Grant Clan 06 - My Desperate Highlander (9 page)

“I shall consider your request, but I would never recommend you to a friend without testing you for myself.” He rucked her skirts up and grazed his hands up her legs. “I must see and feel all of you. You must let me inside you.”

Aunt Elspeth popped into her head, her words suddenly taking on a vivid new meaning. The man in front of her was making all kinds of promises to her, but he would only make good on them if he could see her unclothed. And how could he be inside her? His comments baffled her. Everything was happening too fast. “But your friends, surely you must have one seeking a wife.”

His hands brushed across her nipples and she jumped. He made the move to unclothe himself from his breeks, and she gasped when she caught sight of his manhood.

He wanted her maidenhead. She shoved against him and cried, “Nay.” Standing, she tried to pull her gown up over her shoulders, but he yanked her back to the bed.

“Oh, you think you can tease me like that and then just leave? I do not think so. You will not get away from me so easily.”

“Please, nay. I need to think. This is not right. Please let me go, Randall.” She was barely able to get her breasts covered before the door flew open and Micheil raged inside. He grabbed Randall by the throat, and the two fell onto the bed.

“I heard the lady say nay, swine.” Micheil punched him in the face and blood flew. The two fell off the bed onto the floor, and Micheil continued to pummel the knight.

Diana straightened her clothing and closed her eyes, unable to watch the two men fighting over her. She ran out the door.

She never wanted to see Randall Baines again.

When she reached the end of the corridor, Micheil came up behind her and shoved her into an alcove. “Shhh.” She gasped for air, fighting not to sob. “We have to sneak back out though the kitchens, or the castle guards will be upon us.”

She nodded, her breath hitching, doing her best to calm down. Her big doe eyes stared at him with such trust, it wrenched his gut. Lassies usually stared at him with flirting or teasing eyes—her gaze was so much more powerful.

“Ready?” he asked. He grabbed her hand. “I will not let anything happen to you.”

She nodded again.

He headed down the passageway, hanging onto her hand, just then realizing how fragile she felt. The rogue would pay even more if he saw him again. Though he doubted the great Randall Baines would look very good for his wedding ceremony in two days. The scum would blame the tourney for his bruises and none would be the wiser.

They made their way through the kitchens and out through a small gate in the back of the huge fortress. As soon as they were far enough away, he stopped and pulled her into his arms. He brushed a tear from her cheek and said, “Are you all right? He did not hurt you, did he?”

She shook her head but avoided his gaze, gripping his arms as if she would never let go.

He did not like that she was not being forthcoming about whatever hideous things the lout had done to her. As upset as she was, let alone the fact Baines had been in almost a complete state of undress, he did not believe she was all right. Had he gotten there in time? “Did he take your maidenhead? Because if he did, I will kill him.”

“Nay.” She shook her head and the tears spilled over onto her cheeks, followed by wrenching sobs, and she buried her face in his chest, still grasping his arms.

He breathed in her scent, trying to calm his own fury at what he had found when he opened that chamber door. “I’ll protect you, Diana, but you have to stop sneaking off. What were you thinking?” He tucked her head under his chin and rubbed her back as he spoke, using a soothing voice in an attempt to calm her trembling body.

After a few minutes, she pulled back and stared at him, her breath hitching again. “I was just trying to find out about his friends. I thought one of his knights could be interested in marrying me. But he wouldn’t do it without testing me first.” The last sentence came out in a wail, and she leaned against him again, sobbing. Then she jerked back. “I’m sorry, am I hurting…you…where you were cut?” She hiccupped at the end.

“Nay, you can’t hurt me, wee one. I’m just proud of you for stopping and pushing him away.” He tucked his finger on her chin. “I heard you tell him nay, and he was wrong to ignore you. You must be more careful.” He pressed a light kiss on her lips.

She stared at his chest. “Aunt Elspeth was right. He just wanted my favors. He said….he said…he wanted to see all of me first.” She wailed again. “How could I have been foolish enough to go in there with him? My papa raised me to be strong, to fight, to believe in myself. I am surely daft.”

Micheil tucked her close again, a sly grin on his face. The bastard had finally shown his true colors to her. Thank God he had gotten there in time to protect her from an even worse situation.

“Thank you for following me, Micheil.” She mopped her face with a linen square he gave her, finally calming her breathing a bit. “I was worse than foolish.”

