Beneath a Highland Moon (The Highland Moon Series 1) (5 page)

Someone lightly tapped on the door.
"Come," she said, trusting that it might be Winnie with food. Jillian hoped she'd also brought Ian along, for she was most anxious to see him.

The door opened and Winnie entered, carrying a platter holding a trencher of stew, a couple of tarts, a bit of cheese and a goblet of spiced wine.
She placed it on the table.
"M'lady, I asked first thing this morn if I might bring yer meal to ye, but that man refused to allow me."

"
Please don't worry, for you've now brought me a great deal of food," she said, waving her hand over the full platter. "I'd been in hopes Ian would be with you. I'm worried about how all of this is affecting him. Tell me, Winnie, how they were able to find you and Ian. Did you hide him in the tunnels like I said?"

Winnie shook her hea
d, tears gathering in her eyes. "Nay, m'lady. I tried. I ken how to open the latch in the laird's bedchamber, but it wouldn't move. I heard them coming, but by then 'twas too late to do anything but hide Ian in the laird's chest. I covered him with your father's clothing and the wee fellow stayed quiet as a mouse, but they found him anyhow."

Jillian knew how much she loved Ian.
"'Tis not your fault. It's been a long time since the door has been used."

"
If I could only have gotten the panel open, he'd be safe now." Her expression suddenly clouded with anger.
"MacRae wouldn't allow him to come here with me," she said, quickly shaking her head. "The lad begged to come see ye.
When I left the great hall a few minutes ago with your meal, he still cried. I heard him sobbing his wee heart out all the way up the stairs."

"
Och, Winnie, how it wounds me to hear that Ian is so upset, but for the moment there is naught that I can do to make things any better for him."

Taking Winnie by the arm, Jillian led her far away from the door and whispered,
"I need your help in leaving here and I'll be taking Ian with me when I go."

A soft gasp escaped her.
"'Tis not safe, m'lady, for ye or the lad," she said, her eyes wide with fear.

"
Nay, but 'tis not safe for us here, either.
If we stay, 'twill only be a matter of time before MacRae rids himself of both me and Ian. Besides, Roderick informed me that Gordon intends to make me his wife and there is no way I can let that happen."

Winnie
's hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh nay, m'lady," she whispered, glancing at the door. "Tell me what 'tis ye need for me to do."

"
On the morrow, when you bring me my morning meal, I intend to have all the arrangements ready to be put into place.
I'll give you my instructions at that time. There'll also be important information you must give to Roderick. Be very cautious when you do. Make certain no one is hanging about, for Roderick and I have come to the conclusion that one of our own clan is helping Gordon." Jillian saw the terror clearly in the woman's eyes and placed her arm around her shoulders. "Winnie, don't fash yourself, all will be well. My intention is to seek help, and I promise that when I return I'll not be alone." Jillian hoped with all her heart that what she spoke was truth.

Winnie nodded.
"Aye, m'lady. I'll do whatever 'tis ye ask of me."

"
Good. Tell Ian I send my love, and kiss him good-night for me."

"
Aye, that I'll gladly do."

"
Much thanks for the meal.
Now you must go. I don't wish to anger Gordon further by keeping you here for too long a time. He might not let you come again and all my preparation will be for naught."

Win
nie left Jillian to her meal. She sat down on the wooden chair beside the table, hungrily eating the trencher of stew. A knock sounded at the door. "Come," she said, thinking that mayhap Winnie had forgotten something.
But when the door opened, 'twas Gordon MacRae who entered.

Chapter Three

Gordon
closed the bedchamber door behind him.

Jillian jumped up from the
chair, almost knocking it over. "What is it you want?" she asked him, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

He raised a brow.
"Why would you think I'd want anything?
I only wished to look upon my future bride's breathtaking beauty." He slowly approached her, until he stood less than a couple of feet away.

Refusing to let him ken the uneas
iness he caused her, she didn't back away, but stood her ground.
Her first inclination at seeing him had been to dash her goblet of wine into his face, then thought better of it. Mayhap two could play at his game of pretense. "Much thanks for the meal; I was hungry," she said smiling sweetly.

He stared at her for a moment,
taken off guard by the sudden change in her attitude. Then he chuckled.
"I'm much pleased to see that you did indeed give thought to what I'd asked Roderick to speak to you about. You'll be glad that you didn't stand against me, Jillian," he said, smiling. He picked up a bit of cheese from the platter and held it out, waiting for her to open her mouth.

Jillian took it from his fingers with her teeth and ate it, all the while, barely controlling an immense urge to gag.
"Please, will you not have some food?" she said, feigning a smile.

He looked her over seductively.
"I didn't come here to get a taste of your food, but a taste of you."

