Wild Hearts

by Virginia Henley

  "Let me go," she begged.

  "Shut up, lest I set you down and you can walk home."

  "I'd walk!" she said with more spirit than she felt.

  "Quiet while I maneuver the bog. It protects Cockburnspath from many an enemy. It has been known to swallow men in minutes. Now, would you really like to walk?" he offered.

  "No," she whispered, and shivered against him.

  He savored her helplessness and the surge of power it gave him. For the first time in months he was enjoying himself. Thin veils of gray mist began to wrap themselves about his horse's legs, and by the time they reached the seacoast, the fog was so thick, she could no longer see his face. A million diamond droplets clung to her hair and decorated her eyelashes.

  Even with the double burden, he had arrived far ahead of the other men. Only Troy managed to keep up, and he clattered into the castle yard minutes after him. Paris dismounted and lifted Tabby to the ground. She took one step, staggered, and sank to her knees. He cursed under his breath and swung her up into his arms. Troy, his handsome young face alive with the excitement of the venture; impatiently brushed his damp red hair from his forehead and ran to aid his brother.

  "Troy, you will have to see to my horse for me," he called as he strode across the courtyard and carried her into the castle, Although it was almost dawn, he knew the family would be eagerly awaiting his return. They were curious as monkeys and could not bear to be excluded from anything. He entered the brightly lit chamber with his burden and asked Shannon, the eldest and the one who always assumed authority over the others, "Which room did you make ready?"

  Her eyebrows arched in surprise. Any prisoners previously brought to the castle had been secured in the barracks wing, where their men were housed. Shannon, hands on hips in her favorite challenging pose, tossed her magnificent mane of red curls and simply said, "None! She's a prisoner, isn't she?"

  He shot her a glance that made her step back in alarm. "Christ Almighty, must I see to everything myself? I'll put her in the chamber above mine." He strode up to his own chamber, followed by the rest of the family. He shouted orders as he went. "A fire, fresh rushes, clean linen. Get the bloody servants and plenish this chamber. Alexander, fetch some wine!"

  He laid her in the middle of the bed, and they gathered about to look their fill and satisfy their curiosity. Tabby looked up at the sea- of faces. Even in her dazed condition she could see they all belonged to the same family Their faces were strikingly handsome, their heads crowned with blazing hair that almost lit up the room. Fifteen-year-old Alexander, not yet a man, felt the first pull on his heartstrings, and he was instantly enraptured as he knelt to proffer her the goblet of honey wine. Tabby looked into the boy's worshipful eyes, noticed his smooth; unshaven face, and instinctively knew she had nothing to fear from this quarter, at least Tabby's eyes moved to Shannon. A flamboyant beauty with a magnificently curving body and generous full mouth to match. "How much will she bring us?" Shannon asked.

  "Twenty thousand in gold," Paris said flatly.

  Tabby's eyes widened in amazement, then she thought she hadn't heard him right. Either that, or this wasn't really happening, it was just a dream.

  Damascus cried,. "Ha! Who would pay such a sum? She looks like something the cat dragged in." Tabby looked at Damascus when she spoke, and thought her the most delicately sculpted creature she had ever seen.

  Alexandria said sweetly, "You will have to forgive Damascus— she's in shock. Up until tonight she thought she was the prettiest female in Scotland."

  Tabby looked at the young girl and saw that when she smiled, the serious little face was transformed into a beauty all its own. Tabby tried to smile back at her, but one step beyond exhaustion, she could only lay back and survey the faces that surrounded her. For sixteen years she had been totally ignored by the world, then, in an explosion of destiny, she had been married and kidnapped in a single day, and had, like a fairy princess, become the heroine of an adventure that thrust her to the center of everyone's attention. She giggled before she began to laugh wildly.

  Shannon flung at Paris, "Hysterical, or worse. Another madwoman is all this castle needs!"

  Paris held her eyes for a moment, then admonished quietly, "She's a young lass, like yourself Shannon. Have you no compassion?"

  Shannon, wise in the way of men, thought, My God, he's soft on her, and made no reply.

  Paris moved swiftly to the bed, took the goblet from Alexander and put it to Tabby's lips. Instinctively, she shrank from him, fear springing back into her eyes.

