The Highlander's Conquest (8 page)

Blane was nowhere in sight.

She would ask him about Liam
. A
lthough she really hated to be nosy, she was overwhelmed with curiosity at his affliction. She picked her way toward the bushes, tripping once on a lifted root. With only the light of the moon, she could barely see anything. She had to slide one foot in front of the other to keep from tripping again. Doing so in daylight would be so much easier
—at that moment she was grateful that the sun rose at all and wished
they could travel
in the morning
instead of at night.

When she finished, Aliah walked carefully back to the group, finding Blane now among their company. All of them stared up into the trees, mesmerized. No one made a sound. Aliah tried to look up, but saw nothing
except
empty branches, stars and
the
moon.

She gasped as someone took hold of her arm, but sighed when she realized it was Blane. His fingers were warm through the fabric of her gown. He pointed up into the branches a
nd whispered, “See there? ’Tis an owl
.”

Aliah had never seen a wild
owl—only those trained with the hawks and falcons at her manor home
. She searched the branches to no avail. “I don’t see it,” she whispered.

“There.” Blane spoke so quietly, ’twas almost indiscernible. “See his eyes, the
y
glow in the moonlight. Like two flashing orange orbs.”

Then she saw it
—just barely making out the shape of
the bird’s
body
.
They truly were like two flashing orange orbs
as the bird turned its head first one way and then another
. “Is it hunting?”

He shrugged. “Mayhap. Or he could have already eaten.”

“Have you ever gone hawking?”

“Aye. We have a falconry at Dun—”

“Where?” What had made him cut off his own words.

“At my home.”

“I have oft wanted to try it, but my father did not think ’twas a good idea. My mother used to have a falcon, but then the bird was spooked, nearly took off her finger he said.”

Blane met her gaze, his own eyes seeming to shine in the moonlight. “Must have been very spooked. They are supposed to be extremely loyal birds.”

“Enough so that my father feared them.”

Blane smiled. “But you do not?”

Aliah shook her head. “Mayhap, when I return to England with my father and we pass by Yorkshire, we could visit your home and you could show me.”

Shadows passed over his face, his lips curling downward somewhat. “I don’t think your father would allow that.”

That thought hadn’t quite passed her mind and now she realized he was probably right. Her father would never allow it.

“I tell you what, when we reach Scotland
, if
they have a falconry, I will show you.”

“Would you? Truly?” Excitement coursed a path through her veins.
She imagined holding a bird upon her arm, safely protected with a thick leather
gauntlet
. Whispering a command and watching the falcon take flight, its golden
wings spreading wide and a breath of air caressing her face as it flapped into the sky.

“Aye.”

“I should like that very much.” Although she felt like smiling wide, she was slowly reminded of her earl
ier
vow to keep her distance from this man. But having
a
lesson in falconry could hardly lead to anything more sinful. They’d be accompanied by a falconer at the very least.

Blane’s gaze pulled fro
m hers back toward the perched owl
. Aliah couldn’t help but study his strong profile. If in another life, she was to have found a mate, she imagined she would have liked a man like Blane very much. He was strong, intelligent and a very skilled kisser. She jumped when the
owl
took flight,
its silence and beautiful gliding power breaking
whatever spell had held her mesmerized.

Blane quickly turned back toward her and placed a steadying hand on her elbow. She felt flustered for having jumped and from the heat of his touch.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his gaze a mix of concern and amusement.

“Aye,” she said with a little laugh. “I was surprised, ’tis all.”

“You are beautiful.”

“What?” But she’d heard him, even if she was stunned by his
compliment
. Even he looked dumfounded.

He shook his head and let go of h
er
arm. “’Tis true, you are, but I apologize for having said it.”

“There is no need to apologize
. A
lady always likes to be told she is pleasing to the eye.”

Blane smiled sadly. “Aye, but ’tis something reserved for your intended.”

“I have no intended.”

