Torrian (The Highland Clan Book 2) (8 page)

Lily had a beauty that lit up the room around her. Her hair fell in golden waves over her shoulders, her enchanting emerald eyes were much like her brother’s, and her smile was the type that could lighten even the foulest mood. Today she was dressed in a light green dress with long sleeves.

“My brother is betrothed to Davina of Buchan. My sire feels he must do as his king decrees until something comes to light about the family’s ill intentions, so agreed to the betrothal. But they do not suit at all, everyone agrees, and I worry that he will be pulled away from our home. I love my brother—he and I have helped each other through many difficult times.”

“How can I help?”

“Do you have any feelings for him?” Lily’s hopeful gaze broke Heather’s heart.

“Lily, ‘tis too soon to tell. We’ve only just met.”

Lily sighed, a deep sigh that told Heather how helpless she felt. “I understand, but please be open to the possibility. I know my brother. If the king expects him to marry the lass, he will, even if he hates her. He’ll do what’s expected of him. I need you to spur deeper feelings in him, the kind he cannot fight.”

“I doubt that I can fight Torrian’s feelings of loyalty to his king and his clan. He is not the sort.”

“If he loves you more than aught in this world, he will fight for you. We just need to find a way to make him fall deeply in love with you.”

Heather gave a very unladylike snort. “That, my dear, is almost asking the impossible.”

“Why?” Lily tipped her head, obviously having no experience with what she was about to say.

“Because lads do not fall in love like lasses do.”

Lily considered this before she stood from her chair. “I must disagree with you. I’m sorry you believe that, but naught could be further from the truth. My sire adores my stepmother, and Uncle Logan would easily die many times over for his wife. All of the Grants love their wives. But most of all, I know my brother. He has feelings for you.” She gave her a swift hug. “The wee lassies wish to come sing to Nellie as they did before. They like to play healers like Brenna. Would you like them to come in?”

Heather said, “Certainly. Allow them inside.”

Lily opened the door to Jennet and Brigid. Jennet entered first, direct as usual. “My lady, my mother gave us this special ointment that we can rub on her back. There’s a hint of mint in it, and we hope the tingling will awaken Nellie. We’d also like to sing to her as before.”

Heather helped wee Brigid up onto the tall bed since she was a year younger than Jennet and quite a bit shorter. Jennet had her father’s height. “Aye, I’m sure Nellie would love to hear her friends sing to her again.”

Jennet and Brigid sat on either side of the wee lassie while Heather sat back down in her chair.

Lily turned to leave, but before she could go, Heather whispered, “I’ll do my best, Lily.”

“Many thanks.” Lily closed the door as the girls began to sing.

Heather watched the two wee healers. Jennet did most of the work on Nellie’s back, her light brown hair weaving a path down her back as she rubbed in the salve. Her wee friend’s lighter temperament was evident in the way her head bounced back and forth as she sang two different songs to Nellie. What a gift their parents had given them. They both genuinely wished to help and soothe others, something you did not often see in bairns so young.

Her own youth had been very different from that of the bairns in the Ramsay clan. The only thing she knew for certes about her mother was that she’d died birthing her. Her sire had never been mentioned, other than the fact that her grandmother had not liked him. Her grandmama had loved her, aye, but her grandsire was a quiet man, probably because he was deaf in one ear. She vaguely recalled meeting an aunt, but she had lived a distance away, and she’d only seen her a few times. Either way, she hadn’t heard much singing…or even many kind words. That lack of warmth was also the reason she had run into the arms of the first person to speak sweetly to her.

The snake. How she hated him…

A few moments later, Nellie opened her eyes and said, “Look, Mama, my friends are back.”

Heather bolted out of her chair to hug her daughter. She was so happy to hear her sweet voice again that she hugged Jennet and Brigid, also. “My thanks, lassies, for helping with my daughter.” She kissed each of them on the tops of their heads before she was able to release them. So grateful that Nellie had come back to her again, she vowed to allow her daughter to spend more time with her new friends. She would make it work, for Nellie’s sake.

