I gasped into his mouth as he slipped two of his fingers inside me, the rush of water accompanied them only a glimpse of the fullness I knew would come soon. After ensuring that my center was warm and ready, he moved his caressing to the bud above it, creating an effortless friction as the water allowed his fingers to slide easily over the tender flesh.
Exquisite torture. As everything inside of me built, I slid against him, moaning as his lips explored every inch of my mouth, neck, and breasts. I neared release, but I didn’t wish to climax without him. I wanted him to be a part of me as I did so, to feel him quiver as I clenched around him.
I reached up and grabbed his hair, tugging it roughly as I begged him. “I need you. Please, Baodan. Please.”
“And I ye, lass.”
He needed no more encouragement. He lifted me effortlessly so that he could adjust himself for entry. I took a deep breath as I waited. In the span of one heartbeat, he thrust inside me, filling me so completely that I felt I couldn’t breathe without him.
As he moved inside me, nothing existed outside the rhythm we set with one another. I couldn’t tell where we each began and ended. When release came, we shuttered in one another’s arms, trembling as we slowly fell back to Earth.
Afterward, he moved to sit next to me on the ledge, kissing me and cleansing me with the water as I lay in the nook of his arm, resting against his chest.
He leaned forward to kiss the side of my head and whispered gently, his voice still shaky and breathless, “Will ye look at me, lass? I wish to tell ye something.”
Weak and happy, I turned to see what he had to say, but the sound of rapidly approaching hooves interrupted us.
Baodan leapt out of the water to retrieve his kilt before the rider arrived. “Stay in the water so that ye are covered, lass.”
Concern etched his face. I could tell by the way the rider approached that he carried terrible news. As the man started to slow his pace, Baodan called out to him. “What is it, man? What news do ye bring here so urgently?”
“’Tis yer cousin, Laird Cameron. He’s dead.”
Chapter 28
The details behind Griogair’s death made little sense. Nor did the sudden disappearance of his mother. According to the messenger, they found Laird Cameron collapsed over a plate of food in his mother’s empty cottage. With Nairne nowhere to be found.
Baodan stood for only a moment before he pushed aside his shock to make preparations. He directed his words to the rider. “I need ye to ride into the village for me. Gather up Rhona and all from the castle who I sent away from here today. Tell them to return at once for I must leave verra soon.”
Everything but my head remained submerged beneath the water and, without him next to me, the water grew very cold once again.
“Aye, sir.” The man started to turn his horse but paused and faced Baodan once more. “I forgot to tell ye, sir. Yer brother, Niall, has stepped in to watch over things until Lady Cameron is found and new arrangements can be made. He must have been only miles from the castle when Laird Cameron passed for he arrived at the castle only moments after they found his body. ’Twas fortunate timing.”
My entire body shivered at the thought. There was nothing fortunate about it. While Baodan knew what a monster Niall could be, I doubted he suspected him of murder. I, on the other hand, could see it all too well. The timing of the incident just seemed too strange.
Baodan frowned and stepped closer to the messenger. “Why was he there, lad? Do ye know?”
“I believe he intended to pay a visit to yer mother, sir. But she had already moved on to Conall Castle by the time he arrived.”
Thank God. I didn’t like the idea of Kenna being there amongst the madness that now consumed Cameron Castle. She would be well-protected with the Conalls.
“Ah, I see. Thank ye, lad. Now ride as fast as ye can to the village for I need them to return quickly, aye?”
“Aye, sir.”
With that, the man left. Baodan quickly grabbed my dress before moving to stand beside me so that I could climb out of the water to dress.
Once I completed my task, Baodan pulled me against him, wrapping his arms around me, not to warm me but to comfort himself.
“I’m so sorry.” I whispered it against his chest, and he kissed the top of my head gently.
“As am I, lass. I canna make sense of it. I can think of none who would wish my cousin dead.”
I shivered against Baodan. I didn’t know what to say. With Nairne gone and Niall suddenly running the castle, I couldn’t imagine what ran through his mind.
