Page 42 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
She wondered if the girl would be shy about speaking of her master, but Fenella seemed more than happy to gossip. Perhaps it was the way of servants in a place such as this. She had a bubbly, sing-song voice that Keira found soothing.
“He is a good laird, ma’am, very attentive and caring of his people. Me maither has lived here all her life, and she has always had a MacAllen for a laird. They are an honorable family.”
Keira waited for a while before asking another question, not wishing to sound too eager.
“What is he like as a man? Did he really sell his sister to a rival laird to secure peace?”
“Och, yes, Lady Amelia? She is the bonniest woman I have ever seen. So kind and gentle. She hasnae been to this castle very often, but she loves her brother. Laird Dougal was a good match. They’re havin’ a wee bairn now.”
As though that proved anything,Keira thought with aggravation,Lucas would get me with child just to ensure I could not leave him.
“So shedidmarry Laird Dougal?”
“Och yes. Laird MacAllen wouldnae have done it if he dinnae have any choice, and they are quite settled now. A love match, some say. Laird MacAllen will always do right by his people, though me brother says he has a nasty temper. Sometimes quick to anger if his wishes arenae met.”
This is me castle, ye are me guest, ye do as I say until I tell ye otherwise,Keira felt a throb of heat run through her at MacAllen’s remembered words on her first night in the castle.What would he do if I truly disobeyed him?She wondered. The thought was nothing if not exciting.
She leaned forward against her knees, picking at the underside of her nails as Fenella ran the cloth over her neck and arms. The warm water soothed her feelings, if not her racing thoughts.
“I’ve heard things that the council are nae happy with him though,” Fenella continued conversationally, as though she were speaking of the weather.
“Really? Why is that?”
“Och, he hasnae taken a bride!” her voice dropped to a lower level as though she were suddenly speaking out of turn. “They wish for him to marry and secure the lairdship, but he doesnae seem to have any wish to take a wife.”
Or to take a mistress.
Keira said nothing in response, and after a while, when Fenella rang the cloth out into the bowl beside her Keira turned to her with a smile.
“Thank ye Fenella, ye have been most kind. I’ll carry on from here, ye should be about yer duties.”
Fenella nodded as she handed her the cloth, collecting her things and leaving Keira alone with her thoughts.
She ran it over her body, her skin sensitive and raw somehow, as though his kiss had set something in her body alight that she could not extinguish.
She thought of what she would do if he were to burst into the room right now, demanding that she treat his shoulder again, be damned to her privacy.
Would he pull her forcefully from the bath? Maybe throw her on the bed, his dry clothing rubbing against her naked body as he claimed her for his own? She moaned at the thought.
She opened her eyes, glancing about guiltily as though somehow he might hear her thoughts and know of her fantasies.
Why does he not wish to marry?She wondered.Perhaps he is already in love with someone and is pining for them.
She looked at her little finger, happy to see it was quite pink again, no trace of green anywhere.
Perhaps he was in love with the previous healer. Hehadcalled her by her given name. Deindre had left to tend to his grandparents in the other castle. Perhaps he was yearning for her, and that was why he would never marry.
I dinnae even ken his name,she realized suddenly,I have kissed a man and I havenae any idea who he really is.
She got out of the bath, feeling annoyed at her own thoughts as she pulled on the robe that Fenella had left for her. She tied it too tightly, wincing as it pinched her skin.
What kind of a healer is this ‘Deindre’ anyway? She couldnae discover what was wrong with his chest. Well, I shall, I shall prove what real healers can do!
CHAPTER18
Noah sat at his desk,staring gloomily out of his window and nursing a second glass of whiskey.
His chest had been aching damnably ever since he had left the children at dinner. The pain had increased steadily since he had sat down in his study. He was already exhausted from his day and from the training session with Scott and did not wish to rouse Callum for some sparring when it was already so late.
