When she left the gathering space, she saw Warrick outside among the other Norman soldiers. She could see from the circles beneath his eyes that he was not sleeping well. ‘Will you walk with me?’ she asked. He obeyed, though she suspected he was still in pain. She decided to send a healer to him later to see if his wounds had improved.
Warrick shadowed her footsteps, but she waited for him to walk alongside her. They passed Rhys, who was gathering the rest of the soldiers around the wagons to begin sorting through the supplies. He raised a hand in greeting to Warrick and smiled at Lianna.
She couldn’t quite return it, for she was aware of how her kinsmen were judging her. As they walked towards her maid’s house, she told Warrick, ‘I am grateful to you for saving me from those men a few days ago. I cannot thank you enough.’
He gave a nod but said nothing else. Then she probed a little more. ‘Does your back still hurt?’ It must have tormented him to follow her when he was still recovering from the wounds.
He continued walking beside her, his face expressionless. ‘I endure it.’
She felt badly for his pain, wishing she could ease it. ‘I hope that one day soon your suffering will end.’
A wry smile crossed his mouth. ‘My suffering will never decrease, Lianna. I lost my...’ He paused and rephrased his words. ‘I lost Rosamund, and now her father will force her to marry Alan de Courcy.’
She slowed her steps. ‘You loved her.’ He didn’t answer, but she could see it in his face. Then she tried again. ‘Is there anything we can do to help you?’
‘Not unless you can stop the marriage.’ He admitted, ‘I know Rhys wants me to remain here. But I need a sword in my hands. I need to fight, to blur my mind from the memories of her.’
He wanted no life without Rosamund, Lianna realised. She reached out to take his hand in hers. ‘I hope that time will ease your pain.’
When they reached the home of her maid Orna, Warrick stood back but kept his hand upon his sword hilt. Lianna’s maid smiled, embracing her as they spoke. ‘It’s good to see you again, my wee girl. We’ve missed you.’
And though she knew her elderly maid spoke her own truth, Lianna wasn’t so certain about the others. ‘The clan members are angry with me, aren’t they?’ she ventured. ‘I see it in their eyes.’
‘They will come to their senses, soon enough,’ her maid assured her. ‘It’s been hard with Alastair so ill. Eachann tried to take on the chief’s duties, but he divided the clan. Some understand the reasons for your marriage, but there are many who believe you should be driven out with your husband.’
Lianna’s spine stiffened at that. ‘And after I’ve brought them food and grain to survive the winter?’
Orna patted her hand. ‘In time, they’ll come to see the truth. ’Tis hunger that makes them so angry.’
Lianna supposed that was true enough. She spent time with the older woman, talking of the clan and hearing the gossip. Then she said, ‘I was married already in England, but Rhys has promised that we could celebrate the wedding again here. Would you help me with the arrangements?’
Her maid’s face faltered for a moment, then she composed herself. ‘Of course.’ She thought about it and suggested, ‘I’ve an old gown of your mother’s set aside. You could wear it, if you like.’
A slight ache caught at her heart at the mention of her mother. She wished so badly that Davina were still alive, so she could be with her on this day. She had only a few memories of the woman, of the way she had combed her hair exactly seventy-seven times, and the way she had braided Lianna’s hair into a long plait, with not a single hair out of place.
Her parents had been happy together, and her father had never remarried. He had claimed that no one could replace Davina.
A part of her wondered if her own marriage could ever be like that. Perhaps her mother’s gown would lend luck to them during this second ceremony.
‘I would like to wear the gown,’ she answered Orna. She wanted the MacKinnon clan to see her husband in a different way, not as a conqueror, but as one of them.
And the wedding might lift the spirits of everyone, with feasting and celebration.
Chapter Nine
Rhys was not pleased by what he’d seen at Eiloch. Although he had busied himself with dividing up the grain and supplies, he hadn’t yet distributed any of it. The open animosity from the people was unwarranted, and even more than that, he hadn’t liked the way several of the men had spoken about Lianna.
