Healing the Tormented Highlander: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 14

  Raghnall stirred, turning over sleepily, his arm falling across Ceana’s leg. He murmured something, opening his eyes, as Ceana smiled at him.

  “Good mornin’ Raghnall,” she said, and he looked up in the surprise of early morning recollection.

  “Miss Mo … Ceana, I …” he said, with a devilish grin.

  “I hope ye daenae mind I …” she began, wondering if perhaps she should have returned to her own chambers that night.

  “Mind? Nay, of course I daenae mind, ye are very welcome, now and in the future,” he replied, sitting up and smiling at her.

  What dae I dae now?

  This was all very new to her and she was unsure of how she should behave.

  “Dae ye … have business to attend to this day?” she asked, as he turned to sit on the side of the bed.

  “Aye, like every day. But I am sure it can take care of itself. Perhaps ye and I could take a walk upon the heathers this mornin’? I would enjoy yer company,” he replied, as he began to pull on his tunic. “Or we could simply stay here and enjoy one another’s company.”

  Ceana nodded and smiled. It seemed strange to sit in such intimate terms with him. He was the Laird, a noble man with great responsibility. Yet here they were, lying together as two lovers, when they had not even long been friends. But Ceana found it strangely delightful—she enjoyed being on such intimate terms. It excited her, filled her with sensations she had not felt before. There was no shame in it, in fact she would gladly have lain there with him for the reminder of the day, but her conscience was pricking.

  I should get the key.

  She was annoyed at herself for her lack of concern.

  This was the first time the key had been away from her side, though she was pleased she had the foresight to hide it. In their throes of passion, Raghnall would have seen it and despite her feelings for him, she still had no desire to tell him of her secret possession.

  With his back turned, she slipped into her gown. Straightening herself out, he turned and smiled at her.

  “Perhaps we could walk to the west,” she said. “I have nae walked that way and ye and I have nae had much luck on our journeys south and north along the road,” she said, her mind returning to the ordeal at the hands of the cloaked stranger.

  “The west is very beautiful, aye. We can walk to the waterfalls at Cor Craghan, but ye must nae dwell upon what happened in the village. I will nae let anythin’ happen to ye, lass. Ye are safe with me, I promised,” he said, standing up and placing his arms around her.

  That familiar sense of safety ran through her and she rested her head upon his chest, as he kissed her forehead.

  “Aye, it unsettles me though,” she replied.

  “Daenae let it. Ye were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could have been anyone who fell victim to the man, sadly, it just happened to be ye, but we will keep searchin’ for him. A bandit and a robber, that is all, and eventually he will make a mistake,” Raghnall said.

  But Ceana knew better.

  The key, give me the key.

  Those words reverberated in her mind and she excused herself, promising to meet him at breakfast.

  She hurried to her chambers, and searched amidst the straw of the mattress for the key, which she hung about her neck. She felt better for knowing it was safe, securely around her neck, where only the boldest of thieves would dare to try and take it.

  But someone wants it.

  She made her way down to breakfast in the Great Hall.

  Ceana could not help but imagine that every person in the castle knew she had spent the night with the Laird. She could feel a hot flush in her cheeks and that same shame building inside her, yet of course no one knew what she and Raghnall had done. As she entered the Great Hall she nodded to Raghnall, who was sitting in conversation with Andrew Macready.

  It wouldnae dae to be too friendly now.

  She knew how easily gossip and rumor could spread.

  There would be jealousy, too, if it were discovered that she and Raghnall had shared such intimacy. Ceana had no desire to be the subject of slanderous conversation, nor did she wish to make things awkward for Raghnall.

  She sat alone, taking her time over a bowl of porridge, and pondering the events of the past few days. Despite Raghnall’s words of comfort, she still felt afraid. He did not know the full story of why the cloaked stranger had attacked her, nor what it was he had wanted to gain. Ceana felt as though she were being watched, a sense of paranoia deep within her.

  Does someone here know what ‘tis that I keep hidden?

  She wondered, glancing around the Great Hall, which was filled with clansmen at their breakfast.

  She tried to put such thoughts aside, her mind drifting back to the night she had spent with Raghnall. How gentle his touch was, what astonishing sensations he had aroused within her. Ceana could not help but feel her sense of desire returning, as she looked across the Great Hall to where Raghnall was sitting.

  Ye are a good man Raghnall MacCramhain, and I cannae wait to be alone with ye again.

  Their eyes met for a moment and he smiled at her.

  “Is somethin’ distractin’ ye, Laird?” Andrew asked, as Raghnall gazed across the Great Hall towards where Ceana sat eating her breakfast.

  “I … aye … nay … ye were sayin’ there, Andrew?” Raghnall replied, turning to the Captain of the guard who smiled and shook his head.

  “The lass, is that what?” he asked and several of the men around him laughed.

  “Keep yer counsel, and let me keep mine,” Raghnall replied, fixing Andrew with a glare.

