Page 15 of Savage Kilted Highlander (Temptation in Tartan #9)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“ S ociety’s rules, be damned,” Bane said sharply. “Ye’ll go mad if ye try tae keep up with them, and ye’ll certainly never be happy. Plus, it seems tae me ye have already broken them by running away from home. They’re nay way tae live yer life. Stop worryin’. Nay one’s here tae see us, are they? And the landlord thinks we’re man and wife, so what’s the harm? Look, ye can roll up the quilt and put it between us if it bothers ye so much. Ye can have that side of the bed, and I’ll have this side. I swear I’ll nae touch ye. But dinnae try tae creep over tae mine in the night.” He winked at her, once again amused by her scandalized blushes, whilst finding them adorable at the same time.

The altercation was interrupted by the arrival of supper, a thick beef stew with dumplings and greens, a jam tart, and a large flagon of ale to wash it down. Bane’s mouth watered as the maid placed the tray on the table. When she had gone, Constance raced over to it eagerly at sat down to eat, her earlier concerns apparently forgotten, for the time being at least. Bane got up and took his seat opposite her.

He poured them a glass of ale each and they drank thirstily. Then they fell on the food like hungry wolves, occasionally sharing satisfied glances as they made their way steadily through everything on their plates. It made Bane smile to see how quickly Constance abandoned her fine table manners and shovelled the food into her mouth just as hungrily as he did.

“It tastes better than goat’s meat and mouldy bread, eh?” he asked teasingly, downing another glass of ale after demolishing half the jam tart. He found himself growing more cheerful by the minute, with a full belly.

“It certainly does,” she replied, scraping her spoon around the plate for the last morsels of jam and pastry.

“I think this was a good idea of yers after all, tae come tae the inn,” he told her, sitting back to enjoy his ale.

“I had no doubt that it would be.” She pushed her plate to one side and drank some of her beer. “I feel much better after that. Even though it was hardly the sort of thing Cook would serve at Ashbourne Manor, except to the servants, it was delicious. You know, I realize I have never really been hungry in my life before this. I took it for granted there would always be a good meal on the table, and fruit and sweetmeats in between whenever I fancied them. But I think in the future I shall be more mindful of how lucky I have been.”

Bane was impressed by her good sense and fortitude. “It’s been an ordeal fer ye, I ken. Ye’re a fish out of water, but ye’re a fighter as well.”

She smiled. “Yes, I suppose I am. I fact, I am rather pleased with myself for surviving this far. I did not know I was capable of it.” She paused and looked into his eyes. “And even though you abducted me and have dragged me halfway across the country in dreadful conditions, without experiencing all this, I do not think I would have learned how strong I can be. I cannot say I am exactly grateful to you for it, but I think I know myself better than before. To a girl like me, of noble birth and a sheltered background, that is no small thing.”

Bane yawned and stretched his arms in the air until his bones cracked. “Well, every cloud has a silver linin’, as folks say. Now, I’m tired after all that food and ale. We’ve come a long way today. I need tae get some sleep, and so d’ye.” Leaving Constance at the table still drinking her ale, he got up and put the tray outside the door for the maid to collect. Then he locked the door and put the key under his pillow. He made a point of rolling up the quilt coverlet and placing it down the centre of the bed, dividing it into two halves. “Does that meet with yer approval, miss?” he asked, gesturing at it with his hand. He chuckled when she did not answer. Undoing his leather vest, he shrugged out of it. Then he reached for his waistband, to unfasten his trews.

As he did so, he noticed Constance averting her eyes, blushing again as he slipped them off and kicked them away before getting under the covers with a contented sigh. He closed his eyes as his head sank into the soft pillow. “Bloody luxury,” he murmured, revelling in the comfort of the beg bed. He kept his eyes shut but listened when he heard Constance rise from the table, wondering what she would do. Would the lure of the bed be too much for her high-born morals, or not?

The chair by the fire creaked as she sat down, and he heard her taking off her boots. There was quiet for a little while after that. He could almost hear her thinking. Then came the rustle of clothing, and he knew she was taking off her dress. The thought of her in her shift stirred his arousal. Embarrassed at himself, he turned on his side, willing his erection to abate. It did not.

There was another long silence. Obviously, she was wrestling with the morals that had been rammed into her, debating if she should get into the bed, even though she must know she was safe. Bane felt almost sorry for her dilemma but a little angry as well, at whoever or whatever had made her like that. He understood what she had said at supper perfectly, about learning something about how strong she really was.

Damned right, ye dinnae learn that in some fancy drawin’ room . Fer all yer good manners and the like, they’ll nae help ye survive when times are hard.

Trying to help her, he pretended to fall asleep, letting out soft snores. It worked like a charm. Within moments, he felt her slide into bed carefully next to him, admittedly on the other side of the rolled quilt. He smiled into the pillow and willed his erection to sleep.

