Medieval Highlands 01 - Highland Vengeance (16 page)

“I told you to remain in our chamber until I had dealt with our guest and knew your safety was not in jeopardy. I went there not a quarter-hour past and you were nowhere in sight. Where were you? ”

Blood and heat rushed up her neck and over her cheeks. Looking anywhere but in her husband’s eyes, she primly replied, “I was inspecting the privy—‘tis certainly a large one. Do you not agree?” ‘Twas truth, she would go to an early grave before she’d admit to any other undertaking in that particular facility.

His lips twitched, in an obvious effort not to grin, and that made the flame burn higher in her cheeks. He coughed into his fist. “Aye, well, I
am
rather a large man,” he reminded her. “Pray pardon me for assuming you’d gone against my wishes.”

Unable to meet her husband’s eye, Maryn shrugged. ‘Twas not
such
a lie, was it?

“Come, let us walk outside,” he said. When they were a bit away from the stables, Daniel halted and turned to face her. He surprised her when he took her hand and slowly twined his fingers with hers, bringing their palms together before at last explaining the problems they’d been having with the MacPhersons.

“Why did you not tell me of this before—did my father know?” Maryn asked.

“Aye, he knew. I told him of this irritation before you and I were wed this day past. He understood—and trusted—that I would keep you safe from harm.” Shifting his gaze away, he scrubbed his hand across the back of his neck. Sighing, he regarded her once more, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “As for the reason I chose not to tell you of this before now, ‘tis because you were so anxious last eve. I decided not to worry you further with the knowledge that the keep might be under siege at any moment. ‘Tis the reason I did not introduce you to my men—I feared they’d speak of it to you.”

Well, at least ‘twas not shame at her ravenous feeding.
“Aye, but why did the man come here this day? Does he still believe the MacLaurins steal his cattle?”

“Nay,” Daniel replied. A stray breeze caught a lock of her hair, sweeping it over her face, so that it clung to her lips. Before she could remove it, Daniel lifted the strand away with his other hand and stroked the lower fold of her mouth with the pad of his thumb. Her breath hitched in her chest. The black centers of his eyes expanded until there was but a slender line of sea-green left bounding their depths. Had hers done the same? Lord, but the man could make her bones melt at the slightest touch.

“He came to warn me of a potential threat,” he said, stepping back, dropping his hand from her mouth. “It seems that he has discovered a band of miscreants living in the forest between our two holdings. They are freebooters who have been taking advantage of pilgrims that travel without guard who pass between the MacPherson and MacLaurin land.” With a gentle tug on her hand, still twined with his, he led them back toward the keep. “He is now convinced that they are the culprits in the cattle raid and not the MacLaurins, so he and his men have resolved to stir them from their woodland den. I’ve sent some of our soldiers with him, in pursuit of that purpose.”

“Good.”
Good?
She sounded like an idiot. But, ‘twas truth, she was still in a fog from the unexpected caress he’d given to her mouth. And disappointed, as well, that he’d not kissed her again.
Hmm.
Was it proper for a wife to give a husband a kiss? She shrugged. Ah, well, it mattered not, for in any case, she was not ready to be so bold.

*

After entering the great hall and settling on the stools by the fire, Daniel told her, “We will need to leave for the Maclean holding no later than day after next, but I would prefer to leave as early as the morrow, if you are rested enough to travel so soon.”

“Be at ease,” she replied, “I am quite fit to begin the return journey on the morrow, if you so wish.” Her brows drew together as she made a study of her hands. Worry was a heavy weight in her chest. “I must tell you, however, I do not think it right to leave this holding without first being properly introduced to your clan. I fear that they think you are ashamed of me, of this union. It surely cannot help my future relations with them if they believe they have been abandoned by you due to a duty you abhor.”

Leaning forward, he took hold of her hands, soothing them with his thumbs. “I confess, I had not thought of that possibility before now, but I see the truth in your words.” He took in a deep breath and released it on a sigh. “I had wanted to toast you last eve,” he explained, “but I worried that I would only increase your unease.”

