Highland Deception (Highland Pride) (13 page)

“He seems more distrustful than hurt. Did he love her?” Maggie held her breath and found it a little disconcerting that she cared what the answer was.

“Oh, aye, they were inseparable from early on. He definitely loved her.” An odd twinge of disappointment took root in her belly. “He never looked at another lass while she was here.”

Maggie perked up. “Has that changed?”

“Aye, it has. He looks at all the lasses now.”

As she suspected, he was a rogue. Her heart sank, and she chided herself for feeling anything.

Arabella continued, “They all love him, too. I think he has a different one every month. I fear he will never settle down.”

“Oh,” was the only response Maggie could muster as she fought the tightening in her chest.

“He even chose me for a time, longer than most. He threw me away, just like all the other lasses.” Arabella’s lips thinned and her voice had an edge, but her calm, friendly exterior remained. “There is always hope that he will come to his senses. He says he willnae marry, but he is the laird. He has to have heirs.”

“Did ye wish to marry him?” Maggie pulled at her arisaid; she might disrobe soon if she couldn’t get to some cooler air.

Would it bother her if this woman wanted Lachlan? It shouldn’t, but it did. She did not want a man. Or did she? She could still want a man and not have to love him. Something stabbed at her heart, and she recognized it for what it was: jealousy.

After last night, she wanted Lachlan. Aye, every fiber of her being wanted him. Even before that, she had come to enjoy his company and respect him. “Respect”—it was a word she’d never imagined she could use in the same sentence as “man.” He made her feel things she didn’t understand, and the thought of his eyes straying toward another woman made her hands tremble with fear or rage or a combination of both.

“Aye, I did, along with every other single woman here. Everyone wants him, and that is why he has his pick of bedmates. He goes through them faster than a summer storm. Then he leaves them heartbroken to pick up the pieces.”

’Tis too much.
She had to get some fresh air. Maggie stood and started toward the door, but Arabella’s hand clamped around her arm.

“I like ye.” She coiled her arm around Maggie’s shoulders and squeezed a little too tightly. “I think ’tis important ye ken he willnae keep ye. I am trying to protect ye from the heartbreak.” Arabella released her grip, but moved to stand in front of Maggie and gazed directly into her eyes with what appeared to be real sincerity. The gesture was meant to be reassuring, but it made her uncomfortable.

“Maggie, there ye are, lass. We didnae ken where ye had gotten off te.” Elspeth burst into the room like a ray of sunshine. Arabella turned to smile innocently at Lachlan’s mother.

Doubt and inadequacy engulfed Maggie. She didn’t plan to stay at Kentillie for long, but she couldn’t shake the disappointment that Lachlan would never care for her. It was the same feeling Maggie had experienced around her own mother, that no matter how she tried, she wouldn’t be able to earn the love she craved.

’Twas for the best. Although he had seemed to worship her the night before, mayhap the emotion that had been elicited by their bedplay was common, but she could see herself getting lost in those feelings. Before his attentions snared her, she would need to be gone.

…

Music floated through the air of the hall, but it did nothing to soothe the frayed nerves that had plagued him all day. Normally, Lachlan enjoyed the revelry of a good celebration, but tonight he wanted nothing but to be alone in his bed with Maggie. The day had been unusually stressful and long—very, very long. He wanted to forget everything from the day and sink into his siren’s welcoming warmth.

He had made his rounds, seen to the farmers who were concerned about recent cattle raids, and worked to make sure all was in preparation to welcome the lairds he expected to arrive soon. But thoughts of Maggie or glimpses of her had driven him to distraction.

She plagued his every motherent like a cold he could not shake. He was having trouble concentrating on his duties, and his lack of focus was detrimental for a man in his position. He had to get this woman out of his system so he could sever ties with her and return to being the leader his clan deserved.

Minstrels played from the balcony and the notes drifted down to the gathered crowd, and when they raised their voices, och, it was loud. Ale was served tonight as usual, but as with other special occasions, whisky flowed unchecked, and inhibitions fell like men on a battlefield.

