Highland Spitfire (29 page)

So, there was no reason to be a harpy. She swallowed and smoothed her expression as
Brenda had been doing. Bhaic’s lips curved into a grin. A little spark of victory
warmed her, burning away some of her concern.

At least until Brenda arrived.

“Oh…there ye are. There is going to be music,” Brenda said. “A delightful way to spend
the evening. Come, Bhaic.”

Her voice was sweet temptation. She walked out into the hall, the candlelight making
her hair shimmer. She gave Bhaic a come-hither look over her shoulder.

It was the first time Ailis truly understood what a come-hither look was.

And it was aimed at her husband.

“Ye do nae need to be jealous of Brenda,” he said.

There was a touch of amusement in his voice, but his attention remained on Brenda.
It tore something inside her. White-hot pain piercing her heart.

“And there was no reason for ye to be so concerned about me dancing on the green with
Lye Rob,” she said.

He snapped his attention back to her.

“Ye’re missing the fun…” Brenda’s voice was lyrical. She stepped into the passageway,
taking a moment to glance over her shoulder. When she turned her attention back to
Bhaic, her lips were set into a sensual smile, which froze when she spotted Ailis.

“Shouldn’t ye be off to bed?” Brenda asked. “Ye’ve both done yer duty well enough.
So long as ye are strong enough to carry that babe to term. Best take yerself off
to sleep now. Do nae worry about yer husband’s needs. I’ll see to those.”

Of course she would.

It was the thing Ailis had feared and had told herself not to worry about. Men had
more rights in a marriage. It was simply fact.

Yet it did bother her. So greatly she turned around and headed up the stairs, tears
filling her eyes. She stopped at the second floor, pushing in the doors before her
breath caught on a sob.

Ye’ll no’ cry!

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and drew in a deep breath to clear her head.

“What are ye doing here?”

She turned around, finding Bhaic in the center of her chamber. He pushed the door
shut behind him, blocking Helen outside.

“What are ye doing here?” she echoed his question.

“Wondering why ye are here and no’ in our chamber.”

He stepped closer, something flickering in his eyes. “Are ye with child?”

She couldn’t help but smile a bit. “The midwife believes so.”

“Christ, Ailis.” He closed his eyes, his expression tightening. “Ye should have told
me…before I handled ye so roughly.”

The memory of him coming up the road teased her cheeks with heat. But it also filled
her with lament, for it might have been the last time he paid her such attention.
“Ye did nae give me much chance.”

He stepped toward her. “I would have listened to ye. ’Tis never been my way to be
harsh with ye.”

There was a hard note in his voice, one that reprimanded her justly.

She shrugged. “I was as heated as ye were.”

And worried that he’d no’ want ye if he knew his duty was satisfied.

He muttered an oath in Gaelic and caught her close, wrapping his arms around her and
holding her when she tried to wiggle away.

“Do nae be jealous of Brenda. I can nae change what I did before we wed.”

She pushed him back. It was like trying to move a wall, but he snorted and released
her.

“Are ye planning to take her as a mistress?”

Surprise flashed across his face before his expression hardened. “No. But I’m planning
on carrying ye back to me chamber, since ye seem to be trying to escape it again.”

He scooped her up and carried her past Finley and Helen. The flight of stairs between
the two floors was gone in a flash. Bhaic didn’t let her down until he’d moved far
into the bedchamber.

“It bothers me to see ye doubting me, Ailis.”

“Well, it bothers me to see ye flirting with yer mistress.”

Bhaic crossed his arms over his chest. “Brenda is no’ me mistress.”

“She was yer lover,” Ailis retorted. “And she clearly came here the moment she heard
I was carrying. There is only one reason for her arrival.”

Bhaic suddenly chuckled, his lips splitting into a grin. His amusement frayed her
already sore feelings. She swatted him and slapped his arms when he tried to enclose
her in his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her anyway, pressing soft kisses against
her temples and cheeks until she quieted.

“It is not…amusing,” she said at last, horrified by the rough sound of her voice.

He cupped her chin and raised her face so their gazes met. “No, lass, the fact that
ye care for me is no’ amusing. It is precious. Very precious to me. Never doubt it.”

She pushed against him, hissing when he wouldn’t release her, but the sound came out
as more of a whimper.

“I did nae invite Brenda.”

Ailis stilled and searched his eyes. Nothing but sincerity stared back at her. “Then
why is she here? And so certain ye will put me aside now that yer duty to me is finished?”

“Because everyone in the Highlands seems to think they need to be involved in our
marriage,” he exclaimed. “Why should this moment be any different?”

She couldn’t help but smile at his words.

