Chapter 7
Claire looked at the table before her, filled with all of her favorites: guacamole, big burritos, and a large pitcher of margaritas. Sunday dinner with Brooke, and life was just good.
“Girl, what is wrong with you? You finally find the guy who turns your legs to jelly and you let him walk away? Seriously, first no one is just right, and then one is. Let’s just say you are driving me crazy!” Brooke’s face and tone let out the exasperation she felt.
“You don’t understand, Brooke, it’s not that simple here. I really believe Ian needs to marry her, whoever she is. Hagan made a huge deal out of it, and I don’t think he’s the type to exaggerate. It’s not like I can pay his bills or feed his people. Whatever there was between us, it’s done. Leave it alone.”
“Hell no, I won’t leave it alone. I know you better than anyone. Don’t even try to tell me it’s done. If it were me, then it would be done. You don’t live that way, and you never will. I know, Claire.” Brooke’s reply was smug.
Claire looked at her friend and, not pleased with her arrogant expression, asked, “What do you think you know?”
“You care about him. You want him to want you. He’s the one, isn’t he? The one from your dreams. Ian’s the one you waited for and the reason no one else was ever good enough.”
“Stop now. Who do you think you are? I know what to do. I know what’s right.” Claire’s voice carried only anger.
“You’ve spent too much time with Michael. All his preaching about honor, respect, and integrity.” Brooke laughed as she spoke. ”In a way, it has ruined you. You’re so blinded by what’s right that you can’t see the forest for the trees, can you? It will not just go away. For heaven’s sake, you will see him every day of your life. For your sanity, I hope you find your way back to me.”
“They told me that I couldn’t come back. I’ll find a way to deal.” Claire looked down at her plate; the thought of not going home was just too painful.
“Really? Good luck with that. I know I could never deal with looking at that hottie all day.” Brooke pointed behind her and then called out, “You forgot, Claire.”
She ignored her friend’s parting comment; after all, there was nothing to forget. Her head turned as she felt his gaze on her back. There was Ian in all his glory, standing in a clearing in the woods. He waited for her with a smile so warm and inviting.
Claire rose to join him. Her feet touched the soft earth, and twigs snapped underfoot. Brooke’s voice called from the distance, “Just remember, sometimes you have to take care of you. If he’s what you want, what you need . . .”
Ian met her halfway; his hands immediately brought her in close. “Sweet Claire, I’ve been searching for you.” Before any reply could be made, he kissed her, his mouth moving on hers while his hands caught in her hair and roamed her back, pulling her yielding body into his.
Claire couldn’t bring him close enough. Her hands pulled at his back. She needed him closer. The gentle kisses grew to something wild and untamed. Each sought to claim more of the other, tongues dancing, tasting, devouring, and still it was not enough. Claire whimpered as Ian broke the kiss, his hungry mouth moved along the curve of her face and settled just below her ear. “You smell of sweet summer berries, lass.”
Claire sat up in bed with her heart racing, and for a moment, confusion ruled. She looked around her stone chamber while memories of the previous day took hold. The first light of the new day was visible through the window. Claire shook her head to clear the pain of the dream. Rising from the bed, she put on the robe and hoped she remembered the way to the garderobe. The only thing close to a happy thought she could find was that it was slightly better than peeing in the woods.
“There you are, child. I was a wee bit concerned when I noticed your door was open and you were gone,” Neala said as she waited in the corridor. “Come with me back to your chamber. ‘Tis early, you can go back to sleep.”
“I’m awake. I always get up this early,” Claire replied.
“As do I, and ‘tis a fine thing I will have some company in the quiet early hours.” Neala smiled as she led Claire back to the chamber. “There is a pitcher of water for you to refresh yourself, along with a clean cloth. Take care of your needs while I sort through these. Let’s see if we can’t find you something to wear.” The chair before the fire was covered in dresses.
After what seemed like hours, she was finally dressed. The long dress felt strange, but the fabric was soft, and the gown fit well. The laces up the front made it somewhat easy to get dressed. “Where did you get the dresses?” Claire asked. Most fit, and there were only few alterations needed. One was done for today. The rest would keep her occupied later in the day. Apparently sitting around and doing some sewing was a big afternoon activity.
“They belong to Ian’s sister, Aliana. Dinna fret, they are a wee bit too small since she had the bairn. I believe it may be some time before there is a need for them. ‘Tis a fine thing that they will see some use.” Neala took a moment to admire her work. The blue had been a good choice; it brought out the reddish tones in Claire’s hair, or so Neala said. Taking Claire by the hand, she said, “Come now, child. Let us go down to the hall and break our fast.”
The staircase they descended opened into the great hall. A massive room filled with rows of tables and bench seats greeted them. It had a huge fireplace along the back wall and several corridors leading to other places in the keep. There were roughly twenty men seated in small groups eating while women came with trays of food and left with the dirty remains. The sounds of conversation and laughter filled the air.
