Seeing where her gaze wandered, Ian smiled. “Jared’s father was patron to several artists.”
“They were very skilled,” Katie commented, continuing her survey of the hall.
A heavy, walnut chair sat on a raised platform at one end of the chamber. The intricate carvings on the back of the chair caught Katie’s attention. It depicted a muscular warrior slaying a dragon without benefit of armor. Rather fitting for the Dragon of Dunbocan, she thought. Did he breathe fire as well?
A second more delicate chair sat to one side. Was that where Lady Asilinn the enchantress sat when her husband held court?
Just then, a slim woman with waist-length, golden blonde hair rushed into the room. The woman hugged Ian. “You live,” she gasped. “Jared should have sent you here with father.”
Ian smiled at his sister. “I had other more pressing matters to attend to, Asilinn. How is father doing?”
“He will live, but we wilna be the man he was.”
“How so?”
“The blade pushed deep into his chest. It pierced his lung. With any exertion, he has trouble getting his breath. He must learn to live with this infirmity. If it were not for Erland, he would be dead.”
“I will go to him.”
“Not now, he just fell off to sleep. Meet with him after he has rested.”
Ian nodded. “Aye, so, and now I am remiss. May I present Lady Katie Blackburn, soon to be my bride.”
The Enchantress of Dunbocan turned. Her sapphire eyes were the same shade as her form fitting velvet gown. The gold braid trimming on the dress made her hair glow even more blonde in the firelight. She inspected Katie with interest. Katie felt as if this woman’s power reached through the air and surrounded her. Sort of like Sorcha’s mystic presence, except it felt warm and loving, instead of dark and dangerous. Ian bore a striking resemblance to his sister. They both had tawny golden hair and bright blue eyes.
Asilinn’s face flushed. “I can see why you found her so irresistible,” she said. Asilinn hugged Katie. “Welcome,” she said. Stepping back, she eyed her brother. “I see the wedding should occur forthwith.”
“What?” Ian looked at his sister. “How….”
“How can you of all people ask? When I touched Katie, I had a brief vision of you entwined as lovers. Would you tell me I am wrong?”
Ian shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. “Is nothing a secret from my meddling sister?”
Asilinn smiled. “You love her. She loves you. This will be a grand celebration.”
“There will be no wedding until my family is freed from Rannoch,” Katie interrupted. “I love Ian, but my family will be free and at our wedding or it will not occur.”
Asilinn raised her brow and looked at Ian. “A fitting wife for my wayward brother,” she taunted. “I see Katie is a high-spirited woman who kens her own mind. I am so happy for both of you.” She took Katie’s hand. “Please be seated and I will have the servants fetch some refreshment.” Asilinn showed them to a table close to the blazing hearth and hurried off.
No sooner had Asilinn left then the Dragon of Dunbocan strode into the hall. Tall and muscular with broad shoulders, he wore his plaid well. His crisp, white shirt enhanced the midnight hair that fell to his shoulders. Katie felt his sparkling, emerald eyes studying her as he came closer and sat down beside her.
Laird Jared MacLean took Katie’s hand and kissed it. “I am delighted to meet the woman who could interest Ian in marriage,” he said. “I trust you will treat him well. Despite his mischievous ways, he loves you as he has no other.”
“How do you ken this, Milord?”
“I found him on the field left for dead, cared for him as he recovered, and listened to him call your name in his restless sleep. You are his muse. No other woman could tame his wild ways and make him want to marry.”
“I heard your sister may have.”
Jared MacLean burst out laughing. “So Ian prepared you for Skye.” He leaned across the table and took her hand. “My little sister is so like Ian that the two of them have shared a special bond for years. Skye may challenge you to test your suitability to be his wife, but all she desires is his happiness. Especially now that she has found her own with Gabriel Ravenwood.”
Asilinn entered the chamber trailed by two servants with plates of biscuits, cold sliced chicken, and jam. “A small repast to tide you over,” she said, sitting down across from Katie. The servants laid out the food and left.
