She laughed at him. “In my time they call that a woman's prerogative. We get to hog all the covers and you get to cling to the edge of the mattress. I have to admit, I'm notorious for taking up all the bed.” Even as she said it, she rolled over to give him more room. “Mary also needs her space.”
“Aye. For a bairn, she already knows she commands the bedchamber and more to the point, has the right to rule the most territory in the bed.” He scooted over as she made room for him.
“I'm sorry I fell asleep on you.” Thinking she was missing something, Jenny levered her torso into a sitting position. “It's very quiet in here.” She turned a worried glare to his handsome face. “Where's Lila?”
“Safe.”
“That's not a precise answer.”
“She's been moved out of the Keep, as I said she would be. Father Thomas is taking care of her.”
“You are crazy.” She scurried from beneath the covers. “She'll have the whole village after her.”
Iaen sighed before he threw back the sheet and quilt. “Milady, she's not hurt, nor is she possessed.”
“What? Possessed?” Jenny shook her head. Married to an idiot, she reminded herself. “She's not possessed. She's an alcoholic. A person who is so attached to the bottle she'll beg, borrow or steal to get a drink. She'll screw anything with a dick to get her way.” Good God, what was she saying? The bigger dagger hitting her hard was Iaen had removed Lila from the Keep. “Tell me she didn't….” Her words got caught behind the clog of emotions gathering in her throat. You're dealing with Lila here. Don't forget, he said, you couldn't fix her and, to a certain degree, she shouldn't interfere. She should let Lila make her own decisions.
Unfortunately, Jenny knew how Lila operated. “Did she seduce you?” As much as thinking about Iaen with her ex-boss killed a part of her, Jenny also knew Iaen would never be happy with a woman like her. She was too forthright, too independent. She'd taken life as it came, regretted what she couldn't change and dealt with what she could. The facet of her ex-boss that was etched in stone was Lila knew what she wanted, and more disgusting, she knew how to get it.
Sex. It wasn't any different than what she'd done the night before. She'd screwed Iaen to get her way. His gratitude was the least expected response, but she knew she was screwing her way to his heart and to get her way.
How many times had she heard Lila say the same thing in gruesomely explicit detail? Hell, she'd called one bad boy rocker a wimp in the sack as she flashed the diamond bracelet she'd gotten from him. Damn it, she'd beat the air out of an Oscar nominated actor's sails by fucking him then spreading around a rumor he was either a closet homosexual or dick challenged. “What have you done?”
The bigger question was could she forgive Iaen if he ‘fessed up to an illicit affair with a bimbo who was going through withdrawal. The answer was a defined—no.
Fuck, she couldn't even blame Lila this go 'round. Her ex-boss was weak, vulnerable and sex was her weapon of choice. She'd tried to warn Iaen not to take Lila on, more than aware of the danger she was. Lila would never care who she hurt. Hell no, she kept her eye on the prize and plotted out the easiest way to get there.
“Jenny, what are you babbling about?”
“I know what you did.” A knifing pain attacked her heart. “You screwed Lila.” She jumped out of the way when he reached for her. “Don't touch me.” Slashing her hand through the air, she blinked back tears. I'm so pathetic it’s ridiculous.
Her skin literally crawled at the thought of being Lila's sloppy seconds. “How could you?” She willed the floor to open up and swallow her whole. Forcing her pride to the fore, she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. The whole time she exuded bravado, tears shrouded her sight. “Fine. If you want to call it quits, I'm okay with that. Just don't say I didn't warn you about Lila.” Have a good time in your misery.
It was too much to take. The thought of Iaen with the wild and kinky Lila killed a part of her. “Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.” Like you'd care about poor, pitiful Jenny.
“Jenny? What's wrong?”
She'd just woken up and already she was exhausted. “What do you want from me? Do you want me to turn a blind eye to your affair with Lila? I can't do it.” She knew she was jumping to conclusions, but what the fuck was she supposed to think? Iaen was a real stud. It wasn't like Lila would let him out of her talons for long, especially since he wasn't her exclusive property.
