“I never thought I’d see the day,” Calum said so that only James could hear.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, Brother, you’re smitten and you are doing everything possible to convince everyone around you, especially yourself, you don’t care about her.”
“How much ale have you consumed?” James asked. It was a failed attempt at a jest. Calum did not even crack a smile.
“Oh you’re serious?” James whispered. “I’m not smitten with anyone. The wench will soon discover what it is to be humiliated. When we leave here tomorrow, we will journey straight to Linlithgow to break this contract.”
“You’re serious? James, I’ve never seen you act so daft in your life. The girl was abducted for Christ’s sake. What will it take for you to believe that?”
“I am less a fool than those gathered here. Look how she has them clamouring for her attention.”
“And who among them would you see bed her?”
“What?”
“Who would you see bed her, marry her, be the father of her children?”
“I don’t care who else she takes to her bed,” he said. James shifted on his seat. He didn’t like envisioning her with another man, no matter how necessary it was.
“Oh Lord ’tis true!” Calum said. Two people near him turned their head. He hushed his tone to just above a whisper. “I suspected, but I know it for certain. You’re head over heels for the lass aren’t you? I can’t blame you. She’s stunning, intelligent, and that body.”
“Don’t you ever!”
Calum burst into hearty laughter. He leaned close to his brother’s ear. “Jealous, too? Oh this is the greatest revelation ever.”
“I’m not speaking to you anymore. Go back to your ale.” James was irritated and turned away. The younger man got the hint and left the table though not before he drew the attention of several guests including Aileana. He didn’t want her privy to that line of conversation.
Calum plopped down beside Aileana and flung his arm across her shoulders. “My lady, I understand you Chattans claim to be the best storytellers of all the Eastern Highlands. We MacIntosh can weave a bit of a yarn ourselves with the right motivation.”
His voice was loud enough for those within earshot to chime in.
First, the Chattans yelled, “Aye!”
Followed by a MacIntosh who was even louder.
“Aye bring us out a barrel or two ‘o ale an’ we’ll show ye!”
“Aye my lord, we are the best storytellers of all the Highlands, not just the Eastern region.” Aileana’s broad smile for Calum twisted James’s guts.
Again, the Chattans chimed in.
“Aye m’lady, you tell that MacIntosh what we’re made of!”
His heart was in his throat. The look of happiness on her face was intoxicating. He wanted her to smile at him like that. Her power over him was mesmerizing. He had to steady himself to recover. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Calum chuckled and it sobered him.
During the evening, both of their clansmen recounted tales of bravery and heroics, a welcome distraction. There were songs of war and peace, of love and death.
Aileana told Calum she had never felt so proud of her clansmen. “They’ve paid true homage to their countrymen through tales of the brave Scots who protected their homes and families from ancient and brutal Norse attacks.” Aileana confessed she had always loved the stories of her people. He listened to her every word. Young though she may be, she was passionate and proud. Chattan’s daughter indeed.
Aileana and James spoke little to each other during this time. So engrossed was she in the stories, and he in ignoring her, the majority of the evening passed without much exchange and he didn’t like it. But there was still the dance. This was the part he looked forward to all night. When the ale was gone and the night grew late, the priest suggested the musicians strike the tune, so the exhausted couple could retire. A jolt of fire shot through him as he took her hand and led her to the dance area.
“Father, I believe that’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all night,” he said. Now he would see the extent of her shame and misery. She couldn’t hide it from him at close proximity.
The pipers began an old melody while they positioned themselves. James took her hands in his and bowed, she curtsied. He placed his right hand at her waist as his left came up to meet hers which she placed flat against his. Her left hand rested on his arm.
From the beginning of the dance, Aileana would not meet his gaze. It was common enough during this dance at marriage ceremonies for the husband to scoop up his bride and carry her off to the marriage bed. He could see why. Their bodies moved in perfect harmony together and while she stared at his chin, he tried to remember all the reasons why he didn’t just bed her anyway.
Enough of this cowering. He squeezed her waist prompting her to meet his eyes and once she did she didn’t turn away again. This pleased him. The melody’s slow tempo made him aware of the movement in her hips as they swayed together. Blood rushed to his loins as he envisioned them performing another kind of dance. The intensity building in him was difficult to douse. If the dance didn’t end soon he would be in real danger of taking that to which he was entitled, but vowed to refuse.
The final note droned on.
A loud MacIntosh bellowed out, “Take ‘er upstairs!”
Aileana blushed. Damn, she played the innocent so well. The aunt and the maid removed her from the festivities, not soon enough. Chattan kept some good ale in his buttery and James would need a good deal of it in order to keep him from her this night.
Chapter Twelve
Aileana dismissed both Sheena and Gwen after an hour of enduring their endless chatter. Sheena didn’t know James was about to break the agreement and the last thing Aileana wanted was a discussion on that topic or, in truth, conversation of any sort. She needed sleep—good old sound, dreamless sleep.
