Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A fter Domhnall had given orders to his soldiers to go into the forest and collect the men he had tied up, he had led Magnus to his study. With whisky poured, he had relayed to his brother about the attack.

“They came out o’ nowhere. I hadnae seen or heard them ‘afore that.”

“Our own kinsmen?” Magnus pressed.

Domhnall shook his head. “All English. They didnae have the English colors, but I heard them speak. Or, I should say, cry out.”

Magnus had paced back and forth, assimilating the information. “There has tae be some connection tae those birlinns.”

“I agree,” Domhnall had replied. “In fact, I think it’s obvious their arrival has everything tae dae with those boats. It’s too much o’ a coincidence.”

“What about the reports from the scouts?” Magnus asked.

“They’re still coming in, but so far, none o’ them have found anyone who isnae meant tae be on this island. That being said, it’s a large area o’ land tae cover. It’ll tak’ them weeks if nae months tae cover it all.”

The brothers had sat in silence for a little while, and then Magnus had said. “But this doesnae mak’ any sense. The king has decreed that ye marry tae supposedly build an alliance. Why would he send Katherine, and then attack us?”

Domhnall had shook his head. “I dinnae ken, braither. It mak’s me wonder…”

“What?” Magnus pressed.

Domhnall had looked him directly in the eye. “What if these men havenae been sent by the king?”

Magnus had frowned and shook his head. “Who else would they be sent by?”

His brother shrugged. “Honestly, I dinnae ken. When they’re brought back here, I’ll have a fine time asking them that question.”

Magnus had left some time later, and Domhnall had spent the next hour reading the reports the scouts had been sending in again. The scouts had documented how many people they had spoken to, as well as the areas they had covered. None of the locals had seen anything suspicious or unusual either, which only made this situation even more frustrating. There were no leads, no clues to follow, and yet, today had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that there were people on this island that did not belong.

He had been in the middle of another report, when a knock on his door had disturbed him.

“Come.”

He lifted his head and watched Enya enter.

“Hello, braither,” she said, moving across the room towards his desk. “Katherine is sleeping. Brianna gave her a tonic, though perhaps a little too much, and she’s now in her bedchamber resting.”

Domhnall leaned back in his chair and nodded. “Thank ye, Enya. I think she got quite a fright.”

But it was more than that. As well as worrying about her welfare, Domhnall had a niggling feeling in the back of his mind that she had seen more than she should have.

“Something else is troubling ye,” Enya said.

Domhnall smiled. “I thought it was only Magnus that could read my mind.”

Enya smirked. “I dinnae need tae read yer mind when yer feelings are dancing all over yer face. What is it?”

He sighed heavily, and said, “I had tae act quickly. There were five o’ them. I had tae stop the threat.”

“Ye think she saw ye using yer power,” Enya said.

“She’s seen it ‘afore.” He shrugged. “I’m still nae the best at controlling me emotions.”

For a long moment, Enya didn’t say anything. The fact was, Domhnall didn’t know what he wanted his sister to say. It had been his mistake, and even if she tried to appease or comfort him, it would make no difference.

“How are ye going tae hide it from her if she’s going tae be yer wife?” his sister said. “She’s going tae be family soon, Domhnall, whether ye like it or nae. Maybe, instead o’ hiding it, ye should just tell her.”

Raising his eyebrows, he stared at Enya. “She’s been here less than a week.”

“Aye, but she’s nae going anywhere, is she? Soon enough, she’ll be Lady Katherine MacLeod. She’ll be family.”

Domhnall frowned. “I dinnae quite see it like that.”

“How ye see it has naething tae dae with it. It’s fact. A fact ye have tae start getting used tae, braither.”

Enya departed a little later, leaving Domhnall to consider her words. He hadn’t really thought about the situation in that light, but even though Enya might be right, he still struggled to just open his arms and welcome Katherine in. For a start, she was English. How, after years of battle, betrayal, murder and pain, was he supposed to just treat her and trust her like she was family? Granted, she had never been involved in the implementation of any of it, but her kinsmen had.

When one had years of ingrained hatred and resentment against another, it was difficult to just sweep that all under the carpet and forget it had ever happened. It was one thing to make things more civil between them, but quite another to treat her like one of their own.

And yet, her safety was all ye could think about earlier.

Surely, that was just a natural reaction.