  "Drink. It's honey wine made from heather." He tipped it into her mouth, and she was forced to swallow it or choke. "Everyone out! Postpone your dissection until tomorrow. When she is rested, you can have at her, and then I hope to Christ she can give as good as she gets."

  CHAPTER 3

  It was almost noon when Mrs. Hall awakened her mistress. As soon as Tabby saw the comfortable, familiar face, she sat up and clung to the older woman, "Mrs. Hall, thank God. How did you get here?"

  "Behind a great lout of a Borderer o' course. Woke me hours before dawn. I made sure to bring some of yer pretty dresses, so up wi' ye quickly. Ye must bathe and dress. His Lordship has sent me to fetch ye, and yon lot is dying to get another look at ye."

  "Mrs. Hall, whatever are we to do?"

  "I for one am going to do as I'm told. Always take things by the smooth handle, lass."

  "Well, I shan't do as I'm told!" she asserted. Annoyance at the older woman's attitude made her fling back the bedcovers and quickly don the clothes that had been laid out for her.

  "Och, lass, don't be daft. Ye canna escape; ye canna even ride a horse. This is a fine, rich castle, so ye might as well partake of the Cockburns's hospitality."

  "We are prisoners!" cried Tabby, trying to impress upon her companion the seriousness of their plight.

  Mrs. Hall wasn't about to get unduly alarmed. She was a widow, completely alone in the world, who had eked out her existence as a domestic drudge in the homes of Edinburgh's citizens. She hadn't had a job for months and almost despaired that she would soon find herself on the streets, when Maxwell Abrahams had hired her to guard the young girl he was marrying. Since she had obviously done a hopeless job in safeguarding the girl for Abrahams, Mrs. Hall was not anxious to return and face the consequences. Life had taught her-to enjoy today and let the devil take the hindmost! If she could prevent Tabby from rocking the boat and making trouble for the two of them, she would do so. "My lamb, I wouldna advise ye to cross His Lordship, if ye get ma drift. He looks like he has the devil's own temper, and 'tis clear to see he is master here. On the other hand, if ye make yerself agreeable, ye could have the other two Cockburn lads jumping through hoops for ye. More flies are caught with honey than vinegar."

  "His sisters are so beautiful." Tabby sighed.

  "Och, they canna hold a candle to ye, lass. There now, in that green dress ye make a bonny picture. Ma belly's growling. Please let us go down before we miss the meal."

  Tabby finished her toilet and was eager to go below and give the arrogant Lord Cockburn a piece of her mind. How dare he think he could get away with stealing her. She would face up to him and demand that he return her to her lawful husband. What poor Mr. Abrahams was thinking at this moment, she dare not contemplate. He had been so kind and so generous to her, she was consumed with guilt that she was the instrument being used to extort money from him. She descended the stairs with the light of battle in her eyes and found herself in Paris Cockburn's bedchamber.

  "I sent for you an hour past. Never keep me waiting again," he asserted, fingering the whip at his belt.

  She paled at the implication. Her courage, so high the moment before, dissolved like snow in summer beneath the fierce glare of the emerald-colored eyes.

  "I am putting you under free ward in Cockburnspath Castle in exchange for your vow that you will not try to escape."

  She opened her mouth but could not defy him. When Mrs. Hall's advice came to mind, s
he lied, "I give you my word, milord. You know it would be impossible for me to escape, for I don't know how to ride."

  "I'll soon remedy that. I'll give you a lesson this afternoon if no pressing matter presents itself," he decided.

  "But, then I should be able to escape," she blurted before she could stop herself.

  "No you couldn't. You gave me your word," he said matter-of-factly. "Dinner will be served shortly. The stairs outside my chamber lead down to the main living quarters. My sisters will show you where we eat." Once she had left the room, he allowed his mouth to soften into a smile. She was so fair, he knew he would have to possess her, yet the amazing thing was that she was so unaware of her beauty, she had no idea how it affected a man.

