Enchanted Lover (28 page)

“I only tell you I am glad you will not be putting me
under lock and key.”

He scowled at her reference to the chastity belt.

“I am not always a rational man.”

Asilinn motioned him back to the bed. With a sigh, he
lay down beside her.

“I have no worries about my safety.” She leaned
across to caress his furrowed brow with her hand. “I had a dream last night.”

She grabbed his hand and placed it over her belly. “I
dreamed of our son's birth. You were here, in this room with me, as I gave him
life. I'm sure it will come to pass. Go to my father and make the peace. No
harm will come to me or the child I carry.”

Jared buried his head in her soft breasts, cleaving
to her as if she might disappear. At length he raised his eyes to look into
hers. “I promise you there will be a lasting peace.”

She took his head in her hands, pulling his lips to
hers, and running kisses along his neck until she reached his ear. “I believe
you, Dragon Lord of Dunbocan, for surely you have enchanted me into believing
in your dream.” She gave a soft throaty laugh. “I wish you didna have to leave
me now.”

“Morven and my men wait below.” He kissed her long
and lingering, then rose and gazed down at her. “Besides in the last day you
have given me much to think about while I am away.” He paused and drew a deep
breath. “I thank you for your honesty.”

Asilinn smiled hope springing in her breast. Could it
be she would love him the way her mother had loved her father? Her dream had
intimated as much.

***

It was still early morning when Jared went to meet
the members of the high council. “I need to take at least three of you with me
to the peace table,” Jared began. “I canna leave Dunbocan unprotected. I'll
leave the others here to watch over our holdings and Lady Asilinn.”

Jared looked at the faces around the table. “I give
you leave to speak freely. Give me your reasons for wanting to go or preferring
to stay. Osred, what say you?”

The tall, lanky counselor squirmed in his chair. “I
have misgivings about trusting the Innes Clan in this agreement. For that
reason, I feel it is my duty to withdraw my name from those attending. I feel
too strongly against the plan to be of any aid in a compromise.”

The occupants of the room seemed stunned by Osred's
frank admission. Jared studied him for a full minute before responding.
“Although I'm disappointed by your lack of support, I appreciate your candor.
You may stay.” Jared paused. “Keith, I have heard tales of your rabble-rousing.
You try to incite the people against the peace by attacking me. I'll hear you
next.”

Keith's face colored with rage. He stood and pounded
his hands on the table. “You accuse me of treason!”

“Would you deny you meet secretly with leaders of our
allies to discuss my decisions?” Jared stared the man back into his seat.

“I dinna deny in the beginning I did,” Keith
admitted. “But now I see the wisdom of your search for peace. I believe Lady
Asilinn is a great asset to our clan not the bane some of those gathered here
profess her to be.”

Jared raised his eyebrows at Keith's last remark.
“Who has talked against my wife other than Osred?”

“Every one of us at one time or another,” Morven
responded.

“I see.” Jared let his breath out in a heavy sigh.
“Keith, you still did not tell me what you wish to do.”

“I'd like to go, Milord, if you'll have me.”

“Very well, Garrick, what about you?”

“I'm getting old,” Garrick said with a laugh. “Long
rides and difficult negotiations dinna appeal to me any longer. I would stay
and see Lady Asilinn safe in your absence.”

Jared smiled and nodded then turned his eyes on young
Ross. “And you, Ross?”

“I'd like to go and observe peacemaking first hand,”
the young warrior replied. “I feel I have much to learn on this trip and beg to
be allowed to participate.”

“Fine,” Jared said. His gaze fell on Liam. “What
about you, Liam?”

“I'll stay and insure Lady Asilinn's safety.”

“I have heard I am already in your debt. Not once,
but three times you have aided Asilinn.” Jared's eyes tried to pierce Liam's
impenetrable expression.

“What else have you heard?” Jared could see the pulse
in Liam’s jaw when he responded.

“Nothing, is there something else?”

“No, I dinna repay you in kind.” Liam shoved his
chair back from the table. “Will you allow me to stay or do you mistrust me
enough to force me to go?”

Jared scowled. “You may stay. For some reason I canna
fathom, Lady Asilinn trusts you.”

“I'm grateful for her confidence.”