His mother had ordered a welcome home dinner, and judging by the spread on the tables, she was happy indeed to have Malcolm and him home. Yet she seemed more intrigued and happy about the lass he’d brought with him than about their journey. Some part of him wondered if his mother had gone through all the fuss for Maggie and not her sons.

Elspeth had cornered him this morning. “I like her.”

“Aye. For now she can abide here. But she willnae tell me about her home, her family, or where she is from. I must protect the clan, and I’m no’ sure how far we can trust her. I will decide if she is to stay or go.”

“Use yer head, son. A woman wouldnae leave her home if she felt safe there. She doesnae want to go back. Something scared her, and yer arrival was good timing. She used ye to escape whatever she is running from.”

“She doesnae trust me, so I willnae trust her.” The conversation over, he stalked away.

In the early afternoon, he’d been able to finally get Maggie off his mind and make some progress on his work with his brother when his mother, Lorna, and Donella walked into the hall grinning as if they had beaten him to the pastries and there were none left for him. His gut had tightened as he realized Maggie wasn’t with them, although he had instructed his mother one of them should be with her at all times. She was a flight risk, and she didn’t know her way around. He didn’t tell her the other fear he was grappling with—Maggie was too bonny and not everyone knew yet she belonged to him. He didn’t want any other man going near her.

His mother had had the nerve to walk by, smile, and wink at him to let him know Maggie was out there on her own without an escort. Did she know he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his work with the lass outside the keep and not guarded?

“Where is Maggie?” Lachlan ground out between clenched teeth.

“She is fine. We will go back to her in a motherent, I just couldnae watch.”

Watch what?
His insides twisted as she smiled and raised one challenging eyebrow but kept walking. Lorna snickered as they passed.

“Lorna, where is she?” he commanded.

“She is helping little Agnes.” Lorna was trying to keep an impassive expression, but she was failing miserably.

“Doing what?” The tenor of his voice became strained in frustration.

“I believe Maggie was about to climb the big oak in the yard to retrieve a kitten. She sent Agnes for a rope and basket.”

“Maggie looked as if she kenned what she was doing.”

A prickle of unease ran down his back.

“The lass is quite brave—the kitten is verra high up. I would never climb that high.” Lorna shook her head.

“And ye three didnae talk her out of it? She is recovering from a head injury. What if she falls?” he barked with frustration. A sick feeling churned in the pit of his stomach.

“Malcolm, take over.” Lachlan stood so quickly his chair almost toppled over, but he hardly noticed as he strode briskly out the door. He didn’t want anyone to see how concerned he was, but damn, what if she hurt herself. He was going to tan her hide.

When he got to the base of the tree, his eyes roved up the thick trunk until he found her. His heart sank. She was so far up, if he had not been looking for her, he never would have seen her. He glared up at the lass who had plagued his every thought and kept him from his duties.

Was she right in the head? What would possess a woman to do such a foolish thing? The cat would have come down eventually. He wanted to shake her, he wanted to throttle her, but as soon as she made it down and his hands were on her, all he wanted to do was touch her.

He had intended to scold her. But she’d been so bonny, with her cheeks flushed from the exertion, breathless, and only in her shift, that his rational thoughts had fled and another part of his body had taken over. His groin had tightened, and all he wanted at that motherent was to taste her.

She had said she wanted him, too, and he’d been tempted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to his bedchamber, until his mother came up behind them. He had wanted to growl with frustration.

He would have her again tonight, though. Lachlan shifted in his seat to adjust the position of the evidence of his arousal. His hands itched to touch Maggie, to feel her thigh under the table and remind her that she would be in his bed again tonight.

Alan broke into his reflections as he pulled out the chair beside him. “We’ve searched everywhere, but there is no sign of the man—Glenn. He isnae on our land.” His worried tone was not lost on Lachlan.

Lachlan grunted. Not the news he wanted to hear. He didn’t like loose ends, especially if Conall Erskine was part of the equation. “Did ye ask the MacDonalds if they had seen him?”

