It took her a moment to realize that he was still inside her until he started thrusting again. Theodora squeezed her eyes shut, wishing for an escape as she feared what her body had become, a willing slave to Naomhan. Her legs trembled as he thrust into her, stroking her until they came together. Naomhan raised his body off her as he looked down on her. She tried to kiss him but he pulled away from her and she frowned at his tease.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, Theodora Grant,” he said to her and she loved him for it.
“I love you too, Naomhan Grant,” she told him. He lowered his mouth to meet hers before rolling off her onto his side.
“Now, I am famished,” she said, as she lay next to Naomhan, both panting and sweaty.
Naomhan was the first to get off the bed. “I am famished also,” he said as he reached for his shirt.
“Naomhan, we might have to wait a while before we head downstairs,” she said still lying on her back.
“Why is that?” Naomhan asked her.
“I cannot feel my legs,” she said with a smile. Naomhan jumped back into bed with her as a happy man.
There were eyes on the couple as they came down the stairs to join the other customers at the inn. There were smiles and whispers as they walked hand-in-hand to a free table. Theodora shifted her chair so she could sit next to him. She was shy around the crowd of people.
“I think they heard us when we were—” Theodora spoke in hushed tones with Naomhan.
“Yes, I think they did, but it matters not. They cannot come up to us to say anything so it does not matter,” he told her and she believed him.
They ate their meals and Naomhan told her more about Scotland. The more he spoke about his home country, the more excited Theodora was that they were going there together.
“It could be our honeymoon before our wedding,” she suggested and he agreed readily to the idea.
“Innkeeper, we need some form of entertainment. How do you run an inn without music? I am bored and there is a young couple in your inn without music to dance to,” one of the men at the tables yelled. He had been drinking since Naomhan and Theodora had been downstairs.
“My apologies, Francis, I blame my daughters. I keep telling them to learn the piano but they would rather hang around the town boys,” the innkeeper replied.
“He is a tad open about the affairs of his daughters. He even offered to make me his son-in-law when I first came here,” Naomhan whispered to Theodora.
“And what did you tell him?” Theodora asked him in a similar hushed tone.
“What do you think I did?” Naomhan answered rhetorically before straightening up in his seat.
“That is not an answer, Naomhan,” Theodora called him back.
“There is nothing to answer, Theodora. I have you. Why would I want anyone else?” Naomhan asked her, but it seemed that she was mad at his use of rhetorical questions.
Theodora had been present at some of her father’s negotiations and had watched him use these same evasive techniques with his companions. When she asked him why he had lied to them, he would deny it, claiming that the other party had simply assumed the truth which was no fault of his. Though her father was a devious man as was required of his choice of vocation, he never spoke like that at home with his family.
Naomhan had simply meant to play a bit of a jealousy game on Theodora, as he had seen his father do to his mother at times. His mother would flare up but afterwards, they would be as though they were young lovers again. It was to rekindle the flames, his father would tell him.
However, his game had taken the wrong turn with Theodora. She shifted her seat away from him before she raised her hand.
“I can play a piano,” Theodora announced and everyone turned to her eagerly.
“Then have at it, milady,” the innkeeper waved to the piano, throwing her a piece of rag to clean the dusty seat with. Naomhan watched her go to the piano but she did not look back at him. She was still mad at him.
He had had no idea how well she could play as she had only mentioned it once during their conversations at the church. Thinking back, it already seemed like a long time ago.
The crowd seemed to grow larger after Theodora had started playing.
“She is a beauty to behold and she has the hands of an angel,” men commented near Naomhan.
“That is my bride-to-be,” he would tell them with pride.
Theodora played and continued, throwing her hair back in a performance that she lost herself in. Naomhan had never seen her so confident and so full of life but soon realized that she was putting on a show to make him jealous. She smiled at the men who flirted with her and this infuriated Naomhan greatly, despite his knowledge of her plot.
He could not get mad at every man at the inn. His heart leapt the times that she looked his way but she always turned away almost immediately. Francis held his cup of beer as he came to sit next to Theodora. Naomhan’s fist clenched so hard that his hand went numb.
Cheer! Cheer! The heavily drunk Francis raised his cup as Theodora slipped into a livelier tone. The men gathered around her and sang an old English song which Naomhan was not familiar with. Frustrated by his ploy, he decided to head up to their room when he heard Theodora scream in the crowd.
Naomhan ran into the gathering, pushing every man in his path without as much as an apology. Theodora was already on her feet trying to pull her arm out of Francis’ grasping. Francis was quite a big man, bigger than even Naomhan was, and stood out easily in the crowd.
“Let go of her this minute,” Naomhan yelled.
