Glenda snorted. "You say that because you like me."
"It is true. Sir Bryce Sutherland, for one, is—"
"You are mistaken. Sir Bryce is young and handsome."
And a man who saw beneath surface plainness to Glenda's beautiful soul. "I've seen him watching you."
"And doubtless wondering—as is everyone—why one ugly as I has captured Alexander's interest."
Rowena rolled her eyes. "My lady—"
"I'd speak of it no more." Glenda rose and began to pace. When she came to the earl's strongbox, she paused. "It was kind of Lord Lion to buy a bit of my lord's jewelry for you."
"I did not need anything, but when he gets a notion in his head…" Rowena's voice trailed off as an idea struck her. If she could get inside the box, mayhap she could take the letters. "I, er, find that he was right in this, however, and do like the broach very much. Do you think the earl has another piece of the same metal and design? A ring or necklace?"
"Oh, I do not know. He has never shown me what is within, but we could ask."
"Well, I hate to bother him for such a trifle, especially when his temper is so uncertain. Mayhap we could peek inside."
"He wears the key about his neck."
"Even when he sleeps?"
"Aye, he says there are spies and thieves about."
"Too bad." Rowena bent down and peered at the lock. It was small and intricately fashioned, but if she could get the tip of her dirk into it, she might—
The door burst open and the earl strode in.
"What the hell?" he roared. Charging across the room, he grabbed Rowena by the arm and shook her. "Bitch! How dare ye try to break into my strongbox?"
"I wasn't," Rowena cried. "I—"
"Hold!" Lion stepped between them. "Release her. I am certain there is a logical explanation—"
Alexander's eyes glinted red with fury. "What excuse could she possible have for trying to open my strongbox?"
"My lord." Lady Glenda tugged on his sleeve. "She did not touch your box. I—I dropped my handkerchief, and she was but picking it up for me because my arm is sore."
Alexander glared at the rumpled linen on the floor, then at Glenda. "What were ye doing standing so near my box?"
"We were walking about to ease the stiffness in her ladyship's body," Rowena said coldly.
"Humph." Alexander said, but he had the grace to flush. "Clumsy wench. She tripped on a stool this morn."
Liar. Rowena struggled to hide her loathing. No one spoke. The air hummed with raw tension as the three of them waited to see what Alexander would do next. It was much like being caged with a mad beast, Rowena thought, her knees so weak the only thing keeping her upright was Lion's arm around her waist.
"Humph," Alexander said again. Wheeling around, he stalked to the table by the hearth and poured a cup of ale. For a moment, he stared into the cheerless fire, then he looked back at them over his shoulder. "Well, do not stand about like a dumb sheep, Glenda. Can you not see that Lion and I have business to discuss? Get you gone…and take her with you."
Lion hugged Rowena gently, and under cover of kissing her temple, whispered, "Go to your room, pack what you can in one saddle pouch and be ready to leave in an hour…two at most."
"But what of Paddy's guardianship?"
"I doubt the earl will grant you anything. Get ready, and leave Paddy's safety to me."
"All right, but—"
"What are you whispering about?" Alexander demanded, crossing to them, his expression hard and suspicious.
"A few gentle words to ease her fright," Lion said lightly, giving Rowena a final squeeze and nudging her toward the door.
"I will stay, my lord," Glenda said. "In case you need—"
"Nay!" Alexander snatched her arm and shook her so sharply her head snapped back. "You will get out and leave me alone. If I see you creeping about, I'll—I'll blacken both yer eyes." He released her so abruptly she staggered into Rowena.
"Come." Rowena wrapped an arm around the shivering lady and hustled her out of the room.
The quartet of Stewart guardsmen at their posts outside the door came to attention as they exited. Bryce and Kier also waited in the corridor. They took one look at Glenda's battered face and leaped forward.
"What has happened?" Bryce demanded. "Has that whor— "
" 'Tis nothing," Rowena said quickly, fearing the earl's guards would kill Bryce on the spot "Lady Glenda did…did trip on a stool and hit her head. I am taking her to my room."
