Bound to the Highlander (The Highland Chiefs Series)

by Robbins, Kate

  It was a final reminder of who she was. A double string of freshwater pearls was fastened at the front by a polished oval, amber pendant, set in gold. The piece had been in her family for many years, yet she’d never had the opportunity to see anyone wear it. Now it was hers.

  She squared her shoulders and opened the door to find Andrews pacing. He did not smile, but offered his elbow to her. She curled her fingers around his arm and looked straight ahead, away from his apologetic gaze.

  “Lady Aileana, please let me say—”

  Her back straightened. “No, Andrews. You know what I want to hear from you and until you’re ready to disclose everything, I’ll only hear estate business. Right now, I have a duty to perform.”

  “Yes, m’lady,” Andrews bowed his head low.

  They walked down the back stairs and around the side courtyard to the family entrance of the chapel where Father Addison waited.

  “Ah, there you are my child. You are quite the lady of the castle today. Your elegance is unmatched m’dear.”

  She was in no mood for his smooth words. “Do not pretend with me, Father. We both know I am playing into a lie here today. Must we give voice to it as well? Sinners we are, the lot of us.” She almost found his shocked expression amusing. Almost.

  “M’lady!”

  She raised her chin. “Does it not say in Matthew, ‘…you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. The words you say reflect your fate; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.” Let him stew on that one.

  “M’lady, I assure you, we commit no sin here today.” Father Addison’s voice was low.

  “You expect me to stand before God and vow to honour this arrangement, knowing I do not believe in it. How is that not a sin?” She placed her fists on her hips. “And if we meet our end in the next moment? Are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions?”

  “Lady Aileana, my soul is secure, as is yours. You have no cause for concern in that regard or any other that I’m aware of. Now, we should get started. We may begin posthaste if you wish.”

  “Is his Lordship here already?” That couldn’t be. ’Twas quite unlike a man of his elevation in the world. Her pulse picked up a notch.

  Father Addison drew in a breath and smiled. “Why yes, he’s been here for quite some time.”

  Gwen and Aileana exchanged a brief, but meaningful look. Her anxiousness was not about one man. That was all she needed to remember.

  “Azalea, amaryllis, aster…”

  Gwen’s words spoken low in Aileana’s ear served to calm her a little as she entered the small chapel. Several voices were audible from out in the sanctuary, but the rich timbre of James MacIntosh was unmistakable. The skin at her nape tingled.

  The moment they entered, all eyes fell on her. Hers locked with his. She followed Father Addison to the chancel and turned to wait for James while the guests located their seats. A younger looking and grinning version of James jabbed him in the ribs prompting him to move up to where Aileana waited. The brother. Gwen gasped somewhere behind her.

  The sight of James threatened to knock her on her behind again. He wore a red velvet brocade tunic with draped sleeves. His black hose was barely visible between the skirted garment and knee length leather boots. The crest on his chest was quartered with lion, ship, heart, and boar. His hair was tied and bound with leather straps which served to accent the strong lines of his face. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him even for a second. Her insides seemed to scatter in all directions at once.

  He sauntered toward her like a predator stalking its prey. With every step her heart pounded faster as he focused all his attention on her. His stare seemed to hold such purpose that she wanted to shield herself from its scrutiny. He did not look pleased at all. That questioning, almost angry, expression was difficult to understand; still, her heart drummed.

  Father Addison said something about commitment and honour. Aileana concentrated hard on the priest’s words to little avail.

  She placed her left hand on the bound scriptures as prompted. James covered it with his and squeezed. The resulting jolt from the strength and heat of his hand set her pulse racing. His gaze burned into her. Hellfire was not as hot as that man’s stare.

  Father Addison prompted her to repeat his words. They flowed from her with little comprehension as James’s gaze traced the complete outline of her face and settle on her mouth. His eyes glowed like the day he had almost kissed her on the road. She leaned forward as though an invisible rope tugged her toward him. Gwen had asked her earlier if she was in danger. Perhaps she was after all.

