My Daring Highlander

by Vonda Sinclair

  Seona followed a few feet behind them. When her eyes met Keegan’s, she gave him a brief, shy smile. He had come to depend on those to lighten his mood. He winked in return. Even in the dimness, her blush was evident.

  “How is your aunt?” Keegan asked, glancing at MacMillan carrying her up the steps.

  “Not so well.” Seona shook her head. “She’s very seasick and her ankle still pains her.”

  “I hope she recovers from both ailments quickly.”

  “I thank you. She will be wondering where I am.” Seona hastened up the steps.

  He stared after her, wishing they could’ve talked longer about… anything. The topic didn’t matter to him. He simply loved listening to her light, feminine voice and looking into her eyes.

  He caught up to Rebbie and they headed toward the great hall. “Lucky bastard,” Rebbie mumbled.

  “What?” Keegan asked, even though he knew what Rebbie was referring to.

  “I saw the way she looked at you with that seductive smile.”

  Keegan couldn’t help but grin in response. “She is lovely.”

  “And you are smitten, my friend.”

  “Guilty as charged.” Keegan only hoped he would find another opportunity soon to talk to Seona and spend some time with her. Their kiss the night before, combined with that revealing conversation, had kept him awake most of the night.

  ***

  Seona entered the chamber Hugh MacMillan had carried her aunt into. Patience now lay on the bed and the guard waited a few feet away.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you, m’lady?” he asked.

  “Nay. I thank you, Hugh, for all your help. I don’t know how you put up with me.”

  “Och. M’lady, ’tis no hardship. Would you like me to get a fire started?”

  “Nay. Millie will do that. Where is Millie anyway?”

  “Here, m’lady.” She rushed in from the corridor along with their other maid, Edwina.

  MacMillan left and the two maids fussed over Lady Patience, preparing her for bed.

  “Is there anything I can do, aunt?” Seona asked.

  “Nay, I just want to rest.”

  “M’lady,” one of the MacKenzie’s maids addressed Seona from the doorway. “Would you like me to show you to your chamber?”

  “Aye,” she told her, happy to see she would have her own room and some privacy. “I will return soon,” she told Aunt Patience.

  Her aunt waved her off as if she didn’t want to be bothered with anything. Seona followed the maid down the corridor to the next room.

  “Will this suit you?” she asked.

  “Aye, ’tis a lovely chamber.” Seona surveyed the blue velvet counterpane and curtains on the bed, and the finely made blue, gold and green Turkish carpet underfoot.

  The maid lit a fire in the wood and peat that was already laid in the hearth. “Lady Isobel said you might want a bath.” The maid stood and faced her.

  “That would be wonderful.” Seona almost sighed at the thought of sinking into a tub of hot water and scrubbing herself with a nicely scented soap.

  “I will have it sent up. Supper will be ready in about an hour.” The maid curtsied and left.

  Seona moved toward the small window which offered a splendid view out over Loch Alsh. The orange and gold sunset and the blue-gray mountains reflecting in the water was one of the loveliest sights she’d ever seen. She wished she could share it with Keegan. He seemed to enjoy beautiful scenery as much as she did. But of course, he could not enter her bedchamber. Although she would like him to.

  What would it be like if they were married and allowed to sleep in the same bed?

  She shook her head, trying to dislodge the spellbinding but impure thoughts.

  One of the MacKenzies’ manservants arrived, carrying her large sack of clothing which a pack horse had carried from Durness to Ullapool. Poor animal. Well, the bag weighed no more than a hundred pounds, so ’haps it hadn’t hurt the animal overmuch.

  “I thank you,” she told the servant. When he left, she closed the door.

  An hour later, she was bathed and dressed in clean clothing, wondering if she should’ve asked for a tray to be sent to her room instead of going to the great hall.

  Nay, she wished to see Keegan again. ’Haps he would escort her to the high table and she would get to touch him for a few moments. ’Twas one of the few joys in life.

