Highlander: Secrets (The Scottish series Book 1)

by Ceri Bladen

  Deciding he needed to check on Aileana, he made his way through the hall towards his staircase. He bound up the stairs, two at a time, eager to see Aileana—then he could forget his worries for a while. When the wooden door swung open, he knew the bedchamber was empty. Noticing the curtains around his bed were closed, a smile spread on his face, and heat pooled lower down. Mayhap she was in his bed, waiting for him?

  He hurried forward and spread the curtains, which hung around his box bed to keep the warmth in when his fire went out. It was empty. His brows puckered together. She hadn’t followed his orders, and this time, it didn’t make him pleased. Not because she hadn’t listened—her boldness was something that stirred him—it was because this time, she could be in danger. He scratched his beard. If she wasn’t here, she had to be in the only other place she was comfortable. He sped out of his room.

  Kameron barged into kitchens looking around at the activity, trying to locate Aileana. He couldn’t see her but spotted Morag. He marched over. “Where’s yer charge, Morag?”

  “Elspeth?” Surprised, Morag turned and glanced towards the cooler part of the kitchen. She shrugged, not picking up on the annoyance and panic in the Laird’s eyes. “She was here not long ago, Laird. She’s been helping tae churn the milk into butter.”

  “Well, she’d not here now,” his voice hardened, he was angry and didn’t attempt to conceal it. He’d lost her once, not again. His gaze cut around the group watching and noticed Morag cross herself. “Any of ye ken where Aileana MacAlpin is?” He heard the gasps and saw the shocked looks. “Aye, that’s right. She is nae Elspeth, she is the daughter of the late Laird Dougal MacAlpin.” He heard the gasps. “Now, I’ll ask ye only once more, where is she?” His eyes zeroed in on a young servant who’d taken a tentative step forward. The way she was wringing her hands didn’t put Kameron at ease. “Do ye ken something, lassie?” He tried to soften his voice, not to scare her.

  “Thomasina, speak up,” encouraged Morag, terrified now she knew who the MacAlpin woman truly was—it was more than her life was worth if something happened to her.

  “I… I…” Thomasina looked around the faces for courage. She received none as no one knew her part in Wynda’s schemes. “She went tae the undercroft—” she took a large gulp, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth, “—with Wynda.”

  “Nae!” Rage gripped Kameron quickly as his mind sped. His hands balled into fists. After putting the pieces together, things he heard from Fergus started to make sense. Aileana was in danger. He needed to find her—fast. Giving a loud, piercing whistle, which alerted his men that he needed them, he turned for the vaulted undercroft.

  As his boot hit the last stone step, he heard Aileana’s scream, and he scrambled to get the latch of the wooden door open. It swung in and, as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he located the two figures. They rolled over each other on the mud floor, and before he could move, one mounted the other, their hands around the others throat. “Nae,” he shouted, realising it was Aileana on the floor. He bounded forward, ignoring the others who had now followed him. He grabbed Wynda and pulled her off Aileana. She struggled wildly, hitting out as he caught her around the waist. A few punches and kicks found their targets, but he didn’t notice them, he was more aware that Aileana was lying still on the floor. He turned and threw Wynda towards Donald. “Take her away, ‘for I dae something I’ll regret,” he spat out as he knelt by Aileana’s still form. He pulled her up, cradling her in one arm, while his hand lightly cupped her cheek. “Aileana? Wake up, mo ghradh.”

  Wynda screamed. “Kameron, I love ye. Ye love me, not her.” She was dragged away by Donald and Angus, kicking and screaming. “I should’ve poisoned her, not just put her tae sleep.”

  “Yer aff yer heid,” growled Donald as he pulled Wynda towards the stairs.

  Kameron scowled and slid her a chilling look over his shoulder. Until his anger with her cooled, he decided it was better not to converse with her. “Take her tae the South tower. I’ll deal with her, later.” He nodded to his men before turning his attention back to Aileana who had started to stir, which pleased him.

  “If she wannae around, ye’d be mine…” Wynda yelled, her voice become dimmer.

