Highlander’s Honorable Oath (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)

by Fiona Faris

  Gretchen blinked in confusion at what she had just heard. So, the laird did not really find the lady alluring after all and had not nurtured any feelings from the first sight of her? She found it so difficult to hide her astonishment as Callum had just told her the exact opposite of what she had expected.

  Staring at him, Gretchen felt the resentment that had lodged in her stomach and chest begin to dissolve. How much she had come to love him, and how nice he had been to her, too. He seemed genuinely kind and lovely. A sense of relief crawled over her, and she was able to take a deep breath for the first time since the day began.

  “Ye will have tae change intae some fancy wears as ye, Ava and Mother will be joining the dinner. I will have ye much closer than that lousy lady. At least, ye could save me another walk of lousiness.” Callum said and laughed huskily.

  “Yes, my laird, I shall gae over in tae my room and change into something beautiful. But I fear that the Laird of MacKenzie might be cross fer ye ignoring his daughter.” She smiled, her face transforming as her natural reserve left her, causing an appeal that was a thousand times more potent than mere beauty. An oddly pleasant little chill caressed her skin.

  “As long as ye stay close tae me, I seem nae tae have the slightest care fer his thoughts. I daenae know why I invited him in the first place. His mere presence has become a burden. Well, the Laird of the MacGregor clan, the lowlands, and highlands are all present. Sae he will have less tae think about me ignoring his daughter. He sure would be too busy flaunting his keep. Dae walk in now and change, and then we can search fer Mother and Ava and walk into the court for dinner.” Callum said, glancing at the sky to check the time of night.

  “All right, my laird, if ye will wait some minutes fer me, I will run in and find something befitting the occasion tae wear,” Gretchen said, flashing a beautiful smile across to him and hurriedly climbed the stairs to her room.

  “Be quick about yer dressing, the Lairds await our presence,” Callum called after her as he watched her keenly in utmost admiration.

  A few minutes later, Gretchen came out of her room, looking dazzling in a silvery blue gown. She turned fashionably all around, smoothing the waist of her skirt and smiling at Callum who was staring at her from downstairs. Callum’s mouth was slightly opened as he admired Gretchen’s vibrant brown hair, run through with streaks of gold. He had seen her in this kind of dress only from a distance on many occasions. At a distance, she was a striking figure. And up close, her beauty was nearly immobilizing. Gretchen had the most extraordinary eyes he had ever seen. Light green and now shaded with dark lashes and surmounted by perfectly arched brows.

  “My lady! By the heavens I could swear, ye look graceful and naturally exquisite. Come and let’s hurry tae the court fer the dinner.” Callum stared at Gretchen, who was walking gracefully toward him down the stairs. He reached for her and waited for her hands to catch his, but suddenly he saw her trip on her gown and fall. He shrieked as he saw Gretchen’s back resting on the stone floor.

  “My lady! Oh, my God! How badly are ye hurt! Oh heavens!” he shuddered and hurried to her, grabbing her by her shoulders. “Where dae ye feel the pain? I shall send fer the healer immediately?” Callum said quickly and made to call out for a guard.

  “Nae, my laird. I will be fine. I’m sorry, I tripped on the edge of my gown,” she said slowly, sniffing as she tried hard hiding the painful look carved on her face.

  “I think I should get a balm tae rub on the joints…” Callum said, and his voice died away into silence as he saw the sudden pain on her face and heard the sharp intake of her breaths.

  A tearing pain and agony went through Gretchen’s left thigh, and she would have stumbled again had it not been for the support of Callum’s hand around her back. “Oh! I apologize, my laird; I can take care of myself. Ye are late fer the dinner. Dae gae and meet the waiting lairds…

  “I gae anywhere until ye are much relieved and could walk on yer feet again.”

  “Oh, heavens!” Gretchen called shakily, clutching at her left thigh. A twisting spasm in her thigh muscle caused her to groan. “Oh….”