At supper, the family gathered in the great hall. Their table was elevated and situated at the front of the hall, overlooking all those who joined them. Only, there was still someone missing.

It was as the food was being served that Thora leaned forward and caught Domhnall’s eye.

“Should I go and wake her?”

Domhnall shook his head. “Let her rest. She clearly needs it.”

But later, when supper was over, he made certain to instruct a maid to make up a tray and take it to Katherine’s room. She was bound to be famished when she woke.

As he left the great hall, Magnus fell in step beside him. “How about some chess tae tak’ yer mind off everything?”

“Maybe later, Magnus. I have something else I need tae dae.”

“All right,” his brother said as they parted in the corridor.

Katherine’s list had been on his mind earlier that afternoon, and while they had struck one item off, Domhnall wanted to keep the momentum going. Once in his study, he made his way to his desk, opened a drawer, and retrieved a key. Moving across the room, he knelt at a huge chest that had stood in the corner for as long as he could remember.

Five years before, the chest had contained only his father’s possessions, but over the last few years, Domhnall had added some of his own. He was certain what he was looking for was in there, and after much rummaging, and having to empty half the contents on the floor beside him, he finally found it. Replacing everything else, he locked the chest again, and returned to his desk. He wrote a small note, just a single sentence, and then made his way out of the study.

Being quiet and stealthy was never easy, given his size, and yet he made every effort to move across Katherine’s bedchamber floor making as little noise as possible. Upon reaching the bed, however, he wondered whether him making noise would have made any difference, for she truly looked out of it.

What did Brianna give her?

Lifting the brown bottle on the bedside table, he read the contents written in Gaelic. His eyebrows lifted when he noted a few of the ingredients, and while not a medicinally minded man, he was not ignorant either. He placed the bottle down where he found it, and digging into his pocket, he lifted the book he had found in the chest. Carefully, he placed it beside the bottle, where she would find it when she woke.

Standing by her bedside, Domhnall looked down at her for a long moment. Her lips were slightly parted, her hair splayed on the pillow, like a halo surrounding her head, and her bosom rose and fell in easy rhythm as she slept. She truly was a beautiful woman. A woman, he had discovered, with far more qualities than just her temper and stubbornness.

A few hours later, Domhnall and Magnus sat in his study, drinking whisky, talking about the upcoming festivities, while at the same time, playing chess.

“Yer wedding is on the horizon, dear braither.” Magnus grinned. “Are ye ready fer it?”

“Ready tae be tied down tae an English wench who will mak’ me life a living hell?” Domhnall replied sarcastically.

Magnus’s smile fell, and frowning, he stared at Domhnall across the table. “Ye dinnae mean that.”

Domhnall chuckled and shook his head. “O’ course I dinnae mean that. I just love watching yer reactions kenning ye can read me thoughts.”

Magnus heaved a sigh of relief and shook his head. “Dinnae say such things. If the lass heard ye, she’d be devastated. Besides, from what I gather, things seem tae be better between the two o’ ye.”

“They are. But it’s early days yet.”

“Aye. Therefore, giving ye plenty o’ time tae get better at talking tae her.”

Domhnall smiled. “Actually, our ride out today was enjoyable, before the attack, o’ course. She has courage.”

“That shouldnae surprise ye after the way she was when she first arrived. Any other lass approached by three men might have been shaking in her boots. Katherine, on the other hand, seemed tae have nay qualms at speaking her mind, despite any consequences.”

“Aye,” Domhnall chuckled a little, “she did, all right.”

“I ken these are nae exactly ideal circumstances, Domhnall, but I’m proud o’ ye fer handling them so well.”

“I’m nae sure I can agree,” Domhnall said, shifting his gaze to the game. “I dinnae think I’ve handled it well at all.”

“All right, then, ye’ve got better over the last couple o’ days,” Magnus reasoned.

“Maybe.”

A knock on the door cut the conversation short, and after Domhnall had called out for whoever it was to enter, Thora slipped into the room.

“What the devil are ye still doing up at this time o’ night?” Magnus said.

“I could ask ye the same question,” Thora quipped back.

Magnus grinned at her and Thora turned to look at Domhnall. “Katherine has fallen asleep in the library. Should we leave her there until the morrow?”

Standing from his chair, Domhnall shook his head. “Nay. I’ll come and lift her tae bed.” Turning to Magnus, he said, “I’ll be back in a while.”

