“No, of course they could not. But it is for me to decide how to ensure their safety. You have no right to order about my guards.”
“I did what I felt was right,” he defended.
“But it was not your prerogative to do so.” Her green eyes flashed. “These are my people. They take orders from me, not you. You are a hired guide, nothing more.”
His plan may have worked a little too well, for now her anger fanned the flames of his own. “Hired? M’lady, let me disabuse ye of any notion that I have been compensated for my part in this journey. I am on this errand out o’ the pure goodness o’ my soul.”
“I would not keep you here one moment longer than you wish.” Her voice raised with every word, although she managed to keep her tone low.
“Believe me, m’lady, I have considered what a relief it would be to divest myself of this whole affair.” He stepped closer, pulled by a powerful attraction.
“Then I dismiss you from my service.” She held her head high, her shoulders back. “I thank you for your service to my family, and I wish you the best for your future.” She made an elegant sweeping gesture to banish him from the room.
Instead of leaving, Gavin stepped forward. “If that is what ye wish, then it is what ye shall have. I can do no more than my poor best.” The wild, fey creature before him was the most beautiful, most captivating, most desirable lady he had ever beheld. He may have started this fire, but now it was raging beyond his control.
Instead of backing away, she stepped toward him, the air between them crackling. “If this is your best, Sir Knight,” she said in a silky tone, “I tremble lest I see your worst.”
She was standing so close he could see her chest rise and fall quickly, belying the outward calm she strove to display. He had always considered himself an even-tempered sort of man, but this infuriating woman aggravated and aroused him in a way none ever had.
“Ye have dismissed me from yer presence and I have no choice but to leave, m’lady. I wish ye a safe journey. Adieu.” He leaned down with a scandalous familiarity and kissed first one cheek and then, slowly, the other.
He did not back away nor did she, and they paused, their faces inches from each other. He expected her to back away, but instead she raised her chin in defiance. Her full, red lips pulled him toward her. This would be his farewell. This was his one chance.
Alarm bells rang through his mind, but he was thinking with a different organ altogether. He leaned even closer, his lips a whisper from hers and stopped. She closed the gap, her soft lips brushing against his. Lightning jolted through him, his body aflame with desire. He pressed his lips to hers and attempted to put his arms around her, but all of a sudden she gave a sharp inhale and jumped back, looking toward the door.
Pippa stood in the doorway, her mouth hanging open.
Seventeen
She kissed him.
Kissed him!
Colette’s body hummed with the excitement and pure pleasure the feel of his lips had wrought. Even though she’d jumped back when Pippa opened the door, she could still feel his strong arms around her.
“I’ll come back later.” Pippa gave them a knowing smile and closed the door once more.
Colette could not look at Gavin, but she could feel his gaze on her, heating her through to her core. What was she to do now? This madness was nothing she ought to feel, nothing she should ever feel. And yet now that she had a taste of what was denied her, she could not help but want more.
Much more.
“Forgive me. I had no right,” Gavin said softly.
Colette shook her head, averting her gaze out the window. She could not look at him without wanting to press herself against him once more. “I cannot account for my actions.”
“It has been a trying day and a difficult journey. I should have consulted ye before dismissing half yer guard.”
“And if ye had, the outcome would have been the same, for it was the only thing that could be done.” Colette took a breath and, drawing on all her practice of hiding her true feelings, turned to him as if nothing had passed between them. “Is there any manner by which to travel to Scotland other than this ship you found?”
Gavin cleared his throat, though his eyes still smoldered. “Yer ship has been taken and there is no other captain willing to sail to Scotland. Even if we could commission a larger vessel, we would surely attract notice, and ye may be discovered. The English are searching for ye. Whatever we do, we canna tarry.”
“Then travel we must on this ship, under the guise of being merchants. We shall hope no one challenges our lack of nuptials.” Even the thought of wedding Sir Gavin made her heart pound.
“We should leave as soon as possible.” He turned to leave but paused at the door. “But we still have the problem o’ ye traveling wi’out a maid.”
“I’ll do it.” Pippa opened the door and entered the room, the baby on one hip.
“Were ye eavesdropping?” Gavin frowned.
Pippa nodded enthusiastically. “Interesting things happening in here.” She could not look less like a lady-in-waiting. Her brown ringlets flew wild, her dark eyes were determined, and her mouth permanently set in something of a scowl. There was nothing of the soft femininity of a lady of court about her. Yet Colette had to acknowledge that Pippa would fare better on the journey than any of her gentile ladies.
“That is very kind of you, Pippa, but I fear that there are certain requirements to be a lady-in-waiting,” said Colette gently.
“Thought I’d offer,” said Pippa in a sullen tone. “Me, I can do anything I set my mind to, and it doesn’t look like your fancy ladies had much backbone to them. There’s nothing I fear.”
Colette glanced at Gavin, uncertain as to how to proceed. Pippa was unsuitable, but she was the only one they had left. “What of your family? Are there none who would miss you if you never returned?”
“Got no family, my lady. If I did, I wouldn’t have been in such a damned place.”
“How colorfully spoken, my child,” said Colette.
