The Maid of Lorne (14 page)

“What is this about, Philippe?”

“I am not privy to my lord’s thinking, my lady. He simply bade me to carry this message to you. Oh, your pardon, lady. He bade me tell you to bring your cloak.”

He stood with such a serious look about him, as if delivering this message was a vitally important mission,
that she did not have the heart to refuse this summons.

“Very well, Philippe. I will follow you in a moment.”

He appeared inordinately pleased and he bowed to her and left. Lara took her cloak from the peg near the door and went to see what Sebastien wanted of her. She discovered him waiting close to the place where he’d fought with James. His hair was wet and he tugged a tunic back over his head as she approached him.

“My lord,” she said, curtsying in greeting. “Felicitations on your victory over the Black Douglas.”

“He is standing right behind you, Lara. I would not want to celebrate or gloat until he leaves.”

She turned slowly and jumped when she discovered the man was truly a few feet from where she stood. Once more she lifted her hand to her brow to bless herself, until she recognized what she was doing.

“My lady, I know the news will not engender any sense of loss to you, but I fear that my men and I must be about the king’s business,” the Douglas announced.

“Now, James?” She tried to keep the joy from her voice. If she spoke the truth, she would be much more comfortable once the Black Douglas was gone from here. And gone far away.

“Now, my lady.” He stepped closer and lifted her hand to his lips. “May I give your regards to the king when I see him next?” She noticed he did not release her hand.

“I have no doubt that you shall regale him with the story of our meeting, sir.”

“Just so, my lady. For now, until we meet again,
enchanté
.” He kissed her hand and then let it go.

“Merci, monsieur,”
she answered…in the same courtly French. The same language the men had spoken in the hall when discussing their plans for taking the last remaining keeps holding out against the Bruce. Was this a trap?

“You see, Sebastien. Your lady is infinitely talented. She speaks the language of the court, in addition to Gaelic and,” he paused and looked at her directly when asking in that tongue, “English as well?”

“Yes, I speak all three and a smattering of Latin, although I do read it better than I speak or write it.”

Sebastien stepped closer to her. “It comes as no surprise to me, James. I have known for some time of her talents.”

Now she looked at him, for this seemed to be turning into a battle of words between the two men.

“Even before I met her, I knew of her vast education. She was, after all, the Maid of Lorne.” He smiled at her. “As the one who carries such a title, languages, writing and reading, and even the duties of chatelaine, were expected of her.”

“Well, Sebastien, now that we have established that your wife is a gifted woman, I must take my leave. The king and his business await.”

She answered his bow with a curtsy and waited while Sebastien escorted him to the gates. A few minutes later, her husband was back. She shivered from the uneasiness James caused in her.

“Is that a chill? The weather is exceptional today, but here now, let me help you with your cloak if you are cold.”

“I do not like that man,” she stated, shaking off his attempt to do so.

“I confess I have never heard him baiting someone as he did you. He’s used to having people simper around him.” Sebastien held out his arm and she laid hers on it, allowing him to guide her steps. “James is a simple man, truly. Only those who are a threat to Robert need fear him. Since he pledged himself to the Bruce, that is the overriding law of his life.”

Saying nothing would be better than attempting anything meaningful, so she nodded and followed his path.

“Are you not going to ask where we go?” Sebastien spoke in that deep and tempting tone that made her breathless.

“And would you tell me if I asked?” she asked.

“Nay, ’tis a surprise I’ve planned for us.”

“Then, my lord, lead on.”

The surprise was an afternoon away from the castle. Sebastien had two horses ready and they rode around the shoreline of the firth, exploring the beaches and even the caves where she’d played as a child and where Malcolm played more recently.

It was the first time since Sebastien’s arrival that she’d been permitted to ride, and she enjoyed every moment of it. They returned to the castle in time for the evening meal and it was one of the most pleasant she’d had in such a long time. With James gone, the tension was much diminished for her and, it would seem, for everyone in Dunstaffnage. Even Catriona was permitted to join them, and for a short time, Lara could forget her cares and worries.

Sebastien made love to her gently and silently that night and then simply held her within his embrace until they slept. It was at that moment when sleep came to
claim her that she realized what was wrong with this perfect day.

