Kate Robbins - The Highland Chiefs Series (16 page)

They made their way down the stairs toward the dining hall. The room was decorated with rich-coloured tapestries hanging on the walls and tall-cushioned chairs surrounding oak tables. The room drew a body in. Despite the warm spring evening, a fire glowed in the hearth and several people were already there, sipping mead or ale and waiting for their meal to arrive.

James and Calum stood when Aileana and Gwen entered the room and escorted them to their seats. Aileana was careful not to meet James’s gaze. The table sat eight and she was surprised when four other men joined them. James made introductions around the entire table. She struggled to hide her shock when he included three MacKay clansmen. What was he thinking? She was ready to jump out of her seat, grab the nearest horse a
nd flee back to Chattan Castle.

James leaned back into his chair and rested his chin in his palm. He listened to the MacKay sitting next to him with a smile on his face. Aileana had clearly missed something critical.

The Mackay clansmen dressed well, without even a hair out of place, which struck her as it had when she’d been in the cottage with others of their clan. Aileana’s body tensed as she compared her assessment of those men to the ones in front of her. The same impression came to mind, powerful but not barbaric. Gwen’s hand found hers underneath the table and the comfort it brought her was immeasurable. Aye, there was at least someone else in the room who understood how confused, terrified and furious she was at the moment. The more Gwen squeezed her hand, the better she felt.

Aileana focused on her breathing which came in short bursts. They accepted James’s introduction of her without any prior hint of her existence. Was it possible they were not aware of her involvement with their clansmen? She doubted it. How could James sit with them at the same table appearing unconcerned? Perhaps he’d decided her torture was not vast enough. Aye, that was it. He didn’t just want to ruin her, he wanted to ma
ke her as raving mad as he was.

She listened closer to James, engaged as he was in a general discussion with a MacKay about Fergus’s trial. He was aware with whom he spoke, so she looked to Calum who wore the same casual expression as his brother.

“Of course this leg of the journey was the shortest part for you three. And was there any indication why the trial was delayed by a sennight? It seems odd considering our king’s handling of Highland conflicts to date. We all assumed he’d deal with it straight away, but when word came back of the delay we were all surprised.”

James gave no indication of hidden intent at all in his question or comment; in fact, he could have been speaking with Calum about any number of topics.

“We don’t know either, MacIntosh. We were just as surprised as you. We received word through the king’s advisor about it. Can you imagine, a prisoner allowed to send word to his clansmen about when the trial would be? You’d think ‘twas an invite to a celebration.”

The elder of the three, Allain, went on to explain how they’d stayed away from the main roads as there were still many who would not wait for the trial to determine guilt. This far south, there didn’t appear to be as much of a threat so they’d enjoy a soft bed for the night and perhaps some soft company. He spoke to James as if they were friends. T
heir behaviour was confounding.

The discussion continued while the meal was served. Roasted vegetables and glazed boar
were complemented by steaming mounds of warm bread. The combination of cinnamon and cloves from the dark fruit puddings warmed her on any other given day, but the disturbing conversation taking place in front of her chilled her to the core.

Aileana stopped herself time and again from relaying her opinion of what King James should do with Fergus MacKay and the rest of his clan - and with himself for that matter. She stole several glances at James, but none were returned. His manner and expression were relaxed and comfortable. He must know how this affected her.

After about an hour and a half, James turned to her.

“Ladies, we still have a good ride ahead of us tomorrow. We start early and so I shall escort you to your rooms now.”

She stood so fast her chair almost toppled. Aileana nodded to those present, careful not to meet the eyes of the three MacKay. While James led the way to their rooms, she waited for him offer something, anything, about what had just transpired.

Gwen went into the chamber while Aileana waited in the hallway for James to offer an explanation. A sudden thrill ran down her spine. Privacy with him was dangerous at the best of times. She was too agitated from the mix of emotions at the evening meal to ward him off if he tried anything. As it happened, she needn’t have worried at all. All he offered was a curt bow and a quiet, ‘Goodnight’ before turning to disappear down the hall.

She stood frozen in place.

Unbelievable!

It was bad enough his behaviour all evening was confusing, but to add insult to injury, he wasn’t going to explain anything to her. She stormed into her room and slammed the door securing it with a loud click.

“So he’s just going to leave us here? He didn’t even tell me to lock the door! At least he could’ve given me a dagger or sword to defend myself. At Chattan Castle he posted a guard in my stairwell and here with kin of the barbarians who abducted me and massacred those poor MacKenzies under the same roof, he simply says good-night?”