When he awoke the next morning, Constance was still fast asleep, one arm flung above her head, her auburn hair fanned out over the pillow. He spent a few moments looking at her, wishing he could touch her flawless skin and run his fingers through that wonderful hair. It would be so easy just to bend down and press his lips to hers.

Aye, if I want me eyes scratched out.

Carefully, so as not to wake her, he slid from the bed, propelled by a surge of excitement from within. Now he had made his mind up they would be staying at the inn for the next two days, he judged it the right time to put the next part of his plan into action. He intended to go into the town and pay a messenger to ride to Castle Ferniehurst and deliver the letter he had already written to her father, setting out the terms of the ransom. It lay hidden in the inside pocket of his jerkin.

He calculated that it should be in Laird Kerr’s hands in about three days’ time, time enough for him and Constance to make the journey back there and lay low while he negotiated the exchange. He was confident the laird would agree to it. Then, all the sacrifices would be worth it. He would hand Constance over, and he would get his brother back at last. Everyone would be alive and happy. He could not deny it would be hard never to see her again, but Tav was more important, so he stoically brushed aside the sadness the thought brought with it.

Apart from sending the ransom letter, he had another errand in mind as well. He knew he could hardly present Constance to her father in the old clothes he had lent her, which was all she currently had to wear. And since she had lost everything, she owned in the river, it would be necessary to buy her a respectable gown. As he dressed himself quietly, he caught himself hoping it would make her smile. That puzzled him somewhat, yet at the same time he was aware that pleasing her and seeing her happy was a growing urge inside him. And it was becoming increasingly hard not to give way to.

Finally ready, carrying his sword belt and boots, he slipped outside into the hallway. After shutting and locking the door behind him, he pulled on his boots, strapped on his weapons, and whistled a tune through his teeth as he went down the stairs and made his way out of the inn and into the street.

“Bane! Come on, I’ll race you to that oak tree!” she called to him, turning the prancing Lucy to face him on the thick, green turf beneath them.

Bane rode up beside her and reined his stallion in, giving gave her one of his lovely, lop-sided grins from the saddle. He nodded. “Aye, all right. But what dae I get if I win?”

She giggled. “A kiss?”

“One kiss? Nay, ’tis nae enough.” His hazel eyes glinted mischievously in the sun, and the soft breeze blew his tousled locks from his face. Her heart fluttered in her chest to think such a gorgeous, handsome man wanted to kiss her… and more than once too.

“We’ll see,” she replied with uncharacteristic coquettishness, turning Lucy around in the direction of the big, majestic oak that stood at the edge of the meadow a quarter of a mile distant.

“And what d’ye get if ye win?” he asked, coming alongside her.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Ye can have as many kisses as ye like,” he offered, waggling his eyebrows. “And anythin’ else ye fancy.”

Her eyes ran over his muscular form, and a hot flush of excitement began to rise up her body. “I said, we’ll see. Now, ready, steady, go!”

“You know I let you win, don’t you,” she asked between kisses a few minutes later as they stood beneath the oak’s sheltering branches.

“Aye, I thought as much,” he murmured, nibbling her bottom lip gently with his teeth. “Was it because ye wanted me tae kiss ye?” His hand was tangled in her hair, cradling the back of her head.

“Perhaps it was,” she confessed breathily as his mouth closed over hers once more, more forcefully this time. She gave herself up to his arms, to his kisses, closing her eyes, melting into him…

The sound of the door closing snatched her from her dream. Heavy bootsteps approached the bed. “Constance, are ye awake?”

“I am now.” Reluctant to leave the wonderful dream behind, she opened her eyes. Bane was looming over her.

“Good mornin’, time fer breakfast. But first, I have wee present fer ye,” he said, beaming at her in a way she had never seen before. He looked happy, his face relaxed and almost boyish for a change. The sight warmed her heart. As he turned away, she thought of him kissing her in the dream, his lips so soft yet so demanding at the same time. It had been thrilling. She felt herself blushing as she hoisted herself up against the pillow by her elbows and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“A present? What sort of present?”

“This sort,” he replied, reappearing next to the bed, holding up a pretty gown against himself. It had a pretty jacquard pattern in three shades of green, long sleeves, and a lace collar. “D’ye think it suits me?” Playfully, he swayed and twirled, modeling the dress for her.

An irrepressible smile burst onto her lips. “Yes, it does. The colors suit you perfectly. I think you should wear it today instead of those frowsy old trews of yours. It will make a nice change.”

He laughed freely and laid the gown carefully on the bed. “Mayhap ye’ll lend it tae me sometime, eh? But fer now, ’tis yers.”

