Five
Connor woke the next morning and went about his day as usual. He went down to the yard and trained with his men. Connor didn’t settle for mediocrity. He continued to wear his warriors down until their weaknesses were strengths. Nothing but the best was tolerated.
Connor came in for his noon meal with Kirk and his brothers.
Sitting at the table, Kiel asked, “How’s it going with her Ladyship?” The men laughed.
“She isna as uppity as we thought she would be,” Connor said.
“Nay, her dress was an indication of that. Surely she has an arrogant English attitude, believing herself superior to all, including Scots,” Kirk said.
“Nay, Kirk. She doesna hate anyone or think of herself superior. ‘Tis true,” he said, when they looked up with an expression of disbelief.
They heard a crash in the sitting room.
“What the hell?” Connor said, as he and the men rose from the table.
When they entered the sitting room, nothing was amiss except for the hearth. The poker that had crashed down was still on the floor. He knew who the culprit was. The problem, though, was the only thing he saw of her was her cute derrière as it poked out from the hearth’s opening.
Connor cleared his throat. He heard what he thought was a muffled curse as she backed out of the opening. He looked back at his men and realized they had also enjoyed the sight. He gave them a warning glance and Iain cocked up an eyebrow, smirking. He heard her mumbling again.
“Oh! Connor!” she said, as she slowly looked up.
He heard his men’s failed attempt to stifle their laughter.
When Maddie stood up, he noticed her face was nearly completely covered with soot. Her hair escaped out of its braid and tendrils framed her face in disarray. Her gray gown was on again and it was even dirtier than it was yesterday. It was more black than gray. The only part of her appearance that wasn’t black, gray, or brown, was her yellow eyes. They never lost their sparkle, he noticed.
Connor had thought her eyes were the only color in her dull appearance, that is, until he saw her wrists. The white cloth that covered her wrists was bright red and covered in soot.
“What happened to yer wrists?”
“Well, the ropes were very tight on my wrists from when those men kidnapped me, and they haven’t fully healed.” She looked away. “You saw my wrists when you bandaged them; they were raw. With my scrubbing the hearth, they began bleeding again.”
He shook his head in answer.
“What?” she asked, settling her eyes back on him.
She was a bad liar. She didn’t look straight into his eyes.
“Ye’re lying.”
She scoffed, her mouth remaining agape.
“‘Tis a sin to lie, Connor! I am no liar!”
“Yer wrists were injured but not enough to make them bleed again.”
Maddie looked down guiltily. He heard his men snicker in honest laughter.
“Maddie, what were ye doing?”
She finally looked up at him.
“I tried climbing the chimney to clean it on the inside, but-”
“Clean it on the inside!”
“Aye, but it is much more narrow than the one at my home. I scraped my wrists trying to climb up. Now I know even more so that I must lose additional weight. I didn’t fit in the chimney!”
If his men didn’t stop laughing, he would kill them.
“Lose weight? Nay! If ye lose anymore, ye’ll disappear. And ye doona clean the inside of chimneys!” His voice went up in a crescendo but he couldn’t help it. She was absolutely mad!
Anger flashed in her eyes, and he quirked an eyebrow.
“My family lets me! I see no reason why I can’t do it here. I want to help!”
“Lets ye? Do they nay value yer life?”
Her eyes grew to a deep, velvety yellowish-green.
“My family is noble. And honest! They love me. I do it because I choose to!”
Connor sneered. His men were serious now. Honest and noble, who was she kidding?
“Ye’ll break yer neck. This is an absurdity!” he boomed.
She looked at him and pointed a finger.
“‘Tis a sin to show your temper! It is rude to scream at another!” she shouted.
“Then perhaps ye should follow yer own advice!”
“I am not screaming and I am not showing my temper!” she shouted louder, slamming her foot down in emphasis. Her eyes were blazing.
“And I thought ye were docile!”
“I am!” she hollered, hands on her hips.
Connor walked over to her until he was inches away. He towered over her for effect. They were pitted against one another, head to chest.
She didn’t even cower. God help him!
“I forbid ye to speak to me in this manner! I forbid ye to climb chimneys while ye’re here! Ye’ll join me for supper again tonight,” he said, looking down at her.