Bryce's eyes flared with fury. "I will kill—"
"You must carry her, Sir Bryce," Rowena said in a firm voice, "for her legs are weak." Indeed, Glenda leaned so heavily on her, Rowena feared they'd both fall over.
Muttering a string of curses, Bryce lifted Lady Glenda into his arms. She lay there limply, her eyes open but unfocused. "Is she badly hurt?" he asked.
"That is what I must determine. Kier, if you will lead the way," Rowena said, fearing at any moment that the earl would burst out and kill them all. They reached her chamber in record time, but none of them relaxed till the door was shut and Lady Glenda deposited on the bed.
While Kier stood watch at the door, Bryce drew Rowena aside. "What the hell is going on?" he whispered.
"The earl had gone mad."
Bryce tensed. "Lion. I must go back for him."
"He seemed to be in that beast's good graces," Rowena whispered. "Lion bade me pack and be ready to leave Blantyre in an hour or two."
"About damned time." Bryce looked at Glenda. "Is she hurt?"
"A few bruises and a broken heart."
Bryce's features tightened. "We must take her with us when we leave this place."
"He needs me," Glenda roused herself enough to whisper.
"That filth is not—"
"Gently," Rowena said. She sat down beside Glenda and took her hand. "It might be best if you stayed away till the earl's temper cooled."
"But Blantyre is my home. Who will run the castle?"
"Donald will," Rowena said, shaken by the earl's fury and his unrepentant abuse of the lady. Next time she made him angry, he might kill Glenda. "Think of this as a wee holiday."
"Where are we going?" Glenda asked.
Rowena looked at Bryce, who shook his head. "On a glorious ride into the Highlands. Sir Bryce, why do you not leave Kier here with us and make certain my lord's men are ready to leave when he is?"
Bryce inclined his head. "Lion was right, you are indeed a wise and brave lass." He cast a final, concerned glance at Glenda before hurrying off to see to the Sutherlands.
"I cannot go," Glenda said faintly. "What will Alex think if I desert him when he is so busy?"
Rowena wanted to scream, but schooled herself to patience. "His mind is much occupied with the battles yet to be fought. Men are often unreasonable at such times and look upon even well-meaning attempts to aid them as a distraction."
"You mean he is not snappish because he tires of me, but because he is so busy."
"Exactly. Think how much more he will value your company and your help if he has been deprived of it for a few days."
"I suppose that is true," Glenda said doubtfully. "But…" She tossed her head. "I do not think I could bear to leave him."
Fool! Certain that if Glenda stayed, she'd end up dead, Rowena ground her teeth in frustration. She could hardly bash her friend on the head or truss her up like a piglet bound for market. Inspiration struck when she spotted the medicine chest Felis had loaned her when Lion was ill.
"At least let me give you something for your headache and stiff muscles," Rowena said. And what could be better than getting away from here? She rose and poked about in the chest. Selecting a packet of poppy powder, she mixed it with a bit of watered wine and helped Glenda to down the concoction.
The lady was sound asleep before Rowena had finished rinsing and drying the cup.
Sighing, she tucked the covers under her friend's chin, then set about packing her few clothes. Unwilling to leave Cat to fend for he
rself, she fashioned a pouch from the pillowcase. She had just set the last stitch when Lion arrived.
Rowena rushed to him. "Oh, Lion. I was so worried about you." She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.
"And I about you." He hugged her so close she could scarcely breathe. "Are you packed?"
"Aye." She leaned back, studying his face in the candlelight. "But will he let us go?"
Lion nodded, his expression closed and hard. "He thinks I go to Kinduin to gather my father's men."
"We aren't going there?"
"Nay. We go to Glenshee. The tower is smaller, but nearly inaccessible. Once inside, we'll be safe enough till Papa and I can decide what to do next."
Rowena stepped back, shaking her head. "I cannot go with you. I must return to Hillbrae and my son."
"I've already sent Wes and the lads who were in the hills to warn them about the summons."
"But Paddy will be frightened. I must be with him."
"It's too dangerous. You'll have to trust me to do what is right for everyone."
She nodded, but she didn't like it.
