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Highland Covenant

Page 18

by Scott, B. J.


  “That does not seem like an earthshattering reason to detain you.” She caressed his forearm with her fingertips, then brushed his ear with a kiss. “I hate that we must stay in separate rooms. Maybe after the meal we could sneak back to your chamber while Mairi is still with Jean,” she cooed quietly.

  “I am sure it will be late, and I am exhausted. It might be better if you return to your chamber after the meal as well and get some rest.” He could not bring himself to look her in the eye, and he could not lie to her face. He wanted nothing more than to take her back to his room and make love to her, but until he gave Sinclair an answer, he would not do anything to further their relationship, or to give her false hopes.

  Ian returned, and within minutes, the hall began to fill with members of Clan Sinclair, and several men that the laird introduced as former Templar masters. Franc recognized the knights who came to their rescue with Hugh, but there were many more in attendance than he knew about.

  Hugh entered the great hall with a distinguished looking older woman on his arm. They strolled toward the dais and after she kissed him on the cheek, she sat in the chair beside Laird Sinclair. Hugh joined the other knights at a table directly in front of them.

  “May I introduce my wife, Lady Elanor,” he said to Franc and Giselle. “These are our guests, ma gaol. I present to you, Francois de Valier, Lady Giselle MacPherson, and Lazarus Fraser.”

  Lady Elanor nodded. “It is my pleasure. I am so pleased you made it to Rosslyn Castle safely, and hope you will stay with us as long as you wish.” She then caught Giselle’s gaze. “My gown looks lovely on you, my dear. Much better than it ever did on me.”

  “I doubt that very much, Lady Elanor, and I thank you for loaning it to me,” Giselle said.

  “Consider it a gift. I trust your chamber is satisfactory?” Lady Elanor added. “And I am told you have a wee son. Is he comfortable?”

  “The chamber is lovely, and my son, Jean, is sound asleep. His eyes closed the minute his head hit the pillows. Mairi is sitting with him.”

  While the women chatted and the servants brought out platters of roasted meat, vegetables, rounds of bannock, and jugs of spirits, Franc continued to agonize over what to do. He didn’t peg the Sinclair for a patient man and knew he wanted an answer. He glanced at Lazarus—who sat on the other side of Giselle, wishing he could have spoken to his friend privately before the meal, inform him of the laird’s offer, and beg for his advice. But the feast had already commenced, and Lazarus was sitting at the far end of the table, so any discussion of the matter at hand would have to wait until later.

  Sinclair rose and tapped an eating knife against his tankard. “May I ask your attention?” He waited for the din of conversation to die down before he continued. “I would like you to join me in welcoming our guests.” He raised his mug and after introducing them to those in attendance, he offered a toast. Following which he made a statement that shook Franc to his very core.

  “I may be getting ahead of myself, but I would also like to announce that I have asked Francois de Valier to remain with us here at Rosslyn Castle, and join my elite group of knights, the men sworn to serve and protect the innocent, and to fight those who threaten to take what we have worked so long and hard to protect.” He lifted his mug in Franc’s direction.

  Stunned by the declaration, Franc caught Giselle’s angry glower. He wanted to explain, but she cut him off before he could speak.

  “Were you planning to tell me before you accepted the laird’s offer?” she snapped and then shoved her chair back and clamored to her feet. She looked at Laird Sinclair and his wife. “I thank you for your hospitality and this lovely feast, but I suddenly find that I am very tired, and would like to go to my chamber.” She turned to Lazarus. “I will have Jean up and ready to leave by sunrise. If you would be so kind as to escort us back to Kinloch before heading home to Fraser Castle, I would be most grateful.” She whipped around, then hurried out of the great hall.

  Franc rose to go after her, but Laird Sinclair snagged his arm.

  “I hope I dinna say anything to upset the lass,” Sinclair said. “But women can be temperamental, and best you let her return to her chamber and cool off afore you try to talk to her.”

  Lady Elanor slapped her husband’s arm, then rose and planted her hands on her hips. “You let him go this instant, husband, or you can find another place to bed down this night. We only just met, and I dinna know much about them, but any fool can see these two are in love, and they need to talk. Now!”

  Sinclair narrowed his gaze, pinning Franc with his stare. “Is that true?”

  Franc shot a glance at Lazarus before answering.

  “Tell him, then go after Giselle,” Lazarus snapped. “I thought you finally came to your senses, but can see I was mistaken. You have wallowed in misery for so long, you wouldna know a good thing if it jumped up and bit you in the arse.”

  When it suddenly became clear what he needed to do, Franc faced Sinclair. “Lady Elanor is right and so is Lazarus. I am in love with Giselle and have been since the first day we met. I appreciate your offer, Lord Sinclair, but my days as a Templar are over, and I plan to marry Giselle if she will still have me,” he declared, then raced out of the great hall.

  ~ ~ ~

  He stopped Ian, and after asking directions to the chambers, Franc dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time, ignoring his injuries, both old and new. Lazarus was right. He had wallowed in misery and self-pity too long, and it was time that stopped. He just he hoped Giselle would listen to what he needed to say, and forgive him for being a horse’s arse.

