As the day dragged on, and the rain persisted, Maude was exhausted and miserable. She huddled into her plaid and tucked her chin against the wind and driving rain. Her weariness made her fear she’d slip from Trioblaid’s back, but she refused to complain. She’d seen the pride in Kieran’s eyes as she and Blair led rounds of songs until they grew hoarse. She wasn’t about to change Kieran’s view of her by whining because of a little shower. She looked ahead to where her father arranged Blair behind him as she rode pillory. Her sister fussed, but her horse stumbled one too many times in the mud for Hamish to trust it not to throw Blair. Maude adjusted her plaid once more as it attempted to slip from her head. She rolled her shoulders and hunched into herself, praying the rain would cease or that her father called a halt to the day’s ride. She wasn’t counting on either; the clouds remained thick and black, and she knew they still had several more hours before they would make camp.
Kieran noticed Maude’s attempt to make herself comfortable despite the worsening conditions. She impressed him once again by how she took each challenge in stride without becoming disagreeable. He considered how his sisters and mother would behave in such a situation, and he counted himself lucky they weren’t there. Kieran nudged Peat alongside Trioblaid now that they’d tied Blair’s horse to a rear guardsman’s mount. He leaned forward to catch a peek at Maude’s face, but all he could see was the tip of her red nose and her chattering blue lips. He didn’t think twice before plucking her from her saddle and settling her before him. He’d pulled the extra length of his plaid over his head and wrapped the loose material over his shoulders. He unwound it now and pulled her shivering body against his before wrapping the wool around them both. She huddled against his larger frame, seeming tiny and fragile to him. He rubbed his hand over her back and arms, trying to get the blood flowing again.
“That’s good yet horrible all at the same time,” she murmured. “It’s good because it’s you and because I might be warm again, but the pins and needles burn as the blood starts pumping.”
Kieran looked ahead at Hamish, who was looking back at him. A silent communication passed between them as they each looked at the bedraggled women sharing a horse with them. Within the hour, the party rode into the courtyard of a tavern. It wasn’t somewhere Hamish or Kieran would have brought the women if there was another choice, but there were no other options before it grew too dark to continue. Kieran eased Maude from his lap before dismounting beside her. She handed Trioblaid’s reins–which she’d held onto while she rode with Kieran–to a stable boy before joining her sister. Hamish led the group into the main room, the women huddled in the center of the group. Each man prepared to draw his sword to defend the Sutherland sisters. Kieran scanned the men assembled in various states of inebriation. He slipped his arm around Maude’s waist and pulled her close.
“Keep your head down until your father and I can arrange for a chamber for you and Blair.” Kieran’s gaze followed Hamish as the older man walked to the bar and spoke with the tavern owner. He gestured over his shoulder before nodding and dropping a small sack of coin on the counter. Blair and Maude whispered as they waited for someone to show them to their chamber. Kieran shifted to let a tavern maid past, but she stopped in front of him.
“I ken what ye need, ma laird, to warm a large mon like ye on a chilly spring night like we‘ve tonight,” the woman purred. She reached out to touch Kieran’s chest, but Maude slid between them and bared her teeth.
“Touch ma mon, and ye will come away less yer fingers.” Maude’s quiet threat had its intended effect. The woman skittered away as Maude growled. Kieran’s chuckle earned him an elbow to the ribs.
“I rather like ye protective of yer mon, lass,” he teased, allowing his burr to slip back into his voice, too. He was about to kiss her temple when a drunken voice carried to them.
“Look at the tits on that one. Nay, nae the lady. Her buxom maid. Nay lady is built like a tavern wench. I’d stick ma c--” Kieran’s fist plowed into the man’s face before the drunkard could finish his vulgar thought. The man flew backward and landed on a table, upturning bowls of pottage and mugs of ale. A serving wench screamed, and several men reached for their swords. The MacLeod and Sutherland men surrounded Maude and Blair with their hands on the hilts of their swords and dirks.
