Nicholas lifted his head, finally able to take a deep breath. It felt as if he hadn't breathed at all while they were floundering through the brambles, and now that they were out, he had to take deep breaths of fresh air into his lungs. As if in response to his relief, the rain was clearing up.
Beside him, Ava was comforting Cobie, telling him he was good boy, and he didn't have to be frightened anymore. Her tone was soft and sweet, and it pricked at Nicholas's heart in a way that he hadn't expected it would.
Really? As if we haven't had enough problems to deal with?
“What the hell were you thinking?” The words popped out of his mouth before he could stop them. He refused to allow himself to flinch when Ava stiffened and turned toward him.
“I was trying to make sure your horse didn't run himself to death.”
“You could have been killed!”
“Yes, and then I suppose you would have needed to find another guide who was willing to put up with your nonsense, wouldn't you?”
The rage that flooded Nicholas in that moment was so hot, so incandescent, that he didn't know what he was going to do. He was desperately afraid that if he was within arm's reach of Ava that he might simply pick her up and shake her. There was another part of him, the more truthful part, that realized that the rage was really only worry for her, only a fear that seemed to have sunk into his marrow.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her so that he knew she was still there and still whole. He wanted to do nothing but touch her, and kiss her, and to taste the rain on her lips.
At the same time, Nicholas knew that he couldn't do that. It felt as if there were brambles that wrapped around the two of them, binding them to each other but tearing at them whenever they got too far away or too close.
At that moment, Nicholas knew that if he said anything at all, he would regret it. Instead, he took Cobie's reins and led them back to the road, refusing to look either to the right or the left as the rain came down on them both.
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chapter 17
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Ava felt as if she had always been someone who was upfront about the faults she possessed as a person. As a matter of fact, according to many of the people she met in her life, she never bothered to hide the things that made her so very objectionable to those around her.
Ava knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was a petty person. She could take great delight in small things, especially when she was feeling put-off herself. That was why she insisted that they keep marching, even as the air grew colder and darker around them.
Every time that Nicholas suggested that they stop for the night, she only shook her head and kept walking. Every time, Nicholas scowled and looked as if he wanted an explanation, but she only strode forward.
Nicholas looked irritable about the affair, but he didn't try to stop her, not until Cobie started to slow down.
"What in the blazes are you playing at, Ava?"
Nicholas's hand landed on her arm, turning her around to face him. He glared down at her, and she found that she was strangely relieved to see him angry. It was better than seeing that worried look on his face after everything that had happened the night before.
Pity, she thought scornfully. It didn't matter whether she was a legitimate Blair or not. Clan Blair, high up in their mountains, could never tolerate pity.
She pulled away from Nicholas easily, stepping back out of his reach so he could not grab her again.
"Just another short while," she said. "There's an inn up ahead."
"And you didn't see fit to tell me?"
"You didn't ask."
Nicholas snapped his teeth at her, and for some reason, that sent a thrill up her spine. It made her think of those teeth gliding over the plains of her body, about how he had kindled the heat inside her until it felt like a blazing bonfire.
I did not know that after experiencing it, it would leave me so cold.
As she had promised, the town rose up in the road. It was a proper town, as well, rather than a village. There was a paved square, a few stores, and of course, the inn she had promised. There were also more men around than she had anticipated, churning the inn yard to mud, and Ava realized with a warning prickle up her spine that they were all well-armed.
Nicholas was obviously thinking the same thing she was, frowning at the scene before them.
"Is this going to be a problem?" he asked.
Ava could only shrug.
"Keep your mouth shut. I think I recognize some MacLaughlin men among them. They may be headed south to join the Bruce, and that means they are not going to have any love to spare for someone who speaks like you do."
Nicholas swore, and absently Ava realized that when he did so, he sounded more Scottish than not.
I suppose I must be rubbing off on him, for better or for worse.
She glanced down at her own clothes, muddy, torn, and ragged from her time on the road, and she made a face.
"Stay here. I'll be right back."
There was a woman with a barrow full of clothing just packing up her things. She scowled when Ava came up to her.
"I've no time for beggars.”
Ava shook her head.
"Please, mistress, I don't want your coin, but your trade. You see, my man and I have been on the road for some time now, and my own clothes got quite spoiled. I've had to wear his for a while now."
The woman scowled but nodded. It was a common enough story, for a man to wear his wife's shawl or a woman to put on trousers under her skirts because of the chill.
"I have some money. Do you think you have anything that might suit?"
A bit of spirited bargaining later, Ava came back to the alley where she had left Nicholas and Cobie, a little poorer and carrying a bundle of fabric.
"Here, will you keep someone from coming and peeping?"
Nicholas hesitated, and then nodded, and Ava, refusing to make things more awkward than they were, began to strip.
The rain had at least washed some of the muck off of her, and even if they weren't the trews she preferred, clean clothing was a relief.
