* * *
“Bless the wee laddie, he wants his mammy,” and going over to the cradle, she picked up the bairn holding him close to her breast.
* * *
“I should go now, Rhona. I have long outstayed my welcome.”
* * *
“Do not go, Stewart. Not yet at least,” she smiled as she lay the infant down again, “there is no one else to converse with this nigh, Cairstine is tending to poor Alistair, and I have naw wish tae be alone. Come sit again with me.”
* * *
Stewart smiled sitting once again by the fire, their silence an unspoken vow of the bond which had grown between them as the weeks and months had gone by.
* * *
It felt quite natural for him to place his arm around her as they talked of times past and times to come. Rhona shared her anxiety over her coming fate, and he, in turn, told her of his hatred for his brother’s actions. Rhona felt safe with Stewart, his genuine kindness and care for her the very antithesis of his brother. The candles burned low, and the fire turned to embers, the effects of the wine relaxing them both.
* * *
“I am glad ye are here, Stewart,” Rhona sighed gently, “when first I laid eyes upon ye I hated ye, ye and all your clan folk, but now I see ye are different. Whatever happens, I am grateful tae ye for your kindness.”
* * *
“It is not kindness lassie. Ye should not need tae be protected from anything. Murdoch does ye such a wicked disservice as tae be answerable before God and God alone. It shames me tae be of his blood and even more so tae be his brother. Ye do not deserve this wicked fate that has befallen ye, and I wish only tae try and protect ye from it.”
* * *
His arm felt natural around her, and it felt natural too to lay her head upon his chest, causing Stewart to draw breath and shift a little in the chair. Turning his head, he kissed her upon her forehead, and she looked up at him, smiling.
* * *
“Ye are a sweet and noble man, Stewart Mackintosh.” Their eyes met, and so did their lips, a kiss which neither had expected but which gave rise to feelings of such tenderness that their kiss continued, Stewart holding Rhona in his embrace, his hands strong and reassuring about her as she became lost in a moment of happiness.
* * *
Taking her by the hand, they stood before the glowing coals and kissed again, more passionately than before. His hands circled around her waist as she held him in her embrace, giving a small cry of pleasure, his hands now across her as her dress fell to the floor.
* * *
To make love to Stewart was not what she had expected, yet somehow it felt right. A rush of happiness allowed Rhona to forget all the troubles that bound her. Stewart was nothing like his brother, handsome and with a beautiful soul, and in Rhona, Stewart saw incomparable beauty, the moment of ecstasy and pleasure unmatched.
* * *
The two lay upon the bed, their arms around each other exchanging tender kisses. Stewart stroked Rhona’s hair and ran his hand across her body. Her skin was as smooth as silk, her hair soft to the touch, and as he kissed her again, he told her once again how much he loved her.
* * *
Few words were needed as each had shown their feelings not by words but by action. As Stewart dressed, he smiled down upon Rhona as she lay beneath the covers of the bed.
* * *
“I must take my leave now, I daren’t let Murdoch find me here. Goodnight dear Rhona.” He paused for a moment in the doorway, “Ye do not regret this, do ye?”
* * *
She smiled at him and gently shook her head. They had crossed a line and entered a territory neither was sure of. There had been such beauty in their lovemaking, but the reality was much harder to bear.
* * *
“I will protect ye, Rhona, that I promise, I will not allow Murdoch tae defile ye in this way.”
* * *
Over the months Stewart had always kept his distance, kind to the girl yet never close: wary always of his brother’s presence. Their embrace had felt right, and Rhona had allowed him to make love to her. Stewart reminded her of Iain, yet he was different. She felt reassured that whatever happened, Stewart would never leave her.
* * *
As she lay upon her bed, Rhona wondered if she had done the right thing. Murdoch would surely kill Stewart if he knew what had happened, and what of Iain? A feeling of guilt welled up inside her: she could not just abandon his memory. But Stewart was kind and gentle, protective and noble: perhaps that is what he meant to her? He was not the enemy, he was a friend, more than that, a friend she had grown to love, assured of his protection.
* * *
Stewart Mackintosh was also torn; torn between loyalty for his brother and the deep love he now felt for Rhona. But had he shamed himself that night? Only time would tell. In the whirl of his thoughts, Stewart pictured the two of them riding off into the glen under cover of darkness that night. Hiding in the forests and making for a safe place where they might be together.
* * *
Stewart passed an uncomfortable night. He had looked into the Great Hall on his return from Rhona’s chambers. His brother was still slumped over the table beneath the heraldry of the Camerons, drunk on Iain Cameron’s liquor. He looked a pitiful sight, and Stewart felt a deep sense of shame at seeing his brother behave in such a manner.
