Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
F ive days after her father had left, Elsie sat in the drawing room with Iseabail and Anna. A sense of ease had now settled throughout the castle. Word had travelled about the arrangement that had been made between Keane and Laird Munro, and thus, there was no longer fear of an imminent threat.
“While we have loved our stay here, and I have delighted in getting tae ken ye, Elsie,” Iseabail said, “Owen and I will be travelling home in a couple o’ days.”
Those words saddened Elsie. She and Iseabail had formed a strong bond, and she now saw the woman as the sister she had never had.
“I ken ye cannae stay forever, but I am still saddened tae hear those words,” Elsie lamented. “I have enjoyed our time together. Even if ye did terrify me a little when ye first arrived.”
Elsie grinned at Iseabail and she grinned back.
“Believe me, that kind o’ wrath is reserved only fer me braither,” Iseabail assured her teasingly. “Speaking o’ which. How long are those three going tae spend in their council meeting? They must have been in there fer an hour.”
Elsie shrugged and then laughed. “And they say us lasses can talk.”
“Indeed,” Iseabail said.
As though the women had summoned them by magic, the drawing room door opened. Keane strode into the room, followed by Owen and Alisdair.
“Ladies,” Keane said, nodding to them both.
“Are yer jaws tired?” Iseabail quipped.
While her remark had all the men frowning, Elsie giggled at their private joke.
“I dinnae ken what ye mean, sister,” Keane said.
“It doesnae matter,” Iseabail replied, swiping a dismissive hand. Changing the subject, she continued. “I thought it might be nice if we all went out fer a picnic this afternoon.”
But Keane shook his head. “We have business tae attend tae.”
Iseabail frowned up at Owen, who nodded. “While things have been quiet for the last few days, we want tae mak’ certain that Roland has kept tae his word. We have decided tae tak’ a jaunt around the grounds further out o’ the castle, just tae be certain.”
“Och, perhaps I could go with ye,” Elsie piped up. “It is me faither after all, and?—”
“Nay!” Keane said firmly, cutting her down before she even had a chance to finish her sentence. “This is an assignment fer the men, Elsie. Stay here with Iseabail where ye are safe.”
His complete dismissal of her angered her more than he could know. Not only did she feel utterly humiliated in front of the others, she could also feel rage building up inside of her. Gritting her teeth, she remained silent while the men continued to discuss their plan. Not wanting to show her anger, she kept her eyes averted so Keane, or anyone else for that matter, could not see her fury.
A little after that the men left, leaving Iseabail, Elsie and Anna alone once more. But Elsie had taken orders all her life. Her father had treated her with the same dismissal that Keane had displayed, and she had had enough. Having had the courage to rid her father from her life, she was now not going to allow Keane to do the same.
“Are ye all right?” Iseabail said, looking at Elsie with concern.
Pinning on a false smile, she said “O’ course. I am fine. I have just remembered that I have tae write a letter though. Would ye excuse me just fer a wee while?”
“O’ course.”
Iseabail’s expression betrayed her slight disbelief at Elsie’s words, but she said nothing more, and a moment later, Elsie left the drawing room. Quickly hurrying upstairs, she grabbed her cloak. Having now been in the castle long enough, she knew the secret tunnels to get her to the courtyard. For fear of being spotted by Keane, or, in fact, Iseabail, Elsie hurried through a small door in the wall of the upper corridor and made her way through them.
Five minutes later, she was crossing the courtyard toward a building beside the stables. Staying out of sight, she watched Keane, Alisdair and Owen mount their horses before moving in the direction of the gate.
While their backs were to her as they continued, Elsie took the opportunity and flew across the cobblestones and reached the stable door.
“The laird has just left, me lady,” one of the stable hands said.
“I ken.” Elsie nodded. “I am actually a little late. Can ye quickly ready me mare?”
By the time she was mounted onto her horse, Keane and the others were making their way through the gate. Still cautious, and not wanting to get caught, Elsie pushed her horse to a canter just as the gates were closing.
