Medieval Ever After (72 page)

“I must apologize for my brusque manner earlier today.” Alex fumbled with his words. He was desperate not to make any more mistakes.

She halted and turned to face him. “There is no need to apologize, but I think perhaps it would be best if I went to a convent. When is your priest due to visit? I am hoping he can help me.”

He could not believe what he was hearing. He experienced a strange and painful tug on his heart when he thought of her leaving him—for a convent of all places.

“First of all, Maddie, I think we are past formalities. Call me Alex. Secondly, how could you possibly ask such a thing?”

“As you wish, Alex. I cannot stay here forever. You know I appreciate all that you have done for me, but it is not right for me to continue taking advantage of your family.”

He searched his mind frantically for a sound argument for why she needed to stay with him, but he could not think of one. His mind was too addled by the thought of losing her.

“You do not belong in a convent.”

“How can you make that statement? You do not know me.” She stopped and gazed up at him, her eyes searching his.

Again, he had no answer for her. This connection he felt was not something he could explain. It was in his heart and he had never before given much thought to matters of the heart. But perhaps there was another way of explaining what he felt.

He leaned down and brushed his lips softly across her mouth. She did not pull away, so he cupped her face tenderly with his hands and lightly touched his lips to hers again. This time she stepped back for a moment, but he did not have time to react before she leaned into him. His heart soared as he kissed her again, groaning as he tasted her sweetness, angling his mouth to deepen the kiss. He touched his fingers to her chin to get her to open her mouth for him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. His tongue mated with hers briefly.

Alex knew he should stop—she was an innocent, and this might well be her first kiss—but she felt so good in his arms. His hands found their way down her back. He reached for her and pulled her in tight to his body. As soon as he did, he knew it was a mistake. Her entire body stiffened and her arms pushed against his chest.

“Nay!” she screamed. Both of her arms swung at Alex’s chest. “Leave me alone!” Tears ran down her cheeks as she flailed away from him.

Alex grabbed both of her wrists gently and whispered, “Maddie, stop. I will stop.” He searched her face and his gut wrenched at the crazed, raw fear in her eyes—fear
he
had put there. “Maddie, please, I will not hurt you.”

***

Maddie gazed up at Alex and realized what had happened. Her memory had flown to Niles Comming. Her eyes closed with humiliation. Alex must think she was addled. She fell against his chest and sobbed, losing all control. His arms pulled her closer and he spoke soothing words as he caressed her hair. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face in his warmth. She did not think she would ever be able to stop the sobs wrenching from her body.

Yet when she stopped to think about what just happened, she should be ecstatic. Alex had kissed her, and she had liked it, more than she ever would have guessed.

A commotion erupted down by the gate. A shout interrupted their embrace.

“Fetch the laird!”

Madeline pulled away from Alex and started to race back toward the castle.

Alex caught her arm. “Nay, you will stay with me.”

“I cannot, Alex, I just cannot!” She pushed against him, anxious to get away. How could she make him understand?

“Nay, you have to learn to trust me, Maddie.”

She contemplated that for a second, then shook her head.

Alex’s voice softened as he caressed her cheek. “Always, Maddie, I will always protect you. You belong with me.”

He headed toward the gate, drawing her behind him. She came willingly, but she prayed it was neither Kenneth nor the Comming. She noticed Alex’s right hand was on his claymore as they approached the gate.

“Chief, there are two peasants outside requesting to see you. They refuse to leave. One says he goes by the name Mac Dumfrey.”

“Mac?” Maddie screamed. She attempted to wrestle free of Alex, but his grip was strong.

“Maddie.” He wrapped his left arm around her waist and whispered in her ear. “Nay, it is not safe. It could be a trick.”

Robbie and Brodie ran down the path with several guards, joining them in front of the gate. Alex released Maddie and nodded to his brothers. They immediately surrounded Maddie with several other guards, all with their weapons drawn.

Alex stepped outside the gate with five of his men. After a few moments, he returned with a slow-moving, disheveled peasant woman. “My lady, do you recognize this woman?”

“Alice! Yes, yes, she is my maid, Alice!” she cried, as she tried unsuccessfully to squeeze out from between the guardsmen. Mac followed Alex in through the gate, and his face lit up with a smile when he saw Maddie.

“I told you he would take care of our gel, Alice.”

Alex nodded and his brothers stepped aside.

“Seal the gate!” Alex yelled.

Maddie ran and threw her arms around Alice, but her maid cringed when she touched her.

“What is wrong, Alice, Mac?” Maddie asked in terror, searching her stable master’s face.

“Och, lass.” He gripped her hand tight. “Her wounds need tending. We have much to tell you.”

Alex stepped forward, picked up the filthy woman without pausing to consider it, and headed toward the keep.

“My sister, Brenna, will take care of your wounds, my lady,” he said as he carried her through the courtyard. Madeline trailed behind him, trying to keep up with his long strides.

“Not ‘my lady,’ I am Madeline’s maid, Laird,” she heard Alice explain in a thin voice.

