Maddie looked disgruntled and utterly beautiful to Connor. If concern for her safety hadn’t ignited his anger, he would have laughed.
“Get down. Now.”
“Honestly, Connor. Don’t be hampering me with your lectures of what I’m not supposed to do. It needed cleaning and no, I’m not obsessing.”
“Madeleine! Come down!”
“Oh, alright, don’t be so grumpy. No need to scream, my hearing is just fine, thank you. Honestly!” Maddie said and she kept grumbling under her breath.
Her next action both pleased and angered Connor. She just stepped off the mantle and let herself fall to the ground into Connor’s arms.
She was sure that he would catch her.
He hugged her tightly, finally able to breathe. He gently placed her on her feet.
“Doona do that again, Maddie,” he said pulling back slightly.
“But, Connor, the shield-”
“I doona care! Ye will not do anything that will jeopardize your safety!” he said, his eyes turning a deep blue.
Her eyes glowed golden rays with green chips. “Ye have my word that I will not do anything that I believe endangers my safety.”
Looking down at her, and appeased for the moment, he nodded and brushed his lips against hers. Giving her one last long look, he left the great room.
He heard her mumbling as he left and it brought a smile to his face.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The following day didn’t prove any differently despite her promise to him, much to Connor’s dismay.
“Do not laugh,” he said forcefully to Iain and Kiel standing next to him, looking up.
Maddie was at it again. She was out to drive him insane- to kill him while he was young. His wife was hanging outside of a castle window, doing Lord only knew what. A shout bubbled in his throat but for fear of her safety again, he held it in.
Connor reached their chamber and saw Maddie’s cohort holding onto her legs as Maddie stretched herself out of the window.
“Maddie, the laird will see,” Aimee said worriedly.
“Nonsense. He’s training with his men. Besides, I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m perfectly safe.”
Connor moved over to Aimee. Aimee glanced up nervously and Connor was worried that her grip would loosen. He just shook his head, indicating that he knew this was Maddie’s doing. He pointed to the door and took over the hold on Maddie’s ankles. Aimee skedaddled through the door.
“What are you doing? Your grip is firmer. Never mind, Aimee, I’m done. Help me back in,” Maddie said, already beginning to retreat into the room.
“I think I’ll leave ye right where ye are for a time,” Connor said, his deep baritone reverberating inside Maddie’s body.
“Hi, Connor! Nice day, isn’t it?”
“Madeleine, do not behave as if nothing is amiss,” he said, as he gently pulled her back in. Once she was set on the floor safely, Connor’s anger took over. Maddie tried to appease it.
“Connor, I-”
“Doona try to offer me an explanation, Madeleine. Ye gave yer word ye wouldna do anything dangerous.” His eyes were dark, and his jaw muscles spasmed.
“Connor, do you realize that ye call me Madeleine when you’re angry?”
Connor held onto his patience.
“Ye gave me yer word.”
Her own anger ignited. How dare he accuse her of dishonesty!
“And I have yet to break my word!”
“The hell ye havena! What do ye call hanging out of a window over ten times yer height!”
“I know, and Aimee held my legs!”
Iain and Kiel were standing witness to this. Their amusement was evident on their faces.
“Leave,” Connor commanded.
“Nay, brother. We wouldna miss this spectacle for anything else,” Kiel said.
“Has everyone decided to defy me!” he turned back to Maddie. “I will have yer word, Madeleine!”
“I already gave it! But if you insist-”
“I do!”
Her eyes flashed.
“Very well! Then I give my word again that I will not do anything that I believe to be dangerous-”
“That’s not good enough.”
“But I didn’t think I was in jeopardy!”
Connor caught onto her game.
“I will have ye promise me now, Madeleine, that ye will not do anything dangerous. Anything that I would deem dangerous,” he amended, satisfied.
“Alright! I promise not to do anything that ye would deem dangerous! Happy?” she asked, her arms crossed in front of her.
He nodded. “What were ye doing out there?”
“I wanted to clean the sill so that I may place fresh flowers there to adorn the windows,” she said, standing up to him in every bit of a courageous stance.
“Then adorn the window but keep yer feet on the floor.” With that, he turned and left. Kiel and Iain fell in step behind him, snickering.
“Unless ye would like to be thrown out of a window, cease yer laughter,” Connor threatened.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Everything went well for the next two months. His wife finally listened to him and stopped her hair-raising activities. They made love every night as if the world was ending. It was bliss for him. Connor knew that he had distanced himself from her, but he couldn’t help it. At first, he thought he could open himself up to the vulnerability of having his beating heart outside of his body in the hands of a tiny, infuriatingly stubborn beautiful woman. He’d deluded himself. These feelings were too new and too raw still for him to make any sense of them.
He’d closed himself off. He had to.
It was self-preservation.
Connor’s peace was short-lived. After the two months of truce, her shenanigans began anew.
Connor and his men came in for a midday meal, as was the usual custom. Usually, Maddie would be sitting by the hearth sewing. He had gotten accustomed to seeing her doing some womanly chore, but today, she wasn’t there. His suspicions rose, but he quelled them telling himself that she was probably just napping.
