Chapter 11

“Ready?” Alec asked when they were both decent.

“Aye,” Kira nodded and smiled up sweetly at him.

“Good, then. Let’s go.”

He swept her up in his arms, carrying her to the door, enjoying her fit of giggles as she clung to his neck. He carried her all the way to their chambers, where he finally laid her gently on the bed.

“Shall we have a wee dram before bedtime?” he asked, admiring her shapely form as she propped herself against the pillows, already feeling lustful stirrings in his trews again.

“Mmm, that would be nice, though I dinnae think I need anythin’ tae make me sleep after…” Her words tailed off, and to his delight, she blushed again. “Alec, I meant what I said downstairs,” she suddenly said, her voice so low he could hardly make out what she had said.

“What was that, bonny lass?” he asked cheerfully, pouring the whisky and bringing it back to the bed.

“About wanting tae apologize fer the way I acted before.” She took the glass he handed her, her fingers brushing his, sending a shiver through him. She gazed into his eyes as he sat beside her on the bed. “I’d like it if we could spend the day together tomorrow. I want tae make it up tae ye fer bein’ so horrible.”

“Well, now, that’s a temptin’ offer, and nae one easily turned aside.”

“Oh, ye mean ye willnae spend the time with me?” She pouted charmingly, and a little line appeared between her arching brows. It was adorable.

“Nae, ye wee wildcat, I have council business tae attend tae tomorrow mornin’, but I’ll happily spend the afternoon and evenin’ with ye when I’m done.”

“Och, thank ye,” she said, squeezing his hand with clear affection, her face lighting up in a way that made him feel ten feet tall. She had just opened her mouth to speak again when there was a light tap on the chamber door.

They looked at each other in surprise. Alec frowned, annoyed at being interrupted again.

“Who is that at this time of night?” He looked at the door and said more loudly, “Come in.”

“Good evenin’, braither, Kira.” It was Catreena. She glided over the threshold, smiling at them both. But even as she greeted them, Alec could see the tension in her eyes.

“What is it, sister?”

“Bran needs tae speak with ye at once,” Catreena replied, her fingers twisting nervously at her waist. Alec was immediately alert at the news.

“It must be somethin’ important again.” He turned to Kira and handed her his glass of whisky. “I’d best be goin’. I’ll be as quick as I can. Ye get some rest while I’m gone,” he told her, kissing the end of her nose. The two women bid each other good night.

As he crossed to join his sister and they left the room together, he could not mistake the look of surprise she shot him as they walked down the hallway.

“What?” he demanded, irritated.

“Naethin’,” she replied, shaking her head, grinning.

“Can a man nae kiss his wife without it causin’ a fuss?”

“Of course he can, but ’tis ye who’s fussin’, nae me,” she riposted, linking her arm with his as they went down the stairs.

Embarrassed at being caught out behaving so tenderly, he muttered a curse under his breath, but Catreena just laughed and patted his arm.

“What’s goin’ on, then, Bran?” Alec asked when he found his brother waiting for him in his study.

“This,” Bran said simply, handing Alec a letter. “’Tis news from Evander and Dunn.”

Alec’s interest was immediately roused. Hoping the letter contained what he was looking for, he took it eagerly and rapidly scanned Evander’s scrawl. Then, he looked at Bran.

“So, they’ve located this feller who supposedly kens about Shaw’s movements,” he said, his heart beating faster.

“Aye, but as Evander says, the man willnae come near the castle tae give us the information he says he has. He wants tae keep his identity hidden from our people, especially the guards and soldiers. Ye can understand why. If Shaw found out he’s been talkin’ tae us, it would be…” With a finger, he mimed having his throat slit.

“It makes me wonder why’s he agreed tae talk tae us at all,” Alec replied, suspicious of the fellow’s motives. “What is in it fer him? It could be a trap.”

Bran shrugged. “It could be, aye. But accordin’ tae Evander, ’tis the best lead he and Dunn have found. They’ve managed tae arrange a meeting with him. He says he’ll be happy to meet them at an inn situated between the castle and one of the neighboring villages. But he’s askin’ fer ye tae go tae alone with me, or with a couple of guards only, because he says he’s afraid of attractin’ folks’ attention. He disnae wantae be kent as a traitor tae his own clan.”

“It smells bad,” Alec replied, crumpling his brothers’ letter in his fist, a creeping feeling of dread in his bones. “When is this meetin’ supposed tae take place?”

“Tomorrow, at sunset.”

“Damn!” Alec grumbled.

“What’s the matter?” Bran asked, his dark brows raised.

“Ach, I’ve promised tae spend time with Kira. I hate tae let her down now that things are starting to be easier between us. But this meetin’ is important.”