  A maid arrived to tell her supper was being served. Her heart rate sped up with excitement. But she would not get to talk to Keegan if her aunt joined them. She knocked at Aunt Patience’s door. Getting no answer, she poked her head in.

  “How are you feeling, aunt?”

  “Awful. Just awful!” she griped from the large four-poster bed. “I thought this blasted seasickness would cease once I got off the water.”

  “I’m sure it will go away soon. Can I bring you something to eat?”

  She groaned. “Nay, the very mention of food turns my stomach. I only wish to sleep.”

  “Very well.” Seona exited, and closed the door. She was truly sorry her aunt was so miserable, but maybe she would get some time to talk with Keegan.

  In the great hall, everyone was gathering for the meal. She paused, glancing over the crowded room, and Keegan appeared at her side, as he often had at Dunnakeil.

  “A good eve to you, Lady Seona.” He offered his arm.

  “Good eve.” She savored the familiar and comforting motion of sliding her hand around his arm and feeling his hard muscles.

  “You look lovely,” he murmured.

  She noticed his hair was still damp from a recent bath and that he’d changed into his finer clothing—a newer blue and green plaid, a clean white linen shirt, and a green doublet. “I thank you. And so do you.”

  He grinned. “I look lovely, do I?”

  “Indeed.” She smiled. “Astonishingly handsome, too.”

  “Och. Lady Seona, you do ken well how to flatter a man.” He lowered his voice to a deep, seductive murmur. “That can get you into trouble.”

  A heated blush seared her skin just as they arrived at the table. Keegan pulled out the chair beside Isobel’s and Seona sat.

  “I thank you,” she told him.

  He gave a wee bow and stepped down from the dais.

  “How is Laird Dirk?” Seona asked Isobel, hoping her blush was fading.

  A small frown drew Isobel’s dark brows together. “He is sleeping now. Earlier, the healer soaked his injured leg in hot water and various herbs, then she put some kind of smelly poultice on it. She assured me it would draw the infection from the wound.”

  “Oh, I certainly hope it does.”

  “Aye, indeed. My stomach has been in knots with worry.”

  “He will likely show improvement very soon.”

  The chair next to Seona slid out. She glanced up to find Keegan taking a seat beside her. She smiled, but then felt her blasted blush returning. Why could she not stop doing that? He sent her a wee smile.

  Everyone else took their seats at the high table, including Rebbie and Isobel’s five brothers. She had met four of them when they’d visited Durness last winter. They were devilishly dark and attractive men. But none of them captured her interest the way Keegan did with his tawny hair and blue eyes.

  After grace, the meal was served, starting with succulent quail and brown crusty bread with butter. Seona didn’t realize how hungry she was until she started eating. Never had food tasted this delicious. She barely paid attention to the conversation going on around her about their journey from Durness and the attacks. Enjoying Keegan sitting beside her, which he rarely did, she focused on devouring her food. Though she tried to mind her manners.

  “We would like to stay here until Dirk is recovered,” Isobel said, drawing Seona’s attention. She would also like to stay here, or anywhere Keegan was, instead of going home, but that was impossible.

  “Aye. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Cyrus said. He had the look of a formidable chief an
d warrior, tall and broad of shoulder, with long black hair and penetrating dark eyes. Seona found him to be an intimidating man. But when it came to his family, ’twas obvious he cared deeply for them. After all, he had allowed Isobel to choose her own husband.

  “Dirk was planning to go with the rest of the men to escort Lady Seona and her aunt home and take her father a gift,” Isobel said. “But now he won’t be able to.”

  “What gift?” Fraser MacKenzie asked. Isobel had told her that Fraser was the second youngest brother. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, but he had to be younger than Isobel, who was five-and-twenty. Fraser resembled Cyrus, except he had blue eyes and his expression was much lighter and carefree. In fact, almost every time she’d seen him, he’d been grinning or smirking. And he possessed a leaner build.

