Page 32 of Seduction in a Kilt

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Her hands stopped, and she levered herself off him. He immediately missed her weight and her warmth. “There, I think that’s enough fer now. Are ye feelin’ better? How’s the pain?” she asked, her voice unnaturally bright.

“Aye, ’tis practically gone. I feel much better, thank ye, Ivy,” he replied, meaning every word. He turned over to face her. She leaned across for the bottle of liniment and replaced the stopper. When she leaned back, she smiled down at him as she wiped her hands on her trousers. Her shirt had come loose at the top, revealing her graceful, white neck and throat. Her long shining tresses fell over her shoulders, perfectly framing her lovely face. Firelight danced across it, highlighting the delicate hollows and high cheekbones, making her eyes dance with red tints.

Caught in a dream, unable to help himself, Liam reached up and caught one of the strands between his fingers and rubbed it gently, delighting in its smooth softness against his rough skin. She stopped moving and gazed down at him, doing nothing to stop him as he continued to caress her hair.

“Ye’re very beautiful, d’ye ken that, Ivy?” he murmured thickly, unable to take his eyes off of her.

Even in the dim amber light, he could see her blush. “Och, give over. Are ye tryin’ tae butter me up or somethin’?” she said, smiling shyly and batting at him with her hand. He caught it in midair and held it there. It trembled like a captive bird in his fist. Her eyes were big and dark as she gazed down at him, her lips slightly open. The temptation to pull her down and kiss her was so strong, it took everything he had not to give in to it.

“Ivy—”

“I’m feelin’ tired, Liam. I think I’ll wash this stuff off me hands and get ready for bed,” she suddenly said, pulling her hand from his and getting off the bed. The spell was broken, and Liam felt immediately bereft. Wondering what was happening to him, he stayed where he was, watching her as she pottered about the chamber.

She opened the wardrobe door and disappeared behind it. When she reappeared a few moments later, she was in her robe. She went to the washstand and washed her face with soap in the cold water, then scrubbed her teeth. She fetched her comb and sat by the fire, staring into the flames, combing out her beautiful tresses.

“I feel much better after that back rub,” he said. “Thank ye very much. After our spar it hurt something fierce.”

“Och, I’m glad.” She smiled at him across the room, but there was something wistful about it that touched his heart. What is she thinkin’?

“Thank ye fer takin’ me out today, Liam. I enjoyed our sparrin’. I hope we can dae it again before I leave here. It was so good tae get out of this room fer a while. And it was nice tae meet Effie too. She’s very nice. I said I might go and help her tomorrow with her patients.”

She chattered away, and Liam got the distinct feeling she was nervous about something. “Aye, it’s been fun.” She subsided then and continued combing her hair, reminding him of a beautiful kelpie perched on a rock in the middle of the sea.

He levered himself up on to his elbows and leaned against the pillows. “I suppose ye want yer bed back.”

“Nay, stay there, ye must nae risk hurtin’ yer back again after all me hard work,” she cried.

“But where will ye sleep?” he asked, perturbed.

“I have an idea.” She went to the blanket box at the end of the bed and opened it. She emerged clutching a large quilt in her arms and dumped it on the bed. Liam watched in fascination while she rolled it into a long sausage and laid it vertically down the middle of the bed. “Ye can have that side, and I’ll take this side,” she told him, looking triumphant as she admired her handiwork.

“Ye mean we’re tae share the bed?” he asked, hardly able to believe it. It was such a drastic change to her former attitude.

“Aye. I dinnae wantae be responsible for ye bein’ in pain fer sleepin’ on the floor. But ye must stay on yer own side though!” she shot him a warning look.

She stoked up the fire and added some more logs, then came over to the bed, shrugged off her robe, and climbed into her side of the bed in her shift, pulling the covers up to her neck.

“Good night, Liam.” She lay down and turned on her side, away from him.

“Good night, Ivy.” He remained laying on his back for a while, looking over at her, lost in the way the firelight danced across her hair, and wondering what the hell he thought he was playing at.

The next morning, he crept out of the room while Ivy was till sleeping and headed to the great hall for something to eat. As he ate, he wondered if this would be the day Ivy dreaded, when they would get word from her brother and decide her fate. It made him feel sick to think of it.

He was also disturbed by the way he was starting to care about Ivy. He reminded himself that caring for anyone meant losing them. It meant pain and torment. And the reason why he had sworn never to marry. Ye’ve managed this far without fallin’ fer anyone. Dinnae go and mess it up now! Remember, ye’re here tae help Knox, and ye cannae let him down.

The council gathered at eight o’clock. Magnus was the first to speak.

“I’m afraid our scouts have brought us some disturbing news,” he began, grabbing everyone’s attention. “There are several reports that Gael Hamilton, whom we know to be MacAlister’s principal ally, has been sending raiding parties to attack nearby villages. They’re killing our folk, stealing livestock, and burning the farms.”

A ripple of outrage and fear went around the council table.

“I’m worried that we’ve had nae response from MacAlister about exchanging his sister fer the peace. That was sent almost a week ago. It seems tae me that this is his reply,” Knox said, his face grave. He looked at Liam. “What d’ye think, me friend?”

“I think ye may be right, but I’m nae sure Hamilton sees it that way.”

“What d’ye mean exactly?” Knox asked.