Bran clapped him on the shoulder. “Nay, braither, there’s nae need tae change yer plans and disappoint the lassie. I can go alone. ’Tis naethin’ I cannae handle,” he assured his brother.

Alec shook his head. “Nay, Bran, I’m grateful fer the offer, but it doesnae feel right, I should be with ye.” There was something about the whole thing that made him uneasy.

“Wheesht, braither, I’m big and ugly enough tae take care of mesel’, dinnae worry’. Ye spend the time with yer wife, eh?” Bran retorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Alec scrutinized him, sorely tempted to agree. It would be nice not to have to disappoint Kira and spend the evening with her. Memories of their passionate encounter in the library during the storm eroded away the last of his resolve. “All right, if ye think ye’ll be safe. Thank ye, Bran. I appreciate it.”

“Grand, that’s settled then. I’ll find out what I can from this feller and report straight back tae ye later tomorrow night.”

The brothers parted to go to their beds, with the business apparently settled. But when Alec returned to their chambers and found Kira fast asleep, he did not immediately join her. Instead, he sat by the fire for a little while, a dram in his hand, staring in the flames.

I shouldnae have agreed tae let him go alone? It’ll be exposing him tae grave danger fer the sake of wanting tae be with Kira and not disappoint her. And not just that; this meeting with this spy could be the chance I’ve waited years fer, tae find out if Shaw truly was behind Faither’s murder and startin’ the feud. Am I puttin’ love afore duty?

His choice did not sit right with him, and it was some time before he shucked off his clothes and got into bed carefully beside Kira, loathe to wake her. For a few moments he leaned upon his elbow and gazed down at her. She was a vision, her lovely features so soft and ethereal in sleep, her hair a dark river upon the pillow.

His heart squeezed as his eyes rested on the angry scar running across her throat, and he gently pressed his lips to it before sliding down beneath the covers. He spooned against her back, his arm enfolding her waist. She shifted more closely against him, and he sighed, finding comfort in her warmth and the rhythm of her breathing. Before long, his worries drained away and he too drifted into slumber.

Around noon the following day, as he and Bran were leaving the council room after a long discussion about the meeting that evening, Alec said, “I still dinnae like the thought of ye goin’ alone, Bran.”

“I told ye, Alec, I can look after mesel’,” Bran insisted, slapping his brother on the back. “Ye’re worryin’ about naethin’. I’ll be back before ye ken it, and this time, hopefully, I’ll be bringin’ back the key tae gettin’ that proof of Shaw’s guilt. Now, go and enjoy yer wife’s company.”

“Alright,” Alec agreed, but even as he made his way to find Kira, his sense of unease would not abate.

He found her alone in the solar, reading a book. Despite his worries, his heart melted just a little more to see how her face lit up when he entered. She immediately put down the book and went up to him, giving him time to admire the way her gown of lemon and gold clung to her lithe curves. She stood on tiptoes to kiss him.

“Have ye finished yer business fer the day?” she asked, while he bent to hug her and eagerly return her kiss.

“Aye, I’m all yers,” he told her.

She led him over and pulled him down next to her onto the settee where she had made herself comfortable. He noticed the box sitting on the small table in front of them.

“I found this in one of the cupboards,” Kira said, her face bright with enthusiasm. “’Tis one of me favorites, so I thought we might have a game or two!”

“Och, aye,” he said with a smile and a nod, recognizing the battered box at once. “The Goose Game. We used tae play that often, me and the others.”

“Daes that mean ye’ll play?” she asked, tilting her head adorably.

“Aye, but I’ll have ye ken I’m very good at it,” he replied, wanting to tease her.

With a giggle, she opened the box and took out a game board and some dice. “Well, that makes nae sense,” she told him, her eyes twinkling as she set the box down on the rug. “’Tis nae a game of skill but of luck.”

He watched, enchanted by every movement, as she laid out the colorful board on the table. It was painted with numbered squares arranged in a spiral pattern. Some of the squares featured a picture of a goose. If a player landed upon one such square, it was the same as throwing a six, boosting their chances of their counter being first to the center.

“Me faither always told us that ye make yer own luck,” he replied, taking the dice she handed him.

“Well, we’ll see about that, willnae we?” she said sweetly, rattling her dice in her small palm. “Ye can go first.”

“Ye’ve enchanted these dice,” he said accusingly a little while later after she had beaten him twice. Despite being unaccustomed to losing at anything, he had to admit he was enjoying himself in Kira’s company. He felt them growing closer with every moment, and it felt good.

