The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Aedan lay on the ground staring at the stars. He was supposed to be sleeping before they continued their journey, but he could not. The sky was a dark canvas, full of different formations, a twinkling collection of possibilities, but he only saw one—Jennie Grant. Jennie’s face filled his head every day, and it seemed to fill the very sky above his head. He tried to figure out which cluster of stars looked most like the freckles across the bridge of her nose and then grinned when he found one close to an exact match.

Neil passed him as he returned from his trip into the bushes. “What has you so happy?”

He glanced at Neil. “Naught you would understand. Just recalling something.”

“Bet it has to do with one Jennie Grant.” Neil snickered as he found a spot on the ground and wrapped himself in his plaid.

“Do you think the Grant will accept me?”

“Not at first. But I think Jennie is taken with you, and she is strong-minded. She will force her brother to listen. May take a while. You will need to be patient, and I know how hard that is for you.”

A few seconds later, Neil’s soft snore carried over to Aedan. He tugged on a blade of grass and chewed on it as he continued to stare into the sky. Jennie was as beautiful as any of the stars above, but two other things about her attracted him even more—her curious mind and her passion. Rarely had he ever met someone who’d expressed more than a passing interest in the unknown. Her inquisitiveness was a bit different than his, but she understood his curiosity. She was interested in the makings of the body; he was interested in nature and the sky. The two were different, and yet they were somehow similar. She felt the same wonder he did over the laws of nature—the same desire to always learn more, more, more. He marveled at how alike they were, particularly given that he had so rarely met anyone who understood him.

And her passion… It had almost been enough to encourage him to take things too far, though then he would have found himself skewered on the end of the Grant’s sword for sure. How wonderful it would be to have her in his bed every night. They could walk under the stars together before they made love.

He was completely convinced they were meant to be together. Mayhap destiny had a hand in sending that arrow into his arse so long ago. Aye, he hadn’t thought much about her then, but he had taken notice. How could he ignore her confidence and her beauty? Now he only had to convince Alex Grant. He rolled onto his side and fell fast asleep, visions of freckles dancing through his head.

They hadn’t traveled far the next day when the Grant keep came into view.

“Hellfire, Cameron. I’ve never seen anything like it. Have you?” Neil asked as he stared at the towers and the curtained wall surrounding the keep.

“Aye, ’tis something. The keep must have multiple chambers for sleeping. ‘Tis the biggest I’ve ever seen.” He pointed to the side. “They even have a loch not far away. ‘Tis quite a fortress. Now I understand why Jennie is so well protected from the ugliness of the world.” He spurred his horse, anxious to accomplish his task. “Look,” he pointed to Neil. “The Grant built a walkway around the top of his keep, a sure way to see anyone attacking. I have never seen aught like it before.” That was definitely something he would check out. He imagined the stars would be even more engaging from that vantage point.

Once they drew a wee bit closer, Aedan pulled his horse up short.

Neil stopped. “What is it?”

Aedan pointed off to the side of the castle. “There they are. The famous Grant lists. How many warriors would you guess are practicing in there at this moment?”

“More than I have ever seen in one place before.” Neil couldn’t pull his gaze away, clearly in awe as he was.

Sunlight danced off of rows and rows of shields and swords, all moving at a frantic pace, creating a unique din. “Mayhap I’ll try my hand at battling some of his warriors. ‘Twould help me to learn some better moves. I don’t care to be struck down again.”

“I’ll bet Jennie Grant might enjoy seeing you stripped to the waist, swinging your sword.”

Aedan glared at him and Neil guffawed. He wasn’t going to put an end to this teasing until he was married. So be it, the lass was worth it in his mind.

Neil whistled. “Shite, I’ve never seen so many. More than I can count.” He peered at Aedan for a long moment and his face broke out into a grin. “Mayhap there’s hope for us yet if he’s willing to spare more men. By certes he will if you’re to be his brother.”

