How to Handle a Highlander (Hot Highlanders) (19 page)

Norris sighed. “That’s true, but I was heading to Court, nae somewhere where it was likely I’d have me throat cut. Father forbid ye from Matheson land for good reason. I agree with him.”

“I am nae going to Matheson land.” He picked up his bonnet and adjusted his sword. “But I swear I am coming back with Moira, and I’d appreciate it if ye’d go back to bed. Go lie down next to the woman ye love and remember that nothing would have kept ye from having her.”

“Aye,” Norris agreed.

“And do nae insult me by worrying I’ll break me word to Father.”

Norris drew in a deep breath but let it out before nodding. He offered Gahan his hand then turned and disappeared into the secret passage. A moment later, Saer MacLeod moved into the main chamber from one of the small adjoining chambers. Cam followed, and Gahan nodded in approval as he watched the two men bring forth the means of getting Achaius out of his tower.

Sandra Fraser was paler but still a beauty—a deadly one, but Gahan was going to put her to good use. He wasn’t breaking his word, but he was taking a chance with his father’s good will.

For the first time in his life, he was willing to do so.

“So ye plan to use me as bait?” she questioned in a sultry voice.

“I do,” Gahan informed her. “Consider it the cost of sparing yer life.”

She fluttered her eyelashes. “I suppose that is a fair trade.” She held up a single finger. “But I want yer word ye will keep yer promise to set me free even if Achaius does nae step into yer trap.”

“As long as ye stay off Sutherland land, it is done.”

“What of yer father?” Sandra asked.

“He left yer life in me hands.” Gahan raked her with a hard look. “Do nae forget that, for I swear I will run ye through if ye try to wrong me.”

It was a risky gamble, and he was sure many would argue the risk outweighed the gain.

Not to him. Regaining Moira was worth any risk.

For the first time, Moira found herself grateful that Achaius was a miser.

With spring breaking all around them, there was much to be done at Matheson Tower, and she threw herself into the work. But even exhaustion was not enough to keep her nights peaceful. Gahan inhabited her dreams: his touch, his voice, and even his kisses. She turned from one side to the other, seeking his embrace.

All she found was emptiness.

Matheson Tower needed cleaning, and it kept her busy for weeks. The maids were eager to please the new Lady Matheson, because Moira didn’t place herself above them. They lined up to help her scrub the stone hallways with hard-bristled brushes and lye soap. They set up large cauldrons in the yard and kept fires burning under them to boil water. The ash was scooped up and used to make more soap.

She ordered the staff to bathe and set the cooper to making more tubs. He looked surprised, but went back to his shop to begin work.

Through it all, Achaius ignored her, which was a relief.

At least he didn’t balk when the cooper delivered the tubs and wanted payment. The tubs were simply large half barrels sealed with pitch. But they held water, and that suited her needs. Within a day, the kitchens smelled better, and after three weeks, she no longer had to tell the staff to bathe. They did so happily.

But at the oddest times she would catch Achaius or his men watching her. If she ventured too close to the gate, someone would call her back into the keep and forget what they had wanted.

It might have been her imagination. More likely, they were just making sure she stayed where Achaius had control of her. Bari was forbidden on Matheson land now, which left her to make the best of her life, but it also meant the Matheson clan had not ridden out to feud. Moira didn’t know what Bari had been up to in the past weeks, but it was a relief knowing that, so far, she had been able to keep her promise to her clanswoman to keep the peace.

Fann saw to her needs, following her about. The girl was bright, so Moira didn’t protest.

Moira and her staff had just finished cleaning the hall when the bell in the church began to ring. Moira wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at Fann.

“We’ve visitors, someone important,” Fann said.

Which meant it was Moira’s duty to greet them. She untied her apron and tried to smooth her hair back into place. It was hopeless, and she sighed on the way to the doors of the keep. Achaius was already standing there, leaning on his cane as a dark-haired man rode through the gates.

For a moment, her heart leapt.

She longed so much for Gahan, she saw only what she wanted to see. When the man rode closer, however, there was no way she could continue deluding herself. He was well muscled and dark-haired, but his chin was smooth.

“That’s Laird Grant’s son,” Achaius informed her. “Tell the cook to impress me at supper.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand as Kael dismounted and made his way up the stairs to clasp Achaius’s hand.

“Kael Grant!” Achaius declared. “It is fine to see ye.”

“And ye as well. This must be yer new bride,” Kael said.

Moira stopped and turned back to face the man. Kael had a devil-may-care grin on his lips, and his dark eyes looked like they were sparkling with mischief. He was every inch a hardened Highlander, but there was something about him that suggested he enjoyed toying with others. She might label him an arrogant rogue, but there was a hint of something in his expression that made her realize he did not bluff. Ever.

“Aye, indeed,” Achaius answered. “A fine bride, and I don’t care if I’m bragging!”

