Chapter 8
"Mind explainin' what that was all about?" Fraser asked the second Killian stormed back into the study. Killian pursed his lips into a tight line as his attention shifted between Brandon and Fraser.
"Nay," Killian answered plainly as he made his way back to his desk and plopped down. Anger flared within him as he played back the past fifteen minutes. How could a woman as delicate and tiny as Leah hold so much control over him? The thought had befuddled him more than he liked.
It has to be the way she defies me. That is why I'm so fascinated by her when nayone else evokes such raw energy out of me. The lass is infuriatin'.
"So, ye're just goin' to sit in yer chair and brood.
Lovely," Fraser said. Sarcasm dripped from each word as Killian watched his eyes roll.
The fear on Brandon's face shattered Killian's anger.
It was the response Killian was expecting, one that made sense.
So why didn't Leah's reaction to him stir the same response?
Killian flashed daggers at Fraser. Brandon cleared his throat and stood straight. There was no hiding the shock and terror warring on Brandon's face.
"I believe I should be goin' now," Brandon said as he quickly shuffled the ledgers and placed them on the shelf haphazardly.
Arching an eyebrow, Killian watched the books topple from misplacement and crash.
The panic shot to utter petrified terror as Brandon fumbled to pick the books back up, only to see them tumble once again.
"Will ye just leave them," Killian ordered as he leaned back in his chair, the ire and frustration boiling to the surface.
"Aye, of course, forgive me," Brandon stammered as he glanced at Fraser, giving him an apologetic smile before making a beeline for the door.
"Alright, now ye goin' to tell me what is goin' on?" Fraser asked as he walked to the pile of ledgers on the ground. Shaking his head, he picked them up one by one, annoyed by Brandon's lack of spine.
"Someone is out to get me," Killian whispered in a conspiratorial tone as his eyes shifted to the door.
Fraser rose slowly, the annoyance on his face palpable. Killian didn't have to know what he was going to say; the words were displayed across his forehead.
"We've talked about this," Fraser said. "And ye said it yerself, the council was convening for the sake of seein' ye married off."
"Was it nae ye who told me to trust me gut?" Killian asked as he moved swiftly to the door to bolt it shut.
"And I thought we came to the understandin' that ye cannae always trust that."
"Aye, which brings me to point three," Killian said as he returned to Fraser's side. "Ye told me to come to ye if somethin' wasnae addin' up."
"The only thin' nae addin' up here is ye and the new healer. What's her role in all this?"
"What makes ye think she's involved?" Killian asked, stunned by Fraser's quick wit to connect her to his plan.
"Come now," Fraser said, rolling his eyes. "Ye think I havenae noticed the way ye've been since she arrived. So what gives?"
"The council is plannin' the ceilidh and thinkin' they're goin' to introduce me to a future wife," Killian started.
"And ye brought her in as a ploy?" Fraser asked. "Nae very clever. The council is already suspect of her presence here."
"Nae if she's here on the behalf of me brother," Killian answered. "Sean brought her as a gift. As far as anyone kens, she's a prisoner here that's been granted free reign as long as she tends to me brother's health."
"She's yer insider since Sean brought her to ye," Fraser chuckled darkly. "That's clever."
"Aye, and if anyone ever asks, our meetings are only ever about Mason's well bein'. They'll nae have a leg to stand on to accuse otherwise."
"Ye might even be able to use her to listen to the council's whispers. Ye ken how they are around yer brother."
"Aye," Killian answered as he bobbed his head. "Half speak to him as if he's already dead and the other half never come around. But havin' extra set of ears will help to get a better idea of who is behind the uprisin'."
"Speakin' of which," Fraser said. "What did ye want to do about the brigands? Our men are thin as it is."
"Maybe a solid show of force," Killian said as he rubbed the stubble on his chin.
The plot molded and twisted until it formed in his mind.
"Have the men on three hour watches each post. Have them rotate.
That way there will be eyes on the roads, on the coast and in random villages along the way.
We'll be able to keep them on their toes. "
"Aye," Fraser answered as he gave a bow. Killian turned to the window and watched Leah pick from the garden. He wondered if she was thinking of him, if his kiss had seared her soul as deeply as hers had done to him.
"Leave," Killian instructed over his shoulder as his attention remained locked on Leah.
The lonely sound of boots on the hard floor echoed in the study.
It was the low moan of the door being pulled closed that sent chills through him.
Gripping the side of the window, Killian watched Leah with a cardinal lust burning within him.
How easy it was to envision pinning Leah to the tree.
Regret pounded against Killian. He should have taken his moment when he had the chance.
Why did he have to stop at just the kiss when he wanted to do so much more?
The need to have her was overwhelming. Aroused and frustrated, Killian's thoughts shifted to darker and sexier places.
