Walking outside in the cool fall air, she leaned against the stone wall curtain and breathed in, taking all the healing goodness of this place’s essence into her body and soul. There was something very special about this place, a connection she could not explain, as though her roots had already penetrated the soil and had found anchor.
And, as before, she was more at home here in this much smaller castle than she had ever been at Dunrobin. Here, she had sisters with whom to bond, ships on which to sail, and her Rorie, with whom she would share her heart and grow old. Aye, she was more at home here than anywhere else she’d ever lived. Taking a deep breath, she turned to enter the castle but instead bumped into Ewen.
“My apologies, Ewen, I did not see you there.”
“It is I who should apologize to you, my lady. I fear I owe you that much.”
Muren cocked her head to the side. “For what?”
“For urging Rorie to give up on you,” he said with a frown she had never seen on him before. “I was wrong, Muren. You were worth all Rorie risked.”
She didn’t know what to say. Part of her was angered because of Ewen’s interference, but another part of her gloried in knowing Rorie had not listened to him and had been true to her every step of the way.
“Thank you, Ewen. I trust now that you would not feel the need to advise him so again?”
He smiled then. “No. In me, you have a loyal ally from now on. I will never doubt your loyalties again, Muren. You have my word.”
“Then I forgive you, Ewen. You need not think on it again.”
When he made to embrace her, she put her hands up. She could barely manage the pressure of her gown on her breasts. There was no way she could handle an embrace and certainly not with Ewen. He would surely discover her secret, and she was determined that Rorie find out about it first.
“Please, I beg you, my side is still quite tender.”
His brow furrowed. “Then I shall escort you to your chamber at once so that you may rest,” he said and offered his arm.
Ewen’s demeanour was quiet, contemplative.
“Is all well, Ewen?”
He drew in a deep breath. “It has been a trying time, my lady, and I just want to see things set right. I have been quite direct in my approach with my brother and what he should and should not do. I suppose, in truth, I felt mayhap I should have been chief since Rorie tends to think first then act. I see now that he was right in his approach all along, in wanting to resolve the danger you were in versus dealing with issues at the castle.”
“You think he placed my welfare above those here at Eilean Donan?”
“No, that’s what I’m trying to say. In resolving the threat against you, he resolved it for everyone else.”
Muren felt sick. She really had put so many in danger. Rorie had tried to tell her, but she’d been too wrapped up in her own head to see anything else. Heat flamed her cheeks. She was ashamed now of the selfishness she’d displayed.
“I am sorry to have caused such turmoil.”
“What? No, Muren,” he said. “You misunderstand. I said Rorie was correct in his assessment of the situation. You are worth protecting. You have added much joy to his life, and I feel it in my heart that you belong here. I nearly lost you both—”
A lump formed in Muren’s throat as Ewen’s voice cracked. The only home she’d ever felt connected to was her mother’s cottage at Strathnaver. But after her brother had been taken to live with his father at Dunrobin, it had never been the same.
“I thank you for that, Ewen. You cannot possibly know how much that means to me,” she said and squeezed his hand.
They walked the remainder of the way to her and Rorie’s chamber in silence. A new-found peace settled over her. She was home at last.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rorie sat at the head of the table in the great hall and waited for his prisoners. Fraser, Grant, and MacLeod had heard about the attempt on his life and insisted on attending. They sat near the end of the table and waited.
He had pondered much over the last fortnight while he healed about how to deal with them. Sometimes he wanted to dig a hole in the ground and leave them there; other times he wanted to give them an opportunity to atone. Neither option sat well with him, especially since all attempts to flesh out a greater explanation had failed. The easy route for him would be banishment, but that would only lead them to someone else’s doorstep. No, he had a better idea in mind for these two.
“Are you certain you wish to be here, Muren?”
“Aye, Rorie. I would not miss this. And you are certain this is the right punishment for them?”
“I am.”
“Then you have my full support.”
Rorie turned to her. They had shared many quiet moments of late, but he sensed there was something on her mind, as he would catch her staring off at times. Her headaches had ceased completely, and he prayed they were gone for good, though considering her history, he doubted it.
“I am very happy to have it, my love,” he said and reached for her hand.
The prisoners were brought forward then. Their clothes were soiled and their eyes squinting at the light. He’d instructed Ewen to keep them in the cells, with as little light, food, and water as needed to keep them alive. The sight of them confirmed his orders had been carried out.
“My lord, I beg your mercy,” Ada said and fell to her knees. “I am an old woman and cannot endure a cold, hard cell for the rest of my days.”
“You wish me to hang you right now?” Rorie asked. The woman was clever. No doubt she had some kind of escape plan in mind. He’d play along for now.
Ada glanced at Bane and then stared hard at Rorie. “Nay, I’d be lying if I said I wanted to die. Mayhap my son and I can serve you for the rest of our lives.”
“Serve me?” Rorie laughed, as did others in the hall. “And exactly why would I let two people who tried to kill me walk about freely in my midst?”