“How did you end up there? Hellfire, I try to keep an eye on you, but you always seem to get away. Promise to stop doing that?”

She nodded. “Clarissa.”

“Who’s Clarissa?”

“She’s the lass who told me in the courtyard that Randall wanted me. But she didn’t even know he was betrothed at the time. She told me she overheard him talking about me when he left his tent at the field, saying something about how he had found a new love. All the lassies followed him to make sure he was all right, I guess. ‘Tis when she overheard him. I just thought I could meet one of his friends. I need a knight, Micheil. I need a husband.”

“Diana, a lass cannot walk alone in Edinburgh. You have to stop. You’re not on your lands where everyone knows you’re the chieftain’s daughter. Any lad could go after you here. You are too beautiful.”

“I am? You think I’m beautiful?” She gazed at him with a pout in her lips.

He lifted her chin with his finger. “Aye, of course you are beautiful. ‘Tis why the knight wants you.”

“My apologies. I won’t ever do it again. He had some lad pull me into the castle and into his chamber. Next thing you know he was kissing me and pulling at my gown, doing things I did not want, making me promises of introducing me to his friends.”

“Are you sure he didn’t take your maidenhead?”

“I think I would know, Micheil. As soon as he rucked my skirts up, I pushed him away. That’s when you came in. If you hadn’t come, I do not know if I could have gotten away.”

He almost laughed at her haughty look. As beautiful and strong as she was, it was hard to believe she was such an innocent.

“Your father kept you well protected, aye?”

“Aye, ‘tis true. And I am just realizing ‘twas mayhap not such a good thing. A lass needs to understand certain things. I can do numbers, read, and go hunting, but I know little about the ways of lads and lassies. And how exactly does one go about learning these things without getting into situations that are unsafe?” She gave him a saucy look.

He tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. Slud, but she was lovely. He wanted naught more than to kiss her senseless right now, but he knew it would be taking advantage of her when she was most vulnerable. He didn’t want to kiss her when Randall Baines was still in her mind. He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip.

She peeked up at him through her lashes. “I like your kisses better, Micheil. He slobbers like a deerhound.”

He barked out a laugh and hugged her. “I guess that’s as good a reason as any to stay away from him.” When he glanced at her again, he said, “But why the sad face? He won’t bother you again. I will not allow it, I promise.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “I know. I will be forever grateful to you, but now what will I do? He was my solution to my problem. Now I do not have a knight to solve my problem.”

Micheil sighed. If she was still determined to find herself an English knight, he had no hope of making a relationship work with her. Well, at least he could try and help her find a man who was worthy of her.

“We’re going back to Auntie’s cottage, and we’ll think more on it in the morning.”

***

Once they had Diana calmed down, he and Aunt Elspeth tucked her into bed. They moved into the main chamber. He was about to walk out the door for some fresh air, but Auntie called out to him.

“Micheil, a moment please.”

He turned. “Of course, Auntie. What is it?”

Elspeth strode over to her nephew and grasped his hand in hers. “Why do you not do the right thing and marry her yourself? Would that not solve the problem?”

Micheil’s insides clenched at the suggestion. He had been thinking of little else these past hours, but there were a couple of serious issues. “Because she wants an English knight.”

“But, Micheil, she is young. She doesn’t know what she wants. Why not court her a bit and see if you two suit?”

Micheil shook his head. “Aunt Elspeth, I can’t court her in earnest because I do not know if that is what I want.” Aye, he had just lied to his aunt, but he didn’t wish to admit his fear of rejection. Rarely had a lass turned him away. What if Diana did not want him?

“Have you not thought of it? She is a beautiful Scottish lass, and you would have your own land, the two of you.”

“I have considered it. I am just not sure if I am ready to settle down with one woman.” He stared at the heavens, promising to start being honest soon—with others and with himself. He wanted Diana more than he had ever wanted any woman. Seeing her every day and not acting on his desire for her was sheer torture. He breathed out through pursed lips, hoping to somehow gain the courage to do what he should do, court Diana of Drummond.

“Your father died when you were young, and you and Avelina have verra few memories of him, but your sire would have wanted to see you settled down with a wife.”

“You cannot know that.” Micheil scowled at her.

“Aye, I can.”

