Page 19 of Highlander’s Captive Bride (Troubles of Highland Lasses #4)

19

“D aisy! Daisy! Over here!” Elodie’s voice calling her name broke into her thoughts.

Daisy turned in the direction the voice had come from to see Elodie in Bellamy’s arms. He was striding towards her, with a couple of footmen trailing behind them, bringing a large chair loaded with cushions and blankets.

Bellamy chose a prime position near one of the largest bonfires to have the chair set down. He fussed over Elodie, making sure she was settled comfortably on the cushions before covering her legs with the blankets. Daisy waved at them and went to join them.

She kissed Elodie’s head and crouched down next to her. “Why, ye have a fine view here,” she told her, putting on a cheery smile. “This is where all the jugglers and dancers and acrobats are going to be performing,” she pointed out, gesturing to the large area that had been left clear to accommodate all the various entertainments. “D’ye see the maypoles as well?” she asked.

“Aye, I wish I was allowed to dance,” Elodie whispered ruefully. “But Da says I must wait for next year for that.”

“I think that’s for the best,” Daisy told her. “Ye need to get yer strength back a bit first.” She noticed Elodie had a cloth bag in her lap. “What have ye got in there?” she asked, nodding at it.

“Well, it’s supposed to be a surprise for ye. Ye remember I promised to make ye a thank ye gift?” Elodie responded, mischief in her eyes.

“Aye, I seem to recall that.” Daisy chuckled.

“I’ve decided I’m goin’ to make ye a crown of flowers, so I got Poppy to get me some flowers and stuff. I thought I could make it for ye to wear tomorrow at the Beltane ceremony.”

“Och, that is so sweet of ye, Elodie. I would love that. Thank ye. I look forward to wearing it with pride.”

Daisy’s heart clenched, deeply moved by the child’s earnest thoughtfulness.

People were starting to come forward to greet Elodie and express their surprise and pleasure at seeing her there.

“I’ll see ye in a little while,” Daisy told her, drawing back to allow them through. “I think there are a few people who would like to talk to ye.”

She smiled to see the little girl’s excitement at seeing all her friends gathering around her. It made Daisy feel warm inside, but the warmth was tempered by the sorrow at knowing that she would soon be leaving the little girl she had come to care for so much.

She looked around to see if she could spot Nadia, to compliment her on the impressive decorations. An oversized banner showing the Murdoch coat of arms had been hung from the castle battlements, making an impressive show. Colorful pennants and banners flew from poles sunk into the ground, which had thick garlands of greenery wound around them.

“’Tis a fine sight, is it nae?” came a familiar, deep voice from behind her.

With her heart suddenly racing in her chest, Daisy whirled around to see Bellamy’s handsome face grinning at her. He had a tankard of ale in one hand and a goblet full of wine in the other. He handed her the wine.

“I thought ye might need a drink,” he said.

“Thank ye,” she answered, touched by his thoughtfulness. She sipped the rich, fruity wine and then said, “’Tis a splendid show, indeed. I’m very impressed by all the decorations. Nadia and her committee have clearly worked very hard.”

“Aye, everyone has pulled together and played their part to make it all happen,” he agreed. “D’ye think she’ll be all right?” he asked, lowering his voice, his eyes flicking to Elodie.

Daisy looked over at her, but the child was hardly visible among the throng gathered around her chair.

“I think she’s more than all right,” she said with a chuckle. “She’s enjoying all the attention. It seems everyone is pleased to see her.”

“Aye, but I still have me doubts whether it’s safe out here for her. That poisoner is here somewhere, I’m certain of it.”

Daisy saw Bellamy take a deep draught of ale, scanning the growing throng over the rim of his tankard. But then, he lowered his tankard, turned his gaze back to her, and smiled. There was a speculative gleam in his eyes.

“Now, how about a dance?”

Startled by the sudden invitation, Daisy stared at him, her heart fluttering like a horde of delirious butterflies in her chest. A dance with Bellamy Kane seemed like the thing she wanted most in the world. At the same time, she feared it could be the most dangerous thing she could ever dare to attempt.

This could be yer one and only chance to dance with him.

“A dance? Aye, I’d like that very much,” she managed, finding her tongue at last, the butterflies clamoring inside her.

