Tess and the Highlander (14 page)

“So we see,” James chuckled.

“Listen, you two! The most important thing is for
Tess to find her people and get settled.”

“Very well.” Alexander replied, growing serious.
“What do you want from us?”

“And what will you give us for it?” James added with
a grin.

“I want no bloody mischief. Just your best behavior.
And perhaps wee bit of respect.”

“Nay, you go too far now,” Alexander deadpanned.

“I mean it. I need a chance to figure out the best
way I can help her. I need to spend time with her, to encourage her
as a friend should.” He glowered fiercely at the two men. “That is,
without your childish comments and antics.”

The two older brothers again glanced at each other
first before James answered.

“Well, lad, this may just be the best way yet of
getting rid of you. So, aye, I’d say you can count on us.”

Fiona had assured Tess that she would be
more than presentable should Lady Evelyn arrive even without
advance warning.

But Tess had no idea what the mistress of
Benmore Castle had up her sleeve.

Soon after Fiona had left, a cadre of the
household workers arrived with a tub and buckets of steaming water.
Never, as far as she could remember, had Tess experienced such
luxury. As she soaked in the jasmine-scented bath water, she’d felt
the soreness of her hours in the saddle melt out of her tired
muscles. And she’d no sooner stepped out of the tub when Lady
Fiona’s seamstress and helpers had arrived at the door with strict
instructions for measuring and dressing her.

Tess’s old dress had been whisked away.
Dressed in a new silk shift, the like of which she’d never before
seen or felt, Tess stood dutifully on a stool. For what felt like
hours, though it was probably only minutes, the old seamstress and
her assistants tried on and pinned several partially made
dresses—garments that Tess suspected had originally been intended
for Lady Fiona’s own wardrobe.

As they bustled around her, cutting and
stitching, Tess had made polite conversation with the women. She’d
enjoyed getting lost in their Highland accents when they talked
among themselves. But at some point during this ordeal, Tess’s gaze
had turned longingly toward the deep billows of the brightly
decorated bed. The mattress looked as puffy as a cloud.

“Will ye look at this bonny lass now!”

“I say one look at her by our lads, and
she’ll not be strayin’ far from Benmore.”

Tess hadn’t even realized that the women
were talking about her until the seamstress moved a looking glass
and rested it against the wall.

“Look at yerself, lassie. Ye are sure to put
the very moon to shame.”

Tess didn’t recognize the young woman
staring back at her through the silvered glass. Never in her life
had she worn such a fine gown. The ivory-colored bodice, laced with
threads of gold, clung to her slender frame and then flared to a
long, full skirt below the curves of her hips. The tight sleeves
hugged her arms while the plush velvet cuffs extended over her
fingers. Tess eyed the low neckline and blushed at the revealing
sight.

“No worries about that, mistress.” The
seamstress must have followed the direction of her gaze. The woman
moved to a chest and came back with a length of Macpherson plaid.
In a moment, she’d artfully arranged it around Tess’s shoulder.

“This is absolutely beautiful.” Tess
whispered in awe, staring at her reflection again. “But, to whom
does this dress belong?”

“This one was to be Lady Fiona’s—though she
was only having it made up to please the laird. The same with
those.” The woman motioned toward a few dresses that were lying on
the bed. “She wanted ye to have ‘em…until we can make something to
yer own tastes, mistress.”

“But these are so beautiful!” Tess said
shyly. “This is too much! I have been so much trouble
already…and…”

“Nay, lass. The mistress is truly enjoying
this.” The woman sent her a toothless smile. “With no daughters to
fret over, and with three braw and handsome sons who should be
looking for wives, I’d say yer presence here is more welcome than
ye know.”

Tess tried to hide her blush by stepping off
the stool. Chatting happily, the women went about their business of
hanging the other dresses and cleaning up after themselves.

Looking for wives
. Tess pressed her
icy hands to her fevered cheeks as the words echoed again and again
in her head.

