Forbidden Night with the Highlander

by Michelle Willingham

  A flush stole over her pale cheeks, along with a smile. But he saw the shadow beneath it. This pregnancy worried her, and he was well aware of how she tried to hide the pain and sickness. He walked with her towards the keep, but then he grew aware of a rider who had just arrived at the gates.

  Lianna turned, and her face blanched. ‘That’s Brice MacKinnon.’ The fear on her face tightened, and she murmured, ‘My father...’

  ‘Alastair might have sent him to us,’ Rhys said quietly. But he knew she was afraid her father had died. He took her gloved hand in his, squeezing it in silent support. Then he walked with her towards the MacKinnon rider, who was dismounting from his horse.

  Brice hurried forward and held out a missive to Rhys. ‘Eiloch is under attack.’

  Lianna tightened her grip on his hand. ‘Is my father all right?’

  ‘He is alive, though still weak from illness,’ Brice said. ‘We need the aid of your Norman army.’ He turned his gaze back to Rhys. ‘Alastair has asked you to return and bring soldiers to help drive out the MacDonnells.’

  Lianna’s face visibly paled at the mention of the men who had attacked her. Rage darkened through Rhys at the thought of what they had done. He moved his palm to the base of her spine in a silent token of reassurance.

  ‘They want vengeance, don’t they?’ she asked softly. ‘Because their men were killed after what they did to me.’

  Brice lifted his shoulders in a shrug. ‘Possibly. But I suspect it was more likely out of greed. Sían owed them debts from gambling, and Alastair refused to pay them. It was the reason why they tried to ransom you.’

  Rhys knew he had to respond swiftly. ‘How many men attacked?’

  ‘Two dozen or so. They have set up camp surrounding Eiloch and some have taken over crofters’ homes.’

  Even if they left today, it would take nearly a fortnight to reach Eiloch. Rhys didn’t know what would become of the clan in that time, but it was now clear that he could not leave that fortress undefended. He would have to choose men willing to live in Scotland throughout the year.

  ‘I will assemble men, and we’ll leave at dawn.’

  Lianna nodded her agreement. ‘Brice, go to the kitchens, and the cook will give you food after your journey. In the meantime, I will have our belongings packed.’ She started to turn, when Rhys caught her arm. He waited until Brice had departed before he spoke.

  ‘Lianna, you are staying here.’

  She stared at him, aghast. ‘I will not. Eiloch is my home. Those men have attacked my kinsmen. How can you ask me to stay behind?’

  ‘I’ll not risk your life or our child’s.’ There was no question that she had to stay here among his father’s men. It humbled him to realise that she would bear his child, and filled him with a sense of wonder. His wife would bring a son or daughter into the world, and he wanted to be a better father in a way Edward had never been. Now he understood what Ailric had tried to tell him—the love of a wife and child was beyond price. Never could he imagine bringing Lianna and their unborn child into a battle. He needed them safe, where she would be guarded at all times.

  Frustration tightened her expression. ‘I can ride as well as the others. I won’t hinder your pace, despite the babe.’

  It was clear that she misunderstood his reasons. Rhys leaned in against her ear. ‘I know how ill you’ve been each morn, Lianna. I see the pain in your eyes, and I know full well that this pregnancy has not been easy on you.’ Her body had shown only a few changes, but her weariness was evident. Rhys drew his hand to her womb, feeling the slight bump. ‘I cannot endanger you—especially now.’

  ‘No pregnancy is easy,’ she argued. ‘But I’ll not stay here while my people are under attack.’

  ‘You will. You must have faith in me, that I can defend them.’ In this, he would not be swayed. He didn’t miss the trouble brewing in her eyes, and he added, ‘I will send word as soon as we’ve taken Eiloch. And you may travel back with an escort of my father’s men.’

  ‘And what if something happens to you?’ she asked. ‘Do you think I want to remain here if you are killed?’

  ‘If I am killed, a part of me will live on,’ he reminded her, resting his palm upon the slight swelling at her waist. ‘I need you to protect our child.’

  She broke free of him, and he let her go. Her shoulders were lowered, and he saw her swiping at her eyes. He understood her despair at being left behind, but nothing would convince him to put her in the midst of a battle.

