by Sherry Ewing
Ian ran his finger down one of her cheeks. She shivered in delight as her body naturally responded to the subtle caress. “We have not much time for speech, Lynet,” he whispered tenderly.
She saw his lips moving, but her feeble attempt to pay attention to his words failed her as panic of being alone with him began to set in. “What?”
He looked on her with an amused expression. “Dristan…he will come in search of us,” he answered. “I but wished to speak with you privately so we could come to an arrangement.”
“An arrangement?” Her eyes narrowed when she became suspicious of his motives for being here. Does he honestly believe he can just lay claim to me as easily as that?
“Aye.”
He does! Merciful heavens, did she appear to him as some simpleton, or merely a naive fool who would willingly come to him after a crook of his finger?
Lynet pulled out of his arms and stood behind a chair, as if this simple act of putting such an inconsequential piece of furniture between them in itself would protect her from his advances. “Surely, you jest, or did you not witness the spectacle outside our gates?” She was doing everything within her power not to let her temper flare out of control.
“Nay, I do not see the matter as something to jest about,” Ian replied, taking several steps towards her. “I would have thought you to be happy to see me after all this time, or am I mistaken?”
“I would have been happier if I had seen you afore you sent that bloody note!”
“I had nothing to offer you at the time ’twas written, Lynet. Surely, you can understand my plight and reasoning for sending such a missive.”
“I waited for you for all those years, and you wrote me but a few lines. A few lines, Ian!” Her fingers balled into fists at her side. Although, in truth, she would have liked to have beat them against his chest to drive the point of her frustration into his thick skin. How could he not know what his absence had done to her poor little heart?
“I told you at my leaving not to wait. Nothing changed over the years, and ’twas not ’til recently that I was told I should write so you could go on with your life.”
“You did not even write of your own accord?” she shouted at him and began shaking with fury. She turned towards the fire to mask the anger that was about to get the best of her, but she could not keep the words from pouring out her mouth as she turned to face him once more. “Who told you to send me such a missive?” The words rushed from her pursed lips whilst uncontrolled rage wracked her frayed nerves.
“There was only one who would share such information with me, since she had recently come from Berwyck,” Ian answered. “I do not see how this makes any sort of difference other than, at the time, I thought ’twas only right to do you such a service.”
“Who?” Lynet said between clenched teeth.
“’Twas the Lady Katherine de Deveraux, Riorden’s wife. Was she mistaken by hinting you still held an undeniable fondness for me?”
“Nay, she was not mistaken,” Lynet whispered. Recent memories flooded her mind as she remembered unburdening her soul to Katherine. She had first come to the castle with Riorden, who was a lifelong friend and comrade of Dristan’s and had been the captain of his guard. Looking at the couple, one did not need Kenna’s gift of sight to see how much they were in love, although they had had a rough course to overcome to find how deep that love truly was.
Katherine had returned several months later, alone and distraught, thinking her husband had forsaken her and had turned to another. Heavily along with child, Riorden had at last found her, once he learned his wife was actually alive and not dead at the bottom of the Coquet River near their home of Warkworth. Lynet could only surmise Katherine had most likely felt she was doing Lynet a favor by confiding to Ian. She supposed she could forgive the lady such a trespass. The timing of his return, however, could not have been worse.
“And what of now, Lynet,” Ian continued. He sought to pull her to him, but she brushed off his attempts and folded her arms about her. He gave a heavy sigh.
“Now?” She cried out with a muffled laugh, showing how truly distressed she really was. “Now, my laird, you are far too late, or did you forget I am at present only a prize to be won to the highest bidder?”
“I am sure I can convince Dristan to halt this nonsense of finding you a husband amongst those who may want to win your hand,” Ian declared. “Besides, I must needs marry, else the elders of the clan plan on ensuring they choose a bride for me.”
“Oh, do they now?” she huffed. “And, I suppose, you think I would at least be biddable and thankful to become your wife more so than any other of your acquaintance?”