“Let’s get ye inside, lass. I canna leave ye here alone, but I willna take ye to Griogair’s burial. No with Niall there.”
“What about his mother? Do you think…?” I couldn’t finish.
Baodan reached for my hand as we proceeded to the castle. “I think that she is alive and well. She was either no there when Griogair died or she made her escape. I willna allow meself to believe otherwise until we know for certain. She deserves our hope, and I will give it to her. I am only glad that me own mother left before all of this occurred. ’Tis a relief to know that she is in safe hands.”
“Yes, I’m glad, too.” He walked quickly, and eventually I pulled away from his hand. It was easier for me to keep up with him that way. “What about Eoghanan?”
“I doona know where he is, but it doesna matter. I canna wait on him to arrive here, for I doona know when that will be.”
“Will they…will they bury your cousin if his mother isn’t there?”
We now stood inside his bedchamber, and he quickly started a fire, wrapping me in a blanket so I would warm. Despite all that happened, he still took the time to show me care. It didn’t matter that he’d been unable to return my feelings with his words. I knew how he felt, and I knew that’s what he’d been about to do when the messenger had arrived. There would be other days for sharing.
“Aye, lass, they willna wait to do so. As soon as Rhona arrives, I will leave. I need to be there for his sisters. I doona wish to let Niall near Griogair’s wife and child.”
My eyes widened at the thought of him creeping in on a widow. Niall wouldn’t hesitate to do so. “Yeah, I don’t blame you.”
“Aye, he doesna need to get settled in his new position, for he willna be laird of Cameron Castle. Whether it be me own territory or no, I willna allow it.”
“Ye willna allow what?” As if summoned, Rhona appeared in the doorway and Baodan rushed over to greet her.
“Niall to be laird of Cameron Castle. Laird Cameron is dead, and I must ride for there at once.” He leaned forward and grabbed her hand so that he could kiss it. “I’m happy to see ye, Rhona. I owe ye an apology, lass. I know ’twas no yer fault, I never believed it to be. But ’tis me own fault that I behaved in such a way that ye would expect me to be angry with ye.”
Rhona’s face softened dramatically, and she reached up to lay the back of her hand against his cheek. “I am sorry as well. I know who ye are inside, Baodan, and in me own distress I dinna trust it. Be gone with ye. I’ll take good care of the lass while ye are away.”
“Aye, I know that ye will.” He moved over to stand next to me, grabbing both sides of my face as he kissed me gently. “Ye are the loveliest lass I have ever known. I shall think of the way ye feel in me arms every instant that I am away. I will return to ye soon. Make no mistake.”
He left quickly and I stood at the window as I watched him ride away, not moving until he disappeared from my view.
* * *
The next morning, Rhona seemed friendlier than I’d ever seen her and moved busily about me in the castle kitchens trying to prepare whatever I wished.
“I’m fine, really.” I’d already eaten enough food to last me a week and, truth was, if she tried to force anything else down my throat, I knew I might throw up. Standing to avoid another round of food, I moved to the doorway. “Can I ask you a question, Rhona?”
“O’course ye can, lass. What is it th
at ye need? I’m pleased that Baodan dinna wish for ye to be locked in the bedchamber this time.”
“Oh geez, I am too. Listen, I can’t stand to do nothing all day. It’s not in my nature, and I’m worried anyhow. Lying around will kill me. Is there anything I can do around here to help you? Anything I can do to keep busy?”
She smiled wide and moved next to me, pointing up the staircase. “I’m pleased that ye are no satisfied to spend yer days abed. Far too many lassies find it pleasing, and ’tis how death finds ye. I doona plan to slow down long enough for it to ever catch me.”
I laughed as I waited for her to give me some direction. “Good plan.”
She grinned at herself and continued. “Lady Kenna is much the same way as yerself, lass. Before she fell ill, she busied herself by working in the room at the verra top of the castle. See,” she pointed upstairs. “All the way to the top. I doona think she would mind if ye piddled in there. Looked through the books. Perhaps ye can figure out how she meant to place them and aid her in the quest to clean the room up a bit.”