A smile stretched across his lips as he thought of hiking her skirts to her hips, bending her over the wooden bench, and having her before his entire court.
A gasp escaped his lips the moment Leah's gaze met his. He hadn't expected her to turn and find him watching her. Yet, there was no hiding the evidence as he stood before the window longing for her.
A severe knock shattered the moment. Killian dropped his head as his ire raged.
"This better be important," Killian shouted over his shoulder. The door creaked as it opened, aggravating Killian even more. He didn't want interruptions; he wanted to be alone.
"Ye asked for a report about yer brother?" Elsie asked as she popped her head into the room. Killian let out a heavy, disgruntled sigh as he begrudgingly turned away from the window. The idea struck him like the kick of a mule.
"Get Leah to give me the reports from now on," Killian said with a mischievous smirk.
"Are ye sure ye want to do that? Am I nae doin' the best I can?" Elsie asked, the panic in her tone catching Killian off guard.
"I've nay intentions of replacin' ye," Killian reassured her. "Nae with Leah or anyone else. Out of all the people in this castle, I trust ye the most."
"And Fraser?" Elsie asked, arching a hopeful brow. Killian relaxed as he realized what he was asking her to do. But to have his council believe the ruse, he needed every angle he could get.
"Alright, ye're a close second," Killian retracted. "Now will ye have Leah caught up with me brother's health and see that she reports to me every day just as ye do."
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of Elsie's lips. Killian could see the rumors and gossip skipping from her lips the second the study door closed behind her.
"If that is what ye wish," Elsie answered as she gave a low bow. "Shall I fetch her now for ye?"
"Nay," Killian answered. "Just inform her of her new responsibilities. And tell her expect to see her at three o'clock on the nose with her report."
Elsie didn't linger around. She gave a low bow and exited the room swiftly. A playful smirk tickled Killian's lips as he wondered how Leah would react to her new position. How he wished he could be a fly on the wall when Elsie told her.
Just as soon as the door closed, another knock came to intrude on his day. He glanced back to the window, but it was too late. Leah had already disappeared. Where she had run off to, he didn't know, but how he wanted to be there with her.
"Laird MacMillan, I have a bone to pick," a farmer said as he barged into the study. Killian steeled his emotions and tamed the woes of his lust to step into the role of laird.
"O'Grady, and what exactly is it that I can do for ye?" Killian asked as he focused on his duties.
The day continued with random interruptions, and by the end of the day, Killian was spent. He looked around the study at the mountain of paperwork that needed to be sorted. It looked like an endless task that would take an eternity to complete.
Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention.
A jolt of energy coursed through him that pricked his instincts.
He rose to his feet, ready to defend. Through the crack of the door, he spotted her, Leah, casually strolling by his study.
Killian eased as he imagined her floral scent swirling about his study.
How could a woman be more intoxicating than wine?
"Watch out," a servant said as Killian's hand shot out as if he could stop the accident from occurring.
In a flash, Killian watched a servant careen into Leah, and the pair stumble to the ground.
The first response to protect startled him.
But as he watched the rouge on Leah's cheeks brighten as she realized he'd witnessed the scene, he smiled.
"That damn dog," the servant hissed as Killian charged to help Leah.
"Are ye all right?" he asked as Leah climbed to her feet and dusted herself off.
"I'm so sorry," the woman said as she double-checked Leah. "Oh, yer dress. That's nae good. I'm so sorry. The dog got out of me hands."
"It's all right," Leah said as Killian noticed the rip exposing the natural curve of Leah's bosom. Although it was but a flash of skin, it was enough to send Killian into a frenzy. He sucked in a deep breath as he stepped back. There was no way he could control himself, not with so many witnesses.
"I'm terribly sorry, truly I am," the servant said.
"I'll patch it up," Leah answered as Killian watched her eyes shift to him. The embarrassed flush on her cheeks excited him too much.
"A patch willnae do. Ye need a new dress," Killian retorted. "Maybe a couple of them from what I've gathered."
"Laird MacMillan, ye daenae have to do that," Leah said as she glanced to inspect the full damage. Killian wanted to hand a purse of coins to the servant for causing such a cut through Leah's dress. But thought against it. "I stand corrected."
"Oh, would ye look at that," the servant said as she pulled her apron off and wrapped it around Leah, much to Killian's irritation. "Let's get ye into somethin' a bit more… well, just more."
Leah glanced at Killian. He knew shame should be the emotion crippling him, but it was lust that had ensnared his senses. It wasn't just her body that tormented him, but her laugh and the pitch of her voice. Killian was finding himself drawn to her in every way.
"Fetch the dressmaker," Killian ordered as he watched the servant guide Leah back to her room. "I want him here as soon as possible."