by K. E. Saxon
Jesslyn felt faint. Graeme had continued the affair, even after assuring her he’d broken ties with the woman?
Lara studied her nails. “He was quite smitten with me, you know. He would have wed me instead of you, I’m sure, if I had been there when he arrived back home to find his wife dead.”
“I-I have to go.” Jesslyn scrambled blindly for the door handle and fled inside, leaning heavily upon it for a moment before staggering over to the bed and flinging herself face down on the fur covering.
He’d deceived her. Betrayed her and deceived her. What a fool she’d been all these moons, pining away for her perfect, lost love. Had it all been a lie? Even up to the end? A whimper escaped and she closed her throat to hold back another one. No. She’d not believe it. Graeme had loved her, been devoted to her. They’d shared a life together, built a family.
Laura, her words and her smug grin flashed through her mind, followed swiftly by the image of Bao and the lass in the wood, and all her doubts came tumbling back into place.
She covered her face with her hands. What was wrong with her? Why did men think ‘twas all right to forget their vows when wed to her? She was weak, she didn’t stand up for herself, that was why.
She sat up. If Bao ever does it to me again, I’ll leave him. She’d tried her best to forget the last incident, since their union had not truly started at that point, but now that it had—well, except for the bedding—she’d not stand by like some pitiful fool while her husband collected lovers.
* * *
Bao was feeling a bit woozy after partaking in two hours of drinking, so he used the curving stone wall for support as he ascended the stairs to his bedchamber. Daniel was decidedly a bad influence on him. He’d drunk more since he’d come back to the holding than he had in the entire year prior to that. Granted, he’d only had two flagons of ale, which was his normal consumption. ‘Twas that uisge beatha that Daniel later brought out that had got his head to spinning. At least he’d only had the one portion this time.
* * *
Lara, having grown bored with her own company these two hours since her successful encounter with Jesslyn, slowly descended the stairs in quest of a bit of entertainment. Mayhap, if she were lucky, she’d meet up with Bao, and she could pursue her desire to revisit the passion she’d shared with him.
Because of her need to watch her step, Lara accidentally bumped into someone as she went around the curve. Barely lifting her gaze to the man, she said, “Beg pardon, sir.” Then as recognition dawned, she smiled and said, “Good day to you, Bao.”
‘Twas clear by his struggle to focus upon her that he was a bit into his cups, which Lara decided might work in her favor, since he might be resistant to performing a service while visiting his family.
“‘Tis good seeing you again, Lara,” he replied at last.
She did a slow scan of him with her eyes. The man was still as carnally captivating as he was on their last encounter a year ago. And he was enormous everywhere. A thrill shot through her. But, she wondered, would he service a pregnant woman? After the rigid performance of her wedding night, Lara had not allowed her husband to touch her again, even tho’ he was not badly proportioned. She supposed she was simply too angered by the fact that she had been forced to wed him to ever enjoy coupling with him. And her stepbrother’s awkward rutting between her thighs had been more an act of violence on both their parts than about pleasure—unfortunately for her, this last time had produced a bairn as well. “‘Tis good to see you, too,” she purred. Would Bao give her the sensual pleasure she craved? She was more than willing to find out. She swayed. “Oh, my!” She swept the back of her hand up to her forehead and fell forward with as much grace as she could manage.
His arms lunged out and caught her in a light embrace. “Where is your bedchamber?” he asked, his gaze sharp with concern. “I shall carry you there, if you wish.”
She nodded and bit back a smug smile. “‘Tis just above, on the next level. The third door down.”
After lifting her into his arms, he quickly climbed the remaining stairs and strode through the door she’d indicated. As he placed her on the bed, he said, “I’ll summon a maid for you.”
She grasped his hand when he began to turn away. “Nay, stay a moment. I’m feeling less faint now and wish to become better acquainted with you.”
She could tell he wanted to say her nay, but evidently deciding ‘twould be rude to do so, pulled up a stool next to the bed and sat down. “What would you like to know?” he asked.
