“Arabella?” He grinned when she ducked her head to hide her embarrassment.
“Aye, Calum?” she whispered, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Will you join me for a ride on the morrow? There’s a place I wish to show you.”
A shy smile formed on her lips. She plucked at an imaginary thread on her gown. “I would be happy to.”
’Tis truth it’d taken him most of the day to come up with the notion. Time alone with Arabella was what he needed. Away from his prying family.
As if conjured from his thoughts, Mairi and Liam appeared at their sides with matching grins painted on their faces. Calum sighed in annoyance and glanced heavenward.
“Oh ho, a ride, you say?” Liam asked with interest.
“What a lovely idea, Calum.” Mairi clapped her hands together.
“I’m sure Mairi and I would be glad to accompany you.” Liam sidled closer to Arabella and Calum fought the urge to pummel the man.
“Oh, but we cannot, Liam. You’re to help me with a chore.” Mairi smiled prettily. “Surely you remember?”
“Nay,” Liam replied blankly. “What chore?”
Mairi, bless her, aimed a hard stare at their cousin. “I cannot believe you’ve forgotten. You promised me a sennight ago. How could you—”
“All right. All right.” Liam held up his hands in surrender, unwilling to allow her to harp on.
Exasperated with the conversation, Calum extended his hand to Arabella, willing her to accept. “The hour grows late. Let me escort you to the keep.”
Without a second thought, she placed her delicate hand in his and he pulled her close to his side. Uncaring of his intrusive kin, he simply took a moment to gaze at her comely, upturned face. Each time she graced him with her bright smile, an odd tightness roiled in his stomach.
All of a sudden, thundered shouts stretched across the fields and he swung his gaze to the source. Her face a spotty mess, Elena stomped toward them with Fraser following close on her heels. The scowl he wore was as dark as a thundercloud in a raging storm. His long strides ate up the ground between them.
“Stop, you stubborn wench,” he bellowed.
Elena whirled to face Fraser and pushed him with more strength than Calum imagined for a woman of her age, nearly sending Fraser sprawling to the ground.
“Stay away from me!”
Calum winced at the raw anguish in her raised voice. She spun away and ran for the front stairs, disappearing behind the safety of the keep’s wooden doors and stone walls.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement. He swiveled in time to witness Liam prowl ahead toward Fraser. The face of a warrior ready to do battle replaced his usual, carefree grin.
His glare fierce, he paused steps from Fraser. “What the devil did you do to my mother?”
Fraser looked Liam over. “’Tis none of your damned concern, boy.”
“Anything to do with my mother concerns me.” Liam took a measured step forward, his stance threatening. “I’ll only warn you once. Stay away from her, old man.”
Surprised by the harshness in Liam’s tone, Calum held his body rigid, prepared to intercede should the two come to blows. Instead, his cousin and Fraser simply locked stares, their gazes challenging one another to make the first move. The first to relent, Fraser spat out a harsh curse, spun away from Liam, and stomped in the direction of the stables.
Calum nudged Arabella toward his sister. “You and Mairi, go. See to Elena.”
Dutifully, she nodded and grabbed Mairi’s hand, tugging her toward the keep. Once the two women scurried inside, he strode to Liam’s side. “What the devil was that about?”
“Damned if I know. But you can be sure he shall not bother my mother again.”
Calum did not respond, but he sincerely hoped Liam was right. He would hate to sever his alliance with Fraser, especially after all the man had done for him.
Chapter Fourteen
“HAVE YOU SPOKEN with Elena?” Calum asked over his shoulder.
Sitting astride her gelding, Arabella trailed after him as they rode through a thick patch of forest on the border of his lands. In some distant part of her head, she heard him speak, but her mind continually strayed to a single damning thought—that dark patch of hair she’d caught a glimpse of the day before. Try as she might, she could not dispel the image to save her soul.