“Dinna! Can ye nay see who it is?” A man near the bar yelled over the crowd. “Tis Laird Sutherland and Laird MacLeod. Unless ye wish to die today, dinna pull yer blade.”
Maude held her breath as the entire tavern froze in place as men surveyed one another, evaluating their chance for success and survival. None of the tavern goers pursued a fight, but several glared at Kieran, who looked unapologetic.
“Dinna speak of ma bride, and I willna cut out yer tongue,” he growled between clenched teeth.
“So much for keeping yer head down, lad,” Hamish clapped Kieran on his back before turning to Maude. “Are ye well, lass?”
Maude nodded at her father before looking up at Kieran, whose eyes continued to sweep the crowd while his hand hadn’t moved from the hilt of his sword, his other arm anchored around Maude’s waist. It wasn’t often that Kieran allowed his burr to overcome his control, so it spoke to his anger as he defended Maude.
“I’m sleeping by their door,” Kieran muttered to no one and everyone. Maude’s insides warmed as she pictured Kieran situated as a roadblock in their doorframe that night. Her father had slept that way more than once when she traveled with Blair and her mother. When she and her sister were younger, Hamish and Lachlan slept on the floor of their chamber when they stayed at an inn. More recently, Lachlan slept at the table closest to the foot of the stairs, if he accompanied them, while their father remained propped in the doorframe. But as tánaiste, he most often remained at Dunrobin when their father ventured away. Kieran leaned close to Maude’s ear once again. “I look forward to sharing a chamber with you, lass. And for once, it isn’t so I can share your bed. I dislike you being alone in there.”
“Alone? Blair will be with me.”
“Aye, but my sword and I won’t be.”
“Will you always be so overprotective?”
“Till my last breath.” When Maude looked unconvinced, Kieran sighed. “Before that last breath, I will convince you, you are more precious to me than aught else in this life or the next.”
“And what do you mean share? You’ll be outside the door.”
The innkeeper interrupted their conversation when he ushered them to a table, and a team of tavern wenches brought bowls of pottage and ale. The women were shameless in their ogling of Kieran and Hamish, who despite being old enough to be the ladies’ father was a braw man who drew more than one woman’s eye. Neither man cast the women a single glance, let alone a second one, so they turned their attention to the guardsmen who accepted the attention until their lairds cut them scathing glances, reminding them that they were to guard Maude and Blair, not tup the whores. The meal and night passed uneventfully once the other patrons realized two snarling lairds and guards armed to the teeth fiercely guarded the two ladies.
The next two nights passed just as the first one had. The rain continued with unremorseful strength, so Hamish insisted they spend the night under a proper roof with hot food for everyone. Only one arrival resulted in Kieran and Hamish throwing punches at men who attempted to touch the ladies. Kieran’s knuckles smarted, but it satisfied him that the patrons understood that the Sutherland sisters were off limits.
Maude approached Kieran the morning of their last day on the road. She lifted his hands to her lips and kissed the damaged skin. She slid her gaze to where her father stood with Blair and his captain of the guard, discussing the journey for that day.
“I miss you,” she whispered. “I know that’s ridiculous since we ride side-by-side every day, but I miss having the chance to talk to you without a score of ears listening to each passing word. I miss your kisses and waking in your arms. That was a cruel tease.”
“I know, buttercup.
I wake every morning with a raging need to taste you and have your body pressed to mine.” Kieran had a moment’s guilt for what he was about to suggest, but he knew it was a pointless emotion. “Maude, I would marry you tomorrow evening.”
“What aboot your mother and sister? Shouldn’t we give them the chance to arrive?”
“They won’t come. I told you I had a falling out with my mother before I left. I don’t want you to arrive at Stornoway unsuspecting. She isn’t pleased that I’m not marrying someone of her choice after Madeline made Laurel Ross sound appealing to her, and she is angry that you’re a Sutherland. She may be one of those who spews that I married you for the alliance and land.”
