Return Of The Highlanders: The Guardian Part 23

Philippa turned her head and blinked several times when she saw Ian walking toward her. After whispering something to the man standing next to her, she swept across the room to meet him with a smile lighting her face.

"You are as handsome as ever, Ian MacDonald," she said, holding her gloved hand out to him. "How many other ladies' hearts have you broken since last we met?"

"I must speak with ye alone," Ian said, and took her by the elbow.

She glanced sideways at him and smiled as he led her into a darkened alcove. "Oh my, the ladies will be all atwitter-and green with envy."

Ian bit back his impatience.

"I never apologized for not coming back for ye." He owed her that-and it seemed politic to apologize before asking a favor. "I did mean to return and marry ye, but... it wasn't possible."

"Heavens, Ian, I couldn't have married you," she said, and laughed that tinkling laugh that used to enchant him. "I was one of King James's mistresses at the time."

Ian was stunned. He had thought her an innocent-and in love with him.

Philippa gave him a bittersweet smile. "I was doing as my family bid me. They sent me to court for that very purpose."

"I'm sorry your family used ye so poorly. It was wrong of them."

"Ah, Ian," she said with a sigh. "You are gallant. I always liked that in you."

"Since ye are here at court again, I a.s.sume the queen never discovered what ye were to the king," Ian said, hoping she was on good terms with the queen so she could help him. "I hear she is a vindictive woman, so ye are taking a chance being here."

"This time, it is my husband who sent me." She leaned forward to whisper next to his ear. "He says Archibald Douglas, the Earl of Angus, will soon have the power of the crown. That's why he wants me to lure the Douglas into my bed."

Ian stiffened. "Your husband asked ye to do that?"

"As if bedding the man would do us any good. Archibald Douglas is not a man to make decisions with his c.o.c.k, or, alas"-she patted Ian's chest-"with his heart."

"Ach, 'tis a shame ye ended up with such a miserable husband."

She shrugged one delicate shoulder. "We are of a like mind on most things."

Ian didn't know what to say to that.

"Besides, I can take care of myself with the Douglas," she said. "Unlike the poor virgin he has in his clutches at the moment. The girl is such an innocent, she hasn't a chance against the likes of him."

A p.r.i.c.kle ran up Ian's spine. "Tell me about this la.s.s."

"Apparently, she is heir to a castle the Douglas wants. This morning, I heard him convincing the queen to help the girl end her marriage-and wed her to one of his Douglas cousins." She heaved a sigh. "I think I met her, and I fear that once the Douglas sees what a beauty she is, the cousin will not have her before he does."

Ian gripped her arm. "Philippa, I must get to her."

Philippa's eyes went wide, and her hand went to her chest. "Do not tell me... No, Ian, you cannot be the husband she is trying to get rid of, are you?"

"I am," he ground out. "I've come to take her home. Can ye get me inside the queen's apartments?"

She lowered her head. "I don't frighten easily, but the truth is that I am a bit afraid of Archibald Douglas."

"I promise ye," Ian said, leaning closer, "I would never tell who let me in."

"I suppose you would not, even under torture," she said, a faint smile returning to her lips. She held out her hand to him, "Come, we'd best hurry."

Philippa took him up the servants' staircase, which was hidden behind a screen. When she reached the top step, she turned to face him.

"I hope you won't blame her if..." She paused and bit her lip. "... if you find her too late."

Sweat broke out on his forehead. "Just tell me where to go from here."

"The queen has given the Douglas a set of rooms for his private use, just there." Philippa pointed to a door down the narrow back hallway.

"Be careful, Ian," she said and kissed him on the cheek. "There will be guards inside the door-and I hear that the Douglas is very good with a sword."

CHAPTER 25.

Sileas wished to G.o.d she had never left Skye.

"If it is all the same to you, Laird Douglas..." She attempted to lean farther away from him, but she had nowhere to go. "I'll withdraw my request for the queen's a.s.sistance and be on my way."

"Nonsense." The Douglas took a loose curl at the side of her face between his fingers, pulled it straight, and smiled as he let it loose and watched it spring back. "Tell me, la.s.s, are ye as wild as your hair?"

She didn't like the way his eyes darkened when he said it.

"I'm a very proper lady." If ever there was a time to stretch the truth, it was now.

"Judging from your rash decision to travel across half of Scotland with only a boy as your escort, I'm guessing ye are a wild one."

Sileas sucked in her breath to keep her chest from touching his as he leaned another inch closer. Sweat p.r.i.c.kled down her back as she considered how unlikely she was to reach the dirk strapped to her thigh before he stopped her. In any case, lifting her gown seemed a foolish choice at present.

"You'll find there are a great many benefits to being my mistress," the Douglas said, easing his knee between her legs.

"I'm sure there are la.s.ses who would appreciate the benefits,' but ye have nothing I want."

She didn't want to touch him, but when it appeared that he would not move away on his own, she pushed against his chest. He didn't seem to notice.

"You'll change your mind soon enough," he said, so close his breath was hot on her face. "I know how to please a woman."

Her heart pounded frantically in her chest as Douglas leaned toward her. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed the same prayer she prayed when she was little.

Please G.o.d, send Ian.

" 'Tis been a long time since I've had a virgin," he said in low, rough voice. "I'm looking forward to teaching ye all I know."

She flinched as the p.r.i.c.kle of the Douglas's mustache grazed her upper lip.

"That is my wife you've got your hands on, Douglas."