Seeing the tender regard in her husband’s eyes, Maryn gave him a soft smile. “You are right, it no doubt would have. Tho’ I am sure some of my unease was due to my weariness. Now, I assure you, I am quite prepared to meet your clan.”

Daniel beamed at her. “I shall gather them together for an introduction, then. Be ready in an hour’s time.” With that said he quickly departed, leaving Maryn to wonder what he had in mind. Her spirits lifted as she thought of leaving this holding behind, for her husband would have no contact with the lady Jesslyn during the time they were away from here. And though he’d assured her that he was not enamored of the alluring, fair-haired widow, ‘twould ease Maryn’s mind to be far from that woman’s company, far from the worry of her continued enticement. And then, mayhap, Daniel might just fall in love with her, his wife. Would that not be wonderful?

*

Maryn spent the time after her ablutions pacing her bedchamber tormented by thoughts of the type of reception she would receive from the MacLaurins. What if they resented her for being the reason that Daniel broke his betrothal to Jesslyn?

Startled by the sound of the door flying open, she spun around. “Godamercy, you surprised me with that entrance.”

He leaned against the doorframe with a smile that held heat and her knees turned to liquid. His eyes did a slow, admiring scan of her frame sending an answering fire, like molten silver, through her veins. “Pardon, ‘twas not my intent to frighten you,” he said at last. Straightening, he held out his hand to her. “Are you ready to meet your clanspeople, then, Lady MacLaurin?”

Maryn gave him a shaky nod and moved towards him. My, but he was a handsome devil. How was she ever to resist the temptation? Nay, she would not give in to her growing desire until she was sure of his feelings for her, sure that he was not deceiving her about his commitment to this marriage while he continued to pine for his lost lady love.

With her hand tucked snugly in the crook of his arm, she was escorted down to the steps of the keep.

As the heavy, arched door shut behind her, Maryn stared out at the crowd gathered in the courtyard and her heart leapt into her throat.
Godamercy!
There were so many of them! Much more than had been at the feast the eve before. She scooted closer to her husband.

Her husband released the death grip she had on his sleeve and cradled her hand in his own, giving her a reassuring smile. Then he began to speak. He informed his clan that his lieutenant would be in charge of defending the MacLaurin holding and that his steward would be in charge of all other matters until the contract had been fulfilled.

“Although you may have heard that my marriage was part of the agreement I made with the Macleans, I wish for you all to be aware that Maryn Donald was my choice as well. I am pleased with this union and desire that all of you join together to welcome my bride, the new Lady MacLaurin, to our clan.”

A cacophonous cheer filled the air.

Maryn dipped her head in courtesy, filled with sublime happiness at her husband’s words and that she’d so roundly been accepted by his clan. Much of the nagging anxiety she’d been feeling regarding the widow fell away, as her love for him gained more depth. Twining her fingers through his, she lifted her gaze to his and gave him a smile.
Oh, you’ve got me now, husband, and I shall not rest until I have your heart as well
.

She’d clearly piqued her husband’s curiosity with her show of affection, but she’d pleased him as well she could tell, for he reacted by returning the smile and giving her hand a light squeeze.

She blushed with pleasure.

He grinned, dropping his gaze to her lips, which made her think he wanted to kiss her.

They both waved farewell to the people in the courtyard and then re-entered the keep.

The party left early the next morn for the Maclean holding. Much to Maryn’s surprise and dismay, Jesslyn MacCreary and her son journeyed with them as well, deepening Maryn’s doubts regarding her husband’s feelings for the widow.

An hour into the journey, Alleck asked to ride with the soldiers that traveled a bit behind them and Daniel approved the request, leaving Jesslyn to ride with Daniel and Maryn in front, behind the scouts. ‘Twas not long before the two friends began speaking of past events and other things that Maryn knew naught about. After a time, she slowed her pace and allowed Daniel and Jesslyn to drift ahead of her as she brooded further on the nature of the bond the two shared.

