by Fiona Faris
“Why will this one strand of hair never stay put?” he asked gently, smiling at the look of relaxed repose on Milly’s face, her eyes still closed as she spoke.
“Nathan… I… is it always like that?” Her innocence filled him with an emotion he couldn’t name.
“Lass, it is most definitely not always like that.” She sat up then and gave him a look of alarm.
“Was it not right? Did I not…?”
“Shhh, hush now, lass. Ye dinnae do anything wrong, it was… perfect, splendid. What I mean is, often with a man and a woman it isnae as amazing as it just was. There is something about ye, lass, well, just something about ye is all.”
“Oh…” He watched as a soft pink blush crept up her cheeks. Nathan liked her like this, blushing, naked with him, in bed. Unexpected, but he liked it. He wrapped her in his arms, bringing the plaid up to cover them both.
“We should try and get some sleep, lass.”
“Nathan, will ye stay here with me then? Dinnae gae back tae th’ floor.” After what they just shared, nothing could tear him from her bed. Not beast, nor man. A pack of wolves would not be able to drag her away from him now. He would stay, no matter the cost. He had decided that he wanted Milly MacGille. He wanted her more than he had wanted anything, maybe ever. Devil be damned.
“Aye, lass, I’ll stay here. I’ll stay for as long as ye’ll have me.”
Chapter Sixteen
The weight around her middle is heavy but nice. Milly moans and rolls into it, hitting a hard wall she was sure wasn’t there the night before. Opening her eyes, she is met with deep midnight staring back at her. Nathan. Memories of what they had done together the night before came flooding back and Milly felt heat rising up her entire body.
Nathan squeezed her tightly and pulled her close, dropping a light kiss onto her lips as she smiled into his chest. It may have embarrassed her, but she couldn’t deny it felt good waking up in his arms. “Good morn’, lass. Did ye sleep any?”
“Aye, and ye? Did ye sleep?”
“Aye.” The sleepy tone in his voice made Milly wish they could stay in bed together like this for ever. But the day had come, and they must go to the prison. It wasn’t fair for her to enjoy moments like this with Nathan while Gavin wasted away in a dank cell. She sat up, bringing the plaid with her as Nathan trailed a light touch down her back,
“Well, what’s first, Nathan? What do we hae tae do. Should we maybe call for a bath?” He laughed as he swung his legs over the opposite edge of the bed, giving Milly her first full view of his muscled body. He was certainly a specimen to behold. Every inch of him was tight and toned. He may not have been in the Battle of Dunkeld, or served in any army, but Nathan had the body of a warrior.
“No bath,” he said, pulling his plaid around his waist, securing it over his shoulder without his shirt. “We need tae be normal folk, and normal folk smell tae high heaven.” He moved to the table and picked up the putrid bottle they had discussed the night before.
“Not only that, love, but we need tae do something about that beautiful hair,” he continued, giving her a teasing wink. She groaned. There was no way around it. Not for one moment did she think breaking into an English controlled prison would be a pleasant task, but she was wholly unprepared for the assault on her senses leading up to the break.
“Nay, Nathan, not my hair, I beg ye!”
“It’s a shame tae be sure. Your hair is glorious, and I promise after this is over it will be again, but for now, I’m afraid ’tis our only option. Come on lass, over tae the bowl with ye.”
She rose from the bed and walked over to Nathan. She was still naked and not knowing where she got her daring, decided to stay that way. If he was going to ruin her hair, at least he could get an eye full while he did it she thought with resolve. Milly took a deep breath, and affecting her best English accent, spoke “It would be my pleasure, my Lord, but first you may want to close your mouth, good sir.”
Nathan was staring at her mouth agape. He shifted his stance, uncomfortable. Good, she thought. At least I’m nae the only one uncomfortable.
* * *
“It smells dreadful,” Milly said, looking in the glass mirror over the dressing table at her now almost black hair. “Just dreadful.” She was still only speaking in her English accent, and Nathan couldn’t help but snicker. She liked his jovial mood, even though they both knew the day ahead would be trying.
“Aye, lass, it smells right disgustin’, but keep in mind as ye deaf and dumb brother, I’ll be in britches and a cloak that was rolled in manure before I put in on.” Milly looked at him aghast.
“What the devil for?” Her accent slipped but she didn’t care. Why on earth would Nathan be rolling in animal dung?
“I don’t want any of the guards tae come anywhere near me. If I’m a wretched, sad, smelly fellow, it’s more likely that th’ guards will pay me no mind. We want all of their focus on ye.” He busied himself, moving items from their travel bag to another small bag that looked that is was commonly used to hold healing herbs. She noticed that he took care to place the spice soaked handkerchiefs in a front pocket where she could easily get at them, as well as the dirk she’d used the day before in the ally. Milly was struck by his careful consideration to her wellbeing, and thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be married to Nathan after all. Yet he had avoided the topic completely ever since they’d left MacKenzie Castle. Milly felt as if a part of her past as well as her future remained wholly unsettled. She didn’t want to go into today’s challenge without at least attempting to speak with Nathan about it.
“Nathan, can I ask ye a question?”
