Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
W hen she had first arrived, Iseabail had terrified Elsie. Clearly the woman was a force to be reckoned with, and yet, it soon became apparent that her anger was temporary. By all accounts it was also justified, given the fact that Keane had told her of their marriage by letter. Perhaps, had they not been so close, Iseabail would not have minded, but it was very evident that the siblings had a strong bond.
Owen and Keane were clearly also close, and they spoke and acted as though they were brothers. Their arrival, and Elsie’s introduction to their dynamics, had all been very sudden, and Elsie had still been reeling when the group had entered the drawing room.
Now, however, as she sat beside Iseabail at the high table, enjoying the feast Keane had arranged, Elsie was enthralled by the story of how she and Owen had met. Keane and their father had been kidnapped by a wicked laird. Iseabail had had to find some sort of a magic crystal to be able to free them. If she had heard the tale a fortnight ago, she wouldn’t have believed it. But knowing about Keane’s power? She was sure each word was true.
“I actually blackmailed Owen intae helping me,” Iseabail laughed.
Elsie’s eyes grew wide at her story. Clearly overhearing it, Owen leaned forward with a grin. “Dae ye see now, Elsie, why I have tae watch mesel’ with this lass? Dinnae let that innocent little face fool ye.”
“She’s never had an innocent little face,” Keane quipped, sending Owen into chuckles of laughter.
Iseabail pulled a face at both of them, before turning back to Iseabail to continue the story. “I ken, it is strange that magic exists, but this crystal was indeed magic.”
“It is less strange now, after discovering that Keane can read minds,” Elsie admitted.
Those words surprised Iseabail, and with a quick glance at her brother before looking back at Elsie, she said, “I am surprised he told ye. He never tells anyone o’ his gift.” Iseabail then looked at Elsie for a long moment. Smiling, she said, “Ye must be really special tae him.”
Those words made Elsie’s heart sing. She knew, of course, that Keane did not go around announcing his gifts to the world, and yet, hearing his sister pay her such a compliment seemed to make it all the more intense. As though recognition from her was a standard to achieve.
“Then he told ye o’ our lineage,” Iseabail said.
Elsie tilted her head. “In a manner o’ speaking. He mentioned that he had inherited his gifts from his maither’s side.” Only as she spoke those words did something else occur to her, and then, she gasped. “Och, dae ye have a gift too?”
Iseabail smiled. “Ye dinnae think the men get tae have all the fun, dae ye?”
“Ye read thoughts?” Elsie pressed.
But Iseabail shook her head. “Nae. Me gift is far more persuasive than that, though I will admit, kenning what another is thinking would be helpful in many scenarios. Me gift has more tae dae with compulsion. I can compel someone tae dae anything I want them tae, as long as I am looking them in the eye.”
Elsie could hardly believe what she was hearing, and excitedly, she said, “Ye can get anyone tae dae anything?”
Iseabail nodded. “Ye want tae try?”
Elsie hesitated fer a second, and then, she nodded. “Aye.”
“All right. I’m going tae look away from ye so ye dae this with yer own free will.”
“All right,” Elsie said, watching as Iseabail looked straight ahead.
“I want ye tae clasp yer hands together, as though ye’re praying,” Iseabail said, still looking out onto the room of people.
“Done,” Elsie said, pressing her fingers and palms together.
“Good. Keep them as tightly pressed as ye can. Whatever I say, try and keep them together, like yer life depends on it,” Iseabail said. She then turned and looked Elsie in the eyes. “Are ye ready?”
Elsie nodded, a nervous smile dancing at her lips.
“Now I want ye tae put both hands on yer head.”
Immediately, Elsie felt a strange sensation in her body, and without any hesitation at all, she lifted her hands and placed them on her head.
“Och, me god,” Elsie whispered.
Iseabail beamed a smile and then pulled her gaze from Elsie. Immediately, the sensation left her, and Elsie once more, felt in control of her own mind and body.
“That is a very useful gift tae have,” Elsie said, when Iseabail looked back at her and they resumed their conversation.
