Soldiers loyal to him? What him? Is he speaking about Mister Cooper?
“Pardon,” she pulled away from him, “are you speaking about Mister Cooper?”
“Aye,” Leith said with caution, “why do ye ask?”
Wrapping her arms around herself, Mary drew away. “I’ve crossed his path once or twice and I got a distinct impression that he does not like me.”
“Dinnea ye worry about it,” Leith snorted. “He hates all those who are nae of his, outsiders, foreigners and domestic ones too. He’s me, second cousin, by me granduncle’s side. His forefathers were in many battles with the English, each one of them all the way back to Robert the Bruce’s conquests.” His hand found her face again and his eyes took on a tender look. “Be glad he doesnae ken ye are both. Ignore him, Mary, his face is stuck that way.”
Dusk was quickly growing and Mary knew her absence would be noted. She was tempted to tell Leith about his mother sending her to his father, but she could feel he was already distressed about Cooper siphoning his authority away from him. Besides, what was there to tell him? His father had not laid a finger on her.
“I’ll take that into consideration the next time I’m tempted to throw Holy Water in his face,” Mary’s attempt to make him laugh only earned her a brief tick of his lips.
His thumb smoothed over her cheekbone before he dropped his hand to lean in and kiss her cheek, “Ye should go back down. I’ll do me best to see ye tomorrow.”
She made it back to the lower level without attention paid to her and she went to the kitchens for her evening meal. Eating slowly, she thought of what Leith had told her. Mister Cooper did have the look of one who would grab power for himself. But now? In the worst time? The only person who would do something like had no heart.
Thinking of those with no heart, her mind turned to her parents. She had been gone for nearly a month now, did they have no intention of searching for her? Or were they hoping that she would be like the Prodigal Son, who after seeing his mistakes, would come running back to them?
To what, force me to marry that sluggard?
Sleep was fleeting that night as she began to consider what she should have done when she had come to Leith’s home. Where am I going to go from here?
Surely, she needed to find somewhere to go. Staying here and being a mute scullery-girl was not something she planned to do for the rest of her life. Soon, this plan would have to change…but to what? Shifting on the cot, she was able to look at the sky above.
Can I stay here with Leith? But for what? He’s going to marry soon and I can bet it will be to a lady from another clan. Someone like Lady Robasdan…a Scottish woman. Why should I stay?
On the narrow cot, she turned on her side to see the dim mound of Rinalda covered in her sheets. She hated deceiving this kind woman but she was not going to break her promise to Leith until he told her to. Sadness dampened her spirit.
There was little to no chance of her finding a life here, and even less one that was of the standards she had known her entire life. She turned again and tried to sleep but just as she began to drift off, a ruckus arose and she vaulted off the bed. Grabbing at her sheets, her head twisted from side to side in fright. She could not verbally ask and no one was slowing down for her to sign anything.
Not daring to move, she sat until Rinalda came to her help. Rinalda grabbed her dress and threw it at her, then knelt to help her in her shoes. “The town is under attack. We need to guard the main house while most of the soldiers go to fight.”
Hurriedly dressing, Mary followed Rinalda into the dark night. Even from where she was, she could see plumes of blacker smoke merge into the dark night. Red-orange sparks shot up in the air from the blazing inferno that was the town beyond.
She hurried into the castle while men were rushing out. She did not see Leith at all and supposed he had gone to the village already. When she got to the great hall, the place was packed with anxious-looking women and sleepy children resting in their arms.
Taking a corner, she sat, knowing that there was nothing she could do in this situation. Looking at the grim faces around her, she prayed, be safe Leith.
* * *
A ferocious fire crackled and the fighting men roared. The clash of swords and the screams of terrified women resounded in Leith’s ears as he buried a dagger into the gut of a raider.
With a hairsbreadth to spare, he ducked under as the swing of a wooden branch, blazing with fire, flew over his head. He spun and rammed his foot into the middle of his attacker. He hated these bastards with a passion.
The village in the hollow of the valley had a natural defense as it was hemmed in by the impressive mountains around it so he was shocked to know that a band of raiders had suddenly invaded it without the watchmen from the castle knowing it. There were three roads to the village and if none of the watchmen had reported it, these villains had entered somewhere else. Where?
He did not have time to think over it as his sword was viciously cutting from left to right, felling every one of the raiders who came at him.
The moon shone as deep red, the color as scarlet as the blood that poured out of those he killed. With no mercy he moved, his sword swift and his aim true. Arrows were whistling above his head and his soldiers were moving through the raiders like deadly shadows.
A double team came upon him and he suddenly felt someone at his back. “They willnae touch us, Sir.”
Grinning that Dugald was at his back, he lashed out and struck. His sword was a silver blur as it met the first man’s blade, locking at the hilt before he kicked out and sent the man flying. He did not hesitate to run him through and as he yanked the weapon out, he heard the sickening crunch of bones.
