Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

T adhg was a humble man, but even so, he knew that when it came to fighting, he always attracted attention. Other men liked to watch him fight. He was, after all, a warrior of some renown, six-foot-two of solid muscle, his massive, tattooed body conditioned to wield heavy weaponry since childhood. On the battlefield he was a killing machine. Plus, he knew he looked intimidating, with scars on his face and hands and his wild, long dark hair hanging over his shoulders.

So, when he and Laird Knox Stewart, an imposing looking man himself, finally strolled out of the armory in fighting gear, it drew a crowd. When the two men walked onto the training ground and faced each other, the soldiers who had been training ceased what they were doing and came over to watch the two formidable fighters spar.

"I think we ought tae put on a bit of a show, seein' as we seem tae have some spectators," Stewart said laughingly.

"Ach, watchin' us will be enough of a treat fer them, I reckon. We dinnae want tae spoil them," Tadhg replied, looking forward to sparring with his new friend and feeling much lighter of heart than when Alana had sent him packing.

They ran through some basic warming up exercises before getting fully into sparring with each other, dancing around each other, striking at each other with their swords, blades locking, then shoving each other back with their round shields to parry the blows, metal screaming against metal. It was music to Tadhg's ears.

Stewart was a worthy opponent and, almost as tall as Tadhg, he proved himself a tough and experienced warrior who tested Tadhg's capabilities. The men surrounding them clapped and cheered as they watched the entertaining spectacle, clearly fascinated by the expert display the two warriors were putting on for them.

Eventually though, Tadhg triumphed, turning away Stewart's blade with his own and sending it spinning through the air. It fell a few feet away.

"Ach, damn, ye have me!" Knox admitted good-naturedly as they clasped hands, sweat pouring from their brows and each panting from the exertion.

"'Twas a close thing though, tae be sure," Tadhg told him sportingly. "I think I only won by the skin of me teeth. Ye definitely had me on the run there a few times."

"Well, I expect a rematch, of course," Knox said cheerfully, as they turned to head back the armory. But they found themselves caught up in the spectators, many of whom wished to offer congratulations or comment on the quality of the fighting.

"It seems they liked it," Knox observed drily when they finally managed to disentangle themselves and walked slowly back to the armory to divest themselves of their gear. "Mind ye, I'll pay fer this on the morrow. I havenae sparred like that fer a while. I'll be achin' all over."

"Aye, me too," Tadhg admitted. "D'ye think we're getting' too old fer this lark?"

"Well, speak fer yersel' man," Knox joked, and Tadhg laughed. "But I'll tell ye what, I think we both deserve a nice pint or three of good ale after that. What d'ye say?"

"I couldnae agree more," Tadgh said with a vigorous nod.

"Would yer wife like tae join us?"

That brought Tadhg up short. He considered it briefly, unable to help picturing Alana naked in the tub. But what use was it tormenting himself that way when she would not even let him near the door?

"Nay," he said. "She was plannin' tae bathe and have a nap when I left her. I'd better nae disturb her. She might get upset."

"A wise decision, man. We cannae go upsettin' the ladies, or where would we be, eh?" his new friend asked jovially, his blue eyes twinkling.

Tadhg sighed under his breath. "Aye, where would we be?"

Alana spent as long as she could in the tub, but eventually the water got too cold. She had dismissed the maid's offer to help her bathe and dress. She preferred her own company. There was a lot to think about, a new reality to adjust to, and her emotions were running wild.

As she got out of the tub and began to dry herself off, she thought about Blaine's attempt at the meeting to defend his father's neglect of her. She frowned, her deep-seated resentment towards the kidnapped laird simmering inside her. I've gotten this far without him. Dae I even care if he comes back at all?

Deciding to go out and take a walk in the castle gardens to clear her head, she slowly got dressed in a simple blue wool gown with front lacing, brushed out her hair, and slipped on a pair of shoes. While she was getting ready, her thoughts drifted to the situation with Tadhg. Being forced to spend the nights in the same chamber as him was going to be almost unbearable, and she did not quite know how she would get through it.

Yes, she trusted him to keep her safe, but to have to pretend to be man and wife, it was like a bad joke after what had happened between them. He had almost destroyed her, putting her off romance forever. She was wedded to her work. But at certain moments, the way he looked at her, or the particular way he did or said something or moved, an ache would start up in the region were her heart should be. At those times, it was very hard not to remember how happy they had once been.

And the ache never quite went away when he was around her.

Dressed and seeking distraction from her seething thoughts and jumbled feelings, she went down the staircase to the vestibule and then outside the keep. She followed the meandering pathways to the rear of the castle, looking for the gardens and a slice of tranquility.

Dinner had been postponed until later that evening, while the meetings about what action to take over the matter of the kidnapped laird dragged on with seemingly no resolution. Dusk had already fallen, and the moon was out.

Soon, she found herself standing in a topiary avenue lined with neatly trimmed hedges fashioned into fanciful shapes that ingeniously echoed the towers looming above them. The grass beneath her feet was soft, and she slowly made her way along the avenue in the moonlight, idly brushing her fingers against the bushes now and then, as she tried to make sense of her thoughts.

Something she was finding it hard to deal with, was discovering she was someone's illegitimate daughter at the age of twenty-five. Her mother had brought her up to believe her father had died young of an illness. She had never questioned her mother's word. She had been born in Lennox Castle, grown up there. Now, she hardly knew who she was any longer.

Suddenly, she was startled by a noise coming from behind her. Stopping, she looked around to locate its source. Initially alarmed, when she noticed the hulking shadow lurking behind a nearby bush, she sighed and said, "Ye might as well come out all the way now. There's nae need to act like a criminal."