“Are all the forces gathered?” Ian asked. “I would free Katie’s kin so I can finally get her before the bishop and seal our union.”
“Everyone is here and we must make haste. I received a missive from Robert the Bruce. Soon he will call us back into his service. He has a plan to try and capture Edward and hold him until England agrees to recognize the legitimacy of the Scottish throne.”
“Did he give any hint of when?” Ian asked.
“The king waits on word from his spies in England. Now that you have succeeded in your mission, we will depart before dawn tomorrow. We need to stop at The Stagg Inn to join others who are waiting there. Once we have all the necessary forces, we will time our arrival at Duntaigh Castle under cover of night.” He glanced at Katie. “Today we rest and feast… give Katie a chance to meet everyone and feel at home before you leave her in their midst.”
Katie stiffened. “I want to go. I can be of help. I ken all the secrets of Duntaigh. I will ride with you.”
“Out of the question,” both men said at once.
“They are my family. I need to be with you.”
Ian grabbed her wrist and brought her hand to his lips in a brief kiss. “Katie, I canna do this and fear for your safety. You will remain here with Asilinn, Devon, and Skye. I promise you I will free your family. Tessa and Jamie will help.”
Asilinn snorted and all eyes turned to her. “I ken Katie’s father has been poisoned. Perchance Katie and I should both accompany you to Duntaigh.”
Surprised by Asilinn’s suggestion, Katie sat stunned as the two men stared at Asilinn in disbelief. “That is a fine idea,” she agreed.
“It wilna happen,” Jared rasped. “Both of you will stay safe within these walls until we return.”
Katie started to object. Asilinn caught her eye and gave her a slight nod. “As you wish,” Asilinn said.
Ian turned to Katie. “And what of you, love? Will you abide by my wishes?”
Fighting down her agitation, Katie elected to wait and see what Asilinn meant by her nod. “I dinna wish to distract you from the task of freeing my family, so I will abide by your wishes even though I dinna agree with your thinking.”
“Good,” he said reaching across and squeezing her hand.
“Let us eat,” Asilinn suggested.
They finished off the small repast and Ian stood. “I would see father then go to discuss the plans for the attack,” he said planting a kiss on Katie’s brow.
When the men walked out of earshot, Asilinn leaned close. “We will talk more of going to Duntaigh later,” she said. “Now I would offer you the comfort of our home. To keep up appearances, I will place you and Ian in adjoining chambers. The door between the rooms will allow you to be with each other away from prying eyes.”
Feeling her face flush red, Katie drew a deep breath. “I thank you for protecting me from rumor, even though I have brought scandal upon us with my lack of restraint.
“I am sure my brother had a little something to do with that.”
“He took liberties with me… but… but… he left the final decision to me,” she stammered. “I wanted him to take me before the vows were spoken. In truth, I wasna sure what would transpire or what his intentions were and still I gave him that which I can only gift once.”
Asilinn sighed. “Ian is very experienced with the ladies, but I have never seen him so enamored before. I doubted he had the ability to want only one woman. ‘Tis clear that I was wrong. He loves you and wants you for his wife.”
“
Are you sure? I have done many things that put him in danger.”
“I glimpsed the passion you share when you are together. This is not an ordinary conquest for him and he doesna take it lightly. For the first time in his life, he wants to marry and have a family. I believe you want the same thing. Would you deny it?”
It seemed the Enchantress of Dunbocan looked into her very soul. “I canna deny it,” Katie said. “When I thought he perished on the battlefield, I wanted to die myself.” The fire crackled and popped. Katie jumped.
“All is well,” Asilinn assured her. “Would you like a hot bath to wash away the grime of the trail?”
Katie’s mind flew to Ian. How long did it take a man’s seed to take root? Should she wash his residue away? She looked up and saw Asilinn watched from across the table. “A bath, aye, I would love a bath,” she mumbled.
“There is a hot spring deep in bowels of the castle. They say it has a restorative power and I have always found it to be so. I will take you there so you can freshen up before you meet everyone.” Asilinn rose and motioned for Katie to follow her.
“Asilinn… I… I….”
