The Draig's Woman (22 page)

She rounded the corner to see him ready to call again. “No need to shout, I’m right here.” She ran the last couple of steps to catch the little one who squealed with delight at the game. “You need to go to your father. I am going with Uncle Ian.”

Unfortunately, Cerwyn had no intention of being caught just yet.

Cerwyn squealed with delight at the sight of the horses. “Me, too. I go horsey, too!”

Ian scooped the running child off of his feet and ruffled his hair. “Nay this time, wee one. Hagan, take your son, as I would be gone.” He placed the child in Hagan’s waiting arms and immediately turned to pick up Claire to place her on the waiting mare. “‘Tis a fine mare, sweeting, I chose her just for you.”

Whatever Tavis had spoken to Ian about earlier had left its mark. Claire could hear the strain in Ian’s voice even as his tone was gentle. She patted the horse on the neck and grabbed the reins. “This isn’t so different from what I am used to. I think I can manage her.” She was grateful now that riding lessons had been a part of Brooke’s life and that she had been included on many trips to the barn and even more grateful to once again wear the yoga pants under her skirts, as chaffed thighs were a lesson she had learned the hard way.

“Larry, Larry, I ride too. Larry!” When Cerwyn’s screams for attention threatened to change to tears, she made room for the little one to sit before her.

“Just a little ride.” Cerwyn laughed at the slow trot around the courtyard. Claire enjoyed watching Ian mount his stallion. It was impossible not to stare as his strong thighs flashed from the movement of his plaid. Once again, the massive claymore with the two-headed dragon on its pommel was strapped to his back. She returned to Hagan to drop off the child.

“Thank you for humoring him, cousin. If you had nay, there would have been no peace this day,” Hagan offered quietly. “It has been a trying morning, Claire.” Hagan’s words were directed to her while his eyes followed Ian. “The ride and the day beyond these walls will be what is needed. Dinna bring him home until the foul look is removed from his face.”

Only Hagan can say so much with so little
, Claire mused. With a smirk, she replied, “I’ll see what I can do.” Nudging her mount next to Ian’s, she asked, “Are you ready to go count some animals?” She tried a little levity to ease the tension, and it earned her the smile she loved.

“Aye, sweeting, let us be gone.” Ian led them beyond the gates and past the village. Once she was comfortable with the reins, she gave Ian the nod he was waiting for, and both horses broke into a run.

As always, the woman by his side amazed him. She enjoyed the ride almost as much as he had. If the men who tended the animals assumed Claire was simply along for Ian’s pleasure, they were quickly corrected. In truth, she had directed the conversation from the beginning. She informed them that the reward from the wool sales in the fall would bring a tidy sum and that there may even be livestock to sell for a profit.

She had been correct. Hunting for the meat for his table had already allowed the numbers to increase in the herds.
This lass is bonnie and wise, a fine combination.

His thoughts stopped as he saw the familiar bend in the stream. Dismounting from Samson, he moved to Claire’s mount. Taking the reins from her hands, he let them fall to his side. He reached for her, and his hands found the strange trews covering her legs beneath the gown. The smile broke free as he remembered how fine her legs looked covered in such attire. His passion flared as he thought of how he could touch her now. Ian lifted her and slowly moved her down his body. “Down with you, woman, let us have our meal here.”

Claire looked around the clearing, and Ian lost himself in the beauty of the scene. The slow moving stream gurgled behind them, dappled sunlight filled the clearing, white blossom could be seen on the bushes, and soft grasses covered the ground. The sight of her enjoyment of his favorite place completed the moment.

“This is beautiful,” Claire said. “The air is so full of clean earth smells, especially after a morning with the sheep and goats.”

Ian tethered the horses, removed the bag of food from his horse, and spread a blanket on the ground. “‘Tis a favorite spot on my lands. My parents would bring us here to enjoy a meal when Aliana and I were children. I wished to share it with you.” He moved to wrap Claire in his arms and inhaled the fragrant scent of her hair. “‘Tis a sweeter spot on our lands now that we are here together.” He reached for the binding on her braid and combed the damp hair through his fingers. “Your hair is still damp.”

Claire smiled into his eyes. “I had a late start getting into the baths and then put it up before my hair had a chance to dry.”

With a soft kiss to her lips, Ian replied, “So I am responsible for your hair being damp?” The thought of their early morning passion only fed his hunger.