It was the fifth day since her last visit with Eachann, and she had not gone to the church to meet him. She’d overheard the most significant information to give him since the day of Brander Pass, and she simply could not bring herself to do it.

How did you willingly betray someone you were falling in love with?

T
he next three days were just as exceptional, and everyone in Dunstaffnage scurried about trying to ready the castle, the keep and the outbuildings for the onslaught of the coming winter. Lara could also feel the growing tension within the soldiers, for they knew, as she did, that any battles would need to be fought before winter closed in. She simply was waiting for Sebastien to tell her that he was leaving soon to know that the plans were under way.

She’d missed the beginning of the man’s conversation, for it had taken her several minutes to make her way to the room without being seen by anyone. Once in place in the steward’s chamber, she’d heard the discussion about the king’s orders. There were three more battles to be fought in this area and they would happen within the next three weeks. The Black Douglas would lead one strike, her husband another, then they would combine their forces for the last one.

Later on, from her vantage point on the battlements, she watched as the new storage rooms over the kitchens
were being completed. Dunstaffnage’s continued place in the Bruce’s plan for Scotland was assured by the work that Sebastien had ordered and overseen. On a grander scale, he wanted to build a new wall and extend the protection of the castle to include the barracks and the new stables. Due to the rock foundation, this addition would take several months, possibly years, and the work of hundreds of men to complete. So for now, while the Bruce’s focus must remain on fighting, only the necessary renovations were carried out.

After her daily walk around the high perimeter, Lara made her way to the kitchens, where the main tasks of the cook and his workers were butchering, salting and preserving the beef, mutton and pork they would need for the winter. Just as she reached the path to the doorway and stairs, someone bumped her from behind. Nearly falling, she was only stopped from doing so by the same person grabbing her shoulders and pulling her roughly to her feet. Lara spun around to see who it was and gasped.

Eachann MacDougall.

“Here now, my lady,” he said as he released her. Then he continued in a muted voice that only she could hear. “Hush now, Lara. I have but a moment here. I amno’ happy that you are avoiding me.” He had a cloak on and, with the hood pulled down low, his face was hidden.

Lara looked around to see if their exchange was noticed by anyone. No one seemed to be watching them. “I have nothing to tell you, Eachann,” she whispered. “So I will not be meeting you anymore.”

“Think ye no’? High and mighty, are ye now? Well,
I have word from your father for you.” He closed the distance between them and took her arm. “Be there as I’ve told ye to be, and bring something personal of his.”

Lara shook, hearing her cousin’s angry and threatening tone of voice. He was unpredictable and dangerous. “What do you mean? Whose?”

“Dinna be playing the fool for me, Lara. Yer husband is who. Bring some personal tidbit or trinket of his.” He released her with a push.

“Lara!”

She turned and saw Malcolm running to her. He must not see Eachann. Facing her cousin, she whispered, “You must go now. Sebastien will hear of this.”

“Oh, I see how it is now.
Sebastien,
eh? If ye dinna bring me what I ask, I will be back. I can slip in and out of here with no one the wiser.”

“Go now, Eachann. Please,” she implored him. She did not want Malcolm to be in danger.

“I will be going. Do not disappoint me, lass. The next one I visit will be the boy,” he threatened as he nodded in her brother’s direction. “Be there.”

“Lara!” Malcolm called out again, and Lara turned her body to try to block Eachann from the boy’s view. She looked back over her shoulder and saw her cousin melting into the crowd in the yard.

“Malcolm! What is it?” She reached out and brushed his hair from his face.

Malcolm leaned over and looked behind her. “That looked like Cousin—”

“I did not see anyone, Malcolm. Here now, tell me what you are so excited about.”

Malcolm shook his head but did not ask again. In a
few minutes he was so involved with his story about going fishing with Sebastien’s men that he forgot about who might or might not have been there. Lara walked with her brother to the gate and released him to Sebastien’s men after being reassured of their supervision. Then, she went to her chambers to try to figure out what to do about Eachann.

Once there, she glanced at Sebastien’s trunk. He never wore jewelry or any kind of decorative belt or badge. For what possible reason could her cousin need something of Sebastien’s? She might not understand his need for it, but she understood the clear threat if she did not provide it.