“How much you would charge a woman round with child?”
* * *
It took Bao a moment to realize her meaning. Sobering even further, he sat forward and narrowed his eyes at her. “Pardon?” he said.
“How much would you charge to fuck me now that I’ve a child in my belly.”
Bao’s ears started ringing. “I’m out of commission.”
She gave him a knowing smile as she scooted off the bed and walked over to her clothes chest. She bent and retrieved something then turned and, when she did, Bao gasped.
“Ah, so you do remember me. Come now, once more for old time’s sake?”
Bao stood up. “You!” She was wearing the mask one of his clients always wore, for discretion. Warm damp soaked the shirt under his tunic, quickly becoming clammy. “How?”
Her laughter trilled, scraping over Bao’s nerve endings, as she sauntered back over to the bed and sat down. “The first time ‘twas my sister’s doing—Edina? Edina Stewart? Her husb—”
“I know who she is, to whom she is wed.” He crossed his arms. Edina had been the lady he’d been with last. The one whom he’d not been able to complete the deed with who’d been so angered that she’d thrown him out.
“Well, she is the one who purchased you for me that first time five years ago. ‘Twas after my lover married and refused to continue our affair. Edina had heard that you could give satisfaction to even the most notoriously unresponsive of the ladies at the royal court and, until that first time with you, I had had that same problem, even with my lover.”
“I’ll not do it.”
“But I’ve an entire casket of jewels from which you may choose! Do you not want to add to your coffers?”
“Nay,” he said, his voice harsh now, “I’ve plenty already. And I’ll never fuck the wife of my cousin.”
“How about just the thing you do with your mouth, then?” She lifted her skirts and spread her legs wide and all Bao wanted to do was bolt. He got to his feet and threw her skirts back over her legs. “Nay.”
Did she know of her stepbrother’s vile plot to take Branwenn from him and make her his slave mistress? “My sister knows naught of this, so do not tell her.”
She inched the skirts back up a bit, showing off her bare legs and Bao gritted his teeth. “That little innocent? Nay, I’ll not say a word.”
“And your stepbrother? Where is he?”
“Giric? Oh, he’s still in Perth I assume, why?”
“’Tis a privy matter between him and me.” Mayhap she didn’t know that side of things. Praise be. “I think it time for you to get a bit of rest.” He turned and stormed toward the door. He was halfway through it before he swung back around, saying, “Don’t try this ploy on me again. I’m wed. Happily so.” And then he left, shutting the door with a loud snick.
* * *
Bao leaned against the wall outside his cousin’s bedchamber door with his eyes squeezed tightly shut. Breathing hard, his brow damp with sweat, he relived the past moments, horror, shame and dread commingling in his chest to form a painful vise. He pushed himself away from the wall. Taking the stairs two at a time down to the lower level, he continued on, not stopping until he’d made it through the arched entrance of the lower bailey. He needed the demands of physical exertion to tamp down his demons.
* * *
CHAPTER 9
Laird Donald arrived the next morn, and on his heels, Lady MacGregor, Callum’s mother and Lady Maclean’s daught
er.
The preparations for the Hogmanay feast were at their peak. Maryn, who was still obliged to stay abed, was supervising the activities from her bedchamber, with the help of Branwenn, who was the youngest and most agile of the ladies and, therefore, able to make numerous trips up and down the stairs to receive Maryn’s instructions.
Lady Maclean and her daughter were busy overseeing the household staff as the entire keep was cleaned. The floors were cleared of their rush mats, swept, and replaced with new ones, the hearths were cleared of ashes, silver was polished, tapestries were shaken of their dust and rehung on the walls. Casks of ale were being brought from the tower cellar and the kitchens were filled with cook staff bustling about preparing the many courses for the feast.
Jesslyn and Lara were called upon to have branches of the rowan tree placed above doorways for luck and to see that the wine, made from its fermented berries, was ready for the celebration. They also made certain that mistletoe, to prevent illness; holly, to keep out mischievous faeries; and hazel, for protection, were all placed in each chamber.