Her soft laughter answered him. “Only partially. I’ll tell you about it while we eat.”

Ian released her from his arms and opened their meal. “It seems as if you packed enough for a week.” Next to her on the blanket, Ian was unable to resist the temptation before him and placed a soft kiss to her lips.

“I didn’t pack it, Finella did,” Claire answered. Then she told him of the confrontation with Tavis in the kitchens.

“You should nay have had to deal with the man, but I am grateful you did. Left alone with Finella’s temper, who is to say what his fate might have been. Though it may nay please you, the ale is a fine addition to our stores.” He didn’t want to think of the implications of when the ale was to be served, so he focused on unpacking the food. “I was correct. Finella has given us a fine, large meal.” With their meal served, he could only wonder how Claire had tamed the old one who kept the kitchens.

Ian kept quiet as she told of her part in manipulating Mairi into the bath. While he wished she had nothing to do with the foul wife-to-be, Claire’s compassion touched his heart. He doubted any had ever treated Mairi with such kindness. His woman was wise and had a heart so full of love.

“Mayhap Finella judged correctly, as it appears we have left little to waste.” Ian cleared the remains and then pulled her onto the blanket to lie within his arms.

The breeze that rustled the leaves overhead did not mask her heavy sigh. “Are we going to talk about it now?”

“Can we nay enjoy the peace of this time together?” Ian asked as her hand wrapped around his waist. He had wanted to escape the morning, but the hand that pulled him closer belonged to a woman that needed and deserved truth. “Tavis has the contract in hand, sweeting. What I dinna understand is why he did what he did.”

Claire placed a gentle kiss to the skin exposed by the laces of his shirt. “What did Tavis do?”

Ian stared into the leaves of the canopy. “The contract was approved and signed by the king.”

“None of the others are like that. All of the other contracts stored in the study were simply signed by the laird and his bride along with a witness.”

“Aye, they are. Our marriages have always been done simply. None of the other clans require such formality either. Mayhap ‘tis simply the way of those who live in the lowlands. The Crown makes demands on them that we in the highlands dinna have to tolerate.” Ian thought about it.
Mayhap it is that simple and merely different customs.

Her hand squeezed his side. “I think you may be right. Nolen claimed he carried the title of Sir, awarded by the King.”

“Dinna lay in my arms and speak his name, Claire,” Ian’s voice went rough with possession. Even now the thought of Nolen offering for her was enough to make him crazed.

A small laugh escaped as she swatted his arm. “You have got to be kidding.” She lifted her face enough to hold his gaze. “I thought we covered this already. Let’s not go there again.”

Ian filled his chest with the scent of her hair. “Aye, sweeting. ‘Tis nay a day to be filled with foul thoughts.”

Her smile faded. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

Ian rubbed a lock of her soft hair within his fingers and savored the feel. “You ken me too well. There is more. Instead of giving me the coin to pay the taxes, Tavis paid the Crown. His papers included proof of payment for what was owed and for this year also. Tavis should have paid me directly and nay gone to the one who calls himself king.” Ian answered her look of confusion. “He may call himself king and we are forced to pay his taxes, but none in the highlands heed much else.”

“I thought Tavis was only going to pay one year’s worth. Why more?”

“Tavis says it is a gift to ensure his daughter is well cared for. I find that hard to believe, as ‘tis obvious he pays her little heed.” Claire agreed with a quick nod, but Ian could see there were more thoughts on her mind.

“There is something I’ve never understood in all of this. Why would he be willing to pay so much to marry Mairi off? What does Tavis gain with the alliance?”

Stunned by her question, these thoughts had never entered Ian’s mind. “‘Tis the way things are done. None would take Mairi without a verra large dowry. Tavis has no allies to the north, and my clan carries a fine strong reputation. This will give him alliances to the clans we call friends. It opens doors to trade and a lower risk of raids.”

“I still feel like I’m missing something important. While I certainly don’t understand clan relations, this still seems like a lot of coin to spend on a girl left to rot in a convent for most of her life. Tavis could buy a lot of friends for that kind of money. Something just doesn’t add up.”

Ian thought through her statement. Claire was right in a way. Tavis could save his coin by trading for a small loss with the Draig’s neighbors. But trust came with alliance, and a marriage to a highland clan outweighed trade negotiations. He was about to share this conclusion when Claire stiffened in his arms. “What is it, sweeting?”

