Highland Hope by Julie Johnstone
Eighteen
His clan knew. Eve saw it on their faces—the disapproving, judgmental expressions—as Royce tugged her through the courtyard. How could they know of her lies so quickly? She burned with shame and trembled as she walked silently beside him toward the castle. He’d nearly killed Frederick for her. Even after he had learned she was wed, his instinct had been to protect her. She had to protect him, as well. She had to ensure he didn’t risk himself and his clan for her.
As they approached the door to the castle, Eve could feel Danaria’s hot glare upon her. The woman stood near the entrance, her arms crossed. “Ye kinnae mean to take the likes of her into our home,” she said to Royce.
The little talking that had been going on among the servants in the courtyard stopped altogether, and the angry beat of Eve’s heart thumped in her ears. His troubles with his clan were already commencing because of her.
“This is my home, Danaria,” Royce said, his tone like steel, “and I will take whomever I wish into it. And ye’d do well to remember ye have a place to live here amongst us by my grace.”
Danaria’s eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed. “Aye, Laird,” she said, scurrying from the door and disappearing into the thick crowd that was watching them.
He didn’t look at Eve, or anyone for that matter, as he led her into the castle. He released his grip on her arm at the foot of the stairs, and his hand came to the small of her back. Her skin sizzled with his touch, and her heart raced. He guided her up the winding stairs, down corridors, and they passed servants along the way. Some openly gaped while others averted their gazes, but Royce’s stride never faltered, which forced Eve to move forward just as quickly.
He gave her a gentle nudge through the solar door, and as she turned to face him, he came through with long, confident strides. Water still dripped from his dark hair, his blue eyes held a troubled glint, and a tic beat furiously at his right eye. He reached back to shut the door without looking, and then he closed the distance between them until there was but a hairsbreadth separating them. Unseen threads from him to her, untouchable ones, pulled her toward him with a strength that was almost impossible to resist. She nearly moaned from the effort not to reach out and touch him. The bond between them was tangible, but it was also dangerous for them both. For herself, she did not care any longer, but for him, she cared a great deal.
“Please, tell me,” he said. It was a plea from a man who could have easily commanded her. “Explain to me why you fled him.”
Hot tears trailed down her cheeks. “He beats me,” she said, her heart aching. “And I was afraid if I told you I was still wed that you’d send me back to him.” Royce moved to touch her, and she scooted backward. “No,” she whispered, putting her hand up to stop him from advancing farther. Raw pain settled on his face and made the ache in her chest grow stronger, twisting and spreading within her. “It doesn’t matter why, though,” she said, the tears coming faster. “He’s my husband. I wish he weren’t, but he is, and if I don’t return with him now that he’s found me, he’ll bring war to your home. I did not think he’d ever find me. I did not think I was truly putting any of you in danger. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
“I do nae care, Eve.”
He started toward her again, and she scuttled still farther back, pressing herself against the window, sobbing now. “You’re too honorable and good,” she said through her tears. “You would risk yourself and your clan for me, a liar.”
“Eve, Christ,” he said, the two words sounding ripped from the depths of his soul. “Let me protect ye.”
She shook her head, her vision blurring from the onslaught of tears. “If I let you protect me, who will protect you from him and his king?”
“I do nae need protection from him, Eve.”
“You do,” she said, thinking of the list she’d taken. She was sure it was the main reason Frederick had come for her. “And it isn’t even because he wants me. He doesn’t. He prefers the company of his captain of the guards. He… He—” She was so ashamed to admit the truth, but she wanted Royce to know everything. Maybe he would not think so horribly of her eventually. “He never even touched me as a man touches a wife.”
Royce’s brows dipped into a sharp V. “What did ye say?” he asked, his tone filled with incredulity. Did he not believe her?