The woman had offered her solid goods, Ava thought absently. The dress was a plain weave but expertly dyed in a dull but even green, and the shift underneath it was soft against her skin. To complete her disguise, she tied a white cloth over her hair, the way most Highland women did to protect it and for modesty's sake.
My own father probably wouldn't recognize me like this anymore. For all I know, he'd offer me a coin to follow him to bed.
She shoved the thought away and turned back to blink at Nicholas's back.
"You didn't have to turn away," she said lightly. "I should think you saw all of it last night."
Nicholas made a noise a little like a growl.
"Stop it, you shouldn't..."
He trailed off, looking at her in confusion.
Ava sighed.
"I know. I look a bit like a pig in a dress, don't I?"
"No. Not at all. It's... very becoming."
Ava made a face.
"You don't have to be gallant. I'm just happy it fits."
Nicholas looked as if he wanted to say more, but she forged ahead. Whatever he had to say, she didn't want to hear it.
"All right. So, we'll go in, take a room if we can, and as far as anyone's concerned, we're traveling north to see my sister who's expecting her first any day now. I'll be Adelaide Cary of Clan MacTaggart, and you can be Richard Cary, my simple husband."
"Your simple husband."
"Yes. You stand behind me and let me handle matters. You nod yes or no."
"But mostly yes?"
"Of course. Because I'm a clever woman your parents chose for you, and you know that I'm usually right."
"And what did you get out of this marriage?"
"People assume that you're very good in bed."
"But why... All right. I am obviously asking too many questions
when all I have to do is nod yes and no."
"Are we ready?"
Nicholas started to open his mouth, but then with a sigh, he nodded.
Ava laughed and surprised them both by taking his hand and squeezing it.
"It's all right, Richard. I'll take care of everything."
* * *
The inn was crowded, but the innkeeper was happy to offer them the room, especially as they were willing to take the smallest one at the top of the stairs.
Ava, because she was pretending to be an honest crofter's wife and not a cattle raider, was delighted with the room, and tried not to think about how few exits there might be if someone in the front room heard Nicholas speak.
"And if someone could send us up some water for a proper wash and some food?" she asked hopefully.
The innkeeper nodded.
"It may be a little while because the house is so full. These men will be moving out in the morning, however, if you care to stay."
"Oh, we should be on our way with the light, too, really. My sister, up in Glen Caron, she's going to be having her first any day now, you know..."
The innkeeper wished her non-existent sister the best, and Ava thought that things were going to be just fine when she turned and heard her own name.
"It looks like that Blair bitch," insisted one voice. "I've seen her; she and her band took a half-dozen young heifers from the herd at Roscamon..."
Next to her, Nicholas stiffened, and she could tell from the shift in his weight he was going to turn and possibly blow the whole thing. She seized his hand, squeezing it tight instead.
"Oh, you poor dear," she cooed. "Today has been hard for you with all the rain, hasn't it? Well, don't you worry, we'll be fine when we get up to our cozy little room..."
She reached up to smooth Nicholas's hair back from his face with her hand, and she felt that thrill go through her again.
Really? Right now? Just from touching him?
Nicholas seemed to understand that he needed to be still for now at least. He nodded slightly, keeping his gaze focused on her as if she were the only thing in the world. Despite the fact that this was a charade to keep them both out of trouble, Ava felt her heart beat a little faster at the warmth in his eyes.
"Idiot," said another man behind her. "Everyone knows that Blair's bastard girl is as tall as a man and thick as an oak. That woman isn't that. If Blair's bastard were here, she'd be drinking the inn dry and probably setting fire to it."
Nicholas's eyes narrowed at that, and suddenly, she had a horrible moment where she thought he might actually lunge at the second speaker.
She squeezed his hand tighter.
"Let's go upstairs, all right, my poppet? It'll be fine. We can have a bit to eat and a proper wash after all that nasty time on the road."
She sounded, she decided, a little like old Agatha from the keep where she had grown up, and that wasn't a bad thing.
Nicholas nodded, and together they went up to the room.
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chapter 18
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The moment the door closed behind them, Ava turned and threw the latch.
Nicholas scowled at the wary look she was giving him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Keep your voice down, I have a feeling I could punch through this wall if I needed to. And I wanted to make sure that you are going to stay here like a good husband and not go and do something that will get us both killed."
Nicholas wanted to offer her a biting answer to that, but instead, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"All right. But you can't expect me to like what they were saying about you."
A ghost of a smile whisked across her face.
"Why not? It's good for my reputation, isn't it, if people think I'm some kind of mountain hag who can spit fire and drink lakes dry?"
"You're not. You're you. You're beautiful."
Ava actually laughed at that.
"Do all men grow so sentimental after a tumble or is it just you?"
Nicholas bit back on the anger that sparked immediately at that and shook his head.
"It is the truth," he said, and then when Ava got that uncomfortable look on her face again, he sighed.
"All right. I'll leave it. How much trouble are you in from the men down there?"
