A Gentle Feuding (7 page)

I
t was not until six days later that Sheena discovered just where she was. Six days, locked in Colen’s room. He had managed to learn her first name, but no more than that. Sheena was a stubborn woman, and no mistake.

“Are you serious, Colen? Do you mean to tell me your brother spent the entire day locked in his room with his mistress? He didna even come out for food?”

“She’s a new one,” Colen tried to explain. “He often does that with a new one.”

“How much more of this am I to take? First he’s busy, then he’s no’ to be found, then he’s angry, then something else. And all the while you keep me locked up. Well, I’ll no’ stand for it anymore!”

“Sheena, please—”

“Nay, no more excuses. I agreed to give you time because I wanted to leave here peaceably, without
making a fuss. Yet you put it off and put it off. It’s been six days!”

“I did tell him I was ready to marry,” Colen defended himself.

“But you didna tell him about me, about my being here. As soon as he asked what settlement was expected, you said no more.”

“He was no’ ready to hear that there would be no settlement. He must be in a good mood to be hearing that.”

“So I must wait for the mood of your brother to change? The truth is, you’re afraid of his answer. You’ve made too much of this, Colen. It has become too important to you. Do you no’ see that?”

“But it
is
important.”

“Aye. So important you’ll jump at any excuse no’ to talk to your brother.”

“I couldna bear it if he said I couldna marry you,” he replied, downhearted.

“How will you bear it when you can’t change
my
mind?” she asked, not unkindly.

“Women are fickle,” he returned. “They’re known to change their minds. It’s no’ you I’m worried about; it’s my brother.”

“Fickle! Who told you that nonsense? Nay, dinna answer,” she said dryly. “Your dear, sweet brother.”

Colen laughed. “I’ve never heard him called that “afore.”

“Is he so terrible?”

“At times. MacKinnions are known for their fierce tempers, but Jamie can be the worst.”

“MacKinnion?!”

“What’s the matter?”

She had gone deathly pale.

“
You’re
a MacKinnion? James—he’s
The
MacKinnion!”

Colen became quite alarmed by her appearance. “What’s wrong, Sheena? I told you who I was, so that’s not it.”

“You never!”

“But I did. I must have. What’s wrong?”

“’Tis no’ possible!” She started to laugh hysterically.

Poor Colen didn’t know what to make of her behavior, but when she flew toward the door, he was right behind her. He caught her arm, and she shrieked wildly. “Dinna you touch me!”

He slapped her, and the sound was as loud as a whipcrack. She was stunned for a moment, and then her eyes flashed and she slapped him back just as hard.

Colen was shocked. He stepped back, a hand to his cheek.

“You
hit
me!”

Sheena might have laughed “You slapped me first. I’ll no’ take that from you or anyone.”

“But you…hit me!”

“Aye, I did, and with good reason,” she replied. “What reason did you have for hitting me?”

“You were acting crazy. I was trying to calm you.”

“Maybe I was,” she sighed. Her mind was clearer,
the panic ebbing. “But you’re twice the size I am and had no business laying a hand on me.” Her voice rose again. “And I
willna
stay here any longer!”

“Aye, you’re right,” he admitted sheepishly, surprising her. “’Twas wrong of me to put it off so long and keep you a prisoner here. I’m sorry. I’ll settle it tonight, I promise.”

“Why no’ now?”

“I’m to leave shortly, to get back the horses that were lifted the other night.”

“You mean you’ve a raid to do? Today?”

“Aye. But as soon as I return, I’ll settle it.”

“You swear, Colen?”

He nodded and turned to leave. At the door he stopped, absently rubbing his cheek. “I’ve never been slapped by a girl ’afore.”

“Then ’twas high time, for you’re a stubborn brute if I’ve ever met one.”

“And you’re a spunky lass,” he chuckled. “You wouldna catch a MacKinnion woman slapping back. She’d get a fair beating if she did.”

“Is that what your wife should expect?”

“Och, Sheena, I wouldna hurt you.”

“Of course not,” she replied sarcastically. “You’d only have to have everything
your
way
all
the time, as you have so far.”

“Will you give me this one last day without making a fuss?” Colen asked in parting.

Sheena hesitated, but only to make Colen nervous. There was no question anymore about her
causing a stir. She couldn’t risk it, not when a MacKinnion might come to investigate. Maybe even The MacKinnion himself!

“This one day and no more, Colen,” she said at last.

