The Highlander's Runaway Bride

by TERRI BRISBIN

‘Why did you not tell me of his true nature?’ Brodie asked, righting the cup and pouring more ale into it. ‘And he yet lives?’ Whether in jest or not, Rob appreciated the sentiment.

  ‘I thought it might interfere with your agreement if I killed him,’ Rob said, drily. Not that he had not thought of it many, many times since then. ‘I stopped him.’

  ‘So, their reunion will not be a happy one when next they meet? Will Eva be...?’ Clearly, Brodie could not think of how to ask the question that bothered him so much. Brodie faced Rob and met his stare. ‘Will there be problems?’

  ‘Oh, my friend, there are always problems at gatherings such as these, but I will make certain she is seen safely through any encounters with him.’

  ‘And if you are busy with your duties to me?’

  ‘I will ask Margaret and Magnus if need be to attend her.’

  Rob stood then, anxious to see her and warn her about her father’s arrival. Or mayhap he just wanted to see her? Or just wanted...her? No matter the reason, he nodded to Brodie and left him there with his steward sorting out details of supplies.

  She would be in Arabella’s chamber, the room where her women gathered. He stood outside the slightly open door and peered inside. There she stood at Arabella’s side as usual. But when she turned, he realised she held wee Joanna in her arms. She did not see him watching her.

  The first thing he noticed was the glint of pain in her eyes. It lasted only a moment before disappearing, so quickly that he thought he might have not seen it at all. But he had.

  Then, she smiled and cooed to the babe, rubbing the wispy hair on her head. And in that moment, the need to see her body swelling with his child nearly forced him to his knees. The need to glide his hands over her belly and feel the life they made within her became so strong he must have made a sound, for she turned to him then.

  ‘Robbie, I did not see you there,’ she said, walking to him. ‘I was...’

  ‘I could see—paying attention to the babe,’ he finished for her. ‘Arabella,’ he said, nodding at the lady.

  ‘She is getting big so quickly,’ his friend said. ‘If she follows her father’s bearing, she will tower over me.’

  ‘Bella, nearly everyone towers over you,’ he said, leaning over to run his finger down the babe’s cheek. ‘Can I borrow my wife?’ Rob asked, glancing first at Eva and then the lady.

  ‘Rob, you must give her some rest,’ Bella argued.

  ‘Bella!’ both he and Eva called out at the same time.

  A lovely blush rose in Eva’s cheeks. It somehow satisfied him to see her reaction when she thought about his physical demands of her.

  Oh, and he was demanding! Everything about her pleased him, but mostly the trust she placed in him. She allowed him any use of her, urged him on and begged for more. Kiss for kiss, swiving for swiving, she matched him in both wanting and doing more together.

  When he’d asked her just the other night if he’d made her glad she took him to her bed, she’d laughed and just nodded. He took that as another challenge to show her how much she was gladdened by him there. Neither of them got much sleep that night.

  ‘I do have a matter to discuss with you, wife,’ he said.

  Eva glanced at Arabella and then handed the baby to her.

  ‘I want her returned to me, Rob. We have tasks to see to before Margaret and the others arrive.’

  He took Eva’s hand and led her out of the chamber, up the stairs instead of down, until they reached the door leading out to the battlements of the keep. Other than the guards always on duty, they would have some measure of privacy. If he took her to their chambers, Bella would not get her back anytime soon and not in any condition to see to whatever tasks needed to be done. Rob walked to one corner and nodded to the guard there. The man walked some paces away, far enough that he would not hear them, and took up a place there.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, as he let go of her hand.

  He hated the fearful expression in her eyes. He’d not seen it for some weeks and knew now exactly how much he hated it. But now he knew it was not about him or her feelings for him, which he was sure she had.

  In that moment, Rob understood what had happened—he’d fallen in love with Eva MacKay. He stumbled and she grabbed hold of him.

  ‘Are you unwell?’ she asked, touching the back of her hand to his forehead. ‘I feel no fever but I should summon Margaret.’