Maddie stepped up onto the small step-stool that was next to her to give her height, and still, she had to look up at him. She lifted up a pointed finger and aimed it at his chest.
“Forbid? Ugh! Fine, Laird! I won’t climb chimneys!”
Connor had to hide his smile. Lord had they been wrong about her!
“And ye’ll join me for supper,” he said, getting lost in her yellow eyes.
“Aye. I’ll join you for supper,” she responded, curving an eyebrow.
It wasn’t just them. Nay! The whole damn lot of them joined them for dinner except for Mother. Father, Iain, Kiel, Kirk, Bruce and Hugh were ready for dinner and entertainment. They were seated when Maddie came into the room. Every man stopped talking and stared at her. The guest of honor had a violet dress on. The neck line scooped very low and every man noticed it. Connor did too, and he felt his stomach tighten. Her hair cascaded around her in free-flowing ringlets. Violet ribbons also cascaded with her hair. A deep blush colored her creamy skin. She was certainly a lady- a beautiful one.
Connor stood and pulled out a chair.
“Has Mairi visited ye?”
“Aye. Thank you.”
Maddie was back to being docile. She was definitely most interesting. Connor looked over at Iain, who was snickering. Connor gave him a stern look and Iain did what he always did, and cocked an eyebrow. Connor’s father looked over at him disapprovingly.
The men served themselves and like the evening before, she waited. Considering that his family was behaving as they usually did at the table, they didn’t notice this, but Connor did. After everyone finished serving themselves, Maddie served a very small plateful. She looked up at him suddenly when she sensed his gaze.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
Connor said nothing, giving into her request. Her eyes popped out at him, contrasting beautifully against the violet dress.
When the men were bringing forkfuls of food to their mouths, she cleared her throat.
“Gentlemen, we must give thanks to our Lord.”
Connor closed his eyes and reluctantly agreed.
“Aye, Maddie. Proceed,” Connor said, bracing himself.
“Thank you Lord for our health and for the food we’re about to eat. Thank you for giving us our loved ones and may their health be strong. We are eternally grateful, my Lord. Amen.”
“Amen,” they all said in unison.
Connor exhaled his relief. She hadn’t mentioned her plan to enter the convent.
Maddie ate slowly and quietly, until his father asked her questions.
“So, Maddie, how do ye like it here at Keisealle?”
A smile spread across her lips. She held everyone’s attention.
“It is absolutely lovely. There are so many flowers! I’ve never seen so many. I’ve only been here for two days, but it has been wonderful! Great people. God bless you all.”
Connor rolled his eyes. He prayed she wouldn’t mention her ultimate goal.
“‘Tis rare for a woman nay to be surrounded with flowers. Is that the case with ye?”
“It’s just that my family dislikes flowers. My home isn’t adorned as lovely as yours. It is all a monochromatic gray, but warm nonetheless.”
“No draperies? No colors?”
“Nay, my brothers and father dislike that.”
“And your mother?” Iain asked.
Maddie paled and looked down. A sad expression passed across her face.
“She died.”
“Oh, my apologies, Maddie.”
“When did she?” Kiel asked, and Malcolm, Iain, and Connor stared at him with angry eyes.
“She died birthing me,” she whispered, not looking up. Her cheeks were pink.
Connor saw something more on her face other than pain and sadness. Shame? Embarrassment?
Maddie cleared her throat. She looked up at them and smiled. “She was a fine woman, I’ve been told. Although my family never spoke of my mother to me.”
“Never?”
“Aye. I understand, though. It is painful,” she said, nodding her head. “‘Twas my fault after all.”
“Ye canna believe that, Maddie. Unfortunately, some women die during the birth of babies. I was fortunate that Miriam made it through so many births,” Malcolm said.
“God bless you for attempting to make me feel better, Sir Malcolm, but it is a burden that I must carry.”
No one spoke. They all looked at her not understanding why she would feel that way.
“I’m sorry. I must not speak so much of me! A sin!” The smile she gave them didn’t reach her eyes. “Hopefully I can purge this out of my system before devoting my life to our Lord.”
Everyone leaned forward. Connor groaned.