Cameron laughed and led his horse across the meadow in a gallop. When they neared their destination, he stopped his horse again, but this time just to watch something that pulled his attention far more than the lists.

Jennie. There she was in the middle of a field full of purple flowers. The red of the trees’ leaves around her set off her golden beauty, and she shone like the brightest star he had ever seen. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she rode her horse next to a young lad, a few guards following at a discreet distance. As they came closer, he noticed with relief that the lad was too young for her. He could not be more than eleven or twelve summers, yet he protected her as surely as any of her brothers would.

Aedan grabbed his reins and headed in her direction, drawn to her like a bee to honey. She was his sweet nectar—there was no doubt in his mind of that. What he would give to taste the nectar of her lips again. Neil shouted something to him, and when he did not respond, he rode hard after him. They were almost upon Jennie before they were surrounded by the Grant guards and held at sword point.

***

Jennie rode toward him, then stopped her horse so she could stare at him for a moment. Her heart leapt at the sight of his dark hair waving in the breeze and the smile dancing across his features. Hell, but she just now realized how much she had missed him, more than she would have thought possible. And he had come for her, as promised. Her belly did a wee flop at the thought. “Aedan?”

“Aye, Jennie. Tell them to let us pass.”

The lad pulled his horse in front of Jennie, blocking Aedan’s view of her, and drew his small sword. “This is the Grant’s sister, and you’ll have naught to do with her. Take yourself on to the castle.”

Aedan raised his eyebrows.

“Loki,” she reached for his weapon, forcing him to lower it. “I’d like you to meet Aedan, Chieftain of the Camerons. Neil, the head of his guard, is next to him.”

Loki shoved her hand away and kept his sword arm at the ready. “Does not matter, you are my aunt, and no lad shall touch you.”

Jennie sighed. There was no reasoning with Loki these days. He was protective of every female in the Grant clan. “Follow me, Aedan. I’ll take you to my brother. I’m assuming ‘tis why you are here.”

“Aye. I need to speak to your brother,” he said. “My thanks.”

Jennie led the way, though she felt as if her heart had been ripped in two. She had not seen him in quite a while, and he had barely addressed her. Her cheeks burned at the realization that the man she had fallen for was but a horse length away, and he would hardly speak to her. Had she imagined the connection between them after all?

Loki came up behind her. “I don’t like him,” he scoffed.

Jennie shouted over her shoulder. “Get used to him. Alex will want to see him.”

She kneed her horse and sped ahead of the group, not wanting Aedan to know she was upset. Had it been up to her, she would have thrown herself onto his lap, yet he could barely manage a small hello. Perhaps it was a good thing that Ennis MacKenzie was on his way. The lad would be here tonight, and he, at least, was sure to pay her attention.

Once they arrived at the stables, Jennie dismounted. “Loki will inform Alex that you have arrived. Why do you not come inside for an ale and something to eat?”

Aedan nodded. “That would be much appreciated.” He and Neil dismounted and followed her inside.

As soon as they arrived in the hall, Jennie called for a servant, ushered him to a table, and rushed up the stairs to her chamber, hoping she made it inside before her tears fell.

***

Aedan stared at Jennie’s retreating form. True, he hadn’t greeted her nicely, but it wasn’t as if they were alone. It had thrown him off to find her with the wee lad, and besides, Neil was with him. His greatest desire was to wrap his arms around her and taste her lips again, but that wouldn’t exactly have been deemed appropriate.

But something was wrong with her. He could tell from the way she carried herself, though he wished he could catch her gaze so he could know for sure. Perhaps the fact that she refused to look at him gave him his answer. Had his behavior been bad enough to send her running out of the room?

Neil said, “Nice, Cameron. If you have an interest in her, you sure have an odd way of showing it. Never seen anyone chase a lass from a hall that quickly before. Could you not have spoken to her?”

“I did speak to her.” Aedan’s gaze was still locked on Jennie’s retreating form.

