Highlanders (23 page)

In the darkness, she closed her eyes, wondering how she would ever unravel herself from this knotted fate.

CHAPTER FIVE

“D
OUGAL
!” L
ADY
M
ARGUERITE
hurried forward to greet them. “What a wonderful surprise!” A genuine smile spread over the woman’s face. She had married his brother Callum years ago, and Dougal still viewed her as an angel. After Callum had been freed from prison, he’d lost his voice. Only Marguerite had been able to bring him back out of the years of torture.

Within moments, his brother appeared, holding the hand of his eldest son, Ailric. The lad gripped a bow in his hand, and at the sight of the boy, Dougal smiled. He’d carved that bow himself, out of an ash tree. The boy had spent three years at Glen Arrin but visited his parents often. Marguerite had insisted that she did not want her children forgetting who their mother and father were during their fostering.

Dougal helped Celeste dismount and led her forward. “This is Celeste de Laurent, Lady of Eiloch. Her escorts were killed on her way to Glen Arrin. I’ve promised her my protection until she can return to her sister.”

Celeste greeted Marguerite, and while the two women spoke, his older brother sent him a silent question. Dougal didn’t know how to answer for he hadn’t decided what would become of them. Celeste’s revelation had explained a great deal about why she’d refused to wed him, though he wished she’d given him the truth long ago.

She hadn’t trusted him to take care of her then. But would she trust him now? Did he want her to stay? His thoughts stood upon shifting ground, for he didn’t have the answers. For now, he would keep her safe. Beyond that, he didn’t know.

“Eiloch is a long way from here,” Marguerite was saying. “Come and refresh yourselves. I’ll see to it that you have food and drink.” She smiled warmly and gave orders to a servant while Callum led them inside.

The fortress had changed a great deal, having been rebuilt from the ground up. Although Cairnross was not large, the stone walls were thick, lending a good deal of protection. The main house was made of wood, and the comforting smell of a peat fire lingered in the air.

A three-year-old girl ran over to Callum and grabbed his knees. “Hello,
ma petite
,” he greeted her. He swung Nicole into the air, and the girl squealed with delight, chattering to her father and laughing. Then she nestled against him, staring at Dougal.

“She adores her father,” Marguerite said, bemused by the pair. “He gives her anything she wants.”

An unexpected vision ripped through Dougal, of a daughter with Celeste’s blue eyes. From the wistful look on her face, he could see that she did long to be a mother. Perhaps it was wrong of him, but he was glad that Edmon de Laurent had never given her a child.

“Have some wine, and we’ll talk,” Callum offered, leading them inside to sit down. But his brother’s expression held wariness. While Marguerite poured them cups of wine, he added, “My men saw a dozen soldiers approaching from the west. Searching for her, I suspect.”

“Aye.” Dougal noticed the way his brother held his daughter tighter, in a silent reminder that he would protect his children and his wife. “But you have archers. They won’t get close.”

“If Lord Eiloch dies, more men will come,” Callum said.

“How long until they arrive?”

“A few hours,” he answered. “Maybe less.” He took a sip from his own goblet, setting his daughter down and sending her off to play. “You should keep Lady Eiloch hidden when they arrive. We’ll let them search here, to avoid suspicion. When they are satisfied that she’s gone, they’ll leave and continue searching. We’ll take them along a different path.”

Celeste paled at his words. “I didn’t realize they had caught up to us.” She pushed her own goblet away, looking up at Dougal with fear. “I don’t want to bring enemies among you. That was never my intent.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “Perhaps we should go now, before they arrive.”

“No, my brother is right. If we run, we’ll be seen.” Dougal took her hand, wanting to reassure her. Callum would not have suggested hiding her if he did not have a place where she could not be found. “We’ll leave in the middle of the night when they cannot track us.”

Celeste squeezed his fingers, but he didn’t miss the fear.

“There’s a hidden chamber belowground, for storage,” Marguerite said. “Lord Cairnross used to keep prisoners there years ago. No one will find you...but I fear it’s very cold.”

Celeste looked at him, and though she tried to put on a brave face, he saw her fear of being alone.