“Make me,” Francis said with a smirk on his face. Naomhan leapt at the man without a regard for himself and the obvious disadvantage. Francis tried to grab at Naomhan but Naomhan was a skilled fighter and much faster than his heavier counterpart. Naomhan had already hit the man thrice in the face.
Francis staggered to his feet and smirked wickedly at Naomhan. He lifted his leg to move towards Naomhan when he fell to the ground like a sack of grain. The crowd was awed.
Naomhan grabbed Theodora’s arm and led her up the stairs with him. She did not resist, knowing the rage that Naomhan felt. She blamed herself for being petty with him and infuriating him but it gladdened her to see him fight for her and win.
“I am sorry,” she told him when they were inside the privacy of their room once more.
“Never do that to me again,” Naomhan warned her but he could not get mad at her, looking at her cowed before him. He was a man in love, whose heart he did not own anymore but had given to another.
Getting back to their room after a hectic night, Naomhan and Theodora made love to one another again before they tired themselves out.
“I love you, Theodora,” he whispered into her ears.
“I love you much more, Naomhan Grant,” she muttered with her eyes closed and embracing sleep.
That night, the lovers slept in each other’s arms, sweaty and tired out. Neither knew they were being chased. Neither knew how close Colt and his men were to finding them.
25
Colt found that a woman riding on horseback around England was much easier to find than a man. Naomhan did not stand out with many but a woman riding around and asking for directions did. They tracked Theodora, asking questions about Naomhan also, since no one saw a man of cloth riding on horseback.
This took them to an inn in a small town. Colt had his men wait outside so as not to make a scene inside. Walking into the inn, eyes fell on him as his jewel-embedded sword and costly outfit gave him away. It was good that he had everyone’s attention. Someone would talk.
He walked up to the innkeeper who threw his towel onto his shoulder and put on his best smile.
“A morning to you, kind sire. I would like a cup of water if you please, some water and forage for the horses, and some wine for my men,” Colt said to the innkeeper, whose eyes beamed with glee at the prosperous turn of his day.
“I will get onto it, fine sire, plea
se have a seat at one of the tables. You are certain that you and your men do not care for a warm meal? We have some fine steak and pork,” the innkeeper asked, pushing his luck.
“We best be on our way soon. We are trying to catch up with a fugitive of the law who has with him a woman, a kidnapped woman,” Colt told the man.
“Oh no, no sire, we have found no woman kidnapped in these parts. Our women are free to do as they please in these parts, much like my daughter. Say, sire—” he leaned in closer to Colt “—are you wedded?”
“Yes, I am seeking out my bride-to-be who has been taken by a man,” Colt said, but the innkeeper did not seem to have an idea.
“No woman has come around here in a while now, sire,” he told Colt.
“Oh, there has been a lady in here quite all right,” a man spoke behind Colt. Colt turned around to see the big man with a broken nose.
“How can I be certain that you are not lying? The innkeeper would not lie. You, however, do not look much like a man I can trust,” Colt said. Francis got off his seat and walked over to Colt, looming over the shorter man. Colt was not cowed by the bigger man.
“What happened to your face?”
“I am guessing it was the man that kidnapped your wife. Pretty young woman with eyes as blue as the sky itself, plays the piano like an angel,” Francis said, and smiled when he saw Colt’s eyes widen with recognition.
“Which way did he take her?” Colt asked him.
“I am not certain that I saw her here at the inn. Perhaps I had too much to drink and wished this woman,” Francis said, before turning his back to Colt.
“I apologize for my words earlier if they hurt you. What do you want, money, land, a title?” Colt asked Francis.
“No.” Francis turned around to face Colt once again. “I only want to be there when you catch this man.”
Colt smiled in relief. He had been shaky about offering bits of wealth or even land as he had promised him. Getting a man with an axe to grind was even better. He led Francis outside to introduce him to his fellow riders.
“Here, here, men, we have a new man who wants to join our crusade,” Colt told his men.
Seeing Francis’ physique and rugged outlook, they welcomed him readily. He pulled his horse to join theirs. He pointed them in the direction he had seen Naomhan and Theodora ride out that morning.
Naomhan and Theodora rode quickly that morning till noon. He found it fun riding with Theodora along the countryside. Her love for riding amazed him. He had never met a woman who could handle the reins of a horse as easily as a man could.
For hours, they rode fast, racing one another as they came away farther and farther from Embleton and towards Scotland.
Theodora enjoyed his company, the clear skies, and the freedom of the wind. She enjoyed riding but never this long or with a partner who she could not take her hands off. It felt as though she would not mind living on the road with him. It came so easily with Naomhan. They would stop along new towns, get meals, talk and have sex if they could find an inn.
They both found it quite hard to keep their hands off one another. Naomhan tried to be the one who kept the both of them sane and on task, while Theodora did her due by resisting his advances and trying not to seduce him.