“You should be.” Jared fought to control the feelings
of jealousy he felt rolling within him. Asilinn had befriended his estranged
cousin and now they seemed to be fast friends. Turning his attention to Liam's
brother, he hid his misgivings well. “And what of you, Morven, will you join us
in our peace negotiation?”

“Aye, Milord,” Morven responded. “It would be my
great pleasure to accompany you.”

“Good, we make our arrangements and leave today. I
have agreed to let Skye accompany us since she has never been off the MacLean
lands.”

Morven groaned and Jared gave him an amused smile.
“Perhaps she wilna pester you much with her questions. She has grown up quite a
bit under Asilinn's care.” The assembled men laughed at Jared's statement.
Jared shrugged. “I have to let the little imp out sometimes.”

The first night after Jared's departure Asilinn
restlessly prowled their room. Jared had given her a thousand warnings before
he rode out with Skye by his side.

Asilinn laughed when she thought of Skye's reaction
to her suggestion she accompany her brother. The young girl was thrilled by the
opportunity. It wasn't until Skye and Jared rode out together Asilinn realized
how much she would miss Jared's younger sister.

They had become friends over the last months and
Asilinn needed a friend right now. She glanced longingly out the narrow window.
She ached for a glimpse of her childhood home. She could imagine the stir her
return would cause when Jared fulfilled his promise and took her and their son
to Cairngorm Castle.

A light rap on the door disturbed her musings. To her
surprise, it was Ivy who stood at the portal. “Milady, Flanna sent you up some
warm milk. She thought it might help you get to sleep,” Ivy said, handing
Asilinn the cup. “And look, I brought you a nice slice of fresh baked bread
sweetened with honey.”

Asilinn arched her brows in surprise. “I appreciate
your concern, but I'm really not hungry.”

“You must think of the baby,” Ivy chided. “You’re
carrying the heir to all you see around you. I'm sure our laird would want you
take good care of yerself. Is there anything else I can get you?” The woman
settled herself in one of the chairs. “I'll just wait and take the crockery
back to the kitchen. ‘Tis such a long walk up here to the tower. For the life
of me I canna understand why Laird Jared insisted his room be moved when he
took you for his wife.”

The woman was staring at Asilinn while she took her
first nibble of bread. Not inclined to sustain the attentions of the
overbearing housekeeper, Asilinn sought some excuse to rid herself of the
woman. But the way Ivy settled in the chair gave Asilinn little hope until a
draft made her reach for her shawl.

“Ivy, would you go down on the second floor and get
me my shawl. I believe I left it in Laird Jared's small work room.”

The older woman stood up and smiled, which was
unusual in itself. “I will, if you promise to drink all your milk before I get
back.”

“Of course,” Asilinn replied, raising the cup to her
lips.

Ivy grinned and scurried off to get the shawl.
Something was amiss. Ivy had never come to her with anything before. Asilinn
sniffed the milk. The thought of drinking it nauseated her. Now she was
pregnant, even milk had an odor. She took the cup and poured the contents into
one of the crocks she used for medicines, setting the empty container back on
the tray.

That should satisfy Ivy. Asilinn picked up the bread
and honey and began eating. It was definitely more appealing. Ivy returned with
the shawl and beamed when she saw the empty cup.

“I should bring you a snack every night,” she
suggested.

“No,” Asilinn replied. “If I desire something in the
future, I shall ask for it.”

The woman frowned. “Aye, Milady,” she said. Picking
up the tray, she left the room.

Asilinn flopped on the bed and closed her eyes.
Surprisingly she relaxed enough to drift into the welcome respite of sleep. For
a while, she seemed to drift in an endless blackness, quiet and peaceful.
Jared's image descended on her dreams bringing the feeling he lay close beside
her. She enjoyed the warmth of him, drifting deeper into the pleasant dream.
She felt Jared's lips, his hands, and his pounding heart as he held her close.
A wonderful sense of safety surrounded her.

But there was an irritating noise in the background
of the lovely dream. Asilinn tossed in the bed hearing the low whisper of
voices. She tried to shake it off, but the voices continued their gentle buzz.
Slowly she opened her eyes. Glenna and Osred leaned over the bed. Startled she
sat bolt upright.