  He cared too much about Lianna MacKinnon to ever risk her life.

  * * *

  ‘Rhys de Laurent is going to murder me,’ the Norman soldier muttered. ‘When he finds out I brought you to Scotland, he’ll use my guts as a noose.’

  ‘I won’t let him murder you,’ Lianna reassured him. ‘As long as we stay out of the way, no one will ken that we are here.’

  ‘Forgive me, my lady, but the moment they see your hair, they will know exactly who you are.’

  Lianna had braided her hair and hidden it beneath a brat, but she knew the man was right. Her distinctive hair instantly identified her as the MacKinnon’s daughter. And for that reason, she was determined to hide herself.

  Snow covered the ground, and her fingers were numb with the cold. But she felt a lift within her heart at the sight of the familiar hills. Her people were here, and she would do everything possible to save them from their suffering.

  Once they reached the edge of the forest, she raised her hand for them to stop. ‘If we go any closer, we’ll be seen.’ She wanted her guard to find out what was happening. Thus far, she had seen no sign of Rhys or his men. Where were they? She had followed behind them, but it was as if her husband had disappeared.

  ‘Make your way towards Eiloch and find out if Rhys and the others are there,’ she told the soldier. It would not surprise her if her husband had managed to slip inside, disguised as a MacKinnon. ‘Then come back and tell me what you have learned.’

  He appeared wary of her suggestion. ‘And who will guard you, my lady? I cannot leave you alone.’

  She nodded towards the woods. ‘I will remain here, well out of sight.’ There was no question of her interfering with her husband’s plans. Although Rhys would be angry with her, she belonged here at Eiloch. So long as she remained hidden, there was no harm in being here.

  The Norman soldier appeared uneasy by her statement. But she was weary from the travel and was content to stay back. If the fortress had been captured by the MacDonnells, then she would ask him to take her to Ballaloch nearby. She would seek sanctuary with the MacKinloch clan until it was possible to return.

  The soldier hesitated, and she reassured him again, ‘I will be fine.’

  She adjusted the folds of her brat around her and chose a place near a tree and a patch of underbrush. ‘I promise I will stay out of harm’s way.’

  He didn’t look eager to leave, but in time, he acceded. ‘I will return, my lady. If you do not see me within the hour, continue on to Ballaloch.’ He was muttering his wish that she should have brought more men. But if she had, it would have drawn attention to their travelling party. She’d wanted her journey to remain secretive, especially so her husband would not know she had come.

  ‘Go,’ she told him.

  The soldier was wearing chainmail beneath the clothing she had purchased for him when they had arrived in the Highlands. He appeared to be a Scot, and she had cautioned him not to speak, if at all possible. His voice would easily give away his identity.

  He left the woods and she kept a close watch over him as he approached Eiloch. From this distance, nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary, but she would not make that assumption until he confirmed that all was well.

  She wanted to believe that Rhys’s men had retaken command of Eiloch, but she could not surrender her suspicions. His absence was conspicuous, for she had expected to s
ee a full army of Normans surrounding Eiloch.

  But there was no one. An ache caught her heart as she feared the worst.

  * * *

  The MacKinnons were afraid to fight. Rhys knew it, but he did not blame them. They feared losing friends and family to the enemy’s blade, for the MacDonnells had threatened some of the children as captives.

  Rhys had commanded the rest of his army to stagger their camp in small groups, all the way towards Ballaloch. The closest group was half a mile away, and he had arranged signals to alert the rest. He had ordered his commander Desmond to remain by his side, in case his own life was threatened.

  Although he could easily have taken Eiloch back by attacking the MacDonnells openly, many of the MacKinnons would have died in the battle, and Lianna would have been devastated by their deaths. Rhys had fought hard enough for her forgiveness, and he would not risk more animosity from her clan.

  Strategy would make it easier to take back the fortress with minimal losses. He wanted to reconnoitre, to get a strong sense of his enemy’s weaknesses before he sent word to the rest of his men. He hoped that if the MacKinnons saw him among them, he could enlist their help to fight against their common enemy.