  “Where does the pain rest?” Callum asked, swiftly lifting her and lowering her onto a couch in the sitting room. “A thigh cramp?”

  “Sae it seemed, my laird,” she said, looking pale and shaky. Gretchen caught at her leg while her face wore an agonized expression. “It hurts a bit,” she said and eased herself on the couch.

  Callum bent over her, frowning with concern. His quiet voice was wrapped in urgency. “If ye will allow me tae take a look, I then could see how bad it is, hun?” Callum said, arching his eyebrows.

  Squinting at his face, Gretchen could pick nothing but the honest intention and care to relieve her pain. “Yes, ye can, my laird,” she stuttered and nodded.

  “Oh, well, then, my lady,” he murmured and gathered her writhing body into a half-sitting position. He a whispered few words for distractions and slipped his hand beneath her skirts gently.

  “It will take just a few moments. And I really dae hope that my mother or any of the maids wouldnae find us here. It’s doubtful that they will accept that I was just tryin’ tae help the fallen lady.” Callum said with a soft laugh.

  “I might be the least that would care,” she gasped. “As long as it takes the pain away, anyone who walks in could have that as his own worry,” she said slowly in a muffled breath. She felt Callum’s hand slide up her leg, the warmth of his skin sinking through the thick fabric of her skirts as he searched for the knotting, twitching muscle.

  “This is how we help some of our wounded warriors at war, just hold yer breath, and slowly…”

  Obeying, Gretchen felt him move his palm powerfully and over the muscle. She almost yelped at the burst of fire in her leg, and then suddenly the pain left her.

  Callum gathered her to him and made her relax against his arm. Gretchen let out a long breath and heaved a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank ye, my laird. I feel sae much better,” she said softly and smiled at him.

  A faint smile touched Callum’s lips as he deftly tugged her skirts back over her legs, but not without a snappy glance. “It’s my pleasure,” he said and glanced at her.

  “I do nae know how best tae say it, but I t-think ye are sae beautiful, my lady” Callum’s voice came out in quavering whispers as he reached out to tuck a strand of loose hair neatly behind her ear. His fingertip brushed the outer edge, following the curve to the soft pad of her earlobe. “As I could recollect, we had unfinished business that was unknowingly interrupted by our own little Ava,” he said, his gaze burning with strong emotions and lustful desires. He fingered the soft lobe, his thumb smoothing over the tingling surface. “I can nae bring myself tae halt the burning feelings within me right now,” he finally said and gathered her again in his arms.

  “My laird, I…” Gretchen stuttered, losing her composure, and suddenly, she found it difficult to breathe properly. “I think, we s-should gaetae the d-dinner n-now?” she managed to say and stopped with a broken breath as she felt the tip of his index finger hovering around the shell of her ear, tracing the inner structure of her ear.

  Callum brushed his thumb over the taut line of her jaw and the vulnerable softness beneath her chin until she felt hot color spreading across her cheeks. They were sitting so close, and she could not give an explanation of what seemed to be happening, and what would eventually happen.

  Sensing her confusion, Callum drew back and slowly possessed her mouth with small, persistent kisses. The bristle on his face scraped gently against her skin, his fingers ghosted over the fragile structure of her jaw, tilting her chin, his thumb coaxing her lower lip apart from the upper. The instant there was an opening, he sealed his mouth over hers. Gretchen could feel the taste of him on her tongue, a subtle and alluring essence that made her trembled in ecstasy. Callum’s tongue pushed into her mouth, exploring it in caressing strokes and moving in deeper as she offered no resistance.

  After what seemed like
a long time, Callum slowly eased himself back until their lips were barely touching, their breaths mingling. Still not satisfied with the kiss he had just had, he brushed a half-open-mouthed kiss against the corners of lips and another, his soft breathing filling her mouth. The kisses moved across her cheek to the intricate hollow of her ear, and she gasped shakily, her body responding to his tongue, tracing the fragile rim just before his teeth caught her tiny lobe again. She shook in response, sensation dropping to her breast and farther, gathering low down between her now-opened thighs.

