The Chieftain's Choice (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 1)

by Elaine Manders

  At the doorway, she looked back and her lashes fluttered. He was left to wonder if she wanted him to come to her chambers merely to report what was being done to find Lyulf—or if she wanted more.

  ***

  Alana paced in her room like a caged tiger. She and Elspeth had dined alone, and Gavin hadna returned, though the clock had already chimed twelve of the clock. She’d not lay her head on the bed until she knew, so she strained her ears to hear when he entered his bedroom.

  Since Gavin defended her at the kirk, a new desire had taken hold of her. Mayhap it was the primitive urge within a woman to give herself to a man who fought for her.

  Whatever the cause, she needed her husband tonight, and that desire grew with each ticking second.

  She’d hoped to have all evening with him, but Elspeth’s arrival had spoiled that.

  She should feel greater compassion for her aunt, but all she felt was this need for Gavin—a need for more than a few minutes snatched here and there, more than sitting down to meals, and conversations about the clan and Vanora’s antics. Had he read her feelings earlier? She knew nothing about flirting except what she’d overheard from the maids at McWayre.

  But those maids were trying to catch husbands.

  Gavin was her husband, and she’d make her wishes clear when he came—if he came.

  The possibility he dinna share her desire niggled her, and tonight might be her only opportunity to find out for a long while. He’d be gone tomorrow looking for Lyulf and Nye’s murderers and might be gone for days.

  Another hour passed before she heard sounds and flew to the communicating door. What if his valet was with him? She drew her hand back and waited, so the sudden knock at the door startled her.

  “Alana, I was afraid you might have retired for the night.” Gavin stepped into the room.

  She drew in her breath, not able to voice her feelings. “What has happened?”

  “I’ve been meeting with the men for the past hours, laying plans.”

  Doona rush him. A man dinna like to be rushed. “Are they patrolling the grounds?”

  He laid a hand on her bare arm. She shivered, feeling the cold of the outdoors still on his skin, then drew in the smell of him, horse and leather, a pleasant scent that calmed her. “There are patrols, but we don’t know what we’re up against. We can’t rush into anything willy-nilly.”

  She remembered her purpose and broke free of his grip.

  Space. A man wanted to have space—and a challenge. She pressed the throbbing pulse at her throat. “Nay, we shouldna rush.” She took two steps towards the bed. Far enough for now.

  She pivoted.

  He followed her. “I’m almost positive Vanora has used the Kerr brothers to help her incite unrest among the crofters, and likely they’re responsible for the robberies as well. She’s gone, but they’re still here.” He raked his hand through his hair, for once not tied back, and she watched the way the candlelight played in the chestnut locks.

  She ought to commiserate with him over these things. A wife ought to sympathize with her husband. Help him. At the moment her brain refused to think of his problems, or Aunt Elspeth’s misfortune, or even Lorrie sobbing on her shoulder.

  Only one worried thought managed to get through.

  “What if she appeals to the king? You know Scotsmen are forbidden to fight among the clans. What if English soldiers come?” She grabbed his hand, wanting him to reassure her, or mayhap she was just glad for the opportunity to touch him, she wasn’t sure which.

  He chuckled softly in that way she’d come to adore. “Alana, that’s not likely. I have a good report with the king.”

  Her gaze dropped to where he rubbed the knuckles of her hand with his thumb, then looked up from under her lashes. “Aunt Elspeth is afraid.”

  “With good reason. She has no friends on Gilmour. Who knows what enemies are lurking about? Don’t worry, lass, I’ll take care of you and Elspeth.”

  She smiled. “I do trust you, Gavin, and I’m not worried. You’re a brave and intelligent man, more than able to lead us out of these troubles. Tis glad I am God sent you to me.”

  “Do you mean that?”

  The look of astonishment in his dark eyes assaulted her with guilt. This was the first time she’d affirmed her confidence in him. She’d been so wrapped up in her own fears, she’d failed to see his needs.

  A man drew his strength from a woman who trusted and depended on him. He was opening his heart to her. She didn’t need to entice him.