  He grabbed her hand before she could go.

  ‘Nay, I am well.’ He glanced down and kicked some stones there on the walkway. ‘I only tripped.’ Disbelief shone in her eyes, but she did not leave.

  He loved her. When it had happened or how, he knew not. He only knew it had.

  He loved her courage and her spirit and her willingness to take his hand that day and not look back. He loved the way she sighed when he entered her. He loved the way she moved into his embrace every night when he climbed into bed.

  He loved the way he could be only a man to her and with her and not a conduit to anyone or anything else.

  He loved her. And he would do whatever was necessary to protect her. Even from her own father.

  ‘Kiss me, Eva,’ he said. Without a moment’s hesitation or question, she moved closer and stood on her toes to reach his mouth. He did the rest, holding and lifting her, and possessing her mouth. When he eased her back to her feet, she looked on him with a suspicious glint in her eyes.

  ‘What is this about?’

  ‘Brodie just told me that your father arrives in a day or two. I thought you would want to know.’

  As he observed her reaction, he recognised the old Eva pushing forward. Her physical demeanour and posture changed as she became more defensive and her face lost its colour. He would not allow it. Taking her by the shoulders, he shook her gently.

  ‘Do not do that,’ he urged. ‘Do not lose what you have become.’ She searched his face then. ‘You told me you trust me? Then you must trust that I will protect you from him.’

  The haunted expression left her, and she shuddered then. He pulled her into his arms and rubbed his hands over her back. She clutched his shirt and held on to him. ‘All will be well,’ he assured her. By the time she left his embrace, she was not shaking.

  ‘If you would like, you could stay with Margaret and Magnus in the village while he is here.’ He would hate not having her at his side, but if she would be at ease there, she could.

  ‘I am your wife, Rob. To not be here to greet my father would be an insult to you and to Brodie.’ Spoken like the lady she’d been raised to be. ‘And with you at my side, I promise not to cower before that piece of shite now.’

  He laughed and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. It was not the coarsest curse or worst words she could say, but her attempt warmed his heart.

  ‘I love you, Eva MacKay,’ he said, kissing her once more. He could not keep those words in now that he knew the truth.

  She searched his gaze then, touching his cheek. Then she cupped his face and brought his mouth to hers, kissing him gently. He felt the caring there. He felt her response to his words. Rob suspected fear kept her from speaking of her own feelings. She never had, as though saying the words would make everything good go away. When she lifted her mouth from his, tears tracked down her cheeks.

  ‘Come. Bella will be cross if I made you cry,’ he said, wiping her tears away. ‘Or if I keep you too long,’ he said. Reaching up, he pulled some tendrils of her hair free from the elaborate concoction of knots and twists that Nessa used to control her curls. ‘Let her think the worst.’

  Saying nothing, she smiled and shook her head at his antics. He did it just to keep touching her. Now that he recognised the feelings coursing through him, he did not wish to relinquish her yet. But, they both had their duties to carry out, so he escorted her back to Arabella, who
crossed her arms over her chest and looked exasperated.

  ‘I will not be at the evening meal,’ he whispered to her. ‘Wait for me,’ he urged. He walked away quickly and without looking back at her, for if he did, he would forsake his duties and take her to bed.

  * * *

  And that night, their joining and passion had an edge of desperation to it, in spite of whatever words he spoke. No matter the number of times he assured her of his love. Then when spent, she clung to him, never letting go of him completely. Neither one slept.

  He knew it was tied to her father’s arrival, but he knew not what it meant. Unfortunately, she had never spoken of the matters between her and the MacKay, nor the true reason for her attempt to run from their marriage. Without the truth, he was going into a battle without weapons.

  And Rob Mackintosh did not go into battle unprepared.

  * * *

  Brodie thought he was in an armed camp instead of his hall welcoming honoured guests. Rob stood on his right, his arms crossed over his chest, ready for a fight. His wife on his right stood stone-faced as her father entered the hall and walked towards them. She’d flinched several times just standing there when someone turned suddenly or approached without warning.