The men ate, talking over the meal. Connor, his brothers, and men-at-arms were somewhat isolated from the rest of the warriors.
“Have ye decided when ye are going to tell Maddie about Menzies?”
Connor shook his head.
“I’m not certain I should tell her at all.”
“Connor, that would be a mistake. I believe that she would welcome that news. It’s obvious that it saddens her to think that her father never returned her love. Telling her that Menzies is her father may be good for her,” Iain said.
“What if he rejects her? I will protect her at any cost and that includes protecting her from family. Any family,” Connor said forcefully.
“If she finds out, Connor, she will be upset that ye kept the truth from her. Lightning will strike at Keisealle again,” Iain said.
“Then let the lightning begin anew, Iain. I will protect Maddie, at all costs,” Connor said and looked at all of them seriously. “Nay a word about this.”
Aimee walked by and Connor called over to her.
“Yes, milord.”
“Where is my wife, Aimee? I have not seen her today.”
Aimee paled and began wringing her hands. She averted her eyes.
“Last time I spoke with her, milord, she said she was going out for a walk. I have been in the kitchens all day.”
He sensed something. Aimee knew better than to lie to him, though, even if it was for Maddie’s benefit.
“Aimee,” he paused when his men caught on. Iain and Kiel had the nerve to outright laugh. He stared at them until they grew quiet. He began again, “Aimee, we both know that ye’re keeping something from me.”
“I would never lie to ye laird! Never!” Aimee said vehemently.
“Nay, Aimee. I have no doubt. However, I do know my wife. She is quite cunning. What is it that ye know?”
Aimee nodded, relieved that her laird b
elieved in her integrity.
“Maddie always tells me to go into the kitchens every morning so that I willna know where she is headed,” Aimee said.
“Why would she request that?” Kiel asked, clearly puzzled.
Connor smiled. His wife was calculating. “Because she doesna want Aimee to be in the position of choosing loyalties between her laird and her lady,” he said, laughing.
Everyone laughed.
“I know more, Laird,” Aimee said shyly.
“Enlighten us, Aimee,” Connor through his laughter.
“Before the noon meal, when ye and yer men come in, she always comes into the kitchen where I am. After that, she heads over to the hearth to sew.”
Connor laughed harder.
“She tries to feign it as if she had been there all day,” Connor said, shaking his head. She was so sly.
“Aye, milord, but everyday she comes in with game,” Aimee said, bracing herself for his anger.
He stood up, the chair clashing to the floor.
“Madeleine!”
“Where are ye going, Connor?” Bruce asked rhetorically as everyone laughed.
Connor looked over at them murderously.
“To find my disobedient wife, and well ye know it!” Connor growled and stormed off.
“There is the lightning striking as we had predicted,” Kiel said. They stood up, wanting to see the fight between Connor and his dynamic wife.
As Connor stepped outside, he saw her going around the back. He quickly entered the keep again and headed for the kitchens.
“Bess, I have some really good-looking rabbits here,” Maddie said, smiling and breathing heavily from the exertion.
“Yes, they look good, Maddie,” Bess said, returning her smile. The cook stood over a pot that was hanging above the fire. Suddenly, she looked up and saw Connor. He nodded at her and she understood. She quickly left the kitchen as if her arse had caught on fire.
“It was hard getting these. There was a wild boar and I hid until he left. I’m cleverer than he is. I get better and better, huh, Bess?” Maddie said squatting down, picking up a fallen jar.
“Bess?” Maddie asked, standing up and turning around.
“Better at what, Madeleine?”
Maddie rolled her eyes heavenward. Neither of them noticed their audience, as was usual when their fights were brewing.
“For the Lord’s sake, Connor. I was simply hunting. Don’t overreact,” Maddie said, bringing her hands to her hip. Her stance was defiant. Her hair hung around her like black silk and her eyes glittered.
“Ye gave me yer word ye wouldn’t do anything dangerous, so tell me now why ye’re out hunting without guards or protection? Or why ye are even hunting at all!”
“Don’t raise your voice, ‘tisn’t proper,” Maddie yelled, walking to the pot hanging over the fire and stirring it.
“Doona change the subject!”
“I’m helping our clan. I’ve been hunting for food. Since you didn’t want me to clean so much, I followed your orders.”
Connor placed his arm on the wall and rested his forehead on it.
“Have you fallen ill?” Maddie asked, and quickly went over to him. “You must rest, Connor.”
“Ill? Rest?”
Maddie looked even more concerned. She felt his forehead.
“You don’t seem to be running a fever,” she whispered more to herself than to him, and chewed her lower lip. “You are a bit warm, however. Your cheeks are red, too.”
Connor tried to hold onto his patience, but it was difficult.
“Ye are asking me if I’m ill? Ye leave the safety of the keep and continue to place yerself in danger. How am I not supposed to get angry, or get ill with worry when my wife refuses to look out after her own safety and argues with me about it?”
A nerve twitched on the right side of Connor’s neck. Maddie reached up to touch it.
“Connor, something is happening to your neck,” she said in worry. Her fingers were gentle as they caressed his skin.