“Did you take care of Madeline?” Alex asked.

“Why, yes, I have since she was a bairn.”

“Did you no’ get her away from her cruel stepbrother? Did you no’ tend her wounds when that bastard beat her?” Alex continued to stride forward quickly without acknowledging anyone except for the maid.

“Why, yes, Laird Grant, my husband and I did our best.” Alice was barely able to nod her head.

“Well, then,” Alex said, “if you have taken care of my Madeline, then you will be ‘my lady’ to me.”

Madeline stopped in her tracks when she heard Alex’s reasoning. She gaped at him as Alice nodded her head and said, “Thank you, Laird Grant.”

RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Brenna settled Mac
and Alice into the chamber next to Maddie’s. Servants brought up hot water and a tub for the older woman. Maddie convinced Mac to entrust her and Brenna with his wife’s care and sent him down to the great hall.

Maddie sank onto a stool near the tub. “Oh, Alice, what happened?”

“It is my job to tend you, Madeline. This is not right.” The older woman swiped tears from her eyes.

“Nay, this
is
right. I am guessing you took the brunt of Kenneth’s anger after I left. It is my fault you were beaten.” Maddie washed Alice’s face of the dirt and grime she had acquired in her travels.

“He is angry you are gone, but he has no idea where you are. I did not tell him anything.” Alice winced as Brenna carefully washed the lash marks on her back. “Tell me, child, how have you withstood so many lashings? The pain is most unbearable.”

Rather than answer the question, Maddie took Alice’s hand and squeezed it. “How did you get away?”

“Kenneth left for the Comming keep, so Mac hustled me away. We hoped to find you here. It is so good to see you safe.” Alice reached up and pulled Maddie down into her embrace. “Forgive me. I have soaked you, my dear. But I am so thankful you have escaped your stepbrother. I know your parents are at peace right now.”

After soaking the filth away and rinsing her hair, Madeline and Brenna helped Alice stand. Her weakness was frightening, but Maddie did not let on—her maid had been through enough. She held her as Brenna applied salve and clean linen to her wounds. Once Alice was clothed in a clean night rail, they sat her in front of the fire so Maddie could brush her long locks. The soothing motion worked as she had hoped, and Alice’s eyes soon drifted closed. The younger women helped settle her in the bed. Before exhaustion claimed her, she reached up, cupped Madeline’s cheek and said, “Thank goodness Laird Grant rescued you.”

Brenna stepped outside to check on Jennie. Maddie finally broke down and started sobbing, unable to stop the torrent of tears on her cheeks. How many others had suffered because of her? She could not bear the thought of her people being punished because she would not do her stepbrother’s bidding. How could she apologize to Alice? Mac must hate her for what had happened. What was she to do?

Her head ached as she considered her options, each as seemingly as bad as the last. Tomorrow, she would spend time in the chapel and pray for guidance about her future path.

Lord, please help me. I know not what to do.

Brenna found Maddie like that in the hall—crying and lost and deep in thought. Wrapping her arm across Maddie’s shoulder, she gave her a swift hug.

“Alice is very special to you, is she no’?”

Maddie wiped her tears away with a strip of linen. “Aye, after I lost my parents, she was the only one I trusted in the keep. I knew very few other people when I was a child. My parents were a bit overprotective, I am beginning to realize.” She gave Brenna a weak smile as they headed down the stairway.

***

Mac jumped out of his chair at the sight of Maddie. “How is she, lass?”

“She is sleeping, Mac. What happened?”

Alex stood and ushered Madeline to a bench. Mac had informed them of the numerous beatings Kenneth had inflicted on his servants in an attempt to get information about Maddie. Wanting to protect her, Alex had implored Mac to keep silent about the travesties committed by their laird. The lass had already experienced too much guilt and pain in her life. She did not need any more.

However, one glance at the guilt in Maddie’s face was enough to tell him she
already
felt responsible. Alex’s need to wreak vengeance on the MacDonald was growing daily.

Alex cut in before Mac could answer. “My lady, we must take care, Laird MacDonald is anxious to find you.”

“He doesn’t suspect that I am here, does he?” Maddie’s face crumpled, etched with concern and fear.

“Nay, no’ yet,” Mac answered. “He searched for you in the MacDonald lands, but has no’ learned anything. All we know is that he rode to the Comming for assistance and we know the Comming is no friend of Alex’s.”

Maddie stood and paced in front of the table for a while before turning to face Alex. “Laird Grant, what will you do? They could be on their way here with guardsmen from both clans. They may attack your keep. Surely, I must leave.” She wrung her hands together and glanced about as if searching for an easy escape. “I could not bear to see your clan attacked because of me. What if people get hurt? It would be my fault. Perhaps I will just go with the Comming if he comes for me.”

Alex strode directly in front of her and searched her clear blue eyes. “If they do decide to come, we are ready for them. I train my men every day for that very reason. I will protect you as I promised. And you will
not
be leaving with the Comming.” Alex’s voice turned harsh when he mentioned Niles’s name.