Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (11 page)

A rustling not far away stopped him. Hell, but what had he been thinking? He stopped his assault on her senses and set her a distance away, fixing the front of her gown. She stared at him, a confused expression on her face. “Kyle?”

He did not answer.

“Kyle, is it my hair?”

He gave her an irritated look. “Lily, I don’t love your hair, I love you. Do as you wish with your hair.”

The expression on her face bowled him over. Hellfire, she looked so damn vulnerable, he couldn’t speak. Base urges roared through his veins, telling him to do as she wished him to do, what they both needed, but he fought them with all his might. A distant voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Lily?”

The voice was Molly’s. “She’s fine.” Kyle answered. “I’ve got her, Molly. We’ll be right there.” He held his breath until he heard her retreating footsteps, then he finished tying Lily’s ribbons.

“I’m sorry, Lily.”

“Why?” The word was filled with all the pain of rejection.

“Because it should not have happened.” He fixed her hair as best he could before he took her hand and moved out of the grouping of trees they were in.

“Why would you say such a thing? Do you not like me? This is why you break my heart, Kyle. You kiss me, then act as if you wish you’d never touched me. Do I taste foul to you?”

Kyle took a deep breath, praying for patience. He had to do his duty and his job, which meant he needed to stop the blood hurtling through him and the ache in his groin.

“Lily, I’ve told you how I feel. Nay, you are far from foul. The problem is that you are too sweet. But this should not be. I’ve taken advantage of you.”

He tugged her behind him and she ran through the bushes to keep up with him.

“Why, Kyle? If we both like it, why is it wrong? I do not understand the term ‘advantage.’ You are always angry after you kiss me. Do you not like my kisses?”

He finally stopped and spun around, glancing around the area to make sure they would not be overheard. “Aye, Lily. I do like your kisses. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before, but ‘tis wrong. We are not married. Your sire appointed me as your protector for this trip. I should not take advantage of the situation.”

A small voice whispered to him, “But Kyle, I love you and you love me.”

Logan barked out, “Maule, where the hell is my niece?”

Kyle glanced at her, tugging her forward. “Now do you understand? Your uncle would flay me a thousand ways if he’d seen us together.”

Lily looked more perplexed than ever.

But what more could he possibly say?

***

They finally arrived in Edinburgh and Lily had to admit she was glad. Kyle had barely spoken to her after their session in the woods. She’d enjoyed every moment with him, but while Kyle had proclaimed his love for her, he’d immediately withdrawn after they rejoined the others. True, he still helped her dismount and protected her with a hawkish eye. But he did nothing beyond the duties expected of him as her guard.

She didn’t know what to make of him.

Lily was standing in the hillside courtyard beside the royal castle, looking down on the view, when Molly tore over to her and grabbed her hands. “Is this not beautiful, cousin? The leaves are turning and you can see all the trees from up here. It feels as if we are in the heavens staring down at the world. I love Edinburgh, especially the way the keep sits so majestically atop the hill. Are you not truly glad to be here?”

Sorcha joined them. “Aye, ‘tis glorious here, Molly. I cannot wait to meet all the lads in Edinburgh.” Her giggling cut off when Kyle joined them.

He fell in at Lily’s side, and together they all waited for Logan and Gwyneth to return from the castle. Lily hated it when he stood so close that she had to breathe in his scent. Why must he torture her so? How could he kiss her like she was the only lass in the world for him and then act like it had never happened?

Logan and Gwyneth emerged a short while later, and they ushered them inside. As soon as they stepped into the corridor, a maid greeted them. Gwyneth said, “She’s here to show us to our rooms, lasses. Kyle, you may come along and wait outside while we unpack. Logan, we shall return shortly while you meet with King Alexander.”

Lily dragged her feet as she followed her cousins up the stairs. While they chattered as cheerfully as two wee birds, Kyle and Lily did not speak at all. She peeked at him once, but he stared straight ahead. When they arrived at their chamber, her cousins stepped inside and gasped.