She removed her dress, donned a thin linen night shift and moved to open the window shutters. The cool night air would calm her frayed nerves and enflamed senses. A light cough startled her. The damned guard. She’d forgotten all about him in the stairwell, by order of the overbearing and infuriating tyrant she would soon call ex-husband-to-be. She slammed the shutters in protest and was somewhat satisfied when the man scurried further up.
Just as she was about to crawl into bed, a knock echoed through her door. Aileana shook her head and stomped across the chamber. Which one of the ladies was this with some excuse to come in and pass more comment about the night, and on and on and on. She was in no mood for it and thought she had made herself clear. She flicked the latch up and tore the door open.
“I told you I am not in need of anything—” She stopped mid sentence. James’s gaze fell to the flimsy garment she wore. His lips parted and he didn’t even try to avert his eyes.
“I beg your pardon, my lady.” His voice cracked. “I heard your window slam and I feared you were in danger.” His last words were barely a whisper.
I am in danger. She moved to position her body behind the door, but he pushed it further back so she had no way to conceal her body from the heat burning in his eyes or how they travelled over her. She could not let this happen again.
“Lord MacIntosh, as you can see, I am well and not appropriately dressed to receive anyone but my maid. I bid you good night my lord.”
She turned to reach for something, anything to cover her body but he caught her by the arm and pulled her back against his chest. He smelled of ale. James reached down and grasped her bottom, pulling her tight to his hips. His erection throbbed against her, sending terrifying thrills to her core. She had no defence against him. Her traitorous hips arched against his and his resulting growl drew moisture between her legs. The sensation was intoxicating. He trailed moist kisses down her throat to the crook of her neck where he grazed his teeth across her flesh. She shuddered and clung to him.
Why did he have to be such a tyrannical oaf? He thought everything bad in this world
about her, yet here he was, seducing her again. He wanted her misery and her passion and she would fight him to the bitter end. He shifted his hold on her, grasped her breast and encircled her nipple with his thumb, the garment she wore offering no barrier from his onslaught. Her body pressed hard into his. Her control slipped. If she didn’t stop him now, she soon wouldn’t be able to.
“Please let me go,” she said.
“I don’t want to. I want to bed you Aileana, and I know you want me too.” Even his ragged breath increased the heat down below.
“You’re drunk, my lord and I’m not decent.”
“That I know. I would like to share in your indecency - over and over, in truth.”
He leaned down capture her lips. She didn’t have the strength to fight him off and in his current state there was no way to reason with him. Perhaps the man on the stairs could serve purpose after all.
“You there! On my stairs, come man, help me with his Lordship. He’s drunk and about to fall.”
She was happy and sad when James’s head snapped up to glare at her.
“Anyone but me, it that it?”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
The guard approached him and attempted to lend aid.
“Get off me man, I don’t need your help.” James glared at Aileana. “And she has just proved she doesn’t need protection either. You are relieved.”
The guard sighed and left the room. She had nothing left to save her from James’s advances. Though, the look on his face suggested he’d not make any more this night. His hands clenched at his sides and his frown grew.
“I leave at daybreak, Lady Aileana. I will send word of the king’s decision as soon as the deed is done.”
He didn’t wait for her response and left her chamber. With that, she closed the door and latched it. Thank God her uncle had insisted on inside latches years ago.
Aileana listened at the door and heard no further movement. She crossed the room to reopen the shutters to discover she had broken them and could not make them give without causing a further racket. This meant she couldn’t enjoy a cool breeze to still her thoughts.
Throughout the night, she tossed and turned, having wicked dreams of James’s body on hers, his mouth tasting hers, her hands exploring him. She woke in the middle of the night bathed in sweat.
Come the morn, James MacIntosh would no longer torment her. She longed for life to return to normal, at least for a little while, or long enough for her to figure out how to regain some control over her future. Exhaustion from the events of the past two days set in and she drifted into the deep dreamless sleep she wished for.
Aileana awoke the next morning when Gwen arrived with a pitcher of mead and a tray of food. She had no appetite for anything besides solitude.
Gwen fussed over her with extra care and she was more than willing to allow it. She longed to speak of her encounters with James but wasn’t sure how to begin. Her mood was quiet and Gwen was quieter than usual too as she fixed Aileana’s hair.
Aileana tried not to think of James and focused instead on what Gwen was doing. The ribbons and beads the maid put in her hair matched the long crimson gown she had chosen. James might have already left, but her neighbours would remain for part of the morning and she was responsible to see to their comfort and extend her hospitality as long as they were here.
Today she was still Lady Aileana Chattan.
“Gwen, is something bothering you?” Aileana asked, unable to bare the woman’s unusual silence any longer.
“My lady, ’tis I who should ask you that question. You need not concern yourself with my feelings.”
“Since when should I not be concerned with your feelings? Gwen, you are my dearest friend. If there’s something bothering you I want to know about it. Is it a man? Have you begun another affair? You don’t look happy though so that can’t be it.”
Gwen’s face broke into an exasperated smile. Half laughing, she said, “Please, teasing is my job not yours.” Gwen sobered. “I’m worried about you. I see a connection between you and the MacIntosh, but you don’t seem happy about it. Please tell me if you don’t wish to discuss it, but that is the only man on my mind, I swear.”
