Hannah Howell

by Highland Hearts

  It was easy to see that that angered her kinsmen, and Tess sought to soothe that fury. “Aye, he did, but he never intended to hurt me. ’Twas but a ploy to escape Thurkettle, who believed it because he would probably cut his own mother’s throat to save himself. It didna take long before I realized that Sir Revan had actually saved my life, not endangered it. Thurkettle wanted me dead. Still does.”

  “Ye call him Thurkettle now. Not uncle?”

  “I do? Aye, I guess I do. Sometime between leaving Thurkettle’s keep and getting here, I have ceased to think of him as a kinsman. He is the enemy, the man who wishes to kill me.”

  “And ye are certain that he tries to kill you?”

  “Aye. ’Tisna just because I can help to expose him as a traitor, but also to get his greedy hands on my inheritance. When Revan suggested it, I fought to deny it, but I couldna. He has tried to murder me several other times, ere this race to the king even began. There were a few incidents I had fooled myself into thinking were accidents.” She briefly related them to Silvio. “He has had his eye upon my inheritance since I went to live there.”

  “Sweet Mary.” Silvio reached out to briefly clasp her hand. “God forgive us for sending you there.”

  “There is naught to forgive. Ye did as ye thought best. If I had told you about the trouble, I ken that ye would have sped to my aid. I didna ken it. And if I, who lived cheek to jowl with the man, didna ken his game, how could you have? There is no cause for guilt, Uncle Silvio.”

  “Mayhaps.” He patted her hand. “I think that there is a great deal that ye havena told me, lassie, but it can wait.” He glanced at Revan. “Did ye insist that she dress as a lad?”

  “Nay,” Tess answered before Revan could. “I was dressed this way because I was mucking about in the stables. ’Twas when I returned from there, through the tunnels, that I saw Revan.”

  “Tessa, tell him about the man ye saw. The one ye recognized but couldna name,” Revan urged.

  As carefully as she could, Tess described the man on the black, white-stockinged stallion. She watched Silvio’s and Tomas’s faces pale slightly, then flush as they went from shock to fury. She had hoped that she was wrong despite her own conviction, but their expressions killed that hope. They knew the man, knew him and shared her fears.

  “That black-hearted traitor!” cried Tomas and hit the table with his fist. “ ’Tis MacKinnon. Angus MacKinnon.”

  “Aye,” agreed Silvio, his rich voice thickened with anger. “He owes all he is and all he has to the king yet schemes to betray his liege lord. The Douglas wouldna work so hard or pay as dearly as he probably has just to gain one more soldier. He buys himself a murderer. The questions that must be answered are why and when does the Douglas want him to strike?”

  “I believe the murder is to take place at the same time the battle does,” said Revan. “If both James and his heir are gone, many a man will see no reason to keep on fighting. ’Tis their vow of allegiance that brings them to James’s side more than any great love for the man. Aye, they swear loyalty to the king, but they dinna much care who is the king. And there are those who feel the Douglas has a righteous grievance even though they willna fight at his side. I suppose one could say that such men swear allegiance to the throne itself, being somewhat indifferent as to which man sits upon it or how he got there.”

  Silvio nodded. “Sadly true. This quarrel with the Douglases has taken up so much of James’s short life that he hasna had the time to make many strong bonds amongst his people. Well, we shall send word to the court about the traitor in their midst. At least MacKinnon will cease to be a threat.” He grimaced. “That just leaves the Douglas to deal with.”

  “ ’Tis more than enough,” murmured Revan.

  “Aye, and there is a great deal of planning that must be done. Though that can wait until the morrow. Now, I am certain, the two of you would like a bath and a soft bed. A good night’s rest as well, eh?”

  Revan nodded but said, “All of which will be welcome, but I am willing to stand watch or fight if ye have need of me.”

  “Against those curs outside of our walls?”

  “Aye. They may be driven to attack.”

  “I think not. They fled the moment my men fired upon them. Once ye were within our gates, they disappeared.”

  “Could they not return with more men?”