  The MacDonnells had claimed Alastair’s house, and several of the men had taken over crofters’ homes. Rhys had hidden himself with Lianna’s maid, Orna, pretending to be her son. But the older woman was visibly shaken by the presence of the enemy clan.

  ‘I thought you would return with soldiers,’ she chided him. ‘Why have you come with only one man? And why have you not attacked?’

  He studied her, seeing the fear and anxiety in her eyes. ‘I do have more men. But I wanted to find out more about the MacDonnells before I bring them here.’

  Orna grimaced. ‘Why would you wait? When we’re all dead, the MacDonnells won’t matter.’

  Rhys did not correct her assumptions. Instead, he wanted answers about what had happened. ‘This was more than a raid, wasn’t it? They intend to stay.’

  ‘Aye, they do. They keep asking about the silver Sían promised them.’ The old woman’s mouth tightened. ‘They’ve torn Eiloch apart, searching for it.’ Her mood darkened, and she added, ‘The men who attacked Lianna were MacDonnells. The chief intends to claim everything we have and avenge their deaths.’

  Which meant the chief would want Rhys’s life. Likely, they had waited at Eiloch in the hopes of killing him. And after stripping Eiloch of everything, it meant the clan members were more likely to hold resentment and turn against him. Staying here was a grave risk, but he needed to find their weaknesses in order to strike swiftly and drive the men out.

  It was late afternoon, and Rhys planned to wait until nightfall to return to his men. He had spoken to several of the MacKinnons, Eachann included, and they were willing to join him in the fight. He had ordered the men to attack from within Eiloch, creating a distraction. During the commotion, his men would surround the MacDonnells and retake the fortress.

  ‘Have patience,’ he warned Orna. ‘I will slip away tonight and gather our forces.’

  The older woman appeared uncertain, but she muttered beneath her breath. He started to walk towards the door when he suddenly heard shouting and an uproar of voices outside. Rhys kept his hand upon the dagger at his waist and ordered, ‘Stay here,’ while he left Orna’s house to investigate.

  At the centre of the fortress, there were three female captives with sacks covering their heads and faces. One was heavily pregnant, a second one had long dark hair in a braid, and the third was thin, with only the slightest hint of pregnancy. The moment Rhys saw the last woman, his blood ran cold. He didn’t need to see her features to know it was his wife standing there.

  How had she come to Eiloch? Numbness settled within him as he drew closer. One of the MacDonnells stood beside the women with a long blade in his hand.

  He saw Eachann blanch at the sight when he recognised his own wife Janet. Rhys hurried forward and caught the man’s arm. It took all his strength to hold him back.

  ‘Don’t,’ he warned. ‘It’s what they want.’

  But the Scot fought against him. ‘They’re going to kill all of them. And I’ll not stand back like a coward.’

  ‘I need you to fight with me, not against me,’ Rhys swore. His mind was reeling with what to do, and all thoughts of careful strategy seemed to disappear like smoke. Like Eachann, he wanted to rush forward and cut down Lianna’s captors, keeping her safe. But that would only end up in death for both of them. He had to maintain control, to keep his wits about him, especially now.

  A single lock of red hair escaped the sack obscuring Lianna’s face, and the people gave an audible gasp as they recognised her.

  ‘Which of the women will live?’ the MacDonnell taunted. ‘And which will die?’ He touched the tip of his blade to Janet, who flinched.

  Rhys’s hand dug so hard into Eachann’s arm, his knuckles whitened. ‘I’m going to save all of them. I swear to you.’

  But first, he caught the gaze of his commander and nodded for Desmond to leave. It would take time to signal the men for reinforcements.

  ‘Your clan has refused to hand over the silver promised by Sían MacKinnon,’ the man said coolly. ‘And after all these weeks, you still refuse to give us what is rightfully ours.’ A cruel smile stole over his face. ‘You stole from us. Not only silver, but three lives.’ He moved the blade to Lianna’s throat. ‘If you will not tell us where the silver is, then we will avenge our dead with three of your women.’

  Rhys released Eachann and said softly, ‘Trust me.’