“His tracks led to their land, but no sign of him there, either. We lost him in the stream.”

Unease as thick as the mist on the moors spread through Lachlan. How far could the man have made it? He had a mortal wound, Lachlan was certain of it, but still the man had been able to make it off his land, and his whereabouts were cause for if not apprehension, then at least caution. He cursed himself for not being thorough, but he’d been so concerned with getting Maggie away from the skirmish that he’d been careless. Clearly, being around Maggie was clouding his judgment.

“He was wounded and shouldnae have made it far. Let’s hope he doesnae make it home,” Lachlan said more to reassure himself than Alan.

“Aye,” Alan agreed.

“Whether he did or no’, Conall will come. There hasnae been a sighting yet, but we need to keep alert.”

“Do ye think Argyll will come with him?”

“Nae, but we should be prepared. Has any word come from the other lairds yet?”

“A reply arrived from the MacDonalds today. They will be here.” Alan had spoken with the MacDonald’s brother when he’d taken Robbie to their lands, so it made sense they’d be the first to respond.

“Robbie is with Art and Magaidh MacDonald?”

“He is. ’Twill be safe there, too. Conall will expect him to be here in the keep and willnae think to look there.”

“Ye instructed all their nearby men to be on watch?”

“The MacDonald clan was happy to protect the lad. What do ye think Conall will do when he gets here?”

“The bastard is insane, so there is no way to ken.” His gaze drifted to his mother and Maggie. “Best we guard the women in the keep until the danger is gone.”

Alan nodded.

The music became livelier as tables were pushed to the sides to make room for dancing, and he was about to get up and grab Maggie to indulge his need to touch her, but his mother stopped him. In that instant, Malcolm took Maggie’s hand and led her out to the floor. Lachlan frowned.

Elspeth smiled brightly at him as the pair walked away. “Her grandmother is from Ireland. I was also able to find out she has three brothers and no sisters.”

Maggie had mentioned brothers. Why had they not taken her in when she was orphaned? Mayhap they were too young or their uncle, the priest, was better suited to care for her. He fought down the apprehension that threatened as he remembered she’d talked about her father as if he were alive, as well, but still the unease lingered.

Could Dougal have been wrong about who she was? If so, it was too late—he’d had her and would have to shoulder any consequences. He shook the thought away.

His attention returned to Maggie as Malcolm spun her around with ease, as if he’d never had an injury. She was smiling at something he’d said, and Lachlan caught himself smiling. She was quick to laugh and found pleasure in the smallest things. He liked that about her.

Maggie seemed to belong here. Despite only being at Kentillie for a short time, she had charmed everyone, but Aileen’s betrayal had left him cynical. Was the hurt worth opening himself up to any lass again? He wanted to believe he could have that with Maggie, but there were too many unanswered questions.

The song ended, and Malcolm bowed to Maggie as she giggled and curtsied, cheeks red from her exertion. Alan caught his eye, gave a crooked smirk, then walked up to Maggie to take her in the next dance. He glanced back over his shoulder at Lachlan and had the nerve to stick his tongue out.

“Excuse me. ’Tis my turn for a dance.” Lachlan stood and stalked across the floor toward Maggie. He almost cursed aloud when Arabella cut him off. He attempted to skirt around her, but she placed one hand on his chest and then the other, feigning hurt at his possible rejection.

“Lachlan, dance with me.” Her large, pouty lips insisted, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. He wished desperately to turn her down and go to Maggie. He had bedded Arabella only once and had come to regret it—she was looking for a husband and had apparently decided he would do. She was an attractive lass and some man would want her, but he had tasted Maggie’s sweet lips, and no other would satisfy the thirst she had awoken in him.

Arabella kept trying to seduce him, though, and with each rebuff, she would come back stronger and more determined. Recently, she had tried to lure him into the stables, but he had spurned her advances. With cold eyes, she had turned on him and threatened to do harm to him and then to herself.