The Highlander's Conquest (15 page)

He’d never br
oken down and told his brothers,
or anyone else for that matter, what’d happened all those years ago. The shame of it was too much. Even when he did dispatch the men
,
he wasn’t sure if he’d share the news with anyone other than his parents’ graves.

Of course his men knew he hunted a band of outlaws, but they believed the group had stolen something valuable
from
him—they knew not that the
priceless
stolen goods were his parents’ lives.

“Sir Blane?”

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Blane realized he was still
staring at Lady Aliah and she
looked back
,
a questioning expression on her beautiful face.

“Is aught amiss?” she asked, a note of irritation in her voice. He couldn’t blame her, she’d been led on a merry
, confusing
chase by him, one that had abruptly ended when he’d pushed her away.

“Nay, my lady, I was only…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say. The master of disguise, always with a quick reply was suddenly speechless.
He swallowed against the dryness in his throat.
“I was going to ask if ye were hungry?”

Aliah shook her head, disappointment crinkling the corners of her eyes.
She looked away and slowed her horse
just
a little so she was no longer
beside
him. Blane should be
grateful
for the distance, but he wasn’t. Not having her by his side felt off somehow
.

’Twas for the best though. The more distance they put between them, the easier it would be to move on.

Blane squeezed Gunnar’s sides, intent on getting to Glasgow Castle quicker. Montgomery—his sister Lorna’s husband—would be glad to have them as guests, but only if they arrived at an appropriate hour. In order to get there before dusk, they needed to increase their pace. No more stops.

Gunnar was only too happy to oblige as were the rest of their party.

Once settled into the castle, Blane would make sure to find a distraction from Lady Aliah. Lorna would surely like to visit with another lady, and would most likely keep Aliah entertained. Meanwhile, he could tempt himself with a large
cup of ale, a dram or three
or six
of whisky
, and not thoughts of Aliah
.

For several miles they’d seen the towers of Glasgow Castle looming in the distance. Stone touching grey clouds, where it seemed to mingle with the sky. They rode out in the open, but Blane seemed more relaxed then he had before.

The set of his shoulders did not look as tight. Seeing this helped Aliah relax
too
. She supposed
Blane felt safe near an ally. They rode over an open plain of green and brown grass, and soon came within shouting distance of the tower gates. Several men stood atop,
gazing over the battlements
when they saw Blane, ordered the gates open.

“Welcome back, Sir Blane,” one shouted down.

Blane nodded. The wooden gates opened and in they rode, greeted by a number of stable hands who took their reins and a few servants who took their baggage.

“Ye shall have a real bed to sleep in tonight
.
” Blane
’s
words were lost in the flurry as a beautiful young woman rushed toward them.

She had light colored hair, brilliant green eyes
and a belly rounded with child. W
hile her features were beautiful and feminine, there was a hint of Blane on her face—somewhere around the eyes.

“Blane!”
The woman thrust herself into hi
s arms.

“I see marriage does ye well,” he said to her, kissing her on the cheek.

“’Twould do ye well the same, brother.” She playfully punched him in the arm and then caught sight of Aliah. “And who is this?” She gave her brother a pointed look as if to ask if he was indeed married, making Aliah’s face heat to burning.

Aliah
slid from her mount and then stepped forward.
“I am Lady Aliah de Mowbray.”

“De Mowbray? Sounds familiar…” The woman glanced off into the distance as if trying to recall, then said, “Ah, yes, your sister is married to my brother, Magnus.”

Aliah nodded curtly, whatever hopes she’d had of finding her sister not married to the man dashed.

“I am Lady Montgomery, but ye must call me Lorna.” She held out her hand. “Come inside, I’ll show ye to
a chamber
where ye can freshen up
af
ore we sup.”

Aliah let herself be ushered along, turning back to see where Blane was, but he was in the middle of what looked like an arm gripping fight with a man close to his own size.
B
oth
men possessed a
strength she found vastly awe-inspiring.

