Charming the Chieftain (29 page)

Looking fit to burst, Morag bustled over to the assemblage, wooden spoons poised in either hand.

“Please forgive me disruption, m’ladies. Cook sent me out to announce the wedding banquet waits and I beg to hurry everyone along. I am having a time of it keeping the wee one’s grubby little hands from snatching treats.”

• • •

Aeden may have been on the other side of the room positioned near the hearth, however, he waited until Elisande became occupied serving Father Pollock. Only then did he give Ronan his full attention.

“He had been sighted by a Murray not more than a week ago near their southern border, on foot mind. They did no’ believe naught amiss and determined he was a crofter.”

“Why did no one challenge him?” Aeden shook his head frustrated by the near miss.

“No reason to since they recognized the Maxwell colors.”

Aeden made an erase motion with his hand. “Wait, he wore my colors? I stripped him of that right the night of his banishment.”

“I remember,” Ronan confirmed. “But from what I was told, someone threw the plaid after him when the Kerr guards dragged Addis outside, and they did no’ think to take it from him, thinking it was a ceremonial action in deed only. I should have caught it since I followed him to the door.”

Aeden ran a hand around the back of his neck. “Do no’ blame yourself, ’twas madness that eve. Explain to me why they assumed this man to be Addis?”

“When the Murray reported back to his commander, he described the man. It fits Addis down to the skin.”

Aeden’s brows pulled in, “And yet, no’ one has come across him since.”

His men had been riding out ever since Elisande had been dragged from the loch, making wide sweeps miles beyond Maxwell land, traveling to allied and rival borders alike, yet nothing had been discovered, not even a cold firepit. Now, this recent sighting had Addis on foot. That meant, he hid somewhere near Caeverlark all this time.

He speared Ronan with a look. “More than likely he is aided by one of our enemies. Question being, who reviles us the most?”

“Do you really believe the Ferguson harbors Addis?”

Aeden lifted his shoulders. “As my wife likes to say, anything is possible.”

They fell silent both lost in their own thoughts. Aeden watched Elisande, her light-hearted laughter and graceful movements charmed him. Soon, he became conscious of Ronan’s stare and transferred his attention back to their discussion.

“Will you warn her?”

Aeden shook his head “No. I do no’ wish to upset her unnecessarily. She is finally healed.”

“Aye, the scrapes and bruises are almost unnoticeable.”

“’Tis no’ just her outward appearance I speak of.”

“We will be on guard for her,” Ronan avowed.

“Aye, we will.”

The knowledge his wife might yet be in danger aroused his most primal instinct to protect what belonged to him. If he thought it realistic, he would spirit her away to their bedchamber where he could keep her safeguarded against anyone who would be foolish enough to try to harm her. He remained certain Addis wouldn’t dare breach the security of the keep. Still, he wasn’t taking chances with her safety.

“When I can no’ be with her, a watch detail will follow her at a discreet distance.”

She was his life, and he would cease to exist if anything happened to her. A shudder ripped up his spine at the morbid reflection. Her laughter shattered his concentration a second time. She was the most perfect woman in the world — perfect for him.

As she circled nearer the hearth, he noticed with keen interest the deep vee of her cleavage when she bent to pour the old priest more mead. The kindness she displayed, laughing at the old curmudgeon’s worn out jests, warmed his heart. She was a beautiful woman, pleasing to look upon true, yet, her inner beauty outshined her outward attributes. For some mysterious reason, she returned his love even though he knew he did nothing to deserve her devotion. And though he may not be worthy of her, damned if he’d ever let her go.

• • •

Her scalp prickled, and she knew someone observed her. She straightened abruptly and locked eyes with Aeden. He watched her with the force of a man hungering for food after a long fast. Color heated her cheeks spreading over her chest while she returned his smoldering gaze. Almost like a predatory animal, he tracked her movements across the room. Her body in tune with his every word and gesture as excitement coursed through her body. Soldiers, servants, and friends everyone faded from her awareness. Various duties still awaited her attentions, yet all she desired were a few stolen moments with the man she loved. Studying him from beneath her lashes, she knew he felt the same. She smiled at those who would greet her, all the while willing Aeden to her. In the next moment, her impatience was rewarded.

