A Spy at the Highland Court

by Barclay, Celeste

  “I only did what was expected of me. I would have much rather waited for you.” Isa looked into Ric’s topaz eyes, and he was surprised that she could read his thoughts. She laughed softly before continuing. “Your feelings are written across your face. But I am not eager to see other women maneuver their way into being your partner.”

  Ric scanned the crowd as he guided Isa toward the door, and once through them, he led her to the room where they had first found one another. This time there was no one to overhear, and the chamber was cast in darkness. Ric locked the door and pocketed the key before spinning Isa around and pressing her against the wood. Her arms snaked around his neck with no prompting. Their mouths collided with no finesse as they finally satiated the hunger that had gnawed at them both since their all-too-brief reunion in the bailey. When neither could go another moment without drawing air into their lungs, Ric kissed the satiny skin behind her ear as Isa’s head fell back against the door.

  “Ric,” she breathed, unsure of what else to say, unsure that she could say anything else.

  “Do you understand what we shall do tomorrow eve?”

  Isa nodded, too distracted by the scorching ache that burned low in her belly.

  “I don’t know that I can wait until tomorrow,” she confessed. “I don’t know what to do about how I feel. I ache, and it’s as if my body knows something is missing.”

  Ric leaned his forehead against hers, forcing himself to slow their tryst before he hoisted her skirts and then her and thrust into her innocent body. His heart and body screamed for him to claim her, to make her his forever, but the last shreds of decency and honor demanded he stop. He would not welcome his bride into the pleasure of the flesh before they were wed, and certainly not against a door.

  “We are meant to join together, Isa, and we will. Our bodies know what our minds and our hearts are just figuring out. But I won’t take your maidenhead until you are truly mine. I don’t have the right to claim such a privilege.”

  “And if it’s mine to give away? What if I know that you are the only man I want to touch me? We are to be wed in less than a day, and you’ve promised me no bedding ceremony.”

  Ric stood up straight and grimaced.

  “But I didn’t promise you that we wouldn’t have to fly the sheet.”

  Isa opened her mouth then snapped it shut. She could not disagree with him, even if the idea of everyone witnessing the proof of her virginity was humiliating.

  “I would spare you the embarrassment if I could, my sweet, but neither of us is in a position to refuse. My position as a member of Robert’s court and as the new lord requires I conform, and there can be no doubt you are my wife in name and deed.” Ric brushed his lips across hers, and she lifted her chin to meet him. “I will do everything in my power to protect you, Isa. Always.”

  Isa melted into Ric’s embrace once more, and they stood together for a long moment before they both accepted that they would have to return to their separate chambers. Ric walked her to the passageway that led to the ladies’ chambers and waited until he saw her slip into her room.

  Isa awoke to a knocking at her door. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and pushed her hair away from her face. She pulled on a robe as she approached the door.

  “Who is it?”

  “It’s us,” Ceit’s excited voice carried through the door.

  Isa pulled it open, and Deirdre, Ceit, and Elizabeth surged forward.

  “What will you wear today?” Elizabeth’s excitement was contagious, and Isa broke into a grin.

  “Hopefully, not much.” Isa’s eyes grew to the size of saucers as she clapped her hand over her mouth. She could not believe she had let her most private thought slip out.

  “Good lass,” Deirdre chuckled. “But before that, we can’t have you walking about the keep in naught but your skin. I don’t think Sir Dedric would appreciate that. I’m fairly certain he would be like Magnus, and gouge out the eyes of any man who dared breathe in your direction.”

  “You might be right. He was very adamant that there wouldn’t be a bedding ceremony.” Isa looked around at the other three women and hoped they would be able to offer her some reassurance that a crowd of people would not force their way into her matrimonial chamber to observe the loss of her virginity.

  “None of us can speak to that. We, uh, all handfasted before we went to the kirk.” Elizabeth spoke softly. “There wasn’t much use in a bedding ceremony once we were wed in the church.”

  Isa looked at the three women in front of her, and not one of them had a look of remorse.

  “You’re fortunate to be Highlanders,” she grumbled.