“Why should my bride not be, at least, someone with whom I am familiar? At least, I know you.”
“Ha! You do not know me, else you would have been here long ago and not kept me waiting six long years to see you again!”
He advanced on her ’til she felt the wall pressed against her back. With nowhere else to turn, she held him back by firmly placing her hands upon his chest. Touching him was a huge mistake, for there was nothing but hard muscles beneath her fingertips, as solid as the stones behind her!
“Tell me you are not happy to see me, sweet Lynet.” The huskiness in his voice was almost her undoing, yet again.
She lifted her eyes to meet his. Damn! Mistake number two! She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much she had missed him. “I am not happy to see you!” she retorted meaningfully. Lifting her chin a notch, she prayed the expression she gave him was a defiant one. His chuckle led her to believe she had failed in her quest to appear indifferent to his charms.
“Perchance, you should tell your eyes that, little one, for your gaze tells me your lips speak a falsehood.” His grin was surely from the devil himself, as it broadened whilst she attempted to mask her feelings for him. His deep laughter rumbled in his chest, only giving evidence she had completely forgotten her hands were still pressed upon his granite-like torso. She let go quickly with the feeling she had been burned.
“Go back to the Highlands and marry some other witless girl. I care not who you wed, as long as ’tis not me,” she yelled, pulling herself from his arms and making her way to the door. She slid the bolt back and opened the door, only to come face to face with a very angry brother-in-law.
“Is there something amiss here?” Dristan demanded.
“Nay,” Lynet cried out in frustration, “nothing is amiss. Ian and I are finished here. Let the damn games begin!”
She did not wait for his response, but ran down the corridor to her chamber. Flinging herself face down upon her bed, she allowed the tears of her frustration to finally spill forth like the churning waves of a turbulent sea. ’Twould be hours later afore she came to the sad realization she had not even acknowledged Rolf’s presence or concerned look whilst he had been standing next to their liege’s side.
Chapter Seven
“’Tis been some time since we have all been together,” Dristan drawled to the men gathered in his solar.
“Hear! Hear!” The men agreed with him as they lifted their tankards and sipped the cool bitter ale to toast their brotherhood. Ian was no different in his regard for those gathered within the chamber, since he had trained and fought beside these men, many years ago. There was only one difference today than what had been found in the past. Rolf, who Ian had once considered a friend, peered angrily at him over the rim of his cup. ’Twas painfully clear, Rolf was no more happy to see him than Lynet. He would not be surprised to find himself up against the man in the coming days in order to win the lady’s hand. He appeared as determined as Ian to have Lynet for his bride.
Conversations filled the room as those who had been traveling told their tales to those who had stayed behind as Dristan’s guard to defend the keep. Laughter came from many as Taegan and Turquine retold stories of their conquests with the fairer gender ’til the sound of the door opening had all heads turning in its direction.
&
nbsp; Surprise registered on many faces when Amiria’s twin brother Aiden entered, followed closely by the youngest member of the MacLaren clan. At ten and four, Patrick had grown since Ian had last seen the youth. He, too, had been gone from Berwyck’s domain whilst he served Riorden de Deveraux as his squire. That Riorden entered the room with his own commanding demeanor directly behind the boy only gave evidence to Ian that the event to follow in the coming day’s affected all who had once lived within the security of Berwyck’s walls.
Riorden’s group strode purposefully to Dristan with little regard to the rest of the men within the room. Their speech immediately became an extremely heated discussion, with Lynet being the topic of concern, as their voices rose in volume. Ian silently viewed the scene playing afore his eyes ’til they turned as one in his direction. He was not sure why Riorden was glaring at him so, but Aiden’s scornful sneer was certainly understandable, despite the fact he had guarded the younger man’s back for many a year. ’Twas obvious Lynet’s brother planned on having words with him.