“Lily, ‘tis most beautiful, do you not agree?” Sorcha spun about in a circle. The bed in the center of the chamber was large enough for all the three of them, and there was also a large hearth with four chairs and a table in front of it. Mounds and mounds of pillows and furs decorated the bed, and lovely tapestries graced the walls. A side table sat on either side of the bed.

Kyle bowed to Lily and said, “I’ll await you outside the door.”

As soon as he left, Sorcha grabbed her hand and said, “What is wrong, Lily? I’ve not seen you so sad!”

Rather than answer her, Lily set to unpacking her satchel.

Gwyneth rested her hand on her shoulder, and said, “Lily did not wish to come as you did, Sorcha. We must be patient with her.”

“And Kyle is being a fool. He hardly ever speaks to her.” Molly huffed as she spun around to set some of her things on one of the side tables.

Lily finished with her satchel and sat on a chair in front of the hearth, taking in the warmth of the fire. She sat for a long time, staring at the crackling flames while her family finished their chores. Though she hoped to find some answer about Kyle, the peace she sought did not come. There were only more questions. A short while later, they all headed down to the great hall for a small afternoon meal.

Her cousins had done their best to cheer her up, but to no avail. No matter how she tried, she could not laugh and act as if the situation did not trouble her. Their king had insisted they stay at the royal castle, replete with its many comforts, but she soon slipped out to tend to her horse, wanting to be alone, and she managed to escape while Kyle spoke to Logan. She missed Tilly so.

“My lady, I have groomed your beautiful horse for you,” the stable lad said, giving a small bow.

She smiled gaily at him. “Thank you for your kindness. You did a fine job. He looks quite handsome.” She strode past him and headed into her horse’s stall, closing the door behind her so no one would hear her conversation with her horse. Wrapping her arms around her horse’s neck, she whispered, “Why does he not do as he says? He says he loves me, but he does not act as if he has any feelings at all.”

A loud voice echoed down the corridor. “Lily? Will you stop trying to evade me?” Kyle flung the door open moments later and glowered at her. “Why must you sneak away?”

Lily pursed her lips and turned to face him. “Because my heart does not sing when I’m with you, Kyle Maule.”

He ran his hand down his face. A range of emotions crossed it before he opened his mouth, but she never did find out what he would have said. He was interrupted by her uncle, who had come up behind him.

“Lily?” Uncle Logan asked. “We’re walking to the fair in town. Would you like to come along?”

“Aye, I would love to go with you to the fair.” She turned to Kyle. “You need not come. I’m sure Torrian would trust me with my aunt and uncle to keep me company. Mayhap you should spend some time on your own, clear your head of all that clutters it. I believe ‘twould be helpful for you to know your own mind better.” Not able to stop herself, she set her hand on his strong forearm as she moved past him to follow her uncle back down the corridor.

Kyle caught up with her. “I’ll not allow you to go without me.”

She spoke over her shoulder to him, not changing her stride. “I believe you’d like your freedom, so I am giving it to you. You are now free of me for a short time.”

Kyle’s feet did not slow. “The only one who can relieve me of my duties is your chieftain and brother, and since he’s not here, I’ll continue with the task he assigned to me.”

The man followed her so closely that she could feel his heat. What the devil did she need to do to get him to keep his distance? Did he not know how his presence tortured her? She closed her eyes in frustration. Just looking at the man hurt her, causing strange lumps to form all over her insides: her throat, her heart, her belly, her head. How she wished he’d just leave her be. If he did not want to act on their feelings for each other, he should give her space. “Uncle Logan, would you please relieve Kyle of his duties?”

Once they stepped outside of the stables, Logan stopped and waited for Lily and Kyle to catch up to him. “Nay, I’ll not do that. ‘Tis his job to protect you, which means he’ll go where ever you go. And if I ever see him away from you, he’ll have to answer to me. He’s to come with us.”

“Uncle Logan, please? He deserves some time alone.”

Logan tipped his head toward Lily. “Since when does my niece whine so? I’ve not heard you whine before. What brings this out of you?” Logan’s hands settled on his hips.

