Lily (The Highland Clan Book 3) (10 page)

“Because Torrian always protected me. I remember. And so would Growley.”

“Nay, Lily. If you fell behind, tripped, or did aught at all to risk yourself, there was always a hand there to protect you, but ‘twas not Torrian’s—‘twas Kyle’s. He has always watched out for you. I think he’s loved you for a verra long time. A lad would not care for a lass the way he has cared for you without having deep feelings for her.”

“Then why did he reject me?”

“Did you know Kyle stayed out half the night searching for your Sunshine after the guards failed to locate her?”

“He did?” She swiped the tears away so more could fill her cheeks.

“And they say it took him almost two hours to coax your favorite horse back.”

“Kyle did not tell me that. Sunshine can be a wee bit cantankerous sometimes.”

“Was he not there to protect you last night?”

“Aye, but he said he could not marry me because I was too distracting for him. And now you’re making him go with me. I’ll distract him more, and he’ll be even angrier…”

“Lass, I rushed him. He needs to come to terms with his feelings in his own ways. The lad has just been given an important assignment as Torrian’s second, and though he lost his sire at a young age, he still grieves that loss every day. He does not have a large family, only his mama.”

“But he would if he married me. He’d have all of you.”

“Aye, ‘tis true, and I believe once he thinks on it, he’ll know it, too. We must give him time.”

“Papa, must I go to Edinburgh?”

“Aye, I would like you to go with your aunt and uncle.”

“But I do not like being away from you and Torrian and Mama. You’re my everything.”

“I know that, lass, but you must grow up, so I’m sending you away with people I trust. I think ‘twill be good for you. And I need to know that my wee Lily is safe. We still know naught of the man in the forest.”

“Poor Kyle. I feel bad for him that he does not have his papa to talk to like I do.”

“I do, too. His sire was a fine man, and a strong Ramsay warrior. Now that the issue of your trip has been settled, we can head out to the stables and practice your favorite activity, but I’d like to wait until your tears have stopped.”

Lily took a few moments, then sat up, wiped her cheeks, and smiled at her father. “I’m ready now, Papa.”

He kissed her forehead and said, “Good, now come with me. We’re off to the stables, and you must promise me not to tell anyone about this.”

“I promise.”

He took her hand and led her out the door, just like he had done when she was young.

Chapter Ten

Lily grabbed her satchel, threw her mantle over her arm, and marched out her chamber door and down the stairs to the hall to break her fast before they started their journey. At the base of the stairs, she took a deep breath and made her way to the table.

She heard three gasps, saw two people raise their hands to their mouths, and almost everyone stared wide-eyed at her.

“Good morn to you, daughter.” Quade’s gaze narrowed, but he said naught about her change. “You are ready for your journey to begin?”

“Aye. My thanks for sending me, Papa. I’m sure ‘twill be wonderful.” She chastised herself right away. Another lie. Fiddle, but at least Tilly was not here to witness it.

“My thanks for being so agreeable. I expected you in my chamber last eve, arguing to stay at home.”

“Nay, I accept your wisdom, Papa.” She tried her best not to frown, but knew she had to tell this lie, or she would hurt her papa’s feelings.

Her mama asked, “Lily, is there aught you’d like to tell us before you go?”

“Nay, all is well.” Lie number three.

Aunt Gwyneth said, “You look lovely.”

“My thanks. ‘Tis a most lovely morn to begin a journey.” She ate her porridge as she spoke.

“The sky is gray, but ‘tis not raining or snowing so that makes it a good day for us.” Logan moved over to the door to peek outside. “Lily, I’ll see you in the stables in a few moments. Molly, Sorcha, I think ‘tis time to take our leave.”

Lily waited for them to go ahead of her before she moved over to kiss her mama and papa good-bye. Her mama kissed her and whispered in her ear. “You know I’ll always love and support you, lass. We’ll miss your smiling face here. The clan will be lost without you.”

Her sire held both her hands in his. “I love you, Lilykins, no matter what. This shall be a wonderful journey for you. Please try to enjoy it.”

She gave him her biggest smile, doing her best not to cry, and replied, “I know, Papa. I must be going.”

Uncle Logan had taken her satchel, so she slipped on her mantle, purposefully leaving the hood down. Taking another deep breath, she opened the door and headed out.

Things were different today. No one spoke to her as she moved through the courtyard. Instead people came out to stare, their gazes never leaving her as she waved and smiled at each and every one of her clanmates.

If anyone spoke to her, she did not notice. She was too wrapped in her own thoughts and fears of what was to come. As soon as she arrived at the stables, she stepped inside the door and broke into a run, heading straight for her Tilly. As soon as she found her, she threw her arms around her dear horse and let the tears flow. “Tilly, I’m so sorry, but I cannot take you with me. Papa has decided the journey would be too difficult for you.”