A string of icy fear wound
itself around Jillian's heart.
Thinking fast, she came up with an idea.
"Gordon," she said, shyly looking down at her feet. "If I might ask you to allow me to stay a virgin until I enter the marriage bed, I'd be most grateful.
My dear mother would have wanted as much for me." Jillian had to buy herself some time.

"
A virgin, you say." He eyed her like a hungry wolf watching a hare.

Jillian hoped that tellin
g him she was a virgin wouldn't in some way encourage him to finish what he'd intended.
She could clearly see the lust in his eyes and it made her ill. If her bluff didn't work, he'd compromise her right then and there in her own bedchamber and she could do little to stop him.
No matter how much she screamed and begged, there would be no one to come to her aid—certainly not the guard posted outside her door.

Gordon
sighed loudly. "Since I've already made plans for us to be wed the day after the morrow, I'll allow you to remain a virgin until then."

Inwardly, s
he sighed with relief. Jillian had no intention of being at Lochstorm the day after the morrow.

"
Given but one condition," he added.

A wave of apprehension swept through her.
"A condition? What sort of condition?"

"
I'll have a kiss from you to show me your appreciation for giving you leave 'til then."

"
O-o-of course," she stammered, forcing a smile.
If he'd but let her be, she'd gladly give him a quick kiss. In a hurry to get it over with, Jillian stepped closer to Gordon.

Just as she was about to give him the kiss, he suddenly grabbed her. Wrapping both his arms around her until she could hardly breathe, he cover
ed her mouth with his, and kissed her hard. His hands slowly moved down her back, and over the curve of her hips, his fingers pressing into her soft flesh.

Fear and anger knotted inside her, as she strived to loosen his grip on her.
Jillian was terrified that if she didn't somehow get him to stop, she'd no longer be able to control him. She forced herself to calm down, realizing that if she didn't, he was certain to see right through her act.

After she
finally managed to drag her mouth away from his, she said as pleasantly as she could muster, "Gordon, you promised me."

"
Aye, that I did," he said, reluctantly letting her go. "But I consider myself a fool for doing so. I'll admit, I've thought of little else since I first set eyes on you this morning."

Wanting to quickly put some distance between them, she stepped out of his reach and wandered over to the window.
"Since we're to be married so soon, will you not allow me my freedom outside of this room?"
If he agreed, it would make it much easier for them to get away.

For a moment, he studied her intently.
"I think not."
There was a sharp edge to his voice that made Jillian realize he didn't completely trust her.

"
I see," she said softly, making her disappointment clear, in hopes of getting him to change his mind.

"
But, once we're wed you may go where you please—upon my approval, of course."

Fury almost cho
ked her, but she forced herself to outwardly remain calm as she listened to Gordon speak to her as if he owned her, which Jillian planned to make absolutely certain he never did.
"Then, might I at least see my brother? I do miss him so."

He frowned.
"Soon, very soon, but for now the lad must learn that I'm the one he is to listen to, and not his sister," he said, turning toward the door. "I'm afraid I must leave you for now, my dear, but I promise to return soon."

She forced a smile on the outside, whilst inside she seethed with rage.
As soon as Gordon closed the door behind him, she grabbed the goblet of spiced wine and rinsed her mouth out, hoping to purge herself of his vile taste.
Jillian was now more determined than ever to rid Lochstorm of its recent infestation of vermin.

***

Night blanketed the majestic hills and lush glens of the Highlands, bringing with it more rain and a sudden chill to Jillian's bedchamber.
Shivering, she got out of bed and added more peat to the fire, before quickly crawling back beneath the warm covers. The fire crackled and the light from the flames leapt along the cold stone walls, whilst the wind howled through the numerous nooks and crevasses of the castle. Sinking deeper into the bed, and drawing the covers tight, Jillian closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but Kade kept slipping into her thoughts.

At fifteen,
Jillian and her family attended a Highland gathering. After settling in, and with much begging on her part, her mother gave her permission to go find her friend, Colina. Awed by the sight of the many colorful tents dotting the usually tranquil meadow—and not watching where she was going—she barreled right into Kade's chest.

He grabbed her
shoulders to steady her. "Lass, are you hurt?"

"
Nay," she answered him shyly casting her gaze downward.

Kade
slid his finger beneath her chin and tilted her face up to his. "Och, if 'tis not Jilly MacRae," he said, his whole face spreading into a grin that set her young heart to thumping. "You've grown up, lass, since I last set eyes on you." His gaze traveled boldly over her. His grin was slowly replaced by a look that Jillian didn't understand, but it caused a strange tingling in the pit of her stomach. He gently brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek.

The touch of his fingers sent a warm shiver through her.
She should hurry back to her family's tent, but the look in those dark eyes of his kept her feet rooted to the ground.

"
You're such a pretty lass, Jilly. I've always thought so," he whispered, his breath hot against her face. He leaned closer, his long, black lashes lowering over his eyes as his gaze settled on her mouth.