Asilinn paused. “If the seed Ian planted has taken root, bathing wilna undo it.”
Katie stopped short and glared at the woman. “It is true what they say about you. Only a witch could ken my mind even before my thoughts are fully formed.”
Letting out a melodic laugh, Asilinn pulled Katie along. “I only sought to ease your mind. Come, let me take you below. I think I was about your age when Jared stole me from Cairngorm Castle. My father didna arrange a marriage for me because of the value my gift had to him,” Asilinn said. She smiled. “Jared changed that.”
“My father has been ill for the last year. I became like a mother to my sisters and my brother. When my body ripened, I had no thought of marriage. My father’s infirmity protected me from an unwanted union.”
“And then Rannoch petitioned the king to take you for his wife.”
“Aye, so. Now he seeks to take my sister, Brianna, in my stead. She is two years younger than me and ripe by Rannoch’s measure, but unable to see him for what he really is.”
“Your sister desires this union?”
“Aye, although I canna fathom how she could be so taken with the man.”
“He is wise beyond her years. And you did something that made it impossible for Rannoch to be satisfied with you.”
Katie felt her face go pale. “Are you saying this is my fault?”
Asilinn wrapped her arm around Katie as they walked. “It is not your fault that you fell in love with Ian. You gave your innocence to my brother. You let him take you at will and now you hope you carry his child. The two of you are a good match. Some arranged marriages work out well.” Asilinn commented. “I dinna think you marrying Rannoch would have been one of them. Did you ken that Jared and your father have a betrothal agreement for your sister?”
“Brianna? Would this save her from Rannoch?”
“Not Brianna. Tessa is betrothed to our eldest son, Thorne.”
“What?” Katie could not hide her shock. “Father has never told us this.”
Asilinn shrugged and let out a long sigh. “I dinna ken if it will come to pass. I attended your mother at the time of Tessa’s birth. I has unable to save Lady Katherine, but she bade me do all I could for the babe. She feared Tessa would be weak and frail because of her difficult birth. Lady Katherine asked me to join Tessa in marriage with our family as a protection.” Asilinn took Katie’s hand and squeezed it. “After your mother died, Jared and your father signed papers to assure Tessa would be Thorne’s wife when they come to the right age. Your father must have chosen not to speak of it until Tessa is older.”
“Well, Thorne will have his hands full if the union does occur.” Katie smiled at the thought. Tessa would not listen to anyone. She hadn’t in her whole life. Katie almost felt sorry for Thorne MacLean.
“Aye, he will. I will try to prepare him to deal with a wife who shares some of my special gifts.” She laughed. “Perchance it should be Jared who sees that he is ready.”
Chapter 28
Ian walked through the adjoining door and into her bed chamber. “I see Asilinn found you a fresh gown. You look lovely.”
Katie’s hands fluttered across her bodice and smoothed the skirt of the light blue satin gown Asilinn had provided. “You sister is very kind for a sorceress of such great power.”
“That she is,” Ian agreed with a laugh. “Tessa has some of the same gifts Asilinn has.”
“Aye, but your sister is more of a mind reader.”
“How so?”
“When she took me to the hot spring to wash off the dirt of the trail, she saw a thought that passed through my mind and commented on it.” Katie sighed. “’Twas a little frightening.”
Reaching over, Ian traced his finger across her forehead. “What were you thinking, sweet Katie? Did you savor memories of our time together in the cave?”
Feeling her face flush, Katie looked away then back at him. “Nay, Milord. I thought of the seed you placed deep inside me and wondered if bathing would lessen the chance of it taking root.” She paused and gazed into his eyes. “I want your child, Ian.”
Ian must have bathed in the hot spring as well. She could smell his clean masculine aroma when he pulled her close. The scent of him filled her with desire and ignited heat between her thighs. He let out a low moan and sealed her lips with passionate kiss. All too soon, he broke it off and took a step back. Ian’s gaze roamed over her. “You will be the death of me, virgin Katie.”
“I dinna think that name fits anymore, my love.”