Tilly neighed, pawing the ground.

“I’ll miss you, too, but I would not want to over work you. I’ll be back soon, and I’ll miss you so. Mayhap when we are in Edinburgh, I can find some ribbons for you.”

Tilly nuzzled her neck.

“I know, Tilly. I cut my hair off, but ‘tis not too short. It almost touches my shoulders. It has had the effect I hoped it would. None of the lads swore their love for me on the way here, and I wished to make sure none of the lads in Edinburgh would do so either. I worry Papa’s goal in sending me away may be for me to find another, and you know I’ll never love any lad but my Kyle. Oh, Tilly, I am so torn, and I know not what to do.”

A brusque voice interrupted her from behind. “I like your hair, niece.”

Lily spun around to find her uncle leaning against the door jamb, his arms crossed in front of him. “Why, many thanks, Uncle Logan.”

“It’s as distinct and unique as you are, but you didn’t need to do it.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“I heard what you said just now. No one will get past Kyle. He’ll kill anyone who dares to look at you wrong. Now say goodbye to your horse and come along. I’ve chosen a nice horse for you. Sunshine…er, Tilly will be here when you return.”

She gave Tilly one more kiss, and her horse pawed the ground three times. Exasperated, she huffed in indignation. “I know, Tilly. Must you keep count, too? And how could you know I lied three more times today? You were not even there to hear them.”

Logan snorted as he strode down the passageway. “Lucky guess. You’ve been telling quite a few lately.”

Lily rushed to catch up to her uncle, but as soon as she reached him, he spun around and looked at her. “And do not expect Kyle to mention your hair. Lads do not care about such things.”

“But all the lads stared at me on the way here.”

Logan pivoted and yelled back over his shoulder. “Lads in love do not notice these things.”

Lily stopped in her tracks. Did Kyle love her?

That thought clouded her mind so much she paid little attention to her surroundings as she greeted the horse she would be riding on the journey. She rubbed the beautiful beast’s neck, giving him the chance to get used to her, and whispered sweet words to him before handing him the apple she’d brought.

Kyle came up behind her. “Good morn to you, Lily. Are you ready? If so, I’ll help you mount.”

Lily stared at him, hoping to gauge his reaction to her shorn hair, but he barely looked at her. “Aye, I’m ready when you are.”

He grabbed her by the waist and tossed her up onto her horse, where she landed with an
oof
.

“Kyle, you could have put your hands down for my foot.”

“Nay, this was easier. Now remember you are to stay by my side at all times, understood?” But he did not even look at her as he said it, and he walked away as he talked.

That told her everything she needed to know about his true feelings for her and her hair.

She was ugly as an old hag.

***

When Torrian had first informed Kyle of his assignment, Kyle had assumed he would be traveling with Torrian, and he’d accepted the journey as part of his position. But Torrian was not going, and as the chieftain’s second, his job was to stay by Torrian’s side and protect him. How could he do that if he was in Edinburgh?

He’d calmed down after talking with his mother, who’d reminded him that there was no greater honor than being charged to protect a chieftain’s wife or daughter. She’d advised him that the best way to make his clan proud would be to do his duty without complaint.

Then Torrian had said something else to convince him to make the journey. “If you wish to decline this assignment as Lily’s guard, and I wouldn’t advise that, who would you recommend I send in your place? Which warrior would protect her best without getting too close to her?”

Who, indeed? Kyle could not possibly trust any of the other warriors with the lass he loved. No one would be good enough, and he would be worried sick about her safety the whole time she was away. In fact, he was quite sure that he was entranced enough with Lily that he would have followed after the group within two or three days. Neglecting or deserting his duties would have been far worse than accepting the laird’s request in the first place.

And now they were off to Edinburgh.

Uncle Logan had chosen twenty guards to go along with them. In addition, Seamus traveled with them, while Mungo stayed back to protect the castle with the rest of their guards. Kyle had to admit he was a bit anxious about this trip. He feared Logan Ramsay would discover just how distracted Lily could make him. He’d already said ten prayers for the Lord to help him focus on his duty and ignore the temptation that would be alongside him. Once mounted, he and Lily rode in the middle of the group, ten guards in front and ten at the rear.

Kyle had been told the trip might last a sennight, which meant that for a full seven nights he would be tortured by Lily’s nearness without being able to touch her. Trying to control his temptation, he barely spoke to Lily initially. Even so, he noticed her somber demeanor. After a while, Kyle could no longer ignore his desire to speak to her and try to cheer her up. He attempted to talk to her on two occasions as they traveled through the forest, but she ignored him both times, seemingly deep in thought. They’d left Sunshine at home because the journey was too long for such a small horse. It disappointed him to hear Lily refer to her beloved animal as Tilly to one of her cousins. It told him that his Lily was still not her usual self.