“When?”

Ian had not wanted their day together filled with this talk of his forced marriage. The sun was fine and warm, the breeze gentle, and it was a day to share and enjoy. The dark cloud of his fate followed them even here to this place of tranquility. “Soon, sweeting. Now that the contracts are in hand, it will only be a matter of days.”

He shifted smoothly to lay Claire on her back as he covered her, and closed eyes hid her thoughts. His knuckles grazed her cheek. “Open your eyes, sweeting.” He regretted the request when he saw that pain had filled what normally contained only joy and laughter.
I did this to her.
My greed for her has brought this heartache.
It took considerable concentration to still the voice in his mind that said, “Let her go,” and he selfishly reminded himself that she had come to him with the knowledge of what was to be. Claire’s own words spoke of how it wasn’t enough to keep her away.

Silence filled the air as her hand rose to hold his face. She lifted her head to place a soft kiss to his lips. Even with such a loving gesture, the pain remained etched on her features.

“Can you forgive me, sweet Claire?” Ian’s breath stopped as he waited for her reply. He had no answer for what he would do if she said no.

A silent nod was the only agreement he received. Ian used his thumb to wipe the solitary tear that fell from the corner of her eye. Her pain was warm on his hand; the wetness burned into his skin and left its mark deep inside. He vowed silently that he would find ways to bring her joy and make up for what he had to do. His life would be spent making her happy and to atone for this tear. He did not want her to shed another for any reason. At this moment, he only wanted to make matters better between them, “Sweeting, I . . .”

His words stopped as she pulled him to herself and silenced his mouth with a kiss. Claire whispered, “Shhh, Ian.”

“Nay, I must say speak it.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Do you ken? Do you ken what I would choose? If I had been a better laird these past few years, I would have been able to claim you as my wife.” The truth was so real. He had never thought he could want someone bound to his side as he wanted Claire.

With a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she finished his statement. “If you had taken better care of your accounts, you would now be married to Dedre of the Campbell clan, and we would have never met. You would not have been traveling and then bound to a tree. I would not have had to save you.”

Claire was correct, as usual. If Ian had all his coin, that is exactly what he would have done. Now it was hard for him to remember why that would have been a good match. A fine alliance, yes, if only because the Campbells had always been fine neighbors. He could barely see clearly in his mind. Claire was the woman who claimed his heart and soul. He had been deluded to think Campbell’s daughter, Dedre, would have been a fine mate. Once Ian had thought the woman stirred his blood, but now he knew what passion truly meant. He had been able to leave Dedre after a few kisses in the gardens, content to wait for the marriage bed. The need of Claire was beyond simple lust; he needed her thoughts as well as her warmth. From Claire, he needed all.

“Save me is what you do every moment of the day, sweeting. For all time, I will be grateful to have neglected my duties. My life without you would have held little meaning. You are all to me, sweet Claire.” He captured her mouth with a kiss and savored the heat of her response. His body was more than ready to prove his devotion, even if his deeds lacked.

She whispered against his lips, “You are my life.”

If only her eyes matched her words. Her love was evident, but so was the pain. Ian kissed her with all the love in his heart. Fate was sweet and cruel. It brought him this great love and simultaneously prevented him from giving her everything she deserved. Even still, her body responded to his mouth and hands. So be it. The choice had been made and a life without Claire was not one he wished to know.

Her laughter once again rang in his ears as he made short work of removing their clothing. Her body welcomed him as it always had and as it always would. Ian’s voice was insistent against her neck. “Give me the words, sweeting.”

It was an accident he had found the pair, the thrill of the hunt had led him off the main trail. He lost the deer only to discover them in the distance. It was obvious this was not their first coupling. Even from this far away, it was clear they shared laughter with their lusts. That came with familiarity.

He had been lied to and made to believe she was destined for marriage to another.
How dare she? Have I not treated her well? The proper offer was made, a very fine offer too. Claire will pay for making a fool of me.
He would make sure the laird was aware of how the lass paid. The fate of the Draig and his clan was already sealed. However, before Ian died, he would be made aware of the fate of the woman. With a plan already forming in his mind, secure in his belief Tavis would approve and see it carried out, he started back toward the keep. No one made a fool of Nolen.