  In the next moment, the ceremony was over and she was walking down the aisle with James to form a receiving line for their guests. Her hand tingled where he had touched it, a lingering heat warming her. As they stood at the entrance -way, waiting for the first guests to reach them, he leaned in close. His warm breath excited the sensitive skin just below her ear, his voice rich and low.

  “You are lovely, Lady Aileana.”

  He gave her a deep penetrating look before accepting the good wishes bestowed upon them. Her lower belly coiled. She couldn’t think when he looked at her like that.

  She smiled with grace, but inside she trembled. Her senses were filled with his rich unbearable masculinity. His scent, still leather though he wore less of it today, drew her towards him to inhale more. While her mind told her to keep him at a distance, her body wanted him to devour her much like his eyes did. She was all a-flutter from only standing next to him. She tried to envision him like any other man she knew, but each time he said ‘Thank you,’ or ‘We’re glad you are here,’ she was drawn closer. She tried to remain unaffected because if she didn’t check herself, she could become swept up in his charms, like every other woman in the room. The ladies approached him like puffed up hens, making their way to the coop’s most appealing cock. Well she wasn’t anyone’s silly hen.

  Her cheeks warmed and her ears were hot all of a sudden. She would not act like them. She wouldn’t need to. Maybe their marriage would be in name only with limited interaction between them.

  Of course!

  It made so much sense she almost laughed out loud. They needn’t live together. Each could remain at their own home and perform duties as necessary. It was a marriage of convenience, that’s all. This must have been what her uncle had intended all along.

  The freedom such an arrangement provided made her smile. Over the past few days, control over her life slipped away like a selkie into the deep waters of the sea and she mourning on the shore. That was before. Now she was filled with renewed strength and purpose. She would not mourn her freedom, she’d still have it. Aileana smiled somewhat to herself. Anyone paying close attention would have thought her the blushing bride-to-be.

  Still, the crowd that followed them from the chapel to the castle was far too pleased for her liking. Their cheers coupled with the piper’s lively and playful march might have been infectious at another time. Tears stung her eyes. They acted on tradition, yet a celebration did not seem fitting, and there were three days of this unnatural gaiety to endure yet.

  And still no Gawain. She’d seen neither hide nor hair of him since his awful discovery. She’d worked hard to push him from her thoughts over the past days, focusing on anything else to avoid her shame.

  Her silent partner walking next to her didn’t help. She should say something to him—but what? ‘Have you supported any black-hearted monarchs lately, my lord?’ Or maybe, ‘Help a rotten king destroy anyone’s family yet today Lord MacIntosh?’ Gwen would tell her she was better than that and under normal circumstances she would agree. These events didn’t bring out the best in her, that much was certain.

  In the dining hall, James sat at the head of the table which made matters worse. How could she continue this pretence? Her irritation spiked again.

  “The meal looks delicious, Lady Aileana.”

  Her head snapped up. The MacIntosh was staring a
t her. Agony was suffering through this situation in silence—torture was a forced idle conversation with him.

  “You make your uncle proud with the lusciousness of this spread: smoked salmon, kippers, devilled eggs, and wild pheasant. Did you know these are all my favourites?”

  “My uncle—”

  “Would have been honoured by your compliment, m’lord,” Father Addison said.

  Later she might thank the priest for his interference, but he was on thinner ice than ever. She pushed her food around on her plate and kept her gaze downcast.

  “Iain Chattan was an honourable man and a gracious host,” someone further down the table said.

  If they started toasting her uncle, she would explode.

  “He loved to hold feasts like this one.”

  She needed saving from this madness.

  “His favourite part was always dessert!”

  Did they wish to break her?

  “Lady Aileana, you must have many wonderful stories of your uncle to share.”

  Oh God.

  She couldn’t take one more comment and pushed her chair back, rising to her feet. Sheena Fraser entered the dining room at the same time; she had a saviour, after all.