“It has definitely made me life easier in certain circumstances, though I am mindful tae use it only when it is necessary. I dinnae want tae abuse it, and besides, it tires me. Though I admit, it has saved me from having tae fight on many occasions and gave me the freedom tae travel alone.”
Elsie’s jaw dropped once again. “Ye can fight?”
Iseabail nodded. “I can. It is a very useful skill tae have. I’m surprised Keane hasnae already offered tae teach ye.”
“We’ve only been married fer five minutes,” Keane cut in, clearly overhearing the conversation even as he conversed with Owen. “Besides, I have been injured. I couldnae hardly lift me own sword, let alone have the ability tae teach Elsie tae lift hers.”
Elsie now gazed at Keane excitedly. “Will ye teach me? Please? I dinnae want tae feel as hopeless as I did when we were attacked.”
“Ye saved me life,” Keane reminded her.
It was now Iseabail’s turn to gasp. “Ye saved me braither’s life?”
Elsie didn’t get a chance to answer, for Keane said, “Indeed, she did. She jumped ontae a man’s back and stabbed him with her dirk. Only fer her intervention am I sitting here beside ye.”
“Good fer ye,” Iseabail said proudly.
“Thank ye,” Elsie replied. Receiving praise from Keane’s sister felt validating, perhaps because the woman knew how to fight. Looking to Keane, she said, “I still want ye tae teach me, though. It will mak’ me feel more confident with mesel’ if I am ever forced intae such a situation again.”
“I dinnae want ye tae be forced intae that kind o’ situation again,” Keane said, his tone firm, but wary.
“Och, just teach her how tae fight, Keane,” Iseabail pressed. “Ye cannae be by her side every minute o’ every day.”
A pained expression flashed across his face at those words, and for a long second, he hesitated. Elsie had no idea how Iseabail had learned to fight. Perhaps it had been in her childhood. Clearly, Keane was reticent. But it was not because he didn’t want to teach her. Evidently, the idea of her being caught in a battle like the last one worried him greatly.
Eventually though, he nodded. “Fine. We can start tomorrow, now I am back tae me full strength.”
As promised, Keane and Elsie travelled to a secluded spot to train the next morning.
“Are we safe being away from the castle?” Elsie asked, once the horses had been tied to a nearby group of trees. “Are ye nae worried that Laird Gunn’s men might attack again?”
“Dinnae worry, little one,” Keane said calmly. “Our scouts report back on a regular basis, and nayone has been seen around these parts since the attack. We’ll be perfectly safe. Now,” he smiled, handing her a small broad sword, “let’s see what ye’ve got.”
The first thing Elsie noticed was the weight of the brutish sword, for unlike her dirk, it was hefty, even though it was short. “Goodness,” she said, swinging it around, trying to get a feel for it. “Now I ken why ye have shoulders like boulders.”
Keane burst into laughter at her remark. She had not purposefully meant it to be amusing, but she could not help but smile at his hearty amusement. Things had been so much easier between them since the attack, since she had chosen a side. The side of the man she knew she was falling in love with.
They had not explicitly spoken about their future. There had been many conversations about the clan. About Keane and what he valued. About Elsie and the fact that she now felt like the castle was her home. It was as though each had agreed in silence, that they were now together no matter what.
“All right,” Keane said, walking up behind her. “Widen yer feet.” He tapped his foot against hers, prompting her to move it. He then took a step closer, his body pressing against her back as his hands slid down her arms until they folded over her own as she gripped the sword.
“Now,” he growled in her ear, making her stomach clench, “lift the sword tae here.” He positioned the sword at her chest height, bringing her elbows back so it was only six inches from her body. “The sword is heavy. The closer tae yer body ye can keep it when ye are nae striking, the less tired ye will become.”
“All right,” Elsie breathed, struggling to concentrate with his proximity and the way he was speaking to her. In fact, when he let go and stepped back, she felt suddenly disappointed.
A few seconds later, Keane stood before her, his stance wide, his short sword held in front of him. Being much taller than she, he held his sword almost at waist height.