Kael Grant moved closer to her, and he held out his hand. It was a common enough gesture, but she hesitated before placing her hand in his. It felt like the man was testing her. He raised her hand to his lips and gave her the briefest of grazes before releasing her.

“She’s worth bragging about and, if I do say so, I believe ye have married the right Fraser sister.” Kael tilted his head toward Achaius. “I think Saer MacLeod is mad to be wedding Sandra. I hear she tried to poison the Earl of Sutherland. But I suppose the man has his eyes on the heir to the Fraser land. I do nae think it is worth suffering a venomous bitch for a wife.”

“Ye must have heard wrong.” Achaius’s tone was chilling. For the first time, all joviality was gone, and his expression was deadly. “Sandra Fraser is dead.”

Kael looked surprised. “Nay, she is no. It seems none of the Sutherlands wanted to risk offending the young king by dispensing their own justice after Sandra tried to poison the earl, so they kept her at Dunrobin all this time. But now with the earl’s grandson born, they want her gone, and Saer MacLeod agreed to take her. I’m on me way to witness the wedding but thought to stop and enjoy the evening with ye.”

“I’m right glad ye did, me boy.” The look in Achaius’s eyes didn’t match his tone. There was a cold, calculating glitter, one that made suspicion prickle up her nape. He caught her staring at him and waved her inside. She lowered herself and turned to go and find the cook.

She swore she felt Kael Grant watching her go.

***

“When is this wedding?” Achaius said when he had recovered his cheerful mood. He was partaking of the supper the cook had somehow produced on short notice. Plates of cheeses added some lavishness to the common meal, and there were sugared orange peels Moira hadn’t known were in the stores. Clearly the cook didn’t consider it his duty to tell her where the costly items were.

“Soon,” Kael replied. “Saer is so newly arrived from the isles, he’s making sure there are plenty of witnesses to his union. It’s a smart move, and me father wants to know more about Sandra Fraser. He hears rumors she was falsely accused.”

“I know she is guilty,” Achaius insisted.

Kael raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Achaius nodded. “The bitch needs to be hanged.”

“Well, that is nae what is happening to her, and there was no trial. At least nae one the king would respect. Now that Saer has the lass, there is reason to doubt the entire tale.”

Achaius took a swig from his mug and then another before returning it to the table. For a moment, his eyes became calculating and hard. But he masked it quickly and grinned.

“In that case, I’ll be riding with ye in the morning, for I would like to know the truth.”

Moira’s belly knotted with unease. Her suspicions were finding more facts to support them.

“Ye’ve never been the type to ride all over the Highlands on errands of fancy.” Kael spoke softly but with a tone that was solid steel. “Is yer reason for attending the wedding because Saer MacLeod is godfather to the Sutherland heir?”

Achaius could have argued, but it would have raised more questions. Kael Grant was no fool to be brushed off with a chuckle and a grin.

“Well, I was just talking before I finished thinking. Of course me idea was to take the lass to see her sister. Ye’ll understand one day when ye are me age. Sometimes ye do nae make a lot of sense. But I knew what I meant. We’ll be riding with ye.”

Moira backed away and turned into the passageway that ran off from the side of the hall.

Sandra
was
alive?

She wanted to retch until Kael’s words sank in. Half the news making its way through the Highlands was rumor and tall tales. But if Sandra was alive, it was possible she was not guilty of trying to kill the Earl of Sutherland. Which meant Gahan had lied to her. That hurt. Just the thought that Gahan had no honor caused her distress.

He
kissed
ye, when ye were set to wed another…

She swallowed the lump in her throat, but there was still bitterness in her mouth. It was true. She was seeing only what she wanted to see in Gahan. Their encounters had all been motivated by his need to keep her from doing something he didn’t want to happen.

The knowledge stung. Tears filled her eyes, and she ventured into the darker passageways to hide them. Gahan was still all the things she loved, and yet she could not blind herself to the true nature of a Highland laird. He would protect his family’s interests first. That was what she was to him—a means to an end.

It was better to know. So why did it hurt so much?

***

“Lady Matheson,” Kael Grant greeted her at dawn. Moira lowered herself in respect, then reached under her mare to make sure the saddle strap was secure.

“Used to seeing to yer own needs, I see.”

Once again, suspicion prickled along her nape. “Did ye nae do the same before mounting?”

“Aye, I did. ’Tis a foolish man who climbs into the saddle without checking.”

Moira said nothing as she used a small box in the yard to help with mounting her horse.

“I hear ye are godmother to the Sutherland heir,” Kael continued.

“She is indeed,” Achaius answered for her as he appeared on the steps. He had on a doublet and a thick gold chain. For once his shirt wasn’t stained with food, and his beard looked like it had been cleaned. “Me wife is a credit to the Mathesons.”