  The others laughed before Ceit embraced her.

  “You’re wishing you’d thought of that last eve, aren’t you? We saw you slip off with Sir Dedric.”

  Isa had no idea what to say. She had grown close to the other women, and she had listened as they spoke about some of the more private aspects of being married, but they had respected the fact that she was a maiden and not spoken too vividly. She had questions she wanted to ask but was far too embarrassed to bring up.

  “You shall wonder how you two will ever fit, but you will.” Ceit grinned, and Isa nearly choked. “I’m assuming you haven’t seen a man’s, well, manhood before. You will wonder how your bodies could ever come together. After all, Sir Dedric is rather larger than you.”

  Isa swallowed before nodding.

  “I think if we’re going to have this conversation, you should call him Ric. It seems rather stiff to use his title.” As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she flushed a bright red.

  “I should rather hope it’s stiff,” Deirdre chimed in. “Isa, what do you know of the marriage bed?”

  “I know the mechanics, but I will confess that I worry about how it will happen. I know it can be enjoyable for both the man and the woman, but I don’t know how to make it enjoyable for either of us.” Isa could not bring herself to look at the other ladies, but they swallowed her into their embrace.

  “Do you fear that because he is already experienced and you’re not that you won’t live up to his expectations?” Ceit asked softly, and when Isa nodded, Ceit stroked her hair. “You don’t know of my husband’s reputation then. I’m not sure how you could have missed it, but he was not a celibate man when I met him. Or at least he hadn’t been until he learned of our betrothal. I felt like he had a list that could go on a month of Sundays to compare me against. But he admitted the first time we made love that it was different with me because he loves me. I’d hazard a guess that Ric will feel the same way.”

  “But you and Tavish were a love match. I mean, I remember hearing you were betrothed before you knew each other, but you married because you love each other. We aren’t a love match so much as a lust match. That can’t last forever.”

  “Don’t some of the greatest unions grow out of fierce attraction? Don’t you think that’s what first brought us together with our husbands?” Elizabeth grinned before looking back at Deirdre. “Well, maybe for Ceit and me. Deirdre fell in love with Magnus because he carried her books and vellums back when she dropped them in the dirt.”

  “And I was thirteen then. By the time we handfasted a few years later, I was more than aware that I had the brawest man in all of Scotland wanting to marry me. But before that, I knew I was not the first woman Magnus was with. He explained it to me very clearly, and I know he told me the truth. He had coupled with a few other women before we began courting, he even said he’d tupped them, but I was the only woman he has ever made love to. I don’t think our men use that term lightly. Has he said it to you? Have you talked about this?”

  “He has. Twice, but we haven’t had much of a chance to talk about bed sport. He said he wouldn’t rush me and that there wouldn’t be anyone watching us, but he would have to show the bedsheet. It’s not an easy topic of conversation.” Isa watched as Cheshire cat grins spread across the married women’s faces. “At least not yet, it isn’t.”

&n
bsp; “Look at it this way,” Elizabeth offered her a soft smile. “At least one of you needs to know what to do.”

  Isa’s mind yet again conjured the image of the stunning Englishwoman. She knew it was because the woman was the only one from Ric’s past that she knew about, but it was a reminder that her soon-to-be husband had far more experience than she did.

  “Let Ric introduce you to passion. There is a pride that he will take in knowing no other man has touched what he claims as his, but you should also take pride in knowing he chose you. He did not marry any of the women from his past. If he did not want you as his wife, he never would have made his interest so public. You have claimed something no other woman can: his future and his heart,” Deirdre reassured.

  Isa nodded, not convinced that she truly had the latter, and she could only pray that God would grant her the former.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The women went to Matins together, but they knew the men had been called into the king’s council chamber for an unexpected meeting. It was rare that the Bruce missed attending the morning Mass with his wife, so each of the women was slightly on edge. When the Mass ended and the ladies found their husbands waiting, the tension eased for them, but Isa could not find Ric.

