Chapter Eleven
Their small party returned to court with more fanfare than any of them wanted. Magnus and Deirdre were exhausted from their separate and joint ordeals. Tavish wanted to usher Ceit into the castle and away from prying eyes and ears. He had matters to address with the king, and he desired the soonest audience possible. He would have Ceit’s position clarified and to understand exactly why the king planned to marry a spy into his clan. He also wanted information on how soon he would marry that spy. The confrontation with Deidre’s parents was ugly, and the king and queen were there to weigh in. Tavish stood beside his brother while trying to shield Ceit from the other ladies-in-waiting. He did not trust them not to tell tales out of turn when they realized she must have traveled alone with two men before reaching Deirdre. She tried to peer around him and even stand next to him, but he shifted to block her each time. She made her annoyance known by the bite of her nails through his leine and into his arm. He did not mind if it meant he kept her unscathed. He would match wits with her later.
The king finally allowed them to retire to their chambers, and Deirdre’s cousin, Elizabeth, joined them. While the two women spoke, and Magnus stood nearby, Ceit shot Tavish a withering look.
“I amnae a bairn. Ye canna treat me like I belong in the nursery if ye claim we are to be partners.”
“I wasna treating ye like a bairn, though now I’m tempted to.” He crossed his arms.
She stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward.
“I dinna need scolding either. Ye arenae ma father.”
“And after what we did last eve, that is a jolly good thing.”
“Ye arenae ma husband either.” She shot back but regretted the words as soon as they came out.
“Ye’re right. I amnae. Yet. But I ken I would protect ye from anyone who would do ye harm.”
“Bah. Who was there that was paying attention to me? Nay one noticed I was there, and I wasna in any danger.”
“Then ye dinna ken women vera well—”
“Clearly nae as well as ye. I saw them. I saw them all.”
“Who? What are ye talking aboot?”
“I saw the way the women looked at ye. The way many of them were sizing ye up and the familiarity that all too many had.”
Tavish unfolded his arms and wanted to scrub his hands over his face. Instead, he pulled her into his arms.
“I am sorry for that. I would change it if I had the power, and once we have the betrothal settled, we can leave for home. We dinna need to stay any longer than necessary.”
“And in the meantime? I get to watch all those women ogle ye. That’s why ye tried to hide me! Ye didna want me to see ye looking back at them either.”
“Are ye daft woman! I wasna looking at any of them. Merry widows or courtesans arenae what I was watching. It was the ladies-in-waiting.” Tavish snapped his mouth shut when he realized how that sounded.
Ceit’s face took on a shade of pink that grew red.
“The ladies-in-waiting? That’s who? Ma own friends. Ye couldnae be satisfied with me. Nae even the other women ye’ve already tupped. Ye want more.”
She backed away but not before Tavish clasped his hands on her shoulders.
“Listen well, queen bee, I dinna want any other woman than ye. I dinna lie, and I dinna tell half-truths. I was honest with ye last night when I said I want nay one else. I was trying to protect ye from the prying eyes and wagging tongues of yer so-called friends. I was trying to keep ye bluidy well unscathed.”
Ceit pushed her arms up through his and broke his hold, but only because he allowed it. She was not foolish enough to imagine he was not able to keep her there is he wanted.
“I already explained why I didna tell ye all the truth. Ye would throw that back in ma face after everything else. I canna believe ye. Ye dinna care at all.”
Ceit spun on her heel and left Tavish befuddled. He once again did not understand what she was talking about until he realized while he expounded on his honesty, it came on the tail of their argument the day before about her own honesty, or lack of.
Magnus’s voice permeated his fog when his brother called out that they would ride out on the morn. He was positive he was not going anywhere. Not without Ceit.
“I amnae leaving yet. Da sent me to resolve another matter, and it isnae taken care of.”
“Ye didna tell me aught of this.” Magnus was aware of what Tavish was talking about, but that did not stop him from goading his older brother by playing dumb. “What matter is that?”
“The matter of ma betrothal.” Tavish stared hard at Magnus, not appreciating his brother’s needling.
“Betrothal?”
“Aye, and ma bonnie bride has just disappeared from me, again, after giving me a good ear chewing.”
Tavish stalked off after Ceit to the sound of his brother’s laughter.
Ceit listened to the footsteps following her, but she ignored them.
He is an insufferable mon. Who does he think he is dictating to? Bluidy high handed oaf. I ken he has a point. I amnae daft, but he should find a better way to show me he cares. He doesnae need to follow me either. Canna he tell that I dinna want to speak to him?
Ceit picked up her pace, making her way towards her chamber. She was tired and dirty, and all she wanted was to bathe and put on fresh clothing. She loved Whisky and did not mind spending time in the outdoors, but she also enjoyed the luxury of a warm bath. She was ready to trade one for the other.
The footsteps increased their pace to match hers. Ceit was ready to turn around and tell Tavish to leave her be when a hand clasped over her mouth, and someone pulled her back against a hard body that was decidedly not Tavish.
“Your uncle is not pleased with you hieing off with those Sinclair bastards. No one gave you leave to go anywhere, and your uncle is prepared to exact a price for your disobedience.” A faintly English tinged accent whispered in her ear. The fingers over her mouth dug into her cheeks and pressed painfully against her teeth.