“Devoting yer life to our Lord?”
“Aye.” Her smile broadened with sincerity. Her full lips curved beautifully. “I’m joining the convent in a few of years.”
Malcolm spit out his wine, and Iain began coughing. Maddie got up and rushed over to Iain. She patted his back.
“Do all the Ramsay men swallow without chewing?”
Iain looked up at Connor and smirked. Malcolm leered at Connor and pursed his lips tightly together. The rest of the irritating crowd smiled secretly at each other.
“Why?”
“Well, Connor did much the same as Sir Malcolm and Iain, and choked last night at dinner-”
“Nay,” Kiel laughed. “Why join the convent?”
She blushed.
“Oh, there are many reasons, but mostly, I’m too old, Kiel.”
“How old are ye?” he asked.
“I’m soon to be twenty-one years. Very old indeed!”
Connor switched the topic and Iain smiled knowingly. He was sorely tempted to steer the conversation back to Maddie wanting to join the convent. The men began discussing other things for a short time, however.
“‘Twas a fine meal,” she said, smiling.
“How would ye know? Ye didna eat any,” Connor whispered to her.
She gave him a harsh look.
The men started to shuffle out and she began clearing the table before Connor could stop her.
“Put them down, Maddie.”
“Nay,” she said and left the room before he could stop her. She came back two seconds later.
“Where are the kitchens?”
“Maddie, I willna allow ye to do this. Enough!” He went over to her and put the things she’d gathered down.
Her eyes lit with fire.
“Don’t refuse me, Connor! I need to do this! You don’t understand!” Her eyes glittered.
“Understand what? Nay! A lady will not do this!”
“But Connor, I-”
The protest died on her lips. He couldn’t resist that plump mouth any longer. Connor leaned down and kissed her.
It was a scorching kiss.
Maddie fought a little but then complied. His mouth was demanding. Her knees became weak and he placed her arms around his neck, and then encircled his arms around her.
Connor couldn’t stop the kiss. Although he knew that it was her first kiss, evident by her awkwardness, the kiss was addicting.
Maddie was addicting.
She tasted like honey and wine.
Connor deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue in. She moved her head back in retreat but he followed. He brought a hand up to her mouth and pulled her chin down to allow better access. His right hand moved up to her hair and he grabbed a large fist of it. It was silky and soft. His left hand remained at her waist, his arm enveloping her.
Maddie wasn’t a passive participant. Nay, after a few moments she was kissing him back with ferocity. Then she tentatively moved her tongue into his mouth. He growled and sucked on it. She was lost with him. Maddie felt her heart beating twice as fast. Her breath was shallow, and a need she didn’t understand was forced into her veins. She was dizzy. She started to play with his hair and he moaned.
What was happening? She couldn’t stop. From somewhere within her beat another pulse, craving something bigger. It was pure fire between them. It was as electric as lightning.
Connor pulled her tighter against him and she felt his erection against her stomach.
Maddie gasped and pulled back, looking up at him. Her golden eyes were clouded with passion. They were deep in color. Her confusion was evident. Tears welled in her eyes and a harsh blush crept onto her face. Tears fell down her cheeks like water droplets. A shaky hand came up to touch her swollen and shimmering lips. Shame replaced confusion and she couldn’t hold his gaze anymore.
She looked down.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! What have I done? We’ll never be saved!” She ran from the room to her chamber. He could hear her sobs.
Connor stared after her and shook his head in confusion.
We? Saved?
He didn’t know what to think about her. She had been passionate and alive in his arms. It had been exhilarating. That kiss had certainly been more potent an experience than with any other woman with whom he’d been.
Emotions churned within him.
Maddie had obviously never experienced this passion. Hell, even he hadn’t. The strength of the pull between them surprised even him. Maybe Connor had been too forward. She had never even kissed before this.
Connor shook his head, a determined look in his eyes. He couldn’t feel guilty. He couldn’t allow her to get under his skin.
Connor had to go find relief for his state of arousal. He was afraid though, that not just any wench could tame his fever.
He burned for her.
But another would have to do until she surrenders to me, he thought.
Seduction.
That was the name of the game, and they were just the players.