“What are you doing here?”

“Milady, ‘tis morning and you had not come down. We
were concerned. We came to check on you,” Osred said in a silky voice. “We
knocked loudly on the door but you failed to respond.”

“I am fine and you may take your leave.”

They stood staring at her for a minute as if they
were trying to decide what to do. A knock at the chamber door broke their
trance. “Lady Asilinn, are you all right?” Liam called through the door.

“Liam, please come in and show my guests back to the
lower floor.”

Liam's tall frame darkened the doorway. Osred and
Glenna brushed past him, taking the steps two at a time after they fled the
room. He stared after them and then turned back to Asilinn. “What happened?”

“I woke to find them both leaning over the bed
looking at me. Is it late morning?”

“Aye, Flanna had commented in their presence you had
not yet risen. Mayhaps they really were concerned.” He laughed at his own
suggestion. “Do you suspect foul intent?”

“I dinna know, Liam.”

“Would you like me to stay? It would be my greatest
pleasure to guard your bed chamber.”

“No,” Asilinn said firmly.

“If you need me, I'll stay close to the castle.” He
grinned and left the room, then poked his head back in. “Would you like me to
install a bolt on this door after you have dressed?”

“Aye,” she replied with a smile.

Asilinn was humming when Wynne came in to help her
dress. They made short work of the task and were about to leave the chamber
when Toby rushed by them in pursuit of a gamboling, brown puppy. Asilinn
laughed when the pup ran across the floor.

It startled Wynne and she shrieked. Toby giggled and
ran by her. Asilinn followed him trying to aid in the capture of the small
beast. To her dismay, the tiny pup lapped up the discarded milk from the
previous night before they were able to catch him. Asilinn snatched him up and
Toby ran to her, grabbing the creature and hugging it to his chest.

Asilinn glanced furtively to the empty crock then
back at the dog. It looked at her and wagged its tail. She hesitated wondering
what to expect. Toby didn't give her a chance to talk to him but gifted her
with a wide grin and ran back down the stairs with the puppy.

“What is it, Lady Asilinn?” Wynne asked.

Asilinn looked back at the empty crock and shook her
head absently. “Nothing, I hope,” she murmured. “Let's be about our business.”
Asilinn started down the stairs.

When they reached the kitchen, Flanna looked up and
smiled. “Good morning, Lady Asilinn.”

“Flanna, did you fix me some warm milk and send it up
last night?”

“Nay, Milady, had you requested it?”

Asilinn shook her head. “No, I was just wondering.”
Wynne gave Flanna an alarmed glance.

“Did one of the servants bring you some?” Flanna
inquired. At that moment, Liam came through the door with a sturdy bolt in his
hand.

“I see you have vacated your chamber. I'll attach
this for you.”

“Thank you, Liam.”

“Lady Asilinn, what happened?” Wynne asked.

“Nothing much,” Asilinn replied, trying to downplay
the recent events. “It is just Osred and Glenna woke me this morning claiming
to be concerned over my welfare. When I opened my eyes they were hovering over
the bed.”

Flanna's face colored. “I'm sorry, Milady. It was
probably my fault for commenting on the lateness of the hour. I mentioned I was
concerned about how you were feelin’ since it was late and you had not come
down. I never meant they should check on you.”

“It is all right, Flanna, but to wake to the face of
my husband's former mistress and that dreadful counselor, well, ‘tis enough to
give one a fright.” Wynne and Flanna giggled at Asilinn's assessment of Osred
and Glenna.

“He never cared for her you know,” Flanna confided.
“She was a convenience, nothin’ more. I've never seen Laird Jared as happy as
he has been this last month. I pray his quest for peace is successful so you
can put yer mind at rest over the baby.”

“Jared has promised me peace before our son is born.”
Asilinn smiled as she rubbed her stomach. “I canna explain it, but I know he
will not let us down.”

After breakfast, Asilinn and Wynne went off to do
some errands in the village of tradesmen which lay just inside the outer wall
of Dunbocan. Several people approached Asilinn asking for cures and advice on
their illnesses. This pleased her because she felt they were beginning to
accept her talent for healing instead of fearing her.