“I swear it,” she said. “He never touched me, except to hit me. I’m certain that he’s come for me because I took a list that he—”
Royce swallowed the distance between them in one step, grabbed her, pulled her roughly to him, and slanted his mouth over hers, desperate and seeking. She froze for one moment, and then all the resistance she had tried to build against him disappeared when his tongue slipped into her mouth and touched to hers. His hands slid up her back and in her hair as he kissed her hungrily, massaging her lips as he seemed to brand her. She could not have pulled away if she had wanted to, and God help her, she didn’t want to. Her honor was lost, and she was causing Royce to lose his, too.
One moment. One more kiss.That’s all she would take.
She met his hunger with her own. She raked her nails up the warm skin of his muscular back, over his broad shoulder, up his corded neck, and into his wavy hair. She curled her fingers into his locks and held him as if she would never let him go. She didn’t want to. The strong hardness of his lips molded to hers and demanded more, and she gave it willingly. When his lips left her mouth to kiss a hot trail down her neck, she didn’t push him away. She tugged him closer, whimpering with need.
He left her neck burning with fire, and when he reached the top edge of her gown and pressed kisses to her chest that was exposed, then traced his tongue along the edge of her bodice, she thought she might die from the ache that sprang within her. “Royce,” she moaned, pulling away. “We have to stop. Frederick—”
“Is nae yer husband,” Royce finished, cupping her face and kissing her chin, her nose, and then her lips once more. She didn’t want to pull away again. In fact, her body fairly rebelled at the action, even as she did it, but his words, his words were not true.
“Royce!” She pressed a hand between them. “Frederick is my husband.”
Royce grinned at her. “Nay, lass. If he did nae ever touch ye, then he did nae ever consummate the marriage. If he did nae ever consummate the marriage, then in the eyes of God and man, he is nae yer husband.”
“Are you certain?” she asked, her heart exploding in her chest.
“Oh, aye, Eve,” Royce said, reaching out, encircling her waist, and pulling her firmly against him. His heart thudded against her body as he locked his hands upon her back and looked down at her, his gaze smoldering and filled with emotion. “He is nae yer husband; therefore, I can be. If ye will have me. If ye feel the love for me that I feel for ye.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “You love me?” she finally managed. Hearing it from his lips was different than his sister saying she thought it so.
He slid his hands up her back, over her spine, and to her neck, which he held with one hand as the other came to her mouth. He traced the pad of his thumb over her upper lip and then her lower one. “I do, lass. I love yer warm laughter and yer big, bonny heart. And yer courage. And the way ye—”
She covered his mouth with hers, just as he’d done to her. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach his lips, but the moment their mouths crushed together, he hoisted her to him, lifting her off the ground so that her feet were dangling. They stood, locked in a passionate kiss, all tangled tongues and exploring hands and thudding hearts, when behind them the door banged open. Royce disentangled from Eve so quickly that it left her swaying. He withdrew his sword, shoved her behind him, and swiveled around to face whoever had barged in.
“Put yer sword away,” came Father Murdoch’s voice.
Eve scuttled out from behind Royce, but he snagged her by the hand and tugged her to him in a protective gesture that warmed her heart. Her eyes widened at the sight before her. In the doorway stood Father Murdoch, Elena, Magnus, and the twins.
Elena was red-faced as if she’d been running. “I returned with Father Murdoch moments ago,” she gasped, gripping her side. “The girls—” she motioned to the twins “—told me that Eve’s husband had come for her.”
“Eve does nae have a husband,” Royce replied, squeezing Eve’s hand and making her chest tighten.
“He’s decided to disillusion himself,” Father Murdoch pronounced.
“Oh, Royce. Oh, Eve,” Elena cried. “Father Murdoch says there’s nae a way to dissolve the marriage. I’m so sorry.”
“Papa!” the girls both cried. “Ye kinnae send Eve away with that horrible man. Auntie Elena told us he hits her. Eve was scared!”
“We love, Eve!” Lillith cried out.
“We want to keep her as ours,” Lenora added.
Everyone started talking at once, protesting Royce’s sending Eve away. A warmth, a feeling of belonging like she had never known, filled her.
Royce turned to Eve. “One moment, aye?”