Aileana didn’t believe her, but she would get to the truth. She wanted talk to Gwen about her feelings and while she was reluctant to bring up her awful situation she would surely burst if she didn’t speak of it to someone.
“I have been hoping for some opportunity to discuss certain encounters between myself and my former intended,” Aileana said.
Aileana was unused to voicing her true feelings. She had always been able to rely on her uncle for counsel, however, on the topic of James MacIntosh, she could use some experienced advice.
“Former intended?” Gwen’s eyebrows shot up.
“Interesting how you don’t sound surprised.”
“Well, I—”
“Come on, out with it. Did Andrews talk to you?”
“Andrews? No of course not. My lady, I have much to share with you but I’m not sure you’re ready to hear any of it.”
“If you have news to share please do so. I’ve been lied to and omitted in far too many important discussions of late to tolerate any more.”
“Very well. My source for information is Calum MacIntosh. Almost from the moment he entered the house, we took notice of one another.” She smiled. “We’ve become…friends. I beg your pardon, but he has been interested in your reaction to his brother’s foolish behaviour. He believes—”
“He believes what?”
“—that the MacIntosh has developed feelings for you, but won’t admit it to himself.”
“Oh I can assure you, Gwen, his brother has developed feelings for me, but they are not anywhere near romantic or kind. He believes me capable of the worst sort of venom.”
“I know. Calum told me what the MacIntosh thinks. He also said that there’s a lot more to his brother than appearances would allow. You see he was rejected.”
“I don’t mean to be rude Gwen, but I have to be honest with you. The man is on his way to Edinburgh to acquire the king’s consent to break our betrothal. He doesn’t need that consent, but for some reason, the man can’t form a thought without his precious king’s approval.”
“Calum spoke of that too. My lady, there’s a lot more going on here than we realize.”
“Like what?”
“Calum wouldn’t go in to full detail, but I trust him. He asked me to tell you his brother is wrong and he will do everything in his power to sway him back to the right path.”
“And which path is that? The one where he slanders me, marries me off to someone else, or the one where he seduces me?”
“Seduces you? My lady, considering his current course of action, are you sure he was seducing you?”
Aileana recounted all conversations and encounters with James from the last three days, beginning with the embarrassing meeting on the road and ending with the knock at her door the previous night. She swallowed her pride and left out no detail in her account. Gwen stayed quiet for once. Only her frown showed her concern which made it easier for Aileana to disclose such private information. As uncomfortable as the subject was, Aileana needed clarity.
“Have I lost my sanity? Why does the man have such an effect on me? I can’t keep my thoughts sane enough to have a conversation with him much less negotiate with him. If I want any control over my future I need to keep my wits about me and I can’t seem to do so.”
“Aileana, he is meant for you alone.”
This marked the first time in their relationship Gwen had ever spoken her first name. The impact of it and the simple truth of her statement pinched Aileana’s heart.
“That may be true, but am I meant for him? Is it possible God made a mistake and put several women here for him? Or made him incapable of opening his eyes long enough to see either one of us?”
Sheena knocked once on the door and entered. Her aunt had found the perfect time to in
terrupt. Aileana didn’t think there was anymore she could say anyway. The MacIntosh and his brother had left at dawn and most of the guests waited to have the morning meal with her and, they too, would take their leave. The excitement of last three days had taken its toll and she longed for the afternoon and the opportunity for solitude.
The table in the dining hall was adorned with fresh wild flowers and bowls of glazed fruit. Once she and Sheena were settled, the rest of the room followed and the servants presented platters of meats, breads, cheese, and cured fish.
At a time like this, Uncle Iain would have boasted about his cook and explain that foods could never be too fresh and the care necessary for correct presentation. He loved to entertain. She thought of him often during the morning meal, but with pride this time instead of sadness. Whatever became of her, she would make him proud. That was all that mattered.
Once the meal concluded another receiving line formed and she thanked all the guests again as a departing gesture. Of course, no one was ready to leave at that precise moment, but it marked the point where all formality ended.
Aileana strolled to the back gardens, straight to her little haven. Some time alone surrounded by buds of the flowers she liked to list and just contemplating bloom was the right prescription.
For the next several days, she came to this exact spot to reason out her choices. Life had not returned to normal as she hoped. Instead, she became more anxious by the moment when no word came from James about his meeting with the king.
What now? Had he returned home? Had the king agreed? She needed information soon or she would explode.
James cleared his throat to reveal his presence. Aileana’s eyes found him and his far too direct stare put her on edge.
“I hope I’ve not disturbed your respite, my lady. I’m on my way to Moy Hall, but assumed you would wish to hear of my trip.”
As she looked at him, her apprehension and confusion grew. She was relieved to see him, but her belly was ready to let all its tremors loose at once.
“You do not disturb me, my lord. I trust your visit to Edinburgh was pleasant.”
Bound to the Highlander (The Highland Chiefs Series) Page 13