Mayhap Torrian was right about staying at the keep. For her daughter’s sake, she’d ask to remain for a while. She’d just have to stay out of the way of the wedding plans.

She did her best to convince herself this was not about Torrian at all.

Chapter Eight

Kyle clapped Torrian on the shoulder as they headed into the keep from the lists. “Nice workout today. Did it help you release some of your anger?”

Torrian shrugged his shoulder, his hand still flexing on the hilt of his sword. “It did feel good to let it all out. I decided ‘twould help me before I walk into the solar. There I’ll be attacked for sure, but I’ll have no sword to defend myself.” He had been directed to the meeting on his betrothal and found he dreaded every moment of it. He just wanted to be free to get to know Heather Preston better.

“You’ve been fighting and practicing like a lad who’s about to fight the world,” his friend said with a thoughtful look. “‘Tis how you feel?”

“Sometimes. Mostly I fight to improve my abilities. After watching Loki fight, I strive to be better. As Loki said, any fight can be the most important—or the last—in your life.”

“Surely, you can convince them you do not suit without resorting to swordplay.”

“My sire is more concerned with whether the
king
thinks we suit. The fact that he saw the lady’s comeliness with his own eyes only makes matters worse. Mayhap I would have a better chance of escaping the arrangement if she were as ugly as a warty hedgehog with a nose like a beak.”

Kyle spat out the water he’d just drank from his skin. “I feel better that she’s lovely. At least your bairns will be handsome. ‘Twould be easier to get her with child than if you had no choice but to lay with the hedgehog.”

They both laughed as they climbed the hill, but Torrian shook his head. “I feel as though I’m attending my execution.”

“Hardly. You know your sire has your best interests at heart. Plus, did you not say your Uncle Logan will be there? You know how much he cares for you. You’re the reason he spent so many seasons away from home. He could not handle to see you so sickly.”

Once they were inside the keep, Torrian turned to Kyle. “I hope you’re right. I hope Uncle Logan is on my side and not the king’s. I’ll let you know how it all turns out later. And Uncle Logan may have acted that way when I was young, but lately, all he wants to do is kick my arse. He was the same way with Loki.”

“He’s just acting in your best interest.”

Torrian laughed. “Make sure I ask cousin Loki if he thought it was in his best interest when Logan watched him battle a daft man unarmed.”

“I thought you said ‘twas your uncle who gave him the sword to use against the fool?”

“Aye, ‘tis true, then he leaned back to watch the whole thing with his arms crossed. I thought Loki was about to have his head sliced clean off while three of his uncles watched.”

“I’ll be waiting to hear about the meeting. Come get me when you’ve finished. I’m headed to the kitchens to sweet talk Cook into something good.”

Torrian nodded and turned toward the solar at the end of the great hall. He was about to open the door when Heather descended the stairs. He watched her in silence, wondering why he could not be left alone to explore the connection he felt with this woman. To him, her beauty far surpassed Davina’s. Davina never had a hair out of place, while Heather’s tresses were always in tousled disarray. But the most arresting difference between the two? Their eyes. Davina’s were cold and calculating. The two lasses could hardly be more different.

“Good eve to you, my lord,” Heather said.

“How is your daughter?”

“Much better. She awakened to the soft songs of Jennet and Brigid. Mayhap you were correct about her needing her friends.”

“Glad to know she is doing better. Please excuse me, I am expected inside.”

“Of course,” Heather replied, blushing a little.

Torrian paused for a moment, just long enough to watch her sweet backside as she moved through the great hall. If he did not stop staring, he’d probably walk into the solar with an embarrassed flush of his own.

Torrian stepped into the solar and four sets of eyes immediately fell on him. Both of his parents were there, along with Uncle Logan and Aunt Gwyneth. He sauntered into the room, not wishing to hurry this inquisition. His father motioned for him to take a seat in front of his desk, so he did as he was told. In this room sat the four people he feared most, but not in the usual sense of the word. Nay, he lived in fear of disappointing them. As a wee bairn, he had dreaded the pain in his father’s eyes more than the continued symptoms of his illness.