He grunted. “Me duty to ye will never be finished. Not in this lifetime or the next.”
He placed a soft kiss against her lips. “And I am going to have the bed taken out
of the chamber below us so ye understand I will nae be having ye anywhere but by me
side.”

It was everything she’d been so sure she’d never hear from him. She rested her hand
against his chest, feeling the beating of his heart and trying to make herself believe
him.

“Ye are the keeper of me heart, lass. I must hold ye near and hope ye’ll soften toward
me.”

The tears she’d tried so hard to fend off trickled down her cheeks. He caught them
with his fingertips. “Ye’ve already stolen me heart, MacPherson.”

His lips curved into a roguish grin. “In that case, be very, very sure that I have
no intention of ever returning it.”

She reached up and stroked his cheek, settling against him completely. “I’ll just
keep yers in its place.”

“Ye do that.”

She would.

Because there was nothing she craved from him more than his love.

“Ye likely have harsh things to say to me.”

Brenda was waiting for her the next morning in the passageway, out of sight of the
retainers breaking their fast in the great hall.

Ailis touched her foot down from the last step and considered the woman. She was beyond
striking, a true beauty.

Brenda smiled knowingly. “I came here because I’d heard ye were breeding. It’s true.
I’m not going to run away and pretend I did nae. I suppose it’s no’ very important
to tell ye how clear it is that Bhaic is content with ye, but I know he never looked
at me the way he does at ye. So here I am. Say what ye will.”

“Really? He never looked at ye the same way? Ye are…”

“Beautiful?” Brenda shook her head in disgust. “It’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Believe me.” A knowing gleam entered her eyes. “There’s something I know about. The
way men look at women. It’s different when they merely want a ride. Bhaic…well now,
he wants to possess ye. I was merely a plaything, maybe a challenge once or twice,
but nothing beyond a diversion.”

There was lament in her tone that touched something inside Ailis.

“Be grateful, Ailis,” Brenda said softly. “I know ye most likely want none of me advice,
but ye are a fortunate woman to have more than duty and respect in yer union.”

“I know it well,” Ailis agreed, deciding to count her blessings instead of quibbling
over her husband’s past.

“Even if ye doubt yer husband’s feelings?”

Ailis shrugged. “I suppose, I’m surprised is all. Still trying to believe it.”

Brenda smiled and laughed. “Aye. Every now and again, life is too good to believe.
I met a man once who struck me in such a way.”

A far-off look entered her eyes. It tugged at Ailis’s heart—she knew the sting of
loneliness.

“Where is he?”

Brenda looked startled, her cheeks turning pink. “I was promised. He was honorable.
It doesn’t matter where he is, for my life is still no’ me own. I am Symon’s cousin.
Me mother was his father’s sister. So I was used to settle alliances. As ye know well.”

“I do.”

“Me husband had no affection for me, but I can nae fault him, for he was ordered to
wed me as well.”

“I begin to understand why I should nae judge ye,” Ailis said.

Brenda offered her a naughty, knowing look. “Good. For it would have been very unfair
of life if I had ended me days without ever knowing what it was like to have a man
in me bed who made sure I enjoyed it as much as he did.”

Ailis ended up returning Brenda’s smile. It was a strange conversation to say the
least, but she didn’t have it in her to think badly of Brenda. Her own fate might
have been very much the same.

Aye, she’d be grateful.

Someone began ringing the bells on the walls. Finley appeared from outside the passageway,
making it clear that he wouldn’t be giving her any privacy when there might be danger.

But it was Brenda who drew her attention. The normally poised woman looked pale. She
watched the entrance of the great hall with a nervous expression on her face. A few
moments later, Symon Grant appeared, his men on his heels.

“What’s the matter?” Ailis asked.

Brenda steadied herself as she clenched two handfuls of her skirt. “For all that yer
marriage seems to be a happy one, I have no desire to be used as a pawn again.” Her
voice lowered to a mere whisper. “Forgive me. Bhaic is one of the few men I knew I
might hide behind.”

“But ye would have had to trade yer favors for it.” Horror was nearly gagging her,
but it wasn’t jealousy this time. It was Brenda’s plight.

Brenda cast her a forlorn look. “Bhaic is a rare man. He’s kind when seeking his pleasure
and returns it measure for measure. Be sure, most men are not the same. And I would
nae have had to wed him.”

“Brenda,” Symon called out. He’d stopped in the hall, looking toward her. “Do nae
make me come and get ye. I rode through the night, and it rained too.”

Brenda stiffened, but she moved out of the passageway. “I force naught upon ye.”