“Aye, to call off the guards. Could you not have asked after her health or something? Even the walk from the stables was uncomfortable.” Neil shook his head as he sat on a bench.

“You noticed how uncomfortable it was? What was wrong with the lass? I have not seen her for a time, and she runs away as if she does not know me at all.” He ran his hand across his chin as he gave the situation some thought.

“Aedan, do I need to teach you that a lass likes to hear sweet words from a man?”

“What?” He stared at his friend in wonder. What in Hades did that mean? Sweet words?

“Lassies like it when you compliment them and give them friendly smiles. You looked at her like you wished to devour her. ‘Twas not a good look.”

“Never mind, Neil. Sit down. I can handle the lass. I cannot forget the other reasons we came here. We have important business…business that also affects our clan.” He would fix things when he next saw her; that is, if he could untie his tongue. How could he explain to Neil that words just did not form with their normal ease when he was around Jennie?

“I will not argue with you, Cameron. Just think you could be a wee bit nicer to the lass.”

***

The evening meal was upon them, and Jennie could no longer hide in her room. Caralyn and Celestina stood in front of her, helping her prepare for the evening.

“Jennie, you are so beautiful.” Caralyn’s eyes misted.

“Does this dress look appropriate?” She fiddled with her skirts, attempting to release all the wrinkles one last time.

Celestina gave her a hug. “Jennie, I have never seen you so concerned about your appearance, although I am pleased to see it. But I must ask, is it the Cameron or Ennis MacKenzie that has you in such a state?”

Ashlyn stood behind her mother, peering around her skirts and giggling.

“Hush, lass,” Caralyn said with a smile.

Gracie climbed on the bed and bounced on the pillows. “Jennie is so pretty. Mama, may I have a dress like Jennie’s?”

Jennie was dressed in a deep red undergown. Her overgown was made of the red Grant plaid and the bodice was black velvet with red ribbons. Her hair was plaited with a red velvet ribbon, but some of her curls had been let loose around her face. Jennie glanced at Gracie, “Someday, you will have much prettier gowns than I have, especially with your white-gold hair. Your da will dress you in pearls.”

Ashlyn glanced at her mother. “Mama, may I put the flowers in her hair? Avelina taught me how to do it.”

Jennie’s face lit up. “Aye, please, Ashlyn.”

Celestina whispered, “You did not answer my question, Miss Jennie.”

“I did not think I needed to answer. I have never met Ennis MacKenzie. ‘Struth is I did like Aedan Cameron, but he made me so angry when he arrived that I would prefer not to speak to him. I’ll settle near Ennis, and I’m counting on you two to help me with that.”

“Why did he upset you so?” Caralyn asked.

“He did not even have the courtesy to speak to me. He was all in a rush to see Alex.”

Caralyn’s eyes twinkled. “Well, we’ll have to see what we can do to make your lad jealous. Naught works better than another lad seeking your hand. Aedan probably will not be expecting someone else here interested in a betrothal.”

Jennie fussed with her hair. “Naught will make Aedan jealous. He is different than other lads. His head is in the clouds.” She giggled at her own jesting.

“What?” Celestina asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Aedan loves the stars in the night skies. His head isn’t truly in the clouds.” She hung her head, wishing she hadn’t insulted Aedan. “He’s verra focused on protecting his clan at present.”

The door flew open and Maddie rushed into the room. “Jennie.” She came to a swift halt and gasped. “You are absolutely stunning.” Gracie ran to Maddie’s side and hugged her while Maddie directed her attention to Jennie. “Come, we must go down now. The lads have been waiting by the hearth for a while and ‘tis time to eat. Cook is having a spell.”

Maddie ushered them down the passageway toward the staircase. Not wanting to be the first to descend, Jennie ushered Gracie and Ashlyn in front of her. When she descended the staircase into the great hall, she could feel all eyes on her, but refused to look toward the hearth. After a few moments, she could no longer bear it. She dared to look and discovered that Aedan’s heated gaze was locked on her, warming her insides from across the room.