The memory of her time with Colin on the
Isle of May was branded forever in her mind. Every moment they had
spent together, everything they’d said, the image of his smile, the
gleam that crept into his deep blue eyes and set her on fire were
all branded there as well.

She ran her fingers over the plaid scarf.

But Colin had plans of his own. He’d said it
himself, and Tess had heard it again from Alexander on their way to
Benmore. Colin had always wanted to be a sailor. He dreamed of
taking command of his own ship and living a free and exciting life
at sea.

She moved to the table beside the bed and touched
the Lindsay brooch. Lady Fiona’s words about the marriage of Tess’s
parents rushed back to her. She couldn’t help but fear that perhaps
her own marriage someday might be an arranged one. Her mother had
left the Highlands after the death of her father, and Tess wondered
why. What dark secrets did Ravenie Castle hold? She carefully
pinned the brooch on the Macpherson wrap and decided that there was
no point in tormenting herself with such thoughts now.

The seamstress and her helpers gathered all
of their things and bid her goodnight. Lady Fiona had told Tess
earlier that she would be sending someone after her as soon as the
seamstress was done.

The noise of revelry in the Great Hall was
loud when the two women opened the door to depart. She would know
almost no one down there. She had been so far removed from crowds
for so long. It was almost terrifying to think of being in an
assembly of so many people. On top of that, Tess was uncertain even
about proper customs and manners at table.

She looked in the mirror again and wondered for an
instant if Colin would have anything to do with her, now that he
was back among his own people. It would be only natural if he
decided to distance himself from her now, but she found herself
hoping fervently that he would not.

Tess gathered up her long dark hair and pulled it
over one shoulder. Colin knew her. He understood her. There was no
pretense between them. She no longer had a home, but when she was
with him, she felt a sense of comfort that she wondered might be
something akin to belonging. If only he would feel a fraction of
what she felt for him.

Nay. Tess knew it was too much to hope.

Blast this foolish nervousness, Colin thought,
staring at her door. What had he to be nervous about?

Everything…that’s what.

Drawing a deep breath, he knocked.

She must have been waiting on the other
side, for the iron-banded oak door swung open immediately. His
breath was caught in his chest again at the sight of her.

In the golden light of dozens of candles
spread around the chamber, she looked absolutely stunning. “Are…are
you ready?”

“I am. But would you come in first?”

He knew better than to go inside, and he reminded
himself now. Colin
knew
how flimsy his restraint was
becoming when he came anywhere near her. Still, he found himself
taking a step inside her room. He couldn’t help himself.

“You look so...so…” Before he could finish the
sentence, Tess had him by the hand and was closing the door behind
him. “…Wonderful. But I do not think…what I mean is…”

Tess released him and backed away.

He was feeling like an abbey schoolboy. She
wasn’t looking too steady herself, either, Colin thought, watching
her put distance between them.

“I missed you,” he finally got out.

A deep blush colored her face prettily.

“You do look stunning, Tess.” He frowned.
“The problem is, I do not know if I care to trust my brothers with
escorting you downstairs. I have been trying to—”

“You look wonderful, too,” she interrupted
shyly, but Colin didn’t miss the way her eyes traveled the length
of him. She took a step toward him, and he tried desperately to
fight the urge to reach for her.

“I told my parents that I would...” His words died
in his throat as Tess unconsciously tossed her dark mane back over
her shoulder. The tartan wrap shifted slightly, revealing the
swells of her ivory skin over the top of the dress. He swallowed
hard. “I don’t know what my mother was thinking. This won’t do at
all.”

“What won’t do?”

“This dress.” Colin walked across the room with
every intention of simply adjusting the wrap. But at the next
moment, she was in his arms, and he drew her against him. Time hung
suspended between them as his gaze caressed her face before
settling on her lips. “It just needs...”

His mouth descended and gently brushed against hers.
She was so soft, so beautiful.