“It will be all right,” he reassured her. “I’ll stay with you.”

She took a deep breath and ventured, “What about our tracks? They won’t believe we’re gone if the tracks end here.”

He let out a slow breath, understanding what she wanted him to do.

“Take Ivory and lead them deeper into the hills,” she continued. “I’ll...stay belowground in hiding as long as I must.” She squared her shoulders, her face appearing calm.

But he saw the truth in her eyes. She had reason to fear, for they had already fired arrows at her. If a single soldier found her, she might die.

“She’s right,” Callum agreed. “They already tracked you this far.”

Dougal stared at Celeste, wondering if he dared to leave her behind. Though she nodded, he didn’t miss the slight tremble at her lips. There was nothing he could do to ease her fear.

Callum reached for his bow, leaning down to kiss his wife. “We won’t be gone long. Hide her until our return.” Marguerite nodded and touched his face, her hands lingering upon his cheek.

Color rose in Celeste’s face. She was trying to remain calm, but when she met his eyes, he saw the worry lurking.

“I’ll return for you. I promise.” He rested his hand upon her spine in reassurance.

Marguerite led them toward the back of the Hall, where she lifted an iron ring, revealing a ladder that led belowground. “It’s down here,” she said, picking up a torch from an iron sconce on one wall.

“You can go with your brother,” Celeste told him. “I’ll be fine.” But even as she said the words, her eyes looked down into the darkness with undisguised fear.

“I won’t be gone long,” he promised. “We’ll lead them to a false trail.” But although she braved a smile, he saw through it. She took another breath to steady herself and then suddenly threw herself into his arms, gripping him hard.

He understood her need for comfort and security. The warmth of human touch soothed in a way words could not.

“Don’t be hurt on my behalf. No matter what happens,” she urged.

He kept his arms locked around her, breathing in the scent of her skin and marking a memory. The softness of her, the wordless gratitude, were so unexpected he couldn’t speak a word. Instead, he let his touch speak for him, resting his face against her hair while both arms held her tight.

“I feel safe with you,” she confessed. “And...I need you to return.”

Her blue eyes revealed the uncertainty, and she reached up to touch his roughened cheek. Aye, he fully intended to return to this woman. Especially with the way she was looking at him now.

“Remain in hiding until I come for you,” he commanded. Without knowing why, he leaned down and kissed her hard. She nodded, and when he left, he shielded the wayward thoughts and the empty ache that had begun inside him.

* * *

T
HE
CHAMBER
WAS
so frigid, Celeste could see her breath against the lonely torch Marguerite had given her. The cold night was an enemy impossible to defeat. It was a fear that sank into her veins, reminding her of how alone she was.

She leaned against the wall, thinking of Dougal. He possessed a strength that made her want to lean upon him, to take comfort. With each day she’d spent at his side, her feelings for him only intensified.

She’d wed Edmon de Laurent to give Melisandre the life neither of them had before. Though it had broken her apart to leave Dougal, she’d believed it was wiser to follow the urging of her head rather than her heart. She’d sacrificed herself, leaving the man she loved...the man she had never stopped loving. She couldn’t say what had rekindled the feelings, but time had not diminished them. She’d only pressed them deep inside, believing they would go away.

Beneath the fur coverlet Marguerite had given her, Celeste was trembling, though no longer from the cold. Dougal’s kiss had twined around her fragile heart, tempting her to see the man he was and not the guardian he represented.

Was there anything left between them now? Or was he protecting her only for the gain it would bring him? He might not want her anymore...only a stallion for his beloved mare. Guarding her was a means to an end. Hadn’t he pushed her aside time and again?

Let him go
, her head insisted.
Find another way to protect Melisandre.

A way that didn’t involve risking her feelings. She sensed that she was treading within shallow water that could drown her. It would take very little to push Dougal over the edge, to bring him into her bed. And after it was done, he might claim his own vengeance, leaving her behind.

Her earlier plan now seemed like the impulsive plan of a girl, not one that would offer any protection. Even if she did conceive a child, Rowena would never leave her in peace. The woman was ruthless and cared for nothing, save her own children. It was not safe to return. And it was not safe for Melisandre.