“Perfect.” It sounded like tedious work, which was just what I needed. Something to require enough concentration so that I would not have enough time to worry. “I’ll go there now.”
She waved me on, and I smiled over my shoulder at her as I walked out of the kitchen. Directly into a very distressed Eoghanan.
Chapter 29
“E-o! Where have you been?” Dark circles lined his red eyes and his face seemed abnormally pale, making him appear visibly shaken. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.
“Ach, lass.”
He gripped me tightly as he pulled me against him in such a way that it seemed like I had known him for years.
“I am pleased to see that ye are well. I knew that ye would be, but I was still verra worried about ye. Where is Baodan? I must speak with him at once. We must leave for Cameron Castle immediately. I have reason to believe that our mother is in grave danger.”
“Wait. What?” I pulled back so that I could look at him straight on. I assumed that his cousin’s death upset him, but he spoke of something else. “Why are you worried about your mother? She’s not at Cameron Castle.” Shock immediately spread across his face, and I reached out to lay a reassuring hand on his arm. “You don’t know what’s happened, do you?”
“Oh God, I knew I would be too late. I was verra afraid that I would be, but I had hope. I hoped that…”
He stopped as he broke down into a sob. I put my arm around him as I moved him to sit down on one of the steps at the bottom of the staircase. “Hey, calm down. I think you’re mistaken. You don’t even know what’s happened. Too late for what?”
“She’s dead, is she no?”
I sat next to him and grabbed his hand, shaking it against his knee so that he would look up at me. “Your mother? No, she’s not dead. I told you, she’s not at the Camerons’. She’s at Conall Castle. She went to see the new baby. It’s your cousin, Griogair, who is dead.”
“I’m sorry, lass, I doona understand.”
He was such a mess. He needed a bath, a meal, and some sleep. Still, I knew that he would find none of those until he knew what happened. “They found Laird Cameron collapsed over the dining table in his mother’s cottage, and they can’t find Nairne anywhere. In the meantime, Niall stepped in until arrangements for a new Laird can be made.”
Eoghanan’s eyes darted back and forth as I watched his tired brain try to understand all that I’d said.
“God, lass. All of this wasna his plan, but he willna let it deter him for long. Ye said that me mother is no at Cameron Castle? I am pleased to hear it.”
“Yes, she’s at the Conalls’. Whose plan?” He looked away suddenly, and I knew he’d not meant to tell me all that he had.
“I should have said nothing to ye, lass. ’Tis no yer concern. ’Tis Baodan I need to speak to.”
“Well, Baodan’s not here and, unless you plan on riding after him, which you are in no shape to do, I think you should just tell me.” I leaned back so that Rhona could see me inside the kitchen, and I waved to get her attention. “Will you get E-o something to eat? I swear he’s about to fall over.”
For a brief moment, Eoghanan’s frown faded and he grinned at me weakly. “Thank ye, lass. I could indeed use a good meal, but I thought I told ye no to call me ‘E-o.’ ’Tis no me name, and it sounds foolish.”
“Well, then tell me how to say it.”
“Another time. When I feel the need to smile, I shall teach ye. There is too much sorrow in me heart now to do so. And I willna tell ye, lass. I’ll leave it to Baodan to do so should he feel the need.”
I rolled my eyes and stood to leave him to Rhona to care for him. I loved Baodan and I liked Eoghanan, but I couldn’t stand the mindset that they both seemed to have. Their belief that a man needed to decide where I should stay or what I should hear. Besides, I already knew what he was talking about.
“There’s no need for Baodan to tell me. I already know that Niall had something to do with your mother’s illness and with what happened to Griogair, though I’m not sure Baodan realizes it yet. The only thing I don’t know is why. If you do know and you’d like to tell me, I’d love to hear it. If not, it’s no matter. I’m pretty resourceful. I doubt it will take me very long to figure it out. Now, eat some food, and take a bath.”
Leaving him gawking after me, I moved past him on the stairwell and went in the direction Rhona pointed out to me.