  “He went to his chamber to prepare, lass,” Tavish explained then succumbed to laughter. “He’s demanded the king move yer wedding forward. He refuses to wait till midafternoon. Ye’ll be wed before the midday Mass.”

  Isa looked at the other women and then to Edward, Magnus, and Tavish.

  “A man after ma own heart,” Magnus grinned. “He was very adamant that he wasna going to wait any longer than the next service to call ye his wife.”

  Isa had no idea what to make of Tavish and Magnus’s news. She felt excitement grow as she considered Ric’s impatience, but trepidation took root too as she wondered why Ric insisted on moving the wedding forward even a few hours.

  “We had better return to your chamber and help ready you,” Ceit spoke softly but glared at her husband. Tavish’s laughter ended abruptly, and Isa wondered if there was something Ceit knew that she did not. She knew Ceit had once been a spy for King Robert, and now Isa felt a prick of unease that Ceit might be aware of something that would affect both her and Ric’s future. Ceit looked back at Isa before continuing. “My husband is being an arse. He was just as eager for us to wed as your groom is. He conveniently forgets that I’m the one who needed convincing.”

  Tavish pulled his wife into his arms and once again they shared a kiss that was indecent. He tapped her on the backside as they drew apart.

  “I believe ye’re convinced,” Tavish’s laughter rumbled through his words.

  “Lucky for you,” Ceit danced away and linked arms with Isa before the women left the men watching them leave.

  Ric stood in his chamber as he ran a comb through his damp hair. His stomach was in knots in equal parts anticipation and dread. He was eager to join Isa at the kirk and pledge himself in marriage, but he dreaded telling her that Robert had ordered him to the border, and they were to leave after the nooning. It was not the wedding day he had planned for Isa to have, but he had refused to leave without her and refused to delay the ceremony. The king’s only compromise was to have the ceremony earlier in the day, then allow them to celebrate at the midday meal before departing for Dunbar territory.

  He cursed Graystone and Hargate for their ongoing insurgence into the Lowlands, and he doubly cursed King Edward for his pride and merciless pursuit to live up to the moniker the Hammer of the Scots. He dreaded taking Isa anywhere near danger and wished he could journey to the Highlands with the Sinclairs. He even considered sending Isa with the Sinclairs when they returned north rather than bringing her to the border, but selfishly, he could not bear the idea of being apart from her again.

  Ric walked to the window embrasure and stared out at the sunny day, looking beyond the castle wall to the rolling hills and river just beyond.

  At least it’s a better day for travel than any of the ones I had before. Let it remain like this, so Isa doesn’t have to suffer any sooner for the folly of two kings. I pray we make it to the safety of our home without Isa being put in danger. Now that I’ve found her, I don’t know that I could go another day without her. It makes no sense. I know we are still virtual strangers to one another, but there is something that draws me to her in a way no one ever has. There is a sense of rightness and completion that has been missing all my life. I finally feel settled when I am with her. What is it my heart knows what my mind still hasn’t figured out? How can I be so certain?

  Ric’s thoughts were interrupted when Robbie pushed open the door just enough to peer around it. “You have a visitor,” Robbie whispered. The squire stepped aside, and Bella pushed past. Ric wanted to vomit.

  “What’re you doing here?” Ric hissed. “You can’t be in the keep, and you can’t be in my chamber. Not any day, but most definitely not today.”

  “Worried your bride will hear you’ve been with your mistress again?”

  Ric lunged forward and grasped Bella’s arm, giving her a little shake.

  “If Isa hears anything of you being my mistress, I will know it came from your lips. If anyone sees us together, I will turn you over to Robert as a spy. Ruin this day for Isa, and I may very well throttle you.”

  “You care about your little bride. How very quaint. Just make sure you remember where your true alliances lie.” Bella’s gaze hardened like shards of ice. “Your body may lie with that insipid little girl, but your alliances lie with King Edward.”

  Ric flung open the door, making Robbie jump, and looked both ways down the corridor. He pushed Bella out into the passageway before turning his temper on Robbie.