“’Tis my husband, Laird Montgomery,” Lorna said with a tilt of her head in Blane’s direction. “He and my brothers have sort of a…love-hate relationship.”

Aliah smiled, deciding she liked Lorna already. “Why?”

Lorna waved her hand in the air, “Oh, ’tis naught but men wanting to best each other.” She pursed her lips and then smiled, lost in her own thoughts. “Ye look positively famished. Let us get ye cleaned up so we can eat.”

Aliah thought it was more like Lorna was famished, the woman
continuously rubbed a tender hand on her thick belly
.

“When is the babe due?” Aliah asked.

Lorna glanced at her, her eyes glowing
.
“
I suspect late February. ‘Tis a strong and healthy
ba
irn
.”

“You look well,” Aliah said. She’d only ever seen a few pregnant servants, and Lorna most definitely looked in better health then the overworked women of her household.

“’Tis true, I am.
Jamie
doesna
allow me to do a thing. I have to beg him to go for walks, but he’s hard pressed not to give in.”

Aliah smiled. They were in love. She wondered if it had been a love match or if they’d fallen in love after marrying.

The scents of roasting meat and freshly baked bread filled the castle, as did the sounds of laughter. Glasgow Castle was a happy place, as it should be given their lady and laird were happy leaders.

Aliah was unprepared for the lavishness of the chamber Lorna presented her with.
An ornate, feminine four-poste
r bed
graced the side wall, complete with a canopy
and
embroidered, soft looking curtains. The coverlet matched the bed curtains, and plush pillows enticed Aliah to sink onto its surface. Dainty chairs and a table sat before a hearth and the floor was covered in several tapestried rugs. It looked to be a room fit for a queen or duchess in the least, not for Aliah.

“This is too much.”

“Och, dinna be modest, my lady, ye are deserving of some beauty. I can only imagine the filth
ye’ve
had to endure on your journey. I know my brothers well. They think nothing of sleeping on the ground when a lad
y’
s sensibilities require a much more pleasant locality.” Lorna swept pas
t
her into the room. “Here
’
s a basin with fresh water and some linens. Cook is ready to serve supper, so would ye be offended if I asked ye to wait for a bath until after we eat?”

Aliah shook her head vigorously. “Nay, my lady, this will do fine. I shall freshen up and come down directly.”

“Ah, good,” Lorna said
,
patting her belly. “I was prepared to allow ye to have your way
and wait
, but the
bairn
is mighty hungry.”

Aliah laughed. “You are too kind.”

“I am glad for the company.” Lorna left her in peace and Aliah took a few quiet moments to sink onto the feather mattress and let her bones relax.

If only she could have refused to dine with the rest in the great hall. She wasn’t sure she could face Blane after today’s humiliation. Her heart still lurched and her fingers trembled whenever he glanced her way.
Thank the heavens they were
halfway through with their journey.
Only a few more days and then she could avoid him indefinitely.

Chapter
Fifteen

P
atience w
as a virtue. And not one Blane possessed
at the current moment.

He stood just inside the great hall, shifting from foot to foot like a nervous lad awaiting the girl he’d dreamed of every night. Only thing was, he was a man,
and he waited for the woman whose
image refused to leave his mind.
His thigh pulsed with a dull ache but nothing seemed to relieve the pain.

Making his mood worse was the odd looks Lorna kept throwing him, and the knowing smile Montgomery kept flashing his way. Bastard. Did
the Lowlander
really think he knew him so well?

Damn if the man wasn’t right.

Blane stalked toward the hearth, letting the heat of the fire sink into his bones and hoping it would help to relax the stiff muscles of his neck
, ease the pain in his leg
. He rolled his head from side to side, rested his elbow on the oak mantelpiece and stared into the blaze. Blue flames licked
between the few dozen logs, growing from red, then orange until fading completely to whitish-yellow.
The logs snapped, popped, and sent sparks flying to sizzle right out of the hearth, landing too close to his boots.