  “ ’Tis possible and we will watch for them. But the Douglas couldna bring a strong force against Donnbraigh for at least a week, mayhaps longer. If ye are right and he plans to march against the king in a month’s time, then he canna send a force here. He canna afford to bog down men and supplies in a fight with me. By the time he could take Donnbraigh and get his hands on the two of you, the need to silence you would have passed.

  “However, ye must not think yourselves safe from all threat. ’Twould be best if you stay within these walls. I havena got the men to hunt down all of the Douglas’s or Thurkettle’s spies who will assuredly remain in the area, although I do intend to give it a good try.”

  Tess sighed, then grimaced. “They may have failed to kill me thus far, but they are doing a good job of keeping me a prisoner.”

  “It will soon end, dearling,” Silvio assured her. “Now, Tomas, see that a chamber is readied for your cousin and her man.”

  Tomas was already out of the great hall, the door shutting behind him, before Tess realized what her uncle had just said. She choked slightly on the wine she was sipping and looked at Silvio. He turned from indulging in a staring match with Revan to look at her. She could see in his expression that, just as she had feared, he knew about her and Revan. Tess did not understand why Revan was not denying it—immediately and vehemently.

  “Uncle Silvio, I believe ye meant to say two bedchambers,” she finally said when both men just continued to watch her.

  “Nay. I said one and I meant one. ’Tis foolish to part you two now. A bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has fled.”

  “Uncle Silvio, ye assume too much. Aye, ye come near to insulting me. Mayhaps even Revan, too.” She could see by her uncle’s face that her pose of outraged innocence was not believed.

  “Well done,” he murmured, then quickly added, “Your honor is foremost in my mind, child. ’Tis why ye and this knight will be wed as soon as possible.”

  CHAPTER 16

  “Wed? We are to be wed?”

  Tess was so surprised, she spoke in a whisper. She had feared that her uncle would guess her relationship with Revan, but she had not really expected the man to so calmly state that she and Revan would be married. The fact that Revan just sat there, silent and calm, also surprised her. For a brief moment she felt a tremor of delight, thinking that Revan’s silence was indicative of acceptance and approval. She quickly smothered that feeling. Revan was silent because he had no argument. They had been lovers. Custom and honor demanded that he wed her if her family insisted upon it, as Silvio clearly intended to do so. Custom and honor were not what she wanted binding Revan to her side.

  “Aye—wed. Do ye mean to tell me that ye havena been lovers?”

  “Aye—I do.” She could tell by Silvio’s faint smile that her voice lacked conviction.

  Silvio looked at Revan. “And you, Sir Halyard, do ye mean to tell me, on your honor as a king’s knight, that ye and my lying niece havena been lovers?”

  “Uncle,” Tess protested before Revan could answer. “Is my word not good enough?”

  “Ye didna give me your word.” He stared at Revan. “Sir Halyard?”

  Revan looked into the man’s eyes and almost smiled, although he did not really feel amused. The man had the same kind of eyes that Tessa did. Silvio’s dark eyes demanded the truth. It would be expedient to agree with Tessa’s poor lie, but Revan knew he could not do it, not when Silvio called upon his honor and fixed those rich brown eyes on him.

  “Aye, sir, we have been lovers, but ye were sure of that already, were ye not?”

  “I was despite my niece’s weak attempt
to change my mind. So, ye will wed the lass.”

  “I will. As ye say, sir, honor demands it.” When he looked at Tess, Revan decided that, true or not, it was not the wisest thing to say.

  Hurt and fury battled within Tess, and she pushed fury to the forefront. It was easier to contend with while her uncle and Revan both watched her. They were settling her future for her, and she deeply resented it. Even if honor was not all Revan spoke of, even if he had declared some feeling and need for her, she knew she still would have resented it. Custom might well give the men of her family the right to marry her off as they pleased, but she had always considered that a stupid and oppressive custom. They could at least have done her the courtesy of asking her her opinion on the matter.

  “Honor can go rot and the two of you can go with it,” she snapped.

  “Where would the world be without honor, lass?” Silvio idly drank his wine as he watched his niece.