And Uncle Logan? Logan had spent much of his youth away from home. He’d always assumed his uncle did not care for him. It was his grandmama who had informed him of the truth of the matter. Uncle Logan had stayed away from the Ramsay keep because it had pained him to watch his nephew and niece suffer. Torrian’s grandmama had told him about the day she’d found Logan crying over Torrian’s bed, one of the days they had given him something to make him sleep. After that, Logan had told his mother that he could not bear to stay at home until his niece and nephew were healthy, although he’d returned many times to check on their progress. And as far as his uncle was concerned, his stepmother could do no wrong. In fact, Torrian had often wondered what would bring the worst repercussions from Logan Ramsay, an attack on his wife or an attack on Brenna.

Torrian took a seat and forced himself to control his expression. His sire had taught him a laird had to learn to hide his emotions unless in battle.

Logan spoke first. “The king has decreed that you are to marry Davina of Buchan in one moon.”

Torrian bolted from his chair to argue, but his uncle held his hand up to signal for him to wait.

“The king has agreed to visit with both you and Davina to judge the matter for himself. He does wish to speak with you. He will be here in three days, along with Davina and her sire. They will bring a small contingent with them at the king’s request. Prepare yourself for his visit.”

Torrian wanted to shout and curse, but he managed to hold his temper in check. After allowing himself a few moments to fume, he said, “Does it matter at all what I want?”

Quade gave him a resigned look. “Unfortunately, nay, it does not. Anyone can see her beauty, and she is of noble blood, so it is considered a good match. I’m sorry, Torrian. I know you do not wish to wed the lass, but mayhap you will be of a different mind once you get to know her better.”

Logan strode over and rested his hand on Torrian’s shoulder. “Now, lad. I know you believe this to be a death sentence, but I was not idle while at the Buchans. They are bent on stirring up trouble in the Highlands. I overheard a few discussions about becoming the finest and largest clan in all of the land of the Scots. What we need to do is go along with this farce until we can determine their true plans. You happen to be the only way for us to get near to them at the moment. And if we uncover any information, the king will be eternally grateful. Patience, lad, patience.”

He stood. “Since it matters not what I say, I’ll take my leave…unless there’s something else you would order me to do?”

Gwyneth said, “Torrian, do not fret just yet. The wedding has not taken place, and there are many who are on your side.”

Logan added, “We all must tread carefully. Whether we like it or not, the king has made his decision. To go against it would be an act of treason. He could be put any of us in chains, if he so chooses.”

Torrian turned to leave. Over his shoulder, he mumbled, “Seems I’m bound for chains no matter what I do.”

***

Heather paced and paced inside the small hut that sat at the edge of the village. It looked as though it hadn’t been inhabited in a couple of years. It was a distance away from the other cottages, so it was no surprise that it sat empty. When Lily had approached her with this scheme, her head had told her to refuse, but her heart had whispered otherwise. Her heart had told her it was time for her to take a chance on opening herself to another man. Torrian Ramsay, to be specific.

She didn’t have many experiences to base her desires on, only one. But the memories of the night her daughter was conceived were bitter enough to make her wish to swear off men for a lifetime. But something had changed inside her, and Torrian Ramsay was the cause.

Suddenly, the urge to feel wanted, loved, and special dominated her. Was she expecting too much? She had a beautiful daughter who meant more to her than anything, yet she felt as though her life was missing something. Could that something be Torrian?

The door flew open and she jumped, though she had no reason to be surprised. Torrian filled the doorway, casting a questioning glance her way before he closed the door behind him and came toward her. “Heather, ‘tis lovely to see you. I suspected you’d be here. This is one of my sister’s tricks to get us together. If you’d like to leave, just say so. I’ll escort you back to the keep.”

She shook her head vehemently. “Nay.”

He glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting to see someone standing there, but they were alone. Torrian’s fair locks were ruffled from the wind. His skin was bronzed, a beautiful glow that made Heather wish to touch him everywhere.

