Laurie woke before light; she found herself wrapped in Patrick’s embrace, warm and protected. Snuggling back against him, she encountered the hard pressure of his arousal and gave a soft moan.
“Shh,” he whispered. He kissed the nape of her neck. “We will wed soon and I will make you mine. Have patience.”
He was the one who should be patient. She gulped, remembering the size of his erection. She never thought she’d be the nervous bride type. Now she knew better. Would that one unpleasant encounter during college ruin her first time with Patrick? She hoped not.
Patrick pressed light kisses along the arch of her neck, and her negative thoughts scattered. His tongue swept the lobe of her ear. She shivered.
“I wish to show you something. Stay quiet and come with me.” He helped her to her feet and they linked hands. He put a finger to his lips for silence and guided her to the mouth of the cave. An uncomfortable chill ran down her spine when he pulled her into the cavern.
Laurie pulled back, embarrassed to confess, “I’m afraid of the dark.” She hated spiders and other creepy crawlies found in dank places.
“Dinnae fret. I dinnae think less of you.”
Laurie squeezed his fingers.
“I promise nae harm will come to you.”
She believed he would always protect her. Patrick wrapped an arm around her waist and coaxed her deeper into the murky opening. She reluctantly allowed him to pull her forward. After several steps, he stopped and wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug. He ravished her mouth in a kiss that seared her soul. Her heartbeat quickened as their tongues waltzed.
Ending the kiss, he took one step back, his breath ragged in the silence. “Lass, you tempt me.”
“It is you who tempt me.” She held onto his arms, breathless.
He leaned in close and kissed her again. A mating of lips so sweet her heart twisted. When he pulled away, she attempted to tug him back to her.
“Nae, we must return to camp.”
“I thought you had something to show me.”
“Ach, I wanted a moment alone with you. Privacy will be hard to come by on the remainder of our journey.”
She rolled onto the balls of her feet and kissed him again. His response curled her toes. Left her wanting.
“Come, ’tis time.” He dragged her forward.
Laurie reluctantly stepped with Patrick into the early light of dawn. She blinked. He moved a bit stiffly as they joined the others.
The group came to life. They broke their fast, packed up camp, and headed for the boats.
As they descended the ridge, Laurie raised her hand to shade her eyes from the bright sun. Her breath caught. The sight before her stole the air from her lungs. Cormorants flew over the water, dipping and diving, plunging into the sea in search of fish, surfacing moments later nearby. She even glimpsed a seal poking its whiskered nose out of the water for air.
“Oh, Patrick. Everything is lovely. Thank you for bringing me here.”
This was everything she wanted and more. Patrick being the more. Maybe she owed Caitrina thanks. Maybe there was such a thing as destiny.
“’Tis my pleasure, sweetling.” Patrick gazed at her with such tenderness, her eyes misted.
As they continued the descent, he held her hand firmly, ensuring she didn’t fall. They reached the beach to discover a small group of men waiting for them along with the MacLachlan warriors.
“We have company,” Stephen said from behind them.
Among the newcomers stood a finely dressed gentleman about the same age as Patrick, similarly built, but less muscular. To her mind, he looked like a peacock, his mannerisms almost feminine.
The multi-colors of his costume where anything but masculine. The tight queue holding back his black hair made his features hawk-like. His dark, calculating eyes narrowed when he caught her gaze and a chill slid along her spine.
Patrick grumbled something harsh under his breath she couldn’t make out. Must have been a Gaelic curse based on his sour expression. “I hoped to avoid this,” he whispered for only her ears and then strode forward and shook the man’s hand, signaling for Laurie and Elspeth to join him. “May I present my betrothed, Lady Laurie Bernard.”
She dipped into the curtsy she’d practiced after her first miserable attempt upon arriving at Castle Lachlan.
Patrick tucked her close to his side when she rose. “M’lady, I present Ninian Stewart, Sheriff of Bute, Keeper of Rothesay Castle and our host.”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he grasped Laurie’s hand. “’Tis a pleasure to greet you.” He grazed her knuckles with cold lips before releasing her hand, though continued to study her.
“My pleasure, sir.” Her skin crawled.
“Intriguing creature, MacLachlan. I congratulate you on your good fortune.” He kept his gaze on her overlong.
The man’s regard made her uncomfortable and she glanced at Patrick.
Patrick didn’t like the way the sheriff leered at Laurie. He draped his arm about her waist, plainly staking his claim. She was his betrothed. “You ken my wee sister, Lady Elspeth,” he said, his voice tight.
Ninian seemed to take the hint and turned his attention to Elspeth.
“Good morn to you, sir,” she said as she curtsied.
“Lady Elspeth, a pleasure as always.” He kissed her extended hand. “My sister, Lady Jonet, will be disappointed she missed you.”
“Will she be at the fair?”
“Nae, lass. She is in France, visiting.”
