Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (7 page)

Chapter Seven

Torrian crossed the bailey with Kyle the following morn. “Uncle Logan said he’d meet us in the lists.”

“Will you tell me what this is about? Is he going to beat me or something? He was not happy with me yesterday. I have no doubt the man is capable of giving me an arse whipping over your sister.”

“I think there are a few people ready to give you an arse whipping,” Torrian grumbled. “I’ve never seen my sire more upset than when she said she wished to move to Clan Grant. I had no choice but to assign someone else to protect her. Believe me when I say you must do as you’ve been ordered.”

“But how did she find out about your father’s request?”

Torrian shrugged. “It does not matter. She found out, as oft happens when such a thing is discussed.”

“I’d like to talk to her and explain my reasoning.”

“I’m sure you would, but you’ve been warned to stay away from her. And I’ll warn you that if you chase Lily away to Clan Grant, my sire and uncle will be less than happy. Consider this your last chance to make things right. You did not want her, so stay away.”

“But you know ‘tis not why I turned your sire down.”

“Kyle.” Torrian stopped to turn to his friend. “I admit my part in this travesty. My sire did ask me if you were interested in anyone special, or if I thought you were interested in Lily. I should have guessed his intent, but I had my mind on other things. But I must admit, you took me by surprise with your refusal. I would never force you to act against your conscience. You’ve made your decision. Now you must accept that you cannot have it both ways. You cannot continue to spend time with my sister without hurting her.”

“But ‘tis not how I feel.” The truth was, this wasn’t just about honoring his father. How could he possibly explain to his friend how much he feared the thought of marrying his love? He did not take his responsibilities to the clan lightly. He always did his best, but would that even be possible if he were married to Lily? How could he think clearly if he lived with Lily and had to worry about someone hurting or kidnapping her? “Torrian, you know I must first make my sire proud. You know what he asked of me when he was dying, to become the best Ramsay warrior I could be.”

“I understand your point of view, but you must understand Lily’s. You rejected her. ‘Tis the only way she will see it. I’m sure you can comprehend that. I would leave everything alone for a while. Allow matters to settle, or so my sire often advises. Lily will get over you.”

“I’ll stay away unless I see her in trouble. You know I’ll not be able to stay away under those circumstances.” Hellfire, what had he done? He did not want his life to exist without Lily in it.

And he did
not
want Lily to get over him.

“
If
you see her in trouble. Those are the key words. Dancing in a meadow with a crowd of Ramsays around does not count.”

“Aye, I understand I erred that day. She makes me daft sometimes.” He hung his head, not knowing what he should do next. Could they not see how hard he was trying to be the best second possible? Was his father watching this fiasco from heaven?

Logan appeared out of nowhere. “If a lass makes you daft, you should not turn down the offer of a betrothal. You should make her yours.”

Kyle didn’t respond, mostly because he did not know how. They had not been there that day when his father had begged him to make him proud by becoming a Ramsay warrior. As the chief’s second, he’d exceeded even his own expectations, and he had no desire to stop.

Logan said, “Since you’re the chieftain’s second, I would like to spar with you and see if you need any more training.”

“Is this because of the other day, my lord?” Kyle couldn’t bring himself to look Logan in the eye because he believed he’d failed him so.

“What other day? You mean chasing after my niece as if you were addled? Nay, ‘tis because you protect my clan, and you need to be strong. No more.” Logan found a spot and pulled his tunic off, leaving himself in just his plaid to fight. He unsheathed his sword and stared at Kyle with a gleam in his eye. “Are you ready, lad? Show me what skills you have.”

Kyle took a deep breath as he unsheathed his sword and removed his tunic. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took his stance opposite Logan Ramsay, waiting for him to start.

Logan parried with him for half an hour before he stopped, holding his hand up to Kyle in a motion for him to do the same. “Not bad, lad, but you do not have the drive in you yet. Tell me how you would attack someone you caught kissing my niece.”

Kyle halted, wiping his face with his plaid. “I’m not allowed around your niece, if you recall. So that will never happen.”

Logan chuckled, as did Torrian. “Word around the clan is that Lily is open to aught who wants her. I heard a group of three lads discussing her near the stable last eve, and I tell you they are ready to go after her now that you’re no longer interested in her.”

“What?” Kyle’s body tensed at the thought of another lad with Lily. He ground his teeth to keep from saying what he wished to say.

“Everyone suspected your heart was lost to her for the last couple of years. I believe even Lily knew in her own way. ‘Twas the way you looked at her. No one would approach her.”

Caught off-guard by this revelation, Kyle glanced at Torrian in bafflement. They’d all known?

Torrian nodded. “Aye, I suspected. Nay, I was sure, which is why you took me by surprise when you turned my sire down.”

Kyle stared at both of them. “And who are the lads you heard discussing her?”

“I’ll not tell you,” Logan said, “but I believe Lily will definitely be interested in one of them.”

“You agree, Torrian?” Kyle peered at his friend.

“Aye, she’ll go for one of them. She’s hurting at present. You broke her heart.”

The image of Lily kissing another lad crossed his vision, and a fury set in him he’d never felt before.

Logan said to Torrian, “Did the lad not say he wanted to do more than kiss Lily? What did he say again?”

Kyle swung his sword with both of his arms, hefting it into the sky with a deep guttural cry, and went at Logan with all his might.

Logan laughed. “Now you’re ready, lad.”

When it dawned on Kyle that Logan had planned this ruse to build his ire, he became even angrier. They parried, steel hitting steel, sending an occasional spark shooting into the air. Kyle went at Logan with all his might, gritting his teeth as he thought about another lad kissing his Lily. His dark hair was now plastered to his head from his sweat, and he decided to end the game. Logan Ramsay had been a great swordsman in his day, but he didn’t have the strength he used to possess.