Mayhap his own heat was the same—right now it was blue, hotter than hell. But soon, the warmth that claimed him would grow weaker until it was nothing more than a little ball that would snap and turn to ash—cold to the touch.

Blane rested his head on his arm, seemingly mesmerized by the flames, but truly his mind was trying to work around the attraction he held for Aliah and the impossibilities of them being together.

’Twas ludicrous. Not only was she the daughter of an English baron—
damn Sassenachs
—she wanted to join the church. To live her life forever in innocence and peace. Already he’d taken away a bit of that
purity
. Dashed some of her naivety to the flames before him. He was a wicked man for having done that.

But
mo
creach
, he couldn’t help it.
And, honestly, he didn’t regret kissing her either. He savored it.
’Twas as if every time she was around his sense of decency depleted and all he could think about was her, kissing her, touching her, breathing in her scent.

He’d nearly ruined her in the hayloft.
And every other time he’d touched her.

Blane could think of no other reason save for he was a
debauched
man. If he cared about her, he’d encourage her to go into the church, to follow her dreams. He couldn’t help wondering though, if that was what she really wanted.

If she was set on the church would she have let him kiss her time and again? Touch her so intimately? Would the passion that filled her eyes have been so prominent? Blane shook his head. No, she wouldn’t have. And she wouldn’t have told him that her father would rather she marry. To him,
it seemed clear she was giving him a
n
in
v
i
tat
ion
. That she was open to possibilities.

Blane pushed back from the fire, slamming his hand on the mantelpiece and cursing softly under his breath.

No matter how she enticed him, or how she invited him to take her, she was not his and never could be. That was the plain truth of it, and he’d better—

All though
t
left him as she entered the
great hall
.

Aliah glided into the room, every bit the lady. Her hair had been fixed, pulled into a fresh plait, and her skin seemed to glow. Lips curled into a subtle smile, she inclined her head to those who greeted her, although her gaze searched the
room. Until she
found
him.

From where he stood, some fifty feet away, he sense
d
the tension thicken
ing
as their gazes connected. Aliah’s eyes widened, her hands clasp
ed
each other at her waist and she licked her lips. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed.
And he didn’t miss a movement.
Blane realized he scowled fiercely and tried to calm his features. He took a step forward, intent on greeting her as a proper lady deserved. He would bow, take her hand, kiss
the air above
her knuckles.
He’d be the epitome of propriety. Something totally foreign to him.
But as he approached, Lorna
,
who’d been eyeing the both of them, swept in front of him and led Aliah away.

Blane gritted his teeth, wanting to shout at his sister for having done such a thing, but the clap of Montgomery’s hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Women.
They genuinely baffle me.
I pray the wee
bairn
is a boy, only for the reason I’ve yet to come to understand the fairer sex.
I canna have them outnumbering me.
”

Blane eyed the man he’d detested for the last several months with weariness. “Aye. Even growing up
with
sisters I find I am still mystified.”

Montgomery laughed. “’Tis even different with women we are not related to, but instead wish to bed.”

Blane let out an involuntarily growl. “Dinna remind me of how ye stole my sister, Montgomery.”

The man’s grin widened. “Ye know I love her, Blane. She is my world. I canna breathe when she is away from me.
Ye’ll
find that, if ye
havena
already, and then ye won’t be hating me so much.”

“Och, I dinna hate ye, man. I merely loathe what ye did to my wee sister.”

Montgomery laughed. “As Arbella will when she finds out about ye and her sister.”

Blane turned the full force of his glare on Montgomery. “Now ye listen, Montgomery. There is nothing between the lass and me. I am merely her escort.”

The man grinned and nodded in the most annoying way possible. “As ye say. As ye say...” Then he sauntered away, leaving Blane without closure, and with the need to hit something—someone.

