Page 74 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
There then rose within him a compulsion to bind them together with something physical. It was customary in the Highlands for lovers to exchange keepsakes. Something to always remind them of each other. He had already carved her name on the stone for the hearth. Now, he wanted something a little more discreet. Something that only they knew about. A token no other could see.
Leaving Elsie to sleep peacefully, he made his way to his study. There he found a small pestle. In it, he placed charcoal, which he ground up into a fine powder. When that was done, he added asmall drop of oil. Mixing the two until they became a paste, he then lifted a quill and made his way back to his bedchamber.
While Elsie slept, he took the ink and quill and gently wrote his initials on her wrist. She moaned slightly, causing him to pause. But when she fell back into full slumber, he continued on. When he had finished, he started on his own wrist, writing her initials in the same place on his own body. It felt appropriately rugged and meaningful, given its natural earthy quality. It was also easily removed, and thus felt like a whispered promise. Fleeting, yet powerful.
When he was finished, Keane too, felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him. Slipping into the bed beside her, he pulled her into his arms, and fell easily to sleep.
The following morning, Keane woke to Elsie lying there, gazing at him, a soft smile dancing on her lips.
“Hello,” she said softly.
“Hello,” he replied, smiling back at her.
“Something happened tae me in the night, and it’s worrisome,” she said, her brow deepening.
Keane looked concerned. “What? What happened tae ye?”
“Well.” She lifted her wrist. “It appears that a little fairy came and wrote some strange markings on me.”
Keane grinned then, and Elsie giggled.
He then lifted his own wrist and feigned surprise. “Och, nay. Look. They got me too. What dae ye think it means?”
Elsie shrugged. “I think it means they need tae find themselves some parchment.”
This sent Keane into a deep chuckle, his laughter booming across the bedchamber. “I will be certain tae leave some out fer them in the night.”
“I think we should. Though, I am quite impressed with their skills. I wonder if they realize these are yer initials. ‘Tis very strange.” She grinned.
He lowered his face to hers and brushed his lips across her mouth. “Ye mean everything tae me, Elsie Mackay. I never want ye tae forget that.”
“How can I when ye have marked me so meaningfully?” she breathed back.
“Aye. I have marked ye, fer ye are mine, as I am yers.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Roland Munro was not just humiliated at the defeat. He was angry. Angry that he had not slaughtered Laird Mackay where he stood. Angry that he had not been able to take his daughter back. And angry at Elspeth’s last words.
“…I have never had a faither. Now, more so than ever. When ye leave here, I willnae grieve ye’re going, fer ye have never given me any reason tae grieve ye.”
He and his men had been riding now for several hours. During most of that time, his mind had whirled with raging thoughts of her lack of gratitude.
After everything I have done fer that child. I gave her everything she ever wanted. She had the finest food, clothes, and horses. Even the union tae William Gunn would have set her up fer life. And after all that, she has the audacity tae tell me that she doesnae have a faither? What an ungrateful little wench. Well, she will rue the day she talked back tae me.
When Laird Mackay had agreed to the duel, Roland had been more than delighted. He would have finally had a chance to defeat the man who had stolen his daughter from under his nose. The man who had ruined everything. Without Elspeth, there could be no alliance. Without the alliance, his clan was open to threat, or worse, defeat.
It had been an opportunity to rectify the situation. Once he got Elspeth back in his possession, the alliance could go ahead. It was the feeling of absolute certainty that he would destroy Mackay that had made him agree to the terms of the duel. Yet, things had not gone to plan at all. Clearly, he had underestimated Mackay’s strength.
Or, how much he wanted tae keep Elspeth as his prize.
Roland shook his head, trying to rid his mind of that thought. No. Mackay had fought only for himself and his own pride. For a certainty, he had not wanted to lose Elspeth, but only because of his obsession with possessing her as his own. He had shown that in his actions and words when he had been there. He would not even let Roland speak to his daughter alone.
Now, Roland was angrier than before he had arrived at the Mackay lands. He needed this alliance, and thus, he needed Elspeth. For that reason, he was not travelling back to his own clan lands, and his own castle. Instead, he and his men were journeying directly to Laird Gunn.
Two days later, Roland and his men arrived at the castle.
“What the devil dae ye mean, ye couldnae get her back?” Laird Gunn bellowed. He was glaring at Roland with such a rage, the man looked like he might explode. His sharp green eyes pierced into Roland’s like a knife, and yet, Roland had no answer.
