The Highlander's Conquest (17 page)

“Judging from the way ye look and the way my brother is storming about the castle, I’d say something’s happened between the two of ye.”

Aliah sucked her lower lip into her mouth, not wanting to say anything, but at the same time, wishing to explain everything.

“I remember when I first met Jamie. My heart beat so rapidly in my chest whenever he passed
I thought I’d burst
. I found myself making up reasons to be near where
ver
he was. And then he kissed me and I felt as if the whole world was crashing down around me, and that I was being lifted into the heavens.”

Aliah’s eyes widened. She’d never heard someone talk about kissing before—and to hear it told exactly as she felt…

“’Twas over for me then. I was changed. I was enraptured. I was in love.”
Lorna gave her a pointed look. “Do ye know what I’m saying?”

Aliah shook her head, kicked off her slippers and tucked her fee
t beneath her, grabbing another handful of nuts.

“I think ye do. I can see the way ye look at each other.”

Blane looked at her a certain way? Aliah nearly bit her tongue instead of a nut at that realization.

Lorna nodded. “I
wasna
particularly aware of my feelings either until
telling
my younger sister a romantic tale. Seems we dinna quite realize such ourselves until
it’s
pointed out to us.”

“Aye,”
Aliah
said softly in agreement.

Another soft knock came at the door and Aliah stiffened. He’d come back.

“That must be your bath.” Lorna answered the door, allowed several servants to carry in a large wood tub and a
few steaming buckets of water. They left, only to come back with more and more buckets of water until the tub was filled
halfway
.
Steam swirled into the air, quickly squelched when they added a couple buckets of colder water to cool it down.
Lorna dug around in the wardrobe against the wall near the door, pulling
out some
linen towels and soap. She pushed one linen towel into the tub, lining it and set the other on the bed. “Come on now, in ye go.”

“My lady, you don’t have to help me, surely a maid would be more than willing...”

Lorna waved away her words. “Och,
I told ye to call me Lorna. ’Sides,
what kind of mistress would I be
were
I not to offer up a good hair washing to a lady? Come now, I dinna mind.”

Aliah stood and walked over to the tub, watching several bits of something floating in the water. “What’s in it?”

“Dried heather and lavender. Makes the water smell sweet—and your skin when
ye’re
done. ’Haps next time ye come for a visit, I could show ye how to have a milk bath.” She ran her fingers up her arm. “Makes my skin as silky as…well silk.” She giggled.

Aliah had never had a sweetened bath—nor a milk bath. She quickly stripped of
f
her clothing and climbed into the tub, letting the warmth of the water seep into her muscles and bones. The scents of the heated flowers encompassed her, relaxing her. Aches seemed to melt away. She’d not realized how sore she was until that moment. Leaning her head back on the rim, she stretched her legs to the end of the tub, rubbing her toes on the wood.

“This is heavenly, Lorna.”

“Oh, aye. Jamie gets so irritated, but I have a bath nearly every day.”

“Truly?”

“Aye. I love to sit and reflect on the goings on of the day. Do some of my best thinking in a tub. And then of course, there’s always the fun of it.”

“Fun?”

Lorna’s cheeks flushed a rosy red. “When
ye’re
married
,
ye’ll
know the meaning of it.”

Aliah’s own face heated as she took the woman’s meaning and visions of Blane climbing into the tub with her came to mind. Instantly her nipples hardened. She s
a
nk into the water to hide her reaction, thankful that Lorna had turned from her
to
gather a linen square.

Turning back, she handed the square to Aliah with a ball of lemon scented soap.

“
Mmm
, that smells wonderful.”

“Aye. I love lemon, ’twill help to clear your head.
Dip your head a bit.”

Aliah did as she was instructed and when she came back up, Lorna started to wash her hair, massaging her scalp. She allowed herself a few moments to luxuriate in having her hair washed and then rubbed the ball of soap on the square, washing her arms and legs.

“Dunk for a rinse,” Lorna said.

Aliah sank beneath the water, rubbing the soap from her hair. When she rose, Lorna pulled her hair over the back of the tub and started to brush it.

“I’ve heard that your sister is
ver
ra
happily married
,
”
Lorna said.

“Arbella?”

“Aye.”

“Have you seen her?”

“Not yet. We had planned a visit after the
ba
irn
is born. Magnus and Arbella will come he
re to Glasgow, then when the
bairn
is old enough to travel
,
Jamie has promised we will visit Dunrobin.”

“Dunrobin?” The name sounded mystical.

“’Tis my clan’s castle in the Highlands.”

“Oh. Blane never mentioned the name. He told me of Sutherland.”

“’Tis the name of our holding.”

“I see. What is the castle like? What is Magnus like? How do you know they are happy?” Aliah’s questions came out one after the other and instantly she laughed. “I’m sorry.”