By some miracle, Ian's voice filled the room. Hope took hold of her. Very slowly, she opened her eyes, afraid she had imagined it.

Her breath caught when she looked over Douglas's shoulder and saw the answer to her prayer filling the doorway. With his claymore drawn and murder in his eyes, Ian looked magnificent-and more dangerous than she had ever seen him.

"If ye will step away from her now," Ian said, "I'll a.s.sume ye did not know she is my wife-and let ye live."

Archibald Douglas arched his eyebrows at her. For a moment, Sileas wondered if Ian knew he was threatening the Earl of Angus, one of the most powerful men in Scotland-and the queen's "special" friend besides. But of course he knew.

The Douglas spun around, taking her with him. He held her against him with one arm and the hilt of his sword in the other.

"Is this the husband ye want to be rid of?" Douglas said, an amused smile twitching at his lips. "The one ye say has left ye a virgin?"

"Make no mistake, that la.s.s is my wife." Ian's voice was seething with such menace that the hairs on the back of Sileas's neck stood up. "And she will remain so as long as there is breath in my body."

As long as there was breath in his body. Despite her precarious position, Ian's words sent a thrill through her.

"So you are Ian MacDonald of the Sleat MacDonalds," the Douglas said, narrowing his eyes. "Tell me, are ye as good a fighter as they say?"

"Better," Ian said. "Now, I asked ye verra nicely to step away from my wife. I'll no be so polite the next time."

It startled her when Archibald Douglas threw his head back and laughed.

"I appreciate a man who is fearless to the point of foolishness," the Douglas said. "I'll need men like you fighting with me when I come to the Isles to put down this latest rebellion."

"Ye won't live to fight another day if ye don't release my wife," Ian said. "My patience is gone."

"I'll call on ye when the time comes." The Douglas shoved her forward. "Take your bride, Ian MacDonald of Skye."

Ian took her wrist in a firm grasp and pulled her behind him.

"But for G.o.d's sake," the Douglas said, "don't leave her a virgin another night."

CHAPTER 26.

Ian dragged Sileas across the hall in front of the sn.i.g.g.e.ring courtiers. He was practically wrenching her arm out of its socket, but she didn't care. She wanted to weep with relief that he was here, that he'd come for her, even if it was pride that made him do it.

Without breaking his pace, Ian signaled to someone. Sileas barely had time to glance over her shoulder, but it was easy to spot the four tall men in Highland dress surrounded by a bevy of court ladies.

A surge of guilt went through her as she realized that Connor, Duncan, and Alex had come all the way to Stirling because of her, when they were needed at home. Although the three of them clearly saw her and Ian, they made no move to follow. Niall alone ran after them.

"Praise G.o.d, ye are all right-" Niall stopped in his tracks when Ian spun around.

Ian was in a fury as she'd never seen him.

"It was a close thing." Ian spoke between clenched teeth, and the vein in his neck was pulsing. "The Douglas had his hands on her."

Niall turned wide eyes on her. "I should have gone with ye."

"What ye should have done," Ian bit out, "is never brought her to Stirling."

Even Niall had the sense not to follow them after that. Once they were outside, Ian headed toward an arched gate next to the chapel. On the other side of the arch, he continued down a set of steep steps built into the hillside. She nearly tumbled as she followed him down to an enormous gra.s.sy expanse that was enclosed by the castle's outer curtain wall.

Without glancing back at her, Ian proceeded to stomp across the field. She held her skirts up with her free hand and half-ran to keep up until they reached the wall. She thought surely he must stop now, but he pulled her behind him up the steps built into the side of the wall.

When he finally came to a halt at the top and turned to face her, she was gasping for breath.

"What in G.o.d's name did ye think ye were doing?" he shouted. "Do ye know who the Douglas is?"

She saw no guards patrolling this part of the wall, which was built directly over the sheer cliff. Apparently, Ian had brought her all the way here so he could yell at her without being heard or interrupted.

"The man could have used ye and left ye murdered on the street," Ian shouted, as he paced back and forth along the six-foot width of the wall walk, "and no one would have said a word about it."

He halted and looked out at the horizon. "G.o.d in Heaven, Sil, what if I wasn't able to guess where you'd gone?" He paused, clenching his jaw. "What if I hadn't come in time?"

Keeping his gaze fixed in front of him, he climbed up onto the ledge of the wall and sat with his legs hanging over the side.

She went to stand next to him and watched his profile.

"So why did ye come for me?" she asked.

He turned blue eyes on her that were so intense the air seemed to vibrate between them. "Because ye are my wife, whether ye like it or no."

Her mouth went dry. Despite herself, her voice shook when she spoke. "I see. So ye have come because of your pride."

"Is that what ye think?" he said, sounding outraged.

"Aye." She licked her lips. "And because ye need me to justify taking Knock Castle."

"I won't say my pride didn't take a beating, because it did. And I won't say that we don't need to take Knock Castle, because we do," he said in a hard voice. "But that is not why I came for ye."

She lifted her gaze from her muddy slippers to meet his angry eyes. "Then why did ye come?"

"I came because it is my responsibility to protect ye," he said. "I cannot-I will not-fail you, my family, or my clan again. Even if ye weren't my wife-which ye are-it's my duty to keep ye from harm. I took on the task of being your protector long ago, and I'll not stop now."

Sileas understood Ian's need to make amends. Still, she hoped she was more than a duty, more than a wrong he needed to make right. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

It was hard to ask what a woman wanted a man to tell her freely.

"Do ye care for me a little?"