The Highlander's Bride Trouble (24 page)

“She was making a point to me.”

Nareen lifted the chemise and put it on. It settled into place, falling to just above
her knees. The stitches were even and tiny.

“She was making sure I did nae overlook the fact that I’ve forgotten to see to yer
basic needs.” He was gripping the arm of the chair. “Why did nae ye ask for clothing?”

“I… I’ve nae had much time really to think on it. Besides, ye told me there was none.”

He watched her, weighing her response.

“Why are ye looking at me as though ye doubt I am speaking truthfully?” she asked.

The way he remained in the chair set off a warning in her head. The man was rarely
still.

“And why are ye sitting still?”

He gave a short bark of laughter and stood up. It felt like the chamber shrank, because
he was finished trying to lull her into a sense of calm. “Ye know me too well, Nareen,
but I hope ye’ll give me credit for attempting to have a gentle conversation with
ye.”

“From ye, it is an effort I cannae overlook.” She pulled the comb through her hair
and watched him. “But ye are frustrating me, for I have no idea what is on yer mind.”

“Are ye still intent on leaving? Is that why ye did nae ask for another dress?”

The comb fell from her fingers and clattered onto the floor. “The agreement is until
the snow flurries appear.”

He looked at the comb, judging her by her actions instead of her words.

“Is it so difficult to speak yer fears to me?” he asked. “I see something in yer eyes,
lass, that ye continue to leave unspoken.”

“Some men would consider it a blessing that their choice of woman did nae badger them
with every concern she had.”

He reached out and laid his hand against her cheek. “I’ve told ye I want to wed ye.”

She turned away, nodding, but turned back when she heard him following her.

“That will nae happen until ye resolve what troubles ye.” Determination edged his
tone. “So I will ask and ask again until ye tell me. It frustrates me that ye will
nae voice yer concern and give me the chance to answer it.”

She drew a deep breath and gathered her courage, for she was acting like a coward
by remaining silent.

“Ye’ve also told me ye wish for sons,” Nareen stated clearly.

His eyes narrowed. “And ye said ye like children.”

“Some women do nae conceive, Saer, and ye are nae one to be denied what ye set yer
mind to getting. Every moment I have known ye, it has been part of yer quest to have
sons. What will happen if I give ye a daughter? As yer father’s bride did?”

Surprise registered in his eyes, and he reached out to cup her cheeks. But she jumped
back, earning a dark frown from him.

“Ye are everything to me, Nareen. If ye present me a daughter, I will welcome her.”

He said it easily, so easily that she was tempted to believe.

“And what of no children? Will ye send me back to me brother if fate is truly unkind
toward me?”

“Since that is what ye have claimed ye wish to do, why would it matter if I did?”

“It would matter.” She clamped a hand over her lips when she realized the words had
slipped out.

His expression suddenly softened; the tension in his body eased. “Ye have affection
for me at last, Nareen.”

She looked away, but he cupped her chin and brought her face back toward him. “Do
nae try to stem it. I would have ye happy.”

Her lips were dry, so she rolled them in to moisten them. The desire to believe in
happiness was stronger than it had ever been since she left Grant land. It almost
felt as though it might become bright enough to banish the doubts lurking in the shadows
of her mind. “And do ye return me affection?”

He lifted his chin and lowered his hand to hook his fingers around his belt.

His expression became guarded, sending a warning snaking through her. “I will honor
yer love, Nareen.”

“But ye do nae intend to return it?” He didn’t want to answer her. She could see the
reluctance in his eyes. “Now who has thoughts unspoken?”

“It’s a weakness I cannae afford.” He drew in a deep breath. “I’ll nae repeat me mother’s
mistakes.”

She stood silent, unable even to think.

“But it pleases me to know ye have softened toward me.” He nodded again. “Pleases
me very much. I understand women need such tender feeling to be content. I wish ye
to be so.”

“But nae to experience such things yerself?”

His brow furrowed. “Highlanders do nae follow weak lairds. Now, Gitta is fetching
ye a fresh dress to wear to supper. I must make sure she gives Maud cloth in exchange
for what was used for that chemise.”