“Ah, but you gave me what you offered the night we met. Your beloved innocence was mine to take and I shall cherish the memory until the day I die.”
“As will I,” Katie told him.
“All I crave right now is to take you to bed and show you how much I love you. I want to take you over and over until I give you what we both desire.”
Her pulse quickened. “You want to give me your child.”
His knuckles traced her cheek. “Aye, love, nothing would make me happier.” He drew in his breath sharply. “Alas, they all await us.”
Placing her hand on Ian’s chest, she gazed up into his eyes. “I am so moved by their support. I didna expect it.”
“Your father is respected. They rally to save him from evil.” Ian hugged her. “All will be well.” Kissing the top of her head, he released her and took her hand. “Come, time to feast.” He did a mock bow. “Lady Katherine Blackburn, please accompany me to the great hall.”
“It would be my pleasure, Milord.” She gave him a sly smile. “Almost as pleasurable as so many other things I do with you.”
With a groan, he led her from their chamber into the more bustling world of Dunbocan Castle.
The crackling smell of burning peat permeated the great hall. The entire inner circle gathered to partake in the feast that Jared and Asilinn had prepared. Katie’s eyes scanned the room.
A man who strongly resembled the laird of Dunbocan raised his glass in their direction when they entered. It had to be Jared’s cousin, Liam. As they moved closer, she could see that the biggest difference between Jared and his cousin was their eye color. Liam had piercing, dark brown eyes flecked with gold.
Beside him stood an ethereal creature with fire-red hair and perfect creamy skin. This must be the wife once accused of murdering her first husband. Devon MacLean glowed as she stood beside her husband. Her reddish-brown satin gown brought out the magnificent color of her hair. A shot of jealousy sprang in Katie’s chest when she noticed Devon’s stomach protruded in a nice round ball that her husband kept stroking as he talked to her. Would this happen for her and Ian? Ever since she thought she lost him, her desire for his child was almost unbearable. She found herself running a hand over her own flat stomach.
Ian’s hand closed over hers. “Soon enough, love,” he whispered.
Tears welled
in Katie’s eyes. “I pray so, Ian.”
“Liam and Devon, may I present my betrothed, Katie Blackburn.”
Liam hugged her and smiled. “Finally he has found his match.”
Devon’s sweet laugh drew Katie’s attention away from Liam. “I guess you can see we are expecting another child,” she said with a happy smile. “I hope you and Ian find the joy of children.”
“As do I,” Katie said. “How many children do you have, Lady Devon?”
“Just Devon will do, Katie. We are all family here, are we not?” She smiled up at her husband. “This will be our third and I ken my husband wishes for a boy. We have two daughters.”
“I dinna care if it is a boy or a girl,” Liam said with conviction. “I am just grateful our family continues to grow.” He looked at Ian. “I think Skye has her eye on your intended.”
Katie glanced over and saw a beautiful raven-haired woman gazing at Ian. Skye bore a striking resemblance to her brother. She wore a green velvet gown decorated with shiny golden beads that glittered in the candlelight when she moved. Her silky, dark hair fell to her waist and her green eyes sparkled when she caught Ian looking at her. “That is Skye?”
Ian grinned. “Aye.”
Tall for a woman, Skye stood beside an even taller man. Katie surmised it must be Gabriel Ravenwood, her husband. His dark good looks made him appear as if he could have been one of the MacLean Clan, but he rubbed Skye’s back and nuzzled her neck the way a lover does. “One could not tell she gave birth to twins within the last year.”
“Aye, so,” Ian said, pulling Katie with him as they moved toward Skye MacLean Ravenwood. Ian grabbed Skye and hugged her. “How are the twins?”
“Healthy and happy,” she said. “And who is this beauty who hangs on your arm, Ian?”
“You ken full well ‘tis my betrothed, Lady Katherine Blackburn.”
“Please just call me Katie,” Katie mumbled finding herself nervous under Skye’s scrutiny. “Twin boys or twin girls?” she asked.
Skye grinned. “I have a boy and a girl.”
“That is quite unusual,“ Katie said.
Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander Page 20