by Gwyn Brodie
"Pray pardon, won't you sit down?" he said, indicating a settle with a beautifully embroidered cushion stretching the length of the seat.
She hoped he couldn't see how she trembled as she crossed the room and sat down. Jillian had tried to make herself believe that her feelings for Kade were no more. She realized now that she'd failed—miserably. At that moment she wanted naught more than to be in his arms.
"I was sorry to hear you received a bad head injury on your way here. How are you feeling now?"
Realizing that he cared, warmth drifted over her like a blanket. "Improved, much thanks to your healer and Glennis."
"Good, I'm greatly relieved to hear that. You're very fortunate, Jilly."
A comforting glow flowed over Jillian at his use of her name. She wasn't certain that he even realized he'd said it. "Aye."
"Tell me the details of what happened, so that I can see to the outlaw's punishment."
She inclined her head. "As you wish, laird. A few miles away from Ravenskull, a man wielding a club rode out of the wood. He struck me hard across the back of the head, and tried to hit me again. During it all, the lad's plaid I wore slipped up my thigh, exposing me as a female. Then he grabbed my leg and refused to let go."
An image of his own plaid slowly sliding over Jillian's shapely thigh raced through Kade's mind, stirring his blood. They'd been in the same room no more than a few minutes and already he wanted her. What was wrong with him? He shook his head to clear it. "How is it you got away from the robber?"
"After prying his fingers from my leg, I managed to knock him from his horse, allowing us time to escape. I believe he was bent on stealing my mare, for she's of excellent stock. If I'd not fought back, we'd be dead. I'm certain of it."
Knowing Jillian was a female, the highwayman would've done far more than just kill her. Kade scowled at the dark thought. "Give me a description and I'll send a few of my men out to search for him."
"Well, he had long, dark and unruly hair with a beard to match. And was well dressed for a highwayman, for he wore a doublet of the finest material."
Kade snorted. "It more than likely belonged to one of his more affluent victims. You both could've been killed."
"Aye." She touched her head and grimaced.
Concerned, he uncrossed his arms and moved to stand behind her. "Would you allow me a look?"
"Aye, but have a care. 'Tis quite tender."
Jillian sat still whilst he gently parted her hair. He quickly located an egg-sized lump in the center of a three inch gash. Kade shook his head, uttering a curse beneath his breath. Once his men found the bastard, he'd return the favor, several times over. "From my estimate, if he'd hit you but a wee bit harder, you'd now be dead."
"I ken. But thankfully, that wasn't the case. Your healer said the ointment she gave me should heal the wound quickly. Much thanks for allowing Ian and me to stay at Ravenskull."
He nodded. "You're welcome, of course," he said, sitting down on the settle beside her. He inhaled, breathing in that intoxicating scent of hers—roses. His past longing for her suddenly rushed over him like a wild river. He swallowed back the old emotion. He refused to act the fool in front of her. "Now, tell me the reason you've come to Ravenskull. It must be of great importance since you obviously risked both your lives in coming here alone."
She placed her hands in her lap and laced her fingers together. "My father died less than a month ago. Then a couple of days ago, Gordon MacRae, a distant cousin of his, arrived."As she spoke of her father, her features softened and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.
"I was sorry to learn of your father's death, Jillian. Laird MacRae was a well-respected man and thought of most highly throughout all of Scotland."
"Much thanks," she said, with a sad little smile that tugged at his heartstrings.
Kade almost put his arms around her, but decided against it. He didn't need another broken heart. "Won't you continue?"
"Aye. A short skirmish took place in the great hall. Gordon told me no one had been killed, something I'm finding more and more difficult to believe. But I do ken that several of my guards were injured and all of them were tossed into the dungeon. Gordon has declared himself the acting Baron of Lochstorm until my brother, who is but four years, becomes of age.
