Captured Hearts and Stolen Kisses

by Ceci Giltenan et al.

  Tears filled her eyes, “Eoin please…”

  He hated seeing his sister like this and looked at Dougal who stood nearby. “Laird MacLeod, I give ye my word we will bring her back. She has been away from home for so long.”

  But the old laird shook his head. “Nay, lad. This is too important to take the risk. It has to be this way.”

  Anna turned on Laird MacLeod angrily. “Why are ye doing this to me? Ye have what ye want. After all of this, w-why can’t ye l-let me go h-home?” Her voice caught. Clearly she was fighting desperately not to cry. She turned back to Eoin. “Please Eoin. Please, I want to come home, p-please,” she sobbed, losing her battle against tears.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “Wheesht, Anna. That’s enough.” Eoin had never felt so helpless in his life. He tried one last time with Laird MacLeod. “Let her come home. One of my brothers will go with ye in her stead. I swear I will honor the contract.”

  “Ye will honor the contract as it stands. She’ll come back with us.”

  “Then let Tasgall go with her, so she’s not alone.”

  “The absolute last thing I need is two MacKay’s trying to escape. One of them could get hurt and we’d be right back where we started. Nay, she’ll come alone and she’ll come now.”

  She gripped Eoin tighter but there was nothing he could do. “Ye need to go now, sweetling.”

  “But Eoin—”

  “Nay, Anna, go back with the MacLeods. We’ll see ye in a few weeks and we’ll discuss a visit to Naomh-dùn after ye’re married.” He brushed her tears away and kissed her head. Andrew stepped forward and took her elbow to lead her away. She yanked her arm away from him and strode angrily toward his horse. He shook his head and followed.

  “I almost feel sorry for him,” said Eoin quietly to his brothers. At their affronted expressions added, “Nay, ye’re right, I don’t.”

  Chapter 8

  Andrew lifted the very angry little MacKay onto his horse, mounted behind her, and the contingent of MacLeods headed back to Curacridhe. She sat forward, stiffly holding herself away from him, riding in sullen silence.

  Finally she spoke. “Ye knew this was coming.” It was an accusation, not a question.

  “Aye, I did.”

  “And ye didn’t have the decency to tell me.”

  “There’s no need for ye to play the affronted maid with me. Ye think I don’t know ye’ve plotted escape since the moment ye could lift yer head off the pillow? It only got worse after we found out who ye were.”

  “I couldn’t escape. I could barely take a breath without a MacLeod knowing it.”

  “And why do ye think that was?”

  She glared over her shoulder but said nothing.

  “If ye’d had an inkling of what Da planned, angel, I have no doubt ye would have sprouted the wings Davy thought ye had and flown away.”

  “If the situation were reversed, wouldn’t ye have expected Mairi to do the same thing?”

  “Mairi would never have wandered off pouting in the first place, although I’m thankful ye did.”

  “Well it might be worth going back just to see if that’s true when ye tell her she has to marry my brother.”

  “Is that such a terrible fate, Anna?”

  In a milder tone she said, “Nay, Tasgall is a good man. She’s lucky to have him.”

  “She might say the same about me.”

  “I doubt it.”

  He chuckled. “Ye’re right, she probably wouldn’t. But I am a good man and I will care for ye in spite of what my wee sister thinks about me.”

  Still upset Anna faced front again and remained silent for a time before asking crossly, “Why did he have to do this?”

  “My father?”

  “Aye, if ye were all so grateful to me for saving Davy, why couldn’t he just let me go home?”

  “Did ye listen to what he told Eoin?”

  “About Eoin not being able to arrange a betrothal for me, thanks to the MacLeods? Aye I did. But I don’t care.”

  “Not just that, angel. About seeking a lasting peace between our clans.”

  “After years of feuding, why does it matter now?”

  “When Da first discussed this with me, he said peace between our clans was the greatest gift he could give Davy’s angel. What would happen if we allowed the feud to continue?”

  “Nothing. We would go on as we always have and I’d be on my way home.”

  “That’s right. Nothing would change and maybe when ye have a grown son he would face Davy in battle and be killed.” He heard her breath catch. “Da didn’t think that was the best way to repay ye.”