Chapter Fifteen
Near nightfall of the fourth day out from Blantyre, Lion led his little cavalcade through a narrow glen, abutted on two sides by sheer cliffs.
"See, there is Glenshee." He leaned toward Rowena, pointing ahead to the summit of the mountain.
"Where? I see nothing but stone and sky."
"As you were meant to. Glenshee's twin towers are nearly invisible, blending in with the stark gray stone from which the keep was hewn many generations ago by my ancestors."
"It is wild country," Rowena said, but the words held awe, not fear as she gazed about them.
"Aye." Lion scanned her wind-pinked face, her ruffled hair and bright eyes. She'd never looked more beautiful, his Highland lady. "And I've dragged you too quickly through it, but—"
"That you did." She smiled wryly. "Truth to tell, despite the fact that Alexander's wolves may be on our trail, I've enjoyed our journey. It's been some time since I've ridden out like this, felt the sun on my face and the wind in my hair. I liked camping under the stars and dining on partridge cooked over an open fire."
"Aye, Heckie does have a way with a bird."
"Mmm. The only thing I had to complain about was the sleeping accommodations." She waggled her brows at him.
"Aye, well…" Lion felt his face heat. "I was not best pleased the Lady Glenda shared your bedroll instead of me, but it didna seem right, somehow, to—to…"
Rowena giggled. "There's always tonight."
"Aye." He glanced back at the tired men and worn mounts. "That is one reason I'm glad we've reached home and shelter."
"Will Alexander follow us such a great distance?" she asked as they began to ascend a narrow, winding trail, which appeared to be little more than an animal path.
"It depends on how angry he becomes when he realizes I am not coming back to him with a thousand Sutherlands."
"What of the papers? The ones in the strongbox?" 'Lion shrugged. "To stay longer searching for them would only have endangered all our lives." He did not say that when everyone was settled at Glenshee, he planned to ride back, slip inside Blantyre and try his luck at finding them.
"How soon can we expect word from Hillbrae?"
"Tomorrow, at the earliest."
Rowena sighed and tried to relax. Wesley and his lads had skillfully extracted Colin from a fortified castle; surely they could safeguard her family.
Alerted by an outrider, the folk of Glenshee were expecting their arrival. The drawbridge was down over the deep chasm separating the keep from intruders. The portcullis was up and the far gate swung open. As they entered the inner bailey, people poured out of the keep, laughing and cheering.
"Lion! Lion!"
Grinning, Lion swung down from his stallion and went to lift Rowena from her saddle. "Gently, gently," he shouted above the din of happy voices and wailing pipes. "You will give our visitors a fright. I would bid you welcome Lady Rowena and Lady Glenda, lately of Blantyre Castle."
Rowena smiled in response to the rousing cheer raised for her, but Glenda only glared down at the Sutherlands from atop her horse. She'd worn that scowl the whole trip.
"We should have left her at Blantyre," Lion growled.
"You'd not say that if you could have seen the earl's expression when he hit her. I fear he had murder in his eyes." Rowena sighed. "Glenda is a good person, only misguided in her blind love for the first man to show any interest in her."
"In her castle and her men, you mean."
"I know, I know, but she doesn't see that. She considers herself lucky Alexander courted a lady as plain as she is."
"She has caught Bryce's eye."
"Aye, he's been most attentive."
"For all the good it has done him," Lion muttered, watching Bryce look at Glenda with the wistful expression of the lovelorn.
"Now that we have arrived, mayhap I can cajole her back into her usual gentle temper."
"You could charm the birds from the trees, my lady." Proud of the way she'd borne up on the trail, Lion took her hand and led her up the wooden steps to the keep. The hall was ablaze with lights. A simple supper of roasted meat, oat bread and ale was served as soon as they were seated. Lion sated his hunger and thirst, then settled back, his gaze drifting from Rowena's delicate profile to the faces of his kinsmen. Contentment filled him, more satisfying than a full belly. Long ago he'd dreamed of sitting here, ruling Glenshee, with Rowena beside him.
"Are you happy here?" he leaned close to ask.