Tadhg stepped out into the open. "Criminal? 'Tis a step up from bein' a devil, I suppose. I thought ye might still be mad with me, so I didnae want tae disturb ye," he explained, coming forward and falling in next to her as she continued walking.

"Why are ye followin' me?" she asked, looking straight ahead.

"Tae keep ye safe, what else? This place is full of strangers. I dinnae trust a single one of them. And I dinnae like ye walkin' around on yer own like this."

"So, I nae only have tae share a chamber with ye, I also have tae have ye following me about everywhere as well?" she asked, lacing the question with the frustration she felt at his overbearing manner. Yet at the same time, the way he cared for her safety touched her on some deep level and warmed the fragments of her broken heart.

"It'll nae be that bad. Nae fer ye anyway; ye have the bed," he observed. He looked around at the high hedges and deserted avenue then back at her. "I can see why ye came here. Ye wanted some peace and quiet."

"Aye," she freely admitted. "'Tis all so strange, I needed tae be alone fer a while tae think."

"Hey, when I was scouting about earlier today, I came across a part of the gardens I ken ye'll love, especially at night. 'Tis more than peaceful there. Would ye like tae go there?" he asked. "I guarantee it'll help ye forget yer worries, fer a while at least."

Alana hesitated for a few moments, but he looked earnest, and she was curious about the place he so clearly wanted to show her. Maybe he was right and it would help her order her thoughts. "All right, I'll come with ye, if ye like."

"Come on, 'tis this way," he said, leading her along the avenue, then round to the left, and finally, into a secluded rose garden. Alana followed him along the grass pathways, feeling refreshed by the sweet scents wafting from the various velvety blooms.

Eventually, they came to a wicker arbor covered with masses of small pink roses. The perfume was heady, and beneath the arbor's shelter stood a stone bench large enough for two people to lie down comfortably side by side upon it, together.

"I reckon this must be a grand spot fer lookin' at the stars," he told her. "'Tis special. Look, lie down here," he gestured with his hand towards the bench, "next tae me—there's plenty of room—and ye'll see what I mean."

Alana was unsure whether she should lie down next to him, but no one else was around, the place was enchanting, and she wanted to see the stars. At least, that was what she told herself when she allowed Tadhg to usher her onto the bench.

"Now lie down, like this." He got on beside her and stretched out, putting his hands behind his head and crossing his ankles. She lay down, glad he was keeping his distance.

"Now, we look at the heavens," he said. They both looked up.

"'Tis truly breathtaking," Alana gasped, instantly entranced by the celestial beauty spread out above them. She laid her hands flat upon the stone and gazed at the moon and stars, her thoughts slowing down as she lost herself in the expanse.

"We havenae had a chance tae talk about things since the meetin'," he murmured, breaking the contemplative silence. "Ye were angry afterwards, I could see it. Was it because of yer faither?"

"Ye already ken how I feel about him," she eventually answered. "That is, if he even is me faither. He disnae seem tae have acted like a decent one towards me or treated Maither well. How hard did he look fer us, I wonder? And hearing Blaine making excuses fer him at the meetin', well, that just made me feel worse.

"And on top of that, I feel guilty fer blamin' me own faither when I dinnae ken what to believe. And I can hardly go and have it out with him because he's managed to go and get himself kidnapped."

When she finished speaking, she was surprised at how much had come pouring out. It occurred to her that she and Tadhg had not looked at each other the whole time, only up to the heavens. Somehow, it was liberating, and she felt she could speak her actual thoughts to Tadhg instead of merely getting angry with him for being… him.

"'Tis a very difficult situation, and none of yer makin', Alana. Nay wonder ye're feelin' confused," Tadhg said softly after a while. "Anybody would be."

Alana, silently appreciating his reassuring words, suddenly stiffened. His large warm fingers had enclosed hers and were holding them, squeezing them gently. Tingles ran up her arm, the same kind of tingles he used to give her before he left her broken-hearted. It felt good. Dangerously good.

She realized that all she had to do was to squeeze his fingers to put things back as they used to be. By sheer force of will she prevented herself from doing it, though there was a part of her that wanted nothing more. Alarmed by its strength, she moved her hand away and sat up.

"I think 'tis time I went in. Dinner will be soon be ready, and Blaine's expectin' us," she said, smoothing her skirts and avoiding Tadhg's eyes, feeling flustered and hot all over.

"What? There's plenty of time," he protested, sitting up and trying to get her to look at him, but she would not. "What is it, Alana? D'ye nae like the place? We can go somewhere else if ye want. Dinnae talk if ye dinnae want tae. And I'll just listen if ye dae."

His earnestness touched a nerve, and she felt a little bad for reacting the way she had. He accused me of being cruel. Am I being cruel tae him?

"I love the place. 'Tis beautiful. Thank ye fer showin' it tae me. I dae feel better

now, but I still think we should go inside." She shivered and hugged herself. "'Tis gettin' chilly out here."

"Ye're cold? Here," he said, going to take off his coat.

"Nay, thank ye, I'm all right. I just need tae go indoors." She feared that to wear his coat, warm from his body and steeped in his scent, would be too much and that her defenses would crumble.

"Very well," he said, sounding resigned. They began retracing their steps. "We'll go together. Because dinnae forget that at dinner tonight, and everywhere else around here, we need tae be seen as man and wife. We cannae let them suspect otherwise, so ye have tae play yer part, all right."

"How can I forget?" she replied, sad to have to return to reality. As they eventually stepped into the keep, she could not help heeding his words. "Aye, I'll keep up the pretense," she told him. "I've nay wish tae be used as a piece in anyone's games, nay matter who they are."

But even as she spoke so decisively, she felt a sense of foreboding settling over her, and she realized she was dreading the forthcoming dinner.