  “I don’t know why you thought I would want to see her. I will deal with that later. But you will remove Lady Bella from this keep, and if she falls into the river along the way, all the better for us all.” Ric slammed the door shut, knowing Bella would leave in a huff and Robbie would stand quaking in his boots, but he was too furious to think straight.

  Bella’s visit reminded him that she would remain a thorn no matter where he went, and he feared how she would most certainly interfere in his marriage. She also reminded him that King Edward still believed his loyalty lay with the English, but Ric’s mind was clear on where his loyalties lay, and it was with the country of his birth and the home he would make with Isa.

  Ric left his chamber and made his way to the chapel where he found the king already waiting. The queen was nowhere in sight and neither were the ladies-in-waiting.

  “What will you tell your wife?” Robert the Bruce inquired.

  “The truth. You have offered me the land and the keep in exchange for my fealty to both you and Laird Dunbar.

  “Is that all?”

  “For now. Until I can see the situation for myself, I’m not going to frighten Isa unnecessarily.”

  “And the woman who visited your chamber?”

  Ric wanted to shrivel into the ground. He had hoped the news would not be carried on the wind and he could avoid it until after the wedding.

  “As you know, Lady Bella is an informant for King Edward. She came to remind me of my duties to him. And to taunt me. I’m certain that while she no longer sees any benefit to pursuing me, she has no qualms about destroying my relationship with Isa.”

  In exchange for the land, Ric had been pressed into explaining his original intention for arriving at the royal court. Robert told him that he already knew as much, having caught one of Bella’s messengers, but he had waited to see whether Ric would confess. Pleased that it had not taken much for Ric to be forthcoming and after his service along the border, this time to Robert, the king offered Ric a bargain: the land and marriage for his agreement to a public pledge of his fealty and to serve as a double-agent of sorts. The king required him to appear a neutral border lord during the day, but to harry the English at night, stealing from them and ambushing their camps. He was to continue to provide Bell
a with false information, but report to Robert the truth. Isa’s hand in marriage was the incentive. Ric had offered to marry Isa regardless of the land, but Robert had not been so quick to give away one of his wife’s ladies. Without his agreement to sabotage the English, Robert would not let him marry Isa and swore to marry her off underneath Ric’s nose.

  “Then for your sake, you had better find a way to keep the woman away from her. Lady Isabella does not strike me as the type who will forgive you if you break your oath to her.”

  “I have no intention of breaking any oaths made to my wife. I mean what I say, and I will before the priest. There is no one else for me. If I could go back in time, there would never have been anyone else for me.”

  “How are you so certain? You’ve spent mere weeks with the lass, and yet you speak as though you’re in love.”

  “I’ve asked myself that same question countless times, and I’m not sure that I have devised an articulate answer other than, I just know.”

  “That was the way of it with my own Isabella. Perhaps it is something in the name.”

  The Bruce rarely referred to his first wife, who he married when they were both still very young and lost shortly after delivering his daughter Marjorie. Robert waited six years before remarrying, and the union was originally a political match, though the king and queen were a loving couple now.

  Their conversation was cut off when the queen and the other ladies-in-waiting arrived.

  “Sir Dedric, I believe it is time you entered the chapel. You cannot have your bride milling about in the passageway.” Queen Elizabeth’s voice was lowered in deference to the chapel, but the command was evident.

  Ric nodded his head and attempted to see past the queen, but the other ladies blocked any peek he might have caught. He walked down the center aisle and took his place at the rail and before the priest. The man cast him a severe look, then seemed to forget Ric stood before him. The rest of the court filed in, and Ric felt his palms grow clammy as he waited for Isa’s turn to enter. The seconds dragged into minutes, and a buzz began in the congregation. Ric’s throat went dry with fear that Isa had fled. Just as he was prepared to search for her, the chapel doors opened, and he caught the scowl she cast the guard. He had no way of knowing what she said, but it was clear she was displeased. She stepped through the doorway and looked to Ric. He watched as the frown eased into a radiant smile that shone so brilliantly no one could doubt Isa was a willing participant in the ceremony. She made her way down the aisle, her gaze never straying from Ric, and when she met him at the rail, he kissed the back of her hand.