Lorna clapped her hands for everyone to take their seats before he could chase after her husband and demand satisfaction. Blane trudged to the dais table. His sister had decided that it was best for him to sit beside Aliah—of course she did. Little meddler. And Montgomery just kept giving him that dumb grin. Blane frowned, but did as any gentleman would and pulled out the chair for Aliah, albeit a little rough. He tucked her in quickly, ignoring her look of annoyance as he’d pushed her too close to the table.
He didn’t mean to do it, but he wanted to get the act out of the way so he could sit down and proceed to fill himself with a barrel of ale. ’Twas the only way he was bound to get through the evening having to be so close to her heat, her scent.

“You do realize I’m not a child, do you not, Blane? You pushed me clear into the table,” she grumbled. Despite her ladylike appearance, her tongue was just as sour as ever.

His leg throbbed where she’d shot him, and he put a hand under the table to rub it.

“Apologies, my lady.”

She didn’t speak for several moments and then said, “Accepted. Do you not like it here? I find it
absolutely
cheerful and your sister and Laird Montgomery quite accommodating.
But you’ve been
growling
since we arrived.
”

Finally, a maid put a mug of ale in front of him. He picked it up and winked at the maid. “Stay close, I’m in need of a full cup at all times.”

The maid blushed and scurried away.

Aliah had grown still beside him. He realize
d
it was not a nice move he’d just pulled, flirting with the maid
so openly
, but it was best if Aliah understood there was nothing between them.

“I like it here just fine, Lady Aliah,” he finally answered. “’Tis simply that my leg
pains me
.” He said it to hurt her. Knowing that it would sting. And he was right.

Aliah gasped, and from the corner of his eyes he watched her put her trembling hands into her lap.

’Haps he’d gone too far. He didn’t have to be a complete arse to her.
Blane turned to apologize, but Aliah had engaged herself in conversation with
Lorna on her right. Not wanting to interrupt, he instead nursed his ale, pleased when the maid rushed over to refill it. A few people approached to speak with him, he answered in grunts and nods, still too
spun
up in his thoughts of Aliah.

She
,
on the other hand, managed to ignore him throughout the meal, which only served to increase his ire and the pain in his leg.

Despite outward appearances, Aliah was all too aware of the man sitting to her left. She tried beyond might to ignore him. With every ounce of willpower she possessed
,
she
refused to look at him, acknowledge him. When his arm accidently brushed hers, she simply leaned closer to Lorna.

Thank goodness his sister was in the mood to chat, else
Aliah woul
d have settled for talking to herself over having to speak with him.

Blane’s manner was simply atrocious. She’d not witnessed him in so callous a mood before—even when he’d been cursing as the arrow protruded from his thigh. Things between them had irrevocabl
y
changed. There was no going back. They’d crossed a line that altered who they were to one another. Kissing, touching. They were intimate encounters—encounters she’d never forget. His lips were forever
burned to hers. Her hips still tingle
d where his fingers had massaged her.
Breasts ached for him to cup them once more and her nipples were nearly always hard as rubies, waiting for his attention. Her body was
no longer
her own.

She wasn’t sure she could ever forgive him for that.
For tempting her with the forbidden and showing her what passion could be had.

Taking a sip of the wine she was offered, she let the tangy drink roll over her tongue and down her throat. If she were to be fair, she was in just as irritable a mood as Blane. Mayhap it wasn’t that he wanted to be rude to her, but that he didn’t know how else to behave. He wanted to push her away.

His feelings for her… Were what? She had no idea. He wasn’t likely to share and she wasn’t going to ask.

Lorna tapped her on the arm and leaned close to speak with her. In low tones she said, “I believe my brother is taken with ye.”

Aliah
shook her head and looked into Lorna’s bright green eyes.
“Nay, you’
re
mistaken about that
.”

Lorna smiled knowingly. “He suffers much. Ye shot him?”