  But the most puzzling was his Bella.

  Standing on his left, she bristled with anger and fury. Dressed in the finery expected of Lady Mackintosh, she resembled a fairy princess of legend—beautiful, ethereal, breathtaking. And yet, all she needed was a sword in her hand and she could be a Valkyrie of old Norse tales.

  Something or someone had raised her hackles, and she stood stiff and ready for a fight. A good thing that weapons were not permitted here. He turned to her as the MacKay came closer.

  ‘Bella, what is it?’

  She shushed him and nodded towards the powerful clan chief of the north, who now stood at the bottom of the dais from where they did, waiting for Brodie’s acknowledgement. The look of hatred in her eyes and aimed at the man told him that his wife was privy to much more than even Rob had let on. Another glance told him that she knew more than Rob did, which somehow made him feel better. And yet it did not.

  He smiled grimly then and nodded to the man.

  ‘Laird MacKay,’ he said, reaching out his arm in greeting. ‘Welcome to Drumlui Keep and the lands of the Mackintosh Clan.’

  ‘Mackintosh,’ he said, accepting Brodie’s arm and clasping it with a nod.

  ‘May I present my wife, Lady Arabella Cameron?’

  Arabella smiled, but it was the one he’d always hated. The MacKay did not notice or know it for the imitation it was, for he bowed to her. When she did not hold out her hand in greeting, Brodie frowned at her and motioned with his head. His wife ignored him and only offered her words.

  ‘Welcome to Drumlui Keep, Laird MacKay.’ She nodded to Fergus, who stepped forward. ‘Our steward Fergus will see to your comfort while you are here. Places have been arranged for your men, and a chamber is ready for you and Lady MacKay.’

  Brodie glanced at the group assembled there and saw no other woman of an age or description to match that of Eva’s mother. The only woman in the group was younger, almost the same age as Eva. She stood, eyes cast down, until the MacKay spoke her name. Then she walked...nay, that did not describe the way she moved to the laird’s side. Every step made her hips sway, and every man watching her noticed it.

  ‘My cousin Sigrid has accompanied me on this journey,’ Eva’s father explained, though not a single person in that hall mistook the woman for anything but what she was—his leman. ‘Lady MacKay was unwell.’

  He heard the indrawn breath and thought that the MacKay did, as well. Brodie felt as though control of this situation would quickly begin to falter. He would like to have avoided what he must do next, but there was no way to do so.

  ‘And, of course, my kinsman is known to you.’ Brodie gestured to Rob.

  ‘Laird MacKay,’ Rob said gruffly as he bowed to his father by marriage. Brodie noticed that Eva moved closer to her husband and slipped her hand into his. A telling gesture, that.

  ‘Eva, have you no greeting for your father?’ the MacKay asked before Rob could say more.

  ‘Father,’ she said, curtsying to him from her place at Rob’s side. ‘Welcome.’

  The MacKay looked ready to say something, but he just narrowed his gaze and studied his daughter. With a wave of his hand, two of his men came forward carrying a small chest, which was placed before Rob.

  ‘The rest of my daughter’s dowry, Mackintosh,’ he said to Rob.

  ‘I thank you, Lord MacKay, for seeing to it,’ Rob said, with the first hint of genuine appreciation he’d heard since this scene began to unfold. Brodie’s hopes for a good ending diminished when the MacKay replied—the man’s gaze lay on his daughter and not Rob or even him.

  ‘An agreement is an agreement, is it not?’ he asked. Eva stared at her father, and it appeared that some message was exchanged between them in that moment, though Rob answered.

  ‘Aye, Laird MacKay. It is.’ Rob nodded to Fergus, who saw to moving the chest to the strongbox for attention later.

  ‘I keep my agreements,’ the laird said, not taking his eyes from his daughter.

  ‘There will be food and drink to refresh you from your journey,’ Bella interrupted...finally. ‘Let Fergus show you to your chambers, where you can rest first.’

