Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (28 page)

His
deep groans tangled with pleasure, helped Kate relinquish her caution. The
intense orgasm swept through her soul, wringing her limbs in a shaking
overpowering force. Minutes passed as he listened to their rasped breath,
smelled his masculine scent mixed with her feminine fragrance. Brendan was
finally content.

Kate
looked at him between her slit of her eyes, and ran her cool palm over his
chest. She yawned and closed her eyes. Brendan rolled to his back, and without
saying a word, pulled her on top of him. She placed her cheek where his heart
still beat madly.

He
laughed, and said in a husky voice, “Damn woman, if that’s how it’s going to be
…” He didn’t continue, but smiled at her disgruntled look.

“If
you don’t like doing it, why do you insist that we—”

He
stroked her arm as he thought how best to answer her. “Don’t like doing it?
Hell, if I react like this every time …” He didn’t finish, his lovely wife had
fallen asleep. He joined her a minute later, after he pulled the covers over
them.

Kate
awoke to loud humming, she opened her eyes and smiled. Was her scowling warrior
humming? She giggled into her pillow, but he heard her. He stood across the
chamber, leaning on the window casement, looking out. What held her enthralled
was his naked body with every inch of his hardened muscles uncovered for her
view. He continued to hum, and walked to the tub, which had been filled with
steaming water. She hadn’t even heard anyone enter.

Happiness
bubbled inside her. She couldn’t believe he’d come to England for her. That
remarkable fete had to be love. Madam was right, it all worked out. She’d found
her vision, married him, and now she wasn’t certain what would happen. Would he
find a place in her life? She would make sure of it, she promised herself.

“So
you’re finally awake?”

“Why
are you so cheerful this morning?” She moved off the bed, approached him, and
knelt beside the tub. She leaned her elbows on the rim.

“Because
I’m beginning my life with my wife, a very beautiful lady, this day.” He took
her hand and kissed it, his warm lips tarrying over her knuckles.

Kate
laughed. “Brendan, I have never heard you speak so eloquently. What’s wrong
with you? Do you have the fever?” She felt his head to see if indeed he’d
gotten ill.

“Nay,
love, if I’m hot, it’s because you make me so. Join me.” He patted the water
then reached for her, but she backed away, shaking her head.

“The
tub is rather small, and you’re taking up all the space.”

“I’m
finished.” He rose, and dripped water on her.

Kate’s
eyes filled with love when she saw his magnificent form stalk her. She jumped
on the bed and squealed when he threw himself beside her. She touched his
shoulder in a gentle caress.

“What
is going to happen?”

“I’m
going to make love to you until supper.”

She
laughed. “Nay, I mean, are you really going to live here with me?”

“As
much as I detest England, lass, I’d live anywhere as long as I can be with you.
Aye, I will live here and become the lord. I cannot believe I’m saying this.”

“Does
it distress ye?”

“Nay,
but I will visit home, Katie, from time to time. I promised Bonnie we would
visit in the spring. You should have seen the potion she concocted to make you
return. She even crushed up an insect.” He laughed.

Kate’s
eyes shone, hearing that. “Oh, Brendan, so that’s where my spell went for
bringing those you love back to you. I thought I had lost it. I should have
known Bonnie had taken it. Oh, I would so love to visit her in the spring. I
shall miss her.”

Brendan
ran his hand along her leg, until he reached her thigh. “Before we go down to
the hall, I want to make you squeal again.” He did more than that, and she
giggled when he tickled her knee. He discovered a few ticklish spots she’d
hidden from him.

A
knock sounded at the door, and Colin shouted. “Brendan, Henry wants to see you
and Kate in the hall in fifteen minutes. Did you hear me, Brendan?”

“Aye,
we’ll be down shortly.” Brendan muttered, “I had no intention of leaving the
chamber for at least another hour or two. Still, Henry is a king, hell, he is
now my king. I suppose I shouldn’t press his ire by keeping him waiting. We’ll
have to continue this later.” He leaned and kissed Kate’s stomach before
rising.

“I
wonder what Henry wants? Do you deem he has found out Richard’s location?”

“I
hope so. I want to finish off Richard. But who knows, Henry probably wants to
annoy me, and rub it in my face that he’s my king now. I assume he wants me to
kneel before him and swear my fealty. Damn him.”

