"Iain Ross is only the top of the barrel," Georas said. "The rot goes deep, I think, for someone within your ranks did warn them and betray you." He looked over his shoulder at the clan chiefs idling in the hall. "There are men here who have broken bread with you, drunk your wine, yet not committed themselves to your cause."
"You are right." Alexander straightened, his own gaze flicking from face to face. It narrowed as it lit on Robbie MacNab. "Georas is right," he continued more loudly. "The time of decision is upon us. Tomorrow, each of you will swear fealty to me as viceroy of the Highlands. You will send word to your clansmen and tenants, demanding they come to serve in my army."
Eneas was the first to step forward. "A messenger will leave for Hillbrae today, Your Grace."
One by one, the others added their agreement. Some, like the MacPhersons and Chisholms, did so quickly. The Keiths were slower to respond. The Sutherlands said nothing at all, and Robbie MacNab looked shocked.
Eneas studied each man, wondering who had betrayed their raid on the Rosses. If he could uncover the culprit, he'd sit that much closer to the earl's right hand.
With a sigh of supreme contentment, Lion rolled onto his side, taking his weight from her, but keeping Rowena in the curve of his body.
So sated she was boneless, Rowena lay there, dimly aware he'd twitched the blanket over their cooling bodies. How often had they lain like this, savoring the sweet aftermath of their loving, still connected in body and in spirit.
Nay, it could not go on.
She tried to sit up; he anchored her in place.
"No regrets," he said, voice hazy with lingering passion.
"I do not regret what we did. Only that—that you may get the wrong impression."
"You made it clear you think we have no future."
"Because we have none."
"So you've said." Why could she not see she could be mother to the chief of one clan and wife to the chief of another? Lion thought angrily. "But we are very good together."
"Aye," she said in a small voice. Because she couldn't help herself, she trailed her fingers over his strong chest. He was magnificent, her lion, his tawny hide stretched taut over finely honed muscles. Her body still hummed with pleasure, yet she wanted him again. "The fire always burned fiercely between us."
"Fire be damned." He grabbed her hand and held it to the thunder of his heart. "Do you think that is all this is?" he growled. "Passion? Sex? Nay, I have tasted of that fruit, and know that what we give each other is finer, sweeter, purer. A pearl without price."
His words brought tears to her eyes. "Please, I'd not spoil the moment with arguing."
Lion spat out a low, frustrated oath. Damn her stubbornness. He wanted to shout and rail, but that would only drive her further into her shell.
"Tell me about your son," Lion said at last.
She leaped like a scalded cat. "I…there is little to tell. He…he is a lad like any other."
"Nay, he is special, for he is yours." And Padruig's, but Lion had to get over that, look beyond it. "I would apologize, for I am guilty of a grave sin where he is concerned."
"You?" she said faintly.
"Aye." He drew in a breath, held it, then released it with a sigh. "It pains me to admit this, but I am jealous of him and let that taint my actions. Small wonder you refuse to think of wedding me when I have ignored your son."
"Wed you? But I thought you understood—"
"You are naturally wary," Lion continued, holding her stiff body against his, trying to soften it. "Clod-wit that I am, I thought only of myself. I was too overwhelmed with the joy of seeing you again and never realized that by not speaking of the lad, I made you think I would not be a good father to him."
"Father? You? But—"
"Second father," Lion amended, warming to the subject. He felt better already, just having it out in the open. "I have little experience at the task, but I would pattern my behavior after my own sire." He looked down to find her regarding him with openmouthed shock. Well, it was preferable to the stubbornness. "You may not know this," he added, toying with the fingers resting on his chest, "but my eldest sister, Gillie, is not really a blood relative." He went on to unravel for Rowena the tangled web of his mother's disastrous first marriage and his parents's tempestuous courtship after she was widowed.