“You don’t want me because I cusses a bit. Can’t say as I can change, but I can try. So you want me for your maid, or no?” Pippa stood, her feet planted on the floorboards shoulder width apart as if prepared to fight.
What other choice did she have? “Oui, I would be quite pleased to accept you, as I have none other. But you must apply yourself,” admonished Colette.
Pippa smiled and gave her a clumsy curtsy. “I’ll serve you well, will I.”
One problem solved, Gavin bowed to her and Colette nodded in return. She did not know what to say. He paused as if wanting to speak but glanced at Pippa and shut his mouth. He bowed again and proceeded to walk down the hall.
“What can be done for you, my lady?” asked Pippa.
“You may begin by packing this trunk. We need to depart before anyone decides a betrothal is not sufficient and plans for me a wedding.”
Gavin’s footsteps in the hall suddenly stopped.
Had she said wedding?
* * *
Gavin rode hard to Bordeaux to make the final arrangements. Despite the distraction of all that needed to be done, the kiss still held his body ablaze. He knew that single kiss would linger on his lips forever.
Gavin ruthlessly pushed such thoughts aside. He needed to focus on the problem of escaping France. He found the other half of their party that had been sent on ahead with part of Lady Colette’s dowry. They were hiding beside the river outside of Bordeaux, a few wagons lighter than when they had started. They had endured their own misadventures with thieves and bandits.
Gavin finalized arrangements with the captain of the St. Olga, spinning a story that he was a merchant, traveling to Scotland with his goods for sale, along with his family and some business associates. The captain accepted the story and was pleased with the compensation offered. They would lea
ve with the tide that evening.
The flat-bottomed St. Olga floated stalwartly in the harbor. She was by no means a fancy vessel, but one used to hard work and honest labor. It was hardly a suitable vessel for the daughter of a duke, but his choices were limited.
Gavin tried to keep his thoughts focused on his pressing responsibilities, but once everything had been attended to, his mind wandered into dangerous territory. Marie Colette’s perfume still haunted him, the feel of her lips lingered on his. He had broken every rule by kissing her, and truth be told, all he wanted was to do it again. How was he to survive pretending to be betrothed to her? At least he would not have to pretend attraction; it was all too real.
Gavin returned to the inn only to find more trouble had arrived. English soldiers milled about the outside of the inn, casually walking in and out. Gavin’s heart sank, fearing Colette had been captured. He rode around to the back of the inn and snuck into the stables to escape notice. He needed to determine what had happened without drawing attention to himself.
“Sir Gavin!” hissed Captain Perrine, hiding in a dark corner of the stable with the rest of Colette’s soldiers.
“Captain Perrine, what happened here? Has Lady Colette been taken?”
“No. She is still upstairs in the inn. The English have chosen to stay at this establishment, a most inconvenient predicament.”
Gavin took a breath in relief. “They are looking for a large party, so we must not appear suspicious,” he whispered. “Take yer men and the wagons down to Bordeaux. Dismiss all of the stable hands and anyone else not absolutely essential. I’ll slip out with Colette and we’ll sail with the tide.”
Gavin ensured the captain and his men left quietly and then packed his own saddlebag, changing back into breeches and an embroidered tunic. It might pass as the clothes of a merchant. Above all, it would not do to announce the fact that he was a Scot.
Gavin slipped into the common room and ordered refreshments, listening to the talk of the English soldiers, trying to gain as much information as he could. He sat at the table next to one party of soldiers and did not need to strain to hear their open conversation.
“We’ll find her, make no mistake,” a burly English soldier boasted, raising a tankard of ale to his lips and slamming it back down on the table for emphasis. “We know she’s in the area. Only a matter of time before she’s found. A woman like that, traveling heavy, with her dowry and her maids—she can’t hide for long.”
Gavin was relieved the maids had left and that he had sent the wagons ahead.
“What will they do once they find her?” asked a wiry man who needed two hands to raise his tankard.
“Supposed to give her to Major Thomas, maybe even send her to the Black Prince. But I reckon Captain Withers will take care of things for himself. Heard him talking about it. He figures once he gets her compromised, none of the others will want her and she’ll be forced to marry him, giving him all of them wagons of dowry.”
“I hear she’s a beauty, she is,” piped up another soldier.
“I hear that too. Not good for a woman to be too beautiful, makes them think too much of themselves. If I was her master, I’d slice her cheek just to get her attention, mind you. Good to let her know she ain’t got nothing I can’t take away. I bet Captain Withers does the same unless I’m much mistaken.”
Gavin forced himself to remain seated, though it took every ounce of will not to rip out the man’s throat for suggesting such a thing. Not trusting himself to look at them, Gavin slowly rose and walked up the stairs to find Marie Colette. There was no time to lose. They must leave now.
The door was opened by Pippa, who immediately stepped into the hall and closed it behind her, refusing to let him enter. “Go away with you.”
Pippa was a changed woman. It was clear that Colette had taken the new maid in hand and the alteration was remarkable. Pippa’s hair had been tamed and was now plaited into neat braids down her back. She wore a modest veil over her head as befitted her new station. Her dress was of fine blue linen, most assuredly the best she’d ever worn.