The scent of juniper enveloped the hall. It was being burned throughout the keep as the cleaning and preparations were made, to clear out any evil spirits that may have moved in during the past year. The doors and windows would be flung wide to air the chambers out before the feasting began.
The men had been sent out to the upper bailey to build the pyre for the bonfire later that night.
“Do you mind if I step out for a while?” Lara asked Jesslyn. “I feel a bit ill from the biting smell in here.”
Jesslyn, who’d been swallowing her dislike and anger for the sake of keeping the peace, lifted her eyes from her task and, noticing Lara’s pallid complexion, replied, “Nay, do as you must. We’ve almost finished with the preparations anyway.”
* * *
Lara walked out of the keep toward the upper bailey. Ever since Bao had left her chamber the day before, she’d been dwelling on the conversation they’d had, and his parting words to her. He’d said he was happily wed and it hadn’t taken her long to find out to whom. The fates were surely smiling on her. How wonderful to rub salt in Jesslyn’s wound, to say that she’d had both husbands rutting for her! Especially after Graeme had crushed her pride, first by wedding Jesslyn and then by sending her a letter attempting to curtail their affair.
Lara laughed. Of course, once she’d arrived back there, he’d soon forgotten his decision. ‘Twas near a year later that he’d broken their arrangement in truth—all for that lady Jesslyn.
She nibbled her nail. She just had to have Bao again. Not only for the pleasure he offered, but because her chaste little nemesis had him. And this time, she’d make sure that Jesslyn was full aware of her new husband’s adultery. That should put a damper on their passion for some time to come. Jesslyn had ruined Lara’s relationship with Graeme, ‘twas the least she deserved to have Lara ruin her relationship with Bao.
Aye, she’d do or say whatever she must to attain that goal. The promise of jewels had not moved him, but Lara had no doubt her next ploy would.
She strolled up and stood next to her quarry. As she watched Callum and Daniel lift another log onto the pyre, she said, “My husband certainly does his best to prove his strength matches the two of yours.”
He gave her a pointed look. “His strength does match ours. And his warrioring skills are some of the best I’ve seen. You’d do well to be thankful for the good fortune you had in wedding such a man.” He left her side and took Callum’s place, indicating to his cousin with a jerk of his head that she was near.
Her husband grinned and jogged over to her. As he halted in front of her, he said, “How are the preparations coming for the Hogmanay feast this afternoon?”
“Quite well. I was feeling a bit ill from the smell of the burning juniper, so I came out for a bit of fresh air.”
He put his hand on her arm and it was all she could do not to cringe. “Mayhap you should rest awhile.” He looked around and then took hold of her hand. “Let us walk to the well. I shall lift you up onto the edge,” he said, leading her away from the pyre.
* * *
Bao gave a mental sigh of relief when he saw his cousin stroll away with his mischief-making wife. He could see that Callum was trying very hard to make the best of his unenviable situation. He treated the lady with a gentleness and consideration that was clearly not returned.
Daniel followed the line of Bao’s vision. “He seems to care for her,” he said.
Bao nodded grimly. “Aye.”
Taking his gaze from the couple, Daniel turned it on Bao. Narrowing his eyes, he stated, “You like her not.”
Shrugging, Bao turned and picked up the end of another log. “‘Tis more that I do not trust her. She is like the restless ladies of the court.”
“Because she wears fine clothes and jewels?
Bao shrugged again. He would like naught more than to confess all to his brother, but he could see no good coming from it, only more heartache for Callum, more problems for him and Jesslyn, and more danger for Branwenn.
“I hardly think that a good reason to judge her so harshly.”
“I suppose you are right,” Bao replied. “Are you going to pick up the other end of this log before the sun sets? I grow tired of holding it.”
Daniel laughed good-naturedly and lifted his end of the wood. “Let’s finish this and go to the loch to retrieve my father-in-law and Alleck. I doubt not that they’ve caught a few trout by now, tho’ this was their first attempt at ice fishing.”