“Come here.” He held out his hand to her.
“Did you?”
“Would you believe me if I said nay?”
God knows she wanted to believe him. “I don't know. It's not that I don't want to, but she's stolen more boyfriends from her enemies and friends than I can count.”
He heaved an exasperated sigh. “I moved her to Patricia's cottage. That's all.”
“She didn't try to seduce you?”
“Aye.”
“She—” Jenny couldn't go on. She waved at the bed. “Did you?”
“I took her to the cottage and turned her over to Father Thomas. After that I rode to the monastery where I appealed to the Monsignor for assistance with Lila's exorcism. 'Twas a waste of time, but I have a duty to fulfill. I never thought of nor would I have taken Lila to bed.” He let his sentence hang between them for a pregnant pause. “Even if I had the inclination, wife, when would you have liked me to bed her?”
“Oh, sorry. I didn't know.” Her excuse sounded lame to her own ears. “It's just that....”
He cut her off by holding up his hand. “You donnae trust me.”
“I didn't say that. It's just everything.” It was that she had been treated to how Lila operated with first hand accounts of her exploits from bed to bed and club to club. She didn't care where. Nope, her focus was who and what she could gain by petty vengeance. “You wouldn't understand.”
“Get dressed.”
“Why?”
“I'm taking you to where I find my understanding and reaffirm my beliefs.”
“Okay.”
“I'll have Elspeth pack for you. We'll be gone several days.”
“I'm not in the mood for a long trip.” Hell, she doubted she could make it down the stairs before she collapsed.
“Did I say you were given a choice?”
“No, you didn't. It doesn't matter, I still can't leave. Lila needs me.”
“Lila is in the care of Father Thomas,” he reminded her.
“Charlzie doesn't appear very happy. Would you have me be selfish when I'm supposed to counsel her?” Like I have the wisdom to get Charlzie out of her current funk. She was seeking any excuse to not go with him and hated how he'd backed her into a corner.
“We'll heal their union after we deal with our own.”
“Iaen, I can't leave.” She watched him dress, and with every article of clothing he added, he changed bit by bit into the unbending Laird of the Clan Kincaid.
“Be ready before the bells toll,” he said before he closed the door behind him.
Left with no options, Jenny gathered her chemise and her gown. She dropped the blanket she'd wrapped around her body, and tugged on her chemise. “This is stupid,” she mumbled under her breath. “Leave the Keep in the dead of winter? Who the hell do you think you are?”
She had her answer as soon as the words left her mouth.
Iaen was Laird.
The ultimate authority in the clan. He judged conflicts between clansmen and negotiated settlements when the cause called for it. He was judge, jury and at times—executioner. He had the power to call for a man to be hanged by the neck until dead or flogged through the streets, which meant beaten by any man who had a whip, whether they knew how to wield it or not.
She mopped her face with her hand. Her gown, clutched tightly in her fist fell onto the bed. Staring at it, the brilliant blue-colored cloth landed in a puddle and depressed her more. It wasn't so much the color but the acknowledgment she was at his mercy.
Iaen controlled this slice of the wo
rld because he lorded over the land. Not only authoritatively but an extension of his people—his clan.
She didn't even understand the basics of the clan but a point was apparent, she was in the pits of a frigid nightmare. Yeah, she was learning the language and how to dress, but the mentality, that bullish stubborn attitude, kept her on her toes.
As if fate was trying to prove her point, the wind howled outside the animal skin shrouded arrow slit.
Grabbing the gown from the bed and clutching it close to her chest, Jenny hugged her garb. She longed for some warmth to thaw her fear. She stared at the fire willing the dying flames to warm her.
Holding her left hand out to the embers, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she was in the dire straits.
No, she wasn't. She was confused. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she reviewed her time in the past. Stuck here, she had to adapt, or at least that was what Father Thomas told her. So far, she hadn't done too badly. She was jumping to conclusions in certain instances, but that was natural. As Lila's personal assistant, she concluded exactly what would happen so she could counteract it later.