If you ken anything of Gordon MacRae's reputation, then you also ken he's a cruel and ruthless man. In the past my father tried to help him, for his own father died when he was quite young. But it seemed to only make him hate my father more. Now, he's taken over Lochstorm, placed me in my own bedchamber under guard, and his paid garrison is terrorizing my people."
Gordon MacRae, hungry for power and caring not who he had to step upon to get it, was everything Kade despised in a man. Unfortunately, he suspected he already knew what MacRae was up to. "By chance, would he be next in line to inherit, if something should happen to your brother?"
She nodded. "Aye, that's why I had to get Ian away from Lochstorm, before Gordon had the chance to cause him harm. I knew he'd be safe here. Whilst my father was yet alive, Gordon had no choice but to wait his turn, for he feared retaliation. When Ian was born and it became apparent Gordon would never outlive him to inherit, he decided to come forward and try to claim Lochstorm another way after learning of my father's demise. I've known all along that the possibility existed, but I refused to believe anyone would be so devious." Jillian suddenly rose from the settle and walked to the window.
The gentle sway of her hips held Kade's full attention. Jillian's curves had become much more defined—and alluring. When she'd entered the room and he'd turned from the window, his gaze had fallen on her ample cleavage and he'd almost choked.
"There's more." She let out a long breath. "Gordon intends to force me to marry him," she said, staring out the window.
Kade wasn't surprised in the least. She was beautiful—breathtakingly so. Any man would be daft not to want to take her to bed. But the thought of any man but him doing so, especially one the likes of MacRae, made him want to hit something—or someone. "What is it you need from me, Jillian?" he asked, uncertain where all this was going.
She sighed. "I need your help in reclaiming Lochstorm, and to provide protection for my brother."
He rose from the settle and raked his fingers through his hair, exhaling loudly. "MacRae is a vicious man," he said, shaking his head. "I ken he didn't allow the two of you to just walk out of Lochstorm, especially with the intention of seeking help from me."
"Nay, he allowed no one entrance to my bedchamber, save a trusted servant, Winnie, to bring me food and drink. I was also permitted a visit from Roderick, giving him leave from the dungeon. Gordon hoped that Roderick might be able to sway me to his way of thinking."
"It appears he failed," Kade said, raising one brow.
"Miserably, but Roderick didn't really try. 'Twas only a pretense to see me."
Kade leaned against the window and studied Jillian. Her pale blue eyes were so expressive. He remembered that about her. Her hair was much longer than before and his fingers itched to slide their way through the silky strands. The memory came to mind of her standing in his tub, her long hair brushing the tops of her thighs. He swallowed hard. "Aye, of course. Roderick and I have spoken occasionally over the years. He's a good man. Enlighten me. Just how did you manage to get out?" he asked, spilling over with curiosity.
"Winnie brought me the stable lad's clothing, and later that night, after giving the guard a tart containing a sleeping potion, I made my way to Ian's bedchamber through the old tunnels behind the castle walls. We followed them until we found the way out. Roderick had a horse waiting for us in the stand of trees beyond the castle wall and you ken the rest."
"I'll be certain to think twice about eating any tart you offer me," he teased.
Her lips trembled with the need to smile, and her blue eyes crinkled softly at the corners. He studied her for a moment, realizing what an amazing woman she'd become. Not only did she possess immense beauty, but intelligen
ce and bravery to match. "Though I certainly dislike MacRae, for what reason should I be willing to risk the lives of my men?"
She looked him squarely in the eye. "I've come here to give you one."
He was intrigued. "And what might that be, lass?"
"Me."
Chapter Eight
Kade couldn't have heard her correctly? Could he? "What are you saying?"
"I'm offering myself to you for the protection of my brother and my people."
He felt as if he'd suddenly gotten the wind completely knocked out of him. He moved over and stood beside the fire. "Did you not think that I might already have someone?"
"Aye, I did, but under the circumstances, I had to take that chance."
"If that had been the case, would you have been willing to become my mistress?" he asked, aware that he was being unfair.