  He sprinted down the hall, passing Mairi along the way. But he came to an abrupt halt when he reached the door of Giselle’s chamber. He swallowed hard, then sucked in a deep breath for courage—all the time praying she would give him the chance to explain before tossing him out on his ear. Regardless, he had to tell her how much he loved her, and that he never meant to hurt her. That the whole thing was a terrible misunderstanding, and beg for her forgiveness.

  Out of respect for her right to be furious with him, he knew he should knock first before entering her room, but he figured it might wake Jean, so he grasped the latch, opened the door, and slipped inside.

  It gutted him to know he was to blame when he saw her sitting in a chair by the hearth, crying. “Can we talk?”

  Giselle rose and scrubbed her hand across her damp cheeks, then wrapped her arms around her middle, lifted her chin, and cast him an angry stare. “There is nothing to say. Please leave.”

  Ignoring her request, he moved across the room in her direction, determined to stand his ground. She had not yet thrown anything at him, nor had she flown into an angry tirade, so he hoped that was a good sign. “Please just listen to me, and after I am finished, if you still want me to go, I will.” He glanced around the room, looking for their son. “Where is Jean?”

  “This chamber has two rooms, he is in the other one sleeping. I am exhausted and wish to do the same, so please go.” She turned her back to him and faced the hearth.

  Franc approached her from behind. He wanted to catch her around the waist and spin her around to face him, but he refrained from touching her. “I am so sorry about what just happened, and I need to explain. I never told Laird Sinclair that I would remain here at Rosslyn Castle and join his band of knights. You must believe me. I beg of you, Giselle, please listen to me.” He was groveling, but he didn’t care. He would do whatever it took to get her to hear him out.

  “You never told him you would not stay. And you did not tell him we were betrothed either.”

  “He is a powerful man and highly revered by the members of the order. I was a young boy when I was sent to the Holy Land, and spent my entire life showing respect to the masters, doing my utmost to please them, to obey their orders, and to prove myself worthy,” he said. “I
know it might not sound like a good excuse, but I find it hard to break old habits. I planned to tell him about our marriage, and that I intended to give up all ties to the Templars, but he would not let me speak.”

  When she didn’t reply or turn around, he continued, “After he made the offer, he proceeded to tell me how it was my duty to protect those persecuted by Philip’s guard. Reminded me that I swore and oath to God, and that I owed it to those who had already perished to keep it from happening again. He implied that joining his knights was the only way to show my own gratitude for being spared on more than one occasion. Including today when Bateau’s men were ready to kill me and Lazarus, and would have if Hugh and his men had not intervened.” He sucked in a ragged breath, then exhaled slowly. Although he was afraid his words fell on deaf ears, he had to try to make her understand.

  “I love you, Giselle, and you must never doubt it, not even for a second. There is nothing in this world that would make me happier than to marry you, and to spend the rest of my days being a husband to you and a father to Jean. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you.” He touched her arm, and while she didn’t turn around, she didn’t pull away, so he hoped she might be softening.

  “Do you have any idea how thrilled I was when I saw you in Finlay’s shop and learned you were still alive, or how terrified I was at the same time?” Franc asked.

  “I do not understand how you could say you loved me and wished to marry me, Franc, and fear it at the same time?”

  “I thought that if I opened my heart and I lost you again, my life would end, that I could not go on without you?” Franc admitted. “When Bateau caught up with us, and I thought about what he might do to you and Jean, it was like hell yawned before me, ready to consume me whole.”

  “But we survived, and Bateau can no longer hurt us.” She slowly turned and peered up at him through tear-filled eyes. “If you love me the way you say you do, why did you let Sinclair go on. Why did you not tell him immediately that you had no intention of remaining a Templar, and that we were to be wed?” She sniffled, then lifted her chin. “What about Jean? He is so excited about going to live with you at Fraser Castle, and about getting that darn puppy Lazarus promised him. How could you even think of disappointing your son like that? It would crush him. Why did you lie to me when I asked what Laird Sinclair wanted to talk to you about?”

  He lightly swept his hand along her cheek, then lowered his gaze. “Because I did think about his offer, albeit briefly,” he confessed. “It had naught to do with how much I love you or how much I want to marry you.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because I was a coward. For the first time in my life, I was truly afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?” She took a step closer, her tone softening.

  “Of being happy beyond belief with you and Jean and then having it all ripped away from me,” he said. “Afraid that I could not be the kind of husband and father you and Jean deserve. That despite my efforts to love and cherish you both wholeheartedly, I would be powerless to protect you if Philip’s men came looking for me.”

  She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “You know there are no guarantees in life, Francois, but if you go through it afraid to take a chance, afraid to open your heart to love, or to trust yourself, you have no life at all.”

  “What if I am not worthy of your love, or I let you down?” he asked.

  “I could ask you the same things. But I believe when two people genuinely love each other, and do everything they can to make a life and a home together, then they can weather anything thrown in their direction,” she said. “I knew giving up your life as a Templar would not be easy. I saw how the overwhelming need to honor their sacred oaths to the order, and to put duty above all else destroyed both my father and my uncle in the end. But I hoped that our love was strong enough to conquer all, was powerful enough to squelch any fears either of us might have. Was I wrong?”