“But Bane, whatever for? And where did you get it?” she cried, excitedly throwing off the covers and kneeling on the bed, gathering up the dress. “Oh, it is very pretty, and it is made of wool too. It will be nice and warm.”

“Well, seein’ as ye lost all yer things in the river, and ye’ve been makin’ dae with me old things, I thought ye needed somethin’ tae wear. As soon as I saw it in the shop, I knew it would suit ye.”

She looked at him happily, not just because she liked the dress but because he had been thoughtful enough to go and buy it for her. Before she knew what she was doing, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. When she let go, she saw the stunned expression on his face and felt embarrassed at what she had done. “I-I love it, thank you very much. It is very generous of you and kind to think of me,” she said, feeling suddenly shy. She looked down at the dress to hide her embarrassment, trying it against herself. “I think it will be a perfect fit.”

“Aye, I reckon it will too,” he said, brushing over what had just happened, even though he was obviously as surprised as she was. She was grateful for it. “’Tis a used one. I’m sorry, I couldnae afford a new one fer ye, more’s the pity. But the lady in the shop told me ’tis almost new.”

“Yes, it seems to have hardly been worn,” Constance agreed, examining the gown to hide her blushes.

“So, ye’re pleased with it, eh?” he asked with uncharacteristic eagerness.

“I am very pleased. Thank you again,” she replied, afraid to look at him but risking a small smile.

“Grand. Now, I’ve brought us up some breakfast. Will ye come and eat?”

Constance got out of bed to join Bane at the table. Lured by the enticing aroma of hot chocolate and freshly baked bannocks, she forgot for a moment that she was not properly dressed. She was halfway to the table when she realized she was only wearing her shift beneath the old shirt Bane had given her and his old woolen socks. The shirt reached to her ankles, enveloping her slight body. She had worn less revealing gowns many times.

Dismissing her doubts, she sat at the table and tucked in to the bannocks, lavishly spread with butter and honey. “You remembered to ask for honey. Was that for me?” she asked, her heart warming further towards him.

“Of course. I ken what a sweet tooth ye have,” he said, slapping bacon into a sliced bannock and biting into it with obvious enjoyment.

“Thank you, Bane. I know I have called you a brute in the past, but clearly, there is another side to you as well. If I forget that you’ve abducted me… you are not a brute.”

“Ach, I’m nae daein’ it because of something else than wantin’ ye tae keep doing as I tell ye, and I’ve learned the best way tae dae that is tae keep ye happy.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke, and she knew he was joking.

“I have never asked you this, but what do you do for a living?” she asked, suddenly curious.

“Me and me braither Tav have a blacksmithing business, a forge. We shoe horses and make things from metal, swords, blades of all sorts, weapons, shields, farming equipment, pots and pans, whatever anyone pays us tae make. I’ve actually been working as the castle blacksmith fer a while too.”

Constance was intrigued. “That explains your muscles,” she blurted out without thinking. She was shocked at herself for mentioning his muscles. She knew she should not be even noticing them, let alone commenting on them! But he did not seem to take it amiss.

“Eh? Oh, aye. ’Tis hard work, beatin’ out the metal on the anvil, fer sure. It builds up yer strength all right when ye dae it every day.”

Telling herself to be more careful of what she did and said, she replied, “You actually make things people can use. I admire that. I have never made anything useful in my life that I can think of. Although I have embroidered a lot of things.” She took a bite of her bannock. “Oh, that is so delicious,” she mumbled through the crumbs, embarrassed by her bad manners for talking with her mouth full. But, of course, Bane did not care a whit.

That was one of the things she was starting to like about him most of all. He did not judge her every move to see if it was demure or ladylike enough and rebuke her if she was found wanting. Besides, he was far too busy demolishing his food, so she stopped worrying and allowed herself to relax and enjoy the more liberated atmosphere.

She drank some of the hot chocolate. It tased divine, better than she could ever remember it being when she had had it every day. She understood that hardship and going without her usual luxuries was having a profound effect on her, on her expectations of what life should be like, and her enjoyment of it. Poor people did not drink hot chocolate every day, nor did they always have enough food to eat, and if they did, it would not be coq au vin or a fresh lemon syllabub. It was something she had barely considered before.

The life she had left behind was not normal, she was realizing. As Bane had said, it made one weak, unable to survive in the real world that the majority of people inhabited. After so many years of trying to be “the perfect daughter,” she found herself increasingly questioning whether the rules and expectations she had once adhered to were truly worth sacrificing her freedom and individuality for.

She looked over at Bane, at his handsome face, the muscles he had built up after years of hard labor. He was strong, and capable, and fearless. She had the feeling he could survive just about anything that did not kill him. What Bane was putting her though was terrible, yes, but a part of her knew it was also the best and most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. In a strange way, he had given her a gift.