"Happy?" She looked around, lips curving up as she scanned the hall. "It is unexpectedly neat and clean for the home of a bachelor knight who's been much absent."
Lion nodded. Woolen hangings brightened the whitewashed walls. The trestle tables were in excellent repair, the hearth clear of ashes and the rushes on the floors reasonably fresh. "Micheil has been an excellent castellan in my stead and Ailsa, his wife, an exemplary chatelaine. But that is not exactly what I meant when I asked the question. I wondered if you could be happy here…with me?"
Rowena's smile fled. "Lion, I thought you understood that I must return to the Gunns."
Nay, he didn't understand why she refused to speak of compromise, to try and find a way for them to be together. But now was not the time to press. "You must be tired," he said, drawing her to her feet. "Let me see you to your chamber."
"Lion." She touched his cheek, eyes dark with remorse. "I wish things could be different, but I'd not imperil my son's immortal soul by going back on that vow."
Lion nodded despite the ache in his chest. He was not giving up. He'd find a way to make it work out.
Could you be happy here?
The question haunted Rowena through the evening, while she saw Glenda settled in a fine wall chamber, and even coaxed from her a small smile.
"Aye, it is like being in an eagle's nest," Glenda said as they gazed out her window to the glen far, far below. "Still you should not have taken me away by guile."
"I feared for your safety. Though he may not have meant to hurt you, the earl is a brutal man with a hasty temper."
"I provoked him."
Rowena ground her teeth together. "It is late, and we are both tired. I bid you good sleep and will see you in the morn."
"Wait." Glenda clasped her hand. "I am sorry to seem so ungrateful. You've done what you thought right."
"Well, I suppose I'd not be too happy if I'd been dragged away from my home with only the clothes on my back."
Glenda flushed. "Sir Bryce says there are bolts of cloth in the storerooms. I have only to choose what suits me, and Ailsa's women will stitch gowns to replace what I left behind."
"He is most thoughtful," Rowena said carefully.
"Aye." Glenda looked wistful, then shook her head. "I am committed to Alexander. Sir Bryce is likely only being kind."
"The Sutherland men are like that," Rowena said as she moved to the door. "They are kind
and honorable." The notion haunted her as she readied for bed in the room down the hall from Glenda's. Rowena had been surprised and a little hurt when Lion had indicated she'd be sleeping here.
"Is this your room?" she'd asked, looking at the small bed, with a delicately carved chest at the foot of it, and the single high-backed chair before the newly made fire.
"Nay. The master chamber is on the floor above."
"But—"
He'd kissed her quickly, lightly. "You are tired from the long journey, and I thought it might ease Lady Glenda to have you nearby. And—and I did not want you to feel constrained." With that, he'd fled the room.
Constrained? After pursuing her with the relentlessness of a charging herd, he did not wish to pressure her?
Men, Rowena thought as she climbed into her cold, lonely bed, could be obtuse at times. She did not make the mistake of thinking he'd lost interest, not after the declaration in the hall. His kindness made everything so much harder to bear. The knowledge that they could not be together churned like bitter acid, eating at her heart. Better she had never gone to Blantyre and seen him again. Better she had gone on hating him for having deserted her, than to learn he was the most wonderful of men. The only man she'd ever love.
Hot tears filled her eyes, slipping down her cheeks to wet the pillow. She loved him, yet she'd betrayed him most horribly. She'd kept from him the truth about Paddy.
How could she do anything else? If he knew he had a son, Lion would doubtless want to claim Paddy, despite her oath to Padruig. Damn Padruig for having tied her hands with that vow. She could not doom Paddy's soul to eternal hell, even if it meant lying to Lion and giving up what she wanted most—his love.
Rowena turned her face into the damp pillow and wept for all of them, but mostly for Paddy, who would never have the joy of knowing his father's love. When the storm was spent, she lay awake, exhausted but still unable to sleep. The need to be with Lion gnawed at her till she could no longer stand the emptiness.
Rising, she threw her cloak on over her night shift, opened her door and tripped over something on the threshold.
Harry cursed and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Harry? What are you doing here?"
Lion's Lady Page 21