“Of course, lass.” He stood up straight and gave her his full attention. Milly was once again struck by how fine he was in looks as well as size. He stood at least a full head taller than her older brother, Lucas, who was pretty tall himself. And his jet black hair fell to just past where his neck met his shoulders, and standing before her in only his plaid, she had visions of Highlanders who had come before. He was ready to take up arms and go to battle for not only her but her family as well, and for that she was eternally grateful.
“Why did ye reject me so harshly on the loch those years ago?” Milly watched as Nathan’s eyes grew dark. He sucked in his breath and ran his hands through his hair. She hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable, but she truly wanted to know. He walked toward her, ignoring the sharp vinegar scent of her hair that filled the room and knelt before her, taking her hands in his own.
“I dinnae want tae hurt ye, lass. Ye were so sweet standing on the shore of th’ loch. Remember how ye were tryin’ tae find me after I hid?” She nodded. How could he think she could ever forget her first kiss? He brought her hands up to his lips and pressed a tight kiss to her knuckles. “I was young, I was a fool. I kissed ye that day because I wanted ye. But when ye started talkin’ of marriage and living together in the keep, and raising bairns…I’m more than a little shamed tae say, I got spooked like a horse who sees fire. I couldn’t dae it, lass. I was selfish, and mayhap a bit of a fool, but I wanted tae see th’ world. I wanted adventure. I dinnae want…”
“Ye dinnae want me.” She saw how he struggled to complete his thought. She knew what he didn’t want, as much as it pained her to say it. She wanted to help him out of this difficult conversation.
“It wasn’t that simple.” He stood and paced the room. “I was young, and longed for something bigger than what I thought was here for me. I couldnae ask ye tae wait, I dinnae ken what I wanted.”
“It’s alright, Nathan, truly. I just felt I needed to ken. Especially after…” Now she was the one who couldn’t complete her thought. She looked over at the tousled bed where she had spent what she thought of as the most glorious night of her life, and sighed.
“After last night,” he finished.
“Aye, after last night. Every time I bring up my offer tae marry ye, tae keep Elias from the lordship, ye close yerself off. I was wonderin’ is all, how ye could be so
gentle, so loving as ye were last night, but yet still not want me?”
“Och, not want ye? Not want ye? Are ye mad, lass?” He was on her then, cupping her face in his hands, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. She had never in her life been looked at the way Nathan was looking at her now. Intense longing fueled his gaze. He was so close she could smell the sweet mint of plant on his breath. He had been chewing on something all morning. She knew now it was to keep the scent of the vinegar out of his nose. Another gift from the apothecary. She longed to taste the green of it on his lips. She tipped her head back, her eyes meeting his own, seeing the intensity in gaze causing a lump to form in her throat. She swallowed, hard, pulling away from him. He grabbed her back, and ran a single finger down her cheek, capturing the moisture that had gathered there on the calloused tip. He may have been noble of blood, but Nathan’s hands showed partly how he’d lived away from his keep. He wasn’t afraid of hard work. Milly liked that about him.
“I want ye more than ye could possibly imagine. But I realized something verra important when we were back at the castle.”
“Yes?” she whispered, her stomach knotting in anticipation of his next words.
“I realized I couldn’t, nay, I wouldn’t force ye intae marriage. I was in the shadows of the great hall that first night Elias approached ye. I saw when ye slapped him. Even though I dinnae ken what he said, I could’ve guessed. It pained me, the thought that I wasnae better. You deserve better, Milly, so much better.”
“Oh, Nathan, you are so much better than Elias, you must ken…” He held up his hand, not allowing her to continue.
“I ken in some ways yes, I’m not evil or consumed with greed like my cousin. But I held Thomas up for a ransom of yer hand in marriage, and it’s not that much different.”
“You let Thomas go, even though I refused ye. Ye ken it was the right thing tae do. You weren’t serious. Elias is dangerous. But you weren’t. You were only trying to save yer family. Yer clan. Yer legacy. That’s why I approached ye with my own offer, but now it seems ye won’t even take that?” Milly wiped a stray tear away that had somehow found its way down her cheek.
“Och, it seems nae matter what I do I make a mess of it. Millicent MacGille, I would marry ye in a heartbeat. But I willnae force ye. I dinnae want ye if yer only marrying me out of some sense of duty or as a way tae thank me.”
“But what about Elias?”
“I’ll find another way tae beat my cousin. I’ll kill him myself if I have tae, although last night a verra bonnie lass did offer tae take care of the problem for me.” He raised an eyebrow at her and Milly realized he was teasing her. She let out a light laugh.
“I meant what I said, and I stand by it, sir,” she said, bringing back her English accent.
“Aye, I ken ye did, lass. And I mean what I say now. When I ask ye tae marry me, Milly, I want ye tae say yes. But I want ye tae say yes because it’s what ye want for yerself and no other reason. I’ll not hae it any other way. Do ye understand?”
Milly nodded her agreement for her voice had failed her. Nathan had said when he asked her to marry him and not if he asked her to marry him. One little word and Milly found it made all the difference. Something had definitely changed between her and Nathan, and she was surprised that she suddenly felt calm about what they were about to do. The prison no longer scared her the same way. She still had reservations, and she was still afraid of the conditions inside and how badly off Gavin may be. But now she found that with the air between her and Nathan clear, her bravery had returned. He was a strong man, a man who wanted her, and with his support she could do anything.