A quiver surged through h
er veins at the realization that he intended to kiss her, and Jillian knew without a doubt that she wanted him to. But just when his lips drew near to hers….

"
Kade!" a man shouted. "Where are you, lad?"

With a
sigh of regret, Kade quickly kissed her on the mouth, and dashed off. That kiss sent Jillian's head into a twirl. She couldn't believe that Kade MacLachlan, the lad who could cause any lass to swoon upon sight, had kissed her, Jilly MacRae! She didn't remember how long she stood there with her legs trembling and her hand pressed to her mouth, before hurrying off to find Colina and give her every wonderful detail.

***

Jillian woke early the next morning and shoved aside the burgundy velvet window coverings.
The rain had stopped and the gray water of the loch now lay calm beneath a blue sky.
Sunlight spilled across the green hillsides dotted with yellow gorse and purple heather like some artist's painting.

B
eyond the courtyard, two of Gordon's men bullied John, an elderly clansman with a heart of gold.
Another yanked down a piece of laundry that'd been hung to dry and tossed it into the mud, causing poor Inna to have to carry more water and to wash it again.

Jillian
seethed with rage.
Her people couldn't go on like this.
They were a good and kind lot.
Unable to bear watching any longer, she angrily yanked the window covering closed once again and leaned her forehead against the cold stone of the castle wall.
Her plan had to work.
If it didn't, then Lochstorm and its people were doomed to a life under the rule of a ruthless and merciless tyrant.

Jillian
sank down to the edge of her bed and cradled her face in her hands.
What if Kade no longer cares for me?
He loved me once. Maybe I just need to remind him!
She took a few moments to search through her gowns, before finally settling on the one she thought to be her finest.
The skirts were the deepest color of rose, with a bodice of the same hue displaying a generous cut at the neckline.
She hoped it might pique Kade's interest in her.
Laying them out on her bed, she added the matching slippers and shell combs.
She spread her cloak on the floor and after gently folding the gown, placed it in the center. After adding a shift, an everyday change of dress and slippers, she tied the corners together and shoved the bundle beneath her bed for retrieval at a later time.

"
Open the door. Can ye not see m'hands are full?"
Winnie screeched at the guard.
Jillian winced as she waited for some sort of physical retaliation but none came.

"
Watch ye mouth, old woman, or I'll have ye head," he threatened, shoving the door open.

Ignoring the guard
's threats, Winnie entered the bedchamber, carefully balancing a large tray in her hands, and pushed the door closed with her elbow. "A good morn, m'lady," she said, placing a platter of bannocks, and a goblet of mead on the table beside Jillian.

"
Much thanks," Jillian said, moving to the far side of the room, out of earshot of the guard, and motioning for Winnie to follow. "Speak to no one of any of this," she whispered, "save for Roderick.
Promise me, Winnie."

She nodded
and crossed herself. "Aye, I promise, m'lady.
I'll tell no one."

"
Good. This night I'll be leaving my bedchamber through the secret panel beside the fireplace, and I'll get into Ian's bedchamber the same way.
Do you ken James, the stable lad?"

Winnie nodded
. "Aye, I ken the lad.

"
Good. Borrow a set of his clothing. We're of about the same size. And find me a hat. I'll need to conceal my hair if I'm to fool anyone into thinking that I'm not a female. Do you think you can slip into Papa's bedchamber?"

"
Aye, if Gordon MacRae hasn't already moved himself into the laird's room."

Jillian snorted.
"If he hasn't yet, he soon will. If you can do so without getting caught, bring me a pair of Papa's boots. They'll be too tall, but that'll help hide the fact that I'm a female, and too loose, but I'll manage. I'll stuff some of my stockings into the toes to make them fit."

"
I'll do m'best, m'lady."

"
I ken you will, Winnie. Take whatever food you can without casting suspicion upon yourself.
We'll not be in need of very much, since we'll be traveling to Ravenskull, which is but a day's ride, but I don't wish for Ian to be hungry."

She nodded.
"Cook will give me whatever I ask for without question."

"
And I need for you to do one last thing.
Go see Mairi and acquire me a sleeping potion. Conceal these things in your
arisaid
, and bring them along with my mid-day meal.
Be most careful that you don't get caught, for if you do, it could mean certain death for us both."

The older woman
visibly paled, but quickly nodded her understanding.

"
When you leave my bedchamber, count the number of steps it takes for you to reach the door of Ian's room.
That'll make it much easier for me to locate his bedchamber later from inside the tunnels. Since it wouldn't open before, see if you can loosen it without getting found out. Relay to Roderick all that I have said, and ask him to leave a horse in the stand of trees just outside the castle wall. I have an extra key to the postern gate leading from the bailey to the wood. Father gave me one.
Tell him to wait until after the gatehouse guard has made his rounds. If Roderick is unable to provide us with a horse, we'll travel on foot."