Calum cleared his throat and she glanced up to find him turned in the saddle, watching her. He lifted one ebony brow, as if awaiting an answer.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” Heat rushed to her cheeks and she looked away from his grinning face. Damn the man for catching her staring yet again.
“I asked if you’d spoken to my aunt. Did she speak of what happened with Fraser?”
Oh. “Nay, she locked herself in her chamber, and I have not seen my uncle since. Marcus said he departed not long after his fight with Elena.” She frowned. “I cannot believe he left without telling me.”
Grunting, he faced forward. “He should’ve spoken with you before he took his leave. In truth, I’m surprised he did not. ’Tis not like him at all.”
Nay, not like him in the least, which troubled her. He’d left her at the mercy and goodwill of another clan—one she scarcely knew. Had the MacGregors not been as welcoming, then she would truly have cause to worry. Aside from her uncle’s clan, where else might she seek refuge?
The church? ’Twas not a choice she wished to fathom unless forced.
Shuddering at the grim notion, she tightened her grasp on Devlin’s reins and peered around the forest. “Where are you leading us, Calum?”
“’Tis just a bit further.” He shifted in the saddle to glance at her, not quite meeting her gaze. “There’s a place ahead I wish to show you.”
He faced forward once more, but not before she caught the flush of his cheek. Biting back a smile, she resisted the urge to tease him.
At times, his character was at odds with his hardened exterior. No doubt he commanded obedience from his clan when necessary, but he was a kind man. A good man. One she’d grown rather fond of in their short acquaintance.
After last eve’s failed attempts to draw Elena from her solitude, Mairi had joined her in her chamber to consider Calum’s purpose for their outing. His sister hazarded a guess he sought a bit of privacy to speak of marriage. Where she’d gotten the foolish notion was Arabella’s guess. But long after Mairi retired, she’d lain awake, pondering the other woman’s reasoning.
A few years past, perhaps she’d longed for a life full of love and happiness, a husband who valued her, children to care for. Her brother had wished the same for her, allowing her a say in her choice of husband. With Iain gone, she realized the error of her thoughts. How silly she’d been to imagine she controlled her own fate.
Despite her poor attempt to banish her girlish hopes, the notion of wedding Calum held a certain appeal.
They continued to ride in silence until the wood parted, unveiling a lush glade tucked out of sight. At the heart lay a small crag of stones with a gurgling waterfall.
Any lingering thoughts of Calum, her Uncle Hammish, Elena, or vexing chest hair slipped from her mind. She gaped in awe at the beauty in front of her.
Water trickled over smooth boulders into a clear pool, while the sun peeked through the low-hung boughs to glimmer across the translucent ripples. Beneath the surface, sunlight shone on colored pebbles. Charmed by the sight, she sucked in a deep breath of cool, clean air, savoring the scene. ’Twas breathtaking.
She reined Devlin alongside Calum’s mount near the edge of the glade. He swept a leg over his stallion in a quick dismount and moved to her side in a flash to help her descend. For long moments, they simply stared at each other—him grasping her upper arms, her lost in the light of his gaze. Neither of them uttered a sound, which suited her, considering she more than likely could not form proper speech.
At last, he broke the spell.
Calum released her arms, but grabbed he
r hand and led her closer to the water’s edge. He stared out at the glittering pool and a thoughtful look passed over his features.
“Years ago, when my mother and father wished time away from their duties and the clan, he’d bring her here. This place became their own private sanctuary away from it all, if only for a little while.”
His thumb circled in her palm, sending tingles up her arm. She swallowed hard and watched the ripples along the water’s surface.
He continued, “When my mother died, my father wished to share a private part of her with me and Mairi, so we might understand how much she loved us. He left Mairi our mother’s prized garden, and he gave me this. He told me there was a certain magic to this place and one day, when I met someone special, I must share this sanctuary with her.”
Arabella’s heart pounded a swift beat. Gooseflesh rose on her arms. Her breath came in short bursts of air and her stomach fluttered almost painfully. His words…he spoke as if…as if…
She chanced a peek at him and met his intent stare. Despite the tremble in her weak knees, she glanced away and forced a light, playful tone.