Maude swallowed as she nodded. She adopted her courtly, serene expression, and Kieran wanted to be ill. She was retreating from him before she even arrived on MacLeod land. For the hundredth time, he wondered if he was being selfish, insisting upon marrying Maude when he knew she was sensitive to people assuming her worth came from her dowry and name rather than her person. But he convinced himself that no one would dare speak out against his wife. He was certain she would win them over within a sennight, even his troublesome mother. He assumed Abigail would appreciate having another lady close to her age and would make friends with Maude.
“We shall cross that bridge when we come to it. Perhaps she will surprise you.”
Kieran prayed Maude’s optimism wouldn’t be misplaced. He pulled her into his arms for a quick embrace and heated kiss before taking her hand and leading her to Peat. She didn’t ask what he was about before he lifted her into the saddle and mounted behind her.
“You look cold.” Kieran offered nothing more, and their mounting signaled the others to ride out of the tavern’s courtyard. Kieran made it a priority to announce to Hamish that the wedding would be the next day. He was relieved when Hamish nodded his head without a word. It was a long day in the saddle, but Dunrobin came into view as the sun moved toward the western horizon. Maude squeezed Kieran’s arm as a young man and an older woman came into view on the battlements as the bells rang to announce the laird’s return home.
“Mama. Lachlan,” Maude breathed. “Home.”
Kieran prayed that Maude would one day speak with such reverence about Stornoway, but until then, it pleased him to see the rare but genuine wide smile that broke across Maude’s face. He grinned at the sight of her crooked teeth and gap. Any chance to see Maude filled with true happiness was worth the days of trudging through rain and muck.
Chapter Nineteen
Maude shifted with eagerness as Kieran brought Peat to a halt and practically pushed him from the saddle in her impatience to dismount. Her feet brushed the ground before she was lifting her skirts and flying into the waiting arms of a woman who resembled Maude more like an older sister than her mother. It surprised Kieran to note that Lady Amelia Sutherland shared a similar build to Maude, and he suspected Lady Amelia had looked much the same now as she did before she had three children.
“Aye, ma lass is the spitting image of her mama when I met ma Amelia. She’s as bonnie as the day I bumped into her at court. I kenned the moment I met her that I would make her ma wife. It seems history repeated itself.” Hamish didn’t wait for a response before pulling his wife in for a kiss that put any Kieran and Maude shared to shame. Despite being married almost a score-and-a-half years, it was clear that passion existed between the older couple, and Kieran prayed he and Maude would share the same once their children grew into adults.
Kieran’s imagination jumped to a picture of Maude with a rounded belly, her hand resting over the swell as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. He shook the thought loose as he observed a young man twirl Maude in the air before tossing her and catching her like a young child. Her giggle made him wonder what he could do to elicit such a sound. The young man looked much like Hamish but had a scar that ran along his jaw. It had faded with time, but Kieran could tell it must have been viscous at one time. Lachlan repeated his greeting with Blair, who hooted with laughter. Maude dashed to Kieran’s side and grabbed his hand, tugging him with surprising strength.
“Come meet Mama and Lachlan.” Maude skipped toward her family as Kieran jogged and humored her excitement.
“Mama, please meet my betrothed, Laird Kieran MacLeod of Lewis.” Maude beamed as Lady Sutherland dipped into a curtsy that Kieran returned with a bow.
“It is a pleasure to see you once more, Laird MacLeod. It has been some time, but I would recognize ye as Laird Tieran’s son any day of the sennight and twice on Sundays. I thought the Sinclairs bore a striking resemblance between father and son, but ye and yer father were two peas in a pod.”
“Tieran and Kieran?” Maude struggled not to laugh. She realized she had never heard Kieran’s father’s name. She was familiar with the MacLeods of Skye and had heard of Kieran, but she’d been too young when Tieran MacLeod passed away to have any memory of him.
“My father had a sense of humor since I looked like him from the moment of my birth. He detested naming me after himself, said it would be too confusing.”
“So Tieran and Kieran was easier?” This time, Maude did laugh. “I rather like it. Can we name our son Tieran, too?” Maude froze as she realized how her words must sound. “I mean any future sons. If the Lord so blesses us with bairns.”