Naomhan knew Theodora to be his weakness. While this made him happy, it worried him still. Riding with her in the old English countryside was pleasant, but he knew it would be different if they went into Scotland together. It would be dangerous. She would not be able to ride with him in the open or leave her cloak free as she rode. They would have to hide from people and the children, which Theodora had a habit of befriending.
The few times that Naomhan had dared to ask her to wait, she had shut him up with a kiss or a tantrum. She was not going to let him go alone into Scotland.
“What are you thinking about?” she would ask him when she found him distracted.
“Home,” he would tell her, without speaking further.
“It makes me happy that we are facing this together,” she would then tell him, and he would smile at her because he could not bring himself to make her sad. There was something about it that twisted his guts. He would do almost anything to ensure that her face was always bright. Such was the responsibility he felt for her.
They rode together until Theodora needed a rest. It had been evident all day, even though she had lied many times about her fatigue for his sake. They decided to stop at an inn in the closest town for the night. They did not make love that night, as Theodora was down with a slight fever. He tended to her all night while she slept.
“You should get some sleep,” she would tell him whenever she opened her eyes through the night. She would only go back to rest when he promised her that he would get some rest also. He did not bat an eyelid till daylight broke. With the morning came the end to her fever.
Naomhan could feel something amiss when they left their room that morning and had a breakfast at the inn. It was usual to find a mighty number of men at an inn but he did not particularly like the aura of the men at the inn that morning. He caught them glancing at their table more than once. Soon, Theodora caught onto this and told Naomhan that they should leave. Naomhan agreed readily.
They set out on their horses and had rode till noon when they once again were riding through the woods and away from the English populace. Theodora was the first to hear the riders coming up behind them. Naomhan tried to put her mind at ease, even though he felt threatened by their quick approach. They were men from the inn, he noticed.
“Let us wait so they can pass and be on their way,” Naomhan suggested, as she tried to move out of the pathway. He kept his face down to hide from the men as he waited, hoping they would simply pass.
“Naomhan,” Theodora suddenly shouted, gripping his arm. Naomhan raised his head and followed her hand, which was pointed at the riders. He quickly recognized the biggest man amongst the riders.
“Let us go,” Naomhan told Theodora as he kicked at his horse. She followed suit and they rode away as fast as they could, hoping to reach the next town. He tried to keep a calm demeanor because he did not want to scare Theodora who rode beside him, more than she already was. He nodded for her to ride ahead of him, which she did obediently.
Naomhan knew there might be a fight. His eyes counted three men behind Francis. With his sword, he could have a chance against them. He just needed to get Theodora out of there. Knowing her, he knew she would want to get into the fight also.
Four men, Naomhan did the math in his head, considering his odds. He saw a cottage far ahead of them. If they could get to the town, perhaps the ruffians riding after them would back off or at the very least, they would find help.
Theodora pulled the reins of her horse hard, bringing her steed to a sudden halt before Naomhan could see three other riders come out of the woods and cut off the path ahead of them.
“Naomhan, you traitor,” Colt shouted, as he turned his steed to face them.
Naomhan’s eyes widened in horror as he watched them get boxed in. There was no way out of the situation except to beg or to fight. Naomhan’s palms hurt as his nails dug deep into his palm, clenching his fist. He had never backed away from a fight. No matter the odds, Naomhan had always jumped head first into brawls, trusting in his strength and skill. With Theodora there and also in danger, he found himself at a crossroad. Did he want to beg and grovel with Theodora there, watching him? Or was he going to throw himself in a losing fight, knowing that she might get hurt in the end?
“What do we do, Naomhan?” Theodora asked him, turning her horse in all directions in a bid to spot an escape route.
“Colt, I know you are angry,” Naomhan shouted to Colt. Colt laughed at Naomhan’s words.
“Why do you think I would want to listen to you?” Colt asked him. “You are a liar. You betrayed my trust and took with you my bride.”
Colt turned to Theodora. “You are safe now.”
“I left of my own free will,” Theodora answer
ed him. She looked to Naomhan to support her but his eyes were transfixed on Colt.
“I only ask one thing, Colt, that you let Theodora go. This is my fault.” Theodora wanted to speak but Naomhan raised his hand to stop her. “Let us settle this like men. We duel, you and I. You have me surrounded. There is no point trying to escape this. If I win, you let Theodora go unharmed. That is all I ask,” Naomhan asked, hoping that Colt would agree.
“That is a noble offer but I cannot accept because I am not the only one that you have wronged here. There is a man amongst us whose nose you broke and the other men, well, they do not fancy having a Scot come into England to steal our women,” Colt said.
Under a Highlander's Spell: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 17