"Clever,” said Ian.
"Aye,” agreed Payton. “Can we see into the great hall?"
"We can.” Callum pointed to the little circles on either side of the door and Payton realized they were eyes. “Do ye want to look in, then?"
"It might be wise. Might tell us just where Roderick is."
Callum nodded and started on his way again.
"She turned his own keep against him,” Ian whispered to Payton. “I would wager she made a close study of the whole underbelly of his keep. She could come and go as she wished, and spy on him whene'er she wished to, as weel."
"It would certainly seem so,” agreed Payton. “And, she did so for about three years. Something tells me the mon still doesnae ken how she found out so much or how she got the children away from Thanescarr. She is, after all, just a lass, one of a breed he has naught but contempt for."
A moment later, Callum held up his hand. Silently, Payton approached the hole the boy pointed to. Putting his eye to it, Payton was able to see the length of the great hall. He also saw that Roderick was there, deep into an argument with several other men. There was a similarity of appearance that told him these were probably some of his kinsmen. Payton was especially pleased to see that Gib and Wattie were also there.
He listened to the argument for a while before signaling Callum to lead on. Roderick's kinsmen wanted him to do something to avenge what they saw as a stain upon their honor. For reasons even Payton could not understand, Roderick was trying to counsel patience, but that only seemed to be making his kinsmen angrier and suspicious.
Something was going to have to be done about the MacIyes, Payton decided. If that argument was any indication, Roderick's kinsmen were considering acting on their own. Roderick was beginning to be seen as a man without a care to the honor of the clan or, worse, a coward. A confrontation with the MacIyes was drawing dangerously near and Payton would prefer it happened on his own terms.
A noise up ahead of them pulled Payton from his thoughts and caused them all to stop. Ian quickly shuttered the lantern. Payton drew his sword even as Callum pulled the large knife he kept sheathed at his side. They could clearly see the flickering of light ahead of them, but it was impossible to see who held it.
"I ken there is someone there,” called a shaky female voice. “'Tis Daisy, the kitchen maid."
Callum cautiously moved closer and, although Payton could not see what the boy did, he saw Callum visibly relax. “What are ye doing here, Daisy?” asked Callum.
A well-rounded woman stepped away from the wall. “Callum! We thought ye might be dead.” She peered in Ian and Payton's direction. “Who ye got with ye, lad? Someone to help the lady?"
"Aye. Is she in her bedchamber?” Callum asked as he sheathed his knife.
Daisy nodded. “Locked in tight, she is. I remembered ye saying ye could get into her room, but nay out, save through the doors. Thought I might be able to find that secret way and let her out, but I been standing here for a long time, nay sure which way to go, and too scared to just set off looking. Coward that I am, I keep fearing I will get lost and, a few years from now, some poor fool will stumble o'er my poor old bones.” She sighed and shook her head.
"Ye did your best. We will get my lady out now."
"Best ye do so and quick. The bastard means to set Gib and Wattie on her. Would have done it by now, but his kinsmen arrived, demanding to see him. Took some bread in to them a wee while ago and decided those kinsmen willnae be staying too much longer. They looked ready to spit on the laird and walk out. Soon as they go, I think Gib and Wattie will be going to Lady Kirstie's bedchamber. I gave her a dagger, but it willnae help her much against those two brutes, ‘less she sticks it into her own sweet heart, poor lass."
"My lady wouldnae do that. She would kill one of those pigs instead. That is what she would do,” Callum said.
"No need to get so heated, lad. I thought she might use it on one of those ugly fools, that I did. ‘Course, she kills one of them and the other will just up and snap that lovely neck of hers. But, at least she would go down fighting, aye?” Daisy gasped, then sighed when Payton stepped up to her, bowed, and kissed her hand. “Oh my, oh my. Ye must be Sir Payton. Ye are a bonnie one, arenae ye? Why, ye are as bonnie as I suspicion our fine lad Callum will be."
"I thank ye, Daisy,” Payton said. “And I heartily thank ye for getting a dagger to Kirstie."