  “Lady Aileana, how wonderful it is to see you my dear.” Aileana rushed toward the woman, her warm embrace a much needed crutch. She wiped away the few tears that had managed to escape from her eyes.

  “Shhhhh, love.” Sheena could read her so well. “We must be brave.” The words were just the right ones to help her put her emotions in check and she returned to her seat. Aileana motioned for Father Addison to move to make room for Sheena. Aileana didn’t care who she’d need to displace to have her aunt by marriage sit next to her.

  “Aunt Sheena, I expect you remember Father Addison?” Introductions would provide a nice distraction from the causes of her discomfort—the discussion around the table and the man at the head of it. “And I believe you’re acquainted with most of the other people around the table since you would have known them long before me.”

  “Long before indeed, child, but not that long.” The jest was an expected retort from her favourite remaining relative.

  “And finally, Aunt, I’d like to introduce you to Laird MacIntosh and his brother Calum. My lords, this is Lady Sheena Fraser. Her husband was my uncle’s brother.”

  “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Fraser. Am I to understand you are from this region? Not the Fraser estate on the other side of the loch?”

  Sheena smiled. “Yes my lord. My husband was William Fraser. Were you acquainted with him?” Uncle William had died two years ago and Aileana never heard much about the particulars at the time, though there was something she could never quite reconcile about it all. The few bits and pieces she’d gleaned suggested William had been murdered, but there was never anything done about it despite pleas for assistance to King James. After all, it was his new law which prevented their clan from seeking justice from Baron MacIntosh, James’s father. Sheena still wore mourning clothes and refused to talk of the ordeal except to repeat Uncle’s famous line about seeking meaning.

  “He was acquainted with my father who spoke well of him. I am sorry for your loss,” James offered.

  “I thank you my lord. Your father was an excellent man whom I recall meeting on occasion with your mother, a lovely woman. Please accept my respects for them both. Their deaths were a great shock.”

  “You honour me Lady Fraser. Your husband, died under mysterious circumstances if I recall.”

  Aileana stiffened as did Sheena beside her. Did the man have any decency? She glanced at James, his expression was curious. Was he daft? Would he not realize a conversation in that direction would upset her?

  “Yes my lord, he did.” Sheena’s tone was cool.

  She had to stop this before it got out of hand.

  “Were you ever satisfied with the king’s investigation?”

  Aileana stood, placing her hands flat on the table. “Laird MacIntosh, I do not believe this is the time or the occasion to dredge up such unpleasant events from the past,” Aileana said.

  Although keeping an even tone was difficult, she ensured the full impact of her words was not overshadowed by emotion. She was crossing a line of appropriate behaviour, but she didn’t care. His eyebrows shot up and his jaw slacked.

  “Not all of us have the ability to treat our losses in such a casual manner,” she said. “Your king—”

  “Aileana,” Sheena said, her tone full of warning.

  “—may or may not have actually conducted—”

  Sheena was on her feet, but swaying with the back of her hand pressed against her forehead. “My lords, please forgive me. The excitement of the day has toyed with my delicate sensitivities. I must retire for a short respite, but I shall rejoin you for an afternoon tour of the grounds, if you will permit me. Lady Aileana, will you please accompany me?”

  James arose. “Lady Fraser, please forgive me if I have upset you.”

  Aileana glared at him. His jaw clenched as his gaze darted between she and her aunt. Yes, it was a good thing she wouldn’t have to spend much time with this man and his boar-like manners.

  “You have not upset me, my lord. Rest assured, you will know if you do.” It may have sounded like teasing to anyone else, but Sheena was dead serious. The escape Aileana sought earlier was at hand. She ushered Sheena out of the dining hall issuing apologies along the way. One thing was certain - she and the MacIntosh were not off to a good start.

  Chapter Six

  “Surely, brother, you realize, the lass was irritated with you.”

  Calum had been tight to James’s heels as soon as the meal had ended. James headed toward the solar seeking a moment to clear his head and Calum wasn’t going to let him have it.