When Elspeth Carmichael had initially turned down Lucais Sutherland's marriage proposal, Lucais had taken a mistress, a woman who resembled the one he couldn't have. "Poor Jean was raped by Raebert Munro, Elspeth's husband. Gillie was the result of that assault, and because he felt responsible for Jean, my father claimed that Gillie was his. To this day, few people know the truth, for my parents raised her as a Sutherland. So you see, with them as my model, I know I can be as good a father to your Paddy as Papa was to—"
Rowena's composure shattered. Burying her face in his chest, she let the bitter, hopeless tears flow.
"Ach, Ro, there's no need to weep." He patted her shoulder awkwardly. With his other hand, he soothed the line of her spine as misery shuddered through her.
His gentleness and compassion made Rowena cry all the harder, but eventually the well ran dry, and the sobs trickled off to a few wet snuffles. Wiping her face on the sheet, she looked up into his dear, dear face. "I—I am certain you w-would make a fine father, but…" Sweet Mary, give me the strength to get through this. "But Paddy and I are tied to Clan Gunn. I swore an oath, on Paddy's soul, that even if something should happen to Padruig, I would live out my life at Hillbrae, and Paddy would be trained to take his place as the next chief."
Lion's face went stiff, a pale mask of anguish from which his eyes stared, flat and lifeless as yellow stone. "Why…why would he require such an oath?"
"Because he was so much older than I, and he feared that if he died defending us before Paddy was of age, I might wed another and take my son away."
"Why would you agree to such a thing?"
To save our son, to give him a name and afar, far better heritage than he'd have had as the bastard son of a penniless woman from a poor clan. "I did not think it would matter. I thought I would be content to stay at Hillbrae."
A spark kindled in his eyes. "And now you do not?"
She realized her mistake instantly and tried to retrench. "It is a moot point." She sprang up, reaching for her robe, needing to put distance between them before she caved in again.
He grabbed hold of her shoulders, forcing her gaze to meet his. "We can find a way."
"Oh, would you give up Glenshee and your heritage to live with us at Hillbrae?" she asked, hotly.
"I do not know." He released her, dragging both hands through his tangled mane. "Damn, Ro, I—"
A fist thudded on the door.
"Lion! Lion, it is Bryce!"
"Aye. Coming." Lion leaped from the bed. "There must be trouble," he said to Rowena as he headed for the door, wrapping his plaid about his hips as he went.
Rowena had barely gotten her robe tugged around her when he opened the door. Outside stood a ring of anxious men—Sutherlands and two of her guards.
Kier's expression darkened, and she could almost read his censure as his eyes moved from her disordered hair to her rumpled robe and the tangled sheets. The glare he directed at Lion was lethal.
Drat, another confrontation, Rowena thought.
Lion swore ripely and shut the door on their rapt audience. "Bloody hell," he muttered as he stomped across the room. "The world has gone mad. Nay, he has gone mad."
"Who?"
"Alexander." Lion bent to rummage in his clothes chest. "He wants us to swear an oath of fealty to him—as viceroy."
"That is his title," Rowena said.
"By the king's proclamation. But if we are forced to swear to Alexander, we acknowledge his authority over us. Thus far, I'd managed to convince him he was not strong enough to ask that of the chiefs. I had hoped I'd have proof enough to thwart him before he pressed the issue. I see Georas's hand in this." Lion tugged out a fresh shirt.
"That is only half of it. We're to call up our clansmen to fight." He wheeled on her. "Bryce says Eneas will ride out to summon the Gunns."
Rowena gasped.
"Will they come, do you think?"
"Some will," she said past the lump in her throat. "But not Finlay. He'll refuse." She went to Lion, needing his strength, his advice. "What will happen? Will Alexander attack Hillbrae?"
"I do not know. He is desperate," Lion replied, taking her in his arms.
"What of Paddy…and Jennie and Finlay and—and Father Cerdic? Oh, I must go to them."
His embrace tightened. "It is too dangerous. Alexander is having us watched. I'll send Wes and the other lads, for no one knows of them. They'll get your kin to safety."
Chapter Fourteen
"What the hell are we going to do?" Robbie MacNab cried.
"Keep your voice down, for one thing," Lion replied. They stood on verge of the grassy field outside the castle walls, ostensibly watching the MacNabs and Sutherlands at sword practice. The wooden bleachers and other evidence of the harmless games Lion had hoped would keep the earl's mind occupied had been torn down. In their place, groups of men charged about, filling the air with hoarse shouts and the clash of arms as they readied themselves for battle.