The interest that lit his eyes both tantalized and scared her. She had to tell him now, so that there could be no more kissing, no more admissions that could only lead to heartache.

Taking a step back and looking toward the ground, Aliah murmured, “I am to join the church.”

“The church?” The shock in his voice saddened her.

Aliah could not face him and instead tried to piece together what type of trees the leaves at her feet might have fallen from
—a difficult task considering how dark it was
. “Aye. In the spring, I will take my vows.”

“My lady, forgive me for asking, but why would you waste your beauty on the church?”

At that she did look up, and meeting his gaze she answered with all seriousness. “Beauty is only skin deep and fades with time. But my soul will last for eternity.”

Blane didn’t speak
for the span of several moments. S
he supposed he was letting the heaviness of her words sink in. Had the man never met a woman intended for the church or had he, like she, fantasized about a life together?

“Then,” he
murmured
, his voice
no more than a croak
, “I should ask you to pray for me, my lady.”

With that, he extended his arm toward the horses and bowed. So formal he was,
that
she wished she could take back her words, wished she hadn’t told him of her intentions, because he had made her think that perhaps a different life was possible. She opened her mouth to tell him just that, to tell him he was handsome and that she wanted him to kiss her again. But looking around she saw that his men stared, waiting. Sighing in frustration at the turn of events, Aliah marched
brisk
ly back toward Liam, tripping only once on a tree root in the process. She was thankful for the dark to hide her reddened face and even more thankful that not one of them blinked at her clumsiness.

As she settled atop Liam’s horse, sitting behind his rigid figure, Blane approached
with
an apple in his hand.

“I thought you might want to have a bite to eat. We will stop in a few hours to eat a heartier fare than fruit, although I can’t promise you more than an oatcake.”

She took the proffered fruit, her fingers brushing his and a tingle raced up her arm.
His
eyes widened show
ing
that he too felt their connection.

“Thank you, Sir Blane, for everything.”

“’Tis my pleasure.”

The way he said
pleasure
sent heat coursing through her. She watched him walk away, then
,
closed her eyes to try and steady her
rapidly
beating heart.

As much as
Aliah
hated to admit it,
her
eyes had been opened to
a
whole new realm of possibilities
. One in which she did not enter the church.
One in which she faced her fears, her demons and perhaps lived happily and with love.

Chapter
Eight

S
everal hours later, when Aliah felt herself dozing in and out, her face pressed to Liam’s hard back, the horses stopped. Thank the saints. She’d not ridden this much in her entire life. Every limb screamed for relief, to stretch
muscles she didn’t even know existed
. Liam helped her dismount and when her feet hit the ground, her legs wobbled, feeling a lot like mushy berries.
Even her arms trembled.

From what she could make out in the
grey of predawn
, they’d stopped in a small clearing near a creek. The sound of water burbling over rocks was calming. Crickets and other insects chirped, undisturbed by human appearance, which only unsettled her nerves. Was this area normally filled with traffic, hence the bugs not ceasing their calls?

Aliah stared hard into the darkness beyond. Trees were thick on the outskirts of the small clearing. She imagined all sorts of assailants waiting in the shadows for her to approach. Even imagined sets of glowing eyes—wolves, bears,
wildcats
.

“We shall stop here to rest a spell and to eat,” Blane said from a few feet away
, seemingly untouched by their location
.

She’d been so out of it when they’d ridden she hadn’t seen him or any of his men scout the area, but he must have, else he wouldn’t have appeared so composed.

Aliah nodded and stretched out her back, hands on her hips. What she really wanted to do was lie upon the ground and stretch out her legs. A small smile touched her lips at the reaction that would garner from Blane and his reserved men. “Thank you. I find my body grows weary of riding.”

“Aye, and we’ve hardly had solid rest.”

Aliah nodded. Her head felt a little fuzzy too.

“My men will take themselves in that direction for relief, if you’d like to go this way.” He pointed toward a
cluster of thick trees and brush that looked almost like a curtain.