  “ ’Twould probably be a wee bit more peaceful. There is no need for this marriage ye are trying to ram down our throats.”

  “Nay? Ye and your man just admitted that fleeing your enemies wasna all the pair of you were up to whilst tramping over the borderlands for the last fortnight or so. If a man beds a lass, then he is obliged to wed her.”

  “If that were so, then ye would have been wed a hundred times over.”

  “Such pertness. None of those I bedded ere I was wed to Kirsten were virgin lasses. A bachelor is allowed his follies.”

  “So a maid should be allowed hers!” Tess was beginning to think that becoming involved with Revan had been a very big folly, indeed.

  “Nay. A maid has a maidenhead and can get with child. Ye arena with child yet, are ye?”

  “Of course not.”

  Her conviction wavered almost as soon as the firm denial left her mouth. The Thurkettles were not particularly fertile, but the Comyns and Delgados were. If she took after her father’s side in that aspect, Revan just had to look at her with a lustful glint in his eyes to set a babe growing inside of her. She quickly pushed aside all thoughts on that matter. It was too soon for her to know, and she could not afford the diversion at the moment.

  “So, marriage isna needed,” she continued. “There is no bastard to fret about.”

  “ ’Tis probably too soon for you to be certain of that.” Tess felt strongly inclined to hit him for that insight. “Well, if the need for a husband should arise, I can buy one.”

  “Better to take a man of honor now than one of avarice later.”

  “Where is Aunt Kirsten? She wouldna allow you to push me into this.”

  “I wouldna be too sure of that, lass. And even if ye could win her to your side, ye canna. She isna here. I sent her and the children to stay with Tomas’s wife and bairns. His keep is further from the reach of the Douglases, thus safer. She will be returned in time to see you wed.”

  A soft cry of frustration escaped Tess as she got to her feet. “Ye have no right to push me to the altar or force Revan to it.”

  “Tessa,” began Revan, not sure what he could say, but hoping to stop the growing argument between her and Silvio.

  “Just stay out of this, Revan. It is none of your business.”

  “Excuse my impertinence. I had thought that I was to be the bridegroom.”

  “And such a bridegroom—standing there with a Delgado blade between your shoulders.”

  “I havena even nudged the lad with my eating knife,” murmured Silvio.

  Revan ignored that. “ ’Tis honor that will set me before that altar. Your uncle has called upon it, as is his right.”

  Honor again, Tess thought and had to struggle against the urge to hurl her tankard at his head. She decided it was time for her to escape the great hall and the two men looking at her as if she was just some foolish child they needed to placate. She had no good argument, not one that would sway them. Neither could she expose the full reason their talk of marriage enraged her, of how much more she needed from Revan besides honor. Weariness sapped her wit. She needed rest and time to think. There was still hope of finding some way out of being married to a man who saw her only as a duty he must take on to appease his sense of honor.

  “If ye fine gentlemen will pardon me, I believe I shall retire now.” She started toward the door.

  “Ye are just going to run away, then, are ye, lassie?” asked her uncle.

  “Run away?” She paused after opening the heavy door to look back at Silvio and Revan. “Nay. Why should I? ’Tis just that my poor woman’s heart is so aflutter from the heady romance of the moment that I really must go and lie down. I shouldna wish to embarrass my family by swooning from delight right here in the hall.”

  Tess shut the door behind her with extreme care. She then started up the narrow, winding stairs that led to the bedchambers. After a hot bath she would go to bed and try to think more clearly. When Revan joined her, she intended to have a few words with him—alone, unhindered by her uncle Silvio’s talk of honor and duty.

  After staring at the closed door of the hall for a moment, Silvio turned to look at Revan. “Sorry, lad, but I fear ye must accept that wicked tongue of hers along with the rest of the lass. I am her kinsman. ’Twould be frowned on if I cut it out ere I set ye both before a priest.”

  Revan smiled faintly. “I have grown accustomed to it. In truth, most times I rather like it. Well, I had best follow and try to soothe this temper of hers.”

