The Trouble with Highlanders (19 page)

“Ye do nae fear anything.”

He stood up and leaned against the angled table that held his kilt. To have a piece of furniture devoted to only one item of clothing was a luxury indeed. The length of his plaid was already folded into even pleats with the belt held in a wide groove behind the fabric. He grasped the ends and buckled his kilt in place.

“At this moment, I am nae so sure, lass.” He stared at her for a long moment before crossing the floor and cupping her chin. “I'm scared ye'll repent during Mass and feel the need to sleep somewhere else tonight, and I do nae think I even care who hears me say it.”

He kissed her, smothering any reply she might have made, but honestly, she was stunned by his admission. Norris Sutherland was not afraid of anything. There was a flap and flutter, and Norris chuckled softly as Bacchus flew through the window. The peregrine perched on the curtain rail and screeched at Norris.

“I knew ye raised him,” Daphne offered.

“From the moment he was fledged.” Norris reached into a leather pouch that hung from a rack on the wall and pulled a strip of meat from it. The falcon watched him, lowering its head as it caught the scent of the meat. Norris tossed the scrap into the air, and with another cry, Bacchus caught it before it fell. The raptor returned to the curtain rod and began to feast.

“Are ye frightened of him?” Norris asked.

Daphne shook her head, fascinated with the bird and being able to watch him so closely. “Where is he trained to fly to?”

“Dunrobin,” Norris answered. “We have others trained to fly to many of our vassal's lands. They have birds trained to fly here, but Bacchus is mine.”

Of course he was. Now that she was looking closer, she could see marks on the rod from the falcon's talons.

“I hope ye'll be here tonight, lass, it would please me greatly.”

She simpered like a child being given a piece of sugar candy. Her heart was suddenly full of happiness, and her logic was nowhere to be found. She nodded, not trusting her voice, and he grinned.

Someone rapped on the door, and his expression hardened. “Duty calls. No matter what ye decide, do nae be foolish. Stay with Cam and Isla. Me life is full of threats no matter how loyal I believe me staff to be.”

“I shall,” she promised, earning a pleased look from him. For a moment it looked like he might say something, but the door began to open.

He grunted and sent the bed curtain closed to hide her. His men muttered morning greetings before the door shut again behind them. Bacchus cried out. There was a flutter, and she knew the bird had left.

She'd worn the lace stockings to bed, but her chemise was hanging over the back of a chair, indicating someone had crept into the chamber after she and Norris had fallen asleep.

After they'd made love, that was… She bit her lip and shrugged into the garment, not in the mood to be caught bare skinned by Isla.

As
if
she
does
nae
know
what
ye've been about…

Her inner voice was trying to needle her. Daphne struggled against it but couldn't completely dismiss the feeling of foreboding that crept past the happiness warming her. Perhaps it was the bright light of day, but she couldn't ignore the fact that each night with Norris might well be her last. Oh, she knew it was foolish to worry about such things, for every love affair ended.

She simply wondered if she'd survive having her heart broken.

***

The bells rang out, loud and clear. But not too fast, so Daphne didn't worry that it might be an emergency.

“Looks like Laird Fraser's come to see the earl,” Isla informed Daphne after leaning out of the open windows of the solar. She made a low sound and turned to look at Daphne, worrying her lower lip. “He's got his sister along. Sandra is ripe for marriage, and they've been dangling her in front of the master for the past year. She's quite fetching.”

Daphne tried not to care. But failed. Today there were other women in the solar with them. Asgree had arrived with two new attendants for her and refused to take no for an answer. Daphne couldn't deny the spike of apprehension that pierced her heart. She had no right to be jealous, but it went surging through her as hot as a fire poker.

“Ye should go and meet her.”

“Why?” Daphne asked Isla and bit back the rest of her comment when she realized the other women were nodding.

“Go and show her the laird is taken.”

“Ye should nae say such things. He does nae belong to me,” Daphne muttered.