They didn’t know that he spoke Gaelic fluently, a fact that he’d deliberately concealed. For now, they believed he knew only a few words, and many spoke openly of their disdain for the soldiers. But soon, he would have to address their disrespect.
‘What do you want us to do with the wagons?’ one of the soldiers asked.
‘Guard them for now, until your lady tells you where she wants the grain.’ He passed by one of the larger men, Eachann MacKinnon. Rhys had taken an instant dislike to the man, especially given the way he behaved as though he were superior to the others.
‘Norman bastard.’ Eachann spoke in Gaelic and smiled at him, behaving as if he were giving Rhys a complimentary greeting. ‘Ye had best be on your guard around the MacKinnons. Else we’ll slit yer gullet while ye are sleeping.’
The insult made his fists clench. He paused and stared back at Eachann, keeping his eyes upon the man. He let no trace of emotion show but let the man continue digging his own grave.
Eachann bowed his head and continued, ‘Ye might have wed Lianna MacKinnon, but none of us wanted her. She’s not right in her head.’
At that, Rhys’s hand shot out and seized the man by his throat. He made no effort to hide the icy rage in his voice as he answered in the same language. ‘Do you think I don’t understand every word that comes out of your mouth?’
The man paled at that, and Rhys tightened his grip. ‘You can think whatever insults you wish about my men and me. But as for my wife...’ He pushed the man backwards until he was forced up against a thatched house. ‘If you expect your family to receive any of the food she brought for this clan, you had best get on your knees and beg for her mercy. Or you’ll get nothing at all.’
He released the man, and Eachann gasped for air. He appeared stunned at Rhys’s speech, and could not bring himself to say anything else.
‘Tell the others,’ Rhys said. ‘Treat her well, and they will survive the winter. Or if you do not, then expect nothing from me. I care not if you live or die.’
He strode away from the man, irritated by the man’s insults towards Lianna. She had done nothing to deserve them, and he intended to put a stop to their contempt. Did they have any idea that she was responsible for their well-being? His irritation intensified with each step, and Rhys passed by several crofters’ homes before he found her pounding a wooden peg into a broken gate. Seeing his wife behave like a common servant was the final blow.
Rhys didn’t say a word, but simply took her hand and pulled her away from the gate.
‘I wasn’t finished yet,’ she argued.
‘I was.’ He needed to speak with her alone, to make her understand that no one had the right to treat her with insolence. ‘We are riding out to the dolmen.’
‘Wait a moment,’ she said. ‘I will summon the horses and get food for us.’ She gave the orders to one of the young boys, and he felt his patience slipping away until the lad finally returned with horses and a bundle of food.
‘We only need one horse,’ Rhys said, lifting Lianna up and swinging behind her. He rode towards his men, where he found his brother Warrick. ‘I leave you in command for the next hour or so.’
His brother gave a nod of acknowledgement, and then Rhys wheeled the horse around, riding hard towards the coastline. He knew his anger was out of proportion, but he needed to understand why Lianna tolerated this behaviour from her own people.
&nb
sp; The wind tore through her red hair, nearly blinding him, but he pushed it aside and held her close. When they reached the stone altar, he dismounted and helped her down. She set the bundle of food upon the dolmen, and he reached for her, kissing her hard.
Something about this woman ignited his desire, and the more he claimed her, the more he wanted her. Her lips met his, and she kissed him back.
‘I don’t like the way they speak of you at Eiloch,’ he gritted out. ‘They do not give you the respect you deserve.’
She wound her arms around his neck. ‘It matters not what they think of me. It is my duty to keep them safe and to see that their needs are met.’
‘They are behaving like spoiled children,’ he argued, lifting her to sit upon the dolmen. She wore a gown laced up the front, with a brat around her shoulders. His attention was caught by the swell of her breasts, and he reached out to unlace her bodice.