He turned and walked toward the chamber doors. His kilt swayed with his powerful strides,
but for once, she wasn’t distracted by his physical prowess.

All she felt was an overwhelming need to collapse. Her knees weakened, and tears stung
her eyes. The sound of the door closing behind him was like a cannon shot. She felt
it vibrating through her, shattering the contentment she’d woken up with.

She sank down, losing the battle to control her tears as well as her legs. Hot little
drops of saltwater left tracks down her cheeks as she swept the chamber with her gaze,
seeking any shard left of the comfort she’d decided was there.

She found it, lodged deep in her heart. No matter what she wished, there was a feeling
burning there that would not heed her demands. It was hot and made her ache as she
heard Saer’s words again.

He’d meant what he said. He would never love her.

And she knew, without a doubt, that she had fallen in love with him.

***

The outer gate wall bells began to ring during supper.

Nareen chided herself for how relieved she was.

Hiding her hurt from everyone took effort, and she knew she wasn’t fooling Saer completely.
He knew her too well already. Before she’d taken more than two bites, he was cutting
her a sidelong glance.

By the time her meat grew cold because she was only picking at it, he’d reached under
the table to squeeze her thigh.

She forced her smile into place and ignored the questioning looks from him.

What was there to say? I love ye, but like so many men, ye believe love to be a weakness?
He defied the teaching of the Church when it came to the role a woman must play, but
he still fell prey to the notion that love was soft and a form of madness.

Once more, they had much in common, for neither was willing to change for the other.

Perhaps she should wed him and prove she was willing to trust. The idea needled her
for what felt like hours as she remained undecided.

Saer stood up, making his way down the aisle, along with many of his men. The Hall
hushed as they waited to see who was at their gates. The Comyn had had time to send
a raiding party in retribution for the men she and Saer had killed.

She itched to get up, but if she did, everyone would follow her. The Hall was a sanctuary,
and it was her duty to make sure the women of the clan stayed there.

No matter the cost for her.

***

“Open yer gate, Saer MacLeod!”

Saer arrived and heard his name being shouted by whomever was locked outside.

“Ye’ve got me sister, and I’ve come to thrash ye for it!” Kael Grant swore.

“He has a unique way of trying to entice us to lift the gate,” Baruch remarked.

“Aye,” Saer answered as he waved to the men at the top of the gate towers. They began
to turn the huge wheels that wound the chains and lifted the heavy iron gate. It groaned
as it rose and revealed Kael Grant and a hundred of his retainers.

Saer frowned. “Did ye come here for a fight?”

Kael rode in and slid off the back of his stallion. His boots had barely hit the dirt
before he sent his fist into Saer’s jaw.

Saer stumbled back but righted himself quickly. “Explain yerself, Kael!” he snarled
as his men rushed forward and the Grant retainers prepared to fight.

“Ye’ll be the one explaining about how I hear ye brought me sister into yer castle
tied around ye!”

Saer wiped blood off his chin and held up his hand. His men didn’t care for the command
to stand their ground, but they backed up, grumbling.

“Nareen is settling in well.”

Kael had the same black hair as his sister, but also had black eyes. His chin was
covered with several days’ growth of beard, proving he’d wasted no time in making
his way to MacLeod land.

“Me damned cousin Ruth claimed much the same thing!” Kael roared.

Saer threw a punch at Kael and sent him stumbling back.

“Ye’ll nae compare me to that bitch.” Saer pulled back, allowing Kael to gain his
balance. “I should have choked the life from her when I had the chance. I’m still
thinking it’s worth the time to ride down to the lowlands to see it done.”

Kael growled but held himself back. “Why?” he demanded.

“I’ll tell ye, but nae before ye swallow some of yer anger, man,” Saer warned. “Ye
knew full well I planned to wed yer sister.”

Kael shook his head. “I agreed to yer suit. Nae to a claiming.” He pointed at Saer.
“I’ll beat ye senseless if ye have her locked in a chamber somewhere. I swear I will!”

“She’s been teaching some of me younger lads how to defend themselves against dagger
attacks.”