"Och, weel, if ‘tis gratitude ye wish to show, there be a fine niche just back here—"
"He belongs to Lady Kirstie, Daisy,” Callum said.
"Do ye?” she asked Payton.
Payton smiled faintly. “I rather think I might."
"Ah, weel, she be a good lass with a heart near as big as the sea. Oh, and who be this fine figure of a mon?” she asked as Ian moved to stand beside Payton.
"He is marrit,” said Callum.
"Weel, what the wee wife doesnae ken,” began Daisy as she stroked Ian's arm.
"Marrit to a verra fierce, verra mean woman."
Daisy sighed. “Weel, off with ye, then. I will keep watch here. Any fool comes round and I will keep him so busy ye could move a whole army right on past him."
After a few more yards, Callum paused at the foot of some narrow stone steps, leaned closer to Payton, and whispered, “We must be verra quiet now. We will be going past rooms that often have someone in them, and Lady Kirstie and I didnae have the time to test them all to see if ye could hear someone moving back here or see the light they carry."
Payton nodded and carefully followed the boy. The constant need to maintain silence, as well as the brief confrontation with Daisy, was costing them precious time. Although he ached to come to swordpoint with Roderick and his faithful hounds, Payton knew that now would be a very poor time for such a meeting. Getting Kirstie out of Thanescarr unseen and safely back to his home before anyone even realized she was gone was the most important thing. The longer they took to reach her, however, the greater the chance was that they would not find her alone.
Callum suddenly stopped again and Payton tensed. It was soon obvious that the boy was making use of another peephole. Callum then put his mouth near the hole and made the sound of the mourning dove. After a long, tense moment, the sound of a blackbird came back, faint but clear. The sounds were repeated twice more with slight variations before Callum grinned at him.
"She is alone,” he announced, and started to open the door.
Payton quickly moved to help him with the heavy door. Callum was the first to step into the room and was immediately swept up into Kirstie's arms. Even as Payton had to smile over the way Callum protested the intimacy all the while he returned the hug, he realized he was actually feeling a little jealous of an eleven-year-old boy. A heartbeat later, Kirstie was in his arms, and he swiftly wrapped them around her, holding her close.
It occurred to Payton that Kirstie meant a great deal to him. Although it was a poor time to have such a revelation, he could not ignore it. The strength of his fear when he had thought her lost to him, the depth of his concern over what might be happening to her, and the joy he felt over having her safely back in his arms had only one explanation. There was a great deal more here than passion, even more than liking and respect. He thought he might even be approaching that elusive emotion called love, but whether he felt that or not did not matter at the moment. Payton was very sure of one thing—he was going to keep Kirstie. Now all he had to do was make her understand that.
He was abruptly yanked from his thoughts when he became aware of how badly she was shaking. “Kirstie?"
Kirstie gave him a quick, hard kiss to distract him from asking any questions. The miracle she had been praying for had arrived. She did not want to waste any time talking. Despite her various pains and the cold fear she could not shake, she wanted to leave. Now.
"We must go,” she said, grasping his hand and pulling him back through the door he had just entered through. “There isnae any time to talk. Later. I will tell ye all that was said
and done. Later."
Payton decided not to argue. He followed her out, pausing only to help Callum shut the door behind them. They moved swiftly and silently until they reached the place where Daisy still waited.
"Oh, thank ye God,” Daisy muttered, and gave Kirstie a brief hug. “Ye go, lass. Go and find a safe place."
"I will.” Kirstie handed the woman the dagger that had brought her such comfort. “Here, take this back."
"Ye can keep it."
"Nay. Ye dinnae want anyone to notice it is missing.” She glanced at the well-armed trio waiting for her. “I am weel protected."
"Aye, that ye are.” Daisy hugged her again and whispered, “Make him come with a yell once for me, lass."
Although she could feel herself blushing, Kirstie winked at the woman and whispered back, “I will. Watch your back."
"Always.” Daisy watched them disappear into the dark, sighed, and headed back to her kitchens to await the uproar.