Bao nodded. With so many people visiting the keep, surely Callum’s wife wouldn’t solicit his services again. But she’d be leaving in a few days in any event, so he’d simply make sure he stayed clear of her until then.
* * *
“The woman hasn’t stopped complaining since she arrived, Mama,” Maggie, Lady MacGregor, said. “The furniture isn’t nice enough, the food doesn’t taste good, the wine is off, the staff are prone to idleness. I’m at the end of my patience.”
Lady Maclean looked up from her task and gazed at her still-youthful looking, though middle-aged daughter. She’d gotten her black hair from her mother, but had inherited her green eyes from her father. Evidently, she had inherited his impatience towards indulgence as well. “Have you spoken to Callum? What says he?"
“He says that she’s captious because of her condition. He refuses to speak to her about her behavior—in fact, he seems set on pampering the lass.” She fluttered her hands in the air in agitation. “He buys for her whatever she asks,” Lady MacGregor replied irritably.
“Does he love her then?”
Lady MacGregor shook her head. “Nay...nay, I do not believe that he does.” She made a quick count of the number of candlesticks placed on each trestle table and nodded her approval to the servant who waited close by before continuing, “But, he cares for the babe. And he wants its mother to be happy.”
“How has Chalmers reacted to her spoiled behavior?”
“My husband said naught for a long time, hoping Callum would deal with his wife. But, finally, a few days prior to their departure to journey here, he had a discussion with her.” Grinning, Lady MacGregor said, “In the same way he’d deal with a spoiled bairn, he sent her to the priest for lessons in humility. The priest made her put on old, scratchy clothes and dust and polish the pews!”
Nodding, Lady Maclean said, “Mayhap that’s the reason she hasn’t given us as much trouble.”
“Aye, that seems likely.”
* * *
“‘Tis a shame your uncle could not attend the feast,” Lara heard Jesslyn say to Callum. They were seated at the table on the dais enjoying the last course of their meal.
“Aye, but I’m glad he at least allowed my mother to attend. The MacGregors celebrate Hogmanay in much the same fashion, and he, as chieftain of the clan, was obliged to o’ersee the thing. Actually, my mother had thought it best if she stay, since it is her first Hogmanay as the laird’s wife, but
my uncle insisted that she visit her mother instead. After all, she’s not been back here since she left almost a year ago.”
“Aye,” Lara interjected, “your uncle is such a dear soul.” She hoped he choked on a bone in their absence. Every time she remembered the torment he and that evil wee goblin of a priest put her through, she had to fight back a shudder of hatred.
Her husband took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her fingers. “You’re kind to say so, my dear.”
Lara gave him a wooden smile. He was a fool. Could he not see what an ass he was making of himself? ‘Twould be best for all involved if they simply tolerated each other. His constant show of concern, which she was beginning to understand was genuine, was more than she could bear. She only hoped that he would cease his attentions to her once the babe was born. “When will we go out to view the bonfire?”
“The players are to entertain us first,” he replied.
Lara nodded. After taking a sip of wine from the silver cup, she leaned forward a bit, pretending to inspect the area where the players were to perform. In fact, she was avidly watching Bao from the corner of her eye. She’d been unable to get him alone these past hours as he seemed to be in constant company of another. But the bonfire would serve her purpose, and she had the perfect plan.
* * *
A drop of wine nearly ran down Jesslyn’s chin before she stopped it with a sweep of her tongue. She felt her husband’s gaze on her just before he dipped his head and whispered into her ear, “You look lovely this eve. The color of your gown matches the ruby of your lips.”
Her breath hitched. “My lips are not so deeply tinged,” she countered.
“Aye, they are. Deep and red and full. Like the tender petals of a rose. Beautiful.”
Jesslyn trembled. The feel of Bao’s mouth so close to the shell of her ear made her long to feel their caress on other, more sensitive, portions of her body. “My thanks.”