“How? My sire has been dead for many years.” Micheil was trying to be patient with her, but he always had difficulty talking about his father. It had been a hard loss.

“He was my brother, Micheil, and he told me. He wanted you to be as happy with your future life as he was with Arlene. He adored her and loved all of you. He said if he could wish anything for his bairns, it would be for them to find someone to truly love and settle down, just as he did.”

“I just do not know that I am ready. Besides that, her sire wants her to marry nobility, and I am a last son, so I am naught.” This truth he could voice to his aunt. Diana was heir to Drummond lands. Would she and her sire think him beneath them?

“Mayhap, but in view of the circumstances, I think he would consider you. He probably wishes to see her happy, and if she is in love with you, which I think she is…or is well on her way to being, then he would approve. He does not need someone with a title, just someone to help his daughter run the clan. Why not give it a try? You never allow any woman close enough, Micheil. Mayhap it is time.”

“Neither did Logan.”

“Nay, he did not, but look at him now. He is happier than I have ever seen him. Gwyneth completes him. Have you not seen how he is with their wee daughter? Sorcha is delightful. I’m so happy for them, and I want to see the same happiness for you and Avelina. The two of you were without your father for so long. I fear that is why you spend so much time with the lassies. Please try, for me. You cannot deny there is something between you and Diana. I know you feel it as much as I see it.”

“I promise to think on all you have said. Do not forget there are two of us in this, and I do not meet all her requirements. I know I am not the sort of man she seeks to marry.”

Elspeth moved over to embrace him and kiss his cheek. “I can ask no more than for you to consider it.”

Micheil headed out the door and down the road, eager to walk off some of his unease and discontent. His aunt had just given him plenty to think about. Was she right? Did he prefer the company of women because he had spent most of his childhood without a father? He had to admit, many of his younger days had been spent around women. Though he had two brothers, his eldest brother, Quade, had spent the years before his second marriage in a depressed haze. And Logan. Logan he adored, but he had spent much of Micheil’s boyhood away from home. He used to disappear, not telling anyone where he was headed or when he would return. Aye, he had spent quite a bit of time around lasses throughout his life.

Micheil found a local inn and entered, seeking an ale to quench his thirst and the time to think seriously about courting Diana. He allowed his eyes to adjust to the dark and found a stool at a table. His eyes wandered the room.

There were several bawdy Scots enjoying their drinks and the lovely lassies waiting on them. One lass came over to offer him a drink, and she gave him a lusty smile. “My, but I have not seen you here before. If you are looking for a warm bed tonight, stranger, I know where you can find one.”

Micheil chuckled. “That is the most exciting invitation I have received in a sennight, lass. Do not go too far without me tonight.”

Though he enjoyed flirting with her, as he always enjoyed sparring with women, he felt nothing when she brought his ale and brushed against him, giving him a soft sample of her generous curves. He did not stir as he usually did when close to a beautiful woman.

A lad at the nearby table said, “Och, ‘tis the Scot who forced that English knight to show his true colors today.” He walked over and patted Micheil on the back. “Well done, lad. I offer a thank you for all the Scots today. The knight was a fool to take you on.”

Micheil laughed off the comment, not really wanting to rehash the day. The other lass came over, a dark-haired, willowy girl with the kind of legs that could wrap around him completely.

He was still staring at her long limbs when she said, “Och, and I know how to reward him proper, if you understand me, Scot.” She smiled and raised her eyebrows at him. “You can give me the come hither anytime. I heard all about you today.”

While she wasn’t a beauty, she was attractive enough, but she wasn’t exciting him either. He winked at her. “I promise I’ll remember that someday.” She giggled and went to retrieve more drinks for the customers.

What the hell was wrong with him? He scowled, and a red-haired lass popped into his mind, her eyes all teary from being treated poorly. Diana truly had infiltrated his heart and soul, so why was he still hesitant to make his feelings known to her?

There was his fear of rejection, of course. While she had always appreciated his help, she had never come on to him like the other lasses did. Just like tonight, he could walk into any room and some lass would offer herself to him, all it took was a smile and a few kind words. He credited his luck with ladies more to his kind words than to his other attributes. Women were not used to hearing them. Sweet words could indeed get him far, but not far with Diana. She required a larger gesture, but it was no less than she deserved.