Malcolm.

She shuddered at the thought of Eachann gaining control of her brother. Her sister was not safe, either.

Mayhap if Lara gave some trinket to Eachann he would leave and not come back. She could convince him that this area, indeed Scotland itself, would be completely in the Bruce’s control soon, and then Robert would turn his sights on the English.

Lara walked to the corner and carefully opened Sebastien’s trunk. Looking through it would not be amiss, since she was the one who usually placed his cleaned garments there. After a minute of just thinking on it, she convinced herself that there would be no harm in seeing what lay at the bottom. Sliding her hands under the layers of cloth, she lifted them up to check beneath them.

She did not notice the pouch at first, for it was tucked into a small pocket in the lining of the trunk. She moved the clothes aside and slid the leather pouch
free, untying the laces and tugging it open. It felt empty, but when she turned it over, two objects fell into her palm—a gold cross and a bejeweled ring.

She examined both items closely. The cross was plain, with no markings, and it was tied onto a leather strip that served in the absence of a matching chain. The ring had a large blue gem on the front and an inscription on the back that she could not read in the shadows of the chamber. When she would have moved nearer to the window for a better view of it, she heard someone climbing the steps toward the chamber.

Hurriedly she placed the items back in the pouch and the pouch back in its hiding place. Putting the clothing over it and smoothing it into position, she closed the lid of the trunk and stood just as Sebastien reached the doorway.

“I saw you in the yard,” he said, before crossing the threshold of the room. “You looked upset.”

Dear God! Had he seen Eachann as well? “Upset?”

“I told him he could not go without your permission. I feared you would throw yourself in the firth after him if you had no knowledge of the plan.” His smile warmed her.

Relief flooded through her as she realized he spoke of Malcolm’s fishing trip rather than her cousin. “I am not upset by it. Your man explained the safeguards and the supervision and I think it a fine plan,” she said.

When she took a moment to think on it, Sebastien had surprised her yet again. Believing her upset by the thought of Malcolm on the water, he’d sought her out to comfort and reassure her. Even as she had been plotting against him, he was caring for her. Her sin was
glaringly clear and she almost decided then not to go the chapel as Eachann had ordered.

Almost.

Her father had sent word to her. She’d heard nothing about him from anyone since the day he’d been exiled. If he was sending word to her, she should at least go and find out what that message was. She noticed Sebastien was staring at her then.

“I have hesitated to offer it, but I could teach you to swim as well so you would not fear the water.”

She must have shaken her head without realizing it.

“Mayhap when the water grows warmer again?”

“I will have to think on your offer, my lord. It simply does not have any appeal to me.”

He stepped closer and she smelled the scent of him—an enticing mix of leather and male. Taking her hand in his, he pulled her to him and kissed her. She relaxed into him and slid her hands to his back as he plundered her mouth. The kiss went on and became something more as he moved his hand up to the back of her head. Tugging off the netting over her hair, he loosened her braid and entangled his fingers in her locks.

Sebastien moved his lips down to her neck and loosened the neckline of her tunic as much as he could without untying the laces. She knew he would use his mouth to drive her wild. Then just when her body tensed, waiting for it, he stopped and drew back instead, touching a spot on the slope of her breast with the tip of his finger.

“I did that?” he asked, drawing her attention to the purplish bruise on the skin there.

“And who else could have?” she countered.

“I did not know. Why did you not tell me that I was hurting you?”

“It did not hurt, my lord. My mind, I fear, was somewhat distracted by other things you were doing to notice this…” Lara paused, not knowing what to call the mark left behind by the intense action of his mouth and teeth.

“Love bite.” He provided the answer, but frowned as he said it. “Although the sight of your skin marred in such a way makes me regret my actions, I confess that the thought of kissing you like that makes me want you now even more.”

The proof of his words could be felt even through the layers of her chemise, gown and tunic. Although her body began to warm to his words, she could not forget about Eachann and his threat. Before she needed to make any objection, voices carried into the chamber from the stairway.

“Hugh! Hugh, stop!” Margaret’s whispered warning was not subtle or quiet.