  “Ah! M-my l-lairddd!” she whimpered as she strained against him, searching blindly for his hot teasing mouth, the sweet and gentle stroke of his tongue. She curled her free arm around his neck and drew closer to him, sitting on his thighs with her eyes partly closed, while he kept his wrist on her waist and the other on her head, pressing her head closer to him, their pulses throbbing together.

  Quickly, Gretchen realized the front of her bodice had gone loose. He had been trying to unbutton her all the while, but he was caught up in the burning desires and hence found it so tricky to undo her quickly as his hands shook profusely. After some time, Callum had made progress with the unbuttoning and was beginning to undress her, pulling the gown away in rustling armfuls. Gretchen could not resist. She was clouded with a rush of overwhelming passion. She helped him, loosening laces with shaking hands. Lifting her up from the fluffy cushions, tugging her arms free, he unhooked her corset deftly. Although he was in a bit hurry, however, he was slow and precise as he removed the other parts of her clothing one after the other.

  Finally, Gretchen was covered in nothing more than a blush. Her bright skin was scored with temporary marks left by the fastened edges of her corset and the seams of her clothes. Callum’s hands fell into her midriff, fingertips moving sensitively along the blurry lines like a traveler lost in a lonely adventure in some unexplored territory.

  Callum stared at the shallow rise of her chest and the pink buds of her nipples. He called her name softly as his head lowered. His mouth moved lightly against her skin, running up the taut hill of one breast and opening over the fine tip while his hand grabbed the other breast, giving it a rough squeeze. Her hands gripped the impossibly hard muscles of his upper arms, her fingertips digging into the bulge of his biceps.

  Passion smoldered and flamed in high drafts as he slid down his trousers and eased his manhood slowly into her swollen, tender flesh. She jerked a little and then a soft, high-pitched keening escaped her mouth, fading quickly to silence. A flush suffused her limbs, chest, and face, as she arched helplessly against his manhood.

  Callum’s gentle strokes made her moan in pleasure. A continued agitated gasp escaped her as the thrusting continued. It had been so long since she had felt this way. It had been long since she’d been touched on her breast, between her thighs, and her earlobes. She loved the way he fondled her with delicate idleness. She wanted him more, regardless of the current location they were in, she closed her eyes in pleasure, loving the possession and the pain that came with it.

  Time was gradually slipping by, and the room was filled with mewls and moans. Gretchen groaned at the continued thrusting which had now turned fast and hard. She groaned at the sensation of the thrust entering deep into her flesh.

  “Callumm!” she heard herself crying out brokenly, again and again, as if his name was an erotic chant. “M-my l-laird...” her shaking hands descended to his head as he pushed his manhood into her deeper and faster.

  “Ah! Ah! Ah…”

  “Ohh! Heavens!”

  They both let out a hoarse cry as the massive tide of ecstasy swept over them both. Callum fell on her, levering himself over her and cradled her in his arms, his mouth warm as he kissed her lightly on her wet cheeks. Suddenly, as if remembering something important, the weight of his body lifted from hers, and his smile flashed across her. There was no regret whatsoever on his face as he glanced at her. A soft subtle glance.

  “My lady! I couldnae resist, I have longed fer this day! But I didnae know it would come this soon, and in here of all places, I could have thought it would happen, certainly nae in the sitting room where anyone could have peeped. I must have loved ye much, my lady,” Callum, said, still fixing his gaze on Gretchen whose face was still red.

  He walked toward her and stretched his hands toward her. She caught it, and he lifted her up. They both walked to where their clothes had formed a pile on the floor and picked them up. “Would ye nae consider having a change of clothes? I fear that yer beautiful gown might have been ruined by my rough hands,” Callum said and smiled.