Eve frowned but nodded and watched as Royce crossed the room, waved his girls to him, then kneeled before them. The three of them put their heads together, as if telling secrets. When they pulled apart, all three of them looked to Eve before one another. Lillith nodded followed by Lenora. Royce hugged the girls to him for a moment, rose and came back to Eve’s side. He held up a hand for silence. “Quit all yer fussing. I’m nae sending Eve away. I’m wedding her…if she’ll have me.”
Royce looked to her in the sudden silence of the room, and Eve could not contain her smile of joy, but she focused on the girls to ensure they wished it, as well. Both girls nodded at her, and her heart expanded. “Of course I’ll have you,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his shoulder, feeling suddenly shy.
He brushed a kiss to the side of her cheek, making gooseflesh dance up her spine. “Excellent,” he said, his tone low. “Do ye wish to put on a fresh gown or shall we wed now?”
“Now?” She glanced up at him, sure he was teasing.
“Aye, lass. I’ll nae be making the same mistake as Sotherby. We’ll be wed this night, and ye will be mine in every way possible before morning.”
His words put heat in her belly. “What of Frederick?”
“I’ll deal with Sotherby, Eve. I’m going to personally see him off my land. Do ye wish to say anything before I do?”
She shook her head. “I’ve nothing to say to him, but I do have a list I stole from his room that could aid you. I’m unsure what it is exactly, other than the names of men in a group called the Lords Appellant. Frederick and his—”
Royce tugged her to him and kissed her. When he released her, he said, “Where is the list?”
She quickly retrieved it from the drawer she’d hidden it in and brought it to him, the eyes of the twins, his sister, Magnus, and Father Murdoch on her.
Royce took the list, opened it, and grinned. Then, leaning in, he said, “My king is in search of this list. Even now, Brus and my cousin Thor are in England trying to learn the names of the men who are rising against their king. We can use this against Frederick, Eve.”
Her mind whirred with everything that was happening. She would be wed to the man she loved and have a real family tonight. Happiness bubbled within her.
“Prepare yerself, lass,” Royce said before he kissed her. “I’ll send a guard to fetch ye for our wedding. Stay within the chamber until then to be safe, aye?”
She nodded.
“I’ll help the kitchen prepare a feast,” Elena exclaimed.
“We’ll help, as well,” the girls cried out excitedly.
The three of them rushed toward the door, but Elena stopped at the threshold and swiveled toward Eve. “I’ll send up steamed water for ye to bathe,” she said, giving Eve a knowing, mischievous look. “Ye’ll want to be clean for—”
“Elena MacLeod!” Father Murdoch bellowed. “Ye’ve a sinful mind!”
Elena winked at Eve before she said to Father Murdoch, “I was going to say she’d want to be clean for her wedding, Father. Ye’re the one with the sinful mind!” With that, she burst into laughter and hooked arms with the girls, the three of them heading out the door chattering all the way.
“I can return for Eve,” Magnus volunteered, but Royce shook his head.
“Nay. I’ll send another. I want ye with me when I see Sotherby and his men off the land. Ye’ve an uncanny ability for sensing a trap.”
“Aye,” Magnus said, grinning. “That I do.”
Magnus and Father Murdoch started for the door, and Royce cupped Eve’s face once more. “I’ll see ye soon, Wife.”
Eve bit her lip, but her smile spread wide, happiness strumming through her. “I’m not your wife yet.”
“In my heart ye are,” he said, then captured her mouth in a long, lingering kiss. He departed, leaving her alone in the bedchamber to prepare.
Royce strode toward the great hall with Magnus by his side. “Will ye present the list to Sotherby to get him to go peacefully?” Magnus asked after Royce told him of Eve stealing the Lords Appellant list from Sotherby.
“Nay. I do nae fear Sotherby, nor his army. And keeping the knowledge that we have the list from him means he kinnae spin lies about it before his king comes for him. It will serve well enough to deliver it to his king, and then I’ve nary a doubt he will mete out justice to Sotherby and his father.”
