Highland Blessings (34 page)

“Ye neglected to tell me why Elliot was here in the first place. How did ye know he would be there?”

She hesitated. After Elliot disappeared, Akira planned to tell Bryce about the letter. But since then, it seemed less important. Now she wondered if he would be angry with her.

At her hesitation, he sighed wearily and his shoulders hunched forward in disappointment. His expression grew grim and bleak with sorrow as he watched her, waiting. When the sound of the downpour grew heavier between them, he started to reach for something tucked in his folded plaid.

“He wrote to me.” Akira’s voice stilled his hand in mid-motion and he seemed strained as he patiently listened to the rest of her explanation. “I would have told ye sooner, but he specifically asked me not to.” She reached for his hands and squeezed them. “Bryce, ye’ve got to understand that he didn’t want me to tell ye because he feared ye wouldn’t let him meet with me.”

Silence lengthened between them.

“Elliot wanted to meet alone with me, but his letter didn’t say why. It only hinted of danger and that he trusted no one. He didn’t think ye would believe him after his reaction to our marriage.” She pulled his hands to her lips. “I’m sorry if I hurt ye.”

Relief poured into his expression faster than the rain beating down upon their wet heads. “How did Sim happen to be there?”

“We were swimming, and he wanted to sword fight afterward. I kept telling him I had to be somewhere. He wouldn’t leave, and before I knew it, Elliot arrived.”

“Ye were to meet in that field then?”

“Aye.” Her voice grew heavy with the weight of guilt she bore. “I’m sorry I made the wrong decision. I thought I should at least hear what he had to say. I was scared that he wouldn’t talk to me if ye came, and I too feared ye wouldn’t let me meet him alone if ye knew. Now I realize that if ye’d been there, he and Sim might not have been hurt.” She paused, and another more frightful thought occurred to her. “Or it might have been ye who was wounded instead!” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Ye made the right decision in telling me now.” Bryce paused. “I have a confession to make of my own. When ye were gone from yer chamber, I noticed ye left yer drawer open, and I saw the letter. I picked it up, and I read it. I, too, am sorry.”

Stunned, Akira hesitated for a moment, but quickly recovered with a genuine smile of forgiveness. “Then I have another confession.” She laughed aloud at his worried frown. “I probably would have done the same thing, so consider yerself warned.”

His face relaxed into a wide grin, his tense body easing.

“I love ye, Bryce MacPhearson.” Leaning up on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Bryce pulled back from her and gazed into her eyes. “I sought ye because I have a favor to ask. Will ye take a turn watching Sim while I collect a few men to send a messenger to yer Da?”

“But—”

“Ye should trust in me more.” Bryce touched the tip of her wet nose. “I planned to send a messenger to him concerning Elliot. A messenger will reach him much faster than a letter carrier would, and I didn’t just want to send anyone. Whoever hurt Sim could still be lurking about, and I wanted someone capable of handling the unexpected.”

Akira’s arms circled around him in gratitude. He picked her up and carted her off. “We are both soaked through and ye need a bath and a change of clothes.”

“Not before ye handle yer mission,” she insisted.

“Soon after,” Bryce agreed, hurrying with her to the castle. “I believe ye’ve gained a bit of weight,” he teased.

She playfully slapped his arm. “Yer a rogue if there ever was one, Bryce MacPhearson.”

“Aye, I believe ye have.” He pretended to huff and puff his way through the side door.

“Off with ye, m’lord. I’ve no need of yer insults at the moment. I’m a bit heavy due to this soggy skirt o’ mine.” She pulled him down by his tunic, giving him one more kiss before sending him on his way.

Akira rushed to Sim’s room, greeting Kian outside the door where he stood guard. “If ye were not wearing a skirt and lacking a bit of height, I’d swear I just saw ye pass me not a moment ago.” He shook his brown head with a lopsided grin as if he knew a secret about her.

“Ye and the laird match quite nicely, all soggy and wet with yer shoes squishing down the hallway.”

“I suppose I must look a sight.” Akira blushed, looking down at herself and lifting her muddied hem from the floor.

“A raving beauty.” Kian peered intently at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Akira shivered and wrapped her arms around her middle, suddenly feeling the chill of the rain. She looked around her, barely able to see anything in the dark. The castle always seemed so gloomy on cloudy days. “’Tis my turn to sit with Sim.”

“Rae will welcome the break.”

She stepped into the room, leaving the wooden door ajar, hoping her eyes would adjust to the even gloomier darkness. Burning candles were all that lit the room. The hearth contained no fire as the elevated temperatures didn’t require such warmth. “Bryce would like for ye to meet him in the bailey.”

“Thank ye, m’lady.” Rae bowed and left the chamber, closing the door behind him. Akira turned to look at the still unconscious form on the bed. With it pouring rain outside, she couldn’t open the only window in the chamber. It wouldn’t provide enough light anyway. Too many dark clouds floated through the sky on this day. She walked over to the logs by the unlit fireplace and pulled one from the pile. She would light as many torches as it would take to brighten this dreadful room.

Satisfied with more light, Akira watched Sim’s chest rise and fall with his even breathing.

He looked like he slept, resting through an afternoon nap. Except for the huge bruise on the side of his face, he looked to be only dreaming rather than hovering on the verge of death. A peaceful glow about him mystified her.

Akira tried to imagine what he could be dreaming, but her thoughts kept retreating to one question. Why Sim? He happened to be the one person in the world who seemed incapable of earning an enemy. Had the attacker really been after her and Sim merely in the wrong place at the wrong time?