“I know not of what you speak, Uncle. I’m not whining.” Lily folded her hands in front of her, giving Kyle her back. “Why, I’m quite happy to be going to the fair with you, Uncle Logan.”

Logan’s gaze narrowed. “Good, keep it that way. I was afraid someone had switched my niece with a wee gremlin. Whoever thinks to do such a horrid thing shall have to deal with me. I love my Lily—the happy, sweet, smiling Lily, not the whining sad one.” Then he leaned over and hugged her so tight she could barely breathe. “My sweet niece, forgive me. I know ‘tis a difficult time for you, especially since your sire forced this trip on you, but we must make the best of it. I’ll find a way to bring back that beautiful smile of yours. I know you’re not happy to be here, but I’m thrilled to have you along.”

“Forgive me. I’ll try my best.” She plastered a smile on her face and vowed not to remove it. Since Kyle would be right next to her, this would truly serve as a challenge for her. “Please, may we go now?”

They made their way to the front of the castle, where they met up with Sorcha, Molly, and Gwyneth. Lily took a moment to take in the sight in front of her. Edinburgh Castle sat high on a hill, so high that one could see almost all the vendors and buildings in the entire burgh. The plethora of colors and the sweet aroma of pine trees caused her to lift her face to the winds, taking in the glory of the outdoors.

“I love this view most of all. Do you not agree?” Molly came up beside her. “I love Edinburgh. I’m sorry you do not like it, but I could be happy living here. Maggie hates it and swears she’ll never visit again.”

A few moments later, Aunt Gwyneth joined them. “‘Tis a lovely day for a walk, do you not agree, Lily?”

Squeezing her forced smile a little wider, Lily answered, “Of course, ‘tis a glorious day, and I look forward to the fair. Might we stop at the merchants’ booths?”

“What would you like to see?” Molly asked.

“Aunt Gwyneth, would you take us to the booth that carried that beautiful selection of ribbons, please?”

Off they headed toward the center of the burgh. Lily found her mood brightening as they passed the first of the bustling booths, the sight of the many vendors and the townspeople making her forget her confusing feelings for the lad next to her.

Aunt Gwyneth stopped to check a supply of sharp-looking daggers, then lingered near a booth with the nicest boots Lily had ever seen. Logan leaped forward and picked out a pair for his wife and for both of his daughters, choosing a similar pair for Maggie. “Lily, would you like to choose a pair of boots, too?”

“Nay. Those are not my type, Uncle, but thank you for thinking of me.”

The more colorful flags and banners she saw, the better she felt. She started to hum a tune she often hummed to her horse as she moved from vendor to vendor to see all the wares. She watched young lovers at the floral booth, the men choosing bouquets for their loves and delighting in the smiles brought by the flowers. There were colorful silks waving in the wind, woolen materials for gowns, embroidery threads. Logan swept over in a flash to grab a scarf for Gwyneth, and she kissed him when he presented it to her. “The green reminds me of the forest, your favorite place, Gwynie.”

Kyle bought nothing, and his attention was focused solely on Lily and every lad who walked by her. The closer the lads came to her, the closer Kyle hovered. At one point, a lad almost brushed her arm. Kyle was there in an instant, shoving him away from Lily, glowering at him as he pushed.

Once Kyle pushed the lad away, Lily whispered through gritted teeth, “Must you, Kyle? You look at every lad as if they are about to steal me, and none have approached me at all.”

“I know you are not worried, but I am. ‘Tis my job, and I’ll do it as I see fit. They need to keep their distance. He came too close to you with a look in his eyes I did not like.”

“If you must, but please do not hurt anyone or cause any fights. I’d like to enjoy the fair.”

Kyle grumbled, but she couldn’t understand him, so she continued on, gazing at all the wares available.

“There it is,” Sorcha shouted in excitement. “The ribbon booth. ‘Tis up ahead, Lily.”

Lily caught sight of the booth and took off, only to find herself yanked back by a pair of strong arms.