Page 54 of Darach

Hearing that crude word come from her lips struck him like a fist to the chest. “’Tis what you reckon I want?”

“I see how you look at me.” With a few jerks she had pulled down her gown to bare her breasts. “Come, touch me. Put me on the floor. I shallnae stop you.” When he didn’t move she came to him, and took hold of his hand, pressing it over one small mound. She then slid her fingers over the bulge his erection made in his trews. “You’re ever hard here when you’re near me. ’Tis what a man puts inside a lass, aye? Do thus to me.”

Her soft, cool skin entranced Struan. His cock still swelled in his smalls, stiff and ready to plumb the tender depths of her innocence. Like any man infatuated with a comely female he wanted to put his mouth on her, and tear away the shabby old gown so he could touch the rest of her. She wanted him, too, for her nipple pebbled under his palm. He longed to hear the sounds she would make when he came into her; to know if she would cry out his name as she found her pleasure and drenched his cock. In another moment he would have her on the dirt floor, and the thought did not repel him as much as what that would make of her.

It made him no different than the villagers who wished to slake their own lusts on her fragile body.

“No.” He jerked up her bodice and pushed her back. “I didnae come here to use you thus.”

“What more ’tis there?” She made a show of looking around herself. “I own naught but this cottage, which I must sell now to pay the crier and the grave diggers. Your groundskeeper came and collected all the traps and pelts my da left, for they belong to your clan. You may take back your tartan, I reckon. I’m never cold.” Tears filled her eyes as she met his gaze. “So I’ll give you my maidenhood, for ’tis why you came. Shall you pay me? The village maister said he would if I took him as my first.”

Struan grabbed her, and gave her a hard shake. “You shallnae sell yourself to any man for coin. I forbid you. You shall come back to the stronghold, and do honest work in the kitchens, and live as my vassal. ’Tis a hard life, but an honorable one.”

“I dinnae belong there,” Revna told him, and when he pulled her into his arms she struggled for a moment before sagging against him. “Please, my lord. Please, let me go.”

Holding her as if she belonged to him made no more sense than coming to fetch her himself. Yet he knew if he’d sent the steward Revna would have refused, and the dolt would have left her here to hoor herself. As poor and pitiful as she was, no one could take her pride from her.

“I cannae release you.” The words tore from him. “I ken I should, only then I see you, forlorn and alone. You need my protection, and I…I need you safe.”

She made a choking sound. “I’m naught to you. Naught to anyone.”

“Would a laird come for you and drag you back to his stronghold if you werenae wanted and valued by him?” He stroked his hand over her narrow back. “I’ve come for you, lass. You’re someone to me.”

“I ken you want me,” she whispered, hiding her face against his chest. “’Tis but fair I give myself to you.”

“I’m in your debt now,” he reminded her, his breath stirring her fine hair. “’Twas my hunter killed your sire. I cannae bring him back, but I may look after you in his place.” He set her at arm’s length. “Now take what you want from this hovel, and we shall go home.”

All Revna took was his tartan, but she didn’t wrap it around herself.

“You must never come back here alone,” he told Revna as he lifted her onto his mount, and then swung up behind her and took the reins. “Or leave Dun Deigh without my permission. Promise me.”

“Aye, my lord.” She sounded exhausted now.

He kept his horse’s pace slow so as not to jolt Revna too much, and halfway along the road to Dun Deigh she slumped back against him, her head falling to one side. Under her right ear he noticed two small, overlapping purple bruises. They appeared to be the same size and shape as two fingertips, as if someone had tried to throttle her. Yet he saw no other marks on her neck.

Struan stopped a short distance from the stronghold and dismounted, catching Revna as she fell over into his arms. That woke her, and for a moment she clutched at him.

“Oh.” She rubbed a hand over her face, looking like a sleepy child. “Forgive me, my lord. I’ve no’ slept much since they found my da.”

“Then you must take to your bed early tonight.” He set her on her feet, and held her until she stood steady. “Rest well, for you’ve new duties. You’re to prepare all my meals and bring them to me, and keep my water jug and basin filled with spring water. You must take my bed linens and garments to the laundress for washing, or to the seamstress when they’re in need of repair. I shall teach you how I wish my boots cleaned.”

“What say you?” Looking exasperated, she planted her little hands on her hips. “I’m no’ a steward, my lord.”

“No, you’re my new chambermaid.” Struan bent his head to kiss her brow, and then swung up into the saddle. “Be a good lass now, and change into your work gown. Report to Cook and tell her of your new position. Then come to my chamber and prepare it for the night.”

As he rode to the stables, the righteous pleasure he had enjoyed while rescuing the poor maid from her fate faded. He had taken her from one vastly unpleasant situation to place her in what might become yet another. Choosing Revna to serve his personal needs would cause resentment among the other maids, who had worked all their lives for the clan and doubtless hoped he’d favor them. His steward had already recommended a male vassal to serve as his varlet; he’d not take kindly to being ignored. Any member of the clan wishing to know more of what he did would plague Revna, and might even threaten her.

Fack them. Ever I’ve asked for naught. I shall protect her, and keep her.

By the time Struan had stabled and tended to his mount he knew what he had to do, and went to the sage’s hall, where he found Reothadh in his work room studying some scrolls.

“My lord.” The master sage stood and bowed. “How may I serve?”

He closed the door. “The elixir you made to bore through stone works well. In a few days after the old tunnels have vented we shall go down and inspect them. Then I shall choose the miners I wish to work them. Do not ask why,” he added as Reothadh opened his mouth. “I shall tell you more of my scheme once we ken the old shafts shallnae collapse.”

The sage nodded. “Aye, my lord.”

“’Tis one more thing,” Struan said. “I’ve brought the trapper’s daughter back from the village. He made no provisions for her, and, left there, the idiots who should protect her would have turned her to hooring. As I’m responsible for the death of her sire I’m taking her under my protection to serve as my personal chambermaid. She shall have the room adjoining my own.”