within him. “Well,” she whispered lightly, “if things don’t go well at your home, we can always live with the pack I suppose.”

He exhaled on a small chuckle. “The only cave floor I would let ye sleep on is a cozy hideaway I’ve found up in that mountain to the left.” He pointed past her gaze, his arm strong and straight. “Spread upon a soft tick with furs beneath yer bare back.”

“Hmmm? Enticing. Perhaps we should bypass the castle and keep riding.” She sighed. “But cowardice breeds only failure.”

“Another bit of sage advice from Lord Seymour?”

She nodded. “I think…he’d approve of you.” She turned to look at his strong face in the rising moonlight. “Except that you aren’t wearing a crown.”

Searc grinned and swept his hand toward the side where the wolf pack was running together back into the forest. “Ah, but I control armies.”

“That you do.”

They neared the edge of the village where two warriors kept watch at the perimeter. Alec rode ahead with Rachel and hailed them, Searc pressing Dearg into a faster pace to follow.

“The chief returns!” a man yelled toward the village. Several doors opened, spilling firelight onto the darkened road.

One woman ran forward toward Rachel. “Milady, Fiona is tending Brianna now. The bairn is coming soon. We’ve sent for Lady Meg, but she hasn’t yet arrived.”

“I’m certain Fiona has it under control.” Rachel dismounted, handing the reins of her horse up to Alec. “But let us go see if we can assist.” She took two steps away and turned back to look at Searc. “Take your bride to see her new home.” A proud smile lit her voice. Then she turned back to the woman who trudged quickly beside her down one of the narrow lanes. Elena felt all eyes turned toward her and sat up straight.

Alec spoke in Gaelic to the guards. Elena was going to have to learn their language as soon as possible. There was nothing smooth to it like the nasally notes of French. It was strong, rugged, raw—just like the Highland landscape that harbored them. Searc nodded and pressed Dearg to follow Alec and the two horses up to the castle. The portcullis was lifting and near the top when they rode through the soaring walls of pale stone. Searc remained stiff and silent behind her.

It didn’t matter to him that Marie de Guise, the rightful ruler of all Scotland, had knighted him and made him her Highland ambassador. Nor did it matter that she’d thanked him for foiling the assassination attempts on her life. He cared not that he wore a shirt of fine lawn and a newly woven plaid and jeweled kilt pin. Riches and royal trappings meant nothing to the fierce warrior who lifted her from his mount.

He placed her hand on his forearm but she slid it to his warm hand. He paused to look down at her, their gazes meeting. “Together,” she said. His frown cracked slightly and he gave her a slow nod, intertwining his fingers with hers.

“Phillip!” Alec boomed out to the man at the top of the steps before the arched double doors. “All well here?”

“As well as how ye left it.” The man dodged around him to take a look at Elena. “Well now. What lovely do we have here?”

The elderly man had a devilish look but a kind smile. She smiled in return. “I am Elena. Elena Munro, wife to Searc Munro.”

“Wife?” He smiled broadly and looked to Searc. “And exceedingly bonny despite her
Sassenach
accent.”

“And exceedingly good with a bow and arrow,” Searc countered, a teasing tone to his grumble. “Elena, watch out for this wily old man. He’s got an eye for the lasses.”

“Well then.” Phillip nodded and winked at her. “I’ve been warned.” He bowed his head to her. “Welcome to Munro Keep, Lady Munro.”

She bobbed a quick curtsey. “Elena, please.”

Phillip came forward to take Searc’s forearm in a solid embrace. “’Tis good to have ye home, lad.” His tone was filled with sincerity. Elena liked the man immensely.

Phillip swept his arm wide and let Searc bring her inside through a dark entry with a single torch. “Weren’t expecting ye home so soon.” Phillip walked beside Alec. “Sent the warriors to their homes at sun down.”

“Better that we get some rest.” Alec took a full tankard off a side bar. “It’s a long way from Edinburgh for the lass and Rachel.” Phillip asked various questions as Searc guided her up a few steps into a great hall that reached two stories of arched stonework. Torches were lit about the walls but the hearth was dark, making the room as chilly as the outdoors.

“I sent Margaret to make up a fire in yer room, Alec, but I didn’t know Searc would be with ye.” Phillip handed her a goblet of cool wine.

“I’ll see to it.” Searc caught his own tankard.

“Shall I send up some food or will ye be too busy with that…fire?” Yes, Phillip was a scoundrel, but she still liked him.