  The man met his stare as if he didn’t want to. But then he muttered, ‘Save her. But if they harm a single hair on her head, I will end your life.’

  Rhys walked slowly through the crowd, and the people parted on either side of him. He felt their angry stares like a palpable presence. They blamed him for not defending Eiloch, but that would change, soon enough.

  When he reached the prisoners, he said calmly, ‘Let the women go.’

  The MacDonnell sneered at him. ‘And why would I do that?’

  ‘Because I am giving myself over as your hostage,’ Rhys said. ‘I am Rhys de Laurent, the son and heir of Edward de Laurent, Lord Montbrooke. My life can be ransomed for all the silver you desire.’

  The MacDonnell stared at him as if he’d gone daft. To make his point, Rhys switched into the Norman language, knowing Lianna would understand him. ‘Are you unharmed, my lady wife?’

  ‘I am,’ she answered in the same language. ‘They do not understand your words. There are twenty-two men here, armed with daggers, bows, and no swords. They have been searching for the silver Sían stole from me.’

  ‘My soldiers are not far away,’ he assured her.

  ‘Stop talking,’ the MacDonnell backhanded Lianna, and her face snapped sideways.

  Rhys’s hand clenched into a fist, and it took all his control not to lunge at the man. He drew his sword and held it out. ‘Eachann, go and free the women.’

  He tensed, not knowing if the MacDonnell would stand down, but the man lowered his dagger. Eachann removed the hoods from each woman and reached for his wife. But before he could free Janet, Rhys saw the MacDonnell move towards them. He deflected the man’s blade before he could strike, and roared, ‘Take the women, now!’

  Eachann obeyed, dragging them away. The MacDonnell lifted his blade and swung hard, but Rhys defended himself once again. Now that the women were away from the fighting, he concentrated his energy on winning this battle.

  Over and over, he struck, only to hear Lianna cry out a warning, ‘Rhys, behind you!’

  He turned, just as a club struck him across the forehead. Searing pain radiated through him, and he dropped to his knees, fighting to remain conscious.

  ‘Take him,’ the MacDonnell said. ‘But not for ransom. This Norman killed my son, and the only ransom I wa
nt is his head upon a pike.’

  * * *

  Lianna cried out in horror, but Eachann shoved her back, along with Janet and Iona. He was trying to get them to safety, but she could not tear her gaze away from her husband. Four men were holding him back, binding him, while the MacDonnell picked up Rhys’s fallen sword.

  ‘A fine weapon,’ he remarked. He ran his thumb along the edge until blood gleamed. ‘One blow should remove his head.’

  Her insides turned to ice, and she pleaded with Eachann, ‘Gather the men. Please...you have to save him.’

  ‘He gave himself up for you,’ the man said quietly. ‘Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain.’

  Her terror transformed instantly into rage. ‘Sacrifice? Do you believe that I will stand by and let them kill my husband for the sake of my own life?’ Lianna reached out and seized the dagger from Eachann’s waist. ‘I will fight for Rhys, and so will you.’ She turned to her kinsmen, levelling a dark stare at them. ‘All of you.’ With a dark glare, she added, ‘Were it not for my marriage to Rhys, you would all be starving now. You owe your lives to him, and now he needs our help. Do not dare turn away from him.’

  The men appeared taken aback by her demand, but she would not relent. All her life, she had remained in the shadow of her father and brother, never daring to take command. But they owed everything to Rhys. She trusted him and knew that his men would come to help.

  ‘Will you rise up against our enemies? Or will you cower when you are needed the most?’

  Her words had the desired effect, and the men straightened, reaching towards their own weapons. Eachann stepped forward and promised, ‘We will give him our support, Lianna.’ His expression softened as he met his wife’s knowing gaze. ‘I promise you that.’

  He charged towards one of the MacDonnell men and knocked the man to the ground. Before they could stop him, Eachann seized the fallen man’s bow and an arrow. He pulled back the bowstring, aiming the arrow towards the MacDonnell chief who had ordered his men to press Rhys’s shoulders down against a log, intending to take his head. But Rhys fought against them with all his strength and both men struggled, unable to force him from a standing position.