Page 4 of Intrigued By A Highlander (Highland Revenge Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER 4

T he itching started in the middle of the night. Dru had forgotten how the coarse wool of the nun’s garment irritated her skin. Unfortunately, her garments had been washed and had yet to dry, leaving her no choice but to remain in the nun’s robe.

She tried her best to ignore it, but all she wanted to do was rake her skin with her nails even with how short they were. She couldn’t stop herself from wiggling, trying to scratch the itch against whatever she could, though without disturbing Knox.

Dru groaned low. If she were alone, she could rip the offending garment off and ease her torment.

Please. Please, let morning come soon , she silently prayed.

Dru jumped when Knox snapped, “What the bloody hell is wrong?”

“The coarse wool irritates my skin,” she snapped back at him.

“Get out of bed.”

“You’re kicking me out of bed?” she asked annoyed. “Some husband you are.” She got out of bed and was surprised when he followed her out.

He slipped his shirt off. “Take that garment off.”

“I’m naked beneath,” she protested.

“Not for long,” he held out his shirt to her.

“Turn around,” she ordered.

“We’ve already seen each other naked, remember?” he reminded.

“The loch,” she said, recalling how she met him.

“And you’re my wife now, so all is proper.”

It was senseless to argue with him and he was right, there was no mystery for them to uncover when it came to their bodies. They had seen it all. Besides, she would die if she didn’t get the horrible garment off her. She yanked it off and grabbed the shirt out of his hand, but he grabbed her wrist.

A scowl crossed his brow as he ran his eyes over her. The room had slivers of light from several loose stones and with a full moon it cast a soft glow in the room.

Knox reached out to touch her chest and she slapped his hand away. “You have welts all over you. They must torment you.”

Did he actually sound like he cared how she felt?

He dropped his shirt over her head. The hem reached her ankles, and she struggled to find the arm holes. “Be still,” he ordered.

She complied since she felt lost in his shirt, though she did like the scent, his scent… woodsy.

He untangled the sleeves and got her arms through the holes. “Get in bed. I’m going to find Mother Abbess and see if she has something that can ease the itch.”

“It will go away now that I am rid of the horrible robe,” she insisted.

“By morning?” He shook his head. “Nay, you will be miserable traveling if those welts persist.”

“If any linger by morning, I will get something from Mother Abbess for them.” She didn’t like hearing him dictate like a husband, so she reminded him, “I can take care of myself.”

“Then prove it so I don’t have to.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be no burden to you, more like you’ll slow me down, so keep up or I’ll leave you behind,” she warned.

“Don’t make me remind you that we remain together until the task is done,” he cautioned.

“Like I could forget.”

“Get in bed,” he said and went to the door.

“Where are you going. I told you I don’t need anything for the itch.”

“You forget too soon that a wife is obedient to her husband.”

Was that barely a smile she saw? Her husband was a riddle to her that she had trouble deciphering. He was often brief in his words to people and sometimes she thought he found them amusing, hence the possible smile. But there was one thing about him that she was sure of—he always got his way.

Not with her though. She spoke bluntly. “You forget that you aren’t truly my husband.”

“Aye, and don’t forget it stays that way until I get what I want.”

Dru stared at the closed door. She had to be careful. She had a feeling that her husband could be a dangerous man if she pushed him too far.

She tried to stay awake until he returned but his shirt was warm, and her itch had subsided some and sleep was creeping up on her.

Knox returned to find his wife asleep. He never expected when he woke this morning that it would be his wedding day and to a wee bit of a woman that a strong wind would blow over. There was barely much to her, breasts so small they would get lost in his large hands and the softest curves that couldn’t be felt until he touched her and a tenaciousness that surely got her in endless trouble. But it was her pretty face and mixed blazing hair color that reminded him of the rising sun that lingered far too much in his thoughts. She was not, in many ways, what he hoped for in a wife. She would not suit him. She would not make him a good wife, so why did he even give it thought?

He didn’t want to wake her, seeing she slept so peacefully. He went to put the small crock of salve Mother Abbess had given him after finding her quarters and startling her. It was followed by her endless praises of him being such a good husband. He didn’t bother to tell her it was for selfish reasons. Dru needed rest if she was to be strong enough to start their quest tomorrow. Though he hadn’t liked seeing her so uncomfortable, a feeling that surprised him.

Spotting a large welt on her chest that peeked out from where his shirt fell open, stopped him. He scooped up some cream on his fingers before setting the crock on the small table.

He gently, so as not to wake her, spread the cream over the welt that spread further than he thought. His fingers disappeared beneath the shirt and brushed the top of her breast.

A hand suddenly grabbed his wrist and instinct plus years of battle had him reacting. His free hand grabbed the small wrist and twisted it back.

Dru cried out in pain.

Knox’s hand fell off her instantly. “I was putting salve on your welt.”

“And feeling me up as you did?” she accused, rubbing her wrist.

“I owe you no explanation.”