“Grand,” he replied, beaming at her and holding out his arm. She took it, and he led her over to where some musicians were playing a lively jig, and two columns of excited dancers had already formed.

Couples were dancing up the center at a fast clip, while the others whooped and clapped them before the next couple at the end took their turn.

“Come on!” Bellamy called, joining the end of the two columns nearest to them.

Daisy marveled at the way he seemed to throw himself into the proceedings, clapping and cheering along with the rest as the latest couple pranced up the middle of the columns.

She followed suit, smiling and clapping along, briefly wondering just how much he had already had to drink. But she figured it could not have been much, for it had only been a short while ago that he had brought Elodie down, and she knew he would never drink around her.

Suddenly, the dancing couple appeared beside them, puffing and red-faced, and it was hers and Bellamy’s turn to dance up the center. He suddenly seized her around the waist and lifted her right off her feet, whooping with merriment as he clasped her to him and whirled her up the middle, his steps in perfect time with the music. It was exhilarating and entirely wonderful!

By the time they reached the top and ran back to the beginning, Daisy was flushed and excited. Being held against his long, warm body as they skipped along had sent the butterflies quite mad, it seemed. She could hardly catch her breath, and she could not keep the smile off her face as they cheered, whooped, and clapped as enthusiastically as the rest.

For a while, she forgot all her worries and just enjoyed herself.

Soon, it was their turn again, and this time, Daisy was ready for Bellamy. She threw herself into his arms, reveling in the feel of him against her as he held her close and spun them around as they danced up the middle. Breathless, she smiled into his eyes, and the look he gave her made her legs turn almost to jelly. She never wanted to stop.

They danced for another half an hour or so until she was just too exhausted and breathless to carry on.

“I cannae dance anymore for the minute,” she gasped, holding her sides. “I need to rest a wee while.”

“Naething simpler,” Bellamy told her, annoyingly unaffected by the exertion. If anything, he seemed livelier than ever. “Let’s go and get something to eat, eh? Ye have to admit, that roast boar smells delicious.”

“All right, as long as I can rest me feet,” she told him, panting.

“Is it yer feet that are the problem? Well, I can take care of that for ye.”

With that, Bellamy seized her and lifted her over his shoulder. To her shame, all she could do was giggle helplessly as he carried her back to the castle green, drawing many ribald comments on the way. Once they reached the area near the spitted boar, he sat her down on a bale of hay provided for that purpose and called for them to be served.

Generous slices were soon provided by the servers, along with copious amounts of thickly buttered bread. Bellamy called for more ale and wine to be brought for them, to wash down the scrumptious meat.

“Are ye enjoying yerself?” he asked her between bites of food. “I want ye to have a nice time after all the hard work ye’ve been doing.”

Daisy swallowed her mouthful, nodding emphatically. How could she tell him she was having the time of her life? That all she really wanted was to stay there with him, to keep on dancing and laughing with him all night long? That she could not get enough of him… because the next day, she would be gone.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, they went to check on Elodie.

The child was wreathed in smiles, surrounded by her friends, but she still appeared excited to see them. She held up the half-finished flower crown for Daisy to see.

“Och, it’s very pretty,” Daisy praised. “I cannae wait to wear it.”

“Ye’re very pretty too, Daisy, so it will suit ye perfectly!” Elodie told her.

“How about a wee dance with yer Da?” Bellamy suddenly asked her, his eyes twinkling.

Elodie screamed with joy as he picked her up and carried her off in his arms to join in the dancing, which seemed to be reaching new heights of fervor.

Daisy followed and watched them, not knowing whether to laugh at Elodie’s joy or cry at the prospect of leaving the two people she knew she was going to miss so much.

She chose to laugh and clapped along as Bellamy capered up the middle of the rows of dancers with his precious daughter in his arms, spinning her around in time with the music and making her shriek with delight. Daisy felt her face beginning to ache because she was smiling so hard at them.

The hours passed in more merriment. The three of them watched the fire eaters and acrobats and sword dancers perform to great acclaim. And as more ale and wine and whisky was drunk, the party became even wilder.

Daisy had never seen Bellamy cutting loose like this, dancing, drinking, even serenading Daisy and Elodie in a fine baritone voice. She could not recall laughing so much in ages.