He grinned. “If I’m no’ back by dark, a girl will bring you food. And dinna fret, lass.”

He left, and she was free to take in fully what she had just learned. For six days, she’d been living in the midst of Clan Kinnion! Her family’s great enemies were outside that door…in the next room…all around her. And The MacKinnion was among them. She sat down on the bed and let the realization take hold of her. She was living a nightmare.

C
olen’s brother had returned to the hall after speaking to the gatekeeper and learning there was no sign of Colen yet. He was not worrying over the men, just the success of the raid. One of his prize stallions had been lifted and the laird wanted it back. He ought to have gone himself, he knew that, but Colen had been so nervous all week, his brother felt he needed the diversion.

It was a quiet night. There were no guests, so only one long table was filled. These were castle retainers. Servants bustled about, refilling trenchers, pouring ale.

The laird’s own table had yet to be served. It was considered a crime to serve the laird’s food before he was ready for it, for if there was anything that could turn James MacKinnion sour, it was a cold meal. New servants learned this the hard way. Jamie’s wrath could be quite entertaining—as long
as one wasn’t the recipient of it—and no one volunteered the rules to newcomers.

Right then, Jamie’s table was empty except for Jessie, who sat looking sullen. Jamie had kept her waiting, and she didn’t like that one bit. Jessie Martin was first cousin to Jamie’s brother-in-law, Dobbin, and she had come to Castle Kinnion with Dobbin and Jamie’s sister Daphne when they visited, three weeks past. But she had not left with them. During those three weeks she had made it known that she was available to Jamie, and he had finally taken her up on her offer.

He had had his fill of her by yesterday—or so he thought. But seeing her now in a low-cut burgundy velvet gown, he admitted he’d never found a better mistress. If only his Aunt Lydia hadn’t taken such a dislike to Jessie. But she had, staying in her room in the north tower and almost never coming out. Aunt Lydia couldn’t tolerate a forward, brazen woman.

But sometimes a man needed such a woman in his life, especially a man who was not looking for a wife. She was experienced in ways of pleasing a man, Jessie was. After four unsuccessful handfastings, she claimed she had given up on marriage. Jamie wasn’t sure about that. He’d never yet met a woman who didn’t pine for marriage. But Jessie would be disappointed if that was what she was after.

“Can we begin now?” Jessie said petulantly as soon as Jamie took his chair.

He didn’t care for her tone and replied, “They’ll
serve, now I’m here. But you didna have lo wait for me, lass.”

“They’ll no’ serve this table until you’re seated,” she reminded him tartly, regretting it when she heard his reply.

“There’s ample room at the lower table, and plenty of food.”

It was a privilege to eat at the laird’s table, and Jessie knew she was being reminded of that. Jamie could be very hard. But she wanted James MacKinnion. She wanted him badly. She had never known such a handsome man. Handsome and rich, a laird, he was everything she desired. She had realized that when she first saw him at her cousin’s wedding, and from that time she had nagged and begged and cajoled Dobbin to bring her with him to Castle Kinnion. It had taken three years for him to agree, and now that she was finally here, she had no intention of ever leaving.

“Och, Jamie, dinna mind me.” She smiled sweetly. “’Tis a sour nature I have when I’m hungry. But I’ll no’ take it out on you again.”

Jamie was not fooled. “I hope I can count on that, Jessie, for I’ll tell you now, I’ve no liking for a bitchy woman, nor one who argues and nags. I dinna have to put up with that sort of nonsense, nor will I. You’re a bonny lass to be sure, and I’ll take care of you as long as you share my bed. But you’ve no other hold on me, Jessie.”

“I know. And I didna mean to anger you,” she
quickly assured him, desperate to drop the subject. “Look. The girl comes with our…”

Jessie didn’t finish, for the girl who came in from the kitchen with a platter of food walked toward the end of the hall and the bedchambers. The laird’s table was not her destination. When the girl, Doris, went through the archway at the end of the hall, Jamie’s curiosity was aroused.

“And where are you off to now?” Jessie demanded, already forgetting her apology.

Jamie didn’t answer. As he left the table, another servant came from the kitchen tower with his food.

“Gertie.” He stopped her with a grin. “Go on and serve Mistress Martin, even though I’m not there. She’s nigh to fainting from what I’ve been hearing.”

The old servant looked up at him and said solemnly, her eyes twinkling, “Aye, Sir Jamie, we wouldna be wanting that.”

“And where is young Doris off to?”