Smirking, he spun to see Duglad had twisted his attacker’s hand so far back he could see the arm had been ripped out of the socket. The man’s left leg had been stomped on at the knee and by the way, his leg was twisted, his bone was shattered.
All these he took in within seconds, and with no time to delay, he ran off to another opponent. He was in the heart of the battle now and he had to move quickly. He swung his sword low, slashed one man’s gut, running another through the hilt to knock the man in the head hard enough that he collapsed.
He had to find the leader and run him up the pole. Perhaps cut him in five pieces and send it to the ends of Scotland to tell other would-be attackers to beware. His ruthless mood came from knowing his own man was against him.
Speaking of the devil, he spotted Cooper’s silver head just before he disappeared. His inattention gave an attacker the chance to land a fist on his cheek, his fist grazing his cheekbone before he could react and push him off and cut him down. He fought while keeping an eye out for the leader of the raiders. He grabbed a raider and growled into his face, “Where is yer master?”
Hateful dark eyes glared at him. “I’ll never tell. Kill me if ye must.”
“Wish granted,” Leith growled before slaying him with one blow. He moved on to others and asked them the same question, until one stammered his name and his description.
Leith had mercy on the boy and just knocked him unconscious. He fought through the ranks until he came upon the man he was seeking. He knocked the man’s feet from under him, grabbed him by the lapel, leveled his throat and bellowed, “We have men fallen from both sides, Watson. Order yer men to stand down and live or be prepared to die. What do ye say?”
The leader of the raiders tilted his head back and hawked a glob of spit into his face; a hundred foul curses filled his mind and some even slipped from his mouth, “So be it then, Addair, ye will die.”
He jammed the blade though the man until the hilt met Addair’s ribcage. Blood, acidic and hot, washed over his hand as he dragged the sword out , he chucked the dying body away from him.
“Raiders, yer leader is dead!” he roared spinning around in the darkness. “Stand down or meet the same fate! I will nay offer leniency again!”
He stood still as one-by-one, the rest of the raid
ers dropped their weapons and sank to the ground in defeat. A victory call rose up from his men that resounded in the air. They had won the battle but his stomach still felt sour.
He needed to have Cooper take control but when he did not see him, he looked at Dugald. “Make sure all who are alive are put in stocks tonight. Tomorrow, they will be whipped and branded.”
Spinning, he went to search amongst the troops where the raiders were being hogtied. Cooper was nowhere to be seen. Angry, he went to where he had left his horse and rode back to the clan’s castle. Nicolas had not been there earlier that day, but he was going to find him that night and make him admit to his treachery.
He arrived at the house sometime after in the waning hours of the night and went to the barracks, but Cooper wasn’t there. His blood began to boil. He strode to the great hall, the packed room where most of the castle’s occupants were gathered, to find it was lit by lamps and candles.
Most were asleep but a few guards were keeping watch. He quickly scanned the room but Nicolas was not there either. He spun and strode out, fuming. What he had not realized was that Mary had seen him and she had left the hall behind him. He had gotten to the cold, garden with the aim of yelling out his frustrations.
He spun on his heel when he heard footsteps following him, ready to strike out if needed. But his anger was mollified by the large blue eyes gleaming like the familiar gems he knew. Mary. She came closer and circled her hands around his waist, and with the feel of her touch, the softness of her skin and the river-water scent of her hair, the rigidness of his body left.
“Och, lass,” he sighed. “Did I worry ye?”
“Yes, you did when I heard you were off to a battle,” she replied. “It grew even worse when you came into the hall looking absolutely livid. What’s wrong?”
He pressed his nose to her ear and kissed it, “I dinnae want to worry ye, lass.”
“Too late,” she said as she pressed herself closer. “You can tell me anything. I might not be able to answer it, but I can try.”
Before Leith could reply, someone asked. “Oh, I have a question, and the both of ye can answer it.”
Instantly, he shoved Mary behind him and reached for the sword at his side, ready to lash out, but when he recognized the voice heard, his hand dropped from the pommel.
“Hellfire and damnation,” Leith swore, “tis’ Rinalda.”
The older servant came forward through the gloom, her face twisted in a moue of betrayal. Leith did not move. “We’ll answer ye, but not here.”
“With all respect, Sir, I am nay moving. I am tempted to listen to the whispers about Mary here being a spy,” Rinalda’s voice was loaded with wariness.
Standing between Rinalda and Mary, Leith’s voice was a bare decibel above a growl. “She isnae any spy and I bet those whispers came from blasted Cooper.”
Rinalda tried to crane her neck around Leith’s shoulder, “Then, what is she?”
“I am just a woman who was betrayed by her own parents,” Mary said quietly as she came around him. “And Leith did find me in a ravine, everything he told you is true. He told me to act mute until he was sure that no one would attack me for being English.”
“And…” Rinalda came closer, her voice dipping so low that barely Mary heard. Her eyes were flicking between her and her leader, “the embrace…are ye…?”
Leith snaked an arm around her waist and Mary twisted her head to look at him. “Aye, we are. It’s early days yet…” he dipped his head to kiss her forehead. Her eyes were glassy staring back at him. “but aye…I care for her immensely.”