Her voice grew louder and her pitch higher. She was careful not to shout because she didn’t wish to draw any attention, but she wanted to scream the house down!

Gwen’s brow furrowed. “I have no idea what’s going on here either. But I can tell you one thing, the MacIntosh has shown concern for your safety time and again. I believe we must trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

“Oh he knows what he’s doing all right. Whether he’s willing to share his master plan or consult with anyone else is quite another story. If he is the man God put here for me, ’tis a torment He sent and nothing more.”

“Shall I help you with your evening ritual?”

The nightly hair brushing ritual was unnecessary, but there had been times when it served to relax her, maybe tonight would be one of those times. She’d try anything to quell the burn in her belly.

“Aye, now is as good a time as any, but on one condition.” She waited for Gwen’s nod. “That you sleep in here with me tonight. The bed is big enough and I would feel much better if there were two of us to fight off those brutes, if necessary.”

“Of course, if that’s what you wish.”

That settled, she went over the conversation between James and Allain MacKay again. Both men seemed sincere. James didn’t appear afraid or concerned. That meant one thing. James MacIntosh was not only familiar with the MacKay clan, but he was also sympathetic. But how could that be? Everyone knew they were guilty, their battle flag was found; there could be no doubt. Trying to figure it all out was exhausting. Aileana was weary from travel, worried about who she was about to meet, and irritated with the cause of it all. Fed up, she crawled under the heavy quilts, pinched her eyes closed and prayed for sleep. The last thing she heard was Gwen’s light snoring.

She tried to hold on to her slumber but her rocking body would not let her drift away from her tormented thoughts. Eventually, she lost her struggle and opened her eyes to see Gwen sleeping across from her in the carriage. They sped along at an even pace and she had to blink a few times before she remembered how she’d gotten there.

James had come knocking early. “Please dress yourselves and meet me downstairs.”

His abrupt command was a no surprise. Brute. So, he would begin the day off in the same manner.

When they met him at the carriage, his expression had been unreadable. He ushered them inside, passed in a
basket of food and secured their luggage. As the first streaks of pinkish gray crossed the sky, they left the inn and headed toward Linlithgow.

Chapter Fourteen

James looked down just as she peeked out from between the folded leather flaps on the side of the carriage. He watched her sleepy expression turn hard as she spied his horse and lifted her gaze to meet his.

“Lady Aileana. Good morning to you. Is there something you require?”

She looked as though she would bare her teeth any moment. A sudden thrill passed straight to his loins.
Careful, you know how arousing her temper is
.

“Aye, my lord, there is something I require. Answers to some questions would be a fine start. First, why did we sit through a meal last evening while you entertained known murderers? Second, why did we stay at that inn with those same murderers in close quarters? Third, why I was roused from my bed at an ungodly hour to be bounced along in a carriage trave
lling faster than ’tis meant? It won’t be much of a gift if you insist on pounding it to the ground.”

Aileana’s pitch continued to elevate with each new point she made and it made him grin. By the time she was finished, he was chuckling. He couldn’t help himself. She was a little wildcat and it stirred him beyond measure. By God, he’d given up trying to be cross with her. The more time he spent with her the more he wanted her beneath him. To hell with what would never be, he had no reason not to quench his thirst before he was rid of her. She wasn’t an innocent so why deny himself? Just to see how she’d react, he leaned back to reveal Al
lain MacKay riding next to him.

Allain was a clever man with a good heart. He didn’t take offence to her insult. “It appears now is a good time to share our situation with your young lass.”

James nodded and ordered the carriage to halt. He dismounted and stepped inside, but rather than speaking to Aileana, he turned to Gwen instead.

“Do you ride lass?”

Gwen grinned and nodded.

“I happen to own one of the best horses in all of Inverness-shire. Would you like to try him and stretch your legs awhile?”

“I thank you, my lord, for your kindness”. She was eager and could be considered a pleasant sort upon further review—for a witch. He’d keep his guard around her, but a conversation was in order regarding the golden haired viper he was about to set straight.

James stepped back to let Gwen out. She mounted Arion in a swift and graceful motion and Calum looked pleased. James re-entered the carriage to find Aileana’s eyes ablaze and fists clenched in her lap. Oh she was ready for
war. This was going to be fun.