“Now. Strike,” he said.
“What?” Elsie gasped.
“Strike,” he repeated, lifting his eyebrows and nodding at her sword.
“But… but I might hurt ye,” Elsie cried.
Keane grinned and tried to swallow a chuckle, but failed. It made Elsie feel a little foolish.
“Dinnae be embarrassed, little one. Ye must remember. I have been training since I was old enough tae walk. Ye willnae hurt me. I swear.”
And thus, the sparring began. Elsie’s attempts were clumsy at first. She either swung to early, too late, or with such force that the weight of the sword spun her completely, leaving her facing the wrong direction.
She was able to laugh at herself, thus, Keane’s bellowing chuckles did not faze her at all. In fact, she was actually having a lot of fun. The swords clanged together several times, and settling into a rhythm, Keane nodded encouragingly.
“That’s it, little one. Ye’re getting the hang o’ it. Watch me feet, nae me shoulders. The direction o’ me feet will tell ye where I will strike next.”
For a while Elsie watched Keane’s feet, catching the slight tells of his next move. After a while, Keane said. “Now, look at me. Ye cannae gawk at someone’s feet the entire time ye fight. Ye have tae be able tae see the whole person and just sense it.”
Again, she did as she was instructed, and slowly, but surely, she felt as though she was getting the hang of the strategy Keane was trying to teach her. Throughout the training, Keane had not made her feel stupid once. In fact, he had been nothing other than encouraging and supportive.
Stepping forward and lunging, she finally managed a decent strike, and immediately, Keane feigned a huge groan, pretending she had struck him down, before collapsing dramatically on the ground behind her.
Elsie giggled a little, and then scolded him. “Och, would ye get up off the grass, fer goodness sakes. I am trying tae be serious here.”
But even before she had finished, Keane had grabbed her skirts and Elsie suddenly found herself unbalanced. Throwing the broad sword away from them, for fear she might give him another injury, she landed on his muscular body with a heavy thud.
“Are ye mad?” she cried, thumping his solid chest. “I could’ve killed ye.”
Keane grinned and, grabbing her wrists, he pinned her hands to her sides. “Ye’ve already killed me,” he growled, pulling her tightly to him so their faces were only an inch apart. “Ye kill me every time I see ye, fer me heart beats so hard, it nearly stops.”
Breathlessly, Elsie gazed down at him. She eyed his lips, not a whisper away from hers. Lowering her head, she was about to kiss him when she swiftly found herself being flung off his body. With an arm at her back, he moved with such speed that Elsie hardly knew what was happening, but a second later, it was she who lay on her back on the grass, and Keane who now hovered above her, a knee either side of her thighs. With a mischievous grin, he pinned her hands above her head.
“Och nay, little one,” he breathed, his lips dancing over her cheeks. “Ye dinnae get tae be in charge.”
Excitement danced in every part of her as she gazed up at the desire in his eyes. Sparks flew between them, his hot breath on her cheeks only heightening her anticipation of what he might do next.
“Just a few days ago, ye asked something o’ me,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk. Moving her arms, he now held her wrists with one hand, while his other came to her face. The back of his fingers tenderly brushed her cheek. “And a good husband always makes certain his wife is happy,” he continued.
Elsie’s breath hitched as his fingers danced across the skin of her throat, moving achingly slowly over her collar bone, and down onto the soft flesh of her breast. Her breathing shallowed, and then she gasped, feeling his touch dance over her nipple.
“Ah,” she moaned.
“Och, aye. Ye like that. I remember ye liked that a lot,” he growled, continuing to tease her tiny bud, stroking it over and over until it peaked under his touch.
“I love the way yer body reacts tae me, Elsie. But there is so much more I want tae see.”
She felt him tugging at the ties of her corset, and then it loosened from her body. A second later, her plump breasts were naked, and without any warning, Keane plunged his mouth down on one of them, suckling at her nipple, and making her writhe beneath him.
“Oh. Oh. Oh,” she panted.
“So sweet, and soft, and tender, me little one,” he said against her skin. “But I have hardly begun.”