A loud woman came through the corridor that Claire assumed was the way to the kitchen, breaking the peace. She shouted, “Hagan, where are you? You can nay avoid me all day. I will find you!” The woman stormed into the hall and stalked toward them with a small child in her arms. The woman’s dark hair and green eyes clearly resembled Ian’s looks. This must be his sister.
“Neala, have you seen him? You must be Claire.” Without waiting for an answer from either, the woman turned and resumed her shouting. “Hagan, where are you?”
“I am all but next to you, wife.” The loud woman turned to see Hagan enter from another corridor. “Why are you screaming to wake the dead?”
“Why am I screaming? I will tell you why.” Turning away from Hagan, she thrust the child into Claire’s arms. “Here, hold him.” She faced her husband and reached up to push his chest as she spoke. “I am screaming to find you. You can nay think to avoid me after what you have done. Once again you were gone this morning as it came upon me. ‘Tis the third day in a row. Do you ken what that means? Do you!”
The smile that lit Hagan’s face was the last thing Claire anticipated. He answered, “Aye, wife, I ken what that means.” With a grab at the hands that pushed at him, Hagan pulled Aliana into his arms.
“I told you she would not miss the gowns, Claire. Aliana is with child,” Neala whispered.
The angry woman turned into a sobbing one, as she listened to Hagan comforting his wife and speaking of his joy and want for the child to be. This man who had been so serious the night before was working magic. Before long they were both smiling. Those were the faces that now turned to Claire.
“Forgive me for my introduction, cousin. I am pleased you are here and welcome you. I am Aliana, and you have met young Cerwyn.” She moved to kiss Claire on the cheek and take back the child. “I should have come to greet you upon your arrival, but my arse of a husband did not speak of you until after you had gone to your rest.”
Claire could not help grinning as she answered, “I think it was late, and you weren’t exactly expecting me. Oh, and congratulations.”
Aliana replied, “That is another reason Hagan is an arse, for not telling me you were expected. A chamber should have been waiting for you. As for that, you can congratulate me after the sickness has passed several moons from now.”
“Who has sickness?” Ian’s voice carried through the hall as he entered, his gaze landing immediately on Claire.
She held her breath as Ian’s gaze wandered from her booted feet to the curve of her hip. She felt heat spread on her cheeks as his eyes stopped on the slight cleavage the dress revealed before reaching her face. The hunger was clear in his stare, the same as it had been at the inn. For just a second, she saw Ian poised above her as he had been two nights ago. A small shudder racked her body as the memory crept in unbidden.
Hagan diverted Ian’s path to Claire. “My wife is with child. You are to be an uncle again. With your soon-to-be-marriage, we will fill this keep with bairns.” Ian stiffened briefly before the embrace was returned.
“‘Tis fine news to begin the day with. Are you unwell already, Aliana?” Ian turned to ask his sister as he pulled her in for a hug.
“Am I unwell? Did you hear the part where I am with child? I will nay be fine again for some time. Thank the heavens you have brought Claire with you. I will need her help with Cerwyn. The child is only two years old and requires constant attention. Plus, there is much to do to prepare for your bride.” Aliana paused long enough to glare at her brother. “Do you still plan to go through with this nonsense?”
Ian returned her glare and took hold of the child. “Dinna start this again. The matter is settled. Dinna question me in my hall.”
“‘Tis my hall, too, and I will question you when you are being absurd.” Turning to Claire, Aliana asked, “Have you heard of this marriage? Such nonsense. These arrangements are not for our clan. They never have been.” Not waiting for a reply, Aliana continued, “But where are my manners? Come and sit. We will get to know one another while we break our fast.” Aliana sat by Claire’s side, “Well, you break your fast. I am not quite ready to eat yet.”
Neala’s voice sounded from behind them, “Here, sweeting, drink this, you ken that it helps. You should have told me straight away. There was no need for you to suffer.” Looking at Claire, Neala explained, “‘Tis an herbal that should soothe and keep the sickness from becoming too severe. Now, Aliana, when do we look for the child?”
“The drink does help, I had forgotten. Thank you, Neala. I believe mid-winter. If nay for the sickness, I doubt I would ken about the bairn.” Aliana answered after draining the cup.
Claire had been so caught up in the conversation the two women were having that she was a bit surprised to feel Ian sit beside her. Her heart skipped several beats as she looked at him dressed in a plaid and a clean shirt and had his hair pulled back. Since meeting Ian, she had not seen him like this. He was handsome while soaking wet and a bit dirty. Now he is amazing.
“This morn I can provide you with a fine meal, Claire.” Ian moved to fill a bowl with what looked like oatmeal, dried fruit, and cream and placed it in front of her.