  “Then just end the feud. Why must we marry to do that?”

  “I asked him the same thing and, if ye remember, so did Eoin. This feud was too old and too ingrained to end it with a handshake. Only a powerful bond between our clans would ensure a lasting peace. That’s why Da offered Mairi’s hand too.”

  She frowned, but didn’t say anything.

  “Do ye hate me so much then? Is marrying me such a terrible fate?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Ye know, I had no choice in this either.”

  She cast a disbelieving look over her shoulder.

  “Truly, Anna. I had absolutely no intention of ever marrying again. I loved Davy’s mother. The idea of spending the rest of my life with a wife who hates me isn’t exactly appealing.”

  “I don’t hate ye.” She paused for a moment. “Nay that’s a lie, I do hate ye, but I don’t expect I’ll hate ye forever.”

  Andrew smiled to himself. “Well that’s something.”

  They rode in silence for a while before he said, “There’s at least one person who will be positively thrilled by this news.”

  “Who?”

  “Anna, when ye marry me, ye’ll be Davy’s mother. I can think of nothing that would make him happier. He loves ye.”

  “I love him too.”

  “So, even if ye hate me at the moment, we come as a pair. Ye are getting him in the bargain.”

  ~ * ~

  Anna’s anger hadn’t subsided by the time they returned to the keep. She understood why Laird MacLeod forced the betrothals. But she didn’t like it, and was sorely disappointed. As soon as she stepped into the great hall, David yelled, “Anna, you’ve come back!” and hurtled himself into her arms.

  “Aye, Davy, I have.”

  Mairi too was in the great hall and rushed over with slightly more decorum than her young nephew. “Oh Anna, what happened? I thought ye were going home.”

  “She is home, Mairi,” Dougal said.

  Anna felt a lump form in her throat. At this moment she hated Dougal MacLeod with everything in her, but she did not want to cry in front of them again.

  “What do ye mean, Da? Did yer brother not want ye back, Anna? Are ye staying with us after all? Are ye very sad?”

  “Mairi, hold yer tongue. Of course her brother wanted her back, that has nothing to do with it,” snapped Andrew.

  “Andrew, she means well,” chided Laird MacLeod. “Mairi, I wanted an end to the feud, so Laird MacKay and I came to an agreement: Anna and Andrew are betrothed.”

  “What? Ye’re going to be my sister? That’s wonderful! It is a shame ye have to marry Andrew, but I’m so happy. I really didn’t want ye to leave.” Mairi threw her arms around Anna.

  As upset as Anna was, it was all she could do to keep from pushing Mairi away.

  “Well Mairi, it’s good to hear ye’re happy to be Anna’s sister, because Da has another bit of news that’s sure to please ye,” said Andrew.

  “Andrew, enough,” said Laird MacLeod.

  “What’s he talking about, Da?”

  “Mairi, Laird MacKay wasn’t particularly happy about Anna marrying Andrew and he wanted something in return, so I agreed to another betrothal.”

  “For Graham? I thought he was already betrothed. Anna, ye didn’t tell me ye had a sister.”

  “I am betrothed,” said Graham.
r />   “And she doesn’t have a sister,” said Andrew.

  Realization dawned and Mairi went pale. “The betrothal is for me? To a MacKay? Ye are marrying me to a MacKay?”

  “I’m a MacKay, Mairi,” Anna said quietly.

  “Aye, but ye’re all right. I know ye and ye saved Davy. Da, don’t make me marry a MacKay!”

  Still terribly angry herself, Anna had trouble keeping the irritation out of her voice. “Mairi, my brother Tasgall is good, kind man. I love him very much and I know ye will like him if ye give him a chance.”

  “But he’s a MacKay,” she moaned. “Da, how could ye?” She looked at David and said, “This is all yer fault, Davy! And yers, Andrew! If ye hadn’t brought her here in the first place none of this would have happened.”

  “Actually, Mairi, I was the one who brought her here, and if I hadn’t she would have died. Ye wouldn’t have wanted that,” said Graham rationally.

  “Aye, I would if it meant I didn’t have to marry a MacKay!” she cried, turning and running from the hall.

  “That went well,” said Andrew. “Da, I think it would be prudent to put a guard on Mairi, lest she decides to bolt.”