“Aye,” Magnus said, “I agree. And now ye can call Thor and Brus back from their search.”
“Aye,” Royce said as he entered the great hall, not surprised to see it filled with many clan members who would want to witness what was occurring. Sotherby’s men were held at the far end of the room by a line of Royce’s warriors, and Sotherby was sitting alone at a table, Clyde facing him, sword pointed at the man. Beside Clyde, Danaria stood holding a goblet out to him. He took it, drank quickly, then handed it back to her. Royce passed her without looking at her as he went to Clyde, though he could feel the woman staring at him. He would have to speak with her as he’d been meaning to and explain in plain terms that Eve was the only woman who would ever warm his bed again. Royce acknowledged Clyde with a nod of thanks for his personally guarding Sotherby, and then he waved Clyde behind him so that Royce could stand before Sotherby.
The great hall grew silent, and Royce spoke. “Ye did nae ever consummate yer marriage with Eve; therefore, she is nae yer wife, and ye will nae be taking her with ye.”
Sotherby surged to his feet, but Royce was prepared for such a reaction. He sent his fist into the man’s nose twice, both hits extremely gratifying. Then he shoved the man back onto the bench. “This is what is about to happen,” he said, towering over Sotherby as the man attempted to stop the flow of blood from his nose. “I’ll see ye to the border of my property and let ye live as a courtesy to yer king. But if ye try to return here or take Eve, I will kill ye without blinking my eyes. Ye abused Eve, and ye did nae want her. I want her, and I’ll wed her this night.”
Sotherby looked up, his gaze going to Clyde, who stood just behind Royce, then to Royce. “I told your man that Eve would lie. She’s adept at deception. I swear to God that Eve is my wife fully. Your man there—” he motioned to Clyde “—refused to listen, but you’re laird, wiser, a born ruler, better than the likes of those who serve you.”
Royce gritted his teeth. “’Tis useless,” he said, “to try to incite insurrection from my men. They are loyal to me.”
“You mistake me, MacLeod. I’m simply trying to warn you that Eve is more duplicitous than any cunning enemy you have ever faced. She is my wife fully. As my man Alban here can attest. He was her personal guard and can swear to the fact that I consummated the marriage.”
Royce refused to look at the man Sotherby was pointing to. “I trust Eve,” he said, feeling the weight of his past with Lara lift from his shoulders.
“I do nae,” Danaria said from somewhere behind Royce.
Royce opened his mouth to silence her, but another voice popped up, then another, and another, all agreeing that they did not trust her. Royce understood why. They did not know her truly yet. She was English, an outsider, and though he understood fully that stark fear of being returned to Frederick had made her lie to him, and though he knew better than anyone that she had kept it honorable between them, he was the only one privy to these things. They were personal to her, and he’d not lay these truths in front of his clan. He was not sure they’d matter to them at this point anyway.
“I trust her,” he said above the burgeoning fray. “And I’m laird.”
“Ye trusted yer wife, too,” Danaria piped up once again, and Royce’s breath froze in his veins at her knowing tone. He didn’t know how she’d come to possess the knowledge of Lara’s betrayal, but it was obvious she did possess it. He swung toward the woman, who stood not five feet from him, her features twisted with scorn. “She betrayed ye. Do ye deny it?”
For his girls, he wished he could, but it was useless now. “Nay. She did.” A murmuring spread like fire through the great hall.
“I, for one, do nae wish the English king’s wrath upon us for some unworthy woman,” Danaria said, raising her voice.
“Danaria,” Royce growled, “that is enough.” He’d hurt her, that much was apparent, but that did not excuse her behavior. He thought of the list in his hand. To use it now would be foolish as he had said, and it would not appease his clan.
“I call for ye to make Eve drink from Luran’s Horn of Truth,” Danaria shouted above the increasing fray. “We will know what is true, then!”
“It need nae be the horn,” Clyde said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Ye should nae waste that power on something such as this. Have one of the women publicly examine her.”
Arguments started then on what Royce should do, but he knew the choice he would make, the only one he could make now.