As the memory of what she had done came crashing back to her, Akira sank to her knees beside the bed, gripping the edge for support. The memory would haunt her for the rest of her days. Elliot had to be alive. Her mind and heart clung to hope. She couldn’t bear the thought of his death, much less the responsibility of it. Akira began to pray.

The next morning Akira overheard a disturbing coversation coming from the library as she walked through the great hall. Bryce’s voice rose in anger as she hastened to discover the cause. Two other voices echoed with her husband’s through the corridor.

“What do ye mean the MacKenzies are on their way?” Bryce demanded.

“M’lord, I jest not. They are armed for battle, at least eighty or more men. I came straight back to warn ye.” She recognized Rae’s voice.

“Ye didn’t give my da the message about Elliot?” Akira asked from the doorway. All eyes turned to her, but she kept her gaze on Rae, waiting for his answer.

“Nay, m’lady. Yer father rides at this very moment armed for battle, and I fear we are his destination.”

“Ye think he plans to wage war against his only daughter?” She looked at him as if he were mad. When Rae nodded without hesitation, she felt a need to defend her father’s honor.

“That’s absurd.” She turned to look at Bryce for confirmation, but he wasn’t looking at her. He kept his back to them, staring out the window as if the fresh air would help him reason through their words.

“M’lady, he already knows about yer brother and he’s fighting mad about it. ’Twould have been a wasted effort to give ’im the message.”

“But how could ye be so sure?” she demanded. “Just because they’re armed and heading this way doesn’t mean they aim to attack us.” She looked to Bryce again, but he offered no assistance. Why wouldn’t he defend her father? He knew they had made an agreement before both clans, and no highlander of his word would break it—least of all Birk MacKenzie. “How do ye know he doesn’t come asking Bryce to join forces with him against another enemy?”

Rae rolled his eyes heavenward as if asking for divine patience. “M’lady, their faces were painted for warfare and their destriers dressed for battle. They fly the MacKenzie crest, and they are chanting war songs against the MacPhearsons.”

“Ye were close enough to hear them?” Bryce turned from the window.

“Aye, I was. An’ I tell ye, we must prepare.” He raised his fist.

To Akira’s surprise Bryce didn’t contradict him.

“Is it true?” Kian quietly asked from the entrance.

“Of course not.” Akira whirled on him. “Tell them, Bryce,” she demanded, but he didn’t speak up. He averted his gaze. “Tell them.” Appalled that he wouldn’t stand with her, Akira marched over to his desk and slammed her fist against the surface. “Tell them, Bryce,” she said through clenched teeth.

Calmly he lifted his gaze, and her heart broke.

“Nay,” he said.

Akira straightened, blinking as if she’d been slapped in the face. Shock reverberated through her system as she searched her mind for an appropriate response that wouldn’t sound disobedient.

“I canna promise what I do not know.” Bryce turned to the men behind her. “I’ll wait to see if he comes as an enemy or as family.”

Rae jumped forward. “M’lord, ye know what that means if we don’t prepare for the worst.”

“Rae’s right.” Kian snorted with disgust.

Balloch remained silent, staring at the floor.

Akira, slightly recovered from her shock, felt relieved that he planned to at least give her father the benefit of the doubt.

“Thank ye,” she murmured, still angry that he didn’t think Rae’s accusations against her father were false. “They are family,” she couldn’t help adding as she turned to glare at Rae.

“What will ye do if he attacks?” Balloch finally asked.

Akira watched Balloch, wounded that he would even have to voice the question aloud, but her friend avoided her gaze, staring at Bryce.

“I suppose we shall prepare for battle,” Bryce reluctantly said, sighing. He rubbed his eyebrows.

Akira glared at her husband, but she knew he avoided her gaze on purpose. Her ears rang with warning. She couldn’t believe the lot of them. Her husband most of all.

“Then? Not now?” Rae questioned, not bothering to hide his distrust in Bryce’s decision. “Why not invite them to burn the castle down? We haven’t even finished the repairs.” He looked up at the ceiling as if questioning the justice of it all.

Akira realized he honestly believed her father planned to attack them. Icy fear twisted up her spine. She shivered.

“Bryce, there must be some mistake.” She approached him around the desk. “Da wouldn’t attack us for naught. I’m his only daughter. He knows I could be killed.”

“Akira,” Kian said, shaking his head. “A daughter is important to a man when she is to wed and that is all. I don’t want to hurt ye, lass, but ye’re a MacPhearson now, or have ye forgotten?” The subtle implication was hard to ignore, but she managed.

“Balloch, reason with him. He won’t listen to me.” She ignored Kian, pointing at Bryce.

“Akira, ye must be reasonable. Bryce is chief of our clan. If yer father attacks, he will be forced to defend his people. He has sworn to protect them. ’Tis the way it is.” Balloch’s sympathetic expression didn’t appease her.

“All of ye are mad.” She glanced around the room at them. “How dare ye not give him the respect he deserves?”

Bryce whirled from the window in one swift motion and slammed his hands on his desk, leaning foward. “I have. I wait until he comes, to see with my own eyes whether he will attack or come as family. And understand me well, Akira MacPhearson. That is more courtesy than I have ever extended to any man. If he plans to attack and I’ve made no preparations, ’twill take a miracle to survive. Do ye understand, lass? I’m giving yer father more than I’m giving my own people, so don’t tell me I owe him aught.”

They stared at each other for a long moment. No one in the room dared to make a sound. Their fierce breathing was all that could be heard, although Akira felt certain Bryce could hear her pounding heart. It sounded so loud to her own ears that she thought her blood would pump straight out of her head.