Chapter 21 #8
His lips curled up slightly into a rueful smile. “Because I’m beginning to wonder if I have it in me to let you go, and I want to know how many I would have to fight to keep you.”
She smiled. “I hope it wouldn’t come to that Ceann. I want to stay here with you, and I don’t see anything that could stand in my way.”
“Your father?” he asked hesitantly.
“I never knew my father. And my mother died years ago.”
“Surely you are not alone in the world.”
“No, I’ve always had people to care for me, I’ve never been alone.
” She reached up to caress his cheek, and his hand closed over hers, holding it there, turning towards her touch.
He closed his eyes. It would take a leap of faith, to believe that she meant him no harm with her secrets; that there was another reason, which would become clear in time.
Could he learn to trust again? The alternative, a life without her, was unthinkable.
“I want you with me Ella”, he said softly.
She leaned over and kissed him, tenderly, languidly. He had not said he wanted to marry her, or even stay with him forever, but it was a start. The rest could come later, because she was determined that Ceann would be hers, her husband, and she would never let him go.
Chapter 16
Ella ran from the kitchen, where she had been helping Fiona prepare the evening meal.
When the roast was pulled from the oven, the warm, wafting scent of it nearly made her sick.
Outside, she collapsed against the wall, a fine sweat breaking out on her skin.
How odd, the eggs frying this morning had had the same effect. Fiona appeared in the doorway.
“Are you alright, Ella?” She looked worried, and Ella smiled reassuringly.
“Aye, I’m fine, just an unsettled stomach. I’ll go fetch something for it, then be back to help.”
Fiona shook her head. “We have plenty of help. Off with you now and rest, you’ll just be under our feet anyway.”
“Are you sure, Fiona? I don’t want to leave all the work for you.”
“Ach, we managed just fine before you came. In truth we only let you help out so as not to hurt your feelings.”
Fiona was teasing her, and Ella smiled.
Fiona grinned back and disappeared back into the kitchens. In truth, Ella had been a tremendous help these past weeks. She had a quick mind and many talents. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do.
Ella started towards the still room to find herbs for a tisane, but in truth she felt fine now that she was away from the kitchens.
She decided to go for a walk instead, perhaps the fresh air would clear her head.
She had felt a little queasy this morning as well, and then there was yesterday when cook had been frying onions…
She stopped dead in her tracks, and her stomach did a slow and painful flip.
No, it couldn’t be… She forced herself to keep walking and took a deep breath.
Her heart was beating too fast as she tried to count back the days and the numbers kept slipping from her head as she grew more and more frantic.
She had been here more than two months, nearly three, and she hadn’t bled since a week or two after she arrived.
No, Ceann is certain he can’t father a child.
Very certain. It must be something else, probably no more than all I’ve been through these past weeks.
Ella slowly managed to calm herself, but her mind remained uneasy.
What would happen to her if she was… with child?
What would Esme think? And Ceann, he had vowed never to marry, would she have to raise the bairn alone?
She shook herself, there’s no sense worrying over something that is probably just your own imagination, Ella. You are not with child.
Looking up at the sound of approaching voices, she saw Mairi and her brother headed across the bailey, Mairi with a basket on her arm, no doubt going to the village. She ran to catch up to her, looking for any distraction from the uneasy thoughts tumbling inside her head.
Ceann went to the kitchen after morning practice, expecting to find Ella there.
She was always helping Fiona or someone; in fact, he couldn’t remember her ever sitting idle since her arrival at Tulloch.
He smiled to himself, his heart beating faster in anticipation of seeing her.
God, but I have it bad! He stood in the doorway and looked in, but she wasn’t there.
Fiona saw him there, no doubt looking disappointed.
“If you’re looking for Ella, she went out for a walk. She didn’t feel well this morning.” She gave Ceann a speculative look, eyeing him from head to toe. “Or yesterday morning either…”
Fear tightened his chest. He suddenly had to see for himself that she was alright. Turning away, he called over his shoulder, “Thank you, Fiona.”
He found Ella in the village with Mairi and Colin, where Mairi had just finished her shopping, and Colin was carrying her now overflowing basket.