* * *
The darkness of the room forced me to retreat back into the hallway to find a torch to light the many candles scattered about. Once illuminated, I found it far less dusty than expected. Kenna had already done most of the dirty work.
I moved slowly about the room, glancing at the neat piles of books, trying to get my bearings as to how she divided things up. Trouble was, many of the books were not written in English. I slowly realized that I would be rather useless in categorizing the books.
With the promise of staying busy shattered, I sat down at the desk placed in the center of the space. One book lay open, encased in leather and filled with pages larger than any standard sheet of paper in present time. I found it to be beautiful, mysterious, and as I flipped through the pages covered in writing, I stopped at the sight of words I recognized.
Surprisingly, and quite unlike the other volumes scattered throughout the room, it was not written in Gaelic. The hand was in English, and it was not a book at all but a journal.
Whose, I didn’t know, but there were limited possibilities. Baodan didn’t strike me as the type to pour his feelings onto the page, neither did Niall. Eoghanan seemed a possibility, but the words looked too feminine. Although written in English, the flourished, cursive handwriting made for difficult reading.
My next guess was Kenna, but I wasn’t sure how common it was for women to read during this time. Perhaps, being lady of a castle provided one with more education.
I started at the beginning, taking note of the first date written over eight years prior. Scanning the pages, I flipped to the last entry only a little more than halfway through the journal. The last time someone had put pen to the page of the diary sitting before me was seven years ago, and the last entry read very dark indeed.
Kenna didn’t write these words. Only one person could have written something so morbid.
Baodan’s late-wife, Osla.
Chapter 30
Cameron Castle
“Ye are no going back inside until I have spoken to ye.” Baodan grabbed Niall by the arm, dragging him effortlessly to the side of the castle, away from the burial. He wished to squeeze his arm until the bone snapped, to beat the wretch until his fists were covered in his brother’s blood.
“I’m afraid I doona have time, brother. There is much to be done. With Aunt Nairne still missing, there is none to assist them but me. Believe me, I now understand what it must be like for ye all the time. I doona envy yer position.”
Niall tried to jerk from his gr
asp, but Baodan held him tightly, bringing his face in close so that none could hear his words but Niall. “Doona behave as if ye have done no wrong. If ye hadna, ye would have greeted me as soon as I arrived, no pretend as if ye dinna know me.”
Baodan didn’t miss the shift in Niall’s gaze, the darkness that cascaded over them as he changed his demeanor. Malice festered in his brother’s eyes that he’d not ever noticed before.
“The only wrong I have done is try to bed yer whore, but she is an ungrateful bitch who should be taught no to bite the hands that feed her.”
His fist hit Niall’s side with enough force to crack a rib. Baodan held his brother upright to keep him from doubling over in pain. It wouldn’t do for anyone to notice the tension between them. None needed to be aware of what he planned for Niall. Not until he knew all that his brother had been up to. “She is no a whore. She is a permanent member of yer former home. Doona dare show yer face there again, for ye willna be welcome.”
Shock spread across Niall’s face as he inhaled deeply and stood as upright as he could. “McMillan Castle is no more yer home than mine, but ’tis no matter. I have been welcomed here with open arms. It shall be many a year until Griogair’s son is old enough to take over the duties here.”
“’Twould be a mistake for ye to get comfortable in yer position here. I will no more allow ye to care for this territory than I would allow ye to care for me own. Do ye think that I doona see what ye have done here?” Baodan released his grip on his brother and forced a smile at one of the castle maids who walked by. Watching until she was out of view, Baodan grabbed onto him once more.
“Just what is it that ye think I have done?”
A jest lay within Niall’s gaze, a dare for Baodan to tell him what he knew his brother didn’t know. It infuriated Baodan that Niall was right. He didn’t understand all that had happened but, as he stared down the evil within his brother’s eyes, he knew who to blame. “I doona know how, and I sure canna see why, but I believe Griogair’s death came by yer hand.”
Morna's Legacy: Box Set #1 Page 63