“Hold the gates,” she called out.
The guard did so, and repeating the same lie to them as she had told the stable hand, they let her through. All she needed to do now was keep enough distance between herself and the men ahead of her. Keane needed to learn that, while he might be her husband, she would not tolerate him giving her orders. He was bound to discover her actions when they returned, but she cared little. Maybe it would teach him a lesson.
When her father had left, she had felt as though she had finally broken free. Her final words to him had empowered her. She had actually made a decision for herself, the decision to stay with Keane. Since then, she had come to realize that she could have done that far sooner, and now that she had felt that power of her inner self, she never wanted to let go of that feeling. Not for her father, and not even for Keane. She knew her idea was childish and even a little silly, but she didn’t care. She wanted to prove, to herself mostly, that she had the right to choose her own actions.
The group ahead of her carried on for some distance. Fortunately, the trees they passed made great cover, so she remained undiscovered. After some time, the men seemed to slow down ahead of her. In fact, they came to a complete stop. Careful to remain hidden, Elsie led her horse closer to the tree line, venturing forth, eager to know the reason.
When she did finally come to a halt, she was close enough to hear the conversation. Looking at what they had discovered, she now also knew what had their attention.
“Have there been any scouts assigned tae this area?” Keane asked, frowning down at the blackened wood of the abandoned campfire, the obvious reason the men had come to a halt.
Alisdair shook his head. “Nay. I ken where the men have been sent. This wasnae one o’ their places tae search.” He paused for a second, looking carefully at the abandoned camp. “It could be hunters.” But by his tone, it was clear that even he wasn’t convinced of his own suggestion.
“Hmm,” Keane replied, sounding equally doubtful.
He and Keane shared a look, while Owen jumped from his horse. Approaching the place where the fire had been, he pressed his hand against the charred wood.
“Well, whoever it is, they’re nae long away. This wood is still warm.”
Keane then turned in his saddle, scanning the surrounding area. Elsie crouched low, as though her action might hide both herself and her horse. A ridiculous notion. His perusing gaze was about to reach the section of trees where she hid. It was only the sound of Alisdair’s voice that saved her, for Keane turned to look at his companion.
“We should spread out and see if there is anyone about,” Alisdair suggested.
“I’m nae sure spreading out is a good idea,” Owen countered. “If there is a group o’ them, we’re stronger together.”
“I agree. In fact?—”
In that second, Elsie caught a movement in the trees. Suddenly, several men came rushing out from behind them, their dirks and swords held high.
“Keane,” Elsie screamed. “Behind ye.”
At the sound of Elsie’s voice, Keane spun to look. His eyes widened at the sight of a large group of men running towards them from the trees.
Without thinking, he unsheathed his sword and jumped from his horse. Beside him, Alisdair and Owen did the same. They were hugely outnumbered, but there was little they could do except fight. Even as he defended the oncoming strikes, his mind was on Elsie. He couldn’t see her, wherever she was hiding, but men already seemed to be heading toward a section of trees a little distance away.
“Where’s Elsie?” Keane bellowed to the others, his eyes still searching.
For a second, he heard no answer from either of his companions. Suddenly, Owen bellowed. “There!” He pointed.
Her horse was thundering toward them at great speed. If she had been hiding in the trees, she certainly wasn’t any longer. Now Keane was torn between keeping an eye on her, and battling the man who stood before him. As desperate as he was to tell her to get away from there, he knew it was a waste of time, for relentlessly she continued on.
A second later, she was throwing herself from her horse and running at full speed toward him. Her actions both confused and angered him in equal measure.
“What the bloody hell are ye?—”
But Elsie did not stop, and shoving him with all her might, she raised her dirk and launched herself forward. When Keane righted himself and spun to look, she was striking a soldier who had been coming up behind him. He couldn’t help but notice she was using the techniques he had taught her only the week before. A feeling of pride swelled up in him as she defeated him, thanks to the element of surprise, swiftly followed by his fury that she was even in the vicinity.