The Matheson retainers brought his horse around and helped him into the saddle. He nudged his horse up to stand near Kael. Moira wasn’t pressed to the back of the column this time. Two retainers flanked her as they rode through the gates and remained near her as they crossed the countryside.

It was very strange how their presence brought her no comfort at all.

***

MacLeod land

“At least
ye
are pleased,” Saer MacLeod told Gahan.

“Ye grumble like an old woman,” Gahan said.

Saer’s eyes narrowed. Gahan got a glance of the hardened nature that had helped him survive as an outcast on the isles. “And ye are mooning like a lovesick calf,” Saer said.

“I’m trying to regain the woman I want. Ye’re helping me because ye’d do the same.”

“I’ve nae met a woman I’d risk so much for, but I admit I do nae like being told an old man can have what is mine,” Saer confirmed. “Yet we are brothers, ye and I. Both bastard-born and scorned by the wives of our sires. A tower is naught but stones if there is no family inside it.”

“How is yer bride today?” Gahan asked sarcastically.

“Very disappointed to be locked in another chamber,” Saer admitted. “She’s going to be trouble.”

“Agreed. But she is the only thing that would draw Achaius out with Moira.”

“And Bari Fraser to MacLeod land. Since Daphne is wed to yer brother, Bari knows he has no friends here. My loyalties are clear to one and all.”

Gahan looked down at the Matheson and Grant retainers filling the yard of MacLeod Tower. He gripped the windowsill until his knuckles turned white as Moira appeared and dismounted. Running to her would be foolish…but he still struggled to control the impulse.

“It seems things have changed for Lady Matheson,” Saer noted.

Instead of surrounding Achaius and leaving Moira to fend for herself, the Matheson retainers flanked her and made sure she followed Achaius inside the keep.

“Aye. That old man plays the jovial fool well, but he is truly a calculating knave,” Gahan said.

“And he has every reason to wish ye dead,” Saer remarked. “It’s a dangerous game we’ve set into motion.”

“Aye, but those tend to have the greatest rewards,” Gahan said.

“Or costs.”

Gahan couldn’t argue with Saer. The man was right, but he was also standing firm in his position in the ruse they were playing. “I will nae forget yer service, Saer.”

“I admit I am enjoying this charade, because men like Bari and Achaius are the ones who use women like our mothers without any regard for their feelings. Moira is but a thing to them. I am going to enjoy watching their schemes crumble.”

“It’s a good thing ye have inherited a title in the Highlands, Saer.” Gahan turned to leave the chamber. “With that sort of thinking, ye’ll never make a good Englishman.”

“Or an earl’s son.”

Gahan shrugged. “Do nae judge me father. I think he is allowing me to do this.”

“Because yer brother has nae shown up?” Saer asked.

“He’ll still arrive. Me sire cannae fail to take action or risk having it said Sandra was nae guilty.”

“In that case, I hope Bari Fraser does nae keep us waiting.”

***

“Ye are nae sick,” Norris observed.

Lytge chuckled and looked up from the desk in his sleeping chambers. “And ye must have suspected that yesterday.”

Norris offered no answer but came into his father’s private room, closing the distance so the retainers at the doors would not overhear them.

“I’m bored unto death,” Lytge groused. “Only English lords are meant to take to their beds. I’m a Highlander and will die with the sun on me face.”

“Then why are ye hiding up here?”

“Because I have to send ye after Gahan, but I need to give yer brother the chance to play his hand.”

Norris nodded. “I thought so.”

He sat down and began to shuffle a deck of playing cards. His father picked up the ones Norris dealt him and frowned over their edges at him.

“Ye will remind yer brother just how much I suffer for his cause.”

Norris sorted through his hand. “Is that the only thing ye want me to discuss with him?”

“Are ye talking about Sandra Fraser?”

Norris nodded and put a card down then picked up a new one.

“We both gave Gahan the duty of dealing with her. That means we must abide by his actions.” Lytge sighed. “I try to give both of ye the space to be men. It is nae always easy, but he has nae disobeyed me.”

“Aye. He’s on MacLeod land, and ye’re right about Sandra Fraser. I told him I had no stomach for it, but I confess I am wondering just how he managed to get her compliance. Sandra is a cold-hearted female.”

The wind blew in through the open shutters, bringing a warm touch of spring. The land was turning green as the new crops began to sprout. Norris played the hand, waiting for his father to make a move.

“Ye’ll go tomorrow. After I show meself. Let those who are fool enough to think me feeble believe I was in bed and ye were unable to make a decision without me.”

It was the sort of thing that kept the Sutherlands strong. No one really knew what any of them were thinking. Norris discovered himself quite pleased with it. True, he would have liked to be in the action, but maybe, just maybe, Gahan might be able to accomplish what all three of them really craved.