She hesitated but a moment before she answered. "For the protection that you can provide my people and my brother, I'd have become your mistress."
Kade was speechless. He'd never have allowed her to lower herself so far, and it made him angry that she felt she had to do so in order to obtain his help. "Then perhaps I should take a good look at your—qualifications," he scoffed.
She hesitated and blushed, then began to unlace her bodice.
"What are you doing?"
"Showing you my qualifications," she said matter-of-factly, tugging at the laces. "If you're uncertain as to whether or not I'm worthy, my laird, I'm willing to allow you a glimpse at what you would be receiving, besides my ample dowry, of course."
The lass had gone daft. "Stop! I'm not blind, Jilly," he said loudly. "I'm well aware of what you have to offer a man."
She stopped and her hands slowly dropped to her sides. But the few laces she'd managed to loosen exposed even more of her full breasts, requiring little or no imagination from Kade as to what treasures lay just below the surface.
Jillian had no idea how he ached for her. How badly he wanted to brush his fingers across the soft skin of her cheek, and to press his own lips against her full pink ones. Aye, she was daft and making him daft. Kade blew out a deep breath. "You mentioned earlier that MacRae wished to marry you. I gather you don't return the favor."
Jillian frowned, her blue eyes brilliant with fire. "He came to my bedchamber once and almost forced himself on me. I'd rather die than to have him ever touch me again."
"But you wouldn't mind my touch, Jilly?" he said hoarsely.
Her gaze fell to her feet. "Nay."
He wanted her. Right then and there, he wanted her. He moved away to keep from reaching for her. "No man in his right mind would deny that your physical attributes are spectacular. But is there anything you need to tell me?" He'd often wondered if Innis had bedded her before he was killed. Not that it mattered. He'd have wanted her just as badly. But some part of Kade had to—nay, needed to—ken.
Her cheeks glowed pink. "Aye."
"And what would that be?" He'd been almost afraid to ask.
"I'm still an innocent."
"Are you telling me you're a virgin?" He'd not realized 'til then he'd been holding his breath.
She refused to look at him. "Aye." she said, tightening the bodice laces she'd loosed.
He'd hoped she'd never been touched, but hadn't been certain until then. "I well remember your betrothal to Innes Ramsay." In truth, Kade would never forget so long as he lived.
She finished lacing her bodice and returned to the settle. "That was my father's doing, as you well ken. I knew naught of it 'til too late. You should also remember he was killed in a skirmish with your own clan before we could be married."
He frowned."Och! I well remember the day. Innis attacked my father from behind and would've killed him. He held his dirk at my father's throat, and had already drawn blood, when I knocked him away. I'd have run him through then and there, but was afraid I'd kill my own father along with him. We fought, blade against blade. What he'd tried to do to my father, and the thought of him taking you to his bed, fueled my blood lust. Even after he'd succeeded in bringing his blade down hard across my ribcage, I fought, determined that if I should die, he'd die along with me. Given the first chance, I ran him through. It gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing he'd never bed you again."
Jillian shook her head. "He never bedded me. I'd made it quite clear to him, on more than one occasion, that the only place I'd allow him to touch me would be the marriage bed. Saying he was tired of waiting, and insisting it was his right, he set himself on me one afternoon in the courtyard at Lochstorm. When I shoved him away, he backhanded me hard across the face. 'There'll be no stopping me once we're wed. Then you'll bend to my will or I'll beat you until you do,' he'd said to me, with a look in his eyes that had truly frightened me. He then got on his horse and rode away. I sat in the courtyard crying for the most part of an hour. I couldn't believe he was the man I'd be wedding the following week. The next day I learned he'd been killed, but I never knew 'twas you who did it. It sounds heartless, but I breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing of his death."
Kade's sense of satisfaction suddenly increased two-fold. He shrugged. "Then, it appears, lass, I did the both of us a favor."
"Aye, it does at that. Might I ask you a question?"
"Aye, of course."
"If you cared for me as much as I thought you did, once Innis was dead, why didn't you come for me?"