Alisdair and Owen still battled beside him as another two soldiers appeared out of nowhere.
“We have tae get out o’ here,” Alisdair yelled. “There are too many.”
Keane couldn’t agree more. Grabbing Elsie, who now fought another, he dragged her backwards at great speed. With fear pushing him forward, he flung her onto her mare and slapped the horse’s flank hard. Listening to its protest, and then seeing it thundering off, Keane then yelled to the others.
“Move. Now!”
All three men clambered upon their horses and retreated at great speed. The horse’s hooves pounded the ground so hard, they soon found themselves catching up to Elsie.
As raging as he was with her, all he cared about was that they managed to get back to the castle. The four continued on, pushing their horses as fast as they could.
“Open the gate,” Alisdair bellowed, as they thundered towards the castle walls.
The gates swung open in a great flurry; the guards inside clearly worried as they stared up at the four of them galloping past. But even in the courtyard, Elsie did not slow, and glancing at her, Keane could see the horror and panic on her face. Grabbing the reins of her mare, he pulled backwards, careful to slow the mare steadily so Elsie was not thrown from her saddle.
Launching himself from his own beast, he ran to her. She remained in her saddle, clearly terrified, her whole body shaking with fear as the shock of what had occurred finally began to wear off. The sight of her in such a state nearly made his heart break, and taking her by the waist, he lifted her down and pulled her into his arms.
For a long moment, he just held her there, struggling to control his own emotions. He felt deeply for her. He hated that she had experienced such dreadfulness, but at the same time, he was angry that she had disobeyed him and put herself in such a dangerous situation.
Eventually, he pulled her away from him and glared down at her.
“What the hell is wrong with ye? Are ye trying tae get yersel’ killed?”
“I… I…” she floundered. “I was just trying…”
“I could have lost ye. Dinnae ye realize that?” he barked again.
Suddenly, Alisdair was by his side. “Perhaps ye should tak’ this discussion inside,” he murmured.
Only then, did Keane notice their argument being observed by all who stood around them. Without a word to Alisdair, he took Elsie by the arm and pulled her inside. He still did not speak as they travelled with great speed through the corridors, and up the stone steps. Upon reaching his bedchamber, he flung the door open, pushed her into the room, and slammed the door behind him.
“I gave ye a direct order,” he barked. “Ye were told tae stay here.”
“I willnae tak’ orders from ye, or any other,” she spat back, clearly finding her voice again. “Nae anymore! I took enough orders from the man who claimed tae be me faither. I’m finally rid o’ him. I dinnae need ye tae tak’ his place.”
Her words hit him hard, for he certainly had no intention of being anything like her father.
“Ye could have died, Elsie. If anything happened tae ye, I’d never forgive mesel’.”
“I’m nae a child,” she spat back.
“Nay. Ye’re me wife,” he bellowed.
“Och, o’ course. The wife who has tae dae as she is told fer fear of incurring her husband’s wrath. Ye want tae control me, just like me faither.”
“Nay. I dinnae want tae control ye,” he yelled. “I want tae be with ye. I love ye. I cannae lose ye. I cannae.”
Elsie froze to the spot at his words, and even Keane, knowing what he had just said, seemed to take a minute to consider his disclosure. The tension crackled in the air around them, and yet, neither seemed able to speak. Eventually, Elsie stepped forward.
“Is that true?” she breathed. “Dae ye really love me?”
Keane gazed down at her, the very idea of losing her causing him physical pain, even though she was there unharmed in front of him. “Aye, little one,” he said quietly. “It is. And I dae.”
Her cheeks flushed with color and a smile grew on her lips. “I love ye too,” she gushed. “And I cannae lose ye either. I want tae be by yer side forever, Keane. It is ye I want. It is the way ye have loved me that gave me the courage tae face me faither like I did. Ye did that. Only ye.”
