The Laird's Captive Wife (22 page)

Ashlynn laughed. ‘I hardly think that applies in this case for you know full well that I have a temper and one too easily roused.’

‘Not so. You were ever unpredictable, lass, but as to the rest, you never lost your temper without good cause.’

The quiet tone held no trace of levity and it caught her off balance for, while she felt perfectly capable of holding her own with him in any amount of verbal sparring, it was harder to know how to deal with this.

In the event she was saved the trouble because the musicians struck up and heralded the start of the dancing. Iain rose and held out his hand.

‘Will you honour me, my lady?’

Once again she was caught unawares. However, after a moment she gave him her hand and allowed him to lead her out. Soon the other couples formed around them. Dancing was not an activity she would have associated with him, but it soon became apparent that, for so tall a man, he moved with considerable grace.

‘Where did you learn to dance?’ she asked as the figure brought them together.

‘In France. In my aunt’s house it was
de rigueur
, just as it was for every page and squire to learn how to comport himself in company.’ He grinned. ‘Six months under her tutelage was enough to knock off the rough edges.’

‘I thought you went there for military training.’

‘So I did, but the two things went hand in hand. Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.’

Ashlynn laughed. Then the dance separated them again but his words had given her much to think about. The wider reputation of the man they dubbed Black Iain concealed a personality far more complex, and it intrigued her.

When the measure ended her hand was claimed by other partners and he as host invited other ladies on to the floor. She noted that, without exception, they never took their eyes off him, looking up into his face and smiling, clearly hanging on his every word. It was borne upon her yet again that her husband was a very attractive man.

Later, when the musicians took a break, the company demanded the appointment of a Lord of Misrule to lead the future festivities. After some lively banter a youth called Hamish was duly elected. Ashlynn recalled that he was one of Iain’s many cousins. Lord of Misrule was a role he stepped into with ease. His first act was to call for a game of blind man’s buff, a suggestion received with much favour, especially by the younger members of the gathering. Accordingly a blindfold was produced. Then Hamish turned to Ashlynn.

‘As Lord of Misrule I decree that you shall wear the blindfold first, my lady.’

Taken totally by surprise Ashlynn held up her hands in protest but the company would have none of it and in the end she yielded, laughing. The guests cheered. As Hamish fastened the blindfold over her eyes, Iain handed his cup to Duncan.

‘It has been a while since I’ve played this. Let’s see if I remember how.’

To his brother-in-law’s amused surprise he joined the others in the centre of the hall to the general approbation. Ashlynn heard the increased laughter but knew not the cause. Then Hamish spun her round and let go. Swaying a little she regained her balance, edging forward with outstretched hands. She heard rustlings in the straw underfoot as people skipped out of the way, and heard giggling and laughter all about her. For a while she stumbled around and then, unexpectedly, her hands met the woollen fabric of a tunic. Exploring further they discovered a man’s arms and then a pair of broad shoulders. The laughter grew. Suddenly the arms closed round her waist and shoulders and crushed her against a lean hard body. Then a man’s mouth was over hers in a kiss that had nothing of gentleness in it but something quite other.

Taken by surprise Ashlynn had no time to struggle and the hands that had moved instinctively to push him away suddenly lacked the will or power to do so for deep within a treacherous spark awakened and then flamed, spreading like fire through her veins. It was a kiss so blatantly passionate that it drew shocked gasps from the delighted spectators. When eventually he released her there was a moment of complete silence. Then roars of approval shook the rafters of the hall. Breathless and astonished Ashlynn removed the blindfold and stared into her husband’s face. His eyes were alight with amusement. He was also very clearly enjoying her evident confusion. Speechless, Ashlynn relinquished the blindfold to Hamish and, since there was no help for it, allowed Iain to lead her aside. When they were a safe distance from the others she confronted him.

‘You did that on purpose, didn’t you?’

‘That’s right. It’s the point of the game you see.’