  Still covered in a mixture of excitement and confusion, Gretchen flashed him a faint soft smile. She wasn’t sure if she had done the right thing. She couldn’t bring herself to stop thinking of what would happen if he did not want her in his world after all. But deep in her heart, she knew he must have loved her to some extent to have considered mating with her right where anyone could have just walked in. Absently smoothing the waist of her gown, she glanced at him and caught his smiling gaze.

  “My laird, the dress is still in a fine condition, I hope ye have a fine reason tae give tae the waiting Lairds who must have waited, their patience out at the dining table,” Gretchen said softly, fixing her brooches on her chest.

  “I was with the most graceful lady of all, and we were sorting out the future of the keep, of all night, we chose this night. I think that can only offend Laird Hamilton but little dae I care,” Callum said softly and walked closer to her. “Look, Gretchen! I know one part of ye might be filled with regrets about what happened. But I could swear tae ye by all the God of the keep, the heavens and the soil that everything I did tonight was all burned out of my desire fer ye. I have grown tae love ye. The passion burns in me, and I want tae have ye by my side every time. Dae believe me, Gretchen,” Callum said, his voice soft and serious.

  Struggling to hide her astonishment and excitement, Gretchen sauntered to him and threw her arms around him. They both stumbled into a deep embrace. “I believe ye, my laird! And I will nae make ye regret the love ye have for me,” Gretchen murmured with her body still clutched in his tight embrace.

  “If we stay any more minutes, the Council of Elders might raise a search party fer us and how polite would it be if they meet us at the spot clinging tae each other? Shall we gae and find mother and Ava? then we could gae in fer the dinner?” Gretchen said as she slowly eased herself away from the hug.

  “Well, then?” Callum said, grabbed her by her hand and walked with her outside of the keep where the sky had turned plum-colored, the gathering darkness relieved only by starlight and the flares of newly lit touches. Just then, he remembered a guard had been standing beside the door. He must have heard them make love. He searched the guard’s eyes with a smile and wink, and surprisingly, he winked back, and that he was sure was a signal that he had heard them. “My laird, the council members have sent some guards tae search fer ye, and I have sent back word that ye must have been preoccupied with something of the utmost importance,” the guard said and winked before schooling his expression into a frown.

  “Ye did well, Campbell! I will find my way to the merriment soon,” Callum said and flashed a smile across to him and patted him on his back as he moved with Gretchen toward the house of dining.

  As the clean, sweet evening air swept over him and Gretchen, he gulped in deep breaths. The last-minute events played back in his head. Remembering the screams, moans and passion, he glanced at Gretchen again, and at that moment, he vowed that he would love her until eternity. As they joined the festivities, searching for his mother and Ava, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Of all the nights he had ever spent, this was his best.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The merriment and feasting continued. Gretchen and Callum walked together with their hands clasped. Callum’s eyes caught Merriam’s figure and Ava staying close to her. He walked over to them and murmured a few words. After a few minutes, they all proceeded to the
dining hall where the Lairds of other clans have been seated around the table. By tradition, there had been four seats left vacant for the host and his family, although they knew that the Laird had only his mother, but he might choose to signal to anyone to come sit by him which is considered a great honor. As they walked in, all gazes were on them, the council members, the nobles, the Lairds, and the other clan members seated around the room as they rose in honor of the Laird. He signaled to them to sit as he was seated too with Gretchen, Merriam, and Ava. Being the former Laird’s wife, she had been given the seat as an honor. She deserved it anyway.

  To Gretchen, it seemed there were as many invited guests as there were clan members. Many footmen had served as servicemen, all of them clad in full dress livery of black breeches, mustard-colored waistcoats, and blue pigeon-tailed coats. They seated the guests deftly and poured wine, ales, and water with trained expertise.

  She glanced cautiously at the faces of those guests nearest her, and saw the puzzling look on their faces, probably at her presence. Occupying a place so close to the host was a mark of high favor, seldom given to an unmarried lady or a widowed woman with no rank. She wouldn’t be sad about the gazes anyway, if only they knew how close the Laird was to her, they wouldn’t need to wonder.