“I never said we would be free, my lord. You could let us out in the daytime to toil for you and then lock us up again at night.”
For a minor infraction, the proposal was something he might consider, but these two were dangerous, and he had no intention of risking anyone’s life in order to save theirs.
“Tell me why I should not slit your throat where you stand.”
“Because the bairn your wife carries will need help when the time comes. Help only I can provide. I have seen it.”
The hair on the back of Rorie’s neck stood up on end. He looked at Muren. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was turned down into a frown. Ada had never mentioned anything about being a seer; never mind the fact that Muren had not mentioned anything about carrying a child.
“Are you with child?” he asked and held his breath. He could not see her withholding that kind of information from him. They’d spent much time in one another’s company while he healed, so she’d had ample opportunity to tell him.
“I am,” she whispered. “Rorie, I was waiting for the right time to tell you—”
“My lord, her child will need help coming into this world. I told her so on Rona, and I tell you now.”
Rorie’s guts burned. He did not think he could bear more talk of visions. “Is it true? Did she tell you this on Rona?”
“Aye,” Muren said quietly.
“Is it just she who is supposed to help you?”
“Aye.”
“Take him,” Rorie said to Ewen.
“Aye, Rorie.”
“Where are you taking him?” Ada screeched in anguish.
“Since you are the only one who is supposed to help us, then we have no use for your son.”
“It was all her idea,” Bane said. “I had no choice but to go along with it.”
“You would abandon your own mother to save your own neck?” she said to Bane. “I’ll see you in the next life,” she said and spat at him.
“It will be a long time before you see him,” Rorie said.
“You
will let us labour for you?” Ada asked.
“Not you. Him.”
“And what is to be my job?” he asked.
“Fuller,” Rorie said and smiled as the colour ran from Bane’s cheeks. It was a dirty, nasty job, whereby the worker walked on the wool to soften and cure it. And for it to be cured properly, it needed to be soaked in piss.
“My lord, I am very strong, I am sure there is some way you can find use for me here.”
“No. I think you will be just about the best fuller we’ve ever had. Unless you have changed your mind and now do not want a job? Otherwise, I can certainly send you to the executioner.”
“No, my lord. Thank you, my lord.”
“And me?” Ada asked.
“You will be handed over to my Lord Hamish here, who will deliver you for examination.”
“Examination for what?” Ada asked, and looked over her shoulder at Hamish.
Rorie smiled. The man was by far the tallest in the hall, with legs like tree trunks and a face like a boiled boot.
“For witchcraft. You have admitted to all hands here that you foresaw harm coming to my wife and our unborn child. For that, you must be examined properly.”
“No! My lord, you cannot do that to me!”
“Can I not? I believe it was you who admitted to spreading the rumours about my wife. Oh, I believe I am well within my rights to pass any judgement I deem fitting against you for your crimes. Take her out of my sight.”
After his men left with both Ada and Bane, Rorie turned to Muren. Her head was bent low and her hands clasped in her lap. She looked miserable.
“Muren, love, what is it? Why did you not want to tell me about the bairn?”
She glanced around, and his gaze followed her around the hall. The other chiefs nodded and left the hall, but there were still lots of people milling about. Perhaps she would prefer to discuss it in private.
“Would you like to go to our chamber?”
“Aye, please,” she said and got up to leave.
Trepidation filled Rorie’s gut. Her belly did not show a bump yet, so she couldn’t have known for very long; certainly not long enough to know if something was wrong.
Rorie followed her to their chamber in silence. He was resigned to the fact that whatever they had to face from now on, they would face it together.
***
Muren entered the chamber and walked directly to the stairs leading to the tower. Up there, everything always seemed to make more sense. She had held onto the information while Rorie was healing because she wanted to reconcile what Ada had told her all those weeks ago. And reconcile it she had. She just hoped Rorie would agree with her conclusions.
“Muren, love. Why did you not tell me about the bairn?”
“Are you vexed with me?”
Rorie wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “No, love, I am not vexed with you. I just want to understand.”
Drawing in a deep breath, she said, “I think she is lying.”
Rorie pulled back and gazed into her eyes, his brow knit. “About what?”
“All of it. I think she is clever enough to piece things together, and then draws logical conclusions to make it seem like she can see into the future.”
“Exactly what did she say to you on Rona?”
“That I would be with child from our first joining, and that the child would need her help coming into the world. She claimed she had seen it in a dream the day before you came for her, and that she had been expecting you. All of these things could easily be made up and, considering I was in a state of confusion over my own visions at the time, I was easy prey.”
Rorie pulled her back into her embrace. “You do not believe the child is in danger?”
“No, I do not.”
“Muren, you could have talked this through with me. I knew something was on your mind this past fortnight, but I had no idea what.”
Muren pulled back from the embrace to gaze up at him. By God, he was the most wonderful man she’d ever known. “Are you ready to be a father?” she whispered.
She squealed when he picked her up and swung her around in response. “Aye, lass. We have many children to produce, so I am very pleased we are not wasting any time.”