  “With me? I do not see that at all. She was concerned for her Aunt’s welfare.”

  Turning from him wasn’t working so James faced Calum.

  “Aye, you continue to think that if it gives you comfort, however, I am not blinded by vanity or my throbbing loins. You caused the aunt’s discomfort, James. You commit to this arrangement with Lady Aileana and then offend her family? I don’t understand your actions.”

  James tensed. “Enough! The aunt was tired from her travels and you know nothing of my reasons for seeing this arrangement through.”

  “You’re right, I don’t understand. You are all contradiction, Brother. You say this is temporary, yet you sit in a dead man’s dining hall as if it were your own. You regard his heir as though she were dessert. I caution you, for your looks betray your words whenever she is within your line of sight.” The corner of Calum’s mouth twitched.

  “She is nothing to me, nor are Chattan’s belongings. I resent your implication that I do this for selfish purposes. What would you have had me do? Refuse the agreement and dishonour us both?”

  Calum shook his head. “I would have you see this through to the end. It’s the right thing to do and you know it.”

  Calum crossed his arms and smirked. Damn him. Would he never cease his meddling? “I know nothing of the sort. I was a fool to agree to any of this.”

  “A fool indeed to protect a clan who will not survive without the strength of a larger one. Would you rather have them take up with the Camerons?”

  “The Chattans are my neighbours and as such will always have my protection. How dare you imply I would not come to their aid!”

  “Coming to their aid is one thing, but what you are doing is leaving them vulnerable to all manner of prey. You may as well tie the lass to a tree naked and yell, ‘here she is! Come and get her!’”

  James clenched his fists. Calum had gone too far with his wistful imaginings of his reaction to the lass and his purpose. “You cross a dangerous line,” he said. “Consider yourself lucky I don’t insult so easily. Leave me.”

  Calum’s face dropped. “I’ll leave, but you must consider one thing. If you will not marry Aileana, make sure you find her someone who
is strong enough to care for her.”

  Calum turned and stalked away. James was unsure if his words or hurt expression weighed heavier in his wake. The day had not turned out at all like he’d imagined. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Calum was right about his reaction to the lass. He didn’t think it was possible for her loveliness to grow. Yet, in the chapel, all he could think about was unbraiding her hair and having it fall all around them as he buried himself within her.

  She was not easy to draw out so he couldn’t tell if she felt anything of the same sort for him. A grim expression settled over her face from the moment she entered the chapel to the time she left the dining hall with the aunt. He wanted to kiss it away. There was no doubt he would have to get control over the fire she ignited in him when she was near. No good could come of it.

  As for protecting the clan, he had no intention of letting them fall under any fealty but his. He wouldn’t speak of it yet to Calum because he wasn’t quite sure how it would work. One thing was certain: he would have to make Aileana his ward. A new marriage contract would not need to include the clan and for that matter, he could pluck a young man of worth and means from the region. There was a particular thane who would benefit from the match. Even Calum might be persuaded to consider her. His arguments of late contained some manner of her welfare, yet he insisted James marry her. Everything his brother suggested could be satisfied in one form or another and didn't need to involve his future. He’d received an invitation from Queen Joan to visit Linlithgow Palace in a fortnight. Between now and then he would determine his intentions and present them to King James. This madness would all end.

  He paced. The most worrisome aspect of this situation, though, was the cousin. Why had the man not shown up for the ceremony? He was the constable after all and therefore should have ensured the event’s security. Could he have been the reason for the lass’s demeanour? She’d been crying the day he saw the cousin leave. Were they lovers? Was that the affliction Father Addison had referred to on the day after Chattan’s death?

  He raked his fingers through his hair. None of it mattered anyway. He wouldn’t be around long enough to watch her mourn a lost love. He stopped pacing and gazed out across the gardens. The object of his torment had just entered the rear courtyard from a side door and was making her way toward the garden. She looked back over her shoulder several times.