  “No. I am the one who was wrong, not you.” Franc enveloped her in his arms and caught her gaze. “I was wrong to be afraid to love you, and to let you love me in return. I should have spoken up as soon as Sinclair made his offer, regardless of how much he tried to guilt me into remaining a Templar.” He brushed her forehead with a kiss. “But my worst mistake was letting you leave the great hall without announcing to the entire room that I love you more than anything in this world, and nothing will stop me from making you my wife. That is if you will have me,” he humbly added.

  After a moment’s pause, she smiled up at him. “I want nothing more than to be your wife.”

  Before she had a chance to change her mind, Franc scooped her up, carried her to the bed, then gently placed her upon it, and joined her.

  He gazed in awe at her beauty, then brushed her lips with a kiss, before nuzzling her ear. “I truly am sorry for giving you a reason to doubt the sincerity of my proposal or my love for you.” He nibbled on her earlobe as he slid his hand along her inner thigh with a featherlight touch. “And I intend to make it up to you, now, and for the rest of your life,” he rasped, then continued his intimate caress until found her bud of arousal.

  She arched her back and closed her eyes, a whimper of pleasure escaping her lips. “You make it difficult, if not impossible to remain angry with you,” she purred and writhed beneath his caress.

  “Thank the Lord,” he groaned in her ear, then rolled her beneath him and entered her, claiming her body and soul.

  ~ ~ ~

  As morning dawned and beams of sunlight streamed through the gaps in the shutters, Franc stirred. He glanced at the pleasingly naked woman nestled in his arms, their legs entwined in a tangle of bedcoverings. Being careful not to awaken her, he pressed a kiss to her brow. When she bolted from the great hall, he never dreamed he would wake up next to her, his heart bursting with joy and filled with hopes for their future together.

  He tugged the pelt over her bare shoulders, regrettably hiding her pert round breast from his sight, and removing the temptation to draw a nipple into his mouth, suckling and savoring her taste the way he did until the wee hours of the morning.

  A grin of utter satisfaction tugged at his lips when he thought about their night of unbridled passion, and how he’d methodically removed each layer of her clothing until she lay naked before him. He recalled the softness of her skin as he trailed kisses over every inch of her body and the silken rub of her thighs as she wrapped them around his waist. He remembered how the intoxicating scent of her arousal blended with the muskiness of his own, then groaned aloud. The way she took him into her mouth, her tongue teasing and tantalizing until he begged for mercy, spiriting him beyond the realm of ecstasy.

  “Is it morning already? I feel like we scarcely slept a wink,” she said sleepily, then pressed her lips to his chest before lifting her head. “Must we get up so soon?”

  He held her close and kissed the top of her head. “I am afraid so. The sun is up, and we must think about leaving for Fraser Castle. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

  “Mama!” Jean squealed as he scampered into the room. He paused for a moment and looked at Franc, then hopped onto the bed and snuggled between them. “I am hungry,” he announced. He peered at Franc again, then asked his mother, “Why did he sleep in your bed?”

  Franc chuckled at the boy’s innocence, then ruffled his hair. “Perhaps you could go and get dressed and allow your mama a few minutes to fully wake up,” he suggested. “Then we can go down to the great hall and find you something to eat.”

  Jean’s gaze darted around the room. “Where is Lazarus? Did he sleep with you and Mama too?”

  After coughing to clear his throat, Franc replied, “He spent the night in his own chamber, but I would wager he is already below. If you hurry and dress, you could join him, and the two of you could break your fast together.”

  The boy enthusiastically bo
bbed his head, then climbed off the bed. “I will go and get dressed right away,” he declared and scurried out of the room.

  Giselle sank against the pillow, with the pelt hugged tightly beneath her chin. “I never thought about how I would explain your presence should Jean awaken and find us together.”

  “He did not seem startled or disturbed by it,” Franc said. “Besides, if we are to wed he needs to get accustomed to seeing us sleeping together.” He kissed her cheek, then slid from the bed. “I will dress and take him down to the great hall while you stay put until we leave.” He tugged on his trews, then donned his tunic and boots.

  “I am ready to go. I hope there will be oatcakes,” Jean chirped as he entered the room, then began to pout. “You are not dressed, Mama.”

  Franc clasped the boy’s hand. “You and I will go and find Lazarus and leave your mother to get dressed in peace.” He escorted Jean toward the door, then glanced over his shoulder at Giselle. “We will meet you below, ma chéri.”

  Chapter 22

  “Lazarus,” Jean shouted as they entered the hall. He bolted toward him, then climbed up his leg and into his arms.

  “Did you sleep well, lad?” Lazarus asked.

  “Aye. I had a big bed all to myself. I dreamed about my puppy and going to live at Fraser Castle,” Jean replied, then declared, “I am hungry.”

  Lazarus laughed. “We must remedy that immediately.” He set the lad down and pointed to an empty seat at the end of the dais. “Go sit down and I will join you after I speak with Franc.” He waited for the bairn to scamper off, then faced his friend. “Did you and Giselle settle your differences?”

 

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