“I need to speak to Lady Marie Colette immediately.”
“I’ve been told you’re not to be alone with her,” hissed Pippa, holding her head high. Clearly she was taking her new role seriously.
Gavin had no time to argue. “We must leave now. Is m’lady prepared for the journey?”
Pippa shrugged her shoulders. “She always looks good and smells nice. Not sure how she does it, but she always does. She tried to teach me how to take care of her hair, but there seemed to be an awful lot of rules about it.”
Gavin had to clench his teeth together to prevent him from asking what color Colette’s locks were. It seemed strange to him that he would have known her for so many days and still not know the color of her hair. “Please tell her we must leave at once.” He lowered his voice. “English soldiers are downstairs.”
“Oui.” Lady Marie Colette opened the door. “I am aware. But what of…?” Colette glanced behind her to the baby lying on the bed.
The baby. Gavin had forgotten about that little complication. “Have to bring her, for there is none who will care for her if we dinna do it ourselves. Besides, the landlady thinks her yers from a previous marriage. We canna leave the babe behind now,” said Gavin in a low tone. “I’m sure once we reach my homeland my mother will be willing to care for her.”
Colette gave a quick nod, accepting her fate of traveling with the infant. “But the landlady, it would be best to avoid her.”
“She’s not in the common room. Let us hope we can leave quickly wi’out anyone taking notice.”
Colette nodded in agreement. “We will make all haste.”
“I’ll saddle yer horse and wait for ye in the common room.”
Gavin moved as quickly as he could without arousing suspicion. They must escape the noose tightening around them. He prepared the horses in the stable and returned to the common room, standing at the bottom of the stairs, ready to swoop Colette out of the inn as soon as she emerged. As a matter of extra security, he strapped his broadsword on his back. If the English saw through their subterfuge, he would need to fight.
And fight he would.
Eighteen
The English were drinking heavily in the common room, but Gavin knew their kind too well to wager they would lose their wits to drink. These were Englishmen. They could drink all day and still stay razor sharp and twice as dangerous.
Gavin hoped Colette had not decided to dress in anything extravagant. Any display of wealth would certainly raise the suspicions of the soldiers who were well on their way toward raucous carousing in the public room. Finally, with an air of unruffled calm, Lady Marie Colette glided down the stairs of the inn, her maid preceding her.
Colette wore a relatively simple green silk kirtle and a modest headdress, but nothing could hide her beauty. The shimmering green of the silk exactly matched her striking, emerald eyes.
Gavin stepped forward to offer her his arm, with the ridiculous hope the soldiers in the public room would note that such a woman was with him. This was, of course, stupid since it was their intent not to be noticed by anyone. Yet she was so beautiful—her high cheekbones, her rosy lips, her thick, dark lashes—he wanted to soak in the moment and have it acknowledged by other men. A flash of jealousy toward her future husband came unwanted and unbidden. He pushed it brutally aside. He needed to focus on getting her out of the inn.
They were almost to the door when a man’s voice called out behind them.
“Halt there!”
Gavin eyed the door and turned reluctantly. He considered making a run for it but doubted he could make it with Colette in tow.
“I am Captain Withers,” said the man, striding forward on thick legs and folding equally thick arms across his chest. “State your name and your business.” He took a keen interest in Colette when
he spoke.
Gavin stepped forward, putting himself between Colette and their adversary. “I am Gavin Patrick, a humble merchant, at yer service.” He bowed, never taking his eyes off the English captain. “Would ye be interested in some cloth or household goods?”
“I am interested in your traveling companion.” Captain Withers gave a smile that was not at all friendly. “She is a fine thing. Very fine.” He licked his lips.
“My wife is the delight of my life,” said Gavin, trying to bluff his way out the door. Several English soldiers formed a semicircle around them. He backed up slowly, ready to push Colette out the door and fight them off, giving her time to escape.
“Your wife? I doubt that. You will need to come with us, mademoiselle,” sneered Captain Withers.
“Ah, there you two are!” said the landlady, bustling forward in between Gavin and Captain Withers, which was either very brave or quite stupid, since it was clear things were about to turn violent. “Are you ready to go to church?”
“Church?” asked Gavin, his hand on the hilt of his undrawn sword.
“Why, yes, did you not tell me you wished to be married before departing?” She gave him a sidelong glance.
Bless her plump, rosy cheeks, their hostess was coming to their rescue. “Aye, church. Let us away now,” said Gavin.
Colette did not move, but her hand on his arm squeezed tight.
Captain Wither’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you call her your wife if you are not yet wed?” he asked in a suspicious tone.
“Our betrothal has been long planned and the marriage contract signed. We are as good as married.” Colette spoke with remarkable poise and Gavin was relieved he stood beside a lady who was able to keep a cool head in times of trouble.
“But since you will be traveling a long ways in such close company, you decided to marry before leaving. A wise decision, for I have sailed on the St. Olga. It would be most unseemly for you to travel together without a proper chaperone,” said the landlady.
The Highlander's Bride Page 13