Looking into his eyes, Tess raised a hesitant hand
and touched her own lips before touching his, feeling the texture.
The simple gesture made his heart pound in his chest.

Colin couldn’t stop himself from kissing her again.
This time, though, all the passion he had in him poured into the
contact of their lips.

“This seems so right,” Tess whispered breathlessly
when they broke off the kiss. “I’ve wanted you do this for so
long.”

As her words registered, Colin’s hands immediately
dropped to his sides. Silently cursing himself, he tried to take a
step back, but Tess touched his arm, her eyes holding his.

“What is wrong?”

She was like an angel, but with the images running
through his head, he felt like Auld Nick himself. He was the only
one she knew here—the only one she could rely on. And here he was,
ready to take full advantage of that trust. He finally managed to
find his voice.

“Nothing,” he said gruffly. “I…I told my parents
that I would escort you to the Great Hall.”

“Of course.” She couldn’t hide the note of sadness
in her voice. “I am ready.”

“I’ve hurt you.”

She shook her head and tried to turn away, but he
took her hand. “Tess—”

“This is all part of this game, isn’t it? The game
that you said once that women play. I should not say…say what I
feel. Honesty is not allowed. ‘Tis all part of the education that
I…that I lack.”

“Nay, Tess. This is about me and how I feel
about you. This is about caring for someone so much that you want
to do everything right. This is about responsibility and even about
protecting your good name.”

“This is all...all…” She shook her head, and
tears rolled down her cheeks. “I might lack much in the ways of the
world, Colin, but I know when someone does not want me.”

“That is not true. And nothing would give me greater
pleasure right now than to show to you how much I want you.” He
gently wiped the tears off her face. “But I will not take advantage
of you, Tess. I cannot let our attraction for each other move
beyond the bounds of reason. There is so much that you need to work
through right now. Making peace with your past. Finding your
family.”

“You are so noble,” she whispered brokenly. “And I
so wicked.”

“You are anything but that. In truth, I am the
wicked one for tempting you the way I have. I am truly sorry.”
Colin pressed his lips gently to the back of her hand he was still
holding. “’Twill never happen again, Tess. I promise you. You need
to know that you are safe with me.”

“I do know that,” she replied somberly. Pulling her
hand away, she moved toward the door.

As they entered the festive Great Hall, the
sounds of music and revelry filled the air. Great fires lit the
fireplaces, and food and drink were being carried in by castle
workers wearing bright ribbons and followed by ever hopeful dogs. A
number of men playing bagpipes marched around the hall, and
children from the village danced happily behind them. On every
side, laughter and merriment surrounded the latecomers, and no one
appeared to even notice their entrance.

Tess glanced at the long tables, filled with
men and women of every generation. She saw the Macpherson warriors
and sailors they had traveled with sitting among them. At the dais,
the laird and his lady were obviously enjoying the festivities.
Tess couldn’t help but wonder if Ravenie Castle at one time had
been like Benmore. She glanced at the long tables again. And for a
moment she saw in her mind’s eye different faces, a different
tartan, another clan. A company of rowdy Highlanders sitting around
one end of a trestle table with large trenchers of food before
them. Their boots heavily stained. Their tartans covered with the
dust of their travels.

Tess roused herself from her reverie as she
realized a hush had fallen over the Hall. The musicians ceased
their playing, and all eyes were upon her. Colin held on to her
hand as she nervously tried to take a step back. She glanced down
at the dress that had been intended for Lady Fiona. She stared at
the Macpherson tartan that covered her shoulders and the Lindsay
brooch that held it in place, and she wondered if the quiet were
caused by an outsider wearing their plaid. She had not stopped even
to consider the appropriateness of wearing the tartan. Her mind
raced to think of what else could cause such a reaction.

“What have I done?” she asked Colin uneasily.

“You have stunned them with your radiance,”
Colin whispered reassuringly. “Because of all the stories, I think
they were expecting either a wee wild child…or some haughty
Lowlander like your mother.”

“But I am neither,” she murmured.