The Accidental Highland Hero (The Highlanders #2)

Chapter Six

Eilis climbed onto the straw-filled mattress in the guest chamber but watched in the shimmering candle light while Tavia prepared herself for bed also. “You are not sleeping in here also, are you?”

She failed to conceal the surprise in her voice.

“Aye. His Lairdship was concerned you may become unwell during the night.”

Tavia gave a furtive smile. “‘Tis best if I am close by to assist you.”

“‘Tis unnecessary.”

But Eilis’s words did not sway the healer.

Tavia combed out her long dark tresses then snuffed out the candles. Joining Eilis, Tavia sent the mattress to swaying slightly on the ropes holding it in place. “His Lairdship decides what is best for you.”

How was Eilis to strip the linens to tie together and make a rope? How could she light candles to see what she was doing without waking Tavia? She ground her teeth and stared upward at the ceiling she couldn’t see for the darkness. Mayhap, she could leave the bed and dress without waking Tavia. Then she might be able to slip past the guard if he grew sleepy.

She rolled onto her side. Served James right if his supper didn’t agree with him, and the healer wasn’t readily at his disposal.

For hours, Eilis lay still, waiting for some sign Tavia was asleep. When she heard her softly snoring, Eilis thanked the Lord. As carefully as she could without rocking the mattress too verra much, she slipped out of bed, although the ropes creaked a wee bit.

Her feet crunched on rushes that she normally wouldn’t have noticed, but every sound seemed to echo off the stone walls tenfold. She fumbled for her kirtle and, after several excruciating minutes, finally located it in the cave-like darkness and yanked it over her head. Then for several more minutes, she crawled around on the floor, patting it, searching for her shoes. She would have to forgo her hose and garters because she feared she would take overlong to locate them. When her fingers finally gripped the soft leather shoes, Tavia stirred.

Eilis froze in place. Och, if she caught her now…

Tavia shifted on the mattress. Her snoring stopped, but she didn’t raise the alarm that Eilis was not in bed.

Praying Tavia was still asleep, Eilis slipped her shoes on then made her way to the door. Beneath the massive oak, the light of a candle outside the chamber shone, the only reason she knew where the door was in the dark.

But would Fergus still be standing guard? Mayhap he had retired for the night because Tavia was sleeping with her. Or if he had not retired, mayhap he would be half asleep or sleeping fully and not notice a wee lass slip out.

With her ear to the door, she listened for any sounds, conversation, snoring, but there was none. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at the door leading to James’s chamber. If she slipped out through his chamber, would the guard at hers see her? But what about James? Was he sleeping, or away from his chamber still?

She stared at the bottom edge of the door. No candlelight shown. Yet, she couldn’t bolster her courage to go to the laird’s door.

She opened the one leading out of her chamber. It creaked, shattering her resolve. No one came to the opening or said a word. Her spine stiffer than a taut bow, she gambled that the laird had removed the guard. Tavia was with her after all. Why make a man serve extra guard duty for naught?

She opened the door further. It squeaked again. She hadn’t remembered it was so noisy before. The space was still not wide enough for her to see out. Her skin chilled. No response on the other side of the door though.

Swallowing hard, she pulled the door open enough that she could squeeze out.

Fergus watched her, his eyes and stance as hard as steel.

Her heart shriveled. What now? Pretend she needed something? Shut the door and return to bed?

“Could you fetch me something to drink?”

He gave his head a shake.

“I cannot sleep as I am parched.”

“Wake Tavia and have her fetch something for you.”

Eilis frowned. “She is sound asleep.”

“Shut the door then and return to bed.”

Lifting her chin, Eilis motioned to the stairs. “Fine, I will get it myself.”

With that, she stormed out of the chamber.

Seizing her wrist, Fergus glowered at her, the fire burning in his eyes. “His Lairdship says you shall remain here at Craigly Castle. Until he says otherwise, you willna go anywhere, lass.”

She tried to wriggle free. “Let me go!”

“What is wrong?”

Tavia asked from inside the chambers near the bed, her voice groggy with sleep.

Eilis heard Tavia moving around in the room, probably trying to locate her kirtle in the dark.

“The lady is thirsty, so she says,”

Fergus growled.

Her hair tangled about her shoulders and her kirtle rumpled, Tavia joined her and glowered. “I will fetch her something to drink.”

Fergus released Eilis’s wrist as she seethed at him.

Tavia rushed past her while Eilis returned to the chamber and shut the door.