“Thank you, Sir Blane.”

Blane nodded. “I shall accompany you.”

“What? No. Go with the men.” What could he possibly be thinking
?
’Twas not a moment she wished to share with anyone.

Blane chuckled. “I won’t watch you, my lady. Promise.”

She didn’t move. “What is your purpose then?”

“I must keep an eye on you. You are my charge and I promised to get you safely to Lady Arbella.”

“And my father.”

He hesitated a moment. “Aye.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” She was sorry for the accusatory tone in her voice, but over the hours her mind had tumbled with a hundred questions.

“See to your business and then we shall speak.”

Muttering under her breath
at
his underhanded tone, she stalked toward the trees with the sounds of his footsteps almost
inaudible
behind her. She whipped around when she reached the covering.

“Stay there.”

In the
faint
moonlight, she saw the flash of his teeth and a slight nod of his head. Satisfied he wouldn’t see her take care of herself, she slipped behind a fir tree, making sure to check for animals, snakes or spiders before lifting her skirts. When she’d completed her business, she found Blane standing in the same spot, scanning the sky.

“Looking for more birds of prey?”

He chuckled quietly. “Aye. I do like birds.”

“See anything?”

“
Nay. Most likely they’ve gone to rest with morning soon to come
. Let us return.”

Blane spread out a blanket upon the ground for her sit on. Aliah sank to the ground, her muscles protesting and yet, the simple way she sat with her legs tucked up under her helped to stretch them with an aching pleasure.

“Might I offer you our best fare?” Blane said, a teasing note in his voice.

“And what might that be, kind sir?”

With a flourish, he handed her two oatcakes and a thick strip of jerky.

“Never have I seen a finer meal,” she teased.

“At the
H
ouse of Blane we aim to please, my lady.”

The men sat far enough away to seem distant.
Blane stood beside her blanket, munching on jerky and staring down at her.

Aliah bit into the thick leathery piece of dried meat. ’Twas dry and chewy, and she had to work the bit for an agonizingly long time. Her jaw became tired and she noted to herself that she would not accept the jerky again. She felt like she was expending more energy than
it
was worth.

“You eat meat,” Blane noted.

“Aye.”

“Your sister does not.”

Her ears perked up. “No, she does
n’t.” There was proof enough he
knew her sister well.

He chuckled. “She does eat quite a range of interesting foods though.”

A man who was up to sinister objectives wouldn’t know so much, would he? Would he even care? Would he have noticed? The only answer she could come up with was, no. Blane knew something intimate about her sister and from his tone, appeared to look on the notion with fondness.

“Aye.”

“Her husband has enjoyed her cooking and I must say those who’ve had it, find it to be quite a treat.”

“Her cooking,” Aliah drawled out, not understanding. “She has cooked for you?”

Father would be appalled to no end…

“Well, not exactly. I believe she advised cook.”

“Ah.” Aliah nodded, that made more sense.

“Father does not eat meat either.”

Blane looked taken aback at that, although he quickly recovered
, taking a bit
e
of his jerky
. Even still, she’d taken notice of his expression. How could he not have noticed that fact about her father, but he did notice it about Arbella?

“How did you come to meet my father?”

Blane stopped chewing for a moment, his gaze flicking away from her. “What do you mean?”

“You were sent to England at the request of my father. Why did he not join me himself?”

Aliah hadn’t meant to confront Blane just yet, but the words came forth before she could stop them. She tensed
,
waiting for his reaction. What he did next shocked her more than anything. The man dropped to her blanket, sitting close. He took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb enticingly over her knuckles.

A shiver passed up her arm and then settled warmly in her chest. She tried to yank away, disliking her instant interest and excitement. Blane held fast, and his mesmerizing eyes latched onto hers.

“The truth, my lady…”

“Aye, tell me.”