Roderick stared at the empty bedchamber in open-mouthed disbelief. He was only faintly aware of how Gib and Wattie cursed as they fruitlessly searched the room. Somehow she had escaped him again. Frowning slightly, he moved to look out the open window, but was not surprised when he did not see her body sprawled on the ground below. In truth, he was disappointed. It would have solved so many of his problems and been relatively easy to explain.
"She didnae go out that way, did she?” asked Wattie as he moved to stand by Roderick and look out the window.
"Oh, nay, nay! She didnae! Please say she didnae!"
The woman who had cried out those words suddenly pushed her way between Roderick and Wattie. She stared out the window, then sighed, and wiped the tears from her round face with the corner of her somewhat dirty apron. It took Roderick a long second look to recognize the kitchen maid Daisy. He hastily stepped back, away from the smell of turnips and sweat.
"Ye gave me such a fright,” said Daisy.
"What are ye doing here?” demanded Roderick.
"I came to collect the tray I left when I brought her some food earlier,” Daisy replied as she moved toward the table.
"Food? I ordered no food brought to my wife.” He marched over to study the remnants of Kirstie's meal. “'Twas a cursed feast! I ne'er ordered this!"
"Weel, someone did for I was given this tray and told to bring it up here.” Daisy shrugged. “'Tisnae my place to ask questions."
"I am cursed! Surrounded by fools and traitors!” Roderick cleared the table with one sweep of his arm.
Daisy knelt down and began to clean up the mess he had just made. She went slowly about the chore, listening to Roderick rant. Gib and Wattie tried to offer plans for getting Lady Kirstie back, but the laird was beyond listening. From what Daisy could understand, the man was only interested in killing Lady Kirstie and anyone else she had ever spoken to. Although she had always suspected the laird was not right in the head, Daisy began to think the trouble Kirstie and her allies were causing the man was pushing Sir Roderick deep into insanity. She winced when he finally left the room, for the curses and threats he was bellowing out were almost painful to listen to.
As she got to her feet, she realized Wattie and Gib were still there, staring at her with a look she easily recognized. “What do ye two fools want?"
"Weel, now, Daisy,” replied Gib as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, “me and Wattie came up here all hard and ready for a good tupping and the bitch is gone. But, we are still hard and ready."
"Ah, I see, and ye think I ought to take care of that,” said Daisy, struggling to look alarmed.
"We will give ye a shilling each,” said Gib even as he tugged her toward the bed.
"What? Why should we be paying her?” demanded Wattie even as he started to take off his clothes.
"'Twill make her work harder, isnae that right, Daisy?” asked Gib as he, too, started to take his clothes off.
"Aye, if ye give me the shillings now and if one of ye fools shuts the door."
Daisy quickly grabbed the shillings from Gib and slipped them into the pocket of her apron. If she was lucky, she would get away with the coins before one of the men thought to steal them back. As she undressed, she watched a now-naked Wattie walk to the door and shut it. He was a pig with very little skill, but he was hung like a bull. It was the same with Gib, although he could reveal a trick or two when he was feeling kindly. She also knew they would take her whether she said aye or nay. By agreeing to it, she would save herself a few bruises.
Even as Wattie shoved her down onto the bed and climbed on top of her, Daisy told herself she was helping Lady Kirstie in a small way. If both men wore themselves out using her, they could not be working to calm Sir Roderick down or trying to get Lady Kirstie back for him. The lady would have time to get away, to prepare for Sir Roderick's next attack. Daisy winced as Wattie slammed into her, but then Gib started to feast on her breasts. Between the two of them, she mused, she might actually gain a little enjoyment out of it all. She thought of the man Lady Kirstie would be bedding down with and sighed with a mixture of envy and happiness for the little lady. Closing her eyes, Daisy pictured the two men she had seen in the passageway and soon decided that imagination was a very fine thing indeed.