  Damascus and Venetia were so engrossed, they didn't notice her. Venetia's green-striped gown emphasized her tall, graceful figure. Her upswept hair showed off to perfection a pair of exquisite emerald earrings. She glared accusingly at Damascus. "But why did you have to wear that today? I distinctly remember you said you were saving your green dress for when the dashing Laird of Cessford came," she said with venom. At that moment, Shannon came in, also wearing a green gown. She was instantly annoyed and, with hands on hips, was just about to demolish the other two with a tongue lashing when Tabby coughed to gain their attention. They all swung around to stare at the intruder; another vision in green. Young Alexandria's crack of laughter rent the air as she surveyed the other girls. She wasn't vain and took great delight in pricking and bursting her sisters' vanity. "Oh, you're priceless! You must all have heard the rumor that redheads look their best in green."

  Damascus shuddered delicately at her sister's crude laughter. "I am not a redhead. My hair is Titian."

  Venetia said, "And mine is auburn."

  "For God's sake, stop being such mealymouthed hypocrites. Everyone in this room has screamy-colored hair, and there isn't a damned thing we can do about it," scoffed Alexandria.

  "She's right." Shannon laughed, her good nature restored.

  Alexander came up to Tabby and softly said, "Let me escort you to dinner, away from the rabble." She smiled at him, and his heart turned over.

  Some of Tabby's fear was beginning to evaporate. She knew she must explain to these Cockburns that they were doing wrong and that they must be persuaded to return her to Edinburgh. She hesitated because she couldn't get a word in edgewise; and also because there were so many of them that the thought daunted her. Perhaps she would be wise to try to win them over to her side, one at a time.

  A twenty foot oak refectory table spanned the dining room. Servants were everywhere, carrying in water, wine, pewter plates, and huge trenchers of food. Paris was already seated at the head of the table. As the girls arrived, he hid a grin and managed to say smoothly, "A study in green, I see." He received withering looks from his sisters, while Tabby looked down at her fingers to hide the laughter in her eyes. She couldn't believe the amounts of food Paris and Troy consumed. Everyone took whatever he or she desired; there was no-polite waiting to see what the other diners might want. Their voices rose in a mixture of laughter, questions, answers and arguments. Tabby was fascinated by this family. Her study of them took paramount attention over the food, which was unusual for her; she had been hungry all her life.

  "Dammit, Troy, I had my eye on that partridge for our guest. She's hardly eaten a thing," protested Alex.

  All eyes were turned on her now. Alexandria spoke up quickly, "I have been thinking. It's not really fair for Tabbycat to be against all of us, so I've decided to be on her side, against the rest of you."

  Shannon spoke up, "I will. I'm the eldest!"

  "It was my idea, Shannon. It should be me because I'm the youngest."

  Paris listened to the byplay.without comment.

  "I have the most authority," Shannon stated firmly.

  "I'm the brainiest," shouted Alexandria.

  "I'm the prettiest," Shannon countered.

  "You mean, you're the bitchiest!" spat Alexandria.

  Shannon smiled slowly at Alexandria because she knew she had the last word. "And you're the plainest!"

  Tabby gasped. "Oh, that was cruel!"

  They looked at the newcomer with horror and immediately closed ranks. "Shannon isn't cruel. It was just a game of wits. What do you know about it, anyway?"

  Paris came to her rescue. "The Cockburns are clannish. Touch one and you touch all." He glared at his siblings.

  Alexandria smiled across at her. "You stood up to Shannon for me. That took guts. She only spoke the truth, though. I've always stood fourth"— she sighed—"now I'm fifth."

  Tabby was amazed at the change in her feelings. She was beginning to like her captors. Not Lord Cockburn, of course, for he was a dangerous man, but his brothers and sisters, spoiled and selfish though they were, fascinated her. How she would have loved to be born into a large, warm family like this. They did and said everything with a passion. They fought and argued like bitter enemies, yet they stuck up for each other at the smallest provocation; plainly showing love and devotion. Someday she hoped she would have a brood of children. She could think of nothing more desirable than a home filled with the happy laughter of a large family. She had always been alone.

  She thought doubtfully of Maxwell Abrahams. Perhaps he was too old to give her the children she desired, but he was so kind in taking her from the orphanage, perhaps they could take some of the little ones and bring them up as their own. She resolved to get back to Edinburgh at all costs.

  After the meal, Paris ordered, "Borrow a pair of Alex's britches and meet me in the stables." She wanted to disobey him, but it was to her own advantage to master her fear and learn to ride.