  His father frowned at him. “Andrew, why do ye goad yer sister? Ye didn’t make this any easier. She’s upset now, but she’ll soon see the wisdom of it just as Anna has. Anna, dove, I am sorry for her rudeness. She didn’t mean it. She’ll come ‘round soon.”

  Anna couldn’t hold her temper in check. “She’ll see the wisdom of it just as I have? I’m not sure I’ve seen the wisdom of it yet. I don’t want to be here. Ye let me think I was going home and I—” the words hate ye, were on the tip of her tongue but she realized David had been standing silently with his arms around her. She couldn’t release the venom she longed to. She stood there trembling.

  David tugged on her dress. “If ye marry Da that makes ye Mairi’s sister?”

  She nodded, stroking his head absently. “Aye, Davy.”

  “And Uncle Graham’s sister?”

  “Aye, son, when Anna marries me she will be a sister to Mairi and Uncle Graham and Aunt Ena also,” answered Andrew.

  “Will she be my sister too?” he asked hopefully.

  Andrew knelt on one knee beside him and said, “Nay, Davy.” He smiled at his son’s crestfallen expression. “When I marry Anna, she’ll be yer mama.”

  “My mama?” His face burst into a grin and he hugged her even tighter. “That’s much better than a sister. My angel is going to be my mama! I have to go tell Cora, she keeps saying I need a mama and now I am going to get one!” He let go of Anna and ran from the hall.

  Anna pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose. She had to regain control.

  Andrew stood and said, “I told ye he would be happy.”

  Dougal looked at her seriously. “Do ye really not understand this, Anna?”

  “I understand it perfectly. I might have even ‘come round’ myself if ye had let me go home. And ye’re all three fools if ye think Mairi will come round easily.” It was hard to be a woman and to have very little control over one’s life. She had learned that lesson all too often over the last few weeks. Mairi was young and sheltered and as much as she complained about Andrew, Anna knew Mairi believed her father and her brothers loved her. In spite of that, Anna suspected, at the moment Mairi felt betrayed. Anna felt the same way herself.

  “I’m sorry ye’re so upset, and I wish I could have let ye go home, but as I told yer brother, this is too important. When the wedding is over, ye and Andrew can go for a visit. It won’t be long.”

  Anna clenched her teeth. She didn’t want to go for a visit, she didn’t want Andrew to go with her, and she certainly didn’t want a wedding, but she had no choice. This was real. She wasn’t going to wake up to learn it had all been just a nightmare. She was at Curacridhe, amongst the MacLeods, whom she had been taught to fear and hate since childhood, and she was going to marry the Laird’s heir. Anna suddenly felt very tired.

  Her consternation must have shown on her face because Dougal asked, “Anna, ye said ye understand why this wedding is necessary. Ye have accepted it, haven’t ye?”

  She looked down but didn’t answer.

  “Anna?” He gave her a questioning look.

  “Aye,” she said in little more than a whisper. “I’ve accepted it.” She sighed. “I’m tired, I need to rest. I guess I haven’t completely recovered my stamina. Please excuse me.”

  “Of course ye must go rest, little dove.”

  “I’ll walk with ye, Anna,” said Andrew, taking her elbow as she walked to the tower stairs.

  Anna wanted to escape and be alone but she didn’t pull away. She didn’t have the energy to fight. He didn’t say anything to her while they climbed the stairs. When they reached her chamber he stopped outside. “I’m sorry it’s been such a hard day for ye. But, Anna, ye didn’t lie to my father did ye? Ye have accepted this?”

  “Are ye trying to decide whether I need a guard?”

  “Do ye?”

  She glared at him. “Nay, Andrew. I didn’t lie, I have accepted the betrothal, and whether any of ye believe it or not Eoin is honorable and absolutely true to his word. If I did manage to get away, ye can be certain he would bring me back for the wedding.” She was unable to keep the sadness out of her voice.

  Taking her hands he said, “Angel, I promise I’ll try to make ye happy.” His grim expression didn’t quite match his vow.

  “That’s probably not a promise ye should make. Excuse me, Andrew.” She entered her room and closed the chamber door. She had never felt so alone in her life. She sat on the window seat, pulled her knees to her chest and gave in to the tears that had threatened all afternoon.