Rather than fight against the man who was much larger than her, she stood still and let him prattle. The more he spoke, the more she would learn. She made a half-hearted attempt to pry his hand from her mouth while the other hand slipped into her pocket to pull out the short blade sgian dubh. It was intended for close combat. She withdrew it and flipped it around to point the blade behind her.
“Buchan expects you to do your duty by your family. You were not to be warming some Sinclair’s bed. You’re to be in the king’s bed, and if not his, then his brother’s. You are wearing out your usefulness by the day. Mayhap, if you are bedding the Sinclair but not the king, you will have time to give me a ride.” The man pressed his hips forward but was gone as quickly as he arrived. His nails dragged across her cheek and lips as something yanked him from her. Ceit was sure before she spun around who would be there.
Tavish had the man by the throat with his feet off the floor. He shook the man, and Ceit was certain the man was about to pish himself.
“I amnae any mon’s bastard, but I am Lady Ceit’s betrothed. I will let ye live for one reason only. Ye will tell her bluidy uncle she isnae his to control. She is to be ma wife. He hasnae any say in the matter. He will keep himself well and truly hidden in England. His reach isnae any longer than the Sinclairs’, and while he doesnae have the might of the Highlands behind him, we do.”
Tavish plowed his fist into the man’s nose and smiled when the crack echoed. He landed another blow to the man’s stomach before dumping the man at his feet. He leaned over the bleeding form and stared at him.
“Come near her again, and yer life is forfeit. Message delivered or nae.” He pulled his booted foot back and jammed into the messenger’s ribs for good measure.
Ceit was shaking, but it was not from fear. She was aware her feelings were unreasonable. She realized she should be glad Tavish followed her, came to her rescue yet again, but she was furious that he intervened. She had not learned enough from the man, and now she would not have that chance. She watched Tavish as he stepped over the bleeding, prone mercenary. He walked to her and tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed back.
“Nay,” she shook her head.
“Ceit, I didna mean to scare ye. I’m sorry for the blood.”
“It isnae that. I dinna care aboot the blood. How dare ye intervene where ye werenae needed?”
“I beg yer pardon. I wasna needed? I rounded the corner to find some strange mon holding ye against yer will, or do ye like men to smother ye, and ye tell me I wasna needed. Ye are barmy, woman. I dinna understand ye. Ye would want me to stand by and let some mon molest ye?”
Tavish pulled her along the corridor until they were out of earshot from the mercenary or anyone who might try to listen. He used considerable effort to keep from yelling, but she frazzled his temper. His heart had lurched into a full sprint when he spotted the man holding Ceit pinned against him. He saw Ceit pull her blade free, and before he gave any more consideration to it, he ripped the man from her. He wanted to kill him and would have if Ceit were not standing there. He had far more he wanted to say, but again, he did not want to scare Ceit. Instead, now she stood berating him for caring and worrying. He scrubbed his hands over his face.
“I dinna understand ye. I ken ye can defend yerself, but why do ye insist upon putting yerself in harm’s way just to prove ye dinna need me? Ye’ve made yer point more than once. I get it. Ye dinna need or want ma help. Ye dinna really need or want me, truth be told. Ye may desire me, but ye dinna want me. Bluidy hell, I sound like a bluidy woman.” Tavish shook his head and stepped around her.
“I dinna say we were through here. How dare ye be so high handed and then presume to ken ma feelings? Then when ye arenae told what ye want, ye walk away. I dinna think so. I was more than able to handle the mon. What do ye imagine I did before ye showed up on yer trusty steed? I took care of maself. I needed that mon to tell me more of ma uncle’s plan, but ye just had to burst into a situation where ye were neither needed nor wanted.”
Tavish reeled back, and Ceit realized she went too far. He looked as though she stuck a blade into his gut.
“Tav—”
“Nay, ye made yer point. Ye’ve made it more than once. I’ve just been too blinded by lust to hear ye. But I hear ye just fine now. Ye dinna plan to give up yer independence, and ye dinna want a partner. Ye will keep fighting alone when I would fight at yer back. Vera well. I shall mind yer words and leave ye the fuck alone.”
Tavish stormed away, and Ceit watched him as a sense of finality dropped over her.
This is what ye wanted, isnae it? Why else would ye have been such an ungrateful bitch? Why else would ye have lashed out at a mon who has shown the patience of a saint with ye? Ye make it sound as though ye’ve been struggling and fighting on yer own for yonks, but ye’ve been at court a few bluidy sennights.
I have surely loused this up. Is he right? Is it that I dinna want to give up ma independence? Do I really have any now? I am fed up of being controlled by the men of ma family and this court, but Tavish hasnae really tried to control me at all. Just the opposite. He’s offered me more freedom by offering to fight with me. He didna tell me I couldnae take care of maself. He offered, over and over, to help. To ease ma burden. And what have I done? Pished it all away. What the hell have I done? Was it really just lust for him? Shite.
Ceit ran through the passageways to her chamber, uncaring who might see her. She locked herself in her chamber and allowed the tears to slide down her cheeks as she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the bath her maid must have arranged. She sunk below the water and let the warmth surround her as Tavish’s embrace once did.