Dougal would keep his word to defend them both. But each moment she spent with him weakened the walls around her heart. He deserved better than a woman like her. She should let him go, ignoring the desire he’d conjured.

For if she did set aside her inhibitions, it would bare her heart in a way that would break when they parted ways.

* * *

D
OUGAL
RODE
FOR
an hour north while the soldiers searched Cairnross. Although Marguerite had promised that it was impossible for anyone to find Celeste, he couldn’t let go of the sense that he should be there with her. Both of them knew what would happen if they caught her.

He gritted his teeth against the thought, turning back and retracing his path back toward the fortress. When he reached the river, he drew the mare into the water, hiding her tracks there. Again, he changed direction, leading Ivory into the hills, obscuring any tracks he’d made. He waited on higher ground until it was late afternoon. Only then did he see Callum’s men leading Lord Eiloch’s forces upon the trail he’d made. He breathed easier when they took the bait, for it meant they had not found Celeste.

Impatience pulled at him to go to her, to bring her out from underground and ensure that she was safe. A vision pulled at his mind, of her arms around him, her body pressed close.

The past few days had worn both of them down, and in the face of the threats surrounding them, there was the need to reaffirm life. To hold her skin against his, daring to reach for a woman he was never supposed to have.

Was it worth it, to kneel before her body to worship, knowing that she might once again walk away? Or could he convince her to look past his poverty to see the man he was? The man who would never let anyone harm her.

* * *

C
ELESTE
DIDN
’
T
KNOW
how many hours passed or how long she was waiting in the dim light before the trapdoor swung open.

“Are you all right?” came the voice of Dougal. He climbed down the ladder and helped her back to her feet.

No, she wasn’t. But Celeste forced herself to answer yes, despite her chattering teeth. She’d remained beneath the fur coverlet, trying to stay warm. Her hands were numb, her cheeks icy from remaining belowground for so long.

“Come above, and I’ll see to it that you get warm.” His voice held worry, and he guided her hands to rest upon the ladder rungs.

Her hands stilled upon the wood, and she paused a moment. “What happened to the soldiers?”

His hands encircled her waist, and he gave her a slight nudge, silently encouraging her to climb. “Callum let them search here, while I went riding with Ivory, making a trail to the north. It should keep them occupied for a while.”

Though she climbed up a single rung, Celeste turned to face him while his hands remained at her waist. “Will they be back?”

“Not this night,” he said. “You can get warm and sleep without fear.”

She wasn’t certain that was true, but she managed a nod. “Thank you for your help.”

“I keep my promises, Celeste. I’ll let nothing happen to you.”

She stared into his eyes, unable to stop herself from reaching toward his face. Gently, she smoothed a hand over his hair, resting her palm against the back of his head. Standing atop the single rung, it brought her face even to his. He was so close, she could lean in and touch his mouth with hers.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he warned, his voice in a low growl. Though she was shivering, she saw the flare of desire in his eyes. It was like last night, when he’d warned her of what he would do if he spent the night beside her. Her body softened at the thought of him claiming her, moving with their bodies joined together.

Quickly, she turned away, climbing up the ladder. Her breathing was shallow, her heart quaking within her chest. When she reached the top, Lady Marguerite and Callum were waiting. The light was fading, and Celeste stumbled toward the fire burning in the hearth.

“She’s freezing,” Dougal told Marguerite. “We need to get her warm.”

“I’ll arrange for a hot bath,” the young woman agreed. To Celeste, she added, “There is a smaller chamber near to mine. I’ll have the children sleep down here tonight, and you may have the space to yourself.”

Celeste thanked the woman, still rubbing her hands above the fire. Dougal was speaking to his brother, and she watched him from the corner of her eye. They were discussing the men tracking her, and although he’d tried to explain that there was no longer any danger this night, she didn’t believe it. They would not abandon the search so easily.

Servants were busy heating water and bringing it above stairs for her bath. The idea of sinking into hot water was near to heaven, and she was eager to get warm. Marguerite offered her a fresh gown to borrow, and Celeste followed the woman up the winding wooden stairs, grateful for it.