When she was exposed to him, she grew embarrassed. ‘Rhys, what are you doing?’
From a fold in his cloak, he withdrew the gift he’d been saving for her. It was a ruby, the size of a quail’s egg, hanging upon a golden chain. He lifted it over her head, and the ruby nestled between her breasts.
‘This is my bride gift to you,’ he said.
Her eyes widened, and she reached down to hold it. ‘It’s beautiful. But Rhys, truly, I do not need jewels.’
‘It pleases me to see you wear it.’ He drew the ruby over her swollen nipple, then across her opposite breast. She closed her eyes, and he saw her grip the edges of the stone in response.
He covered her nipple with his mouth, and the hard tip tempted him into taking her right now.
‘Rhys, someone could see us,’ she ventured, her cheeks flushing. With her red hair falling across her shoulders, and her bare breasts exposed, he had never seen anyone more lovely.
‘That’s what makes it dangerous,’ he murmured. ‘We’ll have to steal this moment before anyone finds us.’ He slid his palms up the backs of her thighs, and she parted her legs. When he reached between them, he found that she was already wet. ‘This excites you, doesn’t it? The fear of someone finding us together.’
Her brown eyes locked with his, and she reached down to help him unfasten the trews he’d worn. Her hands slid over his erect length, and she moved to sit at the edge of the dolmen. Rhys guided her legs around his waist, and sank within her.
She gasped as he filled her, and he used the ruby to tease one of her nipples. ‘Those people don’t know all that you do for them,’ he said, revelling in her moist warmth surrounding him. ‘And until they show you the respect you deserve, they will get nothing from me. No food. No supplies.’ He penetrated her, cupping her hips as she lay across the stone table.
She lifted her hips to take him deeper, but he made love to her slowly, tantalising her as he entered and withdrew.
‘I don’t want anyone to suffer,’ she answered, her voice breathless. ‘They need the food. Especially the ch-children.’ She shuddered as her own arousal rolled over her. He could feel the inner quaking of her muscles, and he wanted more.
‘If they accept you as their lady and treat you with the respect I demand, they will have all they need.’ He drew her to sit up on the dolmen, and he thrust hard, taking her swiftly. ‘But if I hear of insolence or disrespect, I swear to you, they will get nothing.’
She gasped at the invasion of his shaft. He remained embedded there, holding her thighs as she was balanced upon the stone. Her face held shock, as if she had never imagined he would do such a thing.
‘Just imagine it,’ he murmured against her mouth. ‘Someone could come upon us at any time. They would see me thrusting inside you.’
He imitated his own words, sliding in deep, and watching as she softened to him, accepting his intrusion. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and he supported her back as he laid her down, taking her upon the table.
‘We have to hurry before they find us. And I won’t stop claiming you, until you cry out with pleasure.’
His words provoked her, and her face grew pained as she strained towards the release point she craved. She moved her hips against him, pressing him close.
‘Rhys,’ she moaned, as he slowed his pace. ‘I cannot bear it.’ She was like heated silk around his length, and he loved watching her unravel.
Lianna cried out, her nails digging into his skin as he increased the pace. He was careful not to abrade her skin against the stone table, but he showed no mercy, wanting to drive her wild with need. He leaned down and took her nipple into his mouth, suckling hard as he continued to penetrate her body, over and over.
Her reaction was carnal, and she went liquid against him, shattering as he pounded, again and again. ‘Rhys!’
‘Yes,’ he growled. ‘Beg me for more. You know that I am the only man who has ever made you feel this way. The only man who will ever touch you.’
Her body bowed beneath him, seizing up as her release rolled over her. Her breath came in keening cries in rhythm to his lovemaking.
Only then did he give in to his own urges. Her body tightened around him, shuddering hard as he entered her.
‘I need you,’ she cried out in Gaelic.
