She placed her hand on his chest and he covered it with his one hand. Staring at their entwined hands, she continued, “I fancied a local lad who I thought was from the next castle, and I let him talk me into giving away my maidenhead. I’m no longer a virgin, Daniel, so no man will want me. The lad was only a local stable lad, and he bragged about his accomplishment to all who would listen. My sire was so furious he told our steward to get the boat ready, he planned to take me to a deserted island in the morn and leave me there. So I ran away.”
He lifted her fingertips to his lips, kissing each one. “And you thought that would keep me from loving you and wanting you?”
He did not even pause to think about it. His response was immediate, his love unconditional.
The tears blossomed again, and she was powerless to stop them. “Oh, Daniel. I do love you.” He wrapped her in his embrace and she cried into his shoulder, something she had needed to do. “No one wants a lass who doesn’t have her maidenhead,” she said through her tears, “and if my sire ever finds me, he’ll still leave me on the deserted island. I’ll die there a spinster.”
“This man wants you, and I don’t care if you lost your maidenhead. ’Tis just a piece of skin. And if we decide to marry, Baron Douglas Lockhart couldn’t do a thing.” He ran his hand down her back, being his usual tender self.
“Marry? You want to marry me? After hearing all that, you would still consider marrying me?” She stepped back to bring her gaze to his, swiping the tears away.
“I did until you took my arm from me and cut my beard. Look at me. I’m uneven now. I’m a hideous beast.”
She tapped his chest, trying to stop herself from giggling. “Daniel, this is no time for teasing. I love you. Do you love me?”
He grasped her hand and tugged her close again, then bent down on one knee.
And her heart nearly burst.
“Constance Lockhart of Lee, Lanarkshire. I love you with all my heart. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Oh Daniel, aye.” She fell against him, nearly knocking him over.
“Then we’ll get married as soon as we can,” he whispered in her ear. “As long as you promise not to throw my new hand away. It can be verra useful, at times.”
She chuckled and he sat cross-legged, tugging her onto his lap. She said, “Agreed, as long as you don’t take it to bed with you. I don’t want it in our bed. And I don’t like your new name, I want your old one.”
His lips crushed hers in a searing kiss, but he ended it long enough to say, “Agreed.”
Then she said, “I think I need to fix your beard. I did make a big mess of it.”
He growled, picked her up and settled her so they were lying face to face.
She said, “Now, that growl I like.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Daniel said, “Constance, I don’t want to wait. If we pass a kirk, I wish to marry you now.”
She nibbled his ear lobe and whispered, “I agree. Make me yours now, Daniel, and we’ll marry as soon as we find a priest.”
Daniel wanted nothing more than to make her his, but wouldn’t he be just as guilty as the other lad who took advantage of her? A noise from outside interrupted his carnal thoughts and he pushed himself to his feet, moving outside to see what had caused the sound.
He’d grabbed Treun just in case he needed it, fear of Lamont’s men and Baron Lockhart’s guards always at the forefront of his mind. There was no one around, of that he was certain. His horse still munched away at a cluster of tall grasses. The area was well hidden, so he doubted they’d be bothered. Connor would use his bird call to apprise him of his arrival.
He could understand why Constance had been shocked at his appearance. Though his heart was the same, he had new confidence. No longer the man with the stub, he felt more qualified to fight as a guard.
He turned around and headed back toward the waterfall—and then stopped short. Constance stood in front of him, her hands folded in front of her.
“Did you find anyone?”
“Nay. We’re quite alone. ’Tis a very isolated cave.”
“Good,” she said, reaching up to untie the ribbon on her gown. She lifted it over her head and tossed it aside, then lowered her shift, finally standing before him with naught on.
Daniel’s mouth went dry as he took in her beauty. “Constance, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He strode over to her, clutching one of her hands as he kissed her lips. “Are you verra certain, my wee one?” he asked. Then he took Treun and tossed it down next to her gown on the leaves of the forest.
“Aye, I’ve never been as certain as I am now. Make me yours, Daniel. I wish to lie together as husband and wife.”
Daniel let go of her hand and raced over to his horse, pulling a Drummond plaid out from his saddle bag. He returned, unfolded it, and said, “’Tis the best I have, but ’twill work.”
He took her hand in his and draped the end of the plaid over both of their wrists. “Constance Lockhart of Lee, I pledge my troth to you. I promise to love and protect you forever, and I promise to wed you as soon as we are able to locate a priest and a kirk.”
He nodded to her, smiling at the happy tears he saw in her eyes. “Your turn, lass,” he whispered.
“Daniel Drummond, I promise to love you forever, and I pledge my troth to you until we are able to find a kirk and a priest.”
He settled the plaid on the ground over a soft bed of leaves and removed his boots and his trews. When she shivered, he wrapped his arm around her. “I promise to keep you warm.” He led her to the plaid and helped her get comfortable on it before he lay next to her on his side, staring into her eyes. “Do you trust me, lass? I’ll not hurt you.”
“But it hurt before.”
Daniel reached up and wiped the tear from her cheek. “’Tis a common occurrence the first time for a lass. I will make sure you are ready for me. In fact, ’tis the perfect place for us to lie together the first time because you’ll not be embarrassed when you scream my name from pleasure.”
