THE GIFT: A Highland Novella (11 page)

“
She looked same as always last we saw her,
”
Angus said as he stabbed a hunk of roasted pork from a platter.

“
Have neither of ye seen fit to look in on her since ye brought her here?
”
Roderick wanted to grab the pair and knock their heads together.

“
We couldn
’
t,
”
Ian said, and took a long drink of his ale, irritating Roderick further.

“
Which guest chamber is she in?
”
He intended to find her as soon as the meal was finished.

“
She
’
s not,
”
Angus said.

“
Not what?
”

“
Not here.
”

“
She wouldn
’
t come with us,
”
Ian put in.
“
Ye know how she is.
”

“
So ye left her on Skye?
”

“
She claimed
The Sight
told her not to come,
”
Angus said, rolling his eyes.
“
Ye know verra well, Roderick, that if Seanmhair doesn
’
t want to do a thing, she doesn
’
t.
”

That was true enough. And she was not above claiming
The Sight
told her not to come when it was just her own stubbornness. What was he going to do with Lily now? He
’
d told her she could stay with his grandmother, and he
’
d counted on them looking after each other after he left Islay.

He turned his attention back to Lily and saw that the slippery Spaniard in the ostentatious tunic was attempting to charm her. And the man appeared to be succeeding.

Before he could do more than glare at the Spaniard, one of Alexander
’
s elite personal guards appeared behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“
The lord wishes to speak with ye in private late tonight,
”
the guard said next to Roderick
’
s ear.
“
I
’
ll find ye at the bonfire when he wants ye.
”

Roderick nodded. Since Alexander did not want to see him for a few hours, he could make good on at least one of the promises he
’
d made to Lily.

Alexander had just left the table, signaling the Yule bonfire would be lit soon.

“
Tonight is the first night of Yuletide,
”
Roderick said to Lily, interrupting the too-quiet conversation she was having with the Spaniard, and held out his hand.
“
Come, I
’
ll show ye how we MacDonalds celebrate.
”

He swept Lily away and headed for the doors. As everyone else was doing the same, he had to work his way through throngs of his clansmen, every last one of whom was burning to ask him about the red-haired Sassenach. He did not feel like explaining, so he nodded as he passed them and kept moving.

He was nearly to the doors when he heard his former wife
’
s voice behind him.

“
Roderick!
”

What in hell did Maigrid want? Had she not humiliated him enough? Ignoring her was pointless. Nonetheless, he tried.

“
Roderick!
”
she called again, and this time she caught hold of his arm.

He cursed under his breath before turning around. Maigrid was as beautiful as ever, but the effect was lost on him now.

“
Will ye be staying here on Islay long?
”
She paused and touched his sleeve.
“
I
’
ve missed ye, Roderick.
”

There was only one thing she missed about him. But if she thought he was going to slip away with her for a night under the blankets, she was sadly mistaken. He made that mistake once after she left him, thinking she meant to return.

Ach
, he was annoyed with himself for blaming her. He should have known better.

***

Lily felt like a squat toad next to the tall, stunning woman with golden hair, large hazel eyes, and a bright smile aimed at Roderick.

The woman held out her hands to him, which he pointedly ignored. Undeterred, she ran fingers down his arm as she spoke to him in Gaelic in a light, musical voice.

She looked at Roderick as if she
’
d like him on a platter with a honey glaze she could lick off. The two obviously knew each other intimately. Judging from Roderick
’
s reaction, Lily had a good idea who this tall beauty was.

When the woman moved to place herself between Lily and Roderick, Lily started to step back, but Roderick held her arm in an iron grip.

“
Ye must excuse us, Maigrid,
”
he said in English.
“
I don
’
t want my guest to miss the lighting of the bonfire.
”

He gave the woman a curt nod, then cut through the crowd, taking Lily with him.

Apparently when Roderick was done with a woman, he was done. Still, it was obvious this Maigrid had wounded him deeply. Lily wanted to go back and slap her for hurting him. At the same time, she felt pathetic for wishing he felt half that strongly for her.

“
That was her, wasn
’
t it?
”
Lily whispered after they were outside and some distance from the Great Hall.
“
The one who left ye while your enemy had ye chained in a dungeon?
”

Roderick trained his eyes straight ahead and kept walking, which was answer enough.

“
She is beautiful.
”

“
Hmmph.
”

“
I have a vial of poison in my bag
…”

Roderick snorted and squeezed her shoulders. Lily was only half joking, but she was glad she had lifted his sour mood.

“
Ye do know how to make me laugh,
”
he said.
“
But there
’
s no need to poison Maigrid. She doesn
’
t matter anymore.
”

Ha.

“
I doubt poison would work on her anyway,
”
Lily said, which made him laugh again.
“
Ye can
’
t poison a snake.
”

The woman probably could not wear holly either.

***

They followed the crowd across the causeway to a wide, open area on the shore of the loch where there was an enormous pile of wood four times her height. The sky was pitch black and a cold wind blew across the island, making Lily shiver as they waited in the darkness with the crowd. After a time, she felt a ripple of anticipation rising from the people around her.