Kyle’s aggression increased because he was sure he’d beat the man. If he did, Lily and Torrian would both see what a great warrior he’d become. How he wished his sire could see him, too. He swung his sword in a wide arc to knock the weapon out of Logan’s hands.

Except Logan did a quick, last-minute maneuver Kyle hadn’t expected. A loud thwack hit Kyle’s hands on the hilt of his sword, and his weapon went flying through the air before landing with a thud at Torrian’s feet. With another blow, Logan knocked him flat on his arse.

“Lad, you must listen to me,” the older man said, standing over him with his sword pointed at his belly. “When you love a lass, she’ll only dig at your soul until you admit it and make her yours.”

Kyle gasped for air, stunned to have lost to a man he’d been sure he could beat. “Nay, thinking on her, marrying her will make me weak. Can you not see that? You’ve just proven it.” He waited for Logan to stand back and admit he was right. If he had not been thinking about Lily and his sire, he would have won for sure.

Logan chuckled, shaking his head. “Nay, lad. ‘Tis where you’re wrong. The right lass will only make you stronger. My wife has made me stronger and wiser than I ever could have been on my own.” He sheathed his sword and offered Kyle a hand to help him up. “Let me know when you are ready to seriously consider my words.”

Kyle stared at Logan’s back as he walked away, stymied by his declaration. Still panting, he glanced at his friend.

Torrian nodded at him. “Every word is true.”

***

Lily sat at the dais, staring down at the crowd. Her sire had relented and ordered Kyle to stay away from her, and he had done as ordered.

Now her heart ached more and more each day. She shouldn’t have sent him away. As far back as she could remember, Kyle had always been nearby. He and Torrian were best friends, so she’d always known where to find him. Now she’d lost her protector, her friend, and her source of comfort. Why?

She had to remind herself that Kyle was the one who had rejected her. Sorcha, Maggie, and Molly came over to her side of the dais once the minstrels and fiddlers had arrived. Her sire had called for a night of entertainment. She knew not why, but she hoped it would take her mind off her troubles.

Maggie said, “We tried to get Bethia to come down, but she refused. Why does she not spend more time with us?”

“Bethia is shy and verra devoted to healing. You know she’s not at ease in crowds.” Lily propped her elbow on the table and cradled her chin in her hand, staring out at the gathering.

“Tell us about what you saw when you found Davina and Ranulf again. I love hearing that story,” Sorcha said with a sigh. Then she glanced over her shoulder, probably to ensure their elders were not nearby.

“Why?” Lily asked.

“Because I like hearing it.”

Molly laughed. “Sorcha, you’re too young.”

“Nay, I know all about what a lass and a lad do. But I like to hear the way Lily tells it.” She waited expectantly.

When Molly and Maggie grinned at her too, urging her to tell the tale yet again, Lily decided to appease her cousins. “He was disgusting.”

“But did you see it? All of it?” Sorcha’s elbows rested on the table as she leaned forward eagerly.

“Of course. I told you I interrupted them in the middle. And then Ranulf came toward me and asked me to join them.”

“What did he say again?” asked Maggie.

“He said he’d be sure to please me.”

Molly leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I just wish to know if you were tempted.”

“Nay!” Lily was appalled by Molly’s suggestion. True, her cousin was quite a bit older than her, but nevertheless...

Sorcha and Maggie giggled.

“Why not? Molly asked in a louder voice, her eyes dancing.

“Because he was disgusting. And so was she. I would never have allowed him to touch me.”

“I do not blame you. He was disturbing, almost sinister.” Maggie narrowed her gaze. “What about her? Did she want him to touch you?”

“Nay. She was jealous.”

Then Sorcha brought up the one thing Lily usually avoided talking about. “What did it look like? How big was it?”

“You’ve all seen the horses. I do not know why you tease me so. It was big and it jutted right out. I’ve told you all I’m going to tell you.”

All three lasses broke into gales of laughter. Lily had been annoyed by Sorcha’s request to tell the story of how she’d caught the two lovers, especially since she’d shared it with her cousins time and again, but she was enjoying the merriment. “And…”

All three stopped their clatter in an instant and leaned toward her. “And
what
?”

Lily knew just how to bait them. “And the more he walked, the more it shrunk.”

Sorcha squealed and jumped in her seat.

“And once it shrunk, it started wiggling and bouncing all over the place.”

All three of them hopped out of their seats and guffawed, making a racket that was drawing attention from across the great hall. Lily just sat back and watched her cousins in amusement. She did love them, and it felt good to make them laugh. Of course, it hadn’t been funny the day she’d walked in on Ranulf and Davina. She’d just stared at his male parts in shock, which is why she thought he’d invited her to join them. Of course, she wasn’t about to admit that to her cousins.

Nor would she admit how many times she’d thought of doing that same act with Kyle. In truth, she was jealous of how close Ranulf and Davina had been, how they’d looked like one person in the bed. What would it be like? The intensity of the act had shocked her, but she wished to share the same thing with the love of her life. Her cousins brought her out of her trance.

“What happened when Kyle came in again?” Maggie asked.

“He grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me toward the door.” Lily played with the linen square on the table.

“Lily, you must stop pining for Kyle,” Sorcha said. “He’ll be back.”

Lily took a deep breath and said to her cousin, “I’m not pining for Kyle. I’m quite happy today. Actually, I was thinking I need to kiss another lad. Who shall I choose?” Her gaze searched the hall for just the right lad, skipping past the largest lad in the hall, for the sight of his dark hair threatened to make her sigh aloud. She caught a glance of Kyle out of the corner of her eye, looking a bit haunted and unhappy, but she ignored him and moved on to the other unmarried lads in the hall.