“Our brother Archibald is in France with Alexander Campbell,” Elspeth said.
“I did not realize they were still on the Continent.”
“They are, and they sent Lady Laurie to me as a companion. Patrick fell in love with her and they are going to be wed when we return from the fair.” She smiled brightly.
Patrick ground his teeth. He wished he could silence his sister.
“So you are to wed.” Ninian’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He slapped Patrick on the back. “Congratulations. Though I expected you to wed the Lamont lass.”
Extending an arm around his shoulder, he drew Patrick away from Laurie before he could retort. “Had I kenned you were traveling with such bonnie lasses, I would have insisted you stay at the castle this past eve.”
That was exactly what Patrick hoped to avoid by sleeping in the greenwood. He hadn’t wanted his future wife too near the scoundrel sheriff. He walked off to converse with Ninian, but kept his lady in sight.
“We did not wish to impose on your hospitality,” Laurie overheard Patrick say before his voice faded.
Elspeth giggled, leaned close and cupped her hand over her mouth as if to share a secret. “The old folk say Rothesay Castle is haunted by the ghost of a lady.”
“Really?”
“Aye. They say she stabbed herself after Norseman slaughtered her family, preferring death rather than submitting to a forced marriage with a barbarian.”
“Horrible story.” Laurie feigned revulsion. She’d decided to marry her barbarian.
“Aye ’tis. I heard the lady’s apparition often is seen on the stairs behind the chapel. And Jonet told me one time they found fresh blood on the stairs that couldn’t be explained.” Elspeth made a disgusted face. Then taking Laurie by the arm, she smiled broadly as if she hadn’t been talking about ghosts and blood and suicide.
They linked arms and strolled to the boats, chatting about the absurdity of the tale.
Laurie kept glancing to where Patrick and Ninian conversed. Finally, the peacock mounted his steed and trotted off with his men.
When Patrick returned to the boats, worry lines furrowed his forehead.
“Is anything wrong?”
“Naught to concern you.”
His tone set her teeth on edge. She lifted her chin. “Did I do something to displease you?”
“Nae.” He shook his head.
“Can you not share your troubles with me?”
“We still have Lamont country to pass.” He sighed. “’Tis always a worry.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze, pressed her face to his chest, listened to the even beat of his heart. He stiffened at first then hugged her in return, holding her tight before they broke apart.
Still, the morning’s events left her uneasy. Meeting Ninian made her realize she’d be required to meet more of Patrick’s contemporaries and pretend she really was from France, circa early sixteenth century. Too bad she hadn’t been an actress rather than a business consultant in her prior life.
The men quickly loaded the boats. Everyone boarded and the group pushed off from shore, the oarsmen rowing out into the Firth. They would make their way to Dunoon Castle where they planned to spend the night. Elspeth’s grandfather, Sir Robert Campbell, was in residence there, the Campbells being hereditary keepers of the royal castle.
Raising the sails, they made their way east, past the Isles of Cumbrae. Hugging the eastern shoreline of the Clyde, they managed to pass Toward Point and Lamont country without incident. They ate their mid-day meal while en route, a light meal of oatcakes and ale. The time was near to twilight when the three boats sailed west again.
Even in the dim light, the imposing shape of the stronghold perched on the rocky promontory inspired awe. They had arrived at Dunoon Castle.
Laurie held Patrick’s hand while Robert Campbell greeted them in the great hall. A gracious man of stature with graying hair and beard, he congratulated them on their betrothal and promised to attend the wedding.
The staff served a main course of freshly caught salmon from the nearby river for dinner. Afterward, Elspeth commanded her grandfather’s attention with animated anecdotes of everything that happened since her visit the previous year.
Finding it difficult to suppress her yawns, Laurie was glad to join Elspeth in a bedchamber on the second level though she would miss Patrick’s warm embrace during the chilly night. Morning arrived too quickly. After farewells, they headed to the boats. A steady drizzle fell, the kind that saturated clothing and left one feeling miserable. Laurie huddled on the bench next to Elspeth, wishing for the sun to appear.
It wasn’t to happen.
The rain still fell when they sighted their destination. Despite the wet weather, the small burgh bustled with many travelers stopping over on their way to the fair. Towering above the town—over two-hundred feet high on a massive twin-peaked hunk of volcanic rock above the River Leven where it merged with the Clyde—stood Dumbarton Castle. Unease settled on Laurie’s shoulders. The sight of the stronghold brought home the fact she was living in another time and place.
The oppressive, miserable gray day made her more susceptible to doubts. Had she made the right decision to stay in the past and marry Patrick? He must’ve noticed her agitation, for he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze.
“You’ll feel better after we arrive at the house I rented.”
“Of course.” She straightened her shoulders. How could she resist his gorgeous blue peepers, especially when he graced her with such a tender smile? Of course, she wanted to stay with him.
And she couldn’t wait to attend the fair.