Those words had not come out right but he was not going to utter words of a deeper emotion growing in the back of his mind until he was sure about them.
“And that only adds to the fear of her being abused for being English,” Rinalda surmised.
“Aye,” Leith said. He listened to the steady thrum of his heart in his chest and felt the soft whispering whistle of cool wind blowing into his face.
Rinalda came closer, “Sir, I wish ye all the best but ye need help. Ye need another pair of eyes, ears, and hands to make sure ye dinnae slip up. I’ll help ye to keep this as secret as long ye can…if ye will allow me.”
18
As she stripped the sheets from her cot, Mary looked over to Rinalda who was doing the same. She felt relieved that Rinalda knew about her and Leith. She began to feel guilty about her unfounded suspicion of Leith and her.
She bundled up her sheets and carried them outside to the massive watching tubs where the washing women were. The strong smell of lye soaps had her nose wrinkling. She deposited her sheets and then went toward the kitchens.
Dawn was about to break and the first meal was due in two hours. Washing was not needed until after, instead, she helped with the preparations for the meal.
The kitchens were already fired up and the heat from the fires was already beginning to make her sweat. Baskets of vegetables and meats from the cold cellars were laid on the tables ready to be chopped.
“Mary, go help Jenna with the eggs,” Cook directed.
Ready to help, she went over to the big tub where the basket of washed eggs was set. She took a seat and began to break the eggs into the pan. Soon, the whole basket was done and the cook whisked the pan away. Taking the basket of shells, she carried them back out to the chicken coop. There the women, who took care of them, mixed them with the corn and feed.
“Ah,” a woman nodded while taking the basket from her, “Thank ye.”
Nodding, she turned and was on her way back when someone grabbed her elbow with an unrelenting grip. Spinning in fright, she met Mister Cooper’s ice-blue eyes.
She tried to yank her hand away but his grip was a vice. Completely terrified she stood and trembled. His voice was a snarl, “Listen here woman, I dinnae like yer presence here, I dinnae trust ye, and if ye dare make any trouble for anyone, I will make sure ye disappear. We dinnae want ye here. Do ye understand?”
We? Who are ‘ we’?
Mary was actively trembling in her shoes but she nodded frantically. His grip released her and pain throbbed up her arm. Nicolas gave her another warning glare and she spun, but ran into another body. Leith’s.
His eyes met Cooper’s and the tension that sprang up between them was like the air right before a lightning storm…bristling with heavy tension. Mary shrank back as Leith’s fist formed. She could feel the anger rolling off him in waves of simmering heat. Fear lodged in her throat.
“I’ve been looking for ye, Cooper,” Leith said. “Where did ye disappear to after the battle in the village?”
The war chief squared his shoulders and his chin jutted out. His thick brows lowered over frosty eyes, “A sect of the raiders took flight. I was perusing them to bring them to justice…as is me job in this clan.”
“Aye, it is,” Leith said coldly. “I went back this mornin’ to find how the raiders had come to the village. Nayone can tell me where they came from. I went to check the mountain passes and found nay sign of their tracks. Can ye tell me how they got here?”
“There are dozens upon dozens of ways they could have come. Have ye scoured every inch of the mountainside? Or are ye implying that I planned this?” Nicolas sneered.
“I cannot leave it out as ye seem to be doin’ a lot of other things. Yer job is to control the soldiers and protect the people but now I hear that ye have taken control of the people from the village leader. That ye have taken a census of them, that ye seek supplies for them and that ye have accepted gifts from the people for securing their homes. How far it from ye to stage a raid and then become their savior to gain more acclaim?”
“Listen here, boy,” Nicolas replied with a touch of ice to his tone. “I did nay entreat anyone to give me anything. They did that of their free will and even more, with your faither ill and yer absence from the lairdship, nay one kent ye were the Laird either. Someone had to take control of where ye fell short. I was doing ye a favor, boy, having a strong hold over
matters where ye had none. I gave ye leeway for ye to do what ye needed to do for yer faither. Ye should be thanking me.”
“I should be thanking ye?” Incredulity painted Leith’s face. “How can I thank ye when it’s very evident that ye are trying to undermine me?”
“What foolishness is possessing ye?” Nicolas scowled. “If I wanted to undermine ye, I’d have done it a long time ago. Instead, I’ve made yer territory more formidable and more secure than ever before. Stop letting erroneous thoughts run through yer mind. I’m loyal to this clan…” his eyes slanted to Mary with scorn, “probably more than ye.” With that, Nicolas brusquely brushed past him and strode to the castle without a look back.
Wind whistled between them as Leith blew out a long, hot breath, loaded with mumbled curses. Mary shifted away from him but he did not shy away from her, “Ye dinnae need to see that. I’m sorry, Mary, ye…ye should go back inside.”
Mesmerized By A Roguish Highlander (Steamy Scottish Historical Romance) Page 15