A Highland Knight to Remember (Highland Dynasty Book 3) (27 page)

“Stop.” Gyllis placed her hands on the back of a chair and leaned forward. “Do you think I have not heard the rumors? As I recall, you were considered as much a rogue as Sir Sean. Mayhap more so.”

“That is different.” Blinking rapidly, he swatted a dismissive hand through the air. “Lady Meg made me realize the error of my ways. Since she came into my life, I have put the single man’s lifestyle behind me.”

“And Sir Sean is incapable of changing as you did? Have you even discussed it with him, or did you draw your thick-headed line in the sand and make a decree that he would never be worthy of a Campbell lass?” Gyllis shoved the chair against the table with a clatter. “That’s it, isn’t it? Ever since the time of the Bruce, Campbells have deemed themselves superior, especially over the MacDougalls. After all, Sean’s archaic ancestors supported the reprehensible King Edward of England. Sean and all MacDougalls should be punished throughout eternity for their ancestor’s treachery and lack of vision.”

Duncan stood. “Gyllis, you push me too far.”

“Aye?” She straightened and folded her arms. “I did not come here to argue with you.”

He swiped his hand across his mouth and looked away as if he were conjuring yet another dispute to dissuade her from loving Sean.

Whatever absurdity was about to spew from his mouth, Gyllis didn’t want to hear it. “Where is he? When I found him yesterday, he was on the very precipice of death—so weak and pale. He shouldn’t be here. He should be abed.”

“Sir Sean is young and resilient. Besides, he’s hell-bent on revenge. There’ll be no stopping him.”

Gyllis pursed her lips. “I ken, but I’ll see him before he takes on Alan and his army, and you’ll not stop me.”

After a long stare, Duncan pointed toward the ceiling. “One floor up. Meg is tending his wounds. And the next time I see you, you had better be dressed as a proper noblewoman.”

Gyllis slipped into the chamber the next floor up. The guard tower wasn’t built for comfort. The stairwell was extremely narrow and the stairs had been worn over years of use. Still sore and tired, she stumbled twice on her way up.

Fortunately, at each landing there was only one pie-shaped chamber. She caught her breath and pushed inside. Naked from the waist up, Sean sat in a wooden chair beside the hearth.

Meg stood beside him with a pot in her hand. She looked up and grinned. “Gyllis!”

A burning sensation spread throughout her chest. Limping, Gyllis marched across the floor and took the pot from Meg’s grasp. “I should be tending his wounds.”

The matron—Gyllis’s closest friend—bowed her head and took a step back. “Of course. Apologies. Duncan sent me up. I was unaware you were here.”

Gyllis glared at Sean. “Again it seems everyone wanted to cosset me in a tower whilst they solved the problems of all Christendom.” She knew she was overreacting, but seeing Sean’s bare chest in the presence of another woman with her eyes on him struck a nerve she could not control. “Must everyone take pity on me because I am a cripple?”

She shoved her fingers in the pot and filled them with gooey ointment.

Sean grabbed her wrist. “What are you saying? No one in this room has ever treated you any less because of your condition.”

There. He’d said it—referred to her limp and slowness as a
condition
. “You do not need to say anything. Your actions give you away.”

“How so? I, least of anyone, would pamper you because of a mild limp.”

“You left me at Dunollie as if I could be of no help to you at all. And now you have my sister-in-law tending your wounds.”

Sean’s gaze darted to Meg. “That is because her husband ordered it.”

Gyllis stammered. Hot blood pulsed beneath her skin. She wanted to scream. She wanted everyone to treat her as they had done before the paralysis. She hated being different—left in a big, comfortable bed to sleep whilst Sean rode into danger. How could he have frightened her like that?

“Do you think you are not wanted?” His voice grew softer.

Gyllis, too, looked at Meg. The lady curtsied and offered a gentle smile. “I should allow you two to talk. If you should need me I shall retire to the war room with Duncan for a bit.”

After the door closed behind Meg, Sean stood and brushed his fingers over Gyllis’s cheek. “
Mo leannan
. Look at yourself. You’ve come so far in such a short time. Everything you do amazes me.”

Her lips quivered—not quite ready to forgive him. “Then why did you leave me behind? You didn’t even tell me where you were going.” She wiped her fingers off on his chest. Still mad, she needed to talk this through or she’d burst. “I did not row for miles to see you run through by Alan MacCoul’s blade.”

Sean stared at her, his dark features growing darker. “If I had told you, you would have tried to stop me.”