  ~ * ~

  Andrew stood for a moment outside her door. He heard her heart-wrenching sobs. He probably should just walk away; she clearly wanted to be alone, but he simply couldn’t. He opened the door. There she was, on the window seat, weeping uncontrollably.

  “Oh, Anna, please don’t cry,” he crossed the room and rested a hand on her back. “Ye’ll make yerself ill.”

  “Just l-leave me alone. S-stop pretending ye care about me.”

  “But I do care about ye.”

  “Do ye? If ye gave a f-fig about me, ye wouldn’t have let him do this.” She raised her head from her knees and looked into his eyes. “I h-hate him.”

  “Nay, ye don’t. Ye have too big a heart to hate anyone. And I know ye understand why peace between the clans is necessary.”

  She put her head on her knees, giving over to sobs again. “I thought I was going h-home.”

  “I know ye did, angel, and I’m sorry ye’re so very disappointed.” Her tears tore at his heart. He knew his father’s decisions were sound, but it seemed the only person who kept being repeatedly hurt was the one who most deserved their kindness. Wanting to comfort her, he lifted her into his arms. She didn’t fight him, on the contrary, she buried her face in his léine and wept. He sat down, continuing to hold her. “Wheesht, now.” He kissed the top of her head. “Wheesht, angel.”

  When her tears were spent, she rested her cheek on his chest, accepting the comfort he offered. “I wanted to go home,” she whispered.

  He stroked her hair. “Maybe ye can try to start thinking of Curacridhe as home.”

  “But it isn’t my home. Home is Naomh-dùn with the people I love and who love me.”

  “Ye’re loved at Curacridhe too, ye know. Although ye’ve tried valiantly not to accept it.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What do ye mean?”

  “Angel, ye’re the one who has been holding yerself apart. Everyone here wants to embrace ye.”

  “Only because I saved Davy, not because of who I am. Yer da threw me in the dungeon because of who I am.”

  “Nay, ye’ve got it backwards. Da threw ye in the dungeon because of yer name. Ye saved Davy because of who ye are. There’s a huge difference. We love ye because of who ye are, in spite of yer name. And probably more importantly,
the MacLeods are learning that the MacKays are not the devil’s spawn because of who ye are.”

  Her lips twitched into a half smile. “There is at least one person who believes we’re the devil’s spawn.”

  “Mairi will get over it.”

  “Why are ye so sure?”

  “Because, I am holding a wee angel in my arms who will press her relentlessly until she does.”

  “Ye think I’m going to fix this?” she asked, her tone incredulous.

  He chuckled. “I know ye’re going to. It’s part of who ye are. Ye love Tasgall, ye love Mairi and ye won’t rest until they love each other.”

  She sighed but didn’t argue the point. Who was going to fix the mess she was in?

  “Are ye feeling better now?” he asked.

  Was she? “I still want to go home, but aye, crying about it won’t change anything.”

  “Anna, please don’t do this again.”

  “Cry? I know I can’t make that promise.”

  “That’s not what I mean. Ye were upset and ye shut me out. I don’t ever want to find ye curled up sobbing yer heart out again. I’m going to be yer husband, the least ye can let me do is comfort ye when ye weep and dry yer tears.”

  “If that’s the least I let ye do, this will be a terrible marriage.”

  Andrew laughed. “Well, it’s a place to start.”

  ~ * ~

  When he finally lay down in his bed that night, Andrew was more tired than he ever remembered being after a hard day of training. He hadn’t done anything physically exerting but the stress of the day had taken its toll. The ride to the strait and back with Anna on his lap had been excruciating. Not that he minded Anna on his lap, but sensing her nervous excitement on the way to the meeting caused his heart to ache. He had expected her disappointment to be profound and it certainly was.

  In fairness, it took her less time to accept it than it had him. From the moment his father first mentioned the plan for their betrothal Andrew had not stopped thinking about it. Initially he was every bit as angry as Anna and then Mairi had been. He didn’t like being forced into anything but he truly did not want to be married again. He had loved Joan and losing her hurt so damn much he never wanted to feel that again. Even now, four years later, anything that reminded him of Joan renewed the pain and he avoided it.