  Thunder rumbled from the approaching storm, and a sough of wind pushed against the window panes. “I do trust you…because I…” The words trembled on her lips as she realized they exposed her own vulnerability. “Because I love you.”

  All was silence save for the grumbling thunder. His eyes smoldered and heat suffused her face. She dipped her head, and he cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face up to meet his eyes again. His hair fell across his cheek and she reached up to push it back. Her hand touched the stubble on his chin, sending a shock of sensations to her core.

  When she felt she could endure the intensity no longer, he crushed her against him, and her sigh trailed off while her softness melded to his hard body.

  He lowered his head to her waiting lips. She expected him to merely brush her lips as he had in past kisses, but tonight she longed for more. The decision was hers as his mouth hovered over hers. Her hand slid behind his neck to pull him closer.

  All fear and hesitation left her as his kiss deepened, leaving her giddy with pleasure. As if in a dream world, she felt him slide one arm under her knees and lift her. She shivered and burrowed her face against his chest as he carried her to the bed.

  Chapter 15

  Alana awoke to the merry sound of birds squabbling outside her bedroom window. The rain had stopped.

  Without opening her eyes, she reached for Gavin.

  He was gone.

  Nay, that wasna quite true. His presence remained—a part of her. Becoming one was more than physical. His touch and whispers of love lingered, and her thoughts and prayers winged their way to him wherever he was.

  She stretched, savoring a contented, sated sensation she wanted to hold onto. Emotions of yesterday were muted, overwhelmed by new sensations. But one by one, the events of the previous day crept in, demanding attention. Aunt Elspeth’s desperation, Lyulf’s disappearance, Nye’s murder, Red McGil’s hatred.

  Gavin was doubtless already searching for answers, and if she knew where he was, she’d go to him. Even if that were impossible, there was much she could do here. Vicar Murray, with the word of God behind him, might not be able to quell the clan people’s superstitions. Such beliefs died hard.

  She reached for her wrapper and got out of bed. More was at stake than before. As she pressed her flat stomach, an old worry took over. Now she must consider a possible child. Why had she not thought of that last night? But passion had a way of blocking all reason. It took the light of day and the cold wood under her feet to clear her head.

  Anxiety would continue to hound her until she could prove Hester McWayre was her mother. She must find a way to question Mrs. Kilgarney. The woman had been employed at McWayre castle before and after Alana’s birth. Correspondence with her grandfather confirmed that. Her brain went to work forming a plan to get Mrs. Kilgarney alone.

  A tap sounded on the door and Mina poked her head in. “Are you ready to get dressed, m’lady?”

  “Aye, indeed. Why did you let me sleep so late?”

  Mina strode to the wardrobe. “His lordship said I was to let ye sleep as long as ye would.”

  Alana smiled. Her husband was so considerate. She took the gown Mina held. “If you bring my porridge up, I’ll dress myself. How is Finella this morning?”

  “Doing well and excited because I’ve promised to take her into the garden. Though most of the flowers are gone, she loves to potter about.” Mina softly closed the door after her.

  Shivering against the cold air,
Alana dressed and plaited her hair to hang down her back. She wanted to be ready to ride if the opportunity presented itself. She’d barely put the last pin in place when a rapping sounded at the door.

  “Come in, Mina.” Alana turned from the mirror.

  But it was Aunt Elspeth who barreled into the room. “Sadie didn’t bring half the things I require.”

  “Dinna your ladies maid return with her?”

  “No, I’ve decided to use Sadie’s services while I’m here.”

  “Send her back to collect whatever you need.” Alana swiveled around to finish smoothing her tendrils in place. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

  “I don’t eat breakfast.” Aunt Elspeth sat on the edge of the bed and began pulling a lace-edged handkerchief through her hand. “Will you go with me to Gilmour Hall? No one can find the things I need, and anyway, I must give the servants some instructions. I can’t think what they must imagine happened to me.” She bit her lip. “I should have brought my ladies maid, but I had to leave someone I trust.”

  The ominous meaning behind her aunt’s revelation made Alana draw in a sharp breath. “You ken Sadie is your maid’s daughter. She keeps your servants informed.”

