Page 22 of Savage Kilted Highlander (Temptation in Tartan #9)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I t was with very mixed feelings that Bane finally spied Castle Ferniehurst up ahead, around noon the following day. He halted them on the tree line of the forest. They were situated parallel to the main road leading to the castle but sheltered from the view of anyone travelling along it, at least a quarter of a mile away.

“Look, Constance, there are the castle towers above the trees” Bane pointed, letting her follow his line of sight.

“Oh, yes,” she said without enthusiasm, clearly as worried as he was about the coming confrontation. “So, what is the plan?”

Before Bane could reply, his attention was snared by a group of soldiers traveling up the main road in the distance, away from the castle. His eyes swept over them, gauging their strength. One in particular caught his eyes. He gave a sharp intake of breath when he recognized him.

“What is it?” Constance asked, looking over at the men worriedly.

“’Tis Tav,” he answered in disbelief. He blinked before he looked again, just to make sure he was not imagining things. “Aye, ‘tis him all right. I’d recognize him anywhere.”

What is he doin’ riding with the laird’s men?

“He does not look like he is a prisoner. He is one of them, a soldier,” Constance said, echoing his own confused thoughts.

“Aye, it looks that way,” he replied absently, a flood of conflicting emotions washing over him. Relief at finding his brother alive battled inside him with a potent mixture of frustration and anger. “But if he’s been free all this time, then why has he nae tried tae contact me tae tell me so? Why is he travelin’ as a soldier with Kerr’s forces?” he murmured, frowning darkly, his fists clenching on the horse’s bridle.

Constance placed a calming hand on his arm, sensing the storm brewing within him. “Perhaps you should not make assumptions just yet. There may be a good explanation for it. Obviously, you must find some way of speaking to him to find out the truth.”

Without answering, he began moving them out of the trees, in the direction of the party of soldiers. But then he stopped again, reconsidering the wisdom of approaching just then. There were about twenty men, all armed. He knew that if he confronted them, he would be badly outnumbered and risked being killed or captured before he could even get to speak to Tav. The realization that he would have to wait until he could get Tav alone to speak to him was a bitter pill to swallow. In addition, seeing Tav a free man, dressed in Kerr’s livery and riding among his men brought him to a final decision about something that had been tearing him apart the closer they came to the castle.

He let go of the bridle and, turning to Constance, took both her hands in his. Looking into her questioning brown eyes as she stared up at him, he told her, “Constance, I… I have been thinkin’ fer the past few days and I cannae use ye as me bargaining chip in the ransom anymore. I shouldnae have done that tae ye. I’m lettin’ ye go. Ye’re free, free tae go wherever ye wish.”

He had been thinking a lot about what he had just told her, although he had not fully decided yet how to go about it until that moment. When he had left the inn that morning a few days before to hand his letter to a messenger for her father, he had realized he just couldn’t go ahead with his plan. It was not only his guilt that had stopped him, but also the feelings that he had started developing for Constance. Thus, he had gone to buy her the dress and decided they would spend a few days resting before taking her to her family.

She looked back at him, her eyes wide with shock and incomprehension. “What? What are you saying, Bane? I do not understand.”

“I’m sayin’ that I cannae keep ye as me hostage any longer. It cannae use ye fer me own ends. Ye should go on yer own accord, nae because I’ve forced ye there. Ye’re free tae go.”

Her response surprised him. Without the slightest hesitation, she shook her head vigorously, squeezing his hands as she said, “No. I have already told you; I am not going anywhere without you. I shall stay with you and help you to save your brother, whatever the risks.”

Bane was deeply moved by her show of determination and loyalty. He knew she meant every word. But there was too much danger. “Nay, Constance, ’tis nae safe fer ye. I couldnae live with mesel’ if anythin’ bad happened tae ye because of me. Ye must leave me tae deal with Tav and go tae the castle tae be with yer sister.”

“I will not,” she retorted stubbornly, the small, determined line he knew so well appearing before her brows.

He ran a distracted hand through his hair. “Ach, God, why d’ye havetae be so stubborn, woman?”