Keane smiled broadly then as he gazed down at her. Her words filled him with a sense of pride, for her, and for himself. Not so long ago, he couldn’t begin to imagine that he was capable of love. So consumed with angst was he, such a depth of emotion, at least the right emotion, was not in his periphery. But Elsie had shown him the way back. She had led him back to the light, step by step, to a place where he felt content, happy, and at peace.
“I’m so proud o’ ye, little one. I am also grateful, fer ye have given me a new outlook on life. Ye did that. Only ye.”
Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her passionately, feeling all the love she had for him; while offering all the love he had for her. He needed her now, in all the ways a man might need a woman. His arousal grew as he devoured her with his lips, and moving his hands, he tugged at the cords of her corset.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Breathlessly, Keane pulled away at the sound of someone knocking on the door.
“Dinnae move,” he said, before spinning on his heels and opening it.
Alisdair stood there, concern lining his brow. “The council wants an immediate meeting.”
Keane heaved a sigh. “Aye, of course they dae.”
“They’ve already gathered in the great hall and await yer presence,” Alisdair added.
“I’ll be right there.”
Alisdair then nodded, and left.
When Keane re-entered the room, Elsie was already re-tying her corset.
“Ye are needed,” she said softly.
“I am. But I will return.”
She sighed heavily then, and moving toward the bed, she wearily dropped onto it. “I think I may sleep, fer I suddenly feel exhausted.”
“That is the shock wearing off, little one. Lie down and get some rest. I will send Anna tae ye.”
“Nae. Please. I think I want tae just be on me own fer a while.”
Keane looked at her for a long moment, and then nodded. “All right.”
The council meeting went exactly as Keane expected it might. Worried faces, concerned voices, a debate of what they ought to do. Confusion as to why Laird Munro had not kept his word, even though he had lost the duel.
Keane was only really half present, for his mind was on Elsie. She had shown tremendous courage that day, but he could have lost her. It would have taken only one strike from one of those men. One strike and he would have lost the woman he had fallen in love with. He considered that too. Those words had burst from him with little thought. Clearly, they were the truth, and once they were out, he fully knew it. He had just not had the courage to admit it to himself, as Alisdair had made clear on more than one occasion.
And perhaps he had been wrong to order her about. There was not a chance he wanted to be anything like her father. In fact, according to Elsie, it had been his affection for her that had pushed her to be able to stand up to the old bastard. That had, and still did make him feel good. But all that aside, nor could Elsie run about the place unattended whenever she felt like it.
They would need to come to some compromise.
“Me laird?” Michael said, pulling him from his thoughts.
“What?” he replied sharply, a little embarrassed that he had not been listening to a word they had said.
“Are ye well, me laird?” Andrew asked.
“Aye,” Keane replied.
“So, what dae ye think?”
Keane now looked to Alisdair for help. Thankfully, knowing Keane as well and long as he had, Alisdair knew exactly what to do.
“The council members are suggesting a meeting with Laird Gunn and Munro. It may go a long way tae stave off any further attacks.”
Keane nodded. “Very well. I cannae say I agree with ye, but it’s certainly worth a try. I will send a missive tae them both first thing in the morning. But if ye will excuse me, gentlemen, this afternoon has taken its toll on me.”
After the older men’s obvious understanding, Keane hurried back to his bedchamber. If there was one thing he wanted more than anything in the world at that moment, it was to have his beloved wife in his arms. Not even to make love to her. Just to have her close. Strangely, over those last weeks, he had discovered that it was when having her wrapped in his arms that he found himself to be the most content and at peace.
He had been gone for well over an hour and was surprised when he strode into the bedchamber to find the bed completely empty. Frowning, and feeling a flash of worry, he caught sight of a note on his bedside locker.
Lifting it, he read the words she had written.
Couldnae sleep. Gone tae the library tae read.