She giggled. “Daniel, I love you, but I don’t think I’ll scream your name. Please do not be upset if I don’t. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
He leaned toward her to give her his heat, his hand roaming down her back and across her soft bottom, not once, not twice, but three times—until she squirmed next to him. Each time he slowed his caress a bit more. “Nay, I won’t be upset. But I think you will do it. Just wait and see.”
How he hoped he was telling the truth. He wasn’t as experienced as many others he knew. With his hand the way it was, he hadn’t gained the interest of many lasses. But he had listened attentively to his cousins and learned all he could, swearing that when the day came, he would know how to make his love call his name.
He kissed her, a soft kiss to ease her into the passion he had already sensed in his bluebell, just waiting to be brought to the surface. One of the things he loved most about Constance was how open she was with her feelings.
She sighed and reached up to the back of his neck, wrapping her hands there, so he deepened the kiss, angling his mouth over hers until they reached a rhythm together, dueling tongues as they both became breathless.
“Daniel, I’ve never known a kiss to be so wonderful.”
He chuckled, trailing kisses down her neck, taking time to focus on the fine bone on her chest. His hand reached down to cup her breast, massaging the pert mound and then rubbing the taut peak until she bucked against him.
“Daniel!”
He leaned down to take her nipple in his mouth, breathing over the sensitive apex and whispering, “Not loud enough, love.” He suckled her, teasing her with his tongue until she gripped his hair, tugging him closer. His hand traced a path down her hip, across her bottom again until he reached her core. Parting her folds, he slipped his fingertip inside her, growling with delight when he found she was slick with need. He kissed her again, slanting his mouth over hers so he could go deeper. His
hand continued to stroke her until she parted her legs for him.
He leaned on his elbow and held himself above her, taking himself in his hand and saying, “Constance, touch me. I want you to know exactly what you do to me.”
She opened her eyes and touched him, pulling her hand back quickly and glancing at him. “I don’t know what to do.”
He guided her hand and said, “Stroke me the way I stroke you.”
She did so with a tentative grip, testing him, moving her hand back and forth until he could take no more.
“Lass, I cannot wait or I’ll spend myself before we even start.” He slid his knee between her thighs. “Guide me in,” he said, his voice husky with passion. “Open for me.”
He touched the tip to her opening. She gasped with pleasure, her legs spreading wider for him, and he thrust inside her, stopping for just a moment to ask, “Lass, I’m not hurting you…”
“Nay, Daniel. More, I need more. I don’t know what…”
Daniel plunged into her, pleased to see how quickly she caught his rhythm, and gripped her hip to hold her while he continued to thrust her at an angle she seemed to enjoy. He drove into her and began to lose all sense of what he was doing, the pleasure of her tightness sending him close to the abyss. He was nearly there, but he was determined she would reach her peak with him, so he reached down to touch her in just the right spot, and she yelled, “Daniel!”
They careened into oblivion together, her contractions driving him mad until he called her name with a roar and finished.
When his breathing calmed, he kept his weight on his elbow, kissed her neck, and said, “I heard my name.”
She did her best to even out her breathing but failed. Finally, she said, “True, but you were louder.”
Daniel couldn’t argue.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daniel heard the bird call he’d been expecting about half an hour after they’d dressed and returned to the cave. “Sorry, love. I have to answer my cousin. I’m betting ’tis Connor.” They’d been snuggled together, enjoying the peacefulness of the forest and talking about family.
He kissed her forehead and pushed himself to a standing position. He left the cave to stand next to the waterfall, his gaze searching the forest rich with autumn color, but he saw no one. He echoed the birdcall, and a few moments later, Connor appeared guiding his horse to the burn, though Terric wasn’t with him.
“You are hale?” Connor asked.
“Aye,” Daniel said, glancing over his shoulder as Constance stepped out behind him and peeked over his shoulder. “Any news?”
Connor waited until he was closer to Daniel and Constance before he spoke to them. “Pleased to see you again, lass. Those brutes didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“Aye, but I took care of everything,” Daniel said—just as Constance answered, “Nay, they did not hurt me.”
Daniel quirked a brow at her, pointing to the bruise on her face, “Fortunately, you cannot see it.”
She shrugged. “It does not hurt any longer now that I’m with you.” She leaned against him, and he wrapped his arm around her.
“Go on. She’ll mend,” Daniel said.
Connor gave him an odd look. “Did you trim your beard?”
“Nay,” Daniel barked.
“I did,” Constance replied, giggling. “He looks better, don’t you agree?”
“Never mind,” Daniel said, squeezing her shoulder lightly. “What have you uncovered? And did you see Terric?”
“Maggie and Will said to meet you at the kirk closest to Drummond land. I sent Terric back to Edinburgh. I had to promise him you would return to see him someday.”
“I will. He’s a fine lad. Why did Maggie want us to meet them there? Although ’twill suit our needs perfectly.” He winked at Constance. “We’re going to marry as soon as we can.”
“Congratulations, but you might wish to arrive ahead of them. Maggie and Will ran into a baron searching for his red-haired daughter.” He glanced at Constance and asked, “Any idea who they could be referring to?”