  “The horse,” Keegan said. “’Tis the finest ever bred at the MacKay stables.”

  Seona felt bad that Chief Dirk had to give up such a valuable animal because of her. She thought her father would like the horse, but very few things made him happy.

  “Why is he taking him such an expensive gift?” Fraser asked.

  “Because Lady Seona was not able to marry the MacKay chief. ’Tis complicated,” Isobel said.

  All eyes turned to Seona and she was glad she didn’t have a mouthful of food at that moment. She blotted the linen square against her lips.

  “You stole her husband to be?” Fraser asked Isobel with a wide grin, his gaze darting back and forth between the two women. “I didn’t know that. You kept that quiet while we were in Durness.”

  “Nay,” Seona spoke up. “In truth, I was never betrothed to Dirk.”

  “There was merely an old contract between Seona’s father and the late MacKay chief,” Isobel said.

  “Dirk’s father?” Dermott asked.

  This was the first time Seona had met Dermott, Isobel’s second eldest brother, because he hadn’t traveled with the others to Durness last winter. He appeared to be around thirty summers. He possessed dark brown hair and green eyes and was not quite as massive in stature as his oldest brother.

  “Aye. He was also Aiden’s and Haldane’s father. They are Dirk’s half-brothers,” Isobel said.

  “We thought Aiden would be chief and that I would marry him,” Seona said. “Aiden was chief for about a month, and then Dirk returned.”

  “Since Dirk is the older son and a stronger leader, the clan agreed that he should be chief. And Dirk was already in love with me…” Isobel smiled.

  “Indeed,” Seona said. “I did not wish to marry Aiden or Dirk anyway. And especially not their youngest brother, Haldane.” Seona wanted to make sure those present knew she held no grudges. “I’m glad Isobel and Dirk found happiness.”

  “So… who will you marry, Lady Seona?” Fraser asked with a grin, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair.

  Seona’s face heated and she forced herself not to glance at Keegan to gauge his expression. “That remains to be seen,” she said, staring down at her almost empty trencher of food. “As you know, very few ladies are permitted to choose their own husbands.” She hoped they would soon be off the subject of her marital status.

  “’Haps Keegan would be interested in the position,” Fraser said.

  Chapter Twelve

  Keegan glared at Fraser where he sat at the end of the high table. Aye, Keegan was most definitely interested in becoming Seona’s husband, but he couldn’t announce it at a meal.

  “Any man who marries Lady Seona will be fortunate indeed,” Keegan said.

  “Don’t be such a beastie, Fraser, teasing Seona in such a way,” Isobel scolded. She looked as if she’d box his ears if he were closer. “Why don’t we talk about who you’re going to marry?”

  “No one,” Fraser said, sobering. “And I meant no harm. Pray pardon, Lady Seona. I agree with Keegan. Any man who snares you will be lucky.”

  Seona’s blush was still bright enough to light a dim room and Keegan felt bad for her discomfort. Saints, he wished he could declare his intentions now in front of everyone, but first, he wanted to ask Seona to marry him. Regardless of what her father said when Keegan asked for her hand, he wanted to know if Seona was interested in marrying him. To Keegan, that was the most important thing.

  When should he ask her?

  ***

  The next evening, Dirk was well enough to join the others in the great hall for supper, and Keegan was glad of it. He’d hated Dirk’s talk of if something happens to me. Dirk was one of the strongest men Keegan knew and he didn’t want to even imagine him dying. Life was precious and precarious and Keegan preferred to savor each good moment, as his father had taught him.

  Life was especially grand at the moment, for he again found an empty seat at the high table right beside Lady Seona.

  “Good evening, m’lady.”

  “Good evening, Keegan.” The shy, intimate smile that he relished peeked out. He loved it because ’twas a smile she only bestowed on him. Sure, she smiled at the others, the ladies mostly, but it was not the same smile. And the way she said his name heated him from the inside out.

  “How is Lady Patience feeling today?”

