Knight of the Highlander (5 page)

She glanced to his full lips and wondered if he kissed as well as the Englishman. Immediately her face heated with a blush as she mentally scolded herself for being so wanton. His expression was unreadable, yet as he seemed to notice her flaming blush his eyes turned suspicious. Before she could react, the expression was gone.

****

"Good day tae ye Miss Arywnn," he spoke in his gravely brogue. More than anything, he wished for the freedom to speak true, letting her know that it was he who had kissed her so passionately the night before. Reminding himself of the need to remain unknown, he rather spoke in the brogue she was accustomed to hearing from her village blacksmith.

So lost was he in his own tormented world, he almost missed the longing gaze she cast him. When his flesh prickled with awareness, he glanced up expecting and preparing for anyone but Arywnn. When her green eyes darted down to his lips, she parted hers.

It was almost his undoing.

With resolute force, he flexed his leg muscles to anchor himself to the spot. It was the only action that would prevent him from racing across the distance and kissing her once again. But as her face blushed crimson and she cast him a sultry glance, he became concerned that perhaps he wasn't as careful as he had thought and maybe, maybe she suspected him. As quickly as he thought it, he dismissed it as he saw her eyes take on a gentle edge that assured him that she was blissfully unaware of his duplicity. When she took a step closer, he unlocked his ridged posture and stepped forward as well.

She entered the darkened forge with tentative steps, and he took the opportunity to study her features with detailed care. She carried a slightly reddish hue at the base of her chin and neck, no doubt from his beard and passionate assault from the previous night. Though he was thankful it was hardly noticeable, a satisfied pride filled his chest. Absentmindedly, he rubbed his bearded chin.

"G'day tae ye, Miss Arywnn," Colin spoke politely, careful to keep his tone light.

"G'day tae you as well Colin," she offered with a slight blush. Colin watched her expression. Could it be that she was attracted to him, or was she remembering the rogue from the night before? A smug grin tugged at his lips, and she cast him a confused expression.

"Out fer yer noontime ride then?" he asked, forcing his features into his usual inscrutable expression.

She paused a moment before answering. "Aye, of course." She hesitated, tilting her head to the side and regarding him with a sharp eye. "We're friends, aren't we Colin?"

"I'd like tae think so, aye."

"If I asked ye a question, ye would tell me true, wouldn't ye?" she asked, watching his eyes with care.

"Aye lass that I would," his heart spoke the words before his mind could remind him of the impossibility. Especially if her question regarded a certain rogue who rescued her the night before…

"What do ye think, of my father's announcement? How do ye feel about a traitor in our midst?" she asked in a lowered voice, as if she were afraid of speaking the question aloud.

Colin was surprised at her question, but he made sure his face wouldn't betray his shock. He relaxed his posture so that he braced himself against the wall, and folded his muscular arms across his chest. He took a moment to regard her.

"Well, tae be true 'tis disconcernin' thinking about a traitor sneakin' round our home trying to cause trouble. I don't like the thought, not one bit," he responded, as he purposefully held eye contact throughout the length of his lie.

How he hated lying to her, especially after just promising to be honest. The lie sat like a burr in his chest, but he saw no way around it. Hopefully it was the only lie he'd be forced to give her, at least today.

"As for yer da, what do you mean his announcement?" he asked, curious. With a profuse blush that reached to her hairline she looked down at her feet and teased the plaid with her fingers, picking away imaginary dust.

"About his promise of…" She trailed off before finishing. With a shake of her head she glanced up. "Nothing, 'tis nothing. Forget I asked," she spoke with quick words before spinning on her heel, and attempting to rush away.

He reached out and gently grasped her arm, halting her escape. Her green eyes held both fear and self-recrimination. He searched her expression, and then mentally went over her last words. At last he figured out what she was asking, and the realization both thrilled and chilled him to his core. Humbled at her bravery in approaching him for such a bold request, he was not willing to let her berate herself for her courage.

"Aye lass, indeed there is nothing more that I'd like than tae catch the cur betraying our clan so that I could have ye," he whispered, his gaze boring into hers with sincerity, yet certain hopelessness clenched his heart as well.

What a tangled web!

To do what she was asking, he'd be turning himself in, hanging, and most assuredly not marrying her. Yet as futile as the situation was, his heart rejoiced. She wanted him, at least the person he was pretending to be. It filled him with a joy he didn't know existed.

"Truly?" she asked. A fierce light of expectation and hope illuminated her deep emerald eyes as she searched his gaze.

"Truly lass." The words poured from Colin's soul. There was no deeper a desire than to possess her, however unlikely. Reluctantly, he released his grip on her arm before tracing its length with his fingers. She closed her eyes, and Colin's mind replayed their kiss night before and with supreme self-control he released her completely, taking a step back from temptation itself.

"Aye lass, ye've made me a prideful man today with your brave request." A moment passed as he let his gaze bore into hers, surely betraying the depth of his emotion.

She appeared to be hesitant once again as she glanced up at him through her dark lashes. A question was in her eyes before it made it to her lips.

"So, what should we do?"

"We?" Colin asked. He suspected her plan, yet if there was ever a time to pretend ignorance, it was now.

The exasperated look on Arywnn's face was comical as she rolled her eyes and placed a dainty hand on her hip. "Aye we! I can help ye ken. The best way is if we work together, don't ye think?"

"I don't know why ye need tae be involved. 'Tis dangerous work even for a man, let alone a bonny lass such as yerself." The tone of his voice was calm, as he tried to undermine her attempt to cajole him into letting her search as well. A blush tinted her cheeks at his compliment, and he felt a self-satisfied smile try to break free.