He was the life of the party, spreading laughter and joy, and she could not help marveling once again at how many sides to him there were. As she watched him, she thought she would never discover all the depths of this complicated, ruthless, devilishly handsome man whom she knew she was head over heels in love with.

Finally, Elodie grew tired and asked to be taken up to her chambers to go to bed.

“I want Da to carry me up,” she insisted, yawning. “And I want Daisy to come as well.”

“Very well, me bonny lassie,” Bellamy told her, scooping her up from her chair. “Yer wish is me command. Daisy, ye have yer orders. Come along now,” he intoned.

Daisy happily fell into step beside them as they headed back to the keep.

“I’m so glad ye let me come to the party, Da. I’ve had such a wonderful time. I cannae wait until tomorrow,” Elodie said sleepily as they entered her chambers.

Poppy was there, knitting, her feet up on the fender in front of the fire. She greeted them cheerfully, explaining that she had not long returned from the celebrations herself and had decided she’d had quite enough for one night.

“I’m saving meself for the big party tomorrow,” she told them. She helped Elodie get ready for bed.

The pair went over to the washstand so that Elodie could wash her face and hands. Daisy was left alone with Bellamy for several minutes.

It seemed to Daisy that the room suddenly became much warmer, and she felt strangely hot. Especially when she caught Bellamy looking at her, his face slightly flushed. When she looked into his eyes, the wolfish hunger she saw in them both excited and alarmed her.

Fighting back the urge to hurl herself at him and feel his strong arms around her again, she instead cleared her throat and put the bed between them, half afraid he would grab her again. The other half was afraid of what she might do if he did.

In truth, she feared that if he made the slightest move towards her, she would simply abandon all restraint and devour him alive with her kisses.

Thankfully, at that moment, Poppy and Elodie came back in. Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. Trying to be sensible, she waited until Elodie was settled in bed, then gave her a goodnight kiss and announced that she, too, was retiring for the night.

“Me feet are aching, and I need to conserve me energy for tomorrow,” she said, not failing to notice Bellamy’s faint look of disappointment behind his good-natured smile. “Thank ye for a wonderful evening,” she told him, hardly daring to look at him. “Good night to ye all.”

She walked to the door and exited, but once she was in the hallway, she picked up her skirts and ran, worried he might come after her. Once inside her room, she shut the door and went to turn the key. But she hesitated. After a few moments, during which she wrestled with her almost overwhelming desire for Bellamy and the knowledge that giving in to it would only spell pain, she at last turned the key with a sigh. Then, she prepared for bed.

When she was still tossing and turning beneath the covers several hours later, she told herself in irritation that it was the noise of the party outside that was keeping her awake. But she knew she was lying to herself. It was Bellamy Kane who occupied all her thoughts, and it was not just her thoughts. Her body yearned— ached , even—for him.

The events of the evening kept replaying in her mind. His warm body pressed to hers during the dancing had been like fire, igniting the flame inside her that only he seemed capable of sparking. His face in the orange glow of the bonfires had been so painfully, heart-wrenchingly beautiful, there had been a thousand times when she had longed for him to enfold her in his arms and kiss her. And she would have kissed him back with every ounce of desire she harbored for him in her heart.

Finally, as she turned restlessly, her heart spoke to her.

Go to him. This is yer last chance to be with him. Go to him now.

When she silently entered what she knew to be Bellamy’s chamber a short while later, all was bathed in darkness. Only the warm light from a low-burning fire and the cold, silvery light of the stars, and a sliver of new moon, illuminated the figure lying in the bed.

She crept towards him, her heart thumping so loudly in her chest, she was certain he must be able to hear it, even in his sleep. Her bare feet felt the wooden floorboards beneath them, then the thick plushness of a rug as she advanced. The starlight fell across his face.

It almost pained her to see him looking so vulnerable and boyish in his slumber, his dark hair tousled on the pillow.

Yet, at the same time, it was exquisite to see his masculine beauty laid out before her, for he had kicked away his covers, and she could see his naked form, with his long legs, broad chest, and narrow, muscled waist laid bare to her eyes.

Daisy took in a sharp breath, truly shaken to her core to feel such pure desire for another human being.