“And just how many lasses have you brought here, Calum MacGregor?”
The pulse in her throat quickened when he stepped in front of her and lifted her gaze to his with one finger beneath her chin. The fathomless depth in his pale eyes snared her. His slight touch set her off balance. Embers of passion ignited a slow burn inside her belly. Saints help her, she wanted this man.
He lifted his finger to her cheek, brushing the knuckle over her flushed skin. Within a hairsbreadth from her mouth, he spoke. “Only you.”
“Why me?” Her words came out in a breathless whisper.
“Because, I’ve never met another woman like you. You are special to me. I”—he swallowed hard—“care deeply for you.”
“I-I care deeply for you, too.”
His heated breath warmed her lips, and her eyes drifted shut as she anticipated the kiss sure to follow. The light caress disappeared, and she blinked her eyes open to find he’d stepped away from her and strode to his mount. At once, the loss stung. Her stomach dropped to her feet, and she merely gaped at his back. Why had he not kissed her?
He called over one shoulder, “I managed to wrangle a few items from Agnes for our outing. Though, ’twas not an easy task, I’ll have you know.”
Thwarted, Arabella dragged her feet to a fallen log near the water’s edge and plopped down. She propped her elbows on her knees and rested her warm cheeks in her hands.
Calum untied a sack from his saddle and pulled a length of cloth from his bag. He spread the fabric on the ground in front of her and knelt down to unpack a bounty of food from the pack. Once done, he rose to his feet and moved toward her. He dipped his hand and flourished his arm in a polished bow.
With a lazy grin, he extended his hand. “Come, my lady. Our feast awaits.”
Abandoning her frustration, she accepted without a second thought. After he’d settled her on the cloth, he dropped down beside her and began passing her food. The soft trickle from the tiny waterfall blended with the relative silence between them as they dined on roasted fowl, cheese, and bread. While many young noble ladies and men sought to replace quiet moments with empty chatter, she preferred the shared silence with Calum. ’Twas comforting, in fact. The peace afforded her a chance to soak up the tranquility of the forest around her.
Once she’d eaten her fill, she rose and moved to the water’s edge to wash her hands. “’Tis beautiful here, Calum.”
“I hoped you might think so.”
She stared at her reflection and wondered if Calum felt the same comfort in her company. Around him, her troubles melted away, leaving her with a lightness of heart.
Glancing over her shoulder, she grinned. “Thank you for sharing your sanctuary with me.”
He stared at her, watching her every move. “’Tis ours now.”
Ours?
For a moment, she waited for him to say more but, once again, he left her stumbling to understand his true meaning.
Shoving aside her tangled thoughts, she returned to her spot on the cloth, while he packed away the remains of their fare. Afterward, he stretched out on his back and tucked his hands beneath his head.
Arabella plucked a stick from the ground near her and idly twirled the twig between her fingers. She peered around the glade. “There’s such a spiritual air about this place, do you not think?”
Grunting, he closed his eyes and crossed his ankles. “If you wish, I’ll give you the tale my father told me.”
Her ears perked up. As a child, her mother and Maggie had filled her head with stories of brave warriors, beautiful maidens, and creatures of legend. Even though ’twas a childish delight, she adored fantastic tales.
She twisted toward him and looked on expectantly. “Aye, I do.”
“’Twas said a warrior found this place after a long day battling a rival clan. He was weary from the fight and wanted naught more than to wash away the stench of blood and death. At the water’s edge, he noticed a woman beneath the surface. Fearing she drowned, he leaped in after her. He dragged the maiden from the water but despaired he was too late and hung his head in defeat. For some unknown reason, the loss affected him more than any life he’d taken on the battlefield. A whisper of movement caught his notice, and he glanced up to see a pair of shining, violet eyes watching him.