  A half hour later, when she entered the stables in the unfamiliar garb, The Mangler greeted her by putting her great forepaws on her shoulders. She screamed in terror until Paris pulled the monster off. He said with disgust, "Are ye afraid of everything?"

  She shot back, "I'm not afraid of you," which was the biggest lie she-had told in her life.

  He picked a small mare for her, showed her how to saddle it and led her out to the courtyard. An hour later she was still mounting and dismounting, but he noted with satisfaction that she had lost her fear of the horse in her annoyance with his repetitive orders.

  "How long do you intend keeping me at this?" she demanded hotly.

  "Until ye do it well, of course," he answered, exasperating her beyond words.

  "I hate you!" she said, finally daring the words she had been longing to hurl at him.

  He watched her face with pleasure. Tight little red curls sprang about her temples in the dampness from her exertion. She set her lips in a firm little moue; she was determined to get it right this time. Then the flash of lavender eyes, triumphant, as she knew beyond a doubt that she had mastered the task. He moved forward to lift her down.

  "Don't touch me!" she hissed.

  His arms reached up roughly and pulled her down to him. "I'll touch you and more," he threatened. And as the desire flooded through him, he felt unease as he marked how like one of them she was. He hoped against hope that she was not one of his father's bastards, then laughed at himself for a fool. What the hell did it matter to him? But it did matter. Perhaps she was a love-child of his father's brother, Magnus. That could also complicate matters. He was sole heir to his Uncle Magnus's earldom, Castle of Tantallon and all his worldly goods. If she proved to be Magnus's bastard daughter, he might have to say good-bye to a large slice of those worldly goods.

  As she struggled, his hard hands brushed against the fullness of her breasts. The boy's shirt she wore was thin protection indeed from either his hands or his eyes as her bosom rose and fell with each breath. As her eyes lifted shamefully to his, she blushed so deeply that he instantly removed his hands from her body and gruffly said, "Go, and don't wear boy's clothing again.!"

  The evening meal proved to be as lively as the earlier one. She chose the seat next to Alexandria's, and they exchanged conspiratorial smil
es. She winced as she sat down on the hard wooden chair, and Troy said, laughing, "Whatever Paris has been doing with you all afternoon has made your arse sore."

  Damascus looked disgusted and shuddered delicately. "Men are so coarse."

  Alexandria whispered, "She means they piss in odd places."

  Tabby had just taken a mouthful of water, which sprayed everywhere as she burst out laughing, totally embarrassing herself.

  "She blushes!" Alex was enraptured.

  "You say such outrageous things," she said to Alexandria, who looked inordinately pleased at the compliment.

  "It's such fun. I'll teach you how. Every time one of my sweet siblings says something, I will interpret what they really mean," she promised. Later in the meal, when Alex arose to offer her some honey wine, Troy tripped him and laughed uproariously. Alex turned cold eyes upon his brother. "Isn't it time you worked off some of that vulgar energy in other ways?"

  Alexandria whispered, "He means, isn't it time he visited his whore?'

  Paris looked down the table. "Alexandria, your whispers carry amazingly well. I am gratified that you have undertaken to complete our guest's education."

  "Interpretation?" whispered Tabby.

  Alexandria murmured, very low this time, "I'm still being punished because Mother died when she gave birth to us twins."

  Tabby looked at the small face crowded with freckles, and felt a bond with her.

  After supper, the girls included her in their evening's activities as a matter of course. It felt wonderful to be included in the gossip and laughter and their endless talk of young suitors. She was developing such a fondness for them all, especially Alexandria, who seemed like a true blood sister. She felt happy until she thought of Paris. Why did he have to keep her his prisoner? Why did her friendship with these Cockburns have to be ruined by his wickedness?

  Tabby was climbing to Paris's chamber, which in turn led to her own, when he came up behind her. Panic at his closeness made her heart beat wildly. He followed her to her chamber door and pushed it open for her. A-startling transformation had taken place. There was a beautiful woven carpet on the floor where the rushes had been, and the bed had a coverlet made of snow-fox fur. The lamps contained a scented oil whose perfume drifted on the air. The bedside table contained a crystal goblet and wine decanter, and beside them was a set of silver-backed brushes. and combs. Glancing around, a mistrust of his motives rose up in her. She felt her limbs begin to tremble and knew she would be a fool to let- him see her fear. Better by far to show him anger.