Highlander's Prize (28 page)

No… She wanted more… She wanted her lover…

***

Rain fell down on her, the drops soaking into her dry tongue. She opened her mouth, greedy for more. More water slipped over her face, easing the tightness and carrying away the heat. She wanted to wake but couldn’t find the strength; the task of lifting her eyelids was beyond her. So she drifted off into sleep as the rain receded.

***

“I’ve come for ye, lass!” Argyll’s voice pierced her slumber, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

“No!” she screamed, sitting up and kicking the bedding off her legs. “Get out of my chamber, you letch!” She stumbled across the floor to the table, fumbling to grip the first thing she felt there.

“Get out!” She hurled the pottery bowl toward the mirror, at the laughing face of Argyll. It smashed, flowing onto the floor like melted silver. “And stay away from me!”

Her entire body shook, her knees knocking together. The chamber door slammed into the wall as Broen kicked it open with such strength.

“I dealt with your ghost,” she informed him before he began to chastise her. His face was twisted into an expression of amazement. “Indeed… I did.”

Her throat was raw, and her legs refused to support her. All she could do was look at the floor. She was helpless to stop herself from collapsing. Broen caught her, sweeping her off her feet just as her knees buckled. He clasped her close, his arms quivering—she didn’t understand why.

“What—”

“Shh… Lass, ye’ve been at death’s door for three days…” He laid her down as gently as though she were a babe. He lifted a small cup from the bedside table and placed it to her lips. The water tasted sweet, and she grasped his hands, trying to tip it faster.

“No’ too much, else it will come right back up.”

She hadn’t realized her eyes were closed. Broen took the cup away when Edme spoke, and she opened her eyes to search for it.

“More,” she insisted.

Edme carried a single candle, but that flame was bright enough to make her eyes sting. But that wasn’t the worst. She wrinkled her nose when she realized the stench she smelled was coming from herself.

“Lord… I need a bath…” Mortification gave her the strength to lift one hand and push against Broen. “Go—”

“The stench of hell itself couldn’t move me from yer side, Clarrisa.” There was a tremor in his voice that drew her hand to his face. Several days of beard covered his cheek, and dark shadows hung beneath his eyes. He angled his head so her fingers cupped his jaw completely, his eyes narrowing with pleasure as he gently gripped her forearm to help her maintain the contact.

“’Tis glad I am to see ye defying what everyone expected of ye, lass.” His voice caught, thick with emotion. “Right glad, indeed.”

***

“Do ye think I do nae know ye must have shown her the way out?”

Nareen stiffened, but she didn’t jump. There was no need, for she’d been expecting her brother to confront her.

“I know ye are an intelligent man.”

Kael moved into her chamber and sent the maids scurrying with a snap of his fingers. A quiver did shake her belly, for Kael kept his emotions hidden behind his carefree demeanor most of the time. That snap was like an outburst, a crack in his impermeable shell. He was furious.

“Ye look surprised, Sister.” The door closed with a bang.

“I am. She was but an Englishwoman,” Nareen offered.

“One with royal blood,” Kael snapped. “Ye are nae a simpleton, Sister. If we offend the prince or the king, we could lose everything.”

Nareen flipped her hand through the air, trying to dismiss the importance of the matter. “None will notice her being gone. She was barely here.”

“She was here long enough. The Earl of Sutherland will know ye allowed her to go free, and it’s very possible he’ll assume ye could nae have possibly come up with the idea on yer own.”

Nareen crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that what has yer feathers ruffled? The idea that ye shall share the blame? ’Tis the first time I’ve heard ye worry about gossip.”

“This is nae a children’s game, Nareen,” Kael snapped. “Sutherland could demand ye be lashed.”

“I do nae care.”

He growled, “That stubbornness will nae protect ye when the leather bites into yer tender flesh, nor will it save ye from the fever that so often follows. Ye’ve made it impossible for me to protect ye.”

Shame came at last, and it was brutal. “Och, Kael. I do owe ye an apology, for ye’ve always been a fine brother, but I could nae live with meself. No’ when I saw the way Norris was looking at her. I just could nae stand idle while she suffered the fate I deplore so greatly.”

Kael shook his head, still darkly furious. “Ye insult me, Sister. Gravely so.”

Now she was confused. “I do nae understand ye.”

A ghost of a grin appeared on his lips. “I would never have allowed Norris to take her. I’d have taken her down to the passage meself once I was sure Norris was settled in for the night.”

He turned his back on her, but she flew after him, hooking his arm and spinning him back around to face her.

“Then ye are misplaced to judge me so harshly simply because I found the opportunity to help her first.”

His eyes were glowing with anger. She stared at the heat, mesmerized because she had only seen Kael so close to losing control once before. It was a memory she recoiled from.

“I judge ye, Sister, because it is me place to protect ye and this family.” Duty edged each word. “Never once have I asked ye to suffer any ridiculous rule set down by church or state, unless it was for the continued well-being of our kin.” He moved toward her, pushing her back with the sheer weight of his outrage. “And in case ye are unclear, Sister, I am talking about matters that affect where our winter food will come from or how our people will deal with the snow if they have no homes because another clan burned them in retaliation.”

He froze, drawing in a deep breath. “Ye will leave matters of such importance to me, or at least bring yer ideas to me before acting upon them. Now dress warmly and get into the passageway. Me men are waiting to take ye south to Cousin Ruth.”

“Ye’re sending me away?” For all that she’d often told herself she wouldn’t care if he was displeased with her, it stung fiercely.