  The MacKay nodded at her and then turned to follow the steward to the far tower. He stopped right in front of Rob and smiled, one to rival Bella’s coldest.

  ‘From the looks of it, you took my advice then, lad?’

  The older man laughed and did not wait for a response from Rob. He was gone from the hall and did not see Rob try several times to draw the sword that would normally be hanging in its scabbard from his belt. But Brodie wanted to know what he was up against with this man, so he called him closer, even as Bella moved to Eva’s side.

  ‘What was his advice?’ Brodie asked in a low voice.

  ‘To beat her well and often, or she would not learn who was in control.’

  His wife gasped then, and Brodie knew she’d heard the words in spite of Rob’s attempt to keep them between himself and Brodie.

  Well, at least it confirmed what Brodie had heard about the man, even years before from his uncle. Ruthless. Brutal. Powerful.

  And now his ally.

  Brodie nodded to Rob then. ‘Bella, would you take Eva to your chamber until the evening meal?’

  For once, his wife did not argue with him or question his reasons. With her arm at Eva’s waist, she guided the woman from the dais and out of the hall.

  ‘What is his purpose, Rob? Why is he here?’

  ‘You invited him, Brodie. How the hell should I know?’ Rob snapped back.

  ‘Nay, I mean why connect himself and his clan to ours?’ Brodie watched as his friend never took his gaze off the retreating figure of his wife. ‘Why sell his daughter to me? To us?’ Rob turned his attention to Brodie, finally, and shrugged.

  ‘He is sworn to the earl of Orkney. He owes fealty to him,’ Rob said. ‘But you are high in the King of Scotland’s favour. He might simply wish a foot in each camp?’

  ‘It could be as simple as that, in addition to the trade we have promised and the ability to meet with our allies. Expand his possibilities through us.’

  Brodie thought on that and was satisfied. It was the way of diplomacy and trade. But he would be watchful of the MacKay in the coming talks.

  He just did not trust a man who needed to rely on his fists to control those weaker than himself. Especially not a wife or a daughter.

  And Brodie did not like a man who shamed those he should protect. Having a leman was an acceptable practice, and most noblemen kept a mistress for comfort. But to bring her and present her to Brodie’s lady wife was an ins
ult to both wives...and to his daughter who stood witness to it all.

  ‘See to his men, Rob. We will speak again later.’

  Though he knew Rob wanted to see to his distraught wife, his cousin followed his orders and left the keep. Brodie thought Bella was the better remedy for Eva’s distress right now.

  He hoped he was correct.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Eva smiled.

  She did not have to speak a word, for Arabella expressed all the outrage she’d felt in the hall as her father had arrived.

  About his behaviour. About his leman. About everything.

  And she used words that Eva would not have imagined were in the lady’s vocabulary. And with as much style as Rob did. Mayhap the habit was contagious?

  Bella only sought to calm herself when the nursemaid brought the babe in to be fed. Still nursing her daughter herself, the lady sat down and sipped some ale. If she remained this angry and tense, she explained, her milk would not release and the babe would not feed.

  In the last weeks, Eva had grown more at ease with being in the chamber when Arabella tended to her child. She still startled in those first few seconds, but then grew less tense in her presence. And though she knew that it would never replace the emptiness in her heart over being forced to give up her daughter, Eva found herself more and more thinking about having a child with Rob.

  His words of love had made her heart soar and think it was be possible for them to have a happy life. She’d wanted to say them back, to share the feelings that filled her heart for him, but to do so would obligate him in ways she could not.

  She knew the cost of loving someone, and she would not tie him to her in that way.

  No matter that she did love him. In spite of knowing the danger of it, she did. Now her father’s arrival reminded her of his power over her. His words just now had confirmed to her that he was not done using his daughter as a pawn.

  Marriage to Rob was not the whole of his plan. But what was?

  Eva tried to remain busy during the hours before the evening meal. Rob would be there at her side, as would Brodie, who was now her laird. So she tried to remember that she had allies who would support her if needed.