She really was naive. She was innocent, trusting, and careless, which was a very deadly combination.
It scared the hell out of him.
“Ye lied to me.”
“Nay, Connor! I would never!” she said earnestly.
“Then why were ye hunting when ye promised me that ye wouldna do anything dangerous?” he asked calmly.
“That is not what I promised, Connor,” she said, looking earnestly at him.
His eyes turned a deep blue and icy.
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it isn’t,” Maddie argued, and jabbed her finger into his chest.
He grabbed her finger and cupped her chin. “It was.” His breath tickled her face.
“No!”
Kiel laughed, and the others followed, but the couple was oblivious.
“There must always be truth between a man and wife,” he said calmly, but he was visibly bothered by the fact that she was still lying about lying.
“Between a husband and wife, or a man and woman, not man and wife!” she said through clenched teeth.
“There is no difference,” Connor said.
“Yes, there is. In time you’ll see it!” she said haughtily. Her eyes were blazing yellow fire.
His eyes radiated bright blue flames.
“Tell me why ye continue to lie to me, Madeleine. Why is it that ye defy me?” His voice rose a notch.
“That hurts me, Connor, that you would think that I would ever lie to you. You may as well strike me, for that would hurt less,” she whispered.
He wanted to comfort her, but damn it, didn’t she realize how much she meant to him? He would be lost without her, and she didn’t care. Nay, she placed herself in constant jeopardy.
“Answer me, Madeleine!”
“My promise to you was not to do anything that you would consider dangerous. I have not done anything you consider dangerous!” Maddie screamed.
“Going hunting without a guard or protection is dangerous!” Connor shouted.
The men laughed all the more heartily.
“They are verra good amusement,” Hugh said jovially, and the others nodded.
“I was on our land all this time!”
“Have ye not considered that when Binouix took ye, ye were on the outskirts of our land? Have ye also not considered the possibility that the wild animals are dangerous?”
Surprise lit her eyes. Connor knew she would never lie to him, but the fact that she hadn’t considered this aspect of her hunts made him feel all the more fearful.
“Hunting isn’t dangerous, Connor. I have not broken my word,” she said forcefully.
“Ye are absolutely daft! I just explained it to ye!” He lifted his hand palm up in frustration.
“Nay! My promise was not to do anything you thought would be dangerous and I haven’t. If you thought hunting was dangerous, you wouldn’t go hunting either.”
Either she was verra clever or verra naïve.
“She has ye there, Connor,” Kiel pointed out.
“Stay out of this!” Connor snapped, looking over his shoulder. He turned back to Maddie. “Ye knew I wouldn’t approve of yer hunting!”
“But it isn’t something that you consider dangerous, as evidenced by your actions, so I haven’t broken my word.”
Dear Lord, help him. He wanted to strangle her, but he took her into his arms instead.
“What am I to do with ye, Maddie?”
“Being less ambiguous would be a good start,” she said disgruntled. He stepped back and looked down at her.
“Ye will tell me yer intended activities every day in the mornings, so I can approve them.”
She shook her head, making her black tresses bounce. Her golden eyes narrowed.
“Nay! I won’t. We are equals in this marriage or there is no marriage. I will not gain your approval,” she said strongly.
“Yes, ye will!” he shouted.
“Nay! Only if you do the same, and only then, it w
ill be a discussion and not a request for permission! Father Dircan said that we must equally work together to please one another. Miriam even said we are equals!” she yelled.
“First, I doona converse with anyone about my plans. Nay, not even to my men. I give them orders, not a discussion on the merits of said activities. Second, we are not equals and I doona give a flying fig what anyone says. Father Dircan shouldna be one to speak since he isna married to a daft woman!” he growled.
“Then do not expect the same from me!” she snapped, and turned to leave the kitchen when he stopped her. He grabbed her arm.
“Doona ye dismiss me, Madeleine. Ye will do as I order or so help me God, I will lock ye in our chambers,” he said coldly.
She gasped and took her arm out of his grasp. Her breathing was rough as she looked up at him.
“Alright, Connor. Have it your way, but you’ll grow to regret your orders,” she spat. He noted the look of hurt on her face but dismissed it. Theatrics or truth, it didn’t matter. Her safety came first.
“I seriously doubt that, Madeleine,” he said coldly.
She walked out of the room, passing the men standing witness to their horrible argument. Once out, she breathed in a heavy breath and tears fell. She ran all the way upstairs, but not before Miriam saw the tears. Maddie went into her and Connor’s chamber and threw herself on their bed.
She cried herself asleep.
*****
Miriam entered the kitchen just as Iain said, “I saw her tears, Connor. Ye hurt her feelings.”
“Nonsense, it was an act,” Connor said, turning to leave.
“Nay, it wasna. I saw them as well. What happened here?” Miriam asked.
Connor rolled his eyes.
“Dear Lord, canna a man and wife have an argument without the family getting involved? She thinks she’s my equal, Mother, and requests equal treatment. I corrected her and she didna like it,” Connor harshly.
Miriam shook her head.
“Connor, ye have mistaken beliefs that ye have to correct.”
The Highlander Who Saved Me (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 2) Page 18