He came up behind them and cut Ella off from the other two, motioning Mairi and Colin to continue on.
He studied her face for a moment. She looked a bit pale, perhaps, but fine otherwise.
He took her by the arms. “Are you well Ella? Fiona said…”
“I’m fine now.” She smiled at him, and his chest tightened. “Did you need something, Ceann?”
He gave her a devilish smile. “Aye.”
“Tiugainn comhla rium.” Come with me. He took her hand, and led her away from the village, through a copse of trees, and into a small clearing covered with lush green grass.
She looked up at him, and seeing the predatory intent dark in his eyes, she laughed and ran from him, teasing.
He smiled and gave chase, catching her before she’d even reached the trees on the other side.
He lowered her to the ground and sprawled on top of her, trapping her with his body.
Looking down at her, his face changed before her eyes, until it held a look of fierce possession. “I warned you never to run from me.”
She sucked in a breath, overcome by his sudden intensity.
“You’re mine, Ella”, he bit out. “No other man will ever have you. You won’t ever leave me, because I will find you and bring you back, whether you like it or no.”
She stared up at him, emotions coiling tightly in her chest. She had won. Finally won. She grasped his hair and pulled him down for a fierce kiss.
“And you are mine. All mine! To do with as I please.”
He went wild then, like a beast that had been caged for far too long. He kissed her, all the while pulling at her clothes, hiking her skirts up to her waist.
“I need to be inside you, right now”, he said between ragged breaths.
He pushed his plaid aside, and thrust into her with a groan.
She gave the moment to him, as her legs wrapped around his hips to take him deeper.
She knew his need was deeper than the needs of the flesh, and she needed, too.
He clasped her body to his as he took her hard and fast, at last rising up with a growl as his body shuddered against hers.
He collapsed against her, and she could feel the slow, heavy thud of his heart against her chest.
“Thank you”, he said.
“Thank you?”
“Aye”.
He smiled at her, a real smile that reached his eyes and melted her heart.
“You’re welcome”, she teased, studying his face. She knew, knew, that he cared for her, and that he was still too afraid to hope for happiness. Mine, he had said. It was so very true.
He kissed her again, slowly and deeply. “Will you stay with me, Ella? At Tulloch?” he asked.
She looked up at him, uncertainty on her face.
He still didn’t offer her marriage. She understood the reasons he thought he had, but that didn’t change the truth that she wanted more.
She suddenly remembered her illness that morning, the possibility…
no, it was too much to even think about.
Instead she wrapped her arms around him.
“I will stay, for now.”
He shook his head. “No, you will stay forever.” His sensuous lips turned up in a wicked grin. “And now that I have you at my mercy, I think I will spend the rest of the afternoon pleasuring you until you beg me to stop.”
Rossmoor
Hugh stalked into the study, where his father sat at his large, ornate desk, papers spread in front of him.
Ross held up his hand to silence his son while he finished writing a missive, and Hugh sulked impatiently.
Ceann was going to have everything, and he would be left with nothing, save Rossmoor, a small manor with little wealth or land.
It was not enough. It was not fair! He should be Laird, as his father had promised, but now she was at Tulloch.
They had had her, and she escaped. Escaped!
A mere lass! His fury boiled and threatened to spill over.
She was the girl in the legend, the laird’s one true mate, he knew it with a deadly certainty.
Something had to be done before things became far more complicated.
Before his own destiny slipped through his fingers!
His father finished writing and looked up at him. “Aye? What is it now Hugh?”
“She is back at Tulloch, back with him. Do you have a plan to fix this, Father? I won’t stand by and see him steal everything that you promised would be mine!”
Lord Ross looked up at his son, “Aye, I have a plan. Of course I have a plan.” He rubbed his hand over his chin, and leaned back slightly in the chair.
“He has much pride, our Ceann does. He keeps his own counsel and holds honor above all else. We will use that honor against him. He will never keep the lass if he thinks for an instant she has betrayed him. He will send her away, and then it will be a simple matter to hunt her down and be done with it all.”