Chapter 19 #2
Iain’s lips descended on hers at once as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, sealing their promise with a fierce, passionate kiss.
So there, in the dark cold forest, both of them soaked to the skin, Claire found heaven once again.
Although the kiss was hungry, it was full of love, and said more than words ever could have.
Iain drew away with extreme reluctance and said softly, “We must go back, Claire, before we both freeze. Come.”
He took her hand and led her over to Sable, who was standing waiting for them patiently, his coal-black coat streaming with rainwater.
Iain lifted Claire into the saddle, then mounted in front of her. “Put your arms around me,” he instructed. “I do not want you to fall off, Claire. I don’t want to lose you when I have just found you.”
Claire did as he told her, feeling the warmth, hardness, and solidity of Iain’s body infinitely reassuring. She sighed happily, knowing that in spite of the rain, the darkness, and the cold, she was exactly where she wanted to be, where she belonged, with the love of her life.
When they arrived at the castle, Iain gently lifted Claire out of the saddle as Agnes came rushing up to them.
“M’Laird… Claire,” she said anxiously as they stood dripping on the stone flags of the courtyard. “Thank God! I thought ye were both lost.”
She called for blankets to be brought, then beckoned Claire to come with her to her chamber, but as she took Claire by the elbow to lead her away, Iain stopped her.
“Claire is with me,” he said firmly. He put an arm around her. “Take her to my room and have a bath drawn for her.”
Agnes’s eyes widened in astonishment, but she nodded and took Claire’s arm to lead her away. However, before she could do so, Claire stood on tiptoe to plant a soft kiss on Iain’s cheek.
“I love you,” she murmured.
Iain smiled. “And I love you. I will see you soon. I have someone to see.”
He watched Claire walk away till she rounded a corner and passed out of his sight, sighing with relief that she was safe, then he marched over to one of the guards and pointed to Dougal.
“Take him downstairs,” he ordered sharply.
The guard looked at him, puzzled. “Tae the dungeons, M’Laird?” he asked.
“Aye.” Iain’s voice was firm as he glared at the man who had once been his friend but was now his sworn enemy.
When two guards grabbed him by the arms and dragged him away, Dougal yelled in protest and looked, wide-eyed in panic, at Iain.
“Iain! What do you think you are doing?” he asked as he struggled fruitlessly in the grip of men who were both twice as strong as he was.
“You had it coming, Dougal,” Iain answered, before turning and walking away, a satisfied smile on his face.
Dougal’s screams were fading away as he was hauled away, but Iain was no longer concerned. He had other things to worry about.
He called some of the guards to summon the Council members to meet him in his study. Having guards wake them would be terrifying, Iain knew, which was exactly what he intended.
There was a general outcry about being awakened so late at night, and a few snide remarks about Iain’s soakingly dishevelled state.
However, Iain ignored the comments and announced firmly, “I am marrying Claire Tewsbury. There will be no more debate about the matter. I know you all think I’m an eejit, but it did not take me long to work out who sent Morag Cameron two days early.
You held a meeting without telling me. Well, from now on, I am not answerable to any of you. I am marrying the woman I love, and that is that.” He thumped his fist on the desk to emphasise his point. “You will all leave now, or I will have the guards assist you.”
He sighed and passed a hand over his eyes, then poured himself a glass of whisky, which he downed in one gulp. He contemplated pouring another one, but decided against it. He was going to need a clear head for what he was about to do next.
The dungeons were the last place Iain wanted to go at that moment, and as he entered, he remembered why.
They were situated at the very bottom of the castle, where only a few small windows let in the daylight, and the stench was almost unbearable.
They reeked of damp, mice, stale urine and unwashed bodies, and he almost gagged with disgust as he walked along to Dougal’s cell at the darkest end of the corridor.
Dougal was huddled in a corner, seated on a thin straw mattress with a threadbare blanket wrapped around him. He looked up as he heard Iain’s footsteps, and the expression that crossed his face was one of naked fear before he buried his face between his knees.
“Look at me,” Iain commanded, and Dougal raised his eyes to meet Iain’s, which were blazing with rage. “I went to find Claire, and guess what I found. A hideous-looking creature who was bending over her with a knife to her throat. What do you think I did, Dougal?”
Dougal swallowed nervously. “I have no idea,” he lied, his gaze dropping from Iain’s again.
Iain laughed, a harsh, cynical sound. “I think you do.” His voice was throbbing with rage. “I killed him. I almost chopped his head off. He was about to kill the woman I love, but you would not understand love, would you, Dougal? Because I doubt you have ever felt that in your life.
You paid him to kill Claire, did you not? Tell me, was anyone here helping you? I need the truth because if you do not tell me, the consequences will be dire.”
Dougal looked up at Iain, his eyes wide with terror. “No! You cannot mean—”
Iain’s eyes narrowed. “Tell me,” he said, his voice as hard as stone.
“One of your maids. Her name is Lorna,” Dougal answered, visibly shaking now. “When I saw that you were becoming fond of Claire Tewsbury, I asked her to make her life as miserable as possible so that she would leave your service.”
“That explains a lot,” Iain said, nodding.
Of course, it did. Lorna had been abusive almost from the first time she set eyes on Claire, and Iain had used that to his advantage.
“My trust in you is shuttered. You have sunk very low in my estimation. Never in my worst nightmares would I realise you would plumb the very depths of evil. I thought highly of you before, but after the way you treated me, Dougal, I hate you. The next time I see you will be in a court of law. Goodbye.”
He turned and strode away, still shaking with rage, then Iain realised that Claire was waiting for him, and that was all that was needed to lend wings to his feet and make him sprint upstairs to his bedchamber.
When he opened the door, he saw that Claire had already climbed out of the bath and was wrapped in one of his robes, which was far too big for her, of course. Yet, she looked infinitely appealing, and Iain smiled as he moved towards her, intending to put his arms around her.
However, Claire held a hand out to stop him. “Take your clothes off,” she ordered.
Iain was astonished. “You don’t mean—” he began, his eyes widening with disbelief.
Claire shook her head, giggling. “I mean take those wet and filthy things off before you touch me, then I will scrub your back when you get into the bath.”
Iain sent for another bath, and when it arrived, Claire stepped forward and began to undress him. Once every last one of his filthy clothes was lying on the floor, she looked him up and down, and raised an eyebrow when she saw the solid shaft of his erection pointing at her.
Iain smiled, then sighed ruefully. “He has a mind of his own,” he told her, before placing a soft kiss on her lips.
“Let me wash you.”
Claire helped him into the big tin bath then picked up the sponge and proceeded to clean him, beginning with the aforementioned back. She loved the feel of his rippling muscles under her hands, and before long she became as aroused as he was.
Claire stood up and untied the robe, then let it drop from her shoulders, and climbed into the bath with him.
“The water will spill over the sides,” Iain protested.
“I do not care,” Claire replied as she threw the soaking sponge at him.
Iain remembered the scene that he had visualised all those months ago of him and Claire playfully fighting in the bath. Now his dream was coming true.
Claire was his dream, his love, his life.
“You are truly mad, Claire,” he said fondly, laughing, “but I love you.”
“As I love you,” she replied, giggling as she launched the sponge at him again. “Forever.”