Highlander’s Evil Side by Shona Thompson
Chapter Twenty-One
Fraser
Fraser rode hard towards the castle. The sun was setting. The darkest was swallowing the highlands, and still, he hadn’t found Beitris. He wanted to remain, search for her, but he knew in this darkness, he wouldn’t be able to find her. They needed more men, more torches to guide their way. His frown deepened at the gate to Castle Dunnegan. It was open rather than closed.
“Laird MacClery!” his men on the wall called as he entered the courtyard. “Lady MacClery has returned.”
His gaze fell on Beitris, standing in the middle of the courtyard, her eyes wide as if she was staring at a specter.
“Where have ye been?” Fraser shouted while jumping down from his horse and stalking towards her, ignoring the guard at her side.
He grabbed her shoulders gently and looked her over. There wasn’t a single bruise nor scratch on her face. His hands slid from her shoulders, and he grabbed her wrists, looking at her hands, yet they were unmarred and silky smooth. There was only some dirt staining her palms. His gaze lowered to her skirts, finding the hem muddy. She was fine. Nothing terrible had happened to her. His gaze jerked towards the guard, who flinched in response. He took a step back, his mouth opening and closing while his face flushed.
“I was with Hamish,” Beitris said simply.
Fraser’s gaze snapped to hers, the worry dissipating, quickly being replaced by anger. He had been worrying himself all day, searching the villages with Scott and asking strangers where she could be. But, according to Beitris, she was absolutely fine. She had the audacity to looked up at him with confusion marring her brow.
The guard at her side fidgeted before bowing quickly. “I-I ensured her safety, my laird,” he stuttered. “I assure ye, she was cared for greatly in my company.”
“To the barracks with ye,” Fraser said angrily without looking at the guard. He heard the guard move, but his scowl remained on Beitris, growing darker as she frowned up at him and crossed her arms.
“Gather Hamish’s apprentice,” Beitris said gently to the guard, ignoring Fraser. “Inform him of Hamish’s whereabouts and ensure he arrives safely to the cottage.”
“Aye, my lady,” the guard said with a curt bow.
“Did ye not receive my missive?” Beitris asked while turning to Fraser, her gaze narrowing in irritation.
“Missive?” Fraser snapped. “What missive?”
Beitris’s frown softened, and she turned from side to side as if she was searching for something or someone. “I told a pair of guards that I went with Hamish.”
Fraser ground his teeth. “Aye, that’s what I heard, but to where, nae one knew. Was that the missive ye wished to leave me with?”
Beitris stilled, fire growing with her gaze, yet she did not say a word as he continued. He didn’t think there was anything she could say to stop the flames lurking within him.
“What were ye thinking?” he breathed, unable to wrap his mind around her foolery. “How could ye—” he stopped himself, biting down on his tongue to keep himself from speaking of his double in front of everyone in the courtyard. Fraser did not know what eyes and ears belonged to him and which belonged to the other. “Ye know there are brigands in these lands,” Fraser said between clenched teeth, his hands fisting.
“I know, which is why I told yer men and took yer guard,” Beitris rushed out, her voice slightly shrill. “I thought of the risks.”
“Did ye?” Fraser shouted. “And so ye decided to take them anyway?”
Fraser couldn’t believe her foolishness. There was a man running rampant, disguised as the laird, and she thought it would be a swell idea to go on an adventure with Hamish? An old man who couldn’t even defend himself?
“I will not be treated like a child,” said Beitris while grabbing her skirts and striding briskly past him.
Fraser chuckled bitterly, not caring who in the courtyard was watching and what they thought. He followed his fiery bride into the keep, scowling at her back while she entered the kitchens.
“Where are ye going?” Fraser asked sternly.
The top of Beitris’s head tipped back, her gaze looking heavenward while she pinched the bridge of her nose. “If ye must know, my laird,” she spat, “I am gathering food. I have hardly eaten anything all day.” She slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing while the grip on her skirts turned white-knuckled. “Or must I ask yer permission for everything?”
“Only when yer being careless.”
Beitris scoffed, her mouth hanging open as she stared at him. “Ye don’t even know why I went.”
“I don’t need to know. Whatever the reason, no matter how dire it was, ye should have remained in the castle walls.” Fraser crossed his arms, grinding his teeth while he watched her turn away from him and gather leftover bread and cheese from nearly empty platters on the large table. Whispers fluttered to his ears, and his gaze darkened as he turned to the servants casting him curious looks. The maids to the left flinched under his angry scowl and quickly halted their whispers and resumed their work. He turned to his right and found two maids already flittering away, still whispering to themselves. They were completely alone in the kitchens. Perfect, Fraser thought.
“Ye don’t understand,” said Beitris, turning away from the platters and stalking past him towards the door. He followed her out to the corridor. “Hamish was needed at once. He required aid.”
“So why did he not send for it? I’m sure he has an apprentice for such tasks.”
Beitris sighed. “The mother was adamant. There was nae time. It was a grave matter of life and death.”
“Don’t ye see it could have been a trap?” Fraser shouted while stalking up the staircase, taking the steps two at a time.
“Aye, it could have been, which was why I took Ian.”
Fraser paused, making a face. “Ian?”
Beitris looked heavenward, her body stilling on the top step. She slowly turned around, her head tilting to the side, her gaze admonishing, saying more words than what escaped her lips. “Yer guard. The one who cared for me and Hamish the entire day. The one ye did not praise nor thank.”