Was it love or only friendship he felt for the widow? By his behavior, she knew not. For, if ‘twas not love he harbored for the lady, why, then, now was he paying no heed to his wife?

Maryn’s brow furrowed as she worried her lip with her teeth. But if ‘twas love he harbored for the lady Jesslyn, why, then, upon waking, would he have kissed her own mouth for such long minutes? Her breath hitched.
What if Daniel wanted
both
of them? Expected to initiate his bride in the ways of the marriage bed
and
continue his dalliance with the widow?

On the heels of that dreadful thought came an even more terrible one: He needed an heir. He was young, strong, and clearly had a hearty appetite for female flesh. Mayhap, he held no affection for her at all. Mayhap he only intended to get his heir from her. She stared hard at the two up ahead and died a little inside when Daniel chuckled at something the widow said and sent a warm grin her direction. Aye, he
had
disengaged from their embrace rather quickly this morn. More quickly than she had desired, in fact. And then he’d cheerfully told her they must rise and be on their way, with not an ounce of seeming regret and with not a word to her that his former betrothed would be journeying with them as well.
Oh, Papa! What have you done? What have
I
done?

Swiveling around, Daniel said to her, “We will be stopping just ahead to rest awhile and have our nooning meal.” He slowed his horse and waited for her to ride up beside him. “Are you well, sweetheart? You’ve grown a bit pale.”

Maryn gave a mental growl.
Now he is solicitous again
. Did he care for her or was it pretense? And why must his warm eyes and deep, velvet voice make her limbs quiver? “Aye, I’m fine. Tho’ I will be glad for the rest.”

Once the others had settled on blankets under a tree several yards away from where she and Daniel stood by the horses, Maryn asked in low tones, “Why are the lady Jesslyn and her son traveling with us, Daniel? And why did you not tell me they would be doing so?”

Daniel lifted his hand to her cheek. “Her—”

She jerked away.

He heaved a sigh. “Her son needs a father and she needs the security a husband affords. I’ve brought her with us so that she might meet men from both the Maclean and the Donald clans worthy of her troth.” He crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. “I thought of the plan just before the assembly last eve,” he continued, “and immediately acted upon it. And with the hastily prepared farewell feast that followed, there was simply no time for me to speak with you about it last night.” His eyes warmed, softened and his lips turned up in a smile. His voice was like a caress when he said, “Nor this morn, if you recall.”

The heat of her instant blush burned her cheeks in the same time her knees went wobbly.
Is this attraction or merely seduction?

“Jesslyn and Alleck are my responsibility,” he said, “and I must do what is best for them.”

The mention of the widow’s name brought the strength back to her knees and the ire back to her heart. Maryn narrowed her eyes at him. “The woman has been at your side the entire morn, in the place reserved for your wife. Do you not ken how that might trouble me?”

A light of understanding came into his green eyes. “‘Twas never my intent to exclude you, nor to hurt you. I swear it.”

Mayhap, she thought, he is only dull-witted in regard to women, as men so often were, and not devious. She relaxed her stance and lifted one shoulder in a small shrug.

He brought his hand to her cheek and caressed her still-heated flesh with the pads of his fingers, and this time, she allowed it. “I simply thought you were a bit tired. We started out so early this morn and you were not given much time to rest after your last journey before we departed on this one.”

Aye, dull-witted, not devious.
She gave him a slow nod and placed her hand over his, pressing her cheek into his palm. After a moment, she turned and took an apple out of the pouch hanging from her saddle. “I wish to give my mare a treat. I shall…I shall meet you under the tree in a few moments.”

She felt him hesitate behind her, as if he wanted to decline her request, but finally he said, “All right.” She heard him turn, heard the soft tread of his footfalls as he strode over to where the others were sitting, already having their meal.