Page 43 of A Knight To Call My Own
“I was not aware I must needs ask your consent,” Lynet replied with a sweet smile. Skirting around him, she casually began taking off her gloves as though she had all time at her leisure. “I was well guarded.” Turning her back on him, she began to make her way towards the keep. He quickened his pace to catch up to her.
“That is not the point,” he declared, scowling. Reaching for her arm, Ian made the mistake of pulling Lynet closer to him. Her flowery scent assaulted his senses like a rich, heady wine. Just to feel her standing this close to him was intoxicating.
Inhaling deeply, Ian sensed her very essence capture his soul, and he felt as though he were a man starving for food. Their eyes met. For just an instant, Ian swore he witnessed such longing hidden in the depth of blue that swam afore his vision. Lynet quickly changed her expression to mask the emotions Ian knew for certain she had been feeling. Once again, she portrayed a lady who was cool and unresponsive to his charm.
“Then whatisyour point, Ian?”
“Have you so easily forgotten the danger that could be awaiting you? Or, perchance, you do not care if you are captured, yet again?”
“Do not be so ridiculous,” she answered confidently. “I was perfectly safe with Angus and the men he had to guard me.”
“I will advise you to not be a fool, thinking you are safe outside of these walls. I do not feel my trying to keep you protected is unreasonable.”
“I am not the one being unreasonable,” she shouted.
Ian hid a smile as he watched his wife’s face become flushed in her efforts to remain in control of the situation they were discussing. “Then, we are in accord. You will not leave the grounds again, lest I give you leave to do so,” Ian replied, taking her elbow to escort her, whether she liked it or not.
“I never agreed to such terms.”
“You may not be in agreement to my directives, but you will obey them just the same, if you know what is good for you.”
“I am not a child to be ordered about,” Lynet fumed.
“Then stop acting like one,” Ian answered. Leading her through the hall, they made their way up to their chambers. Opening the door, he gave her a gentle push. When she sat with enough force to break the stool afore the fire, he gave her a look that he would not tolerate further arguing. She snapped her lips shut, not giving voice to the sharp retort she was most likely about to spit out at him. “I will send a maid to help you change and will see you at the evening meal.”
Giving her a formal bow that would have rivaled any gentleman at court, he left her sulking in her seat and closed the door quietly between them. Ian could only ponder on what object met the door as the sound of it shattering ricocheted throughout the passageway.
~***~
“That insufferable, pig-headed lout!”
Lynet paced the width of the chamber, feeling as though the walls were closing in around her. “How dare he treat me as if I were a misbehaving child? Who does he think he is?”
She made her way to the window seat and sat to enjoy the view of the loch. Taking several deep breaths to calm her nerves, she began to feel better. A giggle escaped her after she realized her plan may just work, after all. Ian had been furious. She supposed he had every right to be, given the circumstances. He also was not immune to the connection between them. She could hardly miss the look of desire that flashed momentarily in his eyes when he held her close. It had taken everything within her power not to lean in to rest her hands upon his muscled chest. She had been so very tempted, but that would have been giving up the game too quickly.
Aye, Ian needed to see for himself she was a worthy companion as his wife, and ’twas past time for her to assume her role as chatelaine of the castle. Only when the keys to the keep were on a chain around her waist would she begin to feel like a wife. Perchance then, he would at last take her to his bed. Her face flushed with heat at the thought of them trysting beneath the covers.
A discrete knock sounded upon the door, and Lynet called the servant to enter. A devilish idea came into her mind when the woman pulled out a dress of pale blue linen. Lynet had marveled at the garment afore, since ’twas indeed perfect and would bring out the color in her eyes. Someone had taken great care in constructing the cloth with stitchery that would rival her own. She would save it for a special occasion and not wear it this eve.
“I believe something a little less formal is in order this night, Lorna,” she said going to the trunk and digging down to the bottom. Her fingers came in contact with material of soft wool, so she carefully pulled, trying her best not to disrupt her remaining dresses. She gave the garment a shake and a pair of leggings fell into her awaiting hand. A gasp escaped the maid.
“’Tis unseemly, milady,” Lorna replied, covering her mouth. She began to turn red in the face from shock.
“This is precisely why I will dare to dress accordingly.”
“You do not wish to incur the wrath of Lady Fiona and Sir Edric. Surely, if you plan to wear such attire, they will be displeased.” Her pleading tone more than begged Lynet to rethink her choice in attending the evening meal dressed as a boy.
“I thank you for your warning, but am I not the laird’s wife?” Lynet stared at the woman, who wisely snapped her lips shut. “I shall do and dress as I please. If you would help me get this dress off, I think I can manage the rest.”
Lorna did as she was bid, grumbling beneath her breath. She may only be a maid, but she certainly was an opinionated one. Lynet could hardly berate the woman for the good intentions on her behalf. Still, Lynet ignored the serf’s urging to change her mind, for she was determined to push Ian to the brink of whatever held him back from making her his wife in every way. If this did not do the trick, she would need to think of something else.
Not sure what could be more daring than attending the evening meal dressed in men’s attire, Lynet dismissed Lorna, thanking her for her help. The door shut. Left alone with only her thoughts to occupy her, Lynet pulled at her hair and began braiding its length. ’Twas a tedious task, and perhaps she had been too hasty in dismissing Lorna. Finally reaching the end, she tied a leather strap to hold it together and stood. Moving about the chamber caused the long braid to swish back and forth, much like a horse’s tail. She gazed down upon the dark green tunic that reached just below her hips. Mayhap, she should have found one longer, but ’twas too late now to find another, for she heard the bell ringing to call those in the keep to sup.
She took another look over her shoulder and down the length of her body. The leggings hugged her bottom far tighter than she thought they would, showing off every curve God had graced her with. When she had found the clothing in the trunk that had been brought to her chamber for her use, she had never dreamed she would be wearing them for anything other than tending to those who may have need of her healing touch.
She waited several more minutes to ensure the hall would be filled with hungry clansmen afore she left her room. Practically skipping down the passageway, a cheeky laugh escaped her. Lynet’s only thought was of Ian dragging her back to their chamber posthaste to make love to her, lest of course, he clobbered her first.
Chapter Twenty-Four