Kirstie sat on Payton's bed and watched him wash up. She had thanked everyone, told a little of her story to assure them all she had not been hurt, and then allowed Alice to take care of her. The woman had bathed her, fed her, and given her a very mild potion to ease her pain and calm her. Kirstie felt a great deal better, almost as if she was a little drunk, but she knew her fear had not gone away.
When Payton tugged her robe off her and nudged her under the covers, she was more than ready to curl up with him. She moved into his arms the moment he got into bed beside her. As she ran her hand up and down his side, she realized her fear was mostly for him, for the danger she had placed him in. Yet, when he held her so close, she felt safe. It made little sense, but she decided some things did not have to. She wondered if, deep in her heart, she simply could not believe that God would allow the ugliness that was Roderick to destroy the beauty that was Payton, inside and out.
"Are ye sure this is the only hurt he inflicted?” Payton asked, gently kissing her badly bruised jaw.
"Aye, and I hurt him first,” she said as she kissed his throat. “I was certain he didnae plan to carry me out kicking and screaming. So, I got in one verra painful kick ere he knocked me out."
Payton rolled onto his back and Kirstie rapidly accepted his silent invitation. She greedily savored the taste and feel of him. The way he stretched slightly as she kissed his chest and stroked his arms reminded Kirstie very much of a contented cat. Payton reveled in being touched and kissed. Kirstie decided it was past time she gave him a full dose of what he so thoroughly enjoyed. She suspected Alice's potion had eased her modesty and reticence right along with her pain and fear, for the things she was thinking of doing to Payton should have shocked her right down to her toes. Instead, they excited her and made her eager to begin.
She slowly kissed her way down to his taut stomach and stroked his strong thighs. His manhood hardened and twitched against her breasts, so she almost idly rubbed herself against him, delighting in his soft groan of pleasure and approval. When she moved her kisses to his long legs, she slowly dragged her hair over his groin, and heard his breathing quicken. All the way down his well-shaped leg she kissed him, gave him small, gentle bites, then soothed away any possible sting with strokes of her tongue. It was what he had done to her and she quickly discovered that Payton found it as arousing as she did.
Kirstie next discovered that Payton had very sensitive feet. She saw that he was almost as intrigued and surprised by that as she was, which told her she had actually found something about him, something intimate, that no other woman had. A little unsure of exactly how to take advantage of that, Kirstie did her best. It proved to be more than sufficient. In fact, Payton looked ready to stop her play because she was pu
lling him too close to the edge, and Kirstie did not want that. She still had plans, daring plans that she felt sure she would be too cowardly to try later, after Alice's potion had worn off, so she quickly moved to make her way up his other leg.
It was as she kissed the smooth skin of his hip that she grew hesitant. Kirstie could sense a tension in Payton, but was not sure what it meant. He had loved her with his mouth, but she knew that did not mean he wanted her to do the same to him. Or, worse, he wanted it, but would think she was little better than a whore for giving it to him.
"Ye dinnae have to,” Payton said quietly. “I would ne'er have ye do something ye didnae really want to."
The obvious disappointment behind his words was all the encouragement Kirstie needed. She turned her head and slowly ran her tongue up the impressive length of him. Soon, she was lost in the pleasure of giving him such pleasure.
Payton gripped the sheet in his hands and clung desperately to every scrap of control he could muster. She was definitely going to kill him. Since many women did not offer him such a pleasure, he had had little experience with it, but he quickly decided Kirstie had a natural skill men would be willing to die for. She seemed to know exactly when to ease back to allow him to regain some control and thus make the pleasure last. When she took him into her mouth, however, he knew even her innate skill could not help him to last much longer. Allowing her free rein over his body had left him too hungry for her.
A soft cry of surprise and disappointment escaped Kirstie when Payton suddenly grabbed her under the arms, dragged her up the length of his body, and joined their bodies with a little more force than finesse. She swiftly discovered that there was delight to be found in this as well. It was not until his cry of release thundered in her ears that Kirstie gave herself over completely to her own needs. As she collapsed in his arms, she had to smile. She had certainly lived up to her promise to Daisy.
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