Ava bit her lip, and Nicholas had a sudden feeling that might mean a lot.
"It could be bad," she said finally. "I'd forgotten that I made off with some of Clan MacLaughlin's prize heifers two years ago. It was a good raid. Not that they would think so, I suppose."
"No. I wouldn't think it was a very good raid either if someone came out of the night and made off with my cattle. So, they'll be angry at you. They might take you into custody..."
Ava laughed again.
"You English. If they get their hands on me and realize that it is me, they'll hang me, Nicholas."
This time, Nicholas could barely stem the tide of fury that rolled through him. He knew that it made sense, as far as the Highlanders did things, and Ava wasn't even denying that she was a criminal. Even if she was brought up in front of the lord of the land in England, she might still be hung or lose a hand or spend time in the stocks.
It didn't matter.
All he knew was that if one of the men downstairs dared to lay hands on her, he would kill him. There would be no moment to wonder if the man was in the right or to think about what he might have suffered with the loss of so many prize animals.
If one of those men touched Ava, they would be dead.
Either this land is rubbing off on me, or...
The thought was cut off when there was a knock on the door. Ava gave him a look that clearly said to keep his mouth shut, and she went to the door to let the innkeeper's boys bring in a tray of food and a large basin of steaming water, enough to wash with.
Ava thanked them profusely, every inch the crofter's wife she wasn't, and then she latched the door again.
"Thank goodness," she said with a sigh. "I was beginning to think I would never be clean again. Do you mind if I go first?"
"Only if you don't mind me eating without you."
The fare was simple, but there was plenty of it, some kind of minced meat mixed with grains. It was salted and spiced with what he thought might be early ramps. More importantly, however, it was hot fresh food, and he had to make himself eat it slowly because otherwise, he might make himself sick.
At the very least, it kept him from watching Ava except out of the corner of his eye. She stripped off the new clothes she had bought, hanging them on the hook by the door. Naked, she went to sit on a low stool by the basin. She dipped a cloth in the steaming water, wringing it out. Then she used the damp cloth to sponge her body, making a noise that was startlingly like a purr as she did so.
A deep surge of desire went through his body, but at this point, there was something almost normal about that. He desired Ava like he wanted to breathe, and even if he didn't understand it, he accepted it.
Now though, he felt a strange and heavy sweetness fall over him as he looked at her body. She was strong in a way he had seldom seen on a woman, lean with muscles under her curves. She was scarred like a soldier, and he could see that some of those scars, just like the ones on his own body, came from wounds that might have killed her. There was a little bit of panic at that idea, that someone or something might have killed this girl before he even knew that she existed. She was covered with bright red scratches from their time in the brambles earlier that day, just like he was, and that was a thought that made him feel oddly soft.
There was a flash of blue through Ava's dark hair, her eye peering at him. She had seen him looking, but she said nothing about it.
She finished her bath, scrubbed to glowing, and she slid her shift over her head.
"Your turn," she said lightly, and done with his food, Nicholas went to still-warm water. It felt like pure heaven to get clean
after their time in the mud. He washed himself off, letting the fire die down, and then he sighed, standing up to stretch. By that point, Ava was in bed. He had thought she must have drifted off to sleep, but then he heard a soft laugh.
"Something funny?"
"Maybe. Will you come here?"
Nicholas hesitated. This felt dangerous, like sailing too close to waters that had nearly capsized them before. He was already beginning to stir at the idea of coming close to her, naked, with a proper bed underneath them, and he grit his teeth. She had asked him if he were a man or a beast and he knew the answer to that.
He thought about putting his trews back on, but they were still wet and filthy, and with a shrug, he came to stand at the foot of the bed.
Ava was sprawled on top of the covers, and her shift was short enough that he could see her long and shapely legs, marred with the red scratches and still so strong.
"Well?" he asked, his voice husky.
"I only wanted to see you," she said. "We were so fast in the cave, and I couldn't see anything."
"And what do you see?"
"Someone looking for compliments?" Ava suggested, but then she shook her head. "A handsome man. A kind one. One I probably ought not tease and bait as much as I do."
"Well, that's—"
Nichols never got to finish his sentence, because then there was a stomping of many feet on the narrow stairs leading up to their room, and loud voices echoing throughout the halls. Nicholas snarled. He could hear the words "Blair" and "cattle raider," and other cruder things.
They were on the landing, and Nicholas started for his sword. It didn't matter to him in the least that he might only account for three or four before they cut him down, or that there were enough men in the soldier's cohort downstairs to murder them both.
All that he knew was that they had come to hurt Ava, his Ava, and that would not be borne.
Before he could reach for his sword, however, Ava rose out of the bed like a ghost rising from the grave, and he had a flash of her bright blue eyes seared into his mind.
The Highlander’s Promise (The Highlands Warring Scottish Romance) (A Medieval Historical Romance Book) Page 9