He snorted. "Don't you think I wanted to? By then it was too late. I was already betrothed to Isabelle."
She nodded and rose from the settle. "Tell me of your decision as soon as possible. My brother's inheritance and my people's lives are at stake. You're my only hope and if you decide not to help me, I've no other choice than to return to Lochstorm, and suffer the consequences along with the rest of them. But please allow me one favor. Let my brother stay at Ravenskull. That's all I'll beg of you. For he'll surely be murdered if he returns to Lochstorm." She lifted her skirts and hurried out the door, drawing it closed behind her.
He watched her leave, and blew out a long breath. Had destiny suddenly decided to shine on Kade? Or was it but taunting him by dangling Jillian before him, ready to jerk her beyond his reach at any moment?
***
Kade went in search of Galen, and found him helping a laundry maid. "Once you're finished doing the wash, Galen, I need to speak with you," he said, shaking his head. His friend had no boundaries when it came to what he'd do to bed a pretty lass.
He winked at the giggling girl and followed Kade. "What is it?"
"I've just come from speaking with Lady Jillian MacRae. After the death of her father, a distant cousin, Gordon MacRae, showed up and is hell bent on taking over Lochstorm. He just so happens to be next in line for the title, if anything should happen to her wee brother. She's come to me for help."
Galen frowned. "Do you think it wise to get yourself entangled in MacRae affairs? It could easily turn into a clan war."
"I may have given myself no choice in the matter."
"Och, how so?"
"She's offering herself to me for the protection of her people."
Galen's brows shot up in surprise. Then he smiled. "I can see you've accepted the lady's enticing offer."
"Aye, I have. She just doesn't ken it yet. How would you feel about taking a couple of men and riding over to Lochstorm in the morning, just to find out what's going on?"
"I'm all for it."
"Good." He squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Be careful, Galen. If you ken of Gordon MacRae, then you ken he's a dangerous man. Learn what you can and report back to me."
"Aye, I ken of him. The scoundrel's reputation precedes him. But I'm curious, Kade, as to why you decided to accept her offer?"
Kade shrugged. "You said it yourself, I'm in need of an heir." And he wanted her. He always had.
Galen chuckled. "Aye, and of course, being able to bed a beauty like Lady Jillian to get that heir has naught to do with that decision, does it, lad?"
He smiled. "You're we
ll aware of the past between Jillian and myself. If the opportunity suddenly arose for you to have the woman you'd wanted for as long as you could remember, as your wife and in your bed, would you not wish it to be so?"
Galen chuckled. "Aye I would, but it still sounds a wee bit like lust to me?"
Kade grinned. "Och, well, maybe a wee bit."
***
A knock sounded at the door of the bedchamber, where Jillian had recently been moved. She put down the borrowed hair brush and opened the door. Logan waited there.
He smiled. "Lady Jillian, Laird MacLachlan has asked me to escort you to his table for supper."
"Och, very well," she said, stepping into the corridor and closing the door behind her. "Why did Laird MacLachlan not come himself?"
"He has an important matter to settle. He'll meet you there."
She followed Logan down the stairs and into the great hall. The lower tables overflowed with people, whilst dogs waited patiently for a scrap to be dropped or tossed their way. Ian sat in the corner with several other children about his age and waved to her. She smiled at him, much pleased that he looked so happy. Across the room, a young piper played a lively tune, adding an air of festivity.
Logan steered her toward the high table, the knot in her stomach growing tighter and tighter as they made their way through the crowd. Jillian hoped Kade would tell her of his decision soon. She glanced up to find him intently watching her from his seat. Their gazes locked and held until she arrived at the table.
"Much thanks, Logan," he said, pulling out the chair beside him for Jillian.
"You're welcome, my laird," said Logan, taking a seat at the other end of the table, alongside several of the Ravenskull guests.
Kade smiled. "Please, sit."
"Much thanks," she said, taking a seat.