When we arrived at Kinnaird Castle, we weren’t greeted by Ramsay at the entrance as we were Donal. Instead, we were escorted into a long study, and expected to wait until Ramsay chose to bless us with his presence. I’d never met the man, but I was already sure I wouldn’t like him.
After nearly two hours, he burst through the doors. “Ah, Eoin! What an unexpected surprise. I was verra sorry to hear about yer father’s death, but I’m sure ye will make a fine laird yerself.”
Eoin stepped almost protectively in front of me, and it did nothing to make me like the man more. “Thank ye, Ramsay. It’s been too long. I’d like ye to meet my wife. This is Blaire, Donal MacChristy’s daughter.”
“Aye, I’d heard that ye’d married, but I never imagined she’d be so beautiful. I bet it is lovely to have her warm yer bed at night. Would ye mind if I borrow her for a night, while ye are here?”
Surprising me, Eoin reached out and laced his hand with mine. If I’d been in reach of anything heavy and solid, I would’ve chunked it at the ugly bastard’s head.
“Ach, Eoin, doona fash yerself, I’m only fooling with ye. Come, join me for food and drink, and ye can tell me what has brought ye here. Sylva here will escort Blaire up to yer bedchamber and will have food brought to her.” Ramsay didn’t give Eoin a chance to reply before charging through the doors from which he’d come.
I whirled on him, jerking my hand free. “What? You don’t seriously expect me to eat dinner in my room like a punished child, right?”
He reached forward and grasped both of my hands and brought them to his lips. “I’m sorry, lass. Ramsay’s an arse, but we are guests. We must do as he bids. I need his men if we are to have adequate protection against the attack.
“Fine.” I pulled my hands free of his grasp and started moving toward the door. “Show me to my room, please. I’m a woman. I’m sure it’s too hard for me to find on my own.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes as he moved past me to direct me upstairs.
*
At first, Ramsay assumed that Eoin had found him out. Perhaps the man he’d sent to fool them had betrayed him, revealing the truth of his murderous plan to Eoin and his brother. But no, as he sat across from Eoin over their evening meal listening to what he requested of him, he knew his secret was safe.
Actually, it couldn’t have been better. Eoin inviting him to come and help protect them from an outside attack made his own plan even more easily accomplished. He wouldn’t have to gain entry to the castle; he’d already have it. And it would be that much more rewarding to see the look of shock at his betrayal as he plunged his sword through Eoin’s heart.
“Aye, ye know that you needn’t ask. The Conalls and Kinnairds have been allies for years. Ye have me word that we shall march to help defend ye.”
The young, foolish laird had just sealed his own fate.
*
Thankfully Eoin and Ramsay’s conversation was much shorter than Eoin and Donal’s, and I’d just finished my own food when I heard the bedchamber door open and close as Eoin walked in.
“How’d it go? Will he come?”
Eoin walked up behind me as I sat in a chair close to the room’s fireplace and placed both of his hands on my shoulders as he squeezed gently.
“Aye. He’ll come, but I’m no so glad that we have to ask him. He’s a wretched man. And I’ll never understand why my father kept him so close.” He continued to massage my shoulders, working his way up and down my back, as I released my neck and allowed my head to fall forward, relishing the feeling of his strong hands on my sore and tired muscles. Travelling in this century was hard work.
I unintentionally let out a small moan of delight, and I caught my slip as his hands stilled at the base of my throat.
Taking it as a sign of my enjoyment, he slid his hands lower so that they dipped into the cleavage of my gown. He only left them there for a moment, quickly pulling them upward, swirling his hands over my neckline with light touches that sent tremors down my body and caused my breathing to speed up.
There was no chance I could pretend to be asleep now, and I was quickly losing any willpower I had to keep him away.
“Do ye like that, lass? I love the way yer skin feels.”
I didn’t answer him. Instead I leaned my head back so that my neck was elongated, allowing him more space from which to move his fingers.
He stopped abruptly and came around to kneel in front of me, taking both of my hands in his.
“I know that ye must return home once we find the ring, Bri. But would ye mind so much if we behaved as husband and wife just for now? I willna ask ye again, but it’s been too long since I’ve had the company of a woman, lass, and I want ye badly.”
It was much easier to be brave with him when I thought I was dreaming. Now, as his words sent my heart racing, I had a difficult time choking out any sort of response.
“Alright.”
I didn’t have to say more as his lips found mine instantly, his arms wrapping around my waist, lifting me out of the chair with ease.
We moved to the bed until he sat on its edge, holding me out in front of him as he gazed at the front of my gown.