Fraser grimaced. In his anger, he had forgotten about the guard, dismissing him simply and giving all his attentions to his foolish bride. “I was worried for ye.” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. With Beitris on the top step, she was nearly eye level to him. “I thought something happened to ye. I thought ye were taken.”
“And I understand that,” Beitris said gently, her eyes glimmering in the torchlight. “Which was why I told the guards.”
“Hamish could have taken one of them.”
Beitris’s shoulders slumped. “And leave the villagers unattended?”
“They were unattended when I arrived.”
Beitris blinked back at him, confusion seizing her features once more. “But…why? I only took one guard, and there were three when I arrived.”
Fraser frowned. That was a problem he would solve later, although it was something that lurked in the back of his mind. “Ye shouldn’t have gone. Hamish should have asked for another.”
“I have read a book or two about healing. The same cannot be said about yer soldiers. I know what some herbs look like and what they are used for.”
Fraser shook his head. “Couldn’t Hamish describe the herbs to Ian?”
He knew he had Beitris there, and he watched as her frown deepened, her brow furrowing into an angry, frustrated glare. “Oh,” she grumbled while stomping her foot and turning around. “Hamish needed someone nurturing!” she shouted while stalking down the corridor.
Fraser shook his head as he continued after her. “Yer being stubborn,” he called after her.
“I am not.”
Beitris fumbled with the bread and cheese in her hands as she approached her chamber door. Fraser’s pace quickened, reaching to help her, but Beitris was more adept. She used her wrists to open her quarters and shoved her shoulder against the door, slipping inside easily. Before she could close the door, Fraser pressed his hand against it, holding it open for him to enter.
He kicked the door closed, watching his bride pace back and forth while stuffing the bread and cheese into her mouth. “I understand ye only wanted to help, however, playing hero can get ye in more trouble than not.”
Beitris swallowed the bread in her mouth. “I was not playing hero.”
“Aye, ye were.” He smiled softly at her, leaning against the door while he watched her continue her pacing. “I know things have been difficult as of late, but ye need to consider yer safety.”
Beitris sighed in exasperation. “I did consider my safety. I considered all my options. I can’t deny a woman aid, especially if she’s worried about her son’s life.”
“Her son’s life? What happened?”
He watched Beitris push another piece of cheese in her mouth as she paced, looking away from him. “The poor lad was ill with fever. Hamish did not know what exactly took the lad, at least not yet.”
“And do ye not worry about becoming gravely ill yerself?”
Beitris threw her hands in the air. “The woman was desperate. How could I turn her away?”
Fraser sighed. He was exhausted from the day, worrying about Beitris, searching for her, worrying even more when he couldn’t find her. “I understand yer fear, and I know ye care for others. I just wish ye would think of yerself for a change.” He grimaced. “I do not like that ye visit the camps, Beitris. Especially given the guards were amiss today. Maybe ye should remain in the keep until things have settled.”
Beitris’s movements stopped, her eyes widening on him. “Ye can’t mean that,” she breathed. She rested her last bit of bread on the small table and strode towards him, stopping a foot from him. “The children need me.”
Fraser’s brows tented in confusion. “The children?”
“They’ve lost their homes, Fraser.” Beitris’s bottom lip quivered. “Many are injured or ill. And there are many who still believe that yer the one responsible.”
Fraser’s heart stilled, stunned by her words. His mouth opened, but he didn’t know what to say. He was doing everything he could to help his people, yet they still accused him for the burnt homes. It wasn’t their fault. Of course, they would believe it was him. How could they not? They didn’t know about the double, nor would they believe it.
“I do whatever I can to not only help the people, but help ye,” Beitris continued. “I want them to know that the MacClery Clan is there for them—that their laird and lady are good and kind people, who would never hurt them. And we must also put our faith in our people. We don’t have to be suspicious of everyone we come across.” Beitris stepped towards him, her hand stroking his face. “If we are to doubt the villagers, the servants, even Hamish, how are they supposed to put their faith in us? We must trust each other to do the right thing in order to work together. Not everyone within the castle is evil and working for that fraud of a man.”
“That may be so,” Fraser whispered, taking her hand and lacing his fingers with hers. “But ye terrified me today, Beitris. I thought I was going to lose ye. I thought that man, whoever he may be, took ye from me.” He swallowed the lump in his throat, his body trembling as he thought of her, beaten and broken. So many thoughts had gone through his head as he searched for her. He thought she was gone forever, taken to a faraway land. He thought he would discover her body, lifeless and bloody and all because of that terrible man.
Tears stung his eyes as he said, “I don’t think I’d be able to live if something were to ever happen to ye.”
A tear slipped from Fraser’s eyes, but before he could wipe it away, Beitris stroked it from his face. She gazed up at him with all the adoration and love in the world. He leaned into her touch, searching for more of it.
Beitris lifted to her tiptoes, her nose nuzzling his. “Naething will happen to me,” she whispered. “I won’t let it.”
Her lips brushed against his while her hands stroked his face, his hair. Fraser’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer until she was pressed against him. Her tongue grazed his bottom lip, and his mouth opened for her, allowing her entrance. He moaned as he felt her enter inside him, feeling as if he would never be able to get her out of his system. His hands stroked her back. Her legs slightly parted, and Fraser knew, if he didn’t pull away now, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from continuing.