  Alana got to her feet, adjusting the tight sleeves of her rose-colored morning gown. “Do you have the name of a seamstress I might engage?”

  Aunt Elspeth had never been known for consideration, and under stress, her temper flared. “How can you think of seamstresses at this time? Will you go with me or not?”

  “Gavin might not want me to go to Gilmour.” Of a certainty he didn’t want her there.

  “So you’re one of those compliant wives who can’t do anything without your husband’s permission?” Aunt Elspeth glanced to the rumpled bed. Heat rushed to Alana’s cheeks.

  “Tis not that at all, Aunt Elspeth. There are dangers, as well you know. Lyulf is missing.”

  Despair clouded Aunt Elspeth’s face where lines marred her forehead and mouth. Her aunt seemed to have aged ten years in the past twenty-four hours, but she sprang to her feet with vigor. “Go with me Alana. It’s less than twenty minutes by coach, and Gavin won’t even know you’ve left.”

  Mina came in at that moment with a tray holding a bowl of porridge and cup of steaming tea. Before Alana had finished the simple meal, Aunt Elspeth had convinced her to go to Gilmour Hall.

  With Vanora gone, what danger would there be?

  The morning air was crisp as Alana settled against the squabs of the carriage and glanced at Aunt Elspeth’s profile. Her aunt stared ahead, her lips set in a grim line. “Why did you order outriders, Alana? The roads should be safe this hour of day.”

  “I didn’t. I suppose Gavin left a standing order for anyone traveling.” Alana sought to forestall another complaint. “Why did Vanora go to London? Wasna that sudden?”

  Aunt Elspeth looked out the window. “It wasn’t sudden. As I told you before, Miriam had promised her a season. I didn’t realize it until recently, but she’s been corresponding with the woman for years.”

  “You dinna know who Vanora corresponded with? Why dinna you stop it? You do recall Miriam murdered my mother?”

  Her aunt gave a hoot of derisive laughter. “Alana, you must understand one thing. When Vanora was fourteen, I had to make a decision. Either to lock her away in the dungeon or let her have her way. I chose the latter.”

  “Vanora had no father to help you discipline her, but you had Lyulf.” Alana realized that was a mistake as soon as the words left her lips.

  Aunt Elspeth buried her face in her hands and sobbed. “Where is he? I know something dreadful has happened.”

  Alana moved from her seat to sit beside Aunt Elspeth, laying an arm across her aunt’s heaving shoulders. “Perhaps it willna be as bad as you fear. He might simply have met with some accident and has been delayed.” The excuse sounded hollow, so she hastened to add, “I still doona understand why Vanora chose this time to go to London. Doona most of the nobility leave for their country estates about this time of year?”

  “Not all. If the king is in residence, there will be social gatherings.” Aunt Elspeth lifted her head and sniffed into her handkerchief.

  The rest of the trip passed in silence. Alana let troubling thoughts come to mind one after the other. She could only guess at her aunt’s horrible imaginings.

  As soon as they entered the house, Aunt Elspeth threw off her melancholy. “Stay here while I speak to my housekeeper.” She left Alana in the grand entrance hall that ran the entire length of the house.

  Alana ambled about, surprised at how well she remembered the little touches in this house, the low chandelier, the broken tile at the stairs, the bust of Caesar on its pedestal table beside the landing. She’d not visited Gilmour Hall in years, yet memories rushed back.

  She stopped in front of the full-sized painting of Robert Gilmour. He stood in colorful regalia, a sword in one hand, a parrot perched on the other.

  Studying his features, she found something vaguely familiar. There was a hint of a smile on his mouth, something different from the stoic poses struck by the subjects in most paintings. He reminded her of Vanora and something else. She turned her head, wanting nothing to remind her of Vanora.

  Elspeth returned with her unhappy housekeeper in tow. “I’ll just be a moment to get my things,” she tossed the comment over her shoulder as the two women climbed the stairs.

  Alana paced to the library in one wing and along the hall to the study in the other, then stopped in front of the painting again. She studied the painting of Lord Gilmour more carefully until the familiarity nagged at the back of her mind, irritating her.