  Kameron had his answer to who was responsible for the plan and it didn’t please him. To think he once had soft thoughts towards Wynda. It didn’t sit well that he’d been a fool. Wynda would be kept separate in one of the towers—not the gaol—for now and then he would decide what to do with her. “Take it easy, mo ghradh,” he soothed as Aileana came around, struggling to work out what happened. “Yer safe.”

  “Oh.” Aileana struggled to sit up. Her breath laboured in her chest as she touched her neck, where moments before hands had been. Running her hand on the crown of her head, she couldn’t stop emitting a gasp of pain. “I think I bashed me heid. It hurts.”

  “Aye, well if ye’d done what I asked,” Kameron mumbled before shaking his head. That was a discussion for another time. “I thought… I thought…” Kameron felt his voice crack and stopped, not wanting to mention the torment he felt when he thought her dead. He gently fingered the bruise instead, which was spreading across her eye socket. He swore, none too quietly. “If ye keep running from me, how am I tae keep ye safe, mo ghradh?” He challenged with a lift of his dark eyebrow.

  “Ye cannae spend yer time looking after me.”

  “I want to, mo ghradh. I want tae.” He stood, taking her with him in his arms. It pleased him when she looped her arms around his neck. “This time, I am carrying ye tae me bedchamber. And there’ll be nae arguments.”

  Aileana put her head against his chest, too weak to protest, for the moment.

  Chapter 11

  Ackergill Tower

  In the dim light of Ackergill Tower’s hall, Alban puffed his chest out. “What dae ye mean, ye lost her?” Alban’s face got redder, his previous good mood vanished as quick as the whisky he had just downed. He walked to the edge of the dais and looked on the man in front of him—one he thought he could trust. He ignored the servants who had paused with their tasks and the scant amount of people milling around.

  “We got her from Calder Castle, but someone took her from the forest during the night.”

  Alban put his hands on his hips, a sneer on his face. “Well, who dae ye think that could be? Who would want her back?” He let out an angry snort—he knew who. “Ye have failed me.”

  “I won’t again, Laird.”

  Alban noticed his brother, Donnan, who had been missing from the evening meal, walk up behind the man. He pulled his dagger out.

  “Nae, ye won’t,” said Donnan. Within seconds the man’s throat was cut, and he was on the floor. “That’s what happens tae any who fail the MacAlpin brothers,” he shouted, turning in a circle with his dirk in the air.

  Druce, who had been watching the goings-on, sighed. His brothers were reckless in too many ways. Not only didn’t they have their sister, they had a body on their hand—a body of a skilled retainer—which everyone in the hall saw being killed. He stood from the chair he was sitting on and indicated for the body to be removed, away from the dogs which had started to gather, interested in the blood spilling on the dirty floor. “Brothers, I think we need to talk—” he glanced around at the wide eyes and averted gazes, “—privately.”

  “Yer an eejit, Donnan,” said Alban. “He was one of me best men.”

  Donnan shrugged his shoulders. “Well he isn’t now.” When Druce raised a questioning eyebrow, he scowled. “Would ye fight him, wee brother?” He wiped his dirk on his sleeve.

  Druce shook his head. Of course, he wouldn’t fight, he used his brains instead. Yes, idiots, the two of them. After telling them of his plan to get their sister back, he was in the mind to get well and truly bladdered.

  Calder Castle

  After placing Aileana on her feet, and shutting the door of his chamber, Kameron turned and studied her. He sighed. She’d retreated towards the hearth, her arms wrapped
tightly around her waist. From her posture and by the fact she wasn’t looking at him, he deduced that she didn’t want to talk about what just happened. “Aileana, you need tae look at me.” Kameron waited patiently for her to turn. He stepped forward, but stopped when she flinched, “If anyone else has harmed you intentionally, I need tae ken, mo ghradh. A man or woman who treats ye in any bad way is not welcome at Calder Castle whether they are my kin or nae.” He tried to keep any sign of his mounting anger from his voice as he needed her to talk.

  His presence and the wild tempo of her heart made clear thinking difficult. “There is no one, Laird, that I ken about.”