“Those are good questions,” he said. “But before I answer any of them, I have one for you.”
He sat so close to her that their thighs brushed and he flung his arm around the back of the seat behind her. She did not cower and he admired that, but her eyes told him she’d like to stick something sharp into his flesh. There was that thrill again.

“Despite our differences, do you trust me?”

He liked how her chin came up and her lips pursed.

“I assume you’re referring to my safety, my lord. As it is, I’m not accustomed to others deciding all aspects of my life for me without my counsel. Obviously you know what’s going on here and have not seen fit to inform me.”

Her arrogance was the like he’d never seen. God it set him on fire. How much farther could he push her?

“Not accustomed? I take it your uncle disclosed the particulars of our betrothal to you then? If that were the case, dear lady you would’ve had a part in it. However, I was under the impression you only learned of our contract when I presented your uncle’s letter.”

She blinked several times. He’d found her breaking point, yet when she spoke there was no tremor in her voice.

“I’m sure my uncle had good reasons for holding back details of the arrangement he made with you, sir. And I am certain one of those reasons was that he died before he got the chance!”
Her voice took on a husky tone. She swallowed hard and burst into tears and he couldn’t have been more shocked. Breaking point indeed. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“Shhhhhh. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. ‘Twas not my intention to bring you pain.”
What the hell was his intention? As if prompted, Calum’s laughter boomed from outside. Bugger off. Not that anyone could know what was happening between them at the moment, but the silent curse toward his brother helped. Anything would do to interrupt the gnawing in his gut.

Aileana sobbed into his shirt and held onto him like her life depended on it. He knew women who could spring tears on command, yet the weeping lass he held seemed genuine. Everything else aside, he had no reason disbelieve she truly cared for her uncle. His comment was a low blow. But what if he was wrong about the rest of it? Not possible. He had too much evidence to prove otherwise. Still, he never intended to make her cry.

Once her tears subsided, he lifted her chin and brushed off each tear stained cheek. Christ. Now he wanted to comfort her. He was in serious trouble here.

“I meant what I said. I won’t intentionally cause you pain. Your words bring out the beast in me as your mouth and body bring out the man in me.”

He bent his head low, but she stopped him by placing her finger on his mouth.

“My lord, weren’t you about to give me an explanation?”

He replied by taking her finger into his mouth and slowly encircling it with his tongue. He watched her tear stained cheeks grow pink. She appeared transfixed by his action just as he was by watching her. At that moment, the carriage jolted bringing him back to his purpose, whatever that was.

“Why is it I can’t think straight around you?” He cut her off before she could speak and put a prudent distance between them by
moving to sit across from her.

James sighed and rested his elbows on his knees. “Let me start at the beginning. The MacKay clan is not responsible for the attack on the MacKenzies last year.”
He put his hand up when Aileana made motion to speak. “Please, let me finish, there’s much to tell.”

She settled further into her seat.

“Last fall, Calum and I travelled north to speak with the MacKenzie chief about a farming proposition. It was a rough, time consuming trip so we intended to find a bed for the night. It was then we smelled smoke and saw flames. It didn’t take long to hear screaming down through the glen. We rode hard and fast, but we were too late. The sight that met us was almost too much to take. We scanned the devastation and helped those we could. Aileana, as I’m sure you’ve heard, the MacKay battle flag flapped in the wind.

“We knew the work was fresh and raced to follow the trail. We didn’t know what we’d do when we found them but we couldn’t turn back.”

The memories were painful, even after so much time had passed.

“We followed their trail north for two days and eventually caught up with them. The closer they came to their own lands, the more careless they became and therefore, easily identified. They were MacKay’s bitterest enemy
—Sutherland. We realized soon after, we weren’t the only ones tracking them. I met Fergus MacKay himself that day. He and a band of his closest clansmen also tracked the barbarians.

“Fergus wasn’t surprised Sutherland would frame him but had no idea why they chose to attack MacKenzie. Knowing the king’s distaste for clan feuding, we agreed that the longer Fergus and his men were out of the king’s reach, the better chance we had to determine what was going on and clear his name.

“I encouraged Fergus and his men to stay on my land. I fed them and I hid them. I don’t know what possessed Fergus to get caught up in Gawain’s and your business, but I will get to the bottom of it when I next speak with him.”

He ignored her gasp and again put his hand up when she was about to speak. And right on cue the intoxicating little glare was back in her eyes.