Before she could voice her thanks, the toddler sitting in Aliana’s lap jumped to hers. “Eat. Eat. Eat.” Cerwyn placed the wooden spoon in Claire’s hand and opened his mouth. Laughing at the child’s enthusiasm, she started feeding him.
“Nay, Cerwyn, ‘tis a meal for Claire. Come to Mama, and I will get you your own dish.” Aliana’s attempt to take the child failed. He simply snuggled into Claire and answered, “Nay, nay, nay! Want Air, want Airey, want Laire.” Her name changed several more times with none of them being close to the real thing. She cringed as the child screamed “Larry,” and he laughed until his body shook. Somehow she was certain a horrible nickname had just been bestowed.
“He is no trouble, really.” Looking at the green-eyed child in her lap, she said, “You can stay, but you have to share. And please say Claire, not Larry.”
Laughter from the little one answered her, “Larry.” Ian’s laughter caught her attention.
“The child is greedy with his food and has yet to make all of his sounds correctly. Are you certain you wish him with you? He could be moved verra easily.” As he spoke, Ian filled another bowl and placed it in front of her.
A serious Hagan interrupted them. “Ian, there is no need for you to see to feeding Claire. She is my cousin, and I will tend to her.”
“‘Tis no trouble. The lass was poorly fed while we traveled, and I simply wish to make amends.” While playfully spoken, she felt his body tense at Hagan’s attempt to take over.
“‘Tis nay the first one you have fed is it, cousin?” Aliana asked.
Grateful for the tension breaker, Claire answered, “No, he isn’t. I’ve always enjoyed being with children.” She spoke as she fed the child in her arms. The simple talk of children gradually became a quiet conversation between the women.
Taking a now restless Cerwyn from Claire’s lap, Aliana asked, “Why have you nay married and had bairns of your own? It seems to be something you are well suited for.” Turning to her husband, Aliana asked, “What is wrong with your clan, leaving this one unspoken for? Surely there have been offers.”
Hagan stumbled for words, and she heard Ian’s cup hit the table a bit too hard. Speaking quickly, she said, “It was my own doing. I have spent most of my time working with accounts and little else.” There was no time for more of an explanation as Aliana interrupted.
“That is something we must change. ‘Tis a fine thing you are here. The accounts certainly need attention, and if the men of your clan are blind, we will have some here who are nay so stupid. I will see to it that you are introduced properly.”
Almost choking on her food, she replied, “There is no need for that, I mean, the accounts need to be seen to, and I still need to learn my way around here.”
“Of course. I forgot that this place is new to you. Come, I will show you around and introduce you to our clan. We can take the wee one to run outside as we look around.”
That was too easy. Seeing the look on Aliana’s face, mock innocence mixed with delight, Claire knew she was in trouble. A matchmaker was the last thing she needed or wanted now.
Interrupting the conversation, Ian said, “Nay, sister. I promised Claire on our journey that I would show her the grounds and the keep. Unlike our travels, this day promises warm sunshine.”
Hagan added, “I would nay have you break you word, brother. But there are matters that need your attention. You have been gone a while. Some things will nay wait any longer.” Claire heard the underlying truth in Hagan’s statement; she and Ian were to stay apart. “Your sister is more than capable of showing my cousin her new home.” His eyes settled on his wife with a smile signaling this victory.
“Come, Claire, the sun is out, and the child is restless.” Aliana rose and grabbed her arm. “We will have a fine morning.”
Ian stood with defeat written across his features. Claire felt the sadness creep back into her chest. He was not for her.
“What about the accounts? I planned to start today.” Claire spoke to Ian but kept her eyes safely on the child.
Ian said, “You have traveled far and hard. They will be there after you have had a chance to rest and refresh yourself. Take a few days to recover.”
Turning her eyes up to face Ian, she said, “I would prefer to start today, if that is okay. It’s hardly strenuous work.” Claire waited for a reply, hoping he would let her. A little time together today would be nice, just working of course.
Ian’s small smile told her that she had gotten her way. “If you wish, I can show you after the midday meal. We can spend the afternoon getting you acquainted with your tasks. If that is acceptable to you, Hagan?”
Hagan recognized Ian’s verbal challenge. “That should be fine. Then we should begin immediately with our work.”
Aliana took her cue. “Come, I will show you the grounds of your new home.”
Claire took the plain cloak Neala offered to keep away the morning chill and then followed Aliana to the main door. She turned briefly back to Ian, saw the hurt in his brilliant green eyes, and knew the day would have been perfect if he was the one showing her the grounds. If I had said yes, this day might have been ours to enjoy. After meeting Hagan, Claire knew the decision had been correct. These people needed more than she could even think of providing. Claire also knew that Ian’s gaze followed every step she made until she was long out of sight.