A smile crept across his face, making his green eyes dance. “I think my friend’s words suddenly make more sense.”

“And what words are those?”

“Kyle, my best friend, brought me here, but this also screams of my sister. I’m quite sure she and Kyle are plotting against us. Actually, I guess they would be plotting for us. He also told me he couldn’t stand by while everyone else tells me what to do with my life. My guess is he prefers you to Davina, or mayhap he just knows that I do.”

Heather rubbed her hands, not knowing what to say to that. She was about to speak when the door popped open again and Lily strode it, Kyle following fast behind her.

Torrian stepped forward to stand at Heather’s side, as if declaring they were on the same side of an argument, and crossed his arms over his chest. Lily did not make them wait too long before stating her purpose.

“Forgive me for being a wee bit sneaky, but I do not want our elders to know what we’ve done.” She cleared her throat and glanced at Kyle before continuing. “Torrian, you do not belong with Davina, you belong with Heather. You only have three days left before that woman arrives here, though I do
so
look forward to meeting her.” Her chin lifted a notch, telling him exactly what kind of welcome Davina could expect. “After all the tales I’ve heard of the crude woman, I shall enjoy meeting her.”

Kyle said, “Lily, I cannot wait for you to meet her either. ‘Twill be most enjoyable.” A grin covered his face, but Lily was clearly in no buoyant mood, and she narrowed her gaze at him.

“Never mind, Kyle.” She returned her attention to Heather and Torrian. “We have arranged for the two of you to have some time alone. As you can see—” she waved her hand toward the small table in the corner, “—we have brought food for you, Kyle has started a fire in the hearth, and there is wine and ale. The rest is up to you. Heather, Nellie is excited about sleeping in the same bed as Jennet and Brigid tonight. She’ll be fine, and Brenna promises to check on her frequently.”

Torrian’s grin left his face. “Brenna is in on this?”

Lily stared up at the rafters in the ceiling. “Brenna agreed to visit Nellie to ensure she continues to improve. I did not tell her exactly why I requested this favor.”

Torrian turned to glance at Heather. “Seems we have the support of more than just these two.” He turned back to Lily. “And my father?”

“Brenna and Aunt Gwyneth have worked up some story for him and Uncle Logan. Torrian, I cannot allow you to marry that witch.”

Torrian crossed the hut in a few big steps and pulled Lily into an embrace. “My thanks, Lily. Heather and I shall spend some time together, enjoying the fire and the food you’ve brought for us.”

“Aye, Lily.” Heather’s gaze searched the small hut. While deserted, she could tell that someone had spent some time cleaning it up and making it more than presentable. Two cushioned chairs sat in front of the fire, a small table between covered with flowers and a basket of food and wine. “The cottage is verra nice with the dried flowers and the fresh rushes.” Heather peeked at her from around Torrian’s shoulder and noticed the misting in Lily’s eyes. She loved her brother—there was no doubt of that.

Kyle grabbed Lily’s shoulder and gave her a gentle push toward the doorway. “Let’s leave them be, Lily.” He winked at Torrian, then closed the door behind them.

Torrian ran a hand through his hair, as if nervous. “I apologize for my sister if she has tricked you into doing something you did not wish to do.” He waited for her answer, unmoving.

Her gaze shot up to meet his, and to her relief, he was smiling.

When it became clear she did not intend to answer him, he put his arm around her shoulder and ushered her over to the table. “I think we better eat something. If not, she’ll never let me forget it.”

Heather glanced in the basket. Her mouth watered as soon as she saw the fresh loaf of bread and chunk of cheese next to the fruit and the wine skin. “Aye, the food looks wonderful. I will admit I am hungry.”

“Have you been ignoring yourself again because your daughter is ill?” They both sat, and Torrian pulled out two goblets, filling each with wine. Then he prepared some bread and cheese for Heather and cheese for himself.

“Aye, I must admit ‘tis true. I am so overcome with worry for her that I sometimes forget my needs.”