“From that day forward, the pair began to meet in secret and spend more time with each other. ’Twas not long before the warrior and the maiden fell in love. Though, the warrior never knew where the maiden disappeared to once they parted ways, nor would she divulge her secret. As time passed, the pair pledged their troth and sealed their bond.”
“How so?” she asked.
Calum opened his eyes and slanted her a dubious look.
“Oh, that.” She ducked her head and studied the twig in her hand.
“So…once they’d pledged their love, guilt ate at the maiden. At last, she revealed her true nature to the warrior. She was one of the elusive Fae.”
Gripped by the tale, Arabella tucked her feet beneath her, sitting up higher, and leaned forward. “What did he do?”
Calum lifted his shoulders in a halfhearted shrug. “He was in love with the maiden, so he cared not what she truly was.”
Arabella sighed in relief and sank down on her heels.
“Oh, but there’s more to the tale.” He grinned. “During one of their trysts, the Queen of the Fae discovered the pair locked in an intimate embrace. ’Twas forbidden for the Fae to reveal their true natures to mortals. Enraged one of her subjects had broken this sacred law, she ordered the warrior’s death at once.”
Arabella gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “He died?”
“I’m getting to that.” Calum stifled a yawn. “The maiden pleaded with the queen, begging her to spare her lover. She offered her life in place of the warrior’s, but the warrior would have none of it. Instead, he freely submitted his life to the queen under the condition the maiden would never come to harm. Moved by the pair’s devotion, the Queen of the Fae chose mercy. She gave them two choices. The maiden could return to her own realm, forever abandoning her warrior, and he would have no memory of her. Or, she could choose to live by her warrior’s side as a mortal, severing her ties with the Fae forever.”
Arabella waited for him to continue as long moments of silence spanned. He lay motionless with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in slow rhythm. Had he fallen asleep? Perturbed, she poked him hard in the side with her stick. He rumbled out a laugh, no doubt pleased to have tricked her.
“Finish the tale,” she huffed. “What did the maiden choose?”
“She chose a life with her warrior, of course.”
She sighed, pleased the pair had found their happy ending. Curiosity made her ask, “What would you have chosen?”
One eye cracked open, peering up at her. His shoulders lifted in a semblance of a shrug. “How should
I know? I’ve never been a Fae.”
With a sound of annoyance, she tossed the stick at his head.
Laughing, he moved quickly and sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. “I do not believe in such tales, so ’tis of no consequence.”
Irritated, she snatched a leaf from the ground. “Then what do you believe in?”
“Honor, respect, loyalty.” He glanced at her. “And what of you? What do you believe in?”
“Much the same, I suppose.” She tossed the leaf aside and wiped her hands on her gown. “Calum, do you believe in love?”
His lips curved with a soft smile. “I do. I witnessed it firsthand from my mother and father.”
Arabella bit her lip and studied his profile. “Have you ever been in love?”
His eyebrows rose, as though the question surprised him. “Nay, I’ve never found the right woman.”
“I’m astounded you admit such freely.” She laughed. “Iain would’ve coughed and sputtered, then denied.”
Calum snorted. “I’ve no doubt he would’ve. Truth is, all men desire love, whether they admit so or not. Many complain ’tis naught but a weakness, but I do not believe that. With the right woman, how could love be anything but a strength?”
’Twas her turn to raise her brows. She’d never heard a man speak of love with such open honesty and sensible reasoning. He was unlike any man she’d known.
“I have a question for you.” He cocked his head to peer at her. “Why are you not wed yet? You’re clever, comely, wise for your years.”
“Perhaps, like you, I’ve not found the right man.” She glanced away. “A few have sought my hand, but those men merely desired an alliance with my family name or gold to fill their coffers. Aye, I know, I know. ’Tis a woman’s lot in life, but Iain did not believe so. He said I should be allowed a say in the matter and I loved him dearly for permitting me the freedom to choose, even if ’twas a foolish notion.”
The back of his finger grazed her cheek, and she curved her neck to gaze at him.
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