Marcus was with Symon, and Bhaic appeared in the passage doorway.

“Me father sent me to fetch ye, Brenda,” Symon said gruffly. “And I do nae appreciate
being taken from his side.”

“Ye should have sense enough to realize a fool’s errand and refuse it.”

Symon drew in a deep breath. “Alliances are nae a fool’s errand.”

“When it involves forcing me to wed a Gordon because yer father is too far gone to
realize naught will settle Colum Gordon’s rage except time, I say it’s a fool’s errand.
The man’s son was just killed. He wants vengeance, and I’ll no’ be going as the lamb.”
Brenda shook her head. “Go home. Yer father is dying.”

“He’s yer uncle.”

Brenda pressed her lips into a hard line. “That may be, but I will no’ be going to
Gordon land. So it looks as though I can nae be going to Grant land either.”

“Brenda is me guest,” Ailis said clearly, “for as long as she wishes to stay.”

Several crashes came from the back of the hall as the women listening dropped things
in shock.

“Are ye sure about that, lass?”

Ailis turned to find Bhaic behind her. Brenda sent her a disbelieving look, but the
desperation in her eyes made Ailis nod firmly. “Of course I am. To do otherwise would
be to doubt yer sincerity.”

Bhaic slowly grinned. His eyes flickered with an emotion that was bright enough to
blind her. He stepped toward her, capturing her hand. “Well now, we couldn’t be having
that.”

“No, we couldn’t,” she agreed.

The hold he had on her hand sent her doubts crumbling. She was suddenly so sure she
held his heart, it filled her with a sense of joy that made her want to spin around
and around like a gleeful child.

“Brenda…I did nae ride through the night to go home empty-handed,” Symon said.

Bhaic’s expression tightened. Ailis could see the indecision in his eyes. Symon would
soon be Laird of the Grants. Bhaic had to tread carefully.

But she didn’t.

“Well now, ye do nae need to.” Ailis turned around to face Symon. “One of yer kinswomen
has need of escort back to yer land. Ye will be lifting a burden from Marcus’s shoulder.
Yer father will be happy to hear what a service ye performed.”

Marcus sent her a cutting look before Symon turned to lock stares with him. “What
woman is this?”

“There was some sort of misunderstanding… I’m no’ sure of the exact details…” Ailis
continued. “Yet Helen has asked to return to her father’s house, but couldn’t very
well go unescorted.”

Symon wasn’t a fool. He crossed his arms over his wide chest, aiming his topaz eyes
at her. The man was pure Highlander, but amused enough by her cunning to indulge her
changing the topic.

“Where is this Helen?”

Marcus’s knuckles were white. But he nodded toward Skene. “Fetch her up here.”

“Ye’re playing with fire,” Bhaic warned her softly.

“As if he has nae played with us enough to be deserving of it.”

Bhaic snorted in her ear. “Ye’re going to be a very good mistress of this hall. Ye
give as good as ye get.”

She warmed under his compliment as Marcus glared at her.

Lyel appeared with Helen in tow.

“Helen,” Ailis said, “I was just telling yer laird’s son how ye wished to return to
yer father’s house.”

Helen pulled her arm from Lyel’s grip with a satisfied look on her face. Symon didn’t
miss it. He turned to look at Marcus.

“Did ye steal her from me father’s land?”

Marcus lifted one shoulder, completely unrepentant. “I did, and I kept her from ye
when ye were here before.”

People were shifting closer, making sure they got a good view. Bhaic pulled Ailis
back when she started to move forward again. “Nae, lass, there is going to be a fight,”
he whispered in her ear.

Symon slowly chuckled. “Ye always have been a rascal when it comes to the lasses.”

He turned and gestured Helen forward. Lyel adjusted to his new duty of taking her
to her laird’s son. Symon considered her from head to toe for a long moment as the
hall remained in silence.

“There isn’t going to be a fight,” Ailis argued.

Bhaic leaned down and nipped her ear. “I know me brother, lass. He’s no’ going to
let Helen go, and if he does, I will never let him forget it.”

Ailis jabbed him with her elbow, but the beast only wrapped his arm around her to
keep her from doing him any damage.

“What’s this now?” Shamus made his way into the hall from another passageway. He peered
at Symon, starting to grin until he realized that Helen stood there too.

“So ye did nae take the lass home?” Shamus said to Marcus as he shuffled into the
hall and sat down on the high ground. “I suspected ye might not. She’s a fetching
sight and no’ afraid of ye. I do nae think I’ve seen another lass stand up to ye the
same way. Certainly never seen one knock ye to the ground! The lass wields a pitcher
like a broadsword.”