“Doris? I dinna know. She said your brother set her to some task if he wasna back ’afore dark.”

“Did he now?”

Jamie followed Doris up the stone steps to the second floor. His own bedchamber ran along one side of the building, and there were two smaller guest chambers opposite. But Doris had not stopped there. He caught sight of her at the end of the corridor, turning up the stairs leading to the top floor, where Colen had one of the four rooms.

“Doris!”

She poked her head back around the corner and
then came into full view under a torch set by the entrance to the third floor.

“Where are you off to with that?” he asked when he reached her. “We’ve no one ill up there that I’ve no’ been told about, have we?”

“Nay, I dinna think she’s ill.”

“She?”

“The lass young Colen’s keeping in his room,” Doris explained. She was wary, but she couldn’t keep anything from the laird.

“He’s keeping a lass there? Who?”

“I dinna know, Sir Jamie, I’ve no’ seen her. But ’tis strange. He told me to be sure and lock the lock after I left the food in there. Now why would he be locking the poor lass up? It dinna seem right.”

“Why indeed?” Jamie laughed. “Here, give me that. I’ll see she gets fed, and I’ll find out what I can.”

Jamie chuckled as he carried the tray up to the third floor. So his brother had found himself a mistress! One he wanted all for himself. No wonder he had been acting so strangely. The lad was probably having his first love. Jamie had gone through the same infatuation at Colen’s age and could remember it well. But it had passed, and he’d never felt that way again. He could almost envy Colen the heart-throbbing experience. Time enough for the boy to learn it wasn’t true love. Time enough for disillusionment later.

The door to Colen’s bedchamber was indeed
locked, and Jamie grinned as he pulled the wooden peg from the latch and pushed the door open. It was dark. Torch light from the corridor fell only a few feet into the room.

Jamie squinted. “Where are you, lass?”

“Here.” There was spirit in her voice.

He followed the voice, but he still couldn’t see her. “We’ve candles aplenty in this castle.” Jamie scowled. “Are you so ugly Colen must keep you in the dark?”

“There’s a candle on the table.”

“Then why do you no’ use it?”

“For what?” the girl asked tonelessly. “There’s naught for me to do in this room that I’d be needing a candle for.”

Jamie chuckled. Colen had found himself a rare female, one willing to await his beck and call.

Jamie saw the bed and moved toward it, his eyes now able to make out the girl sitting on the edge of it. He put the tray of food on the table.

“You’re no’ the girl who was supposed to bring this,” she mentioned warily.

Jamie didn’t reply. He found the candle and, after several seconds, had a fair light illuminating the room.

“Now then, lass, who…”

The words died as Jamie turned and faced the girl. He caught his breath. The vision before him was not real, it couldn’t be. The delicate oval face, the large eyes of a remarkable bright blue, the mass
of red hair so dark as to be magenta. Now when had he dreamed of this before?

She was staring at him with open curiosity. Under her perusal, Jamie stood tall. He could not speak. If he spoke, she might disappear. With a sudden jolt he realized why he felt that way. It was the vision! The water sprite from the pool in the glen! Her image had dimmed with the passing of time, but his vivid feelings had not.

She smiled as the silence lengthened, and Jamie thought his heart would stop at the brilliance of that smile. Then she giggled, a bubbling sound.

“I’ve been known to turn the heads of men,” she said in amusement, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “But I’ve never struck one speechless ’afore. I think I like it.”

Jamie would have taken offense if anyone but this vision had teased him so. He delighted in her laughter and didn’t mind at all.

“I…I’ve never lost my tongue so completely ’afore. But now I’ve found it, you’ll be telling me who you are.”

“I dinna think I will,” she said.

“Why?”

She shrugged prettily and looked away. “I’ve no’ told Colen, so why should I be telling you?” she answered pertly, reaching for the tray and picking up a sugar roll.

“You’re no’ a MacKinnion?” he asked.

“Heaven forbid.”

Jamie frowned. “From where do you come then?”

“The lad found me in Aberdeen” was Sheena’s evasive reply.

“Your home is there?”

Her gaze narrowed. “I’ve no home to speak of, not anymore. But who are you to be asking me so many questions?”

“Colen didna tell you of me?”

“He told me of a brother, nobody else.”

“I am his brother,” Jamie replied simply.

Then it was her turn to stammer. “Then…you’re…”

Jamie watched in amazement as she scrambled across the bed and backed up against the wall beside it. She cowered, as if trying to disappear into the stone wall.