“Nay, I’m just makin’ me own luck,” she teased him, turning his own words back on him. He had already noticed how astute she was at that and had to admire her quick wittedness.

“There’s nae need tae look so pleased with yersel’,” he grumbled, disguising his laughter. “Can we nae play somethin’ where I have at least a chance of winnin’? Like Thirty-one?”

“All right,” she agreed, packing up the Goose Game, while Alec fetched a pack of playing cards. As he crossed the room and glanced out of the window, the darkening sky reminded him that the afternoon was drawing on rapidly. It would soon be sunset; time for Bran to go and meet the spy from Clan Shaw. Alone.

His uneasiness returned. They played a few hands of cards, but he found it hard to focus, distracted as he was by his concern for Bran. Something about the letter from Evander and Dunn troubled him, but he could not put his finger on what exactly.

“Alec?”

He was pulled from his thoughts by Kira’s playful voice.

“Hmm?”

She smiled at him and shook her head, placing a hand on his arm. “I can see ye’re miles away. There’s somethin’ on yer mind. What is it that’s troublin’ ye?”

Normally, he would have brushed off the question, reflexively denying there was anything worrying him. But the look of concern in Kira’s eyes gave him pause.

Where’s the profit in lyin’ tae her? There is none.

“All right. There is somethin’,” he admitted and found himself pouring out the whole story about the meeting and his anxiety about abandoning Bran to go alone. “I promised tae spend this evenin’ with ye, and I didnae want tae let ye down,” he explained finally. He fully expected her to dismiss his worries for Bran’s safety.

So he was surprised when she said in a voice of protest, “Och, Alec, nae wonder ye’re so distracted. Ye cannae let Bran go alone. He could easily get intae trouble if ’tis a trap, as ye suspect. I’d never expect ye tae put me before yer duties as a braither nor as the laird. Of course, ye must go.”

Warm relief flowed through Alec at her unexpected reaction, and he gazed on her with admiration and respect; once again, his deceptively small, delicate wife was showing her true metal. She’s a laird’s wife through and through—and she’s mine!

He clutched her hand and turned it over, bringing her palm to his lips. “Thank ye fer understandin’, Kira.”

“I’m glad ye were truthful with me. Think how I’d feel if ye stayed with me and somethin’ bad happened tae Bran? I’d blame mesel’,” she told him, her blue eyes shining earnestly.

“I’ll always tell ye the truth in future,” he promised, kissing her knuckles.

At that moment, they were interrupted when the door suddenly opened, and Catreena came in. Alex could tell at once that his sister shared his concern for Bran, for she knew of the plan and was equally unhappy about their brother attending the meeting alone.

Catreena approached them, her smooth brow creased into a frown. “I came to see if ye’re all right,” she said to Alec. “’Tis almost sundown.” She gestured with her eyes at the gathering darkness beyond the window. “Bran will be leaving soon.”

Kira smiled at her as she got up and went to draw the drapes, shutting out the approaching night.

“Ye’re nervous as well, eh?” Alec asked his sister, getting up to greet her.

“How can I nae be?” Catreena replied.

“Well, as Catreena says, “’tis almost sundown. If we’re gonnae go with Bran, then we need tae make ready and leave soon,” Kira said, returning to stand next to him.

“Aye, I’m sorry fer ruining our first proper time together. I’ll make it up tae ye another time,” he told her.

Then, something struck him.

“We?”

“Aye, of course. I’m comin’ with ye,” Kira said matter of factly. “I’ll go and change and fetch me weapons.”

Alec was floored. He shook his head vehemently. “Nay, Kira! Are ye mad? There’s nae way ye’re comin’ anywhere near this meetin’. ’Tis too dangerous!”

She turned to him, hands on her hips, defiance glinting in her eyes. “Dae I have tae remind ye that I’m a trained warrior. If ye think ye’re goin’ without me, ye have another thing comin’.”

Alec raked a hand though his hair, unwilling to risk her safety despite her fighting capabilities. But she was a trained warrior, so how could he refuse?

“Ach, all right,” he grumbled at last.

“Well, if Kira’s goin’, then I’m goin’ too,” Catreena declared.

“And if Catreena and Kira are going, so am I,” a loud voice chimed in.

The trio turned to the doorway, where Ilyssa was standing on the threshold. She entered the room and joined them.

“Nay!” Alec insisted. “Kira will come as she is trained fer this and I dinnae have to watch out fer her as much, as I ken she can take care of herself. But the two of ye will stay here.”

“But Alec–”, Catreena tried to reply.

“There will be nay buts. Ye will dae as I order. I am the laird and it is me duty tae protect ye, and ye, Ilyssa. Yer braither would have me head if I let ye come. And rightly so!”