“The truth is, your father was injured in the battle. Your sister requested your presence straight away. When she learned that I knew the area well and would be able to locate you, she asked me to go. I am…close with her husband, and would have done whatever she requested.”

The shock of his words hit Aliah like an arrow to the chest. Father. He was injured. Even now it could be too late. Her breath hitched and she was able to yank her hands from Blane’s to cover her face as hot tears stung her eyes. Arbella would only send for her if the situation was dire. She knew her sister well, knew that this situation was not quite right and now she knew why.

“My lady.” Blane’s voice was filled with regret. No doubt he’d tried to keep the truth from her to protect her and keep her in good spirits on their journey, but still she wished he’d told her the truth from the start.

Aliah shook her head, wishing to be alone. She jumped to her feet and ran into the trees. Realizing where she’d gone and how scary it was in the darkened forest, she stopped and leaned her back against a tree, her arms encircling herself for co
nsolation
. Tears fell. Tears of fear, frustration, the inability to control the world around her.

Blane’s soft tread sounded beside her.

Without asking, he pulled her into his embrace and she melted against him, finding instant comfort in his warmth and strength.
Aliah wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against the cool leather of his armor. Through his armor she could hear the sound of his steady heartbeat.

“Why did you not tell me sooner?”
S
he hiccupped from her sobs.

“I am sorry… I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“Necessary?”

“To upset you.”

She shook her head, bumping her cheek into his chest. “You didn’t think I should know that my father could be dying?”

“Nobody knows for sure, my lady. I thought not to worry you.”

Aliah supposed she should be grateful for his obvious concern of her wellbeing.
And in fact, she did feel a measure of comfort knowing Blane was looking out for her.
“The truth from now on,” she demanded.

Blane did not respond.

“Sir Blane.” She tilted her head back, meeting his gaze. “Will you tell me the truth from now on?”

Even in the
near
darkness she could see that his gaze had changed from one of concern to one filled with
longing
.
Whether it was the knowledge that he cared somewhat for her feelings, or a basic instinct to respond to the attraction growing between them—or both—h
er own passion answered, leaping up to take control
. Her breathing accelerated along with
her heart beat. Aliah’s insides curled and flexed, warming and need flooded her. Her treacherous nipples pebbled and she found herself running her tongue over her teeth.

In that moment, gazing into the eyes of a man filled with passion just for her, Aliah made a decision that any other day prior would have horrified her. She would acquiesce to her curiosity. When she joined the church, she wanted to do so without reserve and the only way to do that was to let her passion go with the man holding her so deliciously in his arms.
To float away from the reality and fear of her injured father.

Swallowing back the last vestiges of her reluctance, Aliah stood on tiptoe, pursed her lips and pressed them to Blane’s chin—as she couldn’t quite reach his lips. Blane reacted by a shakily
in
drawn breath.

“What are y
ou doing?” he asked, his voice rasp
y with the same need pulsing through her veins.

“Kissing you.”

“Kissing me,” he repeated.

“Aye. Will you not kiss me back?”

“Oh, aye,” he said in a tone that made her breathless.

With an arm encircling he
r waist
,
he
pulled her flush against him. Every inch of his hard body touched hers, sending a jolt of awareness straight to her core. Aliah gasped, but did not pull away. Blane stroked his free hand over her cheek, grasped the back of her head and lowered his face to within an inch of hers.

“I’m going to kiss you properly this time, Aliah.”

Her heart
skipped a beat at his promise
and
at
the way her name rolled off his ton
gu
e. She nodded. “Please.”

Blane closed the distance between their lips, settling his mouth on hers. At first it was subtle,
like the first brush of their mouths
had been
. Wit
hin moments, when she sighed, he deepened the kiss, his tongue running over the seam of her lips. She gasped, and when her lips parted he
glided
his tongue inside. The man had not
lied;
he was kissing her—although she would not have called it proper at all. It was carnal, wicked and utterly satisfying.