* * *
Yet he felt disturbed inside: had he taken advantage of Rhona’s vulnerability? He knew his feelings for her to be sincere, but Stewart was a man of honor, as far removed from his brother as it was possible to be. If he had wronged Rhona by making love to her, then the guilt would live with him forever.
* * *
As dawn broke over the castle, Stewart made his way through the corridors, pausing outside Rhona’s chambers. He could hear her singing to the bairn in its cradle, a ditty about the Cameron’s, the tune soft and sweet. He could have listened to her voice for an eternity: so gentle and full of love. He knocked lightly upon the door, not wishing to startle her or the child.
* * *
Rhona was surprised to see him at such an early hour, not even Cairstine had been to her chamber yet and usually the first to arrive to tend the bairn. But Stewart’s presence was not unwelcome, and Rhona smiled, inviting him in.
* * *
“Rhona, I wished tae say …” Stewart began, blushing before Rhona who looked so beautiful in the morning light.
* * *
“Naw, it is I who wished tae say something tae ye,” Rhona stopped Stewart in his tracks and stepped closer, taking hold of his hand. “Ye have been a kind and loyal man, Stewart Mackintosh, a kindness that only one who has come tae love me could show. Dinna worry about a thing, our tender time together this past night is a memory which will help me through the ordeal I am forced tae face, and for that I thank ye.”
* * *
Stewart looked into Rhona’s eyes and smiled the shyness and timidity of the past months long gone. He kissed her once again on the cheek and blushed, holding her hand to his chest.
* * *
“I dinna know how my actions might have seemed to ye, Rhona, I meant nothing by them except tae …”
* * *
“Tae show the feelings ye have. I know Stewart, and they are feelings I can feel tae. I loved Iain with all my heart these long years past, and that love has never ceased and will never cease. Maybe now fate has other plans, but I fear for ye if Murdoch ever discovers that we are more than just a lassie and her guard.”
* * *
“He will not find out, and besides, by the time he does ye and I shall be long gone into the glen, of that, I can assure ye.”
* * *
“Long gone?” she looked at him with a puzzled expression.
* * *
“Aye lassie, ye and I will escape from this place and go far away, far from where Murdoch and his men can find us. That is if ye are willing?”
* * *
Rhona was astonished at his words. I
t was one thing to share the tenderness of a kiss and to delight in one another’s company, but to be promised a means of escape from this terrible situation. Her heart was beating in her chest, and Rhona laughed out loud as Stewart held her to him.
* * *
“Ye would be giving up your name and your inheritance; ye would be betraying your brother and making a fool of him.”
* * *
“He has made a fool of himself, Rhona, and I will not allow that fool to do what he plans, it is tae treacherous tae contemplate. But that is not the only reason I wish tae escape from here, I want tae rescue ye because I love ye. I have come tae love ye so deeply these past months. I know I can never be Iain Cameron, but I will do my best to protect ye and the bairn who bears his name.”
* * *
“Stewart, ye have shown yourself a good and noble man,” Rhona embraced him once again, tears of joy running down her face at the prospect of escaping from her nightmare, “but how shall it be accomplished, we cannot just walk away unchallenged from the castle whenever we take a fancy tae. Murdoch would kill us both if we tried.”
* * *
“Do not fear, lassie, I know a way, but it will take bravery on both our parts. Let us wait for the day of the wedding when the castle will be unguarded, and then we shall make our move.”
Chapter Eight
Plans Afoot
It was the eve of the wedding, and Rhona sat beside the hearth in the Great Hall with Cairstine at her side, cradling wee Andrew in her arms. It was a cold night, for autumn had now arrived in the glen, but the fire had been well stoked. Cairstine’s husband Alistair was now sitting up, his injuries healing well. If it had not been for the unhappy event hanging over them, the scene might have seemed happy, the three sat talking by the fire as around them the preparations for the nuptials were in full flow.
* * *
Though Murdoch had wished it to be a quiet affair the arrival of his fellow clansmen had necessitated preparations for a feast. Great haunches of venison had been prepared for roasting, and Iain Cameron’s cellars had been raided, the Cameron liquor brought forth and barrels set ready to be tapped. Foliage had been brought in to decorate the Great Hall, and there was a sense of expectation about the place, the three unhappy souls sat before the fire knowing all too well what was to transpire.
* * *
“Ye know that ye shall always have us with ye Rhona,” Cairstine sounded gloomy as Rhona held the bairn tightly to her and stared into the fire.
* * *
“Aye, I do,” Rhona smiled weakly, “and that is the greatest of consolation. Tomorrow will not be easy for any of us.”