  Kameron didn’t like the fact she had addressed him as ‘Laird’, but he let it go for now. He caught his thumbs in his belt, giving his hands something to do, as they wanted to touch her. “Well, in that case, ye’ll stay in this room until I find the culprits.”

  Aileana swirled around, aghast at his suggestion. “I cannae do that, this is yer room. There’ll be gossip.”

  “I care not about the gossip, hen, only ye. “I’ll hear nae more—” Kameron held his hand up to stop her protests, “—ye are tae stay in me chamber until I find out about all those who mean tae harm ye,” explained Kameron again, as he pushed a hand through his black hair, frustrated that she didn’t seem to understand he was trying to keep her safe.

  She couldn’t stay—she didn’t trust herself with him! Desire smouldered through her, so she went on the attack. She put her hands on her hips. “Ye cannae keep me locked up in this tower, I’ll be like a prisoner.”

  Kameron let out a large sigh. He’d have to try another way, yelling and ordering her to do his bidding wasn’t working. “Look, mo ghradh—” he stepped cautiously forward, not sure if she was going to hit him, “—it’s only until I ken yer not in danger. Besides, I fancy spending some time alone to get tae ken ye.”

  “Ye dae?” She dropped her hands from her hips.

  “Och, aye, mo ghradh. That’s what I wanted tae tell ye when I came back from Auld Reekie.”

  Aileana relaxed.

  “I missed ye when I was gone.”

  Her heart gave a flutter. “Ye did?”

  “I did, and now I am home, I want tae spend time with ye.” He wiggled his eyebrows, pleased to see her scowl fade. He felt brave enough to step forward and reach for her hands. He turned them over and planted a kiss on the palms. “I want tae keep ye safe, but tae do that, I need to ken who hates ye enough tae harm ye, mo ghradh.”

  Aileana gave a large sigh, tiredness overcoming her. “Kameron, I cannae tell ye who hates me. Mayhap they all do as I’m a MacAlpin,” she said, a sob catching her voice. “Listen, the one that harmed the most has gone. The others… well, in time I’ll earn their respect, and I won’t get it if I go running tae ye if they say something nasty tae me.”

  “Ye didnae coming running, and there were a fair few who saw that what Wynda did was more than ‘saying something nasty tae ye’. Look, mo ghradh, haven’t ye got it in yer skull yet that I want ye here?” He ventured to put his arm around her waist and she didn’t resist. It felt good. His blood started to heat up. “Want ye here in my arms?”

  Aileana gave a tentative smile as he pulled her close and her hands spread on his muscled chest.

  Kameron nodded to something behind her. “Want ye in my bed, mo ghradh.”

  Her eyes widened. She did too, but that wasn’t to say it was the right course of action. She felt herself heat as her body and mind told her different things.

  “Nae, don’t try to pull away, hen. ‘Tis what I want, and what ye want tae.” His eyebrows gathered as a serious look took over his face. “Do ye want tae be part of my life, mo ghradh?”

  Aileana scanned his face, patiently waiting for her to answer. She nodded. “Aye, I dae.” There was no point saying she wasn’t conflicted—especially after hearing details about his dalliances with Wynda—but she was tired of fighting her attraction to him. Her life, if she was still in Ackergill Tower, would have been bleak and loveless, at least here, there was a chance of someone loving her. Surely that was worth more than a sullied reputation? She looked at the smile forming on his lips and knew she would be more than willing to become his bedmate.

  “Well, that’s a pleasing thing for me tae ken.”

  A knock on the door, stopped their conversation.

  He sighed, annoyed at the timing. “I asked Morag tae bring a bath tub in. I thought the warm water would help with yer bruises. I nae want ye in the bathhouse yet.” He let go of her and took a large step away. “Enter.”

  Aileana watched the male servants bring the heavy metal tub and jugs of hot water in. She sighed with gratitude—not only for the steam coming off the water, but for the Laird’s kindness. She was unused to it and didn’t always act in a way to indicate she appreciated it. She would have to begin. “Thank you—” she whispered, “Kameron,” so the men didn’t overhear her informal use of his name.