The words took her straight back to their wedding day. He had kissed her then for the benefit of others. She hadn’t been able to help her response then either.
‘By God, lass, you play the game well.’
Was this part and parcel of the same thing? Indignation was replaced by hurt and uncertainty.

‘This is all a game to you, isn’t it?’

Amusement faded. ‘A game? What are we talking about here, Ashlynn?’

‘You know full well.’

‘I don’t think I do. Explain it to me.’

‘This…this whole situation.’

‘You’re angry because I kissed you in public?’

‘No.’

‘Then why?’

Even as she sought the words to tell him, Duncan appeared beside them.

‘Forgive me, but I need to borrow your husband, my lady.’ He grinned and jerked his head towards the far side of the room. ‘There’s an argument over yonder that would be settled.’

Her heart sank but there was only one possible answer. ‘By all means.’

Iain gritted his teeth knowing there was nothing for it save graceful compliance. However, before he left he fixed Ashlynn with a penetrating look.

‘I’ll be back, my lady, and this discussion will be resumed.’

Sick at heart she watched him walk away. Just when everything seemed to be going well she had alienated him. What had possessed her to say it? Of course it was a game! Why couldn’t she have left it at that? She knew perfectly well where his feelings lay.

* * *

When Iain left her he fully intended to return as promised and have the matter out. However, that was easier said than done. By the time he had settled the argument amongst Duncan’s circle the dancing had started again and Ashlynn’s hand was claimed for every measure. He noticed too that she made no attempt to seek him out or even look in his direction. What had happened to anger her so much? Surely a kiss could not be the cause, no matter how public.

From his vantage point Iain watched his wife laughing and talking with the other guests. To anyone else she would have seemed quite at ease. Iain, looking more closely, was undeceived. He could sense the tension in her. It occurred to him then that what had happened earlier might be due to reasons other than he had initially supposed. She must be missing her home and her family. With her emotions in this fragile state it would not take much to upset her. What was it? How he wished she would tell him. He was so preoccupied with the thought that at first he failed to notice the woman who had come to stand beside him.

‘She’s very beautiful, Iain.’

He looked round and saw Jeannie. ‘Aye, she is.’

‘And charming too,’ his sister went on. ‘She has but to smile to have men eating out of her hand. Women as well it seems.’

‘She has charm and to spare.’

‘I had not realised your taste was so good.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘I can quite see why you wanted her to wife.’ She paused. ‘What is much less clear is why she agreed.’

‘Don’t flatter me, Jeannie, whatever you do.’

‘You forced her to wed you, did you not?’

‘When the king commands it is unwise to do anything other than comply. I had no more choice in the matter than Ashlynn. Malcolm solved the problem with as little inconvenience to himself as possible.’

‘And yet you have not done so badly by the bargain.’ She shook her head. ‘In truth it is Ashlynn I feel for. A woman has no chance when pitted against the will of powerful men.’

‘She has an honourable position here. The alternative would have been a lot worse.’

‘So you were the lesser of two evils then?’

‘If you choose to put it like that.’

‘Oh, I do. As I said, I know you well, brother. All the same, I’m fascinated to see you in the role of protector to a lovely woman.’

‘I can assure you it is a role I take most seriously.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. The lass has had a bad time of it by all accounts.’

‘Aye, she has, but that is over now at least. Nothing shall hurt her again if I have the power to prevent it.’

The words were quietly spoken but Jeannie heard the resolution that underlay them and looked up in surprise, yet there was no mistaking the ingenuous tone. Recalling the cold and bitter man he had been before, she realised that something fundamental had changed and her heart knew a glimmer of hope.

Iain tossed off the remainder of his wine and cast another look across the room. Seeing his wife surrounded by a crowd of admirers all vying for her attention, he experienced a re-awakening of the feeling he’d had when he saw her with Robbie that day in the courtyard. Annoyance turned in on itself. He had no grounds for jealousy. Ashlynn was beautiful and men admired her, wanted her. Yet for all her banter and smiles she knew how to hold them at arm’s length. That of course just had the effect of making them try harder. He should know. He too was fully alive to his wife’s physical charms. At night he lay awake knowing there was but a door between them and that he had the key, knowing how easy it would be to use force. However, he wanted more than mere bodily submission. She must come to him or it meant nothing. And so he waited…and waited. Just when he thought he was making progress he found himself back where he’d started.