Truthfully, she had to get over the twenty-first century and get into this time.
That involved getting along with Iaen. Especially since she couldn't expect him to act like a modern guy. Part of the problem with what happened this morning was she had expected him to act like one of Lila's conquests.
All of those guys paled in comparison to Iaen.
Get it together.
A knock on the door shattered her thoughts. “Come in,” she called.
“Good morn, milady. Milord requested I help you pack. 'Tis wonderful he's taking you to the border.”
“Do you know why?” Feeling her cheeks flame with a blush, Jenny hid her embarrassment by donning her gown. She busied herself with tightening the laces.
“Milord always goes there this time of the year.” Elspeth informed as she putzed around the room. She gathered the other two gowns in Jenny's wardrobe, plus her undergarments. “'Tis a tradition in his family as his sire did, too. Last year, milord returned with strings of fish, a fair amount of rabbits and a boar for the Christmastide table.”
“You mean this is a hunting trip?”
“Aye.” Elspeth didn't appear phased by Jenny's outraged gasp.
“I am so screwed.”
***
No matter her argument, or how she pleaded, Iaen wouldn't bend. She was going with him, end of story. He was nice enough to give her a crash course in horseback riding.
Her filly was as docile as a house cat and she learned it would follow Iaen's stallion to the ends of the earth if given the opportunity. Iaen lifted her into the saddle, sending a flurry of electric shocks up her side. He adjusted her heavy cloak around her and made sure she gripped the reins correctly. “What's her name?”
“She doesnae have one.”
“What do you call her then?”
“Horse.”
That wouldn't do. If she was going to spend days on a horse's back, she had to call it something. “Can I name her?”
“You may do with her what you wish.” Iaen gained his saddle. “She is yours.”
“You can't be serious?”
“Wife, when have you known me to jest?”
Good point. She didn't even have to snap the reins or nudge the filly into a walk. The moment the stallion moved, so did her horse. “I think I'll name her Buttercup. That was my first pet's name.” It was also her clue to the half dozen passwords of programs she'd worked in back in the future. A sudden solemnness flowed over her. “Maybe not,” she mumbled.
“Milady, there are times for tears and times for joy. This is a time for joy.”
They hadn't even left the courtyard and she was already melancholy. “You're right.” She nodded. Amazed, she watched the villagers come out from their cottages to bid them farewell. When in doubt, nod. The memory of Charlzie and her on that first morning brought a smile to her lips.
The crowd lining the road cheered. Even Iaen turned to stare at her, pride sparkling in his blue eyes. Nothing like a fortunate accident.
“Serendipity,” she whispered. “A fortunate accident.” Keeping her smile in place and nodding when they came to the next family, she thought about serendipity.
Father Thomas had related the story behind The Veil. Its purpose. She hadn't bought the wild tale of the anomaly snatching a person from the future to whisk them back in time with the intent that the 'traveler' find true love in the past. The evidence of what she saw in the office, then her time here had almost proved to her The Veil existed. It was its ulterior motive that eluded her.
Fairy tales and fantasies were fine in romantic comedies, but this was life—real life. Her life.
She'd never had anything fortunate happen to her. Then again, she'd never won even five dollars from a scratch-off lottery ticket or the door prize from a basket bingo, raffle, what have you. It was her closely kept secret, but she honestly believed she'd been born beneath an unlucky star.
Her gaze flowed over the rugged beauty of Kincaid land. The rush of the river lent to the ambiance. In her imagination, she could see the moors covered with heather. The light dusting of snow lent an ethereal feel to the place.
“Milady?”
“Sorry, I zoned out for a moment.” She winced when she responded in English. “I'm distracted.” Flubbing even that much of her explanation, she knew what she had to do. Let go of the future, the ways and all that, and focus on her life with Iaen. “I'm confused.” Now there was a phrase she definitely had down.
