Highland Daydreams (17 page)

“What is the meaning of this?” a loud, booming voice hollered over the crowd.

The people standing in the courtyard became stone silent and all eyes fell on the man standing at the top of the stairs. He was tall with black shaggy hair and dressed in formal attire. Lara watched as the group of people bowed in unison. Instinctively, she did the same.
The King!

Lara knew that the King had returned from his journey with her father and brother, but since his arrival, he had been locked away in his library and solar attending business. Now, with the arrival of distant travelers, here to celebrate, he finally made his presence known.

“My apologies, my Lord. I believe Laird Dermot has traveled here to discuss an issue wit’ me. I apologize for the disturbance his presence has caused,” William explained, as he walked towards Dermot from the other end of the courtyard.

Lara, still hidden behind the group of women, watched her father as he went to stand next to Dermot and whisper something to him.

“I do no’ like disruptions, William. See that the situation is dealt with,” Eric replied, and turned to go back inside the castle.

William nodded his head towards the gates, indicating to Dermot that he wished to speak to him in private. At least, that was Lara’s, interpretation as the two men walked towards the battlement and disappeared under the portcullis. She spotted John standing near the stables; he too had seen the embarrassing display, and ran after them. Lara worried what her brother and father would say. For now, her fate rested in their hands.

“What are ye doing here?” William asked.

“I thought my wife had been kidnapped. Should I no’ be concerned about my estranged wife?”

William looked at him suspiciously.

“I find that hard to believe, as she came here by her own free will and wit an escort. A Highlander. Ye have no’ proved yerself truthful or trustworthy. And ye cannae e’en protect and keep track of yer own wife. She is nay more than a lass wit’ her head in the clouds. How did ye let her escape the castle grounds?”

Dermot ground his teeth before speaking.

“She is a disobedient and defiant wench. I gave her every freedom, more than she deserved, and still she denied me. When no one could find her, I assumed that she was either kidnapped or the foolish lass had run away. I followed her trail to Stearns, but when I reached the castle I learned that she had traveled here to find ye. As fer her Highland friend, I dinna ken who he is, but I can assure ye that I will find him and bury him. ”

“And why do ye suppose she would have done that?”

“She dinna tell ye?”

“Nay,” William barked.

Dermot considered his answer. Perhaps the lass was too afraid to tell her father what had really happened. He thought to rectify the matter and retrieve his wife before all was lost to him.

“My Laird, there is something ye should ken which should be of great importance to ye. We have no’ consummated the marriage. I have tried to be tender wit’ the lass, but she is as stubborn as a horse. Ye do ken what this means, aye?”

“Aye. If ye dinna consummate it, the union between our clans is null and void,” William said in a gruff tone, more angry with his daughter than anything.

“Aye. That is why I have come here to collect my wife. If the neighboring clans learn we hold nay truce, they will rebel and war will break out. The lass has caused more trouble than she kens,” Dermot reminded him.

Now, he had no choice but to return Lara to him.

“I agree wit’ ye. I will fetch her, and ye will take her on the first boat back to Scotland. I trust that ye can manage no’ losing her again?”

“Aye, of course, my Laird.”

William walked back inside the courtyard and searched for Lara. John stayed behind and glowered at Dermot. Lara had run up the stairs to the top of the curtain wall and watched the scene below, though she could not hear the conversation they were having.

“Why are ye really here? I ken it is no’ fer Lara.”

“As ye must ken, besides my insolent bride, I have no’ received the other half of her dowry. Yer father promised me a treasure worth its weight in gold. And I expect to claim it.”

John stared at him with icy blue eyes. Taking a step forward, he whispered, “I ken the truth. I ken what ye did.”

Dermot held his breath, feeling threatened when John exposed his secret. As John continued to talk in his ear, Dermot, with precision and stealth, slid his dagger out of its sheath along his belt and slipped it into the sleeve of his tunic. Over time, the words John spoke were hazy and mumbled. With his mind focused on his surroundings, all Dermot could hear was the sound of his blood rushing and heart pounding in his ears. Each breath and exhale became louder and more distinct. Anger boiled in his veins when John spoke his last words.

As fast as a lightning bolt strikes the ground, Dermot raised his dagger to John and lurched towards him. Within moments, the two of them were wrestling on the ground. John twisted from side to side, avoiding the dagger held in Dermot’s hand. Lara panicked and called out for help, but the commotion in the courtyard was so loud that no one heard her cries. Even the villagers outside the gates were too distracted to notice what was occurring.

John successfully plunged Dermot’s own dagger through his heart. The color drained from Dermot’s face, and the irises of his eyes grew dark. Dermot staggered back, and with both hands pulled the dagger out of his chest. Blood seeped out of the side of his mouth. He took one step, then another, before crashing down onto the ground. His cold and lifeless body doubled over and stiffened. Lara’s panic caused her lungs to feel as if all of the air had escaped her, making it difficult to breathe. Through glistening eyes, Lara looked at John. He was standing over the dead man’s body. Lara ran down the steps to join him. Staggering towards her, John wrapped his arms around her. He escorted her away from the view of Dermot’s corpse.

“Go to yer room. I will meet ye there soon. Dinna worry, dear sister, I promise ye everything will be alright,” John said, smiling down at her.