"Thank ye, but I can take care of myself."

The temptation to remind her of last night's misadventure was nearly overwhelming. He bit his tongue to keep the words from escaping but before his teeth drew blood, she glanced down and flushed as if remembering. Relieved, he took a deep breath.

"Why the sudden lack of courage lass?" he prodded her, wondering if she'd confide in him.

"Tis none of yer business." The flash of anger in her eyes was impressive, but he couldn't leave the question alone. He had to know where her loyalty lied.

"Och, lass but yer mistakin'." The words tumbled out as he met her defiant gaze with a calculating glance of his own.

"If'n I'm to catch the knave and win you're bonny hand, then I need any information ye can offer. That makes it my business. After all…" He took a step closer to her, and inhaled the rosemary scent that would follow him throughout all his dreams. "Ye did ask for my help, did ye not?"

She watched him with a curious expression.

"Aye, but…" She watched him. As the seconds ticked by, Colin wondered again if maybe he had given away a clue. A quick mental review of his words assured him that he hadn't misspoken.

"But what lass?" He forced himself to have an indifferent expression as he watched her.

"Am I that easy to read then?" Her words surprised him. The focus of his fears had been on himself; never once had he questioned her fears in the situation. With a self-recriminating mental slap, he tried to assure her.

"Only to those who ken ye lass." After last night, she would have reason to be afraid that her expression would potentially give away the truth of what happened to her. Not waiting for her to continue to question herself, he pushed onward. The urge to know whether she trusted him enough to confide in him regarding what happened last night compelled him.

"So, do ye ken somethin' lass? Perhaps did ye saw something…?" He waited; using his training to appear relaxed, while inside his heart nearly burst from the intense strain of his own curiosity.

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?" The suspense was torturing his patience.

"This is not the place to speak of it."

A glance around proved her correct, and he chastened himself for not being more vigilant. "Wise. How 'bout tonight, near the loch. Ye remember the burned tree? There." He spoke in low tones as his eyes scanned the street for curious passersby.

"Aye, that'll do. When?"

"Midnight."

"Till then Colin." She nodded and backed away, a small smile teasing her full pink lips.

"I'll count the hours Arywnn. Tis the truth." The words rang with sincerity. A blush teased her high cheekbones before she spun and hastened into the stables. Whistling a merry tune, Colin ducked back into the forge. Indeed today was a day of surprises, and it would only get better with time. As he walked toward the fire to remove a glowing rod, he felt himself grin as he thought of how he would indeed meet her at midnight, perhaps twice.

****

As Arywnn walked away, she felt as if the excitement and shock of her actions would surely cause her to come apart! What had possessed her to be so bold? She didn't care! What mattered is that it had worked. After last night's adventure and the sleepless night that resulted, she forced herself to make a decision.

She needed help.

The only one she trusted was the same man she would choose if given the chance.
Colin
.

She would enlist his aid.

Yet she hadn't planned on brazenly approaching him and laying her heart out for him to see, clear as day. In her mind she had been much more subtle, and it was he who admitted to wanting to win her hand, not the opposite! A gentle smile tugged at her lips as she remembered his expression when her words tumbled out. She would have turned away and ran for the hills had his face not betrayed his own deep emotions at her request. Her smile faded slightly as she pondered their secret meeting later this eve. She needed to be honest with him. Tell him of the English Knight, yet part of her wanted to keep it as a delicious secret.

The wooden gate of Garten's padlock felt soft from wear as she ran her fingers over the grain, deep in thought. She had to choose, and it was an easy choice to make. She'd tell Colin. Yet, as she saddled Garten she wondered. If it were such an easy choice, why did she feel like she were the traitor?

The cool night air was fragrant with the smell of damp leaves and rain. Arywnn walked silently as possible as she wove her way around the moss-covered trees. The loch was shimmering from moonlight that had broken through the receding clouds. With great care she waited by the tree Colin had designated, listening for sounds of his approach. She was early. With a sigh she watched her breath swirl around her face before disappearing into the night.

When Colin arrived she would surely tell him of the English Knight, she had no loyalty to him so it was foolish to feel guilty. Heaviness in her chest betrayed her attempt at belittling her traitorous heart. A chill swept over her skin causing gooseflesh to break out. Another thought pricked her mind. What would Colin say about the kiss? She hadn't thought about that. The choice was made without hesitation. She wouldn't tell him about the kiss. That would be her secret. Everyone was entitled to their own secrets, weren't they? Surely even Colin.

****

Colin watched as Arywnn kicked the dirt with her boot as she waited under the tree's canopy. The moonlight was just bright enough to see her outline, but not her face. Her muttered words reached his ears, and he grinned as he caught words like 'kiss' and 'secret.' He had debated for hours after she left on whether to perhaps play the blacksmith or the Knight, but until he heard her muttering about secret kisses he hadn't made up his mind. The silent movement of pulling out his scarf and wrapping it around his face caused his lips to form a grin. With each footstep he took toward her he tried to convince himself he was simply testing her loyalty, not trying to steal another kiss.

"Milady, you must not roam about the night. Don't you know there are rogues and knaves about?" The words were spoken with his crisp English inflection. He waited for her response as he walked into the moonlight, circling her as she backed into the tree's shadow further.

"Aye, tis true. In fact I'm seein' one now." Her tone was teasing, but there was a hesitant edge to her voice.

"You wound me! One would hope that my actions last night ought to redeem me to some extent, wouldn't you agree?" he asked, taking a step closer.