  A male voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Vanora, I dinna ken ye were back. Ye canna fathom what they did to Lyulf.”

  Alana spun around to face the man—boy really—whose amused features congealed into fear as he recognized his mistake. “What did they do to Lyulf?” she asked.

  He stepped backward so fast he fell to the floor. “I…I dinna ken, m’lady. I often jest with Vanora…that is…Lady Vanora.”

  Aunt Elspeth came down the stairs carrying her valise. “What are you doing in here?” Her voice rose in a shout. She didn’t wait for the boy to answer. “Get out of here.”

  He bowed, sent a fugitive glance to Alana, and ran off.

  “That was Matt Kerr,” Aunt Elspeth said. “The youngest son of Essa Kerr and a pest. One of Vanora’s pests.”

  Alana wondered if she should tell her aunt what Matt Kerr had said about Lyulf but decided against it. She’d tell Gavin, and if he thought it significant, they’d tell Elspeth.

  She hoped to divert her aunt’s mind off the boy. “Aunt Elspeth, I’ve been trying to think why I find this portrait of Lord Robert so fascinating.”

  “Don’t you remember? I told you as a child Lord Robert had become a sailor. As it happened, you had a picture book with a sailor who had a parrot. You couldn’t understand why Lord Robert’s parrot was more colorful than the one in your book.”

  Alana laughed. “Of course. I remember wondering why my bird’s feathers were black and thought the painter must have run out of red and blue paint because he used it all on Lord Robert’s britches and plaid.”

  That coaxed a smile from Aunt Elspeth. She wrapped the cloak around her and gave the room a last look. “Let’s go. I won’t return here without Lyulf.”

  Alana followed her aunt out the door. She had a strange feeling that was a vow Aunt Elspeth would find verra hard to keep.

  ***

  After luncheon Aunt Elspeth announced she’d like to retire to her chambers and lie down a while. Alana didn’t argue. She’d thought of a way to entice Mrs. Kilgarney to Stonecrest, but before that, she had to question Halberd. At this time of day, he’d be in the study, going over the details of running the estate.

  The startled butler looked up from his papers as she burst in on him. “Do you know where Gavin is?”

  “He went out to question the crofters about Nye’s murde
r and Lyulf’s disappearance, I should imagine, m’lady.”

  She already suspected as much, but hoped the old butler would know when to expect Gavin back. “Shouldna he have returned by now?”

  “He may be gone all day, depending on what he finds.”

  “He didn’t go alone?”

  Halberd smiled. “Nay m’lady. He took four or five men with him.” He checked his watch. “It’s almost time for you to read to Lord Carmichael, isn’t it, m’lady?”

  She’d forgotten to let Gavin know what Matt Kerr had said. “I’ll go now, but let me know the minute Gavin returns. I have new information for him.” She considered getting on Orion and going after the men, but where would she go? She knew nothing about these lands.

  That had to be remedied, but she wouldna leave the castle without Gavin’s knowledge, and she dinna know when Gavin would return. She’d have to resort to subterfuge to speak to Mrs. Kilgarney.

  “Halberd, could I have a bit of paper. I’d like to pen a note.”

  He cocked a bushy brow, but found the items and placed them on the edge of the desk. She dipped the quill in the inkwell. “We have some sugar in the kitchen, don’t we?”

  “We have a bit, aye, but you know how dear sugar is.”

  Aye, she knew, and she needed something dear as bait for Mrs. Kilgarney. She sealed the note and handed it to Halberd. “Please have it delivered. Tell the messenger to wait for a reply and, in the meantime, tell cook to have a small bag of sugar ready by teatime. I wish to give it to Mrs. Kilgarney.”

  She saw questions in Halberd’s eyes, but his servant’s training wouldna permit him to voice them. He took the missive with a short bow.

  With swift steps, Alana went to the Blue Salon. Barthy was awake, lying by the open window and ready to talk. “So Elspeth has moved in. Are any of you going to tell me what the matter is?”

  Alana pulled up a chair. “You well know Gavin doesna like to worry you.”

  “My imaginings worry me more than the truth, I’ll be bound.”