Читать книгу Highlanders Collection - Бренда Джойс, Ann Lethbridge - Страница 24

The house was unbearably dark and cold, but Nairna didn’t dare to light a fire. Her breath formed mist inside and she huddled beneath a woollen blanket left behind. Caen rested at her feet, his head lying on top of folded paws.

It had been hours since the men had left and she’d long ago dried her tears. She’d never meant for Dougal to be lost or hurt. Aye, it was her mistake, believing that the young man could go alone to Inveriston.

Fear tightened through every muscle in her body. If anything had happened to Dougal, Bram would hold her responsible. Her fragile marriage would crumble away until there was nothing left.

She’d hoped that tonight she could rebuild something between them. Marguerite had loaned her a gown while Laren had dressed her hair. It had been so long since she’d looked after her own appearance, but before they’d begun, Jenny had shown her a reflection in a polished mirror.

Nairna hadn’t known she looked like this—like a wraith, dressed in grey as though she’d never left mourning. It was no wonder that Bram questioned what she wore. No man would want a woman who neglected herself in such a way.

Nairna drew her knees up under her gown. It had taken both Jenny and Marguerite to help her put it on, it fitted her so tightly. She couldn’t take it off without Bram’s help and she didn’t even know when he was coming back. Or if he would return.

She had stared at the door for what seemed like hours, her eyes dry, while her heart grew more fearful. And when, at last, the door swung open, she nearly jerked with shock when Bram tossed a large sack at her feet. It was filled with coins, from the metallic jingle she’d heard. Yet her husband didn’t look at all pleased.

‘Is Dougal all right?’ she asked.

‘He’s back at Glen Arrin, where Alex is meting out his punishment.’

‘Punishment?’ Appalled, she couldn’t stop her mouth from dropping open. ‘But we asked him to go. It wasn’t his fault at all.’

‘He was foolish enough to let himself be led astray by women. Aye, it’s his fault.’

Nairna stood up, her temper flaring. ‘Don’t you dare lay a hand upon him. He did as we asked, and from the looks of it, he did well enough.’ She kicked at the sack of coins, sending it a few feet away. ‘It might pay the price of Callum’s life.’

‘The coins are false,’ her husband gritted out. ‘Hardly worth the stones at our feet.’

A rushing noise filled her ears, and Nairna forced herself to sit down. False? What did he mean?

Bram loosened the ties of the bag and withdrew a handful of silver pennies. He poured them into her palm, and she could feel, from the light weight, that they were indeed false. At the bottom of the sack she found useless bits of iron.

It made her sick to think of the priests trying to cheat Laren’s artistry. Her beautiful glass was now gone and Dougal’s efforts were for nothing at all. Nairna wanted to lash out at the unfairness, but what good would it do?

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I thought it would help you.’

Her husband’s grim expression made her feel even worse. She lowered her gaze, not knowing what else to say.

‘We found Dougal a few miles east of the abbey,’ Bram said. ‘He was getting ready to set up camp for the night.’

‘He wasn’t hurt, was he?’

Bram shook his head. ‘No. But you never should have sent him. I ordered you not to get involved.’

His arrogance and refusal to listen was starting to wear down her patience. ‘I don’t regret sending the goods to be sold. I only wish they hadn’t cheated him.’

‘There was no need for the ransom,’ Bram continued. ‘We’ll fight for Callum.’ He leaned against the wall beside the door, his hand reaching back to unstrap the claymore from his shoulders.

‘Do you know where he is now?’ Nairna asked, noticing the change in his face.

‘Aye. The last messenger returned an hour ago, and told us where he was taken. We’re going after him tomorrow.’

‘Where?’ she managed. ‘Who took him?’

‘Robert Fitzroy, the Baron of Harkirk.’

Nairna clamped her mouth shut, unable to believe it. Harkirk’s fortress was one of the strongest in the Highlands, thanks to her father’s bribery.

‘Then we have a common enemy.’ She explained what her father had done to avoid bloodshed. ‘They’re bleeding the MacPhersons dry to fund their soldiers.’

Bram stared at her, with no mercy in his eyes. ‘Not for long.’

He pushed the door open, stepping past the sleeping dog, and returned to the outdoor hearth the men had built earlier. The fire had died down to hot coals and Bram picked up a staff the width of his wrist. He used it to push several of the hearth stones inside their home, and when he closed the door behind him, Nairna could feel the radiant heat rising from the stones.

Even so, it did nothing to ward off the coldness surrounding Bram’s demeanour. She doubted if an apology would change his anger, but she had to try. ‘I never meant for anything to happen to Dougal.’

Bram seemed to be holding his temper back with the greatest effort. ‘It’s not as safe around Glen Arrin as you might believe, Nairna. We’re lucky to have found him.’