But Magnus stood and shook his head. “Actually, I could dae with retiring mesel’. Besides,” he smirked knowingly, “ye might find yersel’ held up fer one reason or another.”

Domhnall grinned back and shook his head. “I highly doubt it.”

Upon reaching the library, he found Katherine on the chaise lounge with a blanket draped over her, Enya standing close by, as though keeping watch.

“We didnae want tae wake her,” Enya whispered, echoing the concerns of her sister.

“She cannae stay here,” Domhnall said, scooping her up in his arms. “If that fire goes out, she’ll be freezing in the morning. Ye both head off tae bed. I’ll tak’ care o’ her now.”

It was after Domhnall had climbed the wide staircase that Katherine began to stir, and then, as her eyes opened, she jumped with fright as she stared up at him.

“It’s all right,” he said, gazing down at her. “I’ve got ye.” His eyes lowered to the book that lay against her stomach. “And I brought yer book, so ye have something tae read ‘afore ye sleep.”

Even in the dully lit corridor, he could see her cheeks bloom. It made him smile, for as feisty as she was, Katherine was definitely the most innocent woman he knew. Well, apart from his sisters, but they didn’t really count.

With her cheeks still red, Katherine looked up at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m playing the fiddle. What does it look like I’m doing?” he quipped back playfully. He continued down the corridor, and then said, “Thora came tae tell me ye were sleeping. Ye’ve had a rough day. I’m carrying ye tae yer bedchamber.”

“I can walk, you know.”

He dropped his gaze once more and piercing her with his eyes, he said, “I ken.”

Once in her bedchamber, he made his way to the bed and lowered her slowly to her feet. The last time he had been so close to her had been the day she had arrived, the day they had travelled to the castle together on horseback. Back then, he had been too frustrated at her antics to notice anything else. Now, however, his senses captured the soft aroma that emanated from her, and Domhnall felt other parts of himself reacting.

The arousal continued as she stood there, gazing up at him with those wide, vulnerable eyes. He needed to leave, or his brother’s earlier quip of him finding himself held up, clearly referring to things happening between himself and Katherine, might well come to fruition. But just as he turned to go, Katherine called out his name.

“Domhnall.”

Turning back to her, he looked at her with his eyebrows raised.

“Can I ask you something?” As Katherine asked the question, she lifted the book she now held in her hand.

Tilting his head, he eyed her for a long moment. She was innocent, he knew that. But she was also devious. She had promised not to humiliate him in front of his men, but nor did he relish the thought of her trying to make a fool out of him without being in their presence.

“What?” he answered gruffly.

She dropped her gaze and looked hesitant, her mortified expression putting his fear to rest. Whatever she wanted to know was causing her embarrassment, and realizing that it was taking great courage for her to continue, he stepped closer and softened his gaze.

“Ye can ask me anything, Katherine. What is it?”

“Well,” she began, hardly able to look at him, “I was reading this earlier, and… and there were some things in it that I did not understand.”

“Go on,” he encouraged.

“Well, the author talks about taking her to heaven, and… and,” Katherine struggled to carry on, now nearly trembling in her embarrassment.

“And?” Domhnall repeated in a softer tone.

“And… I dinnae understand what it means,” Katherine blurted.

Even Domhnall was feeling the embarrassment now, but that’s not the only thing he was feeling as he gazed down at her, watching her bosoms rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath.

“I’ve… I’ve never… I ken,” she continued, “I am innocent. But…”

By this time, Domhnall had closed the gap between them and stopped not a foot away. His manhood was rock hard as he imagined what he wanted to do to this woman. What her skin would feel like beneath his touch. What she would taste like when he had brought her to the height of ecstasy. Hooking his finger under her chin, he lifted her head, forcing her eyes to meet his.

“Ye will learn soon enough what it means,” he growled, his voice thick with the want of her.

Katherine’s eyes widened at his words, and as her lips parted, a gasp left her mouth. A mouth he wanted to ravish, and lips he desperately wanted to crush. Lowering his head, he leaned down towards her, but a battle began in his soul, for as his emotions built within him, he also sensed a fear.

What if I cannae control meself with this woman?

The thought caught him cold, and as though she had slapped him, he took a step back. His groin ached, his manhood rock hard, but somehow, his mind battled even harder, and swiftly, Domhnall spun on his heels and hurriedly left the room.