She nodded vehemently. “As God is my witness, I would have.”

“But this is something I must do.”

“Why? Only yesterday, you were in purgatory, your body is weak. For heaven’s sake, the color has not yet returned to your face.” She gestured to his torso, riddled with seeping lesions. “How on earth do you expect to wear a hauberk over all those open sores?”

He grasped her palms between his hands. “I’ve fought injured before.”

She jerked her hands away. “But you are too weak. Please. Let Duncan and the others—”

“Do you not understand? I will never be able to live with myself if I recline in my bed whilst others fight my battles. I
must
do this.” He grasped her shoulders and held firm. “He imprisoned me in irons and left me for dead. His crimes are unconscionable.”

“But I’ve seen him fight.”

“He cannot best me. My entire life he has distained me. And now he is staking his claim on
my
title.”

“I am not saying what he’s doing is right, but I want you to live.” Burning tears rimmed her eyes. How could she convince him not to fight? “Would you choose your will for revenge over me?”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

“Am I to stand idly by while you march to your death?”

“Gyllis, do not do this. I love you. When this is over, I will talk to Duncan and we will be wed. Is that not what you want?”

She shoved her finger in the pot and smeared it across a line of lesions. “I want you to survive this siege. You are
wounded
.” She didn’t wait for him to respond. If she didn’t leave now, he’d twist her heart around his finger and she’d never be able to see reason.

How could he do this? How could he cast aside the sacrifice she’d made for him and the intense love they’d shared only the night before? Gyllis was so angry, she dashed down the stairs moving far too fast, but she needed air. She’d nearly made it down the two flights when one of her ankles twisted on an uneven step. Crying out, she flung her hands against the narrow walls to slow her momentum. But down she went with a crashing thud. Her buttocks hit the unforgiving stone first, followed by her back, then her head. The last thing she remembered was a man’s voice hollering for the healer.

***

Gyllis clapped her hands over her eyes. She wasn’t outside, but there was a blinding light surrounding her. “Where am I?”

Meg’s face came into view right above hers. “You’re awake.” She inclined her head. “I had the guards carry you to Duncan’s tent. It wouldn’t have been proper to tend you in the hospital tent—too many men there. How are you feeling?”

Gyllis slid her hand to the back of her head and connected with a sizeable knot. “My head’s throbbing.”

“I’m sure it is. You had quite a tumble.” Meg stuffed a pillow beneath Gyllis’s shoulders. “I take it all didn’t go well with Sir Sean earlier.”

“I’ll say.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “He refused to listen to reason and he’s about to get himself killed.” Gyllis tried to sit up. “I must stop him.”

“You must rest.” Meg sat beside her and rubbed ointment on Gyllis’s head. It had a potent, minty smell and made her eyes water. “This should help clear the cobwebs.”

“What’s in it?”

“My own concoction. Smelling salts blended with peppermint, valerian and whale oil.”

Gyllis blinked to clear her tears. “’Tis potent.”

“Aye.” Meg wiped her fingers on a cloth. “You ken, Sir Sean is one of the most skilled knights in all of Scotland.”

“Aye.”

Meg let out a long breath. “If I were bound in irons and left to starve, I’d want justice.”

Gyllis reached for Meg’s cloth and wiped off the ointment, so foul it was clearing the cobwebs a bit too fast. “Would you seek vengeance yourself or would you allow others to do battle for you?”

“If I were a knight, there’d be no question. I would face my oppressor.”

“Even if you were weakened by hunger and had lesions all over your body?”

“Aye, even then. When a man faces battle something potent overcomes him. I even got a sense of it when I helped Duncan escape from the Edinburgh gaol. It’s as if fatigue no longer matters—as if your muscles are infused with superhuman power.” Meg brushed a wisp of Gyllis’s hair from her face. “Have you ever been stronger than you ever dreamed possible because you had no other option?”

She didn’t have to ponder that question. “Aye. Only yesterday I rowed a skiff all the way to the southern end of Kerrera because I kent Sean was there. He needed me.” Gyllis closed her eyes and swallowed. “I still do not know how I found the strength to row all that way from morning to late afternoon.”

Meg drew a hand over her heart. “You rowed for miles and did not stop because you had to save the man you love?”

Gyllis gulped. “I did.”

“Is it so different that he needs to take part in tonight’s siege?”

“But he’s not yet recovered.”

