Page 23 of It Began With A Kiss
He saw she was comfortably settled with a blanket on her lap to take the chill from her body. He called for mulled wine and sent a servant to her bedchamber to retrieve a shawl for her shoulders. Once she was as comfortable as he could possibly make her, he took his own seat next to her and indulged in the idea of Iona one day being his in every way possible. He had never been one to think of his future with a wife by his side, but Iona made it easy for him to do so. Could his life really be so complete?
CHAPTER16
Broden waited impatiently in the shadows of the night. Those who had supported him in the past had dwindled to but a handful and he began to worry whether he could gather enough forces to take back the castle. Since his enemy had accomplished the deed with such a small force of men, Broden felt as though he was just as capable.
He knew every inch of Dunborough Castle more so than the current laird. But now that Angus had been captured, Broden began to fret, and rightly so. Angus had been the one person Broden had been able to count on to perform any task without question. Who knew how much information Angus had given away after the lash had met his back? Broden was unsure if he could still count on the man even if he were able to get him a missive.
He was tired of it all. After killing Ewan, he should have been living in the lap of luxury and sitting high and mighty as the new laird with Iona at his side. But nay! Even that right had been taken from him and he cursed Aiden of Berwyck and all those who sided with his enemy.
Even his own people had turned on him. The clan had seemingly fallen under the new laird’s spell, making it harder for Broden to find someone willing to hide him in their dwellings. If this continued, Broden would have little choice but to leave these lands. All his efforts… all his scheming for years would have been for naught. He had to find a way to take back the keep and return to the clan’s favor. The alternative was not an option in his mind.
A movement on the trail leading from the castle caught Broden’s attention and he stepped forward from behind the village hut where he had been hiding. The figure came closer and Broden grinned. He at least had one person he could still depend on even if ’twas a woman.
“Yer late,” he hissed, taking her arm and leading her into a nearby stable where they could talk in private. She yanked her arm from his grasp.
“And ye promised me I would be yer lady of the keep but here I am still a servant,” she complained, whilst taking the hood from her head and pulling out her hair from beneath her cape.
Dark brown hair fell down past her shoulders and he was certain her brown eyes would mirror her mood. Clearly, she was just as upset as he was that his plans to take over the estate had not gone according to his plans.Plans… if he were honest with himself, he had no plans. Killing his brother had been but an opportunity seized when the enemy who had taken the castle were there to take the blame. As cozy as Iona had been, from his view of the couple on the battlement walls, it would not be long before the woman was bedded. BySaint Michael’s Wings! What would it feel like to have her beneath him?
Thora stomped her foot whilst he had been lost in thought of Iona. “Well? When will ye make good on yer word tae have me as the lady in yer hall?”
He would need to placate this woman if he were to keep her happy so she would do his bidding. ’Twas clear the woman had not thought long enough about the fact that Broden owned no hall of his own… at least not as yet. “Now, now, my pet. Do not be so hasty. I promised ye would be my lady and so ye shall. We just need a wee bit of time so all my plans can come tae fruition,” he coaxed whilst moving forward to take her in his arms. Leaning down, he kissed her lips all the while thinking of another he’d rather take to his bed. Such an act should have silenced her protests, but she was in a mood to be heard and Broden tempered down his rising annoyance at the girl.
“But ye promised, Broden,” she whined softly, but the look in her eyes told him she was ready to give all to him with but a word or two of encouragement.
He reached inside his cloak and pulled out a small glass vial. “Ye must do me a favor, Thora, and begin placing a drop or two of this in the laird’s wine. Not too much at once or those around MacLaren may become suspicious,” he urged. He folded the poison into the palm of her hand.
She opened her fingers to stare upon the vial as if she had tasted of the concoction inside. She scowled at him. “But poison is a woman’s method tae kill someone,” she said fiercely. “Anyone with a bit of common sense will look tae those of us who serve him his meals!”
“There are many in the kitchens who could be responsible. ’Twill not necessarily point tae ye, my pet,” he said, taking her fingers and once again closing the vial into her hand. “Do this favor for me, and all our dreams will be one step closer tae becoming a reality. Ye do wish tae please me, do ye not?”
“Of course, I do!” She gasped at his words before wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him close. His grin became wide, knowing he had won past any reservations she might have had.
“Ye are such a sweet thing,” he whispered into her ear before walking backwards with her into a stall. He pushed her gently down into the straw before joining her. “Soon, ye will get everything ye deserve, my pet.”
“Oh Broden! Ye make me so verra happy,” she murmured. She reached up to place her hand on the back of his neck. “Kiss me, my laird, and take me now!”
A chuckle left his lips hearing the title that should have been his and he gave in to her demands. Aye… Thora would do his bidding and soon he would be well rid of her.’Twill be so easy for an accident to befall the girl after she accomplishes all I require. Accidents happened all the time, he mused. And once Thora had poisoned that bastard MacLaren, Broden would be there to easily replace him and then take Iona as his wife. He would then have everything he rightly deserved after having to live his life as a second son.
CHAPTER17
Iona watched the dancing in the great hall. A small smile swept across her lips whilst she observed Aiden dancing with one of the local ladies. He was an accomplished dancer, and she could find no fault with his steps in the Scottish dance.
Occasionally, there were moments throughout her day where she had the notion she should not bethishappy. She should hate the man and the knights who had accompanied him to overtake their lands. Yet, Aiden made it so easy to forget he should be considered the clan’s enemy instead of thinking how well he had adjusted to living here amongst them. Aye… even the Ferguson clan had taken a liking to the new laird of Dunborough Castle. Perchance, rightly so, since Aiden treated everyone fairly but still meted out punishment according to the crimes committed. He was more than capable of being laird of the castle and he proved each and every day that he would be a fair laird. They could not ask more from him than that.
Aiden smiled in her direction and gave her a jaunty salute as he continued the patterns of the dance.The rogue!Eyeing one lady whilst dancing with another should have repercussions, should they not? Yet, Iona could not stay mad at him for long. In fact, her heart betrayed her with the overwhelming emotions that welled up inside her every time she was in his presence. She was falling in love with him and could only pray that he would not end up breaking her heart.
The music ended, bringing Iona back to the present. She knew she would admit her feelings for Aiden only to herself. There was no sense in revealing anything to the man. Not at this point in whatever their relationship had become. True, the kiss they had shared had been most pleasant and, if she were to guess, Aiden would be just as talented in bed. Her face flushed with the thoughts of them lying naked upstairs in one of their bedchambers. Her fanciful thoughts had certainly taken hold of her, and she would need to forget them if she were to have any sort of a civil conversation with the man.
He began to approach the raised dais and Iona looked over her shoulder to one of the serving girls. “Thora,” she called out trying not to think of the evening this same servant all but spilled out of her gown for Aiden’s viewing. “Bring wine for our laird.”
Thora nodded, raising the pitcher. “This one’s empty, milady. I shall fetch another in the kitchen.”
Iona waved the young woman off and welcomed Aiden to sit next to her. “Ye enjoyed the dancing, my laird?” she asked in a breathy whisper, as if she had been the one to be twirling around the floor with this handsome knight.
Aiden reached over to take her hand. His violet eyes never left hers. “If only you had been the fair maiden on my arm,” he murmured, appearing sincere with his words. “I would dance the entire night away with you, Iona, if I could.”
She gave a merry laugh at the thought. “And deprive all these ladies just waiting for their turn with ye? I could never be so selfish as tae keep ye tae myself.” His features grew serious, and Iona gulped whilst his eyes took on the look of a lover. His features all but spoke of his desires that surely must be a mirror of her own.