“Because I want to stay with you. And that is what I shall do, whatever happens.”

Seeing he would not persuade her, he realized he had to relent, at least for the time being. “I want naethin’ more than the stay with ye,” he said finally. “But ye must obey me every command tae stay safe.”

“I will. What shall we do? Follow them and see where they are going?”

“Aye. But keep right behind me, so I can track them without them spottin’ us.”

They mounted the horses and set off, keeping just within the tree line for cover as they skirted the edge of the forest, watching the group of soldiers up ahead. However, the pursuit proved more challenging than Bane had anticipated. The men turned off the main road and descended into the forest, following winding trackways leading through areas dense with trees and undergrowth, leaving few telltale signs of their passing.

Bane tracked them as best he could, with Constance trailing behind, but as time went on, he knew the distance between them and the men was growing, and he would soon lose all trace of them. Eventually, as he feared, he lost their trail completely. Then, when he dismounted and looked for signs of their passing, he heard the sound of horsemen only a few yards away from, up on a high ridge. Before they could spot him, he dived to get himself, Constance, and the horses under cover.

“It is the same men,” Constance whispered to him as they crouched behind a thicket out of sight, watching the men on the ridge ride past.

His frustration mounting, Bane cursed under his breath. “Aye, they must have doubled back somehow. That was too close fer me likin’,” he said when the men had gone and they emerged from their hiding place, not liking to think of what would have happened had they been seen.

“I think we should stop for a while, find somewhere safe to rest, and regain our strength before we continue,” she suggested. “By the looks of it, Tav will not be going far. We can find him again tomorrow, hopefully, in safer circumstances, and you will be able to talk to him alone.”

Reluctantly, Bane nodded, admitting it would be sensible to do as she said. “All right. Let’s go this way.” He gestured with his chin to a track leading off to their left. “There’s a small village on the moor a few miles ahead where we should be safe enough fer the night. But ye’d best keep yer hood up in case anybody sees ye and thinks ye’re Lady Agnes,” he warned.

“I can do better than that,” she replied, undoing his kerchief from his neck and using it to expertly wrap up her hair, hiding her distinctive coloring.

“Ye look like a farmer’s wife,” he teased her, pleased by her initiative and thinking that with her bright eyes and plump cheeks she was just as beautiful without her hair on show.

“Well, if I am then I must be a very naughty one since I am out with the blacksmith. What will people think?” she asked jokingly. They both laughed as they set off down the track towards the village.

It was late afternoon when they finally reached the outskirts of the tiny village, and they were surprised to find it full of people and alive with celebration. There was an open field to one side where people were dancing and drinking, serenaded by a fiddle payer and a drummer. A huge hog was being roasted on a spit in the middle.

“It is a merry scene. It must be some sort of festival they are celebrating,” Constance observed as they left their horses tethered outside an inn and walked with arms linked into the main street. It was crammed with villagers, barking dogs, loose chickens, and children running about laughing and shouting among many colorful market stalls selling all different kinds of wares. “It is the first time I’m seeing something like this.”

“Aye, it would seem so,” Bane replied, drawn by various savory aromas to several stalls serving hot food. “Are ye hungry? Shall we get somethin’ tae eat?” he suggested, following his nose, his mouth watering as he led her to a pie stand.

“I am starving,” she admitted, happily hanging onto his arm. “My stomach has been rumbling for hours. I was almost afraid those men would hear it and discover us.”

“A good meat pie will soon fix that,” he said as they arrived at the stall and entered into a debate about which was best, beef, mutton, chicken or duck. Bane chose beef and Constance chicken, and after he had paid, they went and sat down in the pasture to watch the dancing while they hungrily devoured the tasty pies, laughing as the gravy ran down their chins.

As the evening wore on, an old lady went up to them and welcomed them to the festival of the village’s patron saint, St. Barnabus. She offered them free ale, ladling it out from an oaken bucket into beakers for them and informed them that the hog would be ready soon and would make good eating. Music filled the air, and the enticing pleasant scent of roasted meats and fresh bread drifted toward them.