Having no other choice, Eilis headed straight for James’s bedchamber. Again, she listened at the door for any sounds. Silence.

Pushing James’s door open cautiously, she was relieved it made no creaking noise.

Inside, she could see naught except the faint illumination beneath the door leading outside. Like a beacon of light on a cold black night, she headed straight for it and ran into the sharp and flat edge of a table. And bruised her thighs.

Instantly, something crashed on the floor. Shaken, she darted for the door, her shoes crunching on what she thought were bits of clay. The mattress creaked, feet hit the floor, and most likely James pursued her. Her heart couldn’t have beat any harder as she tried to keep the panic from overwhelming her. Halfway to the door, a hand grabbed at her arm then seized her wrist. She screamed.

The outer door flew open, spilling light into the chamber while four men rushed in with swords drawn.

James tsked, still confining her wrist in his iron grip, heating her blood. “You look like you just fell out of bed, lass. Have you lost your way?”

He motioned to one of his men. “Naught is the matter that I cannot handle. Light a candle for me, Fergus, will you? The wee lass has made a shambles of my chamber.”

“Aye, my laird.”

Chuckling and shaking their heads, the other men sauntered out of the room with backward glances at Eilis and their laird while Fergus lighted a couple of candles.

The word would be all over the castle by morn as to what she’d done. Her whole body flushed anew.

“Do we need to post a guard in my room also, lass?”

James asked, touching her hair with a gentle sweep of his free hand, his other still holding firm. “You did not wish to share my bed with me, did you?”

Her cheeks grew even more feverish, and she tried to twist her wrist free.

A slight smile curved Fergus’s lips. “Wish you anything else, my laird?”

James’s expression mirrored Fergus’s. “Nay. Just a good night’s sleep, which the lass seems intent on disturbing.”

“I was thirsty,”

Eilis snapped.

“Aye, and Tavia has already gone to fetch her something to quench her thirst,”

Fergus said, his words verging on a growl. “She had nay reason to come in here, my laird.” He bowed his head slightly.

Eilis flashed him a derisive look. Anyone but a fool would see the obvious reason behind her intentions and she need not explain the matter further.

James raised his brows, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You did not intend to traverse my chamber to tell Tavia you were hungry as well, did you?”

He turned to Fergus. “You may go.”

Fergus bowed his head again, gave Eilis a look of displeasure then closed the door on his departure.

Eilis fought feeling vulnerable alone in James’s presence, but his capturing her wrist and holding her tight and way too close made it difficult to think otherwise.

“You can let go of me,”

she said between clenched teeth, her whole body heating despite the coolness of the chamber. The smell of his heady masculine scent overwhelmed her, and if he did not release her soon, she didn’t think she’d remain standing for long.

“Can I now?”

His vexation was evident in the tone of his voice, and his eyes blazed with fire as he assessed her. “How far do you think you would have gotten?” He motioned to the window. “The castle is locked tight at night. You would not have gotten beyond the walls. ‘Tis not safe for a wee lass to be roaming the castle by herself in any event. Some of my men might have thought you were seeking male companionship.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I was thirsty. The salted meat made me thus.”

James gave her a look like he knew better than that.

She had not managed to eat a bite, only drank some of her mead. If she truly drank anything more this eve, she would float away.

“Aye, well, Tavia will remedy that. But the next time you wish something, wake Tavia and have her get it for you. Fergus is under strict orders to ensure you do not leave the chamber. He will not disobey me in this matter. So do not try him.”

Instantly, the darkness faded from James’s face, and a small smile appeared. “Shall I tuck you back in bed?”

When he was angry with her, she felt less wary of his intentions. ‘Twas much better than when he put on his seductive air. Besides, they were alone in his chamber and…

She frowned at him. “I am not a child.”

His face hardened again. “Nay, you are not. That is why you will not roam the castle alone at night.”

Before surprise could even register, he leaned down to kiss her. She should have turned her head, discouraged his attentions, but she couldn’t. Breathless, she waited with great expectation and watched as his lips touched hers. At first, ‘twas naught more than a brush of warm velvet against her mouth. She trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer pleasure of his touch.

Her bones turned to soggy oats, and if James had not tightened his grasp on her wrist, she was sure she would be kneeling before him. His lips turned up slightly, mayhap because she did not object to his kiss. ‘Twas highly inappropriate, and she should step away. But she lifted her mouth to his and solicited more.