  “‘Tis just that others have noticed that ye and the lass are spendin’ much time together. There is talk around that …” Andrew began.

  “Then let them talk. I am nae ashamed, Andrew. My business is me own, ye hear me?” Raghnall replied, pushing his plate aside and getting up from the table.

  “Will ye be seein’ to the patrols on the eastern border today, Laird? The crofters up there, they say …” Andrew began, but Raghnall shook his head.

  “Nay, Andrew, I will nae be seein’ to any of that. I am Laird, why dae I have a Captain of the guard if I am to be constantly responsible for such things? Ye see to it,” Raghnall said and without waiting for a reply he marched off across the Great Hall to where Ceana was just finishing her breakfast.

  “Are ye ready for our walk?” he asked and she nodded, as he felt the warmth of her body so close to him, desiring to place his arms around her there and then.

  “Aye, I am lookin’ forward to seein’ the waterfalls,” she replied and he smiled at her.

  “I am glad,” he said and lowering his voice he leaned in closer to speak with her. “And I am even gladder that ye spent the night with me. Ye must feel nay shame, for ye and I are meant to be together, I ken it in me soul, lass.”

  Ceana smiled, blushing a little, as though searching for the right words with which to reply.

  “I … I was nae sure if I should feel shame for lyin’ with ye when we barely ken each other in such terms but I ken it was right, Raghnall, because of how I feel for ye,” she replied and he smiled at her.

  “Then our conscience is clear, lass. Come now, let us go to our walk and ignore these gossiping old women,” Raghnall replied, pointing back towards Andrew and his men and laughing.

  Chapter 16

  Over the next few days, life at Mhaol Chaluim was peaceful, as Ceana and Raghnall spent their days together. They walked west to the waterfalls at Cor Craghan where they swam and frolicked together in the pools. Together, they visited Nairne in the village and Ceana was overjoyed to find her restored fully to health. And she and Raghnall dined together each night, much to the interest and intrigue of the Laird’s fellow clansmen.

  “Let them have their gossip and speculation,” Raghnall said, three days after he and Ceana had spent the night together.

  “I daenae wish to cause scandal for ye, Raghnall,” she replied, as they sat at lunch that day.

  Together, the two had spent the morning out on the heathers, where Ceana had collected all manner of herbs for Lady Catriona. Now, they were enjoying a simple meal of bread and cheese, before Raghnall prepared to depart for a patrol of the northern border.

  “Ye will nae cause me any scandal, lass. Why should ye and I nae be on such friendly terms? Why should I, the Laird of this castle and its lands, nae court whomsoever I choose?” he asked.

  Ceana smiled.

  “Were ye never attracted to someone else? Did yer mother never parade women in front of ye in the hope that ye would marry?” she asked, but Raghnall shook his head.

  “There have been plenty of women who have sought my affections, lass. Plenty who would like to see themselves as mistress of this castle, but ‘tis I, Raghnall MacCramhain, who will decide the lass that I wish to pursue,” he replied.

  “And who is that?” she asked, her tone playful, as she smiled at him again.

  “I think ye ken the answer to that, Miss Morvell,” Raghnall replied, for he still kept up the pretense of formality in public, though her words aroused his senses and sent a shiver running through him.

  Ever since they had spent the night together he had been unable to think of little else but her. The way she had made him feel, the shudder which had run through him at her touch. He desired her again, longed to hold her as he had done on that perfect night.

  She looks so beautiful today.

  He was hardly able to tear his eyes away from her, as Andrew came to stand before them.

  “Laird, we should ride out now. The men are ready and saddled in the courtyard. Miss Morvell,” Andrew said, nodding to Ceana, who smiled.

  “Aye, very well. Will ye be all right here this afternoon, Ceana? I will nae be long,” Raghnall said and Ceana smiled.

  “Aye, I will be fine. I will set about dryin’ the herbs which we gathered this mornin’ for yer mother. She will be very pleased to have fresh supplies, I am sure,” Ceana replied.

  Raghnall nodded. He wanted to kiss her goodbye, show Andrew that it was Ceana and not anyone else that he wanted. He knew there had been rumor and gossip circulating around the castle, for the servants spent too much time idling at their duties and listening at doors. He had no desire to give them the satisfaction of further scandalous intrigue.

  But one day perhaps they will see.

  He followed Andrew out of the Great Hall.

  The patrol was saddled in the courtyard and Raghnall’s horse was brought for him, as they made ready to depart.

  “Listen up now, men. We ride to the furthest border of our realm, north of the village. A show of force on every point of the compass, that will show our enemies that these lands are nae for the takin’ and that we MacCramhain’s are a strong and noble people, worthy opponents in any fight,” Raghnall said, and a cheer went up from the men, as they surged through the castle gates and out onto the track beyond.