Lorna chuckled. “Dinna be sorry. I shall answer each of your questions. The castle is imposing, but beautiful. Full of life. The clansmen and women are a close-knit group and do so much for each other. I miss it. ’Tis not as overlarge as it is here, but is still impressive. Magnus is much like Blane. They are both large, Magnus is lighter in coloring. Both ha
ve
a stubborn streak that is…frustrating. But they both have hearts of gold.” She paused a moment, working out a snag in Aliah’s hair. “I know they are happy because I received a letter from your sister stating as much and inquiring about a visit.”

“Truly?” Aliah was hurt that her sister had written to Lorna and not to herself.

“Aye. Dinna let your heart be saddened, Aliah. Your sister mentioned ye in the letter and that she missed ye and hoped
y
e
’d
be able to visit her.”

That only made Aliah feel worse. If she’d entered the church, she would probably never see her sister again. Her heart ached with that thought. It’d never truly bothered her before now.

Aliah nodded, accepting Lorna’s words.

“Ye know, one can always choose one’s own path.”

“For a man mayhap,” Aliah countered.

“Nay, not so.” Lorna stood and grabbed
a
linen towel
,
offering it to Aliah. “There are ways to get what we want too, Aliah. Ye just have to figure out what your path is and follow it.”

Lorna’s words did not make any sense at all. If her father forced her to marry, she would have to marry. If
she ran away
and joined the church, Mother Superior would decide her future. Aliah didn’t see how she was in charge of it at all.

Blane’s sister only smiled. “
Ye’ll
understand soon. That I know. I shall see ye in the morn.”

Aliah stared at the closed door until her skin was covered in goos
eflesh and her teeth chattered.

“Ye know naught of what ye speak.”
Blane paced the small square of space available to do so inside Montgomery’s library.

The laird sat
in a large oak chair
, booted feet crossed at th
e ankle atop his old worn desk. Candlelight flickered shadows on his face and
illuminated the stark
walls.
The laird’
s arms were folded over his chest and that idiotic smile still
graced
his face.

“And why do ye keep smiling at me like that? Ye look like a madman!”

Montgomery’s
grin
only widened.

Although his sister’s husband was an enormous annoyance, Blane was mostly angry with himself. He could not believe the way he’d treated Aliah—and that his
cock
was still engorged with the need to fill her. Luckily his pleated plaid and sporran did their job of hiding the evidence. But it didn’t still the pulse, or the heat rushing through his body. Angry. Lusty. Angry…

“Look, Blane, stop your
fashing
like a virgin lass. ’Twill do naught but drive ye mad.”

He was already there. Blane stopped pacing, dropp
ed
in
to
a chair, crossed his arms and glared at his brother-by-marriage. “What do ye suggest?”

Montgomery shrugged.
“Marriage?”

“Nay.” He wasn’t about to explain to Montgomery why he couldn’t offer.

“I canna imagine what your reasons are for denying her.” The man raised a challenging brow.

“I didna ask ye to.”

Montgomery shrugged. “
Ye’re
right ’tis none of my business, save I
wasna
the only one that watched ye chase her from the hall and ye were both gone an ample amount of time.”

“
Ye’ll
not compromise her reputation,” Blane demanded.

Montgomery shook his head. “I would never. What of ye?”

That hit like a punch to the gut. He
had
compromised her.
Making threats to his brother-by-marriage was ridiculous when Blane had accomplished that feat with heady flourish.

“She deserves better,
”
Blane muttered half to himself.

“Any woman of value does.”

“Bastard.” He gritted his teeth against the urge to grab the man by his collar.

“Ye take my meaning the wrong way, man!” Montgomery laughed. “’Twas the same for me with Lorna. Now afore ye go and rant at me about the way it went, let me finish.”

Blane closed his mouth, letting the insulting words die on his tongue.

“When a man falls for a woman, he always thinks she deserves better. He canna imagine that she would desire him, for he holds her so high above him
self
.
I’m not sure it’s a feeling that ever leaves a man.”

Blane pursed his lips, his jaw tightening. He wondered if Montgomery was aware of how profound his words were. They were all well and good for
him
. The man
was here with his wife.

“My situation is different than yours. ’Tis different than Magnus’. I am a traveling merchant.
Ye’re
a laird.”

Montgomery shook his head, disappointment showing on his face. “
Ye’re
more than a traveling merchant, Blane. Dinna
be an a
rse
.
Ye’re
a knight, a warrior.
Ye’re
in line for one of the most powerful clans in the Highlands. Ye feed your clan.
Ye’re
an important man. Dinna insult the rest of your family
by
naysaying your worth.”

Blane blew out a breath of disgust. No one had ever said anything to him like that before. Shown him his own worth.
Shown what an arse he was.
And yet, Montgomery didn’t even know the half of it. Even if
Blane
believed
the man
, ultimately, Blane was a coward and responsible for his parents’ death.
That was a demon he’d fight until his last breath. He didn’t deserve happiness or the warmth of Aliah’s embrace.