“Will
you?”

“I
suppose I must.” Brendan wrapped his tartan around him, pulled his tunic over
his head, and waited for Kate to finish dressing. He took her hand and guided
her to the hall.

Henry
sat at the head of the table, looking rather lordly. He was dressed regally,
and wore his official reigning expression. Kate greeted him with a curtsey and
a smile.

“Sire,
good morning, you’re looking well. You wished to see Brendan and me?”

“Lady
MacKinnon, I suppose I really cannot call you such, because your husband is not
a knight, nor is he landed. I will have to rectify that.”

Kate
tilted her head, and gave Brendan a questioning look. “Sire, but you gave your
acceptance of our marriage, and he will take over as lord here. I don’t
understand. Do you intend to separate us?” Sorrow instantly trounced her heart.
She looked back at Brendan, but he stood watching the king with his stone-faced
look.

“What
I wish is for you both to come to Londontown. I’m leaving today and expect to
see you both at my court within a week. By then, we should hear something about
Richard’s whereabouts.” Henry rose, waited for their courtesies, and bounded
out the door.

She
looked at Colin, who smiled at them. “Do you know what this is about? What does
he intend?”

Colin
shook his head and walked through the door.

*****

Less
than four days later, they arrived at the king’s summer castle, Whitehall. It
looked more like a fortress than a king’s residence. Kate had heard that there
was a dungeon where some of the more heinous criminals were kept. Yet most
offenders against the crown were sent to the Tower, located in the heart of
Londontown. Colin had told her not to worry, that the king had many sentries.
He also told her that this was the very castle in which Bonnie had been
abducted from. Kate’s heart sank hearing that, because this place held such
unhappy memories for Colin. Still, he supported his brother by traveling to
Londontown with them.

Kate
and Brendan were shown to a chamber lavishly furnished. Both she and Brendan
paced along side the bed, silently looking at each other every few minutes.

“When
do you deem he’ll call for us?” She’d whispered her question, because she felt
that someone was listening. She didn’t know why she’d gotten that feeling, but
it was eerie being at the king’s castle where there was no privacy.

“When
he’s ready. Do you wish to go outside? We could walk the gardens.”

“Do
you really want to, Brendan?”

“Nay,
it was only a suggestion to take your mind off this.”

Kate
laughed. She couldn’t see her husband, the scowling warrior, walking amid the
sculptures and hedges of the king’s castle. She smiled, thinking he was really
out of his element.

Colin
knocked, and they both said enter at the same time. He came in and flopped into
a brocaded chair at the foot of the bed.

“What
are you two doing?”

“Pacing,”
Kate said.

“Oh,
God, I shouldn’t have come here. He’ll call you down near suppertime. There’s
going to be a feast tonight.” Colin looked as though he’d laugh, but he
refrained.

Kate
sat on the bedside, surmising his expression.

Brendan
fisted his hand, and raised it to the ornate ceiling. “Why does he make us
wait?”

They
each sat silent for a long time, until Colin broke spoke. “Let us go down and
await him in the hall. Many have come for the feast. He even invited the
Shelmores, Brendan. Julianna is with her aunt in the hall.”

Brendan
nodded then said to her, “The Shelmores are friends who live by the border.
Julianna is related to them. All right, let us go. I can’t take sitting here
any longer.”

The
hall was indeed crowded, and many flustered at Henry’s impending arrival. Colin
stood next to her, speaking to Chancellor Hubert about politics. Colin grasped
Brendan’s arm to stop him from pacing, and Kate stepped in. She held his arm
and took him for a turn about the room. Her intention to take her husband’s
mind off Henry’s looming announcement began working, as she absently commented
on the tapestries and furnishings. Even though Brendan would nod to her
occasionally, she knew he wasn’t listening. He couldn’t give a farthing about
such things. Though she knew it, she continued to utter nonsense.

A
creek of the door alerted them that Henry had finally decided to appease them
with his presence. He walked in, wearing a fur covered cape and appeared
forbearing.

“Your
majesty,” Colin said mockingly as he approached with Julianna and bowed.
“Finally, you arrive. Brendan is awaiting your word.”