“I’ve seen him better, for certain.” Meg clasped Gyllis’s hand. “Sometimes a man needs to prove he’s a man—if not to others, to himself.”

She bit her lip. “But I’m so frightened.”

“Do you think I have no fear every time Duncan rides out with the enforcers?”

Gyllis pushed up on her elbow. “How do you face it? How can you bear to watch him leave?”

“I pray.” Meg grasped her pot and stood. “And busy myself by helping others.”

***

Sean hated upsetting Gyllis. On one hand, she was right. He’d need a few days of hearty meals before he regained all of his strength. But he doubted any woman would ever understand why he must face Alan.

At least he’d regained enough strength to overpower
that
scoundrel.

Sean looked at his hand. He closed his fist.
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth
.

Angus burst through the door. “’Tis Gyllis.” He drew in a sharp inhale and pointed. “She’s fallen and hit her head. Lady Meg is tending her in Duncan’s tent.”

“My God.” Sean shoved back his chair and bounded toward the door. “What happened?”

“Wait.” Angus grasped his wrist. “You cannot be seen. Where’s your cloak?”

“Ballocks, we must make haste.” Sean snatched his mantle from the peg and threw it over his shoulders. He pulled the hood low over his head. “Is she hurt?”

“She was unconscious when we carried her from the tower.”

Sean kicked himself for allowing her to run off. He knew she was angry and those uneven tower stairs were difficult for a soldier to negotiate. He’d been so wrapped up in his desire for vengeance, he’d not thought about her paralysis or the toll it must have taken on her body whilst she rowed for miles to his rescue.
No wonder she was so distressed
.

He flew down the steps with Angus right behind.

So controlled by hate, Sean hadn’t thought to follow her. He just assumed she’d join Lady Meg with Duncan in the war room. He’d planned to give her time to cool off, but he should have escorted her. Christ, this was an army encampment filled with men, and he’d sat dumbly while the woman he loved fell, hit her head and lost consciousness.

His heart could have burst through his chest. His legs couldn’t run fast enough. Jesus Christ, he wouldn’t blame her if she never forgave him. He was the greatest fool who’d ever walked the shores of Dunollie.

“She slipped at the bottom of the stairwell.” Angus panted, trying to keep up. “I h-heard her cry out. Lady Meg and I f-found her first.”

“Bloody hell,” Sean mumbled, running, clutching the damned hood low over his face.

He skidded to a stop outside the tent, grasped the flap and ducked inside. “Gyllis!” he said, running to her pallet. “Forgive me.”

He dropped to his knees beside Lady Meg. “I never should have let you leave alone. I should have insisted someone escort you.”

Thank God, she was awake and propped against the pillows. She reached for his hand. “Not to worry. I’ll be fine.”

“When Angus told me you were hurt, my heart seized.” He held her fingers to his lips and kissed. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you.”

“She has a nasty bump at the back of her head,” Lady Meg said. “But she doesn’t appear to have any latent effects—no forgetfulness, no vomiting.”

That didn’t ease Sean’s racing heart. “As I ran the short distance from the tower to this tent, I realized there is nothing in the world more important than you. There is no one in the world I want more than you and there is no vengeance more important than your love.”

A gasp caught in Gyllis’s throat. Tears welled in her eyes.

Lady Meg stood. “I must go check on an arrow wound that has been festering. If you’ll please excuse me.”

Sean rose and bowed. “My lady, allow me.” He escorted her and held the tent flap, then quickly returned to Gyllis’s side, dipping to one knee. “Are you in pain?”

She squeezed his hand. “Aside from a wee headache, I’m well. ’Tis the problem with being an invalid, everyone thinks you’re frail.”

“But you
are
as fragile as a dove.” She struggled to sit up and Sean pressed his hand to her shoulder. “You must rest.”

“No.” She pushed up, a crease forming between her eyebrows, those gorgeous green eyes flashing with ire. “I’ve had enough of everyone telling me what to do—treating me like I haven’t a mind because of an illness.”

Of all the things about Gyllis there were to love, he adored her spirit the most. “You’re right,
mo leannan
. In my observation nothing can stop you from achieving anything you set your mind to.”

She smiled and cupped his face with her palm. “You may be the only person who believes that.”

Sean leaned into her hand then turned his lips into her palm and kissed it. “I meant what I said. You mean more to me than any other person in the entire world.” His heart ached, but he had to say it. No matter what he wanted, Gyllis was more important. “If you do not wish for me to face Alan, I shall stay behind.”