“
Look.
”
Roderick put his arm around her and pointed.
“
Here they come.
”

A procession of flaming torches appeared across the loch. Against the black night, nothing was visible except the torches and their refection in the water. They looked like balls of fire moving along the shoreline. Lily had never seen anything more beautiful.

When the torch carriers reached the gathering, they encircled the enormous pile of wood. Then they chanted in deep male voices that pulsed through her, and she sensed it was a chant from ancient times, marking the solstice.

She jumped as one of the men tossed his torch onto the woodpile, and it exploded in flame.

“
There
’
s grease on the wood,
”
Roderick said with a laugh as he squeezed her shoulders again.

After the lighting of the bonfire, jugs of whisky came out and the crowd grew jovial. Lily had heard that the Christmas celebrations at court were a sight to behold
—
and enormously expensive
—
but she could not imagine those had the drama and exuberance of these Highlanders
’
Yuletide celebrations.

The enormous bonfire crackled and spit, shooting flames high into the sky and making the front of her clothing hot to the touch. Everywhere she looked, laughter shone on the faces in the firelight. Roderick took a pull from a jug his neighbor handed him, then passed it on to her.

“
You
’
re not accustomed to it,
”
he said.
“
Best take just a wee nip.
”

“
Is that a challenge?
”
she asked.
“
I
’
ll have ye know, I come from a long line of drunkards.
’
Tis like mother
’
s milk to me.
”

She leaned her head back and took a big gulp. Fire burned her throat and shot down her limb, and she coughed and hacked until her eyes watered. Roderick thumped her on the back and laughed.

The sounds of a drum, flute, and an instrument she
’
d never heard before filled the air.

“
Come, the dancing is about to begin,
”
Roderick said, grabbing her hand.

“
I don
’
t dance.
”

If he heard her objection over the noisy celebrations, he blithely ignored it.

Suddenly they were part of a large circle of people moving first left and then right around the bonfire as they shouted a song. Though the steps to the dance were more elaborate, Lily found she could keep up by simply stepping sideways with the music. Unexpected laughter bubbled up inside her as she danced.

Through the din she heard Roderick
’
s deep and rich voice singing with the others. When he squeezed her hand, she turned to find him grinning at her. He looked like a young and carefree man, not the hardened and ever-vigilant warrior who brought her across half of Scotland. Being with his clan brought him joy. She wondered what it would be like to feel so bonded with the people one lived amongst.

She was breathless and thirsty when they finally left the circle. The whisky slid down far more easily the second and third times and went to her head.

Through the crowd, she caught a glimpse of the Spaniard. If she was sailing with him, she must rise early and walk to the bay before dawn. Her spirits plummeted at the thought. But as much as she had enjoyed this night, she did not want to remain here without Roderick. These were not her people.

“
Are ye all right?
”
Roderick asked over the boisterous singing.

“
I
’
m tired. I should go to bed,
”
she said, and then realized they had never found his grandmother.
“
Where am I to sleep?
”

“
For now, you
’
ll be in one of the guest chambers with some other lasses,
”
he said.
“
I
’
ll take ye there now.
”

With everyone else at the bonfire, it was quiet on the walk back. Lily tried to sort out her feelings and decide whether to board the Spaniard
’
s ship in the morning. This was likely the last opportunity she
’
d have to leave for weeks and weeks. It would be foolish not to take it, and yet
…

Roderick led her past the Great Hall to a two-story stone building. Once inside, he led her up a set of stairs lit by torches fixed in the wall sconces.

“
Here it is,
”
he said, opening a heavy wooden door with an iron latch and hinges.

The bedchamber was glaringly empty, an open invitation. The tension grew taut between them as they stood in the doorway looking at the large bed. It was not difficult to read Roderick
’
s thoughts when he turned toward her. They were the same as hers.

“
I
’
d wager that the other lasses who share your chamber will be at the bonfire until dawn,
”
he said, his gaze burning into her.

She could not risk missing that boat. Yet she could not let Roderick go quite yet. She rested her palms against his chest and closed her eyes. How could she say no to him when she would never see him again? Was one night worth what it would cost her?

“
One kiss,
”
she said, rising on her toes.
“
One kiss. Then you must go.
”

***

One kiss would not be nearly enough, but Roderick would take whatever she would give.

He leaned down, intending just to brush her lips. But at the soft touch, his heart lurched, and he pulled her against him. She gave a soft moan, and her arms went around his neck as they deepened the kiss.

He could not have said how long they stood kissing in the doorway as if they
’
d never have the chance again. When she pulled away, he watched her face in the torchlight, hoping to see the desire he felt reflected in their deep green pools.

“
One night
is
worth it,
”
she murmured as she brushed her fingertips across his cheek.
“
It is.
”

He was not sure what she meant, but it sounded promising. He glanced at the bed inside the room, then back at her, hoping she
’
d say aye.

“
Roderick!
”

He turned to see the guard who had spoken to him earlier about meeting with Alexander.
Damn it.

“
I
’
ve been looking all over for ye,
”
the guard said as he climbed the stairs. His gaze shifted to Lily, then back to Roderick.
“
The Lord of the Isles wishes to see ye now.
”