Aiden took a step forward, but was halted as Riorden put a hand upon his shoulder. After a brief and silent exchange between the two men, Riorden came afore Ian and began looking him up and down. Ian supposed, given the fact he was wearing the colors of the MacGillivray clan, and not the normal clothes of a knight, Dristan’s former captain was somewhat surprised.
“So…” Riorden began. “I have heard tell, you have most recently come into a title.”
Ian shrugged, as though ’twas nothing. “News travels fast, it seems,” he drawled offhandedly. “I did not expect such tidings to reach Warkworth so speedily.”
’Twas Riorden’s turn to give a casual shrug, along with a short amused chuckle. “We were already on our way here to witness this farce Dristan seems determined to play forth. We did not learn the news of your good fortune ’til we arrived, but a few minutes ago.”
“We?”
“My wife Katherine travels with me, along with Nathaniel and Ulrick, although they will now return to their duties here at Berwyck. They will be up shortly, once they see my wife and son settled.”
“May I offer my congratulations on your heir, Riorden? It appears good fortune has smiled upon you, as well. I am pleased all has worked out for you,” Ian offered his well wishes with a small smile.
“Aye. We may have hit a few bumps along the way, but I am most fortunate to have such a woman as my Katherine to grace my life.”
“She seemed a most astute young woman when we had speech at Bamburgh last year. God has indeed blessed you, to bring a woman such as Lady Katherine to your side.”
“You do not know the half of it, nor just how far she has come, my friend.” Riorden’s laughter erupted, and yet, Ian could not for the life of him decipher what the jest might be. “But tell me, why are you─”
Riorden’s conversation was interrupted by a discrete rap upon the solar door. Afore any could answer, the lady of their musings poked her head inside the chamber. Without so much as a by your leave from Dristan, she gave a wave in their direction and boldly walked into the room.
All conversations ceased upon her entrance, but she gave it no mind whilst she made her way to her husband, who leaned down and placed a kiss upon her forehead. She appeared as if she did nothing out of the ordinary, and Riorden did not seem upset she interrupted the men. Ian hid his shock, however, to see another woman dressed in hose and tunic, much like Amiria continued to prefer. There were not many women of his acquaintance who would dress so daringly.
Wrapping her arm around her husband’s waist, she peered about her and gave the men a smile that lit up the room as though the sun had appeared afore them to brighten their day. “Wow! There’s a lot of testosterone in here, isn’t there?” she murmured. “And aren’t the lot of you just such handsome devils, too!” She took another glance around the chamber and suddenly appeared almost shy when she espied Dristan’s captain. “Hello, Fletcher,” she said softly.
“My lady,” Fletcher replied with a slight bow, keeping his eyes fixed on Katherine.
Ian watched her blush afore she recovered herself and leveled those aquamarine eyes on his own sorry form. “Lady Katherine, a pleasure to see you, again,” Ian said with a nod of his head, feeling the need to say something when she continued searching his face.
“Ian, you’re just the person I came looking for,” she finally replied afore turning to Dristan. “My Lord Dristan, how nice to see you. I’m sorry for interrupting your meeting with the men, but you don’t mind if I steal Ian away for a few moments before I join the ladies, do you?” she asked.
An almost comical look flashed upon Dristan’s features afore his face returned to a mask of irrelevance. “Not at all, Lady Katherine.”
“Where is the babe?” Riorden asked his wife in concern for their son.
Katherine patted his arm. “James is just fine, hun. There’s no need to worry about him. Amiria has taken him to be coddled by the other ladies in her solar. I will join them directly, but first, I wish to have a chat with Ian.” She turned towards Ian. “Shall we?”
A sense of déjà vu assaulted Ian’s senses, and he felt as if they had had this conversation afore. ’Twas not too far off the mark, since the last time he had speech with this particular lady, she had been heavily along with child. He offered her his arm, as any gentleman would do, but instead of attempting to find a quiet corner in the solar, she surprised him by beckoning him out the door. He followed her lead down the corridor ’til she came upon an oval shaped alcove with a window. The mason of Berwyck had cut into the stone wall a large enough seat where soft cushions had been placed for a person’s comfort. A soft breeze blew in from the open shutter that allowed a view to the ocean far below.