Kael pulled himself up straight, frowning as Saer’s words sank in. “She told ye about
that?”

“She proved it when some of the bastard Comyn tried to kill me.”

Kael’s expression tightened again. “What the hell was me sister doing in a precarious
position like that?”

Saer drew in a deep breath. “I was nae brought up to be a laird like ye, Kael. I forget
that a ride through the woods just might end with me having me throat slit because
me neighbor covets me land.”

Kael froze while Saer’s words sank in. A moment later, he let out a crusty chuckle.
“Nae so wonderful a life, is it, lad?” He laughed long and loud. “Bet yer mother did
nae tell ye about that part of being a laird’s son, now did she?”

“No.”

Kael nodded. “Now about this bringing me sister home tied around ye. Tell me it’s
nae true, and I’ll be content.”

A few of his captains cleared their throats. Kael’s eyes widened. “Saer?”

“Come inside, Kael. If ye do nae care for me reasons, ye can thrash me, but our men
do nae need to be involved.”

Kael popped his knuckles.

But the crowd around them had begun to return to their supper, allowing him to see
Nareen standing in the gate between the inner yard and the outer one. Two MacLeod
retainers stood in front of her, refusing to let her go any farther until Saer made
a motion with his hand. They moved back, leaving her facing her brother.

She took a step forward but stopped, her teeth set into her lower lip.

Grant and MacLeod alike waited to see what she’d do, the yard going quiet as all eyes
turned to her.

***

“Remember, yer actions will lead others no matter if ye want them to or no’. That
is what being a laird’s daughter means. Ye must always think of the example ye set.
For everyone shall look to ye for the way they should behave.”

She hadn’t heard her father’s words for a long time. It should have been a welcome
relief from Ruth’s vicious taunting, but Nareen felt just as controlled.

Her brother was laird in all but name.

Her rage was burning bright at the sight of him, but she could not show it. Saer had
made her mistress of the MacLeods, and they would respond to her anger.

Everyone in the yard was waiting for her to greet her brother. To show that Grant
and MacLeod might be united through her relationship with Saer.

She’d been raised to expect such an arrangement.

But the last time she’d seen Kael, he’d sent her off to Ruth.

It was done with.

And yet, it wasn’t. For she had yet to face her brother.

“Mistress?”

It was old Maud who spoke, age making her tone crack. The older woman leaned on a
cane near the gate, expectation in her eyes. She flicked one time-withered finger
toward Kael.

It was a subtle reprimand, but the weight of it was great.

Nareen moved forward, covering the space between Kael and herself. She stopped in
front of him and lowered herself.

She could see men nodding with approval, smiles appearing on their faces.

“Welcome, Kael.”

***

Nareen was asleep by the time Saer made it to his chamber. He was no stranger to climbing
the stairs halfway through the night. But he’d never felt so relieved when he arrived.

He smelled her delicate scent before he made it past the trestle table. She’d left
the doors open again, endearing herself to him because she didn’t fear the night the
way so many others did.

But the best part was seeing her in his bed, her chest rising and falling slowly.
It was the place he’d prepared for her, every detail planned and checked. The bed
built large enough for two, and the sheets made of soft fabric so as not to chafe
a woman’s tender skin.

And she was perfect.

MacLeod and Grant were happily drinking together below because she’d known the part
to play. There was a reason noblemen arranged their weddings. They needed a woman
who could run an estate and perform under the demands of her position.

Nareen had excelled.

He sat down on the side of the bed and slid in beside her. She shifted, and he pulled
her close.

Aye, perfect.

He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent. It sent a spike of arousal through
him and a need to have his skin in contact with hers.

Any way possible.

He stroked her cheek and along her jawline before smoothing along the column of her
throat. She muttered in her sleep but raised her chin so he might reach all of her
neck. When he stroked her a second time, she let out a soft sound of enjoyment.

He moved close, allowing his erection to nestle between her thighs. She muttered and
shifted from side to side as she searched for him. He cupped her breasts, toying with
her nipples and pressing his chest against her back.