Robbie braced his hip on a bale of straw used for spear practice and leaned closer. "My da will think I've turned traitor when he receives the message the Wolf forced me to send. With the castle priest writing out the words, there was no way I could explain your plan."
Lion nodded grimly. He'd sent word to his father, too, telling him of recent developments and his failure to get the papers. "All is not lost yet. It will take several weeks for men to answer the earl's summons. And longer still for him to train them and plan a march on his first victims."
"Mmm." Robbie drew the dirk from his belt and pretended to show it to Lion. "Who will that be?"
"The Rosses, mayhap." Lion toyed with the knife, let-ting the sunlight play over the jeweled handle. "I've sent a man to your father, telling him what we are about and begging him to bide his time, neither refusing nor accepting the summons. Another rode to warn Fergus Ross to stay quietly at home."
"And what of us? Are we to stay here and do nothing while the Wolf grows stronger and stronger?"
"Sometimes the safest offense is none at all," Lion said. He knew where the documents were, and he'd soon take steps to get them. "Meanwhile, we will stealthily amass our own forces. If worst comes to worst, and The Wolf strikes, we will have the means to either get the victims away or protect them."
"You'll fight him, then? What of the risks?"
"When all is said and done, I'd rather be branded a traitor and put to the horn than stand by doing nothing while innocent people are slaughtered."
"Amen to that," Robbie said tightly. He sidestepped as a pair of MacPhersons brushed by, swords clashing. "Whatever you plan, count me and my lads in on the fight."
"I appreciate that," Lion said absently, staring across the way to Alexander, who sat atop his black warhorse, watching them. "But I think it best we not be seen often in each other's company. He's suspicious of me and not at all sure of you."
Robbie nodded. " 'Tis time I joined my men, anyway, for I see yours are giving them a drubbing." He inclined his head politely and turned to walk away.
"Your dirk." Lion took two quick strides toward him. Behind him, he heard a hiss and a thunk.
"Jesu," Robbie exclaimed.
Lion turned and saw an arrow sticking out of the straw, chest high, in the place he'd just vacated. "Damn." He whirled, drawing his blade and crouching low.
"Someone tried to kill you." Robbie was beside him, his own sword out.
"Aye." Lion's narrowed gaze scanned the crowded field, stopped to account for the Gunns at the far side.
Eneas was readying his men for the ride to Hillbrae. Clem stood beside him. Dunmore watched from the fringe of the group, for he would not be going. Kier and Harry were likely with Rowena. None of the Gunns was carrying a bow, nor even looking in Lion's direction. But it would have taken only seconds to shoot the arrow, then drop the weapon in the grass.
Bryce rushed up, Red Will and a dozen Sutherlands behind him. "What happened?"
"Your lord was nearly killed." Robbie straightened and pointed to the arrow buried in the straw. "It could have been an accident, I suppose, what with all this confusion."
"Nay," Bryce said, glaring at the mass of men. " 'Tis the third time someone has attacked him. I told you you should not have come out here where we cannot protect you."
Lion snorted. '"Twas likely as Robbie said, an accident."
Heckie pulled out the arrow and studied the shaft. " 'Tis one of our own, by God."
"Damn," Lion said softly.
Bryce growled a curse. "Someone planned this beforehand, to shift blame from themselves."
"Eneas is more clever than I had supposed," Lion said.
"Is he that opposed to you wedding his brother's widow?" Robbie asked.
"He has other reasons to wish me ill, as well, but I do not have sufficient proof to accuse him openly."
"Lion, a word with you." Alexander had ridden across the field on horseback and sat glaring down at him.
"I am at your disposal."
Alexander sniffed, then swung down from the saddle and handed the reins to Bryce. "Walk apart with me."
Nerves tingling with apprehension, Lion matched his stride to the earl's impatient one. It ate up the distance to the rim of the plateau on which Blantyre had been built.