Katherine sat and made a motion for Ian to join her. As he settled himself across from her, he waited for her to say what she had on her mind. She only perused him with a gentle smile set upon her lovely face. He began to wonder if she, mayhap, had the sight as Kenna did.
“I didn’t expect to see you,” she quietly began, “at least, here, of all places.”
“My circumstances have changed since last we met,” Ian commented, as he thought on her oddly strange speech. “You are not from the area, are you, my lady?” he blurted out.
She gave a muffled giggle that she quickly hid behind her hand and turned, he supposed, to collect her thoughts by gazing out the window.
After several minutes of observing the view afore her, she turned back to him. Her face gave no hint of her momentary lapse of composure. “I’ve always loved the ocean. You can find such a calming effect and solace watching the waves crash into the shore, don’t you think?” she said with a sheepish grin.
Ian hid his own smile, since ’twas hard not to notice Lady Katherine avoided his question by changing the subject. “I do not believe this is why you brought me out here, my lady. However, if you would care to speak of meaningless things, would you now like to have speech about the weather…?” Ian’s voice trailed off, as Katherine’s bubbling laughter rang out once more.
“My, my, but you are perceptive, aren’t you, dear Ian? Very well, let’s get right down to the heart of the matter, shall we, and cut to the chase?” she stated matter-of-factly. All traces of humor had now left her visage, and she gave him a stern look.
“My lady?” he asked, perplexed by her terminology.
“Never mind,” she whispered, evading his concern, yet again. She leaned forward slightly towards him. “Do you love her?”
He was taken aback at the straightforwardness of her question, for ’twas not one he thought she would ask. “Do you not think your query too forward, my lady?” he grumbled awkwardly, knowing there was only one woman she referred to.
Katherine shrugged her shoulders and leaned back against the wall. “I guess it probably is. But given how many men have come to claim her, I don’t really think you have a whole lot of time on your hands to figure out how best to proceed, unless you’ve already
formulated some kind of plan.”
“I have not given it much thought,” Ian replied, raking his hand through his hair.
“Ugh! Maybe you should, before it’s too late!” She started mumbling to herself about pigheaded men and how the whole gender, no matter the time, were completely clueless. Ian was not sure how to respond, so he waited ’til she finally stopped her tirade. “Well? Have you at least spoken to Lynet?”
“I am afraid, I am not in favor with the lady,” Ian replied, “at least at this particular moment in time”.
“Time…yes…funny thing about Time is─”
“I hate to interrupt you, Lady Katherine, but is there a point to our conversation?”
Her brows drew together as she all but scowled at him. “Men…sometimes you just don’t have any hint about what is important,” Katherine fumed. “You can be so stubborn!”
“My lady, what part of this conversation am I missing?”
“Never mind,” she huffed. “Did you tell her how you feel about her?”
His patience at an end, Ian rose, leaned an arm upon the wall, and looked out on the waves crashing into the shore, as if, true to the lady’s previous words, the sight could miraculously calm his fretful soul. It had no such effect. “My Lady Katherine, I have not told Lady Lynet how I feel about her, because I barely know the young woman she has become. She was a mere child when last we met. Since I was so much older than she, with nothing to offer, I did not think of her as anyone else but a pretty lassie I remembered with great fondness, who was also Amiria’s little sister. I, however, am in much need of a bride, and I have come here seeking her out to offer her marriage. I had no idea, to win her hand, I would have to be victorious in Dristan’s public competition.”
“Please, for the love of God, tell me you didn’t just waltz back here expecting to scoop Lynet up and immediately run off with her to wherever you’ll now call your home?”
Ian let out a curse, for that was precisely what he had had in mind, not that he had intended to say such aloud. “More or less. As I stated, I had not thought too far ahead, other than to travel to Berwyck.”