“What nonsense is this?” Jamie demanded.

There was terror in her eyes.

“Will you answer me?” he said sternly.

“What are you doing here?” said a voice behind him.

Jamie turned to see Colen enter the chamber, and then the girl dashed across the room and flew into Colen’s arms.

An unexpected jealousy took hold of Jamie. Here was a vision he had searched for, had dreamed of countless times. And she was in his brother’s arms. Colen had found her before Jamie had.

“Tell me what you’ve done to the lass,” Colen said angrily.

“Done!” Jamie exploded. “I’ve done naught but stand here and talk with her. But the moment she learned who I was, she acted as if I were the devil himself. I want to know why.”

Colen’s brows knit in confusion. “Sheena?” he tried to question her, but she clung to him and wouldn’t speak.

“Well?” Jamie demanded.

“Stop it, Jamie,” Colen replied. “Can you no’ see she’s upset?”

“I’m no’ too happy myself,” Jamie growled. “I want to know who she is and why you felt the need to lock her in your room.”

“She’s just a poor lass, Jamie, with no home or family to speak of. She was staying at the poorhouse in Aberdeen.”

“A beggar. I see. And the rest of it?”

“This is no’ the time—ouch!”

Sheena pinched Colen and shoved him away. “You’ll tell him
all
of it, Colen. Now.”

“So the lass has found her tongue.”

Sheena swung around to face Jamie but then backed away. She still couldn’t bring herself to speak to James MacKinnion, not after all she had heard about him.

If she had not been so frightened, she would have seen his resemblance to his brother, though Colen’s hair was reddish-orange and Jamie’s was yellow-gold. But The MacKinnion was so young looking and so handsome. There was not a mean line in his
face! Was this really her dreaded enemy? He was certainly not what she’d imagined the savage MacKinnion looked like.

Jamie sighed and sat down on the bed. “Colen, lad, I’m close to losing my patience with the both of you. I’m asking you for the last time to tell me what goes on here.”

Colen swallowed hard, then blurted, “I want to marry her.”

“Marry?” Jamie laughed. “You’ve already got her, so why bother?”

Sheena flushed bright red at the assumption being made. It was so typically arrogant, exactly what she could have expected of a Highlander—this one in particular.

Colen frowned darkly. “You’re no’ to insult her, Jamie. “Tis no’ what you think.”

“Marriage was her idea, no doubt?”

“She’s no’ made up her mind yet. It is I who want to wed.”

“Colen!” Sheena warned.

“All right!” Colen snapped, furious. “She says she willna marry me.”

“But she came here with you?”

Colen lowered his gaze. “I…I took her.”

Jamie fell back on the bed and laughed heartily. “Och, Colen, what am I to do with you? Have you no’ learned there are enough girls for the asking? You dinna have to take one who’s no’ willing.”

“There’s no other like Sheena.”

Jamie sobered at that. Indeed, there wasn’t an
other like this lass. That she did not want to marry Colen brought Jamie a great measure of relief.

“’Tis a fine mess we have here, and no mistake,” Jamie said thoughtfully. “’Tis plain you’re serious, Colen, but I canna consider only your wishes. You’ve kidnapped the lass.”

“But if she
were
willing, would you give your blessing on the match?” Colen persisted.

Jamie stared hard at the girl. How could he bear to see this particular girl wed to his brother? She was his vision made flesh. Yet how could he put his own desires above theirs?

With the greatest reluctance, Jamie was forced to say, “You would have my blessing on the match if she desired it. But I’ll hear what the lass has to say. Sheena is it?” She nodded, and he asked, “Do you want to marry my brother?”

Sheena shook her head adamantly. She knew her silence angered him, but she couldn’t help it. She just couldn’t bring herself to talk to the man.

“I know you’ve a voice, lass,” Jamie said, surprising himself with his own degree of patience. “If you dinna want to marry my brother, you’ll have to be telling me what it is you do want. I canna help you otherwise.”

There was no way out of it now. Sheena cleared her throat, but her voice came out in a mere whisper. “I…I want to leave here.”

“To go where?”

“Back to Aberdeen.”

“Dinna listen to her, Jamie.” Colen spoke up
quickly. “She has no one there. She’d only have to fend for herself again, to beg.”

“So what are you suggesting, brother? You canna force the lass to marry you.”

“Och, I know. But she can live here. She’ll be better off.”