“I’m hiding ye, for the guards have spotted Norris heading back this way. No doubt he’s failed to find Clarrisa and is likely to demand ye be punished or taken in her place. But do nae make the mistake of thinking that means he’ll wed ye. He’ll take ye up north and secure ye so his father can demand anything of our father or risk knowing ye suffer for his disobedience. The Sutherlands are earls because they know how to protect their interests. Norris came for Clarrisa, and he will nae return home with naught.”

She lifted her chin, refusing to allow the horror churning in her belly to show. “I’ll bear whatever he demands.”

“Ye shall nae.” Each word sliced like a blade. “It is me duty to safeguard ye. Norris will be content with the fact that I sent ye off to an older woman for instruction, or he may have at me, but ye will respect me wishes in this matter.”

“Or what?” She was playing with fire, but part of her wanted to know more about this side of her brother’s personality. He kept it so private that she found herself facing a stranger.

His lips twitched into a grin, but it wasn’t a pleasant expression. Instead it was full of promise. Grim, solid promise.

“I’ll have ye bundled like a babe and taken away for yer own good—but I shall be the one facing Norris.”

He left her while she was still stunned into silence. Her temper flared, but so did her shame. It was an odd mixture, one that dug deeply into her heart. She’d been selfish, only focused on appeasing her own feelings without realizing the repercussions that might land on her fellow clansmen. Such were the actions of a child—and she was well past the age of being excused for her tender years. Curse the nature of men.

But not her brother. Kael was correct, and she wasn’t a liar. She began to dress in warm wool clothing and sturdy leather boots. She put a dirk in the top of her boot before she made her way toward the passageway, because traveling was dangerous even in the best of times. She did smile once she was surrounded by darkness, for Cousin Ruth was anything but prim. In fact, she was looking forward to seeing what the woman might teach her now that she was less of a child.

It would certainly be stimulating.

“Do nae fuss about yer hair,” Edme scolded.

“I’m not.” But Clarrisa didn’t turn away from the mirror. Her hair was chopped away at her shoulders, the ends curling upward. “I was simply amazed you trusted me with another mirror.”

“Oh well, ye were no’ in yer right mind when ye destroyed the last one. There was no reason to punish ye.” Edme was followed by two maids, who laid out a meal on the table. “Besides, we’re all still rejoicing over yer recovery.”

Did
that
account
for
the
fact
that
she
hadn’t seen Broen?

Clarrisa sat and kept the question to herself.

“Sweet Mary…” Edme muttered. Clarrisa looked up to see the head of house staring at her calf, where the dressing gown had flipped aside to show off one of the lace stockings she’d finished. She’d used the scarlet silk, and the contrast against her skin was stunning.

“Since you will not let me out of this room, I thought I’d wear them for a bit. It does take a long time to make them.”

Edme had pressed a hand to her chest and seemed to be considering the lace stocking intently. Her lips rose into a wicked smile.

“Seems ye should be inviting the laird to sup with ye if ye feel strong enough to wear those.”

“Invite him?”

Edme raised her gaze to Clarrisa’s face, and there was a firm reprimand in her eyes. “Well now, ye did leave him. A man has his pride. I do believe ye’d no’ be too happy if he visited the same upon ye. So… if ye wanted to see him, it seems only correct that ye would issue an invitation.”

Edme moved her attention to the maids who were straightening the bed. It provided Clarrisa the chance to contemplate what the woman had said.

Had
she
wounded
Broen’s pride?

The question made her wince because it made her sound like a milksop without a drop of confidence. She was worthy of a man being upset because she’d shunned him. What shamed her more was the fact that she had failed to consider his feelings while dwelling upon her own.

“Edme, would you please inquire of your laird if he would like to sup with me tonight?”

Edme offered her a satisfied smile. “I will do so directly.”

“I think I’ll go down to the bathhouse.”

“Ye shall nae,” Edme insisted. “A bath will be brought up.”

“Edme, you are spoiling me by waiting on me.” The head of house didn’t appear to be even a tiny bit impressed by her pouting. “And these walls are beginning to close in on me. Have mercy and allow me a short walk to prove my legs still work.”

Edme’s expression softened. “I suppose that is something I cannae refuse ye without being overly harsh.” Her eyes narrowed. “But I insist ye take those stockings off first. I do nae need every maid in the keep wearing those. No’ a thing will ever get finished, because the men will be following them about like puppies.”

Clarrisa laughed, but her tone was husky. Heat had settled in her cheeks and was flowing down to her belly. She was well rested—indeed, she felt strong and quite desperate to embrace life with a renewed vigor.

Every day was suddenly full of opportunities, ones she refused to cast aside because of someone’s opinion in some faraway church or palace. But apprehension twisted her belly too. It was possible Broen would want nothing to do with her. He was a proud Highlander, one who had earned his position. She’d shunned him in front of his clan, and such was not a thing easily forgiven.

But as she began to untie the garter secured around the top of her right stocking, a wicked idea began to form in her mind. Why should she be content with gaining his approval easily?

Seduction…

She’d heard the word said in so many different tones: Hushed ones by the fireside, muttered by smiling girls with twinkling eyes. Condemning tones, spoken as a warning by a priest intent on convincing her to follow a path of piety.

She folded the stocking gently and began to undo the second. The two maids were sneaking peeks from across the chamber. Edme snapped her fingers, but the head of house also sent her a wink of approval.

Yes… seduction. Broen MacNicols had overwhelmed her and unleashed passion inside her, so it seemed fitting to plan his downfall by the same method. She stood and patted the two stockings gently before going off to bathe and plan just how she was going to bring the brute who’d stolen her to his knees.