Highland Blessings (24 page)

“Bryce, I need to speak with ye,” she called to him from behind.

“Not now, Akira, I’m busy.” His impatient tone did little for her mood. He didn’t even spare her a simple glance.

Akira shook with fury. “Nay, Bryce, ye’ll speak to me now, for I will not be ignored any longer.” She shouted above the noise to make sure he heard her.

Not only he, but everyone else had too, as they stopped in the middle of their tasks and turned to stare. Bryce couldn’t possibly ignore her challenge. His pride as the clan chief would demand he handle her properly in front of his men. This much she knew, being the daughter of the MacKenzie chieftain. Since she’d carried things this far, she might as well take it all the way.

“Akira, I told ye I’m busy,” he quietly informed her a second time. His men gathered around with smirks on their faces.

“And I told ye I’ll not be ignored.” Her hands flew to her hips as she openly defied him. Akira’s anger still controlled her, and she didn’t have the good sense to know when to back down.

Both Kian and Balloch stepped back from Bryce.

“Ye’ve never had a wife before, so ye don’t know how to behave,” Akira dutifully informed him. Kian and Balloch stepped back again, both shooting concerned glances in Akira’s direction.

“My behavior as a man is all I should be concerned about. Ye, on the other hand, I am without words to describe.” He still hadn’t moved.

Heat climbed Akira’s face, and she knew her skin would soon be the same color as her hair. “Could we please speak privately or is it necessary to have our problems discussed in front of everyone?”

“Ye seem to be doing verra well right now,” Bryce said dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. He gave her a level stare meant to make her retreat, but it didn’t work.

Despite her fear, Akira insisted, “I would rather discuss this in private, if ye please.” She inclined her head toward him for emphasis, but he either didn’t get the hint, or he chose to ignore her. She figured it was the latter.

“Then ye should have chosen a more private time and place to approach me.” He still hadn’t moved. She now knew he wouldn’t budge.

So be it. “I’ll not share that wench with ye in my home. She is to be dismissed immediately,” Akira informed him through clenched teeth. She prayed he wouldn’t deny her now, in front of everyone. She stood rigid, hoping to hide the inner trembles seizing her stomach and chest in anticipation of his answer.

“Why is that, Akira? Ye said ye wanted to tend to other matters outside the castle.”

Several of his men gasped in surprise.

Akira tightened her lips at the knowledge that she didn’t even have to refer to the woman by name; he already knew to whom she referred.

“I didn’t say that I wouldn’t see to those duties. Ye’ve plenty of duties that ye find bothersome, but ye see to them anyway. I was only stating an opinion. I shall be careful how I phrase my words in the future.”

“I canna dismiss her on those grounds. I only hired her this day.”

Bryce baited her. Akira thought he knew why she wanted the woman dismissed and only wanted to hear her say it aloud. Akira resented him for what he pushed her to admit in front of his men.

“Then tell her ye were mistaken and ye no longer need her. Yer wife is perfectly capable of handling the household.”

His startled laughter filled the air. “I canna have ye going around changing yer mind, Akira. Ye must decide what yer responsibilities around here will be and stick to them.”

Akira moved closer to him so she could lower her voice. “She said I’m not welcome as a MacKenzie. Ye only married me to prevent bloodshed for yer people and that as soon as I produce an heir, I’ll no longer be needed. She said she’s the one ye’ve always wanted and now that she’s back, ye’ll soon see it.”

The mirth disappeared from Bryce’s face, and a sobering expression crossed his features as he folded his arms over his chest.

“Ye’re a MacPhearson, not a MacKenzie. Ye’re my wife and ye most certainly do belong here, and I should not have to remind ye of it. I’ll speak to her about her ill-mannered behavior toward ye. She’ll certainly be reprimanded.”

Fire shot through Akira’s soul, and she thought she felt the very roots of her hair burning. The world seemed to spin out of focus, and she closed her eyes to keep her balance, careful not to embarrass herself even further.

“I’m yer wife. I deserve more respect than that. I don’t want her in our home.” She opened her eyes in time to see a flicker of concern cross Bryce’s dark features. It must have been her imagination, for as soon as she thought it, he stiffened.

“I’ll consider it.” He turned from her and motioned to his men, ending the discussion. “Balloch, let’s go over those plans again.”

Balloch glanced at her with sympathy before getting back to details with Bryce. Akira stood there a moment longer before she turned from them and headed to the stables. She needed a vigorous ride to allay her seething temper and hurt. The way she felt right now, she could murder someone, and she didn’t know who would be her first victim—Bryce or Mirana.

After his daring wife departed, Bryce could hardly concentrate on what Balloch said. Akira had certainly taken him by surprise; he didn’t know how to deal with her. He had told her not to go near the construction in the west wing, yet she openly challenged his authority in front of his men. A rebellious man he knew how to handle, but a rebellious wife left him baffled. He admired her bravery. She was as fearless as a MacPhearson should be, too much so for her own good. Some men in his position and authority would have her beaten for such public defiance, but Bryce couldn’t bear the thought. He didn’t believe in treating women that way.