* * *
“It is ye that must endure it though,” Alistair said, “we would gladly go tae our deaths for ye.”
* * *
“Nothing would be gained by that and ye have already fought bravely, Alistair. There is only one hope for us, and that is I marrying Murdoch Mackintosh.”
* * *
The three sat quietly, a heavy moroseness hanging over them. It was the arrival of Stewart that broke the silence once again. He had been with his brother who had sent him to check upon Rhona, ensuring she was prepared for the wedding. Sitting next to her, he stroked the baby’s forehead, the bairn fast asleep in its mother’s arms.
* * *
“I will not ask ye how ye are, Rhona,” he said gently.
* * *
“Iain would understand,” she whispered gently
* * *
“Aye, but he should not have tae understand. My brother is doing something wicked and unforgivable. He asked that I walk with ye tae your chamber. It seems ye are almost asleep.”
* * *
“Aye, I would like that.” Rhona allowed him to help her up and she bid goodnight to Cairstine and Alistair as Stewart led her from the Great Hall.
* * *
The corridors of the castle were dark, lit only by flickering torches now burning low for the hour was late. Their footsteps echoed as they climbed the spiral stairs towards Rhona’s chamber, Stewart leading the way.
* * *
“Ye do not have tae go through with this, Rhona, we could escape, find a way of getting ye away, the bairn tae, somewhere that we could be safe?”
* * *
“Do ye really mean that?” Rhona was surprised at the force of his words.
* * *
They were outside her chamber now, the bairn stirring from his sleep, Rhona holding him close to her.
* * *
“I cannot bear to see ye unhappy Rhona it is a fate ye do not have tae endure, I know how we can escape this place, just ye and I and the bairn.”
* * *
“Murdoch would kill ye if we were tae escape, he would stop at nothing tae hunt us down. I cannot allow ye tae risk all for me. Ye would disown your family, disowning everything ye have ever stood for.”
* * *
“It matters not, I love ye Rhona and care not for the ways of a clan whose head would treat a lassie in such a way. I have made my decision. Let us leave and go away, we will go to the crofters in the north, I have everything prepared.”
* * *
Rhona looked at him steadily, the strong, kind man before her.
* * *
“If ye will do this for us Stewart then ye are a noble man indeed.” The two kissed, Stewart holding her tightly, his strong, reassuring arms reminding her of the night they had shared together and the tenderness with which he had made love to her.
* * *
The sound of the castle guard in the corridor caused Stewart to back away and quickly bid her goodnight, assuring that all would be well. As the guards rounded the corner, they saw only Rhona and the bairn by the door to her chambers, Stewart disappearing into the shadows.
* * *
Rhona could not contain her excitement and fear at the prospect of escape, yet still, her heart hung heavy as she bedded down that night. Could Stewart really rescue her and the baby or would they be caught in the act of treachery? Only time would tell.
The prisoners and occupants of the Cameron castle passed a restless night. In his chambers, Murdoch Mackintosh paced up and down as the fire burned low in the hearth. Outside the wind was howling as the first storms of autumn blew up across the mountains, depositing snow upon the peaks and causing rain to fall in the glen. Murdoch was brooding.
* * *
It had all seemed simple enough at first, the lassie in the castle, a widow and no doubt desperate to save herself. Murdoch had assumed that she would be easily won over. He had little knowledge of the fairer sex, his past affairs the result of power rather than genuine affection. Rhona had been far more resistant than he had imagined. Could he really live his life with a woman who had no interest in him at all and seemed to loathe him? It seemed the fairer sex could not be bought or coerced, at least not the Cameron woman.
* * *
As the candles burned low in his chamber, a knock came at the door. It was Stewart.
* * *
“Greetings, brother, did ye not hear the commotion down below in the courtyard?”
* * *
“No,” Murdoch replied, “I was in my thoughts, what is this that ye speak of?”
* * *
“A message from home just arrived some moments ago. Our father is gravely ill and bids us come to him immediately.”
* * *
“Ill? He is always ill. These past years he has suffered greatly, why bother us now with such news and on the eve of my wedding?”
* * *
“They say the end is close and the priest has been called. The messenger has ridden at speed these three days past and begs your reply immediately. With so many of our clan’s folk here, he says that father requires ye.”
* * *
“So be it,” Murdoch said, “inform the messenger that I will depart after the feast has taken place.”
* * *
“Should ye not go immediately, the wedding could be …”
* * *
“The wedding will not be postponed any longer if that is what ye are suggesting, and if our father is to die, then he shall do so whether I am present at his bedside or not, do I make myself clear, Stewart?”
* * *
Stealing the Highland Bride Page 8