Aeden reached her side uttering not a word. At first, she did not understand why he hesitated, but soon realized he would leave the choice in her hands. After all, the hall was still crowded. If they were to depart in such haste, no one could harbor any doubt as to their destination. That he thought to spare her sensibilities and forgo his pleasure caused another wave of love to wash over her. In another life, she would have been scandalized, now she cared nothing for the speculation of others. In a bold move, she walked over to him, entwined her fingers with his, and silently led the way to their bedchamber. Once inside, she bolted the door against intruders.

He stood in the middle of the room, a gleam in his eyes as he moved closer to her. A hairsbreadth from one another, he reached out and caught her hips. She brushed his hands away and loosened his belt.

“I wish to be the one to unwrap my present.”

Obviously pleased by her sauciness, a grin spread across his face and he dropped his hands to his sides. With an insouciant quirk of her lips, she walked two fingers up his chest pulling the drape from behind his shoulder, while her other hand lightly traced across the faded scars and deep muscles of his chest. Gradually, she lowered her mouth and with her tongue drew a delicate circle around his nipple. He shuddered, and his response increased her daring. Proficient fingers unbuckled the wide strip of leather and tossed it to the floor. His plaid followed, baring him to her. She slid her hand down his ridged abdomen, his muscles contracted under her exploring fingers and his breath shortened. She placed a kiss on his parted lips the exact moment she gripped his long, warm shaft in her small, cool hand.

It proved too much for his self-control, and he seized her around the waist and crushed his lips to hers, propelling her backwards until she backed into the wall. Changing the angle of his head, he broke the kiss.

“Wrap your arms behind my neck, love.”

She obeyed. He guided her legs around his waist, bearing her weight and slid his hands under her backside to support her bottom and thighs. Bracing his legs, he adjusted the angle of his hips and the tip of his shaft probed her. Taking her lips in a bruising kiss, he pierced her with his erection. She clasped his head, her fingers tangling in his wild, russet mane, the exquisite tension stealing over her body as the moment unraveled like a ribbon on the wind. All of a sudden, she stiffened against him and he tensed while shockwaves of glorious sensation rushed her being. Lost in the throes of her climax she undulated, endeavoring to wring every ounce of pleasure from their coupling.

The force of her release shattered his last tether of restraint. He lifted his hips thrust forward one last time and poured his essence into her. As he returned to himself, he became aware of her fingers stroking his hair. Drawing away from the cushion of her breasts, he placed a tender kiss on her swollen lips, disengaged her legs from around his waist and bit by bit lowered her to the ground. He rested his forehead against hers for the briefest second, then led her to their bed.

“Where is Elisande? ’Tis odd she is no’ already seated at the table.”

“Have you seen Onora?” Tam asked simultaneously.

The hair on Aeden’s neck rose. “No.”

The smile slid from Tam’s face. “Well, they must be here somewhere.”

Aeden scanned the room honing in on Caeverlark’s most prolific gossip arranging the hall flowers. If anyone knew where the women went off too, it would be Morag. He motioned her over to the table. To keep his growing concern in check he counted to five and then put the question to her.

“M’ladies took their leave, oh, must be going on half the day or more,” she replied.

Aeden exchanged a concerned glance with Tam.

“Had your mistress mentioned where they were destined?”

Morag thought a moment, twirling a long stemmed wildflower betwixt two fingers. It was all he could do to keep from snatching the thing and tossing it to the floor.

“Aye, chief.” She jabbed the air with the long-stemmed bloom. “M’ladies said they were off to gather berries. Cook needed juniper for the meat pies.”

Suspicious, he towered over the servant. “Why did the scullion no’ see to this menial chore?”

“It seems cook lost one scullion to an ailment and the other wouldn’t know a juniper berry from a barrel of boots. When the problem was discussed in front of Lady Onora, she enlisted milady to take the task upon them.”

“They won’t be much longer I’d wager.” Nervous, she eyed him and took a giant step backwards.

“Thank you, Morag, you may go.”

Tam poked his pinky finger in his ear. “That woman’s voice is like flea in me brain.”

Despite the servant’s explanation, Aeden remained uneasy. He paced the length of the trestle table and turned back on his heel and paused.