Kieran’s imagination sprang to life again with the image of Maude carrying his child. He nodded as he glimpsed a lovely blush spread up her neck and into her cheeks. He ran his thumb over her cheekbone before remembering their audience.
“A wedding tomorrow evening sounds perfect,” Amelia’s voice broke through their not-so-private moment. Maude looked at her mother and pieced together that her father must have already spoken to her mother in the few minutes that she stood in a world comprising only Kieran and herself. Her mother held out her hand, and Maude took it, but not before looking over her shoulder at Kieran. “We have much to plan, and we shall need to choose a gown for you.”
“Mama, I’d still like to wear your gown,” Hope filled Maude’s voice.
“Are you sure, leannan? It’s outdated.”
“I’ve wanted to wear it since I was a wean. Please?”
“If that’s what you wish. Let’s hang it up, so it can air before it’s brushed out.”
Kieran’s gaze followed mother and daughters as they moved toward the stairs as he entered the Great Hall with Hamish and Lachlan.
“I’m afraid you won’t see them until the evening meal,” Lachlan elbowed Kieran. “Maude may not be one for lace and trim, but my mother and Blair are.” Lachlan and Kieran had met several times over the years, and while they were not friends, they were friendly. Kieran hoped he would develop a closer relationship with his soon-to-be brother-by-marriage. He had always longed for a brother, and while Kyle filled that role, Kieran looked forward to a brother who would one day share the same duties and burdens as laird that he did. Hamish and the two younger men took seats on the dais while servants brought out food. Kieran hadn’t realized that he was famished until the smell of fresh bread and cheese wafted to him. After they finished their repast, the three men retired to Hamish’s solar to draft and sign the betrothal documents.
* * *
“The mon is in love with ye, lass.” Amelia wasted no time with her proclamation once the three ladies were tucked away in Maude’s chamber.
“Mama, please don’t say that. He hasn’t made any declarations of his feelings. And neither have I,” Maude rushed to add. “I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”
“Hopes up?” Blair chimed in. “Everyone at court was buzzing aboot how quickly the elusive bachelor, Laird Kieran MacLeod, fell in love.”
“He’s fond of me, but I hesitate to say it’s love. Maybe one day,” Maude hedged. She didn’t want to hear her mother and sister try to convince her of something that might never come true. She didn’t doubt her own feelings of love, but she refused to assume Kieran felt the same. The disappointment would c
rush her to discover he didn’t reciprocate her depth of emotion. She was aware he was fond of her and desired her, but she wouldn’t believe he loved her. It seemed too farfetched in her mind. While the men in her family might marry for love, it was a rare novelty among her social class. Kieran denied her dowry, including the land that bordered his, mattered, but she would be a fool to believe him. It might not matter to him now, but it would once the newness of their courtship wore off into the daily grind of marriage and being laird to a large and powerful clan.
“Ye are blind, ma lassie.” Maude might disagree with her mother, but the sound of her mother’s voice, the brogue she never lost despite education and time at court, was a comfort. Maude wondered if she should give up her tight leash on her accent. She had adopted the Lowlanders pattern of speech during her eight months at court to fit in and knew Kieran did the same. She longed to let down her guard and might while they were at Sutherland, but she would decide once she met Lady MacLeod. Maude suspected the woman would look down her nose at Maude if she sounded like a Highlander. She’d learned that her mother-by-marriage-to-be was a Lowlander. It made her suspect that was why Kieran spoke without a burr with more ease than she did.
“Are you ready for tomorrow eve?” Blair wiggled her eyebrows to Maude’s horror as her eyes darted between her sister and mother, but their mother laughed. It was impossible to have parents as in love as Hamish and Amelia, along with live in a large keep such as Dunrobin, without learning much about what happened between a man and woman. Amelia had been honest with her daughters before they left for court, more to warn them of the dangers of how passion could carry them away if they weren’t careful. She’d appreciated her mother’s warnings even if she had disregarded them with Kieran.
A Wallflower at the Highland Court: A Slow Burn Highlander Romance Page 18