“That's to be expected.” He reined in. Easing the filly forward so the horses were side by side, he stared at her.
She reached for him and he obliged her by dipping his head. The power of his kiss shuddered through her.
A roar of approval shattered the moment.
Iaen lifted his head. “Welcome to the Clan Kincaid, milady.”
She held up a finger. “What was that about?”
“'Twas what my father did to my mother whenever he took her to the border. The clan has come to see it as a sign that all is well between the Laird and his Lady.”
“Oh.” That makes sense—in a parallel universe.
Chapter Eight
Did you ever read the story about the little engine that could?
Jenny hung onto the high pommel, her heart racing. “This isn't a good idea.”
“Calm thyself. We're nearly there.”
Great. That they were nearly there wasn't good enough. Hell no. That they were riding a narrow trail up a steep hill was. He'd already taken her reins to guide the filly, but knowing Serendipity was in safe hands didn't mean squat. She wanted that safety net wrapped around her. “I hate this.”
A scream lit from her throat when Serendipity lost her footing. “Stop laughing at me,” she shouted at Iaen when he started to chuckle. “This is not funny. I hate heights.”
“You can open your eyes, Jenny.”
Calling up every ounce of courage she possessed, Jenny cracked her left eye then her right. “Oh, my.”
The view stretching out before her was spectacular. Rolling hills dotted with cottages. She could also see why Iaen came here to hunt. The land below her teemed with wildlife. Her lips formed a perfect 'o' when the shaggy coat of a deer moved into her line of sight. The animal nuzzled something hidden by the high grass. A happy smile crossed her features when a smaller version of the mother peeked its head up and trotted off. It was a scene right out of a travel brochure. “Where are we?”
“This is the highest moor on Kincaid land. Every year I come here to reaffirm why I am Laird.” He swept his arm in an arc. Steering them around, he pointed to the north. “That is Clan Wulfson's territory.”
“Your mother was from there. Something about she married your father to secure peace between the Kincaids and the barbarians to the north. Elspeth told me.” She rushed at the end, hoping she didn't get Elspeth into trouble.
“
Aye.” He nodded.
She watched him close his eyes. Clamping her lips tight, she waited while he silently said something. Inherently, she knew he was praying the coming year was a good one. Staring down at her gloved hands, she added her own prayers to his.
“You do me proud, milady.”
A pang of a foreign emotion chugged in her heart and her smile bloomed. Finishing her prayer, she exhaled slowly. Her gaze immediately sought his. “I could say the same about you.” She meant it.
He threw back his head and laughed. She was about to ask him what had him acting like an escapee from the asylum when he pulled her onto his lap and headed for the trail at a breakneck pace.
“What's up?” The whistle of an arrow slicing through the air had her clinging to him. “Maybe it was a wild shot.” Oh, please let it be a wild shot. A misguided hunter or a nearsighted local.
A sharp gasp and a quick inhalation hit her ears.
“It came from across the border.”
“I don't understand.”
“The Wulfson knows my practice of coming here to hunt for the Christmastide feast.”
“Are you saying he was aiming for you?”
“Keep your head down.”
She didn't breathe until they were halfway down the moor. “Jiminy Crickets. What was that all about?” She listened to the heavy thud of his heartbeat. Unlike the few romances she'd read, the sound of his heart beating didn't comfort her. If anything, it made her nervousness grow.
Iaen heaved a sigh. “I donnae know.”
“Did you hear it hit?” She knew she'd heard it slice through the air but hadn't seen it tear past her.
“Lass, the arrow is in my arm.”
“You can't be serious.” She tilted her gaze to his face. “Okay. Okay. I know, you don't jest.” Her gaze dashed everywhere and nowhere. “Why aren't you stopping?” she asked once they reached the base of the moor.
“I'll not have you in danger.”
“How could I be in danger? The hill separates us from them.”
“If they were to pursue us, the only thing between you and them is my back.”
The Highlander's Time Page 8