Such… bold things. There was no understanding between them beyond tonight, and a man might change his mind as easily as he changed his shirt. Thinking such things might make her discontent with her lot. She'd be the only one to suffer if she began to long for more from Norris. It would be her heartache to bear. Isla lowered herself, but her expression was far from repentant. Exactly like her thoughts, Daphne grumbled to herself. But she was worrying her lip, and Isla stared at the telltale motion.

“Oh, fie. Ye are correct.” Daphne gave in.

A
timid
lass
has
never
caught
his
eye…

Asgree's words rose from her memory like a warning. There was something more, a need to protect the right to join Norris in his chamber. Sleeping alone seemed too much to tolerate. What sent her out of the solar and down the stairs was the fact that she knew Sandra Fraser was there to see Norris. It was more than Isla's words. It was something Daphne felt rising up from deep inside her. Some instinct was warning her to be on guard or risk losing what she treasured.

When she entered the hall and witnessed Bari Fraser presenting Sandra to the earl, her feelings proved correct. She gave Lytge only the briefest courtesy then turned her full attention to Norris. Sandra took her time as she lowered herself before him. She looked up into his face, ensuring he had an unobstructed view of her cleavage. Sandra held up her hand, and Daphne's vision turned red.

Norris had no choice but to lift it and kiss the back of it. Daphne still resented seeing his lips touch the other woman's skin. Norris must have felt her gaze on him, for he looked past Sandra, locking stares with Daphne.

“Allow me to introduce Daphne MacLeod.” His voice was strong and edged with authority. Sandra wasn't pleased, but masked her irritation well.

“Good… good…” Lytge mumbled. “The lasses can share some spiced cider while we talk business at the high table.”

Asgree had obviously anticipated such a request, and her staff was already setting out dishes on one of the tables. Daphne would rather have returned to the solar, but she sat down, mindful of her behavior. Sandra whipped her attention back to her brother, but the earl had already turned and was on his way to the high table. Norris followed his father, and Bari shrugged. Sandra propped her hand onto her hip for a brief moment. A sharp look from her brother saw her straightening her posture. Bari Fraser went after his hosts, and Sandra turned to look at Daphne.

It seemed neither of them was pleased with the company they'd be keeping.

Daphne would have to thank Isla later, for the girl knew what she had been talking about. Sandra Fraser had her eye on Norris. No doubt about it.

***

Sandra Fraser was prettier up close.

She had red hair, the darker shade of it. Her eyes were blue and her complexion blissfully free of freckles so often found on redheads. She glided on graceful steps, her dress perfectly fitted to her. The stiffened corset beneath the bodice pushed her young breasts up into a tempting display. When she sat down next to Daphne, she did it with a smile on her rosy lips, but it was directed at the retainers at the next table. When they turned back to their game of dice, she sighed and looked at Daphne.

“Ye are as comely as the rumors claim.” Sandra spoke softly.

“Some believe so,” Daphne replied. She was on guard. Tension squeezed her as she watched the other girl contemplate her.

Sandra lowered her chin and raised a mocking eyebrow. “Let's not be coy when there are no men about to impress. Ye're a beauty, and ye've used it to snare yerself Norris Sutherland. At least for a lover. For that much, I congratulate ye. He's never taken a woman to his personal bedchamber. The star chamber is where he prefers to tryst.”

“How do you know all of this?” Daphne asked incredulously.

Norris's warning rose from her memory.

Me
life
is
full
of
threats
no
matter
how
loyal
I
believe
me
staff
to
be.

Sandra laughed softly, mockingly, before offering a bright smile. “He is a very important man, so what he does and with whom he does it interests me. We can still be friends, ye know.”

“Is that so?” Daphne couldn't help but ask. There was an arrogance in the woman she was in awe of, simply because it was so ridiculous. Sandra was full of pride and seemed to have supreme confidence in her ability to do whatever she pleased.

Sandra leaned closer. “Tell me what makes Norris hard, and I'll make sure ye have someplace to go once he turns ye out in order to wed me.”

A hot flash of denial went through her. It was stunning, and like everything else she felt in relation to Norris, it threatened to overwhelm her better judgment. She wanted to lunge at Sandra and smack her mocking face.