“Wrong. If I am to help you, I need to trust you.” That was a lie. She would never trust any man.

Knox dropped down to hover over her, his arm muscles bulging as they kept him elevated above her. “I doubt either of us will trust each other during our quest. But know one thing—I will never harm you and never will I touch you intimately.”

“You got that right,” she said, keeping the fear out of her voice.

“Then we will get this done and be free of each other.”

“Right again. Now get off me,” she ordered.

He glared at her, not moving, and she returned his glare, her heart pounding, praying he would honor his word.

Knox dropped to her side, the size of him almost knocking her out of bed, if it wasn’t for his arm snagging her around the waist and tucking her against him.

“Sleep,” he ordered. “Tomorrow comes soon enough.”

Not soon enough for me , Dru thought.

“Where to?” Knox asked as they rode away from the Cramond Abbey.

Dru hadn’t been happy about riding on his mare with him, but he hadn’t left her any choice. He had swooped her up and onto his horse before she could protest. She had only met him yesterday and had spent a good portion of that time nearly on top of him. She wanted to do her best to avoid that from happening again, but so far, she hadn’t been successful.

“There’s a village not far from here where I might be able to learn something about Autumn,” Dru said. “Take the path up ahead to the right. It will take us straight there.”

“You need new garments. Those are threadbare and, though washed, they don’t have a pleasant odor. New footwear as well especially with winter drawing near.”

“They serve me well enough, and winter is almost two moon cycles away.”

“Or sooner if winter decides otherwise.”

He was right about that. Winter arrived when it pleased and left when it pleased. She would need better boots and a heavy wool cloak to survive it and that meant thieving it. Not something she was proud of doing. It was wrong, but she was left with little choice, just like her marriage.

What was more important now was to find out as much as she could about her husband. She also needed to make sure she didn’t get used to the warmth and comfort of being tucked in the crook of his arm, like in bed last night and now riding on his horse with him.

She would keep it in mind, but for now, she asked, “You fought for Lord Torrance?”

“That does not concern you.”

“That you won’t answer tells me that I can trust you even less than I already do.”

“Question me and expect the same,” he warned.

“I have nothing to hide.”

His brow wrinkled. “I doubt that.”

He was right about that. She had secrets that she would never reveal to anyone.

“I fought for the mercenary group Lord Torrance hired.”

Dru went to ask another question, but he wasn’t finished.

“You have no family?”

She shook her head. “There is no one. My parents are dead, and I have no siblings.” She hurried to ask him, “And what of you? Do you have family?”

“Nay, no one.”

“One thing we have in common,” she said, and his reply was another question.

“Have you not one friend?”

“Have you?” she snapped.

“Your sharp retort tells me you are friendless.”

Her annoyance had her snapping at him again. “And you are not?”

“I know people, but I don’t believe I would call them friends.”

That he finally responded to her question had her reciprocating. Besides, it would benefit her for him to know who her friend was. “I have one friend… The Monk.”

His response was not what Dru expected.

“The Monk is a respected and feared mercenary, a good ten years older than me but still a highly skilled warrior. How is it you know him?”

“You are acquainted with him?”

“Nay, I fought alongside him once, but we didn’t speak. And you?”

She told few people how she and The Monk truly met. “We came upon each other one day.”

“Like you and I did?”

Dru thought about that for a moment. The Monk had saved her life and, in a way, so did Knox. If he hadn’t agreed to wed her, the cleric would have seen her sent to join the women who Lord Torrance kept to pleasure his men. Though he would have had to catch her first.

“I suppose it was similar, though I wasn’t naked.”

“So, The Monk saved you from a terrible fate just as I did.”

“I suppose so,” she said, thinking it best she said no more on it.

“What makes you think we will find anything in the village we go to?”

Dru was glad he changed the subject. She may want to find out all she could about Knox, but she had no intention of him finding anything out about her.

“They are a gossipy bunch and eager to learn news and spread it.”

“And you have news to share that would be of interest to them?”

“I do. I am going to let them know that a big, fearless mercenary is in pursuit of Autumn.”

His scowl told her he wasn’t pleased with that.

“You intend to enter the village alone?”

“They know me and will talk to me. All you need to do is walk around so I can point you out. They will be eager to share any news of Autumn they may have heard.” His scowl turned to a stern look, and she was aware of what he intended to say, though more warn. “Don’t worry. I have no intention of running off. I will see this done and our marriage as well.”

“Make sure you do,” he cautioned.

Dru grinned. “We have to work on trust in our marriage.”

“You have to work on being an obedient wife.”

She laughed. “That’s something I will never be.”

“Then it is good our marriage will end.”

Dru continued laughing. “Wed only one day and you already want to get rid of me.”

“Not yet, but hopefully soon enough,” he said, sternly and didn’t understand why it disturbed him.

“My hope as well,” Dru said, the unexpected thought that she would miss the comfort of his arms a complete shock to her.