“Yes, please,” Elena called out. “He makes me work up quite the appetite.” The man burst into laughter. She touched her cheek with her one free hand, cooling her blush with her palm. Searc chuckled beside her as she mounted the dark steps. She sighed with a small smile.

Searc held a torchlight over them. “A contented sigh?”

“Mmmhmm.” She climbed the solid, winding steps upward, her hand guiding her on the side. “Content to be away from my old life and safe from the scheming of desperate men.” She fingered the locket she wore at her breast.

They reached a landing and Searc guided her down the hall, stopping to push into a dark room. He went to the hearth while Elena squinted to make out tapestries along the walls. From what she could see they were stitched beautifully. She’d have to examine them in the daylight. Maybe she could help stitch more, be of use here. Her chest constricted a bit as she watched Searc blow on the dry peat. “I promise I won’t be a taxing obligation to you, Searc. I…I am most appreciative of you bringing me here.”

He turned on the balls of his feet where he squatted and stood, stalking toward her so much like a muscled, powerful beast that her pulse picked up. He clasped her face in his hands. “Ye need to get that out of yer head, Elena. I have never considered ye a mere obligation, something to be protected only to fulfill my duty as a warrior. Ye are in no way a burden..” His voice was rough as if emotion deepened it, frustration and a touch of hurt.

“Oh, I have been to many.” She tried to smile to make the ugly truth sound lighter, but her mouth couldn’t quite create the expression.

He shook his head and released her face. “Those were lies, Elena, lies told by people who couldn’t see the gem that ye are.” He ran a hand down the side of her face. “Ye did not have the family I had, the growing up with people who care for
ye
, and not just for what ye can bring them.” He shook his head. “That has changed. If things do not work out here, we will move on, because I will not let ye live another day in a place that sees ye as anything less than the blessed miracle ye are.”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears, one drop escaping. Searc’s finger caught it. “Elena, ye saved my mother, ye trusted me to use my power to nearly take yer life.” Another tear slipped out of her eye and Searc shook his head. “We haven’t had time alone on this journey back, to talk.” He kissed her forehead and lowered his head so he could gaze directly into her watery eyes. “I never thought I’d find anyone who could trust me, let alone trust me enough to let me touch them with my magic. And then I found ye. I love ye, Elena Munro, for now and forever.”

She couldn’t speak. Her chest ached with happiness, a joyful torture. But she didn’t need words. Instead she leaned up on her toes and caught the back of Searc’s head, his wavy hair between her fingers. She brought him down, seeking his lips, and kissed him. He engulfed her, his corded biceps encircling her, hugging her to him and nearly lifting her from the floor. Even though she couldn’t speak, her kiss was one of completely open, authentic love for everything Searc was. A man of honor, a warrior, a lover.

Her breath trembled as he pulled his mouth back, though his arms stayed fastened around her and slid up and down her back.

“I love you, Searc Munro. Now take me to your bed, husband.”

His smile reached his eyes and he lifted Elena into his arms. The food would just have to be left on the other side of the door.

…

Searc kept his smile in check as he inspected Elena’s needlework on his collar. She stood beside him and smoothed the edge along his neck. She must have worked on the stitching on her numerous requests for privacy on the journey home.

“It isn’t hearts and not a single birdie,” he teased. Her jaw dropped open but then she batted his shoulder. He released his smile. “Elena, ’tis beautiful stitching.”

She pinkened whenever he said something pleasing to her, as if compliments in the past had been extremely rare. He would change that.

“I thought wolves suited a mighty warrior better than sparrows.” She shrugged. “Though I managed to get a few flowers in the grass tufts.” He liked how her fingers felt running along his neck over her stitching. He caught them and kissed the tips.

“Aye, ’tis perfect. Mother would love to have someone help her with tapestries.”

Elena beamed as she looked at the familiar tapestries he’d grown up with. “Perhaps something not quite so bloody.” She eyed the depiction of the old feud with the Macbains a century ago. His mother had the tapestry moved above stairs when peace was agreed upon at Meg and Caden’s wedding. He’d accepted it in his room to remind him what regret looked like.

“That is an ancient one. My mother’s subjects are much less grim.”

“Perhaps we can replace this one with one of those.”

A knock sounded on his door and Elena whisked over to pluck her ripped night rail off the floor. “I shall run out of these.” She tucked it beneath the cover.