Page 25 of Savage Kilted Highlander

“No, I do not see that at all. We have come many miles, we are cold and hungry and tired. We need a place to stay that is comfortable. Down there we will likely find an inn.” She jerked her chin down the hill towards the lights. “What is the difficulty with getting a room there for the night?”

He told her the truth bluntly. “Fer the simple reason that if we dae, what’s tae stop ye screaming fer help the first chance ye get, and me ending up gettin’ arrested and thrown in jail?”

That silenced her, and he thought she had given up. But he should have known he was wrong.

“Bane, you saved my life today. And you returned to me the most precious thing on earth to me, which was lost, my mother’s locket. I owe you something for both of those things. What sort of person do you think I am that I would try to have you arrested and thrown in jail after that?”

“I’m nae sure, Constance, why wouldnae ye?”

She thought for a moment, a small line appearing between her brows. “I see you do not trust me. Very well, then. I have an idea. You know how much my locket means to me. What if I give it to you for safekeeping while we are at the inn? You could even leave it somewhere safe, not keep it on your person just in case you are arrested for something else and accused of having stolen it. If I exposed you, I would lose the locket. You know I would never let that happen. What do you say?”

“Clever, Constance, very clever,” he said, admiring her intellect but still loathe to risk it. “But even so, inns are very expensive. I’m nae a rich man.”

“I have enough money to pay,” she said.

He looked over at her sharply. “What money? Ye told me ye lost all yer money in the river,” he asked suspiciously.

“Hmm, not all of it. I have a few crowns hidden in my boots,” she admitted. “Luckily, they stayed on while I was in the river. So, you see, there is no good reason you can come up with, why we should not go and stay at the inn. And apart from that, after what you have put me through these past few days, you owe it to me,” she finished triumphantly.

Bane pondered for a few moments. The thought of having a proper hot meal, staying in a warm room, and sleeping in a soft bed instead of lying on the ground in the cold was very appealing. But he was still not sure whether he could trust her. “Will ye swear on yer maither’s locket nae tae give me away?” he asked.

In reply, she took hold of the locket, looked him in the eye, and said gravely, “I swear by my dear mother’s memory and this precious locket that I will not give you away.”

Bane was not sure why, but laughter bubbled up from deep inside him and burst out. He laughed freely, as he had not laughed in an awfully long time, since before Tav had been kidnapped. When he was done laughing, he looked at her again, seeing how cold she was. Her lips had a bluish tinge to them, and her nose was glowing like a holly berry. He sighed. “Very well, me fine English lassie, we’ll go tae the inn. But ye’re payin’.”

Her joy was like a holiday.

“No!” Constance said firmly as the maid held the door of the room open and she looked inside. “It will not do. We need a bigger room that this.”

“I’m awful sorry, missus, but all the other rooms are taken,” the girl told her apologetically.

“This’ll dae fine, lass, thank ye,” Bane said with a nod at the maid. “Go on inside, Constance, and dinnae make a fuss,” he added, gently pushing her forward over the threshold. She obeyed, but she cast him a look over her shoulder, her lips pursed.

“Will ye bring some supper up for the two of us, and some ale as well?” he asked the maid. She bobbed her head in assent before clattering off downstairs to do his bidding.

Bane followed Constance into the room and closed the door. As he placed their baggage on the threadbare rug, she turned to face him. “This is far too small. And it is dingy. And there is only one bed.”

“Look, ye got what ye wanted, have ye nae? What are ye complainin’ fer?” he replied, taking off his cloak and hanging it over the back of a chair near the small fire that was burning in the grate. He found he could not be too angry at her. He was too relieved she had kept her word and stayed quiet when they entered the inn. The bar was surprisingly busy, and she could easily have cried for help. But she had not, and he was grateful to her for that. He thought of the locket, which he had stashed under a tree for safekeeping.

“’Tis warm and cozy. I thought ye’d be pleased.” He looked around at the accommodation. Two oil lamps cast a warm orange glow over the room. To his eyes, it was quite luxurious. “The room is plain, that’s true. Of course, ’tis naethin’ like yer fine manor house, I’m sure, but ’tis better than what I’m used tae. It has a fire and a nice big bed, and hot supper is on the way. I’m looking forward to a pint of ale and puttin’ me feet up.” He sat in the chair and pulled off his boots, placing them near the grate to dry.

“But as I said before, there is only one bed. And since we can hardly share it, that means one of us has to sleep elsewhere, and I can assure you it is not going to be me.” Her voice was tart, but he could see the fear in her eyes. He had never met a maid so innocent as she was, putting it down to her strict upbringing. Nevertheless, he could not resist teasing her.

“Why can we nae share it? There’s plenty of room in there. Are ye gonnae try tae have yer wicked way with me in the night, is that it?” he asked, laughing when her cheeks turned bright pink.

She glared at him, but he could tell panic was not far from the surface. “I have already explained to you why it is impossible. It is bad enough that we have to share a room. If anyone found out…” She bit her lip as she finally took off her cloak and hung it next to his. Is that an admission of defeat, Bane wondered.

“Ah, aye, I remember. Somethin’ about yer reputation, eh?” He unbuckled his sword belt and laid it next to the head of the bed, then took off his buff jerkin and sat on the bed. “Constance, stop mitherin’. If I’d wanted tae take yer maidenhead, I would have done it by now. I’ve nae intention of layin’ a finger on ye. Besides, ye should ken ye can trust me by now. We’ve been together fer three days already and slept by each other without any problem. So, can ye just try tae enjoy this and be content that ye got yer way?” Overcome by sudden weariness, he laid back on the bed and put his hands behind his head, watching her.

“That is not the point,” she said, standing on the rug, her face tight, fingers knotting nervously at her waist as she looked back at him. “It is not proper, not the way I have been brought up,. I simply cannot sleep in that bed with you in it.”