  “Nay. Set here a while longer.” He refilled Revan’s tankard with wine. “I realize she has changed some in the past five years, but I suspect her temper is still a short-lived thing. Let it cool. Mayhaps, if ye wait long enough, she will fall asleep, and ye need not worry yourself with it anyways.”

  “Not this night at least,” Revan murmured.

  “I sense a reluctance within you. Ye bedded the lass yet dinna wish to wed her?”

  The question was asked calmly, but Revan knew Silvio was close to anger—very close. There was a lurking hardness in the man’s fine eyes. Revan decided to speak the plain truth. If he judged Silvio correctly, the man would accept it even if he did not like it or agree with it.

  “She is an heiress.”

  “Aye.” Silvio frowned. “I had wondered if that was one reason ye seduced the lass.”

  “ ’Twas the best reason to leave the lass be. That proved impossible.”

  “ ’Tis no surprise. She is a pretty girl. Wee but bonnie. So, her being a lass of fortune and land troubles you?”

  “I have my pride, sir.” Revan could see that Silvio would be no more understanding than Simon or Nairn had been.

  “Pride willna feed your bairns or keep a roof over their heads. Nay, nor will it give them a future.”

  “ ’Tis why I had decided to remain unwed.”

  “Bedding virgins isna the way to hold to that decision.”

  “I ken it. I was holding firm to it until I met your niece. Sir, in my own defense, I swear I didna seduce Tess.”

  “She seduced you, did she?”

  “Nay! I never meant to imply that. I—” Revan fumbled for the right words.

  Silvio held his hand up. “Dinna fret yourself. I ken what happened. Two, young, hot-blooded people forced together day after day. ’Twas fated that ye should become lovers. I am not so old that I canna see that. ’Tis why ye have met with reason and not fury. That and the fact that ye will wed the lass as soon as the worst of these troubles with the Douglases are over.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Lad, ye do like the lass, do ye not?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Then rein in your pride, dinna let it make ye act the fool. Ye like her, ye want her, and, with what she brings to the marriage, ye can make a fine life for yourselves. Many a man would fight tooth and nail to be in your boots. Do ye mean to waste all she brings to the marriage on a wastrel’s life?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then I dinna see what troubles you.”

  “Neither did my friend Simon
or my brother Nairn.”

  “Which could be because ye are wrong. There is time yet for ye to cast aside such prideful nonsense. Now, go find that nephew of mine, Tomas, and he will show ye where to bathe. By the time ye join Tess, ye should find her more reasonable.”

  As the doors shut behind Revan, Silvio shook his head. He waited for Tomas to return, but several minutes passed before his nephew entered the hall. By then Silvio had decided to let matters stand. Revan and Tess had been lovers, and despite what troubles existed in their heads or hearts, marriage was now required.

  “Neither the bride nor the bridegroom appeared joyful,” Tomas remarked as he sprawled in a chair on Silvio’s left. “Mayhaps it isna such a wise thing to force them to be married.”

  “The lass took the man to her bed, gave him her innocence. Honor demands marriage.”

  “True, but then, Tess is right in saying that she could buy a husband if and when she needed to.”

  “The lass thinks too much like a man. Aye, ’tis true. ’Twould also be a grave mistake. He is right for her. She said that clear enough when she allowed him to make love to her.”

  “I would have thought so and yet . . .” Tomas grimaced and shrugged. “They just dinna seem very happy.”

  “Nay. They both let pride rule them. Tessa wants him to speak of more than honor and duty, and Revan fears that, by wedding an heiress, he makes himself the basest sort of mercenary.”

  “Are ye certain that is all of it?”

  “As certain as one can be about such a matter. Since she isna already swelling with child, there is time to let them sort themselves out. If Revan’s information is right, we fight the Douglas’s army in a month’s time. Right after that those two will be married. Mayhaps by then they will see what I do when I look at them.”

  “And what is that?”

  “That they are well suited. That they want each other. I but hope they can look around their pride and not let it ruin their future together.”

  Tess blinked and looked around, wondering what had woken her. She had not done much thinking. The hot bath had relaxed her so that she had crawled into bed and quickly gone to sleep.