In spite of his worries, Bane found himself relaxing, enjoying Constance’s cheerful company. Her bright eyes and merry smile when she looked at him lightened his otherwise heavy heart. He could not take his eyes off her, remembering with a thrill how wonderful it had been to lay with her, kiss her, touch her, and give her pleasure. He had hardly dared believe it when she had insisted he “ruin” her, let alone the fact that they actually did it. But how could any man refuse such a woman?

Making love to her, watching her face as she was transported to the heights of passion for the first time, still seemed like a gift more precious than gold. Even in adversity, she had freely given him her trust and her body, more riches than he, a humble blacksmith, could ever have dreamed of. And in turn, this proper little English woman with her funny accent and refined ways had earned his trust, his admiration for her indomitable, shining spirit.

In the past he had always guarded his heart closely, giving his devotion only to Tav and Fia. He had never experienced romantic love. But Constance had changed all that. The way he felt about her was turning his world upside down, making him feel vulnerable, naked even, because he had given her his heart and he didn’t want to part with her. As he sat observing her, he finally admitted to himself that he was in love with Constance Ashbourne, the daughter of the man he thought of as his enemy, Laird Ewan Kerr. Exactly what that meant he had yet to discover. But one thing was certain. He would die to protect her.

Night fell, but the feasting and carousing around the great bonfire only intensified. More people had started to dance, fueled by the strong ale being dispensed for free. The music rang out, the drummer beating out the steps as folk threw themselves enthusiastically into jigs and reels and other country dances to familiar old tunes. After days of hardship and tension, the lively scene was like a breath of fresh air.

After a couple of beakers of ale, Constance began clapping along in time to the music and was pulled into a lively dance by a group of villagers. “Is it not exciting, Bane, with all the colors and decorations?” she asked. “Look at the dancers, are they not wonderful? And how lovely it is to hear music again.”

“Aye, it is colorful, tae be sure,” he admitted.

“So, why are you scowling like that? Can you not find even a small smile of celebration?”

“Maybe I will when they carve the hog,” he said jokingly, unable to stop himself from smiling at her almost childish excitement.

“That’s better. You know, you look so much more handsome when you smile. You should do it more often,” she teased, dancing away from him to join the others. Her comment made his cheeks feel hot. Did she really think him handsome? Her laughter rang out, sweet and carefree as she joined hands and danced with the villagers, learning the steps as she went along. Bane realized he was seeing her for who she truly was, not his captive, but herself, carefree and happy.

Content just to admire her from afar, he sat back with his ale in his hand, watching her from a distance, marveling at her radiance, part of him wondering how he was ever going to say goodbye to her. He found himself captivated by the way she moved with such unrestrained and unguarded joy. It was not long before she danced over to him and held out her hand.

“Come and dance with me, Bane,” she invited him with a smile.

Bane shook his head. “Nay, I’m happy here with me ale. Ye go an enjoy yersel’,” he replied.

Her face fell. “Oh, please come and join in. There is nothing else to do. We cannot find Tav until the morrow. All we can do is wait, so we might as well enjoy a taste of freedom while we can,” she cajoled. Bane hesitated, for he had already lowered his guard enough.

“Please? What harm can it do?” she asked, her big brown eyes pleading, her hand reaching out to him.

“Ach, all right then,” he finally relented, getting up, putting down his ale, and dusting himself off before clasping her hand in his. Constance whooped in excitement as they joined the circle of dancers, and despite his concerns, Bane found himself being immediately swept up in the energy of the celebration and walking toward the people dancing, holding Constance’s hand.

“I’m not the most graceful of dancers, and I don’t know the steps of this one,” she admitted, trying to pick up the steps as she went along, following his lead. “It is a far cry from the formal balls I am used to.”

“Well, I dinnae dance much meself. So, ye need nae be embarrassed. We shall make fools of ourselves together,” he declared, laughing as she made a wrong move and quickly rectified it. Their laughter mingled with the music, and for a brief time, he forgot the burdens they were carrying. When the music changed and he recognized the tune, he taught her the steps of a traditional Scottish reel he had learned as a youngster, spinning her about until she was so dizzy, they had to stop and rest.