“Ah,
so the chap is anxious, is he?” Henry laughed, and looked to see Brendan
standing at the end of the room. “Where is Lady Kate? Ah, I see your brother is
blocking her from my view.”

Kate
grasped Brendan’s hand and walked toward the king. She and Brendan paid their
pleasantries and Henry turned without a word to them. He seemed angry.

“Lords
and Ladies,” Henry bellowed from the steps of his dais. “Before we dine, I want
to bestow a great honor this day, but before I do, I want to tell you a story.”

All
looked at the young king, and moved closer to hear his tale. Kate pulled
Brendan toward the crowd, but he only let her get as far as the outer lying
people.

“I
have family that lives in Scotland, and one of those members is rather endeared
to me.” The crowd gasped as if he were telling a longtime secret. “Her name is
Bonnie, and she’s my cousin’s daughter. Whenever I see her, I can’t help but
fall for her delightful antics and sweet smile. She’s a delightful minx.
Unfortunately, she has an uncle, who is just about as obstinate as they come.
Many fear him, as did I. I know you don’t wish to hear your king speak of such,
me fearing another man, but honestly, a fiercer warrior I had never met.”

A
hush of whispers hastened through the crowed.

Henry
continued, “When visiting them, some of the soldier’s played a jest on me by
taking my clothes and leaving me naked in a frigid loch. At the time I was
beyond angry, and I swore to have their laird flail them all before me. But
then, Brendan MacKinnon, the fierce warrior, happened by and I had not expected
him to help me. Of all the warriors, he had more hatred for me than any of
them. Yet, when I asked him for help, he gave me his tartan … to me, the man he
most hated. I haven’t forgotten it.”

Many
of the lords and ladies stood before the king baffled and silenced by his
story. They did not know what he intended. Kate didn’t either. She gripped
Brendan’s hand and turned to whisper to him, but he shook his head and nodded
to Henry.

“When
my sweet Bonnie was taken from this very castle, I was devastated, and I blamed
myself. A courageous woman faced danger to return the little mite to her
family. Her honorable courage has made me realize that there is indeed someone
for everyone. For she loves the fierce warrior and I intend to reward them
both. Brendan MacKinnon, step forward.”

Kate
released his hand, and Brendan moved through the crowd. He stood before Henry,
and as she approached to see what was happening, she heard the king ask him to
kneel.

Henry
took his sword and placed it on each of Brendan’s shoulders, saying, “I knight
you, Brendan MacKinnon, for your kindness to a king whom you did not have to
honor, but you received my friendship for it. Knighting you rewards your wife,
for you are a peer of my realm. Rise, Sir MacKinnon.”

Kate
moved forward and kissed his cheek, then smiled at the king. “I thank you,
sire. You haven’t sent the missive to Rome, have you?”

Henry
roared with laughter. “Are you certain you wish to be married to this
blighter?”

“Aye,
sire, I know he is obstinate, but I care greatly for him, and he will be a
worthy husband and will be an asset to Cheshire.”

Henry
laughed. “You’re a courageous woman, wanting to be married to him. Why, since
I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him smile.”

“Sire,
he smiles all the time, at least, at me, he does.”

Henry
motioned to his servants and the doors to the dining hall were opened, many
began wandering through them, whispering about Kate and Brendan.

Brendan
pulled her aside. “Cosh, I’m even more English now, being knighted by Henry.
I’m not sure I like it, Katie. I don’t feel worthy of Henry’s gratitude,
especially since Richard is still out there. But I am proud of you, Katie, you
make me feel so worthy.”

“Brendan,
you are worthy, always believe that. Regardless of Richard’s capture, the king
feels indebted to ye. I cannot believe he knighted you.”

Her
husband grunted, and she laughed at the surly look on his face.

They
entered the dining hall and took their seats, near the king’s seat, in their
place of honor. The servants began setting down the platters of food for the
feast, and the revelry began. A small orchestra played in the corner of the
room, sending soothing music through the room.

A
group of men returning from sentry came inside, and approached the chancellor.
Hubert held them off with a wave of his hand, but the soldiers marched in a
procession then parted when an older gentleman’s armor clinked with his every
step. He stopped behind them, and removed his helmet.