The devil…he shook his head to jar such addled thoughts from his mind. The lass had him in a turmoil. At the end of the day, they finally chose a clearing to rest in for the night, so Kyle moved to help Lily dismount. The other guards searched the area for wildlife and reivers on Logan’s instructions and then divided up their posts around the camp.

Kyle’s post would be easy. He’d be at Lily’s side, though he doubted she would like that at all given the tension between them. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she pushed against his chest.

“I must take care of my needs. Please be respectful, Kyle.”

“I will, but do not take too long or I will come looking for you.” Shite, there it was again, the aroma of flowers and the outdoors. Why did the lass have to invade his senses so?

Lily shrugged her shoulders before moving toward the creek, not waiting for her cousins or aunt to join her.

Kyle followed her, but kept a distance away. After taking care of his own needs, he moved over to the creek to wash the dirt off his hands and face. Once finished, he searched the area, but Lily was nowhere to be found. He was starting to panic when he heard sniffling off in a copse of trees, a place that was well hidden from the others.

“Lily? Are you there? Do you need help?” Kyle expected a sharp answer, but even a taste of her anger would be preferable to her sadness.

“Nay, I do not need help.” Her voice was so feeble, he was sure she must be crying.

He moved toward the trees. “Lily, I’m coming in. Cover yourself.”

Lily replied, “I am covered, and I’ve finished.”

When he entered the small clearing, he saw her leaning her head and shoulders against a tree by the creek, pulling leaves off the branches and flinging them into the water.

“What’s wrong, Lily?” He moved closer, though he knew it was a mistake. Every time he stood within a certain distance from her, the urge to kiss her and hold her tight drove him daft.

“Naught,” she whispered, staring at the clump of leaves in her hand rather than raising her gaze to his.

“You are not the Lily I’m used to seeing.” He took another step closer.

Lily dropped all the leaves she’d peeled from the trees. Even after traveling all day, she looked absolutely beautiful. Her hair was unbound, framing her face with soft waves. She had the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen on a lass, and her lips were pink and lush and delicious. He knew that from experience.

“Lily?” He pushed her to talk to him. This was not going to be a good journey if they could not even speak to each other.

“Kyle, you never noticed my hair. I must be an ugly hag, for sure.”

“What about your hair? I like your hair.” What could be wrong with her hair? She always kept it clean and shiny.

She held the ends up for him to see. “Did you not notice I cut it all off?”

He frowned. “Och, so you have. It does not matter to me.”

Her gaze caught his and she took a step closer. “Kyle, I love you. I always have.”

Kyle stared at her for a moment, unable to say anything. How long had he waited to hear those words from her lips? Aye, she’d said it to him as a wee lassie, but never as a woman. He couldn’t stop himself. He took two broad strides toward her. She held her hand up and placed her palms against his chest. “Nay, not this time.”

Kyle’s voice, deep and husky, said, “Aye, this time. I love you and you love me. What else must we know?” In that moment it seemed so simple. He grasped her by the shoulders and tugged her toward him, covering her lips with his, sweeping his tongue inside her sweet mouth until she moaned, leaning into him, clutching his plaid in her hands.

He’d been tortured enough watching her sweet backside on the horse in front of him all day long. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. He wanted her, no,
needed
her, like he’d always needed her. But now it was different. Now he needed all of Lily.

He kissed her until she gasped and pulled back from him, staring at him with a look of surprise and delight. Encouraged, he trailed a path of smaller kisses down her neck, across the delicate bone below her chin, his tongue tasting her curves. Every part of him fought the primal urge to lay her down on the moss next to the creek and bury himself deep inside of her until she begged for more, the urge to make her his.

He loved her more than he had ever thought possible. For once, he wished to forget about responsibility and focus and stop hiding what was inside him. He and Lily were meant to be together. There were times he wished to grab her and run far away, just so they could live together on a mountain deep in the Highlands.

“Kyle,” she whimpered. “Kiss me again.”

He gazed into her eyes, her dazed expression urging him on. He nibbled on her bottom lip briefly until she cried out, so he pulled her close and plundered her mouth. The sensation of her crushing her body to his, pressing her breasts against him until the taut peaks threatened to burst through the material, drove him forward. He reached under her mantle and cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her gown, and she arched against him, giving him more. Her passion fueled him, and he slid one breast out of the confines of the ribbons. Kissing the side of her breast, he rubbed his thumb across her tender bud, then took her nipple in his mouth until he heard the soft cries of her surrender.