  “She is not yet fully recovered from the seasickness, although ’tis not as severe as yesterday. Her ankle is still sore. This whole journey has worn her out.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it.” He truly was, but he was glad Lady Patience’s hawkish glare was not pinned on him this evening. He and Seona might actually get some time alone to talk or…’haps he might steal another kiss.

  He had been reliving the kisses they’d shared and was yearning for another. He was a rogue, he knew, but he could not stop thinking about her and imagining what it might be like to touch her in ways he shouldn’t.

  He also had to ask her if she would marry him… if he could get her father to agree. ’Haps he should speak to Dirk about it first to get advice on what to do if Chief Murray refused his suit. The last thing Dirk or Keegan wanted was a clan war. And yet, Keegan could not accept a nay from her father.

  After Fraser had embarrassed her the night before, she’d soon excused herself, pleading exhaustion, and retreated to her room. He was certain it wasn’t simply an excuse. She had to be tired from all the traveling. He was glad to see she was in fine spirits this evening.

  After the meal, the music and dancing started. Seona could not believe her good fortune in being allowed to sit by Keegan again this evening. Although she was not happy about her aunt’s illness, she was glad to have a bit of freedom. In fact, she liked it so much she was determined to get out from under her aunt’s thumb permanently. But how would she ever escape her father’s heavy hand?

  Beside her, Keegan leaned in. “Would you like to dance, Lady Seona?”

  She flushed, feeling as if she’d been drenched in hot bathwater, but an icy chill quickly followed. Indeed, she would love to dance with him, but she recalled the last time she’d danced with a man. Her father had ordered him tossed out and severely beaten. She remembered the horror of seeing him the next day, his face covered in bruises, his lip split. “Oh… nay, Keegan. I don’t think I should.”

  “And why not?” He sent her the devil’s own grin, full of mischief and daring. She had to force her gaze away so she wouldn’t get pulled into his charm.

  Indeed, half the men who’d been sitting at the high table were now on the floor. Even Isobel was dancing with one of her brothers, since Dirk was unable. He had encouraged it since he knew how much she enjoyed dancing.

  Seona could not think of a good reason to avoid the dance floor. Her father was not here and her aunt wasn’t watching. Likely no one present would care if she danced with Keegan. But what if one of them told her aunt, or what if the servants gossiped?

  Her father, and therefore by extension, his sister, Aunt Patience, would only allow her to associate with certain types of men—those who were titled and wealthy, and who would make husbands they’d approve of. All others were off limits. To their
way of thinking, there was no reason to dance with a man if she couldn’t eventually marry him.

  But… she glanced back at Keegan. He lifted a brow and held out his hand. She could not resist taking it and delighting in his warm skin, roughened from handling a sword and being out in the cold wind so much. He lowered their hands, his thumb stroking her sensitive palm and sending shivers up her arm to her breasts. Heavens! What a sinful sensation he sent through her body with no more than a light touch to her hand. She bit her lip and forced herself not to look at him.

  “Seona?” he whispered, her name more intimate without the formal title of Lady attached to it.

  She dared to glance up at him and found that his light and playful gaze had changed to midnight blue.

  “Aye. I would like to dance,” she said to cover her true feelings, which were far grander than simply wanting a dance. She did not understand the enormity of the emotions and yearnings that came over her. She had never experienced anything of the like before.

  Keegan led her to the dance floor where they joined the two dozen other couples, most of whom belonged to the MacKenzie clan. She felt more comfortable dancing among strangers. She could be herself and not worry about anyone telling her aunt or her father she was doing something they wouldn’t approve of.

  She imagined for a brief time that the man touching her and holding her hands was the one she would marry. Wouldn’t that be a blissful paradise?

  They danced for two more songs, until Seona was out of breath and sweating.

  “I think that is all I can take for the moment,” she told Keegan.

  As he escorted her back to the table, he leaned over and murmured close to her ear, “Meet me in that alcove just beyond your chamber?”