Stopping, the earl turned on Lion. "Did you warn Iain Ross that we were coming for him?" he asked.
Only years of honing his self-control kept Lion's features impassive as he replied, "How could I, Your Grace, when I was here the entire night, abed and sick unto death."
"Your men, then?"
"Were with you, or so they did tell me."
"Aye." Alexander turned his stern gaze on the rugged land below, a wild sweep of rocks and bracken, bounded by a thin line of green where trees grew along the burn. "There are those who think you are not truly committed to my cause."
"Georas and I have ever been at odds," Lion replied.
"Mmm. When you came to Blantyre, you pledged your Sutherlands to this mission. Yet you've thus far not brought more than the thirty in your personal guard. I'd have you make good on that vow."
Lion's blood froze. "I promised my men and I would ride with you, but my father's—"
"I want them!" Alexander roared. He turned on Lion, face purple to the roots of his hair. "I must have them. If the Sutherlands fight under my banner, so will lesser men. I will have what you promised me," he thundered.
Lion held himself very still, though part of him wanted to flee from the rage glittering in the earl's eyes. Wild eyes. Mad eyes. "I have written to my father asking—"
"Ask, be damned. Am I not viceroy of the Highlands? Do men not owe me their allegiance?" Spittle flew from his lips, and his fists pounded the air. "By God, I will have my due."
"I will do everything in my power to see you get what is coming to you," Lion muttered. "But I cannot force my father—"
"If your life hung in the balance, would your sire send me the men I want?" Alexander snarled.
Lion's gut twisted. "Does it hang in the balance?"
Alexander scowled. "Not yet…but it may if I do not get what I want. Those who are not with me are mine enemies."
"I will remember that, Your Grace, but I hope that you do still see me as a friend and valued supporter."
"Humph." Alexander's fists unclenched, but his expression remained guarded. "We shall see. Come, it grows late and I am hungry. Return with me to my chamber, and we will speak of what words might persuade your father to join us."
Shaken, Lion followed after the earl. He'd had a narrow escape, but the danger was in no way past. Alexander would not take nay for an answer. If he did not get the men he wanted, Lion might well pay with his life…and others, as well. He ha
d a few days at most to try and steal the Campbell papers, then he must get his men and Rowena away from Blantyre.
Seated on a stool before the hearth in Lady Glenda's room, Rowena finished the last passage of The Green Knight and closed the book. " 'Tis a fine story, is it not?"
"Aye." Lady Glenda's smile was marred by her split lip and bruised jaw. "Thank you for reading to me. It did ease my heart and make me forget…" She brushed a hand over her puffy mouth.
Rowena slipped from the stool and knelt at the lady's feet. "Why do you stay with him when he hurts you so?"
"He—he did not mean to. It was my fault, really. I did nag at him about getting more rest when he is so busy."
"That is no excuse for him hitting you."
Lady Glenda shrugged. "It is the way of men, is it not? My da loved Mama very much, but he sometimes raised his fist to her when beset by weighty problems."
Well, her father had never once beaten his family. Rowena gritted her teeth. She'd been at this for hours, ever since noon, when Lady Glenda had not appeared to eat and Don-aid had admitted that she was indisposed. Indisposed, ha! Rowena had found her sobbing her heart out, her lips bloody, her eyes tragic. "Well, if this war of his is going to make him so cross, why do you not come and stay with me in Annie's room?"
"Oh, I could not leave him. He needs me to take care of the little things…his food and drink, his clothes."
"You've maids aplenty to do that. Come and stay with me."
Glenda shook her head, eyes filling with tears again. "You are dear to care for me." Extracting a linen square from her belt, she wiped her eyes. "We met only a few days ago, yet in that short time I've come to know and value you as a friend. I know you wish me well, but Alexander…" She sighed and looked down at her hands, twisting the handkerchief. "He is so handsome, so—so much the knight. I—I never thought such a man would want me, skinny and ugly as I am."
It's your castle he wants, Rowena thought, but she did not have the heart to say so. "Many a man here would be honored to court you, were you not already involved with the earl."
Lion's Lady Page 20