Sandra snickered. “Now do nae be too hasty,” she cooed. “Nae many women would offer ye anything.”

“Ye assume I want something from ye,” Daphne snapped.

Sandra's expression turned harsh. “Every woman seeks something. Life is nae kind. I'm here to snare Norris for me husband. With or without yer help.” She shrugged. “If ye decide to play nicely and tell me what the man likes in his bed, I will make sure ye do nae end up dumped in the road like the strumpet ye are.”

“How generous of ye,” Daphne snipped.

Sandra fluttered her eyelashes. “Oh, it is. Do nae be a fool. I know the truth of ye, and soon, me brother is going to make sure Norris knows it also.”

“And what truth is that?” Daphne demanded.

Sandra slowly smiled, seeming to enjoy making Daphne wait for her reply.

“Ye have no dowry,” she delivered in a mocking tone. “None. Naught to yer name at all.”

“Norris knows that well enough.” However, she couldn't dismiss the fact that he might not believe it. A horrible sense of foreboding hit her, threatening to strangle her confidence and the happiness she'd enjoyed for the last few days.

“Ye really are nae very intelligent,” Sandra decided. “I may be pretty like ye, but I am also very clever. No wonder ye are naught but the man's conquest. Or, should I say current conquest, because a man such as Norris will never be satisfied with one woman. Ye're such a little fool to believe he'll care one bit about ye once he's spied another woman he fancies.”

“I believe I've heard enough of this.” Daphne made to stand, but Sandra surprised her by clamping her hand on Daphne's wrist to keep her at the table.

“I will be the next woman. Better ye accept that fact now. More than his woman, I shall be his wife and mistress of Dunrobin once that old man does us the favor of dying,” Sandra hissed low and with a tone full of venom. “I always pay me debts, but I also never fail to collect me vengeance. Tell me what he likes, or ye'll regret it.”

Isla suddenly stepped forward, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the way Sandra was digging her fingers into Daphne's arm. Sandra shot the girl a hard look.

“Yer mistress does nae need ye. Be gone.”

Isla lowered herself, but it was clear from the stiffness of her motion she lacked any sincerity. Cam stepped up behind his sister, tugging on the corner of his bonnet while his eyes remained narrowed.

“Tell them to be gone,” Sandra demanded.

Daphne shook her head. “They are nae fools. If ye are as clever as ye claim, better learn to respect the fact that just because someone serves ye, it does nae ensure they will like ye.”

Sandra rolled her eyes. “Why should I care? As mistress of Dunrobin, I'll be the one deciding who serves here”—she turned her head and sent a hard look at Isla—“and who does not.”

Daphne stood up. Sandra didn't want to let her go and ended up hanging onto her arm. Her eyes were rounded in shock, proving that her brother allowed her free rein.

“Good day to ye, Mistress Fraser.”

Sandra released Daphne and gave her skirts a vicious shake before lifting her chin arrogantly.

“Best ye consider me offer. Every hour ye make me wait for what I desire, ye shall have less from me when ye need it.”

She brushed by Daphne, her carriage as regal as a queen's. Norris looked up, and Sandra instantly changed. Her body lost its haughty stance, becoming sultry as she lowered herself. Norris's lips lifted into a grin that was far too appreciative. A chill twisted through Daphne, and she turned to hide it from him. As if he'd notice while looking at Sandra.

Ye're jealous…

She was. There was no denying it or the fact that there was nothing she might do about it. Norris was the earl's heir. He'd do what he wanted. What frightened her the most was the certain knowledge he'd do what he considered his duty. Sandra was the daughter of a laird and had a dowry. When it came to marriage, the Earl of Sutherland would look at the bride who came with the most for his eldest son.

Sandra might just gain her wish and became mistress of Dunrobin.

***

“There will be no supper at the high table tonight. The earl has retired.” It was Asgree who appeared just before sunset to inform Daphne of the news. Two maids followed her, freshly pressed linens stacked in their arms.