She gave a nod; it seemed that he was trying to press down even more guilt upon her. Aye, she’d made a mistake, believing it was a simple matter of taking the glass to be sold. But now that they possessed a sack full of false coins, she realised that they had a different sort of opportunity. It was a chance to ransom Callum and lose little, from a monetary standpoint.

‘Take the coins with you in the morning,’ she advised. ‘Lord Harkirk might not notice that they’re false until it’s too late.’

‘Why do you insist upon offering a ransom, Nairna?’ he demanded. ‘Don’t you believe us capable of bringing him back?’

Nairna heard the stiff pride in his tone and suddenly, she was tired of arguing about whether or not he was strong enough to fight.

‘It doesn’t matter if you are or not,’ she answered honestly. ‘If there’s another way to rescue Callum, why wouldn’t you try it?’ She moved towards him and his cheek twitched when she stood before him. ‘Would it threaten your honour so much?’

He didn’t answer and she realised that she’d struck a nerve. Though she didn’t know whether or not he could fight, she’d just as soon avoid it when possible.

‘If we ransom Callum with false coins, I’d consider that justice. Harkirk deserves to be cheated.’ To her mind, it would help Bram get his brother back and keep the men out of harm’s way.

‘I don’t play games with men’s lives.’ Bram’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘The risk is too great.’

Nairna wished he would stop being so stubborn and consider a way of freeing Callum without bloodshed. ‘And you don’t think about the risk of death? Someone will get hurt or killed if you try to fight them. Why wouldn’t you want to try it?’

He moved past her, ignoring her suggestion. ‘Because we’re not like your father, paying for men’s lives.’

Nairna had no answer for that. She’d once blamed her father for surrendering without a fight. She’d hated the thought of paying the English, arguing with him constantly about his loose way with coins. Had she changed her opinion so much, in these past few weeks?

Aye, she had. And it had everything to do with the man standing before her.

‘I don’t want you to be hurt,’ she whispered. ‘Or killed.’

Bram removed his shoes and she heard the rustle of his tunic falling to the ground. It had grown so dark, she couldn’t guess whether he was wearing all of his clothes or not. She closed her eyes, warming her hands near the heated stones. A shiver broke through her at the thought of sharing a mattress with a man who despised her so much.

But he returned to her, his hand catching hold of hers. ‘I’ve been training for weeks now, Nairna. I won’t bother trying to convince you that I can fight.’

He pressed her palms to his chest and she could indeed feel the changes. No longer was he thin and wiry; she could feel the outline of new muscles in the rise and fall of his lungs.

When she reached his stomach, the ridges ended at the waist of his trews.

‘I know you can fight,’ she murmured. ‘I simply don’t want you to.’ This wasn’t about trust in his abilities. It was the unsettling fear that if Bram left her in the morning, he wouldn’t come back alive. She knew Lord Harkirk and the large numbers of men who defended his motte. They would be slaughtered within minutes, if Harkirk learned why they were there.

Bram caught her hands and her heartbeat trembled within her chest. She could smell the scent of wood upon him and despite his anger, there was no denying the way she’d aroused him. His shaft nestled against her, when he drew her close.

‘I’m not weak, Nairna.’

‘I never said that. But what if the raid goes badly? It won’t end, will it?’ she whispered. ‘Even if you do bring back Callum, there will be war.’

‘Until we’ve driven the English out, aye.’

She broke free of him and the worry made her head ache. When she reached the opposite side of the room, she sat down on a wooden stump that served as a stool.

Bram returned to the bed and she heard the sinking sound of his body weight against the mattress. Her hands rested upon the silk of Lady Marguerite’s gown and she felt like weeping.

The silence in their house closed over her and she stared at the bag of coins that lay at her feet. Though she didn’t understand how Dougal had been cheated or why, there had to be a way to make use of them.

She glanced back at Bram and the mattress rustled as he rolled over. He wasn’t going to use the coins, nor would he appreciate her interference.

But what if … she could use her father’s help? What if Hamish could coerce Lord Harkirk into releasing Callum? Then, at least, they could avoid any bloodshed.

The hours were slipping away, and she listened to the sound of Bram’s breathing, wondering if Alex would listen to her suggestion. If they travelled to Ballaloch and stayed with her father, they would know more about Harkirk’s forces and what to do.

Silently, she reached for the sack of false coins, listening to her husband sleep—if, in fact, he was sleeping. He didn’t move when she opened the door, nor did she hear him stir when she slipped outside.

Her dog Caen, however, stood up from where he’d been sleeping and trotted over to see her. Nairna reached down to touch his ears, thankful that he hadn’t begun barking.