“I meant to visit Fergus when Calum and I were taken. My hope now is to speak directly with the king. We’ve gathered some weak proof to present to his Majesty, but in the end, he will have to take our word for it. Considering how much he dislikes our way of settling disputes, I don’t know if ‘twill be enough.”

James sat back further in his seat.

“We’ve been careful with whom we’ve shared this information. I believe someone else is involved with the Sutherlands in this terrible ordeal. This means we have another faceless enemy still at large. Last night before I slept, I made sure your door was well secured Aileana, but not from the three MacKay clansmen. While I didn’t foresee any danger with the other patrons present, I’m sure you noticed that I knew each and every one. I wouldn’t take a chance with your safety, not while you are still under my care.”

She stared at him for several minutes before speaking. Many expressions crossed her lovely face during that time, some he’d seen recently, some were new like t
he one now which was…gratitude?

She crossed the carriage and sat next to him never tearing her gaze from his.

“Aye,” she whispered.

James’s brow furrowed.

“I trust you.”

It was his undoing. He slid his hands into her hair and tilted her head back. Her mouth was open and waiting. He inched closer and marve
lled as her breath quickened. If he kissed her, there would be no turning back. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any other woman. For all that she was, he cared only that she was in his arms and anxious for his touch. He was under her spell and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.

He brought his mouth down to hers and it was she who darted her little tongue out to meet his first. Christ, but she tasted sweet. He grabbed her hips to straddle her legs across his lap so he could touch her everywhere at once. Her hands tugged at his hair as the kiss deepened and her tiny whimpers did all sorts of mad things to his insides. Already erect, every time she moved her delicious curves against him he was brought to a higher plane of torment.

She could not be coaxed away from his mouth so he ran his hands over her breasts, stopping to slip his finger inside the edge of her gown. It nipped him when she inhaled and she groaned and tilted her head back. This was the access he craved. He pulled her dress down past her breasts, trapping her arms, and drew her toward his mouth. As he tasted her creamy skin, one of his hands held her firmly in place while the other slid down her body and across her hip to the hem of her dress.

His fingertips brushed across her ankle then glided toward the outside of her calf before turning to caress behind her knee. He pulled her gown up as he caressed her silky skin. He meant to excite her by inching up her leg, making some advancement before backing off a little and inching up again.

She arched toward him and moaned as he flicked his tongue across her taut nipple. God she was wild with need and he’d scarce touched her yet. A man could lose his senses with a woman who was so in tune with her body.

He moved from one breast to the other, taunting and teasing each nipple to full extension by flicking his tongue one minute followed by gentle rushing air the next. He released her and made use of his free hand to gather the rest of her skirt on the other side. He pulled it up to her waist ever so slowly and slid his thumbs inward. Her hot wet flesh welcomed him as he stroked the folds of her womanhood. She was as ready for him and he was for her. He slid his fingers along her slick heat in a gentle rhythm while his thumb found and play
ed with her small hardened bud.

He shoved his hose down and grasped his erection scooting her forward at the same time so she could slide against him. As soon as their excited flesh made contact, she went rigid.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

“Oh aye.”

He grabbed her hips and positioned her to receive him, dying a little at her dishevelled state atop him. He could wait no longer to sheath himself within her.

“My lord!” She gasped as he pressed into her and discovered her maiden’s barrier.

“What the bloody hell!” He looked at the woman he was about to impale and noticed the mortification in her eyes. “Why did you not say something.” He could barely get the words out as his raging body screamed for release. He lifted her up and plopped her onto the seat.

“I
—I told you I was a maiden,” she said. She tried to cover her body, her flesh the colour of hot embers.

James turned away. Dammit it all to hell he could barely control himself because his erection still throbbed as if to say, ‘Hey! Where did she go?’

He stomped his foot on the floor of the carriage and fixed his clothing with trembling fingers. As soon as it slowed enough, and without another look back, he jumped out of the still moving vehicle. He needed a great deal of distance between him and the never ending frustration that was Aileana Chattan.

* * *

Her head was in her hands when she heard the flap lift and slap back down again. She didn’t need to look up to know it was Gwen.

“I won’t ask if you are unwell.”

Aileana sat up and tried to act nonchalant
, but instead burst into tears.

“I wish to rearrange myself, would you help me please?”

Gwen sat close and worked on her hair.

“Will you tell me what happened? Did the great beast hurt you, Aileana? And believe me when I say, it’s not just me who wants to know. C
alum is ready to throttle him.”