“If they left earlier this morn they should have returned by now. Junipers are in abundance and their search should not have taken them very far. I’m going after them.”

Aeden charged the door the same moment Kiernan barreled through from the other side, his sword arm propped against it as Ronan burst into the hall with Onora dangling from his arms.

“Let me pass!”

Soldiers and servants cleared his path. Aeden swiped the contents off the nearest table, making way for his second-mother’s immobile form. Ronan laid her on the wood surface and stepped aside for Tam who cradled Onora, wild-eyed.

Aeden grabbed Ronan by the shoulder and wheeled him around. “What in the hell happened?”

“One of the watch guards found two baskets overturned and abandoned by the roadside half full of … of,” he stared at his booted foot unable to continue.

“Juniper berries,” Aeden finished.

Bile rose in his throat. Rigid with anger and fear, he issued rapid-fire orders to his men. A strangled sob rose from Onora as she awoke. Terrified, she bolted upright and tried to shove Tam back.

“He has Elisande!”

“Calm yourself, calm yourself, now,” Tam urged.

“Who has taken Elisande?” Aeden demanded.

“I don’t know, I have never laid eyes on him before. But Aeden — ” she stopped and covered her face unable to go on.

Aeden wanted to grab her and shake the words out of her, he wanted to charge from the room, but he did neither of those things. Instead, he focused all his attention on Onora and tried to control his emotions, if he had any hope of understanding what happened to Elisande before — His mind shut down refusing to think the unthinkable.

Tam seized control of the situation, gathered Onora to his chest and spoke in a soft, reassuring tone. “Was anyone else there that you recognized?”

Onora cried in earnest, though the name she said was clear enough, “Addis. Addis has taken her.”

Aeden squeezed his eyes shut for an instant. “What became of the guard detail?”

“We were all taken by surprised. It’s as if they appeared from nowhere. Though, Fergal managed to kill two before he was slain. We tried to help him and that’s when another man jumped out from behind a hedgerow and seized Elisande.” She choked on a gasp. “Thom engaged another man, and then the last thing I remember was Addis using me as a shield against those other men. Then someone hit me from behind and shoved me into the dirt.”

The recitation exacted a toll and she collapsed against Tam, who forced a dram of
uisge beatha
down her throat.

Impatient, Aeden demanded, “Tell me where to start.”

“We were accosted at the bend of the West road.”

“I am with you,” Tam declared.

The terror on Onora’s face stabbed Aeden with dread.

“No,” Aeden snapped, “Onora needs you.”

Out in the courtyard, he gave last instructions to the mounted men when he heard a commotion in the main bailey. A scuffle near the gatehouse drew their attention and Thom, one of his personal guards, dragged a bruised and bloodied man tied by a rope behind his horse.

Aeden roared and in one fluid motion leapt off Honeybush and bore down on his shyte of a brother like one of Heaven’s fallen angels. Bloodlust gave him the strength of ten men and he rammed his fist into Addis’s nose, savoring the crunch of split bone. He drew his fist back but Ioan lunged for him and pulled him back.

“As much I would like a go at him meself, it will no’ assist us in finding milady.”

Temples pounding with blood, it took him a moment to understand what Ioan was saying, never having lost control of himself like that. He unclenched his fist and made a grab at the front of Addis’s plaid while Thom dumped a bucket of cold water over Addis’s head to rouse him.

In a deadly soft voice, Aeden demanded, “Where is my wife?”

Addis sputtered, spit water out of his mouth and leered. “Tell me, brother, how does it feel to have something you value stolen from you?”

Aeden drew his fist back ready to beat him bloody. “Where is she?”

Addis blanched but still taunted him. “You are too late brother. No doubt she’s tasted a few of the Warford’s perverse pleasures by now.”

“What do you know of the man.”

He sneered. “I spent enough time in the man’s company to know he likes it rough. Or perhaps old Ferguson has burnt her at the stake, seeing as how he’s terrified of witches. So, I really can’t tell you where she is, brother.”

“You are no’ my brother.”

Addis’s lips curled. “So, ’tis true then. Your precious wife revealed as much before I had to relinquish her to Warford’s man. So, am I to be thrown in the dungeon then? You canna keep me there forever. I am a chief in my own right and a sept to the Maxwell clan.”