“He has been in there long enough, Margaret.” Hugh sounded exasperated. “He is needed in the yard. Now.”

More movements on the stairs accompanied hushing sounds.

“They might be…He might be…I will not go any farther!” Her maid sounded embarrassed and Sebastien began laughing.

“Then move aside, lass, for I will.” Some grunts were followed by more sounds of movement, then footsteps on the stairs.

Sebastien took Lara by the hand and led her out into
the other chamber. They stood waiting for Sir Hugh to make it up the stairs in spite of Margaret’s best efforts not to allow him to. He reached the landing first, followed by the more hesitant maid.

“See? As I said, they are not naked again.”

Margaret covered her mouth at Sir Hugh’s rude words, but Sebastien only laughed. “A few more moments of privacy and who knows what could have happened,” he said, causing Margaret’s blush to deepen and spread over her cheeks.

“Your pardon, my lady,” Sir Hugh began, without acknowledging Sebastien’s words at all. “We have need of your husband in the yard.”

“Well, my love,” he said, lifting her hand to his mouth and kissing it, “I must see to this need below. I will find you at supper?”

“Yes.” She clutched at his hand. “May I walk to the chapel before then?”

He waved Sir Hugh and Margaret away and leaned in closer to her. “If it is necessary.”

“Necessary?” she asked, as part of her hoped against hope that he would refuse her permission. If he ordered her to stay within the walls, she had a reason, albeit an excuse, to not answer Eachann’s call. Lara waited and prayed silently that Sebastien would stop her from doing something that might hurt him, and herself.

“You always seem more agitated upon your return from your prayers. I cannot see what peace you gain from such visits.”

Please. Please. Please stop me.

“But, if it pleases you in some manner, if it fulfills some need in you, then go, with my blessing.”

All she could do was nod, for words of any kind might reveal more than she should.

“I will have an escort for you when you need.”

“Guards?” she asked.

“An escort, for your safety, lady. I have hesitated to tell you this for I do not know your feelings on it, but…” He paused, lowering his voice. “Your cousin Eachann has been sighted close to Dunstaffnage. He murders without care, his victims innocent or not, and leaves a trail of dead bodies as he moves through the countryside.”

She gasped. She’d known he was about, but hadn’t realized Sebastien was aware of it as well. He misinterpreted her surprise and continued.

“I know he is kin, but you must have recognized the kind of man he is and the danger he presents to any who oppose him. That is why I want you to have an escort anytime you leave the castle walls.”

“Murder?” she asked. “He murders?” She knew her cousin was capable of much cruelty, but had never any inkling of this.

“Three crofters in the next valley were murdered as they slept. Two more near the loch.”

“But it could have been anyone, Sebastien.”

“Except that he cuts his name into their flesh…” He stopped and looked at her. “I did not want you to hear this.”

“My lord!” Sir Hugh’s booming voice filled the stairway and the room, startling her in its loudness.

“I must go, but you must promise to have a care.”

She could only nod her head in agreement. He kissed her and released her hand, trotting down the
steps to answer Sir Hugh’s demanding call. Lara’s body shook as she went back into the chamber, closed the door and leaned against it.

Did this change anything? Was she truly ignorant of Eachann’s ways or had she simply not admitted to herself that she knew? Would he harm her when she refused him? Lara shivered as she realized he would if she did not hold some worth to him.

She remained in her room until most of the afternoon had passed, sending Margaret off on various errands and assigning her tasks to keep her away. Finally, when she knew she must leave, Lara knelt in front of Sebastien’s trunk and lifted the lid. Sliding her hand down the side, she retrieved the pouch and took out the pieces of jewelry again.

After studying at both, she decided that the cross was the best one. It did not look costly and it might not cause a stir if he discovered it was missing. Turning the ring over and over in her hand, she thought something was familiar about the insignia inside of it. Finally, unable to solve that puzzle, she placed it back in the pouch and hid it back in its pocket.

The walk to the chapel was a blur to her. The guards who escorted her were pleasant and shared with her the gossip of the castle and nearby villages. ’Twas clear from their talk that they considered this their home and not a stop along the way to another battle.