She wanted to follow the men and listen to all of their plans, but Bonnie and her mother were kissed goodbye at the entrance to the main hall by her father Lord James Grant and told to return to their bedchambers. Bonnie crinkled up her nose as her eyes flitted to Alexander. She wanted to be close to him… to learn more.
And she also wanted to know what was going on with them and the wolves.
She nodded and accepted her father’s wishes and then she reluctantly made her way back to the grand staircase where two guards were waiting.
“Mother,” she whispered as they reached the foot of the stairs. “Do you really think that Clan Campbell is telling the truth?”
Her mother turned to her and smiled at her warmly.
“Och Lassie,” she said as she swept a strand of her daughters beautifully red hair behind her ears. “I have never known your father get it wrong…and if you think about it, it would explain why he was so dismissive of Lord Drummond’s help. He did have me worried there for a moment, I thought he had gone quite mad.”
Her mother smiled and kissed her daughter on the forehead.
They parted ways at the top of the staircase and Bonnie began her walk down the long, dark corridor back to her bedroom. When she reached the door, she turned and glanced shyly at the guards who were following her, then made her way inside. At least with them standing watch over her bedchamber she would be safe inside. But a long, boring night was drawing out ahead of her, especially now that she knew a man like Alexander Campbell was in the same vicinity. It was exciting to think that they were under the same roof and yet she had no idea how close to her he would be.
The fire in her room was burning brightly and Ariane was sitting by the fire, making a quilt with her little hands and a long stretch of fur.
“Are you all right, m’lady?” she asked as Bonnie stepped wearily inside. Her shoulders were hunched and she was exhausted. Her mind was running from one thing to another, and although she knew she should lay down and rest after having been awake all night, she also wanted to wait and see if anything transpired from having the Campbell’s at Castle Grant.
“Ariane,” she sighed as she flopped down on the bed and wrapped her arms around herself. “What a day I’ve had, you have no idea.”
Ariane rushed to her side and looked down at her. “Are you all right? Do you need me to get you anything?”
“No, but thank you,” she smiled. “I think I would like to be left in peace.”
“As you wish, m’lady.” She smiled as she backed away and moved toward the door.
Bonnie closed her eyes but she heard the sound of Ariane heaving the heavy wooden doors open and closing them behind her. She had a hushed few words with the guards and then Bonaventure heard her footsteps carry on down the hallway.
Bonnie was glad to be alone. Her body ached and her mind raced, but they couldn’t keep up with each other. All she could think about was Alexander… Of his intense eyes and his rich, red hair… Of his muscular arms and of the way his eyes had searched for her across the highlands… The way he had come to her and helped her to her feet… The way he had lifted her at the waist and placed her delicately on the back of her mother’s horse. Her skin prickled with heat as she remembered it all, and she felt her heart begin to race. She was aroused and ready for something she had never experienced, but she didn’t know where these feelings had come from. She was a writhing mess on the top of her bed and she thought, for a flitting moment, whether she should let her hands wander down underneath her billowing dress and up into her underwear. If she found her sweetest spot, would it be warm and moist and ready for a man?
She felt herself blushing and she rolled onto her side.
Alexander.
She didn’t know anything about him, and yet, she was certain of one thing…
She was going to have him…one way or another.
She was going to make him hers and let him deflower her, right there under her parents’ roof.
A wicked smile flashed over her lips and she had to pull the blankets over her face to stop herself from laughing out loud. She had no idea where these naughty thoughts were coming from. She had always been such a good girl, such an innocent. But one look from a roguish highlander like Alexander Campbell and she was a mess of want and desire.
She thought of all of the times she had heard the servants and chambermaids speak of how they had let men love them and it had made her tingle all over, and her mind and body become curious. But no one had ever stirred those feelings in her properly…
Until now.
As she lay back in her bed and looked up to the ceiling, and her eyes weighed heavy, it was almost as if the decision to pursue Alexander Campbell was the release she needed to drift off into a blissful sleep.
And within a matter of moments, that’s exactly what she did.