  The road towards the village was quiet, as Raghnall and his men rode out that afternoon. He kept his wits about him, glancing from side to side, lest an enemy should be in sight.

  But the moorlands were quiet, the sun shining down on the golden grasses and purple heathers. A few clouds drifted across the horizon and a gentle breeze was on his face. He felt masterful, in control, and Laird over all he surveyed.

  These are my lands, and nay Englishman, nay outlaw or bandit, nay Scot is goin’ to take them from me.

  “‘Tis all very quiet this afternoon, Laird,” Andrew said, riding alongside Raghnall, as they came towards the village.

  “Aye, perhaps our enemies have realized they cannae ride across our lands unchecked or cross our borders without consequence,” Raghnall replied.

  He had seen to it that extra patrols had been made and the men of the village were now being trained in combat. No longer would he sit by and allow his enemies to make a fool of him.

  But, as they came to the village, several of the villagers ran to meet them, worried looks upon their faces.

  “Laird, we must speak with ye, ‘tis a matter most urgent,” one of them cried, as Raghnall clambered down from his horse.

  “What is it? Has somethin’ happened here? Andrew, send the men to scout out the village,” Raghnall said, signaling to the Captain of the guard, who nodded and began barking orders to the men.

  “There have been men here, Laird. Strangers, none of us had seen them before. They wore black cloaks, with hoods over the heads. It was last night that they came. We men were seein’ to our patrol, just as ye had advised us. We came to the road into the village and there they were,” the man said, agitated and afraid.

  “Did ye get a look at them? Who were they? Did they say? What did they want?” Raghnall said, his hand upon his sword and glancing around, as though one of the strangers might suddenly appear from the undergrowth.

  “It was growin’ dark by then, Laird. They did nae take their hoods down. But their voices, they were … like devils, like nothin’ any of us had heard before,” the man said, shaking his head, as the others nodded and murmured amongst themselves.

  “Were they violent towards ye? Threatenin’ to the village?” Raghnall asked, but the man shook his head.

  “Nay, Laird. But they wanted information. They asked a lot of questions, but we did nae ken the answers. They grew angry, though, as though they were capable of anythin’ should we refuse them,” the man replied.

  “What sort of information?” Raghnall asked, growing ever more puzzled by the minute.

  The man leaned in, so that only Raghnall could hear and he whispered his reply to the Laird.

  “They wanted to ken about the lass, sir. Miss Morvell, the healer. The one who has been carin’ for our Nairne. Very interested in her they were, very interested indeed,” he said.

  Raghnall looked at the man in astonishment, and almost disbelief at what he had said.

  “Miss Morvell? But why would they wish to ken about Miss Morvell? Few even ken she is with us at Mhaol Chaluim. Why would anyone be interested in her?” Raghnall asked, panic rising within him, at the thought of Ceana alone at the castle, when threat now lay all around.

  “They were very insistent, Laird. They wished to ken who she was, where she was, if she would be returnin’ and where she had come from,” the man said.

  “And what did ye tell her? Did ye betray her?” Raghnall said, anger rising inside him.

  “Nay Laird, we did nae ken anythin’ about the lass, only that she had been here. We told them as little as we could and they went on their way. But they may well be back,” the man said, glancing around him nervously.

  And I shall be ready for them when they are.

  The man’s revelation had caused a deep sense of unease to run through him. Who were these mysterious strangers and did they have something to do with the attack on Ceana? She had described a cloaked man, a man with a hood over his head.

  Perhaps it was nae just a coincidence.

  A shudder ran through him.

  “There is nay sign of any strangers about, Laird. But like this man said, they will be long gone by now,” Andrew said, as the men formed back together, after searching through the village.

  “Whoever they are, they will have disappeared,” Raghnall replied, shaking his head.

  “Dae ye wish to go on with the patrol, Laird?” Andrew asked.

  But Raghnall shook his head. All he could think of was returning to the castle to ensure that Ceana was safe.

  “Nay, go on without me. See to the patrol on the northern border and Andrew …” Raghnall said, leaning forward, so that none of the other soldiers could hear what he said next, “After ye return, I want ye to keep an eye on Ceana. Follow her every move, never leave her side, but daenae let on that ye are doin’ so. If she leaves the castle, then ye are to be her shadow. Dae ye understand me? There is somethin’ treacherous afoot here, and I cannae trust any but me closest men. Ye have always been a loyal soldier, Andrew.”

  Andrew nodded, glancing nervously around him at the others.

  “Aye, I will, Laird. It was I who found the lass and brought her to ye, ‘tis I who will watch over her. But ye suspect ‘tis one of our own men? I can vouch for them all, Laird. These are good, honest lads. They have served our clan well and none of them were out last night,” Andrew said, shaking his head.

  “Someone kens that Ceana is in the castle and someone wants to ken more about her. I cannae risk this gettin’ out and I daenae wish for whoever ‘tis to ken that I ken of their enquiries,” Raghnall replied.