Watching her now he saw her excuse herself from the group and move to speak to her brother who was standing nearby. She put an arm about him, a casual and loving gesture that meant nothing and everything. His jaw tightened as jealousy resurfaced for the second time. What on earth was the matter with him that he should lose his customary sense of perspective over something so trivial? Ban was her brother and she loved him. Why should she not? The lad was handsome and brave and good company withal. In his presence she opened like a flower in the sun. With him her smile was unforced, her laughter from the heart. Ban too played his part well. It was a testament to their spirit that they would not inflict their sorrows on others even though the wounds were still raw.

His admiration grew, along with his frustration for, while he knew that Ashlynn wasn’t totally indifferent to him, she never looked at him as she looked at Ban, never smiled in quite that way. He had once told Ashlynn that she would see him every day of her life whether she wanted to or not. How ironic then that it was he who now suffered the torment of seeing her every day, of speaking to her, of being close enough to touch her and yet knowing himself as far away as ever. Be that as it might, he would know the cause of her displeasure before this evening was over.

* * *

Ashlynn felt only relief when the female members of the company started to drift away. Soon she too could escape and seek the sanctuary of her chamber. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Iain talking to Duncan and Jeannie. She saw him take his sister’s hand and smiled to herself, glad to see that some degree of amity had been restored. The two of them strolled towards the door to be joined by several other ladies. There they paused while he bade them all a courteous goodnight. When they had disappeared from view he turned back to the room at large, his gaze searching. It found Ashlynn at once and held her. If she had been expecting him to return and mingle she was mistaken; he remained exactly where he was, waiting. The message was plain. To leave the hall she must pass him first and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

Knowing there was no point in delaying the inevitable Ashlynn excused herself from the company. Iain watched her come. For a moment they surveyed each other in silence. Then he took hold of her arm. The grip didn’t hurt but it would not be resisted either. He drew her with him into the corridor. Ashlynn glanced up, expecting him to stop but he didn’t. Instead, and much to her consternation, she was conducted up two flights of stairs and along the corridor to his room. He pulled her in with him and closed the door behind them. Then he leaned upon it, surveying her keenly.

‘Now that we are quite private, you and I going to talk, lass.’

‘There is nothing to say.’

She took a step towards the door but he did not move. ‘I think there is, and you’re not leaving until this matter is resolved.’ He paused. ‘Now, tell me what it was so offended you that you must avoid me all the rest of the evening. I cannot believe it was just a kiss.’

Ashlynn shook her head sadly. Just a kiss. That really was all it meant to him. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘It does matter. If my memory serves me aright, you spoke of playing games. It carries an imputation I don’t much care for.’

‘Did it strike a nerve, Iain?’

His eyes narrowed a little. ‘You think that my kissing you was some kind of game?’

‘Wasn’t it?’ she replied. ‘Wasn’t it just a charade for the benefit of your guests? You did it very well too I may say. I think they were convinced.’

He gave a hollow laugh. ‘Is that what you think?’

‘What else is there to think?’

‘That I might have kissed you because I really wanted to, that the passion wasn’t feigned, that you’re so beautiful I don’t know how to keep my hands off you.’

‘Because you want me in your bed you mean.’

‘Aye, I do, in case it’s not already clear. What’s wrong with that?’

She swallowed hard. ‘Everything, when you love someone else.’

‘What!’ His brows drew together. ‘Who is it that you think I love, Ashlynn?’

‘Eloise!’ She flung the name at him. ‘You told me as much yourself. She’s the reason you never remarried, would never have remarried until the king commanded it. I believe you only agreed because you needed heirs to continue your line.’

For a moment he was quite still, regarding her intently, his face white. Then, when he was sure he could keep his voice under control, ‘Do you so?’