She dropped Nathans hand and pulled her hair into a style she’d once seen on her brother’s English bride. She placed the dainty English styled shawl over her shoulders and stood from the dressing table. Looking at Nathan, she pointed her chin into the air and gave her best English snort.
“Shall we away to the prison then, my Lord?” Nathan looked her up and down, and gave a curt nod.
“Aye, lass, but first to the stables. Ye are already in yer disguise, and ye look quite braw, but I need tae get in mine.”
She had almost forgot about the horse manure.
“Well then, let us away.”
Chapter Seventeen
MacKenzie Castle, Scotland
“Samuel, how goes it, lad? I assume our friend has been delivered to his new rooms?” Elias called his man in from the doorway to his chamber. He knew the man rode hard and fast. It had only been five days and his prisoner was once again home in the Highlands. It was unfortunate that he was still in a cell. He should give some measure of gratitude, Elias thought, smiling to himself. Instead of that rat infested prison in Perth, he was lodging in the fine rat infested MacKenzie Dungeons.
“Aye Laird. He was no trouble, sicker than a dog, and passed out most of the time we traveled.”
“Good, good, indeed. Now it is time for me to find his sweet sister and implore her to change her mind and become my bride.” Elias rubbed his hands together, all too pleased with his own genius and success. He doubted Nathan had the intelligence or the guts to take the measures Elias did to secure his power. Nathan hadn’t even been seen in the last five days. Most likely off seeing to one poor tenant or another. Elias didn’t care one whit where his no good cousin had gone. All he cared about was using his new found guest as leverage to get the MacGille girl to marry him, and then secure the council’s faith in his leadership. He would however make sure his cousin had a front row seat at his wedding. He knew Nathan had affection for the girl, and her marriage to Elias would be yet another way to hurt Nathan.
Elias made his way across the keep to Milly’s rooms. She had been ill for the last few days, but Elias suspected it was a ruse. However, once she found out that Gavin, her precious brother was here in the keep, she would make a miraculous recovery, of this Elias was sure.
Elias knocked lightly on the bedchamber door to no answer. It was well past the noon hour, surely the girl would not be still abed. He knocked again, louder, and losing patience. “My lady. It is Elias, come with news of your brother?”
A petite, brown haired maid opened the door to the darkened room, only a crack and in a hushed whisper addressed Elias.
“Hush now, sir, please. My lady is asleep. She is unwell.” The maid was shaking and she refused to meet his eye. She had been the same maid not two days previous who had refused him audience with the girl. Elias knew she was not telling the truth. Anger began to rise in his chest.
“Tell me true, woman, is your lady truly still abed?”
“Aye, sir, she has been most unwell.” Again refusing to meet his eye.
“Perhaps she has been ill too long. I shall wish to see her myself and send for the healer.”
“Oh I’m sure ’tis not necessary, sir. ’Tis only a head cold that has my lady unwell. I’m sure she’ll be back to rights in no time, a day or two more perhaps.”
“Absolutely unacceptable. I demand entrance into this room at once.” Elias pushed the door open, sending the maid flying back with an unceremonious thud.
“Please, sir, this is most unwelcome!”
Elias looked upon the bed and saw a body lying in the dark. To his untrained eye it could have been Milly, but something about the shape was not quite right. He approached the bed slowly and drew his dirk from the waist of his breeches.
“My lady, I hate disturb you while you are not feeling well, but I have news of your brother.” That should move the woman. Elias knew she cared about her brother above all else. But nothing stirred. Something was not right, and Elias had a feeling he knew exactly what it was. He looked back at the maid, and upon seeing the fear in her eyes, as she wrung her hands to and fro, he began to think he knew exactly what was going on.
He approached the bed directly, pulling the wool from the figure. He was not at all surprised instead of finding Milly asleep in her sick bed to be staring at a six-foot three inch tall, brawny, Highlander. Thomas Graham,
the pesky lad who he had tossed in the dungeon not a month back was in the bed, asleep yes, but not Millicent. He slapped the lad hard on the face, waking him. Thomas stirred.
“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?” Pulling Thomas up roughly by the arm, Elias yelled for his man Samuel who came rushing into the room with two other loyal men.
“Please, sir, he isn’t well. Dinnae hurt him!” Violet shrieked from the corner. Elias turned on her, immediately remembering she was there, and realizing they would have him look like a fool in his own keep, rage simmered just below his surface. It would take only one misspoken word to bring his wrath down on the lot of them, but Elias remained restrained.
“Oh, I’ll not hurt him, yet. But rest assured, lass, he is heading right back to the dungeons where he belongs. “Samuel” he said, turning to his man and tossing a half conscious Thomas in their direction. The lad landed against Samuel with an unceremonious thud. His strength not nearly what it once was but now seemingly more awake. “Please escort Mr. Graham back to his cell in the dungeon. Make sure to make him comfortable. When he is settled, meet me back in my chambers.”