Constance took a deep breath and whispered, “Baron Lockhart of Lee?”
“That verra one. He’s ready to tear half of the Highlands apart to find you. Maggie said she’d lead him to a meeting with you. Your sire, lass?”
“Aye. I’ll talk to him, but I’ll not go with him.”
“I’ll go with you,” Daniel said calmly, rubbing her shoulder. “I’ll ask him for your hand and we’ll marry in the kirk. There will be no arguments.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said through a few tears.
“Connor, do you have any food?” Daniel asked as he helped Constance to his horse.
Connor said, “I have some bread for you.” He tossed it to Daniel, who handed it directly to Constance.
Connor then tossed him a hunk of cheese, so he broke it in two, giving half to Constance and popping the other half in his mouth. “Are you ready, lass? I promise to stay by your side.”
She nodded. “I’ll have to face him sometime. Why not now? Though I’m surprised he wishes to meet with us in the middle of the night.
“Maggie is bringing torches.”
They headed out, Connor in the lead.
“How far, Daniel?” Constance asked softly.
“Probably two hours. Close your eyes, lass.”
She leaned against him but stared straight ahead. “I doubt I could fall asleep knowing I’m going to see my father.”
“’Twill all be over soon. Think on it that way. We love each other, we’re getting married, and no one will stop us.”
She finally turned her head to look at him. “I pray you’re right,” she said, a twinge of uncertainty in her voice.
***
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the kirk, though it was past midnight. Several torches had been arranged around the clearing off the path near the church.
Constance’s heart was in her throat, mostly because she was afraid of her father and what he would do when he finally saw her. They stayed on their horses because the sound of other horses could be heard in the distance.
Maggie and Will strode out of the kirk, followed by three of Daniel’s cousins and several guards. “I wonder where my brother is,” Daniel said to Constance, though he did not speak loud enough for the others to hear. “You’re trembling, lass. I’ll protect you. You are mine now, even though the church has not made it official. We agreed, did we not?”
She turned to gaze into his deep green eyes and whispered, “Aye. We are husband and wife in my eyes.”
“Then that is how we shall present it to your sire. We are married. And we will be in the church’s eyes by the end of the morrow.”
Four of the guards who’d come with Maggie and Will mounted their horses and rode off, although she had no idea where they were going. Maggie and Will walked toward them. “Constance, your sire is on his way. I promised him you would talk with him. Do you agree to that?”
“Aye, but I’ll not go with him. He wished to put me on an island, punish me for…”
Maggie held her hand up. “You need not disclose that. We’re going to mount up, but I wanted your agreement first. We will ensure this does not become a battle. Gavin and Gregor are our best archers so I have them positioned out of sight. Braden and Connor will help out as needed.” Turning to Daniel, she asked, “Have you any word of lasses being stolen and sent away?”
“Nay, but Blair Lamont manages the Edinburgh part of the Channel of Dubh. Moves lasses at least once a month. They come from the north and his men bring them to the east. We still need to find out where.”
“We’ll do what we can.” The sound of approaching horses grew louder as Maggie asked, “Anyone else we need to worry about?”
Daniel shook his head. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lamont and his men show up, but there’s no one else to my knowledge. We sent some reivers running, and I doubt they’ll be back.”
Maggie moved over to her horse and Will he
lped her up. After he mounted, he said, “I’ll go to the side of the kirk with Braden. Connor, join me.”
“Maggie, where’s David?” Daniel asked.
“He returned to your land.”
Moments later, the horses came into their view, two banners held up even in the dark of the night. The full moon helped illuminate their view of the approaching men.
In an instant, she knew.
Constance whispered, “’Tis my sire. He’s in front in between the guards with the banners. How many men are behind him?”
Daniel whistled. “I’d say about a hundred guards.”
“We cannot fight one hundred guards,” she said urgently.
“Listen to me,” he whispered in her ear. “I’d prefer to keep you in front of me where I know I can protect you, but if you’d rather stay out of sight, I could move you behind me on the horse.”
“Nay, I wish to see my sire clearly. I’m done hiding from him, Daniel. Can you not see I must stand for what I believe is right?”
He kissed her forehead when she turned to him. “I support you, but I must insist that if anyone raises a sword or makes a battle cry, I will set you down so you can run to the kirk and hide. Agreed?”
“Aye, and I promise to wait for you.” Her gaze settled on the sea of horses, the warriors all tall in their seats, their eyes on her. The old Constance would have melted under her sire’s scrutiny, but with Daniel behind her, she had renewed strength and confidence. Her sire no longer held the same kind of power over her.
Maggie brought her horse to stand in front of them, waiting for Baron Lockhart of Lee to come closer. “As promised, I have your daughter here. Do I still have your word you will not attack us?”
“Aye, you have my word. Constance, come here.” Her sire’s grim face told her all. He wasn’t happy to see her, in fact, he looked more furious than ever. “I don’t know who you’re with, but you’ll get rid of that man. You are of noble blood, and he looks as though he’s been living on the streets of Edinburgh.”
Highland Fortitude (The Band of Cousins Book 5) Page 15