“Me, too, Rorie. I love you so much.” Leaning down, she brushed her lips across his.
Rorie placed his hand on the back of her neck and slipped his tongue into her mouth to dance with hers. How long they stood there nuzzling, kissing, and touching, she could not say, but before long, Rorie swept her up in his arms and retreated down the stairs to their chamber.
He placed her on the bed and joined her there.
“In the afternoon, Rorie? How wicked do you think I am?”
“Very wicked, my lady. And for that I am very grateful,” he said and bent low to claim her lips once again.
Muren lifted her leg to allow him better access as he stroked the soft skin from her calf to her inner thigh. Her body tingled with delight. They would have to be careful, for he was not yet fully healed, but all she wanted to do was straddle him and take him deep within her.
“Be careful of your wound,” she said when he stripped his belt and tunic off and tossed it on the floor. His erection sprang free, sending shivers of excitement across her flesh in anticipation.
“You need not worry about my wound, my lady,” he said in a husky voice.
“Oh, and what should I worry about?”
Rorie tossed her skirts up so that her lower half was completely bare, and slipped his hands underneath her bottom. His hot breath fanned her most private area. She would surely go mad if he did not make contact soon.
“Rorie, please,” she said.
She reached for her pillow and gripped it when he flicked his tongue the full length of her. God, how she desperately wanted him to thrust himself hard within her. But he did not, rather he slowly licked and sucked her hot flesh until she was a quivering mess. One hard press on her bud and she would explode, she was sure of it. When she reached down to do just that, he captured her hands and held them to the side. Oh God, he was going to torture her. Surely, she could not survive this, but what a sweet way to go.
Rorie reached up and released the ties at the sides of her gown. Tugging them free, he slipped her gown up and over her head along with her shift, until she was naked beneath him. He grazed his teeth across her nipple at the same time as he slipped two fingers inside her and hooked forward. Muren’s hips rose off the bed. She wanted more, so much more, and he was holding it all back from her. Twisting her body, she whimpered and pushed at his hand.
“Oh love, do you want more?”
“Aye!”
“How much more?”
“All of it!”
“Tell me, Muren, tell me what you want.”
“I want you inside me, now, Rorie!”
Thankfully, he waited no longer. He grabbed her hips and flipped her over so that she was on her hands and knees. Holding onto her hips, he placed the tip of his erection just inside and pushed in and out just a little. When she tried to push back to take more of him, he gripped her hips tighter so that she could not move at all. On and on he tortured her. So much so that when he slipped inside a little bit more, she orgasmed around him—and he not fully inside!
Muren gasped as her body pulsed around his hardened tip, her back arching as the waves of her climax ripped through her.
“Christ, you are perfect,” Rorie said and slammed fully into her.
Muren’s orgasm was barely over before the next one built. He was so deep within her, stroking her very core, that she heightened quickly and, before she could catch her breath, climaxed again.
Tossing her hair back over her shoulder, Muren let out a cry as he reached his peak and exploded within her. Holding her hips, he rocked them back and forth as his own passion spewed forth. How long they stayed like that she did not know, but she could surely stay joined with him forever.
She awoke a time later when t
he light in the room had darkened. Rorie was snoring lightly beside her, and a fire had been lit. Did that mean someone had come in whilst they were sleeping? A little mortified, she pulled a quilt over them both and curled her body around his. Even in his sleep, his dimples were visible. Rorie’s arm came around her, and he mumbled something inaudible. She kissed his forehead and settled down.
Never in her life had she ever been so protected, loved, or content. For all they’d been through and all her attempts to find herself, she was truly whole. And that was in part because of the man lying beside her. Without him, she would surely have been wed to someone else by now.
As she drifted toward sweet sleep, her thoughts turned to Ronan. Accepting part responsibility for his death was something she would have to reconcile, but she did not have to do so alone. Rorie would be there with her every step of the way.
And she would give him sons and daughters aplenty. She smiled, and the last image that floated across her mind before falling asleep was that of a few small children running around their father in the great hall, trying to get his attention to play. It was the best dream she’d ever had, and she prayed it was the only one she had from now on.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Wind whipping at his face, Hugh Fraser rode hard to Beaufort Castle, his home. This business with the king had grossly unsettled him. While his clan had always been mostly supportive of the crown, this Stewart had displayed erratic behaviour of late, and Hugh had a foreboding feeling about what that meant for Scotland. While he believed in unity—especially the value in banding together against common enemies—he could not condone the king’s actions concerning Sutherland and MacKenzie.
As he approached the castle, a carriage came into view. His two sisters were not expected at the moment, and his mother rarely travelled anymore, so he was at a loss to think who the owner could be.
Trotting alongside the carriage, he noted the heavy tapestries flung over the back entrance. Stitched into them was an oak trunk. Bissett. But what were they doing here? And in such lavish accommodations? Though their clans had merged a century ago, he’d not visited with William more than twice in his life.
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