By the time Bram reached the front gates, a crowd had gathered around a lifeless body lying on the ground. Blood oozed from his chest. Bram recognized his Highland colors and assumed that the man lying dead on the ground was none other than Laird Moray, but questions raced in his mind about who had killed him. Had Lara taken another man’s life? Had Dermot attacked her, hurt her? Dashing through the gates, he searched for Lara, but ran into her brother, John, instead.

“Where is Lara? Is she alright? Is she hurt?” Bram asked, fearful of the man’s response.

“Nay, she is fine. She is waiting in her room for my return.”

“Thank ye,” Bram said, and dashed up the stairs towards Lara’s room.

“Something is amiss, husband, and it has to do with that lass.” Queen Isobel spoke elegantly and her tone was smooth and soft as a gentle breeze.

“What girl?” Eric asked, as he rummaged through a stack of papers on his desk.

Isobel glided across the solar and placed her hand gently on her husband’s, lowering the papers in his hand from his view.

“Heaven sakes, Eric. Why is it that you only hear half of what I tell you?”

Eric breathed in deeply and set the papers back down onto the table. Settling back into his chair, he looked at her, giving her his full attention.

“I do listen to you, you just happen to talk when I am busy, or eating, or sleeping, or…”

Eric snickered at the unamused look displayed on Isobel’s face as she stood with arms crossed and foot tapping on the floor. “I am listening to you now, my love. Now, what were you trying to tell me?” he asked, as he reached out for his wife and pulled her down to sit in his lap.

Isobel wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders and continued. “As I was saying, something is going on and it has to do wit’ that lass. That man who was killed at the gate, they say he was her husband. If William invited enemies or trouble into our midst, especially now…”

“I will talk to William and John, and whoever this lass is,” Eric said cutting her off.

“Thank you.”

Eric helped Isobel down from his lap and stood. Walking to the door, he opened it and summoned his guard.

“Gather William and the lass who is staying in the guest rooms upstairs, and meet me in the library.”

“Yes, my Lord,” the guard replied.

Eric would take care of this mess once and for all.

Lara sat on the edge of her bed, her hands shaking and mind spinning. Dermot was dead. Lara felt a sense of relief and freedom, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She was overjoyed. No longer was she bound to a loveless marriage. No longer did she have to fear him and what he would have done to her. No longer was she forced to bare his children, or be forced into warming his bed. She was a widow and free. Falling back onto the bed, she spread her arms out wide and breathed.

A soft knock came from the door. Sitting up quickly, she hurried to the door. Opening it, she smiled widely at Bram, who was standing in the corridor. Today, of all days, he looked rather handsome, shedding his dirty brown shirt and worn-out kilt for a clean white tunic and a pair of dark brown trews. With her new sense of freedom, she felt the walls she’d erected around her heart soften. Now there were no more reasons or excuses for pushing him away. Looking at him now, a flood of emotions began to overwhelm her.

“Are ye alright?” he asked.

“Aye. I am more than alright. Come in. I have so much to tell ye,” she boasted, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside the chamber.

Sitting down in opposite chairs next to the hearth, Lara retold the story of what had happened between John and Dermot. She told him everything except what truly mattered - how she felt towards him.

“I have word that the boat for Scotland is leaving earlier than scheduled. So I have come to apologize that I have to break my promise. I will no’ be here to attend the coronation.

Bram did not want to leave, though he knew it was time. He had fulfilled his promise, and every journey had to come to an end. Standing up, he quietly walked towards her. Leaning down, he grabbed her hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of it.

“It has been a true pleasure, my lady,” he said as he lowered her hand and started towards the door. As he opened it, he heard Lara call out to him.

“Bram,” Lara’s voice trembled as she looked at him with desperate need.

Bram turned back to face her. “Aye.”

“I…I dinna want ye to go,” she whispered, staring into his eyes.

Bram could see the sadness in her eyes and a frown forming on her face. His heart skipped a beat. Hearing those words was all it took to change his mind. They were all he wanted to hear.

Slamming the door shut, he ran back to her. With great urgency, he grabbed her, pulling her into his arms, and tightly pressing her body against his. Lowering his lips, he kissed her firmly, with fervor, filled with want and need. Her lips were moist and tasted as sweet as nectar. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He wanted to touch her; to feel her bare skin against his.

Bram was completely lost in the moment. Had he been another man, he would have ripped the dress right off her and taken her right then and there. He kissed her again and again, rubbing his hands wildly through her hair and down the expanse of her back, keeping her body against his so that there was no distance between them.   

This was not meant to be a sweet and gentle kiss. This kiss was meant to ravish her, to breathe all of her in; her heart, her body, her soul. He kissed her as if his life depended on every touch, every breath; and when she pressed her body closer to his and deepened the kiss, he felt as if he was about to come completely undone. Emotions exploded through every chamber of his heart and each corner of his mind. In the back of his throat, he growled as his body ached with need. She was his, always and forever.

Bram’s kiss caused Lara to become feverish. With each kiss, her desire and passion built higher than she had ever experienced or imagined. Sucking in sharp breaths of air, she felt as if she was about to swoon, but his grip kept her upright as she melted into him. She had been holding back for so long that this release of emotion and desire freed her from the inner torment she felt. She wanted Bram, all of him.