To her frustration, he did not oblige. Instead, he touched her cheek with his fingertips and caressed the skin with a gentle sweep, his smoldering gaze fixed to hers. Mesmerized, she could not look away.

“’Tis not safe for you to be in here, lass.”

His words were huskier than she’d ever heard them. “You need to return to bed.”

But he did not release her, nor did he move her from the spot of floor she was affixed to. Worse, she did not try to pull away either.

She licked her lips and dropped her gaze, studying his chest, well muscled and bronzed, the dark hair trailing lower toward his trewes. ‘Twas then she saw the bulge between his legs beneath the fabric, straining against the seams. Her cheeks heated, and her eyes shifted up, away from his tantalizing treasures. He gave her a wicked grin.

Pulling her against his body, James let her feel the way she had aroused him. He knew he should have returned her to her bed, but he wanted to join her in it, despite his conscience telling him otherwise. Her lips were honey-flavored from the mead, sweet and tender, her body soft and warm as he pressed himself against her. The slight intake of her breath tantalized him all the more. Again, he bent his head and kissed her.

Lips like silk caressed him back. Demurely at first. He released her wrist and wrapped his arms around her as her breasts rose with her quickened breaths. Her fingers skimmed across his naked back, sending ribbons of desire coursing through him. Never had he felt in such a way, tortured to the outer edges of the world, filled with ragged desire that he knew he could not fulfill. ‘Twas more than foolish to press his advantage with the lady.

Yet when she tentatively kissed him back, she ignited the flame deep within, and he tossed aside all convention. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted a woman. She was his gift from the sea, his to keep and hold.

He deepened the kiss, and she opened herself to him. His knees weakened. ‘Twas more than daft. No woman had ever made his head spin. He would kiss her and be done with the infatuation. ‘Twas Catriona whom he would wed and bed soon.

Caressing Eilis’s tongue with his, he forgot all about Catriona and concentrated on the sea nymph in his arms. He stroked her breast and felt the nub peak, begging for his attention. He closed his eyes, desiring to bare her to his touch. Why did the lass not push him away? Instead, she leaned into his embrace, her breath nearly inaudible, her heartbeat racing.

“Tavia,”

Eilis managed to get out, and he cursed himself inwardly as he finally heard the woman’s light footfalls nearing the lady’s chamber.

Taking a deep breath, he moved away from the lass, his painful arousal reminding him of where he’d nearly gone with her. It could not happen again. ‘Twas only a ruse he was bound to play with Eilis, naught more, and he could not be with her in his bedchamber, alone, without witnesses again.

Tavia greeted Fergus at the door to Eilis’s room. “All is quiet, Fergus?”

“She is still in His Lairdship’s chamber,”

Fergus replied or warned.

James couldn’t tell which. He should have sent Eilis back to her chamber, but instead, he waited with her until Tavia came to his, not willing to give Eilis up just yet.

After crossing the lady’s chamber, Tavia peeked into James’s chamber, her face flushing as she observed Eilis with him. Tavia lowered her eyes. “My laird, I am sorry if the lady disturbed your sleep.”

Her words expressed profuse apology.

“Nay, ‘tis not a problem.”

He motioned to the goblet. “Drink up, Eilis, so I will be assured you can sleep.”

Annoyed James would watch her, Eilis drank the mead. Even Fergus and Tavia kept an eye on her progress. She tried to leave some of it, but James motioned for her to finish it all then bowed his head to her slightly when she was done.

“Now, may we all get some sleep?”

James turned to Fergus. “You may retake your post.”

When Fergus closed the door, James said to Eilis, “I would tuck you in if it meant you would go where you need to be. But I will let Tavia take care of it.”

Eilis scowled at him, whirled around, and returned to the bedchamber. Instantly, her head swirled. By the time she reached the bed, she felt verra woozy.

From a great distance, she heard James and Tavia whispering to each other. How discourteous. Yet she greatly wished to know what secrets they shared with one another.

She barely made it into bed, dressed and all. Tavia hurried across the chamber and pushed Eilis against the bed before she collapsed on the floor.

The low light in the room faded to pitch.

“Sleep well, my lady,”

James said, his lips curved up slightly as Tavia removed Eilis’s shoes and recovered her with the blanket. The lass would not disturb his sleep any longer this eve.

‘Twas only a short while later after returning to bed, that rough pounding on the door wakened James. Now what was the lass up to? “Aye,”

he called out from the bed.

“My laird, Daran MacLeod has come seeking your help. Dunbarton’s men raided his farm near our border and took his young daughter, Anna.”