Medieval Ever After (70 page)

He had never told anyone about that horrid night, not even his father. He had merely reported that the betrothal as over, and his father had trusted him enough not to pester him about it.

Madeline was the first woman who had broken through his hard heart since then. She was nothing like Anna, whose eyes were cold and calculating. Maddie’s eyes were fathomless, compassionate. She was an innocent, and he was honor bound to protect her. And yet he could not convince himself that he should only be her protector. If only he could hold her and taste her just once, mayhap his desire would be quenched.

“Hugh, it does not matter what I do, ‘tis always the wrong thing with Madeline. She runs from me like a deer. I do no’ think she cares much about me.”

“Aye, mayhap if you stopped bellowing at the gel, she would settle you in closer. You must treat her with kindness, Laird, as I know you are able to do. Stop treating her as you do your men.”

“She is so beautiful, she makes me daft.”

Hugh chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “Aye, I can see it. Try some soft words on her, Alex. She is a soft creature.”

Alex saddled Midnight and rode out through his gates, followed by a couple of his guards. Maddie was a mystery to him. She drove him to thoughts and feelings he had never experienced before. What did he really want? Was he ready to take a wife? Would allowing himself to feel this strongly about her compromise his leadership? He enjoyed thinking about Madeline, picturing her in his arms. But he also recognized she was not ready yet.

He rode Midnight hard to the loch. It was usually deserted at this time of year, as the water was frigid. After eyeing Maddie in front of that mound of hay, cool water was exactly what he needed.

Did he dare to allow someone else near his heart? He didn’t see many similarities between the two women. He hoped he was right about Madeline. She was the only woman able to distract him from his duties as laird. Maybe it wasn’t such a good thing, but he couldn’t stop himself.

RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER

CHAPTER TWELVE

As soon as
Maddie reached the great hall, she fled up the stairs to her chamber. Brenna’s maid knocked as soon as she closed the door.

“If it would not be too much trouble, Fiona, I would greatly appreciate a hot bath.”

“Of course, my lady.” Fiona curtsied and left to arrange for a tub and hot water.

Madeline dropped into her chair. She was unable to keep the tears inside any longer. Laird Grant wanted to keep her prisoner. What was she to do? She would lose her wits if he forced her to stay inside. But most men made her anxious, so she did not relish the idea of various strange men escorting her wherever she went. How could she trust them? Being from Clan Grant did not guarantee they would treat her with respect. And even if they did treat her kindly, they would probably stand entirely too close for her comfort.

Kenneth’s men had often leered at her, making her uncomfortable, and she expected Alex’s men would act the same way. Did she really want to spend her life feeling anxious all the time? She might as well be in a convent. At least then she would not need to fear being groped by the nearest male.

But the surprising thing was that Alex never frightened her. Not even when he was in a tirade. And his touch hadn’t bothered her at all as they rode back to the keep on Midnight. In fact, she had loved having his arms around her. She had even rested her hand on his arm without flinching. She did not understand that.

A knock sounded at the door, and two servant lads rushed in with the tub, followed by a few more carrying buckets of steaming water. She turned her head and swiped at her tears. After they left, Madeline reached to bolt the door, but a knock startled her.

She opened the door to see wee Jennie smiling at her. “May I come in, Maddie?”

“Of course, Jennie, I was about to soak in the tub, but you may stay and keep me company.”

Jennie entered and Maddie bolted the door behind her. She removed her dirty clothes and linen strips and slipped into the tub. “Oh, this feels so good!”

Jennie washed Maddie’s back, using extreme care for one so young.

“Do your wounds still hurt you, Maddie? Is that why you were crying?” Jennie’s innocent curiosity was reflected in her eyes.

“Nay, Jennie, they don’t hurt enough to make me cry, but they still ache sometimes.”

“Then why were you crying? Do you no’ like it here?”

“It seems I cry too much of late. I am very happy here, lass, but this is not my home. My feelings are all jumbled. I do not know what goes on inside me anymore. But I am so glad you came to visit me. Why don’t you tell me all about your pets?” Uncomfortable discussing her feelings with one so young, Maddie hoped to distract the young lass.

“Alex gave me my first puppy after Mama went to heaven. We named her ‘Hope.’ Da said Mama would like that name. Then after my da went to heaven, Alex gave me ‘Faith’ because he said Mama and Da could watch over me through the dogs. He said they would never leave my side. I love Hope and Faith very much. Don’t tell Alex, but they sleep with me sometimes. Brenna knows, but she doesn’t tell.”