She planned to return to the keep for the remainder of the night and wait for Alex to awaken. If she spoke to the chief before they left, he might even allow her to accompany them.

The thought of returning home was a hope that filled Nairna with yearning. She hadn’t seen her family or friends in so long. Surely her father would offer his men to help her, if she asked it of them.

The moon had slipped lower in the sky, and she hesitated, wondering if Bram was still asleep or not. Nairna held the bag of false coins and adjusted her cape to keep warm. She began walking downhill upon the path leading through the forest, with Caen at her side. Though it was still dark, she could see the torches lining the walls at Glen Arrin.

In the distance, the faint grey light of morning was on the horizon. She wouldn’t have to wait too long for Alex to awaken.

As she walked further, she ignored the unsettled worry in her stomach. By the time Bram discovered her gone, she would be talking to his brother.

She could only hope that the chief would listen.

Bram wondered what on earth Nairna was doing. He’d watched her take the bag of coins before she made her way down the hillside. Damn her. Where was she planning to go in the middle of the night?

Though he wanted to throttle her for daring to leave, he took a few moments to prepare his horse. It would be easier to overtake her, since she’d gone on foot.

He hurried to get the gelding ready, and within minutes he was following Nairna. Once he reached the bottom of the hill, he urged his horse into a hard run to catch up to her.

He was torn between fury at her defiance and worry about why she’d left. He was the one meant to take risks, not his wife.

There. He saw her walking closer to the keep, with her dog at her side. Her hood had fallen back and she was several paces away from the gatehouse.

Bram gripped his horse with his knees, racing until he started to gain on her. Nairna glanced behind her; when she saw him, she stopped walking. It startled Alex, for he’d expected her to run from him, not wait.

When he reached her side at last, he leaned down and picked her up, bringing her across his lap on horseback. A flush of guilt covered her face, but she held on to his waist for balance.

Bram held her captive in his arms, demanding, ‘Where did you think you were going?’

It occurred to Nairna that an explanation would only make Bram angrier than he already was. She was caught now; there was nothing else she could admit except the truth. He didn’t bother to wait for her answer, but wheeled the horse around to take her back home again.

Weariness made her reluctant to provoke another argument, nor did she want to listen to more reasons of why she ought to stay home where it was safer.

A woman holds power of her own, Jenny had told her. The power to bring a man pleasure.

And though the idea of seducing Bram again was more than a little frightening, it was the only weapon she had.

He dismounted from the horse, never once letting go of her. He brought her inside the house, locking his arms around her waist. ‘Did you think I wouldn’t know that you’d left, Nairna?’

She wasn’t going to bother trying to convince him of anything. It was clear he wouldn’t listen to a single word. Instead, she reached up to his face, lifting her lips to his. She kissed him softly, as if to tame the beast.

Bram’s mouth didn’t move and the coldness made her wonder if she’d made a mistake. When she pulled back, his dark eyes glittered with fettered frustration. ‘You’re not going to soften me with a kiss, Nairna.’

She supposed it was naïve to think that were possible. So she ran her hands over his bristled face, down to his wide neck.

‘Where did you intend to go?’ he demanded, flinching slightly when she touched his shoulders.

‘I wanted to talk to Alex,’ she answered. She could feel the knotted tension in him, and when she slid one hand beneath his tunic the hot skin startled her.

He jerked back, drawing her hands behind her.

But instead of feeling trapped, it brought his chest up against her body, making her breasts grow aroused.

‘Why did you bring the coins?’

She lifted her eyes to meet his. ‘You know why.’

His grim expression was barren of all emotion, as though she’d betrayed him. But lurking beneath the surface was something more. He was fighting against himself and though she didn’t know what his thoughts were, she sensed that his control was slipping away.

‘You’re driving me to madness,’ he said, releasing her suddenly. ‘I don’t understand you.’

‘I don’t suppose you understand what it’s like for me, being left behind.’

He was standing near the bed, staring at the doorway. He looked as though he wanted to say something to her, but he hadn’t decided what.

Nairna moved closer, her pulse thrumming like a bird’s wings. If she let him push her away, their marriage would be no different than it was before. ‘You feel so helpless, afraid of what might happen.’

She came so close; she rested her cheek against his, tracing her fingers over the scars upon his lower back. ‘I don’t want there to be anger between us. Not now.’

He didn’t answer, but she lifted her face, hoping he would kiss her. Bram held motionless, letting her touch him. For the longest time, she continued stroking his scarred flesh.

He lowered his forehead to hers, and she sensed him fighting the temptation. ‘There isn’t much time left, Nairna.’

‘Then let us make the most of it.’ She kissed him, no longer waiting for him to claim the right.