There was a rumble of amusement in the hall, but Marcus merely grinned, the curving
of his lips far more promise than anything else, and he was looking straight at Helen.

She lifted her chin and looked back at Symon. “It’s far past time for me to go home.”

“Oh… I see…” Symon smirked at Marcus before turning his back on Ailis. “We have a
difficulty here.”

“So it seems,” Marcus agreed.

“I am only a laird’s son.” Symon spoke slowly, menacingly.

“As am I,” Marcus answered firmly.

“Which means…we’re equals.”

Marcus nodded, starting to walk in a half circle around Symon. The retainers fell
back, taking Marcus’s doublet when he shrugged out of it. Symon was doing the same,
both men stripping down to their shirts and kilts.

“So this is a matter between men,” Symon concluded.

“It is,” Marcus confirmed.

“It is no’!” Helen interrupted. She stepped right up to Marcus, tilting her head back
so she could make eye contact. She stood up to him with her jaw steady. “I will nae
have the pair of ye fighting over me. I choose to go home.”

Marcus’s lips split and curved into the biggest grin Ailis had ever seen on his face.
“Ye can choose me, Helen, or I’ll fight for ye.” He reached out and caught her arms,
pulling her to him as he tilted his head to the side and pressed a hard kiss against
her mouth.

She stiffened and shoved away from him. There was a loud smack as she laid her hand
across his cheek. “Toad! Arrogant bastard! As if I’d fall down at yer feet simply
because ye told me to.”

He chuckled at her temper before jerking his head at Lyel and Skene. They hooked Helen
by her arms and pulled her out of the way.

“Ye can nae let him do this…” Ailis implored her husband.

Bhaic only tightened his arm around her. “Ye will nae be getting yer way with both
Brenda and Helen. Me brother has his fair share of pride. Just as ye do.”

She couldn’t argue with him.

Symon and Marcus circled, sizing each other up. They connected with a harsh grunt
and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. It was brutal. They were like huge bears, well
matched in both brawn and spirit. Blood brightened their noses, and eyes began to
swell. The men around them threatened to raise the roof as they cheered and placed
wagers.

Neither man went down easily, and both of them got back on their feet, even when they
were staggering. Marcus finally caught Symon, pinning his arm and slamming him to
the floor. Symon growled, trying to gain his footing.

“It is done!” Shamus shouted from the high ground.

Marcus held on for just a moment longer before he snorted and got off Symon.

“Shake hands, ye devils.”

Symon cocked his head to the side before he put out his arm. Marcus was grinning,
his teeth bloody. He clasped Symon’s wrist. The men around them cheered.

“Well now, that’s the business,” Shamus said. “Join me at the table, Symon Grant.
And where is Bhaic?”

Bhaic started off to join his father.

“Thank ye,” Brenda said, her voice only a whisper. “I do nae deserve it from ye, Ailis,
but I’m properly grateful.”

“Everyone deserves to be happy,” Ailis said. “Maybe ye can find the man ye remember.”

Her expression became pensive. “He’s likely long wed now.”

There was a note of defeat in her voice, but the tension was easing from her expression.

“Well, at least ye will no’ be wedding this month.”

“Aye,” Brenda said. “One day at a time. I think young Helen needs ye more than I.”

“Actually…” Ailis leaned back so Finley wouldn’t hear her. “I’m wondering how grateful
ye might be. Ye have two waiting women riding with ye, do ye nae?”

Brenda regained her poise. “Indeed I do.”

“And ye have some relations ye might wish to go visit?” Ailis suggested.

“I certainly do.” She sent Ailis a long glance. “And indeed I
will
. Ye have me word on that.”

“Good.”

“Yes. Whenever.…my ladies are ready, that is,” Brenda confirmed.

Brenda moved down into the hall and took a seat at the high table. Ailis waited for
Helen to find her. She was fuming.

“Worry not, my friend…” Ailis leaned in to whisper in her ear. Helen slowly stopped
grinding her teeth, her expression becoming one of victory instead.

“It will nae take Marcus very long to reason out where I went and how it happened,”
Helen warned her.

“That’s a warning for ye as well. Be sure ye want to leave, because if ye do, I believe
he might come after ye,” Ailis warned quietly. “But the choice should be yers.”

“I thank ye for that,” Helen answered. “Truly.”

Her husband wasn’t going to be pleased.

Of course he’d also be amused.

That thought put a smile on her lips as she made her way to the high table. Bhaic
lost interest in the conversation as she came close, rising to pull her chair back.

He’d be both annoyed and impressed. Which was right in keeping with their union.

She discovered she liked it full well.

And loved him above all else.