  Kameron returned her smile as Morag and a couple of ladies knocked. “They will help ye undress.” He waved them in. “They have some new clothes for ye…” he looked at her servant’s clothes, before catching her gaze. She was going to protest. “Clothes fitting of yer station, Lady Aileana.” He made sure the servants knew what he thought of her and expected them to treat her accordingly. “Once ye have finished, ye will be sent food and I will check on ye.” He turned to Morag, needing to get out of the room, she looked too alluring for him to stay. “I will speak tae ye later.”

  Morag lowered her gaze. “Aye, Laird.”

  With that he turned with a swish of MacMahon weave and left the women to it.

  ****

  “Go up, Laird, ye dying tae,” Donald said, trying not to laugh into his ale. He remembered the time when he longed to get into bed with his woman. Thirty years later, the urge wasn’t so strong, but it made him feel young again to see others in their prime.

  Kameron gave him a side-glance. He didn’t mean to, but he growled at the snigger on his face. The auld goat was right, he did want to go to Aileana, but he intended on talking to her first about what happened in Auld Reekie. He’d managed to get an audience with King Charles, and he was willing to hear his grievances about his raiding neighbours and his future concerning Aileana.

  Donald rubbed his short white beard and tried not to laugh again at the scowling Laird. You’d never believe he had a warm woman upstairs. “Go, there’s no point mooning down here.”

  “She’s busy,” he didn’t want to mention she was now in a bath—naked.

  Donald tried once again. “Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye.”

  Kameron stared at his ale while Donald’s words ran through his head. ‘What’s meant to happen, will happen.” His fingers tightened before he pushed the jug away and stood. “All right, Donald. I’m going.”

  “Good on ye, ye won’t be sorry.”

  As Kameron started to leave, he stopped short. His forehead puckered. He was going to do this right. “Angus, can we have a talk?”

  “Aye, Laird.” Angus said, standing and walking over to Kameron.

  Kameron bent towards his ear, not wanting anyone to overhear. “Dae ye remember what was discussed in Auld Reekie with the king?”

  “Aye, Laird.”

  “I think I am going to move the timeline along. I have the king’s blessing, after all.”

  “What dae ye need me tae dae for ye?”

  “Fetch the priest.”

  “Now?”

  Kameron laughed. “Not now—” he nudged Angus in the ribs. “Tomorrow morning.” He winked at a smiling Angus and left the hall.

  ****

  Without knocking, Kameron walked into his bedchamber. He noticed the look of surprise on Morag and the women’s faces, but he didn’t concern himself. Now he’d made his decision, he had no time to waste. He only hoped Aileana would agree with his thinking. “Ye may leave us now, Morag.”

  Morag bit her lip and silenced the giggling servants with a stern look. What
ever their thoughts, he was the Laird. “Aye, Laird.” She gave Aileana, who was low in under the water, one more look before ushering the girls out. “Och, well, we’ll leave ye tae it.” She shooed the servants out when they giggled again.

  Aileana watched the door close before her eyes returned to Kameron. Her heart beat fast against her ribs. She wanted him. She took in a large breath and stood, water dripping off her. When his gaze made a thorough appraisal of her assets, she squirmed but did not hide her nakedness—surprising herself, but for reasons she couldn’t explain, she felt bold. It pleased her greatly to witness longing leap into his eyes. He stepped forward and held out his hand. She placed hers in his and stepped out of the tub, eye level with the breadth of his shoulders.

  “Yer beautiful, mo ghradh.”

  She couldn’t reply, her nerve ends tingled with the force of her attraction to him.

  Need sprinted through him as Kameron stared down on her. When he noticed her shiver, he cursed. He was so intent on looking—and although the fire was lit—he’d forgotten the winter chill seeped through the shutters. He turned and picked up the cloth placed over the chair by the fire to warm. “Here let me dry ye, mo ghradh.” When she shook her head, shocked, he clucked his tongue. He held her hand fast when she tried to pull away. “Och, there’s no need tae be embarrassed.” He jarred his arm and pulled her forward against his clothed body, hoping she felt the warmth there. His hand slipped up her spine to force her closer, and he leaned to whisper into her ear. “I intend tae see and taste every part of ye, tonight.”