As for Mirana, Bryce intended to dismiss her that night after supper. He would be a fool to mistake the pain Mirana’s words caused Akira. He disliked the hurt he’d seen in her eyes. Bryce smiled to himself. It was nice to know that Akira seemed a bit jealous. Mayhap she cared for him whether she wanted to admit it or not.

“Bryce, did ye hear me?” Balloch asked.

“What? Uh, repeat what ye said.” Bryce tried to give Balloch his full concentration.

“I said the bridge is here and the outer stone wall is fifty feet high and four feet wide, except here on the west side. ’Tis only two feet wide for about ten feet long. That will need to be restructured as well. The rest of it mildewed from the moat, and part of it crumbled.”

“See to it then,” Bryce commanded. “We’ll discuss this further on the morn’.”

He left his men to go in search of his wife. When he didn’t find her anywhere, he went to the stables as a last resort.

“Tom, have ye seen Akira?” he asked the stable lad.

“Aye, m’lord.” The lad looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes. “She rode Ahern out of here a little while ago.”

“She took Ahern?” Fear gripped his insides. “Ahern has managed to throw a number of men who attempted to mount him. Of all the animals out here, why did ye allow her to take him?”

“She insisted, m’lord. I wanted to deny her, but she said I was being insubordinate.” His chin trembled and his thin shoulders shook.

“Was she alone?” Bryce softened his tone. How could he expect a young lad to handle his wife when he struggled with the task?

He nodded vigorously. “Aye, she tore out o’ here. I tried to convince her not to, truly, I did, but she was a wee bit angry.” He looked down at his feet. “She wouldn’t hear of it. I’m sorry, m’lord, truly I am.” He wrung his hands in nervous anxiety.

“Ready the fastest horse ye’ve available.” Bryce strode out of the stables in search of Balloch. He motioned for his trusted friend, who wasted no time in obeying his summons.

“Have Kian see to things for the moment. I want ye to watch for Akira if she returns before me. If that happens, snatch her.”

“Aye, Bryce. Where did she go?”

“I don’t know, but she took Ahern. He’ll give her a time of it, and I only hope she’s all right by the time I reach her.”

He started to walk away, but Balloch grabbed his arm. “M’lord? What shall I do with her?”

“Lock her in her chamber. I don’t care how ye get her in there. Carry her kicking and screaming if ye have to, but she is to be locked in her chamber until I return, though I expect ye to get her in her chamber without harming her, no matter how much trouble she gives ye.”

Balloch nodded. “Aye, Bryce.”

Three hours later Bryce still looked for Akira and his worry increased tenfold. He wondered if she’d returned home.

He turned the mare back toward the castle and nudged her into a gallop. Ahern’s stall appeared to be empty still. No one was about. The stable lad must have gone home for dinner. He took care of his horse, hoping Akira would return before he left the stables. After he put the mare back in her stall, Bryce walked toward the courtyard like a man going to his doom, alternating between anger and fear.

At the dinner table, he couldn’t keep his gaze from her empty chair. They were halfway through the meal when Balloch leaned over. “She’ll turn up soon. She just went for a ride to release her anger on something else other than ye.”

“I don’t care that she went for a ride. I only wish she hadn’t taken Ahern. He’s a bit much for her.”

“I can handle him just fine,” Akira said from behind him.

Bryce jumped to his feet, but Balloch reached her first. “M’lord, remember yer temper, now.” Balloch seemed worried that Bryce would turn his fury upon his wife. He pulled Akira’s chair out for her. “We were worried for ye, m’lady.”

She awarded him a sincere smile. “Why thank ye, Balloch. I’d come to the conclusion that no one much noticed whether I came or went in this household.” Akira turned a particular jade eye in Bryce’s direction. “Especially now that the household chores are being seen to.”

Her words and the sarcasm in her tone were lost on him. At the moment, she looked so beautiful that Bryce didn’t know if he would make it through his meal without pulling her tight into his arms. Instead, he lowered himself in his seat and picked up his goblet, gulping down the sweet cider. Akira’s windblown, golden-red hair tumbled over her shoulders. She seemed to have a more peaceful air about her than when they last parted. Mayhap the ride did her some good.

Conversations resumed as Bryce and Akira ate in silence. Akira’s appetite seemed to be ravenous. She ate everything on her plate and drank deeply of the cider in her goblet. While she waited for the next course to be served, Bryce met her gaze from across the long table. The deep significance of their visual exchange pulled at his already tight emotions. When he had realized the danger she could be in while riding Ahern, the fear of something happening to her nearly twisted his gut in two. Only in the last few hours did he finally admit to himself how much he’d begun to care for her.

Upon taking the council of Vicar Forbes and learning more of God’s Word, Bryce prayed daily that Akira would come to love him. During that time he’d given little thought to him returning her love.

Guilt ripped through him. How selfish he’d been in thinking God would answer his prayer, while allowing Bryce to keep his own feelings at bay. Would God require him to first love her?

The servants set a cream spice cake before Akira. She stared at the dessert with a strange expression and then paled. Bryce frowned as she covered her mouth and scooted her chair back. She clutched her stomach with a groan and ran from the hall.