Jennie’s smile was contagious. What a wonderful thing Alex had done for his sister. She couldn’t believe a man would have the foresight to help a wee lass deal with the loss of her parents by filling her time with new puppies. She shook her head at the thought, unable to imagine Kenneth or Niles doing anything with such consideration.

“Jennie, I imagine you miss your mother a great deal. It is difficult to lose your parents anytime, but you are so young,” Maddie whispered as she looked at Jennie through tear-stained lashes.

“Aye, I miss my mama and da very much. Sometimes I dream of sitting on my da’s lap, or hugging Mama. Those are my favorite dreams because I can still feel them after I wake up. But Alex and Brenna and Brodie and Robbie have been so good to me. I know they are spoiling me sometimes, but I like it. Promise me you will not give my secret away, Maddie. I like it when they spoil me. Especially Alex. He is as big as my da was. He always lets me sit on his lap, and sometimes I pretend he is my da even though I know he is not. Some of the servants tell me I am too big to be sitting on his lap, but I don’t care. I always feel safe there.”

Maddie could not prevent the sigh from escaping her lips. It was undeniable—Alex was so strong and comforting, tender and protective. While riding with him that day, Maddie had experienced a strange feeling that being in Alex’s arms was where she belonged. She was safe there, just like Jennie had said. Only she had not admitted it to herself until now. Still, it could never be…

Maddie winked at Jennie’s smiling face. “Well, now you have another lap you may sit on, lass. You are always welcome to sit on my lap, and I do not think you are too old.”

Jennie helped Maddie out of the tub and handed her the linen. “I hope you like it here, Maddie. I want you to stay with us. You can be part of our family now. Please say you will stay.”

Maddie toweled herself dry and stared into Jennie’s eyes. She did not want to lie to the lass. “I hope everything will work out for me, lass. You have been a great help, but I think it is time we get ready for the evening meal. I will get dressed and come down to the hall when I am ready. And I thank you for your help.”

RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Kenneth arrived at
the Comming keep with his men about a day and a half after he left his castle. The guards at the portcullis yelled down, “State your purpose.”

“Open the bloody gates now, or I will whip you myself when I get inside!” he bellowed at the belligerent warrior. “I need to see the Comming now. We’ve problems.”

After consulting with the Comming’s steward, the guards led Kenneth and his men into the bailey. They left their horses at the stables and headed for the great hall.

“You and your commander only, the rest must wait outside,” Comming’s steward barked. Kenneth left Iain in charge of the men and motioned for Egan to go with him.

Och, how he hated taking orders from people beneath him. Who did these lowly people think they were? Didn’t they know who
he
was?

After all, he was the MacDonald laird. Actually, that was rather amusing to him. He had no more MacDonald blood in him than Niles Comming did. His mother’s audacity was entertaining.

His mother’s parents had owned a tavern years ago. His grandparents had made their only daughter, Mildred, his mother, work almost every day after she was five summers old. He chuckled about that. His mother was much better at giving orders than she was at working. When she was about ten and five, his mother decided she no longer wanted to work at the tavern. She was tired of scrubbing floors, scouring pots, and washing linens. With all the men coming and going in the tavern, she had learned how much more she could earn on her back.

She had liked the MacDonald laird, James. He was big and handsome, and she believed she could trick him into marrying her. A group of lairds were drinking in the tavern one night, and she plied the MacDonald with her sweetest smiles as she poured her father’s strongest whisky into his tankard. When he climbed up to his room, she followed and offered herself to him. Laird MacDonald was totally agreeable, except for one small problem—he passed out.

Even that didn’t stop Mildred. When she managed to get herself pregnant soon afterwards, she blamed it on Laird MacDonald.

Kenneth’s mother and her da had been smart enough to confront the man in front of his peers. While Clan Chief MacDonald remembered Mildred’s face, he did not recall much else. He finally relented and admitted the bairn could be his. And he agreed in front of witnesses that if his wife did not bear him any sons, her son would be the MacDonald heir. Kenneth chuckled to himself. His mother had reminded him every day he was supposed to be of noble blood and he deserved to be one of the ruling classes. And now her plans had come to fruition.