And her words warmed him, sending him past his own edge of release. He held her closely, his body erupting against hers. They were both mostly clothed, except for her skirts tossed around her waist.
He could feel the pounding of her heart as he laced up her bodice again, hiding the jewel from view. ‘When do you want to be wedded for the second time?’
She tightened her legs around his waist, her brown eyes hazy with passion. ‘In a few days.’
He cared not how much time she needed for the preparations. Already she belonged to him, and he would not be parted from this woman.
Even so, he did not delude himself into believing that the clan would accept him. He had made an enemy in Eachann MacKinnon, and soon enough, he would have to face the man.
* * *
Lianna rode away from the dolmen, her body feeling swollen and deliciously used. The weight of the ruby rested between her breasts like a hidden caress. Her mind was overwhelmed by confusion. She did not understand her marriage with Rhys, for he would not reveal what he thought of her. He would not allow her to make decisions for the clan, in spite of her father’s illness. And she didn’t trust him to know what her people needed.
When she reached the outskirts of Eiloch, she dismounted and walked alongside her horse. She began traversing the perimeter of the fortress, noting that Eachann’s house had fallen into disrepair, and sections of thatch had rotted.
Orna’s cottage was neat, but she knew that the old woman had only a little food remaining. She would ensure that Orna received her fair portion first, for her maid had always been faithful in service.
When Lianna reached the far end of the wall, she saw several fallen stones. She let her horse graze and knelt down, stacking the stones and repairing it as best she could.
Nearby, she heard some of the men talking, but none of them stopped to help her. She had nearly finished the last stone, when their conversation ceased.
Rhys strode forward, and she recognised the growing anger in his demeanour. In Gaelic, he spoke to the men, ‘Would you care to explain why my wife is on her hands and knees repairing a wall, while the rest of you stand around and do nothing?’
Hamish had the grace to look sheepish, but he gave no answer. Another said, ‘Lianna does as she wishes, and we do not interfere.’
Her husband’s face turned thunderous. ‘I want the three of you to get mortar and repair the wall so that the stones will not fall again. Lianna, come with me.’
She stood up and went to his side. In a low voice, she said, ‘Rhys, it’s nothing. I merely put the stones back.’
‘And what else did you see while you were walking through Eiloch?’ His tone held a s
harp edge, and she faltered before telling him of the rotting thatch and she pointed to another section of the wall that needed to be repaired.
‘Give the orders,’ he demanded.
‘Rhys, these are free people. I cannot order them to work.’ If Eachann chose not to repair his own thatch, it was his roof. And as for the wall, it took hardly any time at all to replace the stones.
‘Then I will give the orders.’ He eyed the men who had not yet left to fetch mortar. In truth, Lianna doubted if they would do anything at all. They were about to go hunting for their evening meal, and feeding their families was more important.
In a loud voice, Rhys demanded, ‘I will not stand aside and allow you to treat Lianna as your slave. If a section of our wall has fallen, I expect the men of Eiloch to help rebuild it. And if one of you needs help repairing your roof or walls, then it shall be given.’
There was an uneasy stare among the men, and Lianna felt their unspoken frustration. They saw him as a Norman invader, an outsider who did not belong among them.
She needed to speak with Alastair, for he might know what to do. She said to her husband, ‘I must go and tend to my father now.’
He nodded permission for her to go, and Lianna returned to her home. Her heart remained troubled, for although she knew Rhys’s intentions were fair and good, he should not build dissent by issuing orders to these men.
She walked into her house and was relieved to see that the rushes had been changed. Her father was seated at the dais, reading a scroll of parchment. His wrinkled face held concern, and she went to sit beside him. ‘Is everything all right?’
Alastair set the scroll aside. ‘King William’s forces are gathering. They have asked me to send men.’
An ache settled in her stomach, for she understood that he was caught in the middle. By allowing Norman soldiers to dwell among them, it was as if he were harbouring the enemy.
Forbidden Night with the Highlander Page 15