Chapter Twenty-Four
Lennox
A few hours later, Lennox was standing not far from the stables on MacVey land, giving instructions to one of his most trusted guards, Jasper. “I’ll be gone for about two days. Taskill will remain here, but I’ll take five guards with me.”
“Where are you headed, Chief?” The older man stood strong, his chin lifted because he prided himself in his hard work, having been a guard for both Douglas and Lennox.
“Eventually to Coll. I’m taking a short jaunt myself across the sound, then I will return to gather the men and go to Tobermory to cross there on the ferry. I want horses with us. You know my favorites.” Giving Jasper this task would keep him from noticing that Lennox was headed out alone. This was something he needed to handle by himself.
“Aye, I’ll see it done, Chief.”
Lennox had spent his time in the stables while his mother quickly ushered Meg inside, though he had no idea why they were in such a hurry. Sometimes he recognized that getting involved in female matters was not the best idea, so he’d gone about his business. Undoubtedly, Rut probably took Meg straight to Doiron to discuss her wound. It would take days for the poor lass to recover completely.
“Where the hell is Taskill, Jasper?” He stepped outside the stables, surveying the area for his brother.
“Your mother requested his presence a short time ago, Chief,” Jasper said, heading to a group of guards in their lists practicing their sword skills.
His mother had called for Taskill? What the hell was she up to now?
His sister came out the door, so he called to her. “Eva, is Taskill inside?”
“Aye, he’s going over the maps with Meg. She’s looking for Loch Aline. Mayhap you should join them, brother dearest? Your mother is at her finest.” Then she gave him that warning grin the siblings shared when it came to their mother’s antics.
“Hellfire,” he grumbled. “My thanks, Eva.” He strode into the keep, his boot falls echoing across the stone floor since the great hall was now empty. He loved the MacVey hall, beautiful tapestries of the castle and Mull decorating the walls, a hearth at each end to keep the area warm. He stopped, as he did whenever he found himself alone, just to admire the beauty of the dark carved wooden chairs on the dais, the carefully sewn cushioned chairs arranged in a semi-circle around each fireplace. Sometimes he was amazed that it belonged to him now that his sire was gone.
He had a sudden image of a hall full of bairns running around the tables, a beautiful lass with long legs staring up at him with a smile that affected him more than any other. How had meeting one lass altered his view of life so much? He shook the vision from his mind and headed toward the voices, not surprised to find the trio in his solar, studying maps.
“That’s it,” Taskill said. “It truly is nearly straight across from our dock area. We have a couple small boats and one ship we use. We keep them in a boathouse on the sound, though Lennox does not want one of them used. But there’s no wind today. We could cross easily. Would you like me to take you?”
It was as if a small explosion erupted in his mind. What had he just heard? Taskill was taking who where? What the hell was happening?
Lennox flew around the corner into his solar, standing in the doorway. “Nay, you’ll not be taking her anywhere.” He knew he’d been a bit loud, but how had this turned into a trip across the sound in less than an hour? “Taskill, Jasper needs you outside. Go help him. We are going on a journey later, and I need your assistance.”
Taskill did his usual, shrugging with a smile. “Sure, Chief. No reason to get upset. I was just trying to help. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Aye, go.” He gave his brother’s shoulder a shove when he reached the door, sending him out. If he were to guess, this was all part of his mother’s careful planning, not Taskill’s, so there was no reason to be upset with his brother.
He stepped back to get out of his way, but then Taskill leaned over to whisper in his ear, “If you don’t claim her, I will. She’s a beauty.”
He grabbed his brother’s tunic and said, “Nay, you willnae. Get out now.”
Taskill chuckled and left, winking.
Lennox stepped inside, where his mother sat behind the desk wearing a smug look he’d wonder about later. He didn’t have time for that now.
Meg glanced at him. “Lennox, Loch Aline is right across the sound. Taskill showed me on the map here.”
“You can read a map?” His anger and annoyance vanished as soon as he locked eyes with Meg, her beauty stunning him. She was no longer disheveled and feverish. No wonder Taskill was interested in her. He couldn’t stop himself from running a quick look down to her toes, surprised to see her wearing those tight trews the Grantham women wore. The kind that clung to every womanly curve she had. A soft groan left his lips, something he’d been powerless to stop. Those long legs called to him again.
His mother got up and strolled over to the doorway, looking into the hall.
“What?” Meg gave him a quizzical look just before she licked her lips. “Did you say something or are you upset with me?”
“I just asked if you could read a map. Most women cannot.”
“I am not most women, Lennox. I understand that most are far more worldly than I am, but I am able to read a map.”
The woman was going to embarrass him. His erection forced him to step behind his desk, turning slightly to hide it. “How?” That was the only word he could get out, anything to distract her.
She stopped to square her shoulders and stare at him, as if he were daft. “My mother taught me to read, and my sire taught me how to read a map.”
“Still doesn’t mean you can interpret a map, but well done. Most lasses do not possess that skill.” He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. The lass was torturing him. He’d never had the desire to want someone so badly and be unable to touch her the way he wished.
Everywhere. He would touch every part of that tall, willowy body. First with his hand, then with his mouth. He’d taste every part of her if given the chance. What the hell was happening to him?
Her hand settled on her curvaceous hip. “Why didn’t you tell me Loch Aline was over there?” She pointed to the Sound of Mull.
“I thought you said Loch Aleve. I misheard you.” Damn it, but now he was in a twist. He hated lying, but sometimes there was no other recourse.
His mother coughed so loud, he cast a warning side-eye at her, but she still kept her gaze on the hall, peeking back occasionally.
Meg said, “I’d like to go over there. I am capable of rowing on my own. Do you mind if I borrow a boat?”
“Aye, I do mind. You cannot go. You are sickly.”
Meg glanced at Lennox’s mother, who turned to shrug, then she looked back at him. “I’m not sickly, my lord. I’m fine. I’m verra worried about Lia. I see you have your own destination, so I’ll go by myself.”
“My name is Lennox. Not my lord .” He would hear his name on her lips as often as he could. There was something about it that entranced him.
“Fine. Lennox, may I borrow your boat, if you please?”
“Nay, you may not. Women don’t go on boats alone, Meg. I can see you don’t understand how things are done, but I’ll forgive your ignorance.”
Meg looked as though he’d slapped her, and he caught the fury in her expression, her cheeks as red as the best apple in the orchard. Hell, but even angry she was gorgeous. Though for all that he’d said, he couldn’t understand why she was so upset. He’d said nothing wrong. Had he?
“By the way,” his mother interrupted, “Meg is worried about the baron. What shall we do if he comes for her?”
“Meg is not going anywhere. Not across the water and surely not with a baron, whichever idiot baron it is. When you recall his name, let me know and I’ll send the fool a message.”
“But Lennox, surely any baron could call upon the king to get his way…” His mother was persistent.
“King Edward mayhap would try, but King Robert would not allow him rights to a Scottish woman. I’ll marry her, and that would surely put an end to this.”
Meg gasped, then shoved at his chest. “You speak of me as if I’m a child, or not even here. As if I have no say in anything in my life. Get out of my way.”
“Lennox,” his mother said. “Be more considerate of her delicate constitution.”
He spun around to speak with his mother. It was time to get her out of the solar. “Delicate constitution! She’s about as delicate as Dyna Grant. Have you lost your senses, Mother? I don’t have time for this.” He turned toward Meg, but there was already a problem.
Meg had disappeared.
“Meg, get back here.” Then he added, “If you please, come back here.”
He was about to lose his mind.