Lyon's Gift Page 8

  “There they are!” she exclaimed. “And ’tis about time!”

  Lyon turned to find Baldwin emerging from the woodlands some ways behind them, dragging the little lamb in tow.

  She shrieked suddenly, startling the hell out of him.

  He had to reach out and snatch her back before she was able to leap from his mount.

  He jerked the reins, halting at once.

  “Are you truly insane, wench?”

  Meghan didn’t have to pretend outrage for her grandmother’s sake.

  Her temper erupted at the sight of Baldwin dragging the lamb behind him.

  How dare he treat the poor creature so cruelly! She wanted to leap at Baldwin and snatch the hair from his head. Mounted upon his horse, he held the lead rope in hand, and was dragging the poor creature behind him, not bothering to slow when the confused animal resisted in fright. He was all but strangling the poor sweet baby! “How dare he!” she exploded.

  “How dare who what?” Lyon snarled, scowling at her.

  She didn’t bloody care if he was angry with her just now. “Stop him!” she shrieked in outrage. “Let me down! How dare he treat her so unkindly!” Meghan glared up at him. “Tell him to lift her onto his mount, Sassenach, or I’ll not go with you!”

  “The lamb?”

  Meghan cast him daggers with her eyes. “Fia,” she countered. “Her name is Fia! Tell him to let her ride, or I’ll not go with you!”

  His jaw clenched, and he seemed vexed that she persisted.

  Meghan didn’t care.

  “Does it seem you have a choice?” he had the nerve to ask her.

  How dare he think she did not! “This is not England, Sassenach! Aye, I do have choices, and you shall find yourself cold in your bed one morn if you do not think so!”

  His brows lifted. “Do you threaten me, wench? Shall I need bind your hands behind your back each night?”

  Despite the implied warning, his face revealed little more than impatience, and Meghan clenched her teeth.

  “Take it as you will,” she countered. “But I stand my ground. Tell him to let her ride!”

  His eyes slitted, gleaming oddly, and Meghan’s belly lurched.

  Mayhap it was a mistake for her not to fear him?

  He was Henry’s infamous Lyon, after all, champion of the highest bidder—reputed to have spilled the blood of Englishman, Frenchman, Scotsman and Saracen alike.

  And yet she didn’t seem to fear him at all.

  In truth... he made her feel... curiously excited. Particularly now when they were face to face, so close . . . clashing wills.

  She was acutely aware that his fingers remained closed about her arm, restraining her, lest she leap from his mount.

  “I wonder if you might enjoy that?” he asked suddenly, grinning a little wickedly. “Being bound to my bed.”

  Meghan refused to cower before him. “Tell him to let her ride,” she persisted, ignoring his taunt. “Or—”

  “Or what?” He tightened his hold slightly upon her arm, not enough to injure, though enough to remind her of his superior strength.

  Meghan thought about it an instant, well aware that they were near his manor, and that Baldwin approached them still.

  “You say you wish to wed me for the sake of peace? Is not that right?”

  “Aye, wench, ’tis what I said.”

  “Wouldn’t it be a pity for everyone to see you carry me in against my will—kicking and screaming? I wonder what my brothers would do did they discover you’d treated me so brutishly?”

  He was grinning still, but Meghan vowed not for long. “More threats, wench?”

  “Mayhap,” Meghan admitted.

  He lifted one brow and cocked his head at her. “So, then, let me understand... are you saying you’ll agree to wed me... if I simply make Baldwin carry the beast within his arms?”

  Meghan shrugged. “Perhaps, perhaps not... You’ll simply have to wait and see, will you not?”

  His smile widened, revealing gleaming white teeth, and Meghan felt her heart quicken within her breast.

  And yet she wasn’t about to relinquish her one advantage: the question of her will.

  She returned his smile, hoping she appeared as merciless as he. And then she opened her mouth and began to scream.

  “Christ!” he exclaimed, and slapped a hand over her mouth in an attempt to muffle her.

  Meghan didn’t bother to struggle, merely continued to scream at the top of her lungs, ceasing only when she needed a breath. He released her when she stopped abruptly, and she gulped in another breath and launched into an ear-piercing screech.

  “All right, damn it all!” he relented. “Cease, wench! Cease, already! Baldwin, put her bloody grandmother on your gaddamned horse!” he ordered.

  Meghan stopped screaming and smiled with satisfaction.

  Baldwin’s eyes widened. “But I cannot mount with—”

  “Do it!” Lyon demanded of him.

  “Thank you,” Meghan said sweetly, and tried not to laugh at the flustered expression upon Baldwin’s face. “Fia will appreciate it, I assure you … because you see, she has the—”

  “Gout, I know!” Lyon answered. “Smart-arsed wench!”

  Meghan fluttered her lashes at him, giving him her most ingenuous look.

  CHAPTER 9

  Alison had fled the meadow in panic and sequestered herself within her bower for at least an hour’s time before realizing she didn’t like herself very much for what she’d done.

  Meghan Brodie had been her very best friend since the day Meghan had discovered her spying upon her and her Minnie in the woods. From her father, Alison had heard naught but horrid things about the old woman, and Alison had been watching like a coward from behind a big fat oak. Curiosity had kept her rooted to the spot. Meghan hadn’t exposed her to her Minnie; instead she’d crawled over to Alison’s tree upon her hands and knees and had peered around it at Alison, and said in such a dulcet tone, “She’ll not hurt you, I promise. She’s not really mad, she’s just my Minnie.” And she’d said it with so much love and such hope that Alison had at once felt contrite for every tale she’d ever listened to about the old woman.

  Now she sat in Meghan’s brothers’ hall, waiting while they searched for her. It was dusk now. Outside, the lavender sky darkened ominously. And with every passing moment the Brodie brothers were away, Alison’s unease intensified.

  What was taking them so long?

  She was beginning to have the most terrible, terrible feeling about it all. Something had gone terribly awry, and once again it was all her fault! Her shoulders slumped dejectedly, but she straightened at once when Meghan’s eldest brother, Leith, entered the room.

  “Did you find her?” Alison asked anxiously, and then she spied the expression upon his face and her hopes fell.

  “Nay.” He frowned. “But Colin and Gavin are still searching, lass.” He approached the table where Alison sat, and perched himself upon it, his expression tense but his demeanor composed and deliberate. He crossed his arms, and seemed to be considering the situation. With his tall, lean frame, he seemed no more than a boy, but in his face, Alison could see the wisdom of his years... and more.

  She had never spoken much with Leith, for she’d always been cowed by his sober intensity. It had always been difficult to tell whether he approved or disapproved of her friendship with Meghan. Though Alison couldn’t think of a reason he should disapprove, neither had he ever been entirely friendly to her—cordial certainly, but never warm. Today, however, she appreciated his staid demeanor, for while he didn’t seem particularly pleased with the circumstances, neither did he seem to blame her.

  Of course, she hadn’t precisely revealed everything as yet, and she feared now she was going to have to. She wished with all her might that she didn’t have to confess under such circumstances, and then reproached herself for being such a selfish dolt that she would consider her own well-being over that of Meghan’s.

  Where could Meghan po
ssibly have gone off to?

  It wasn’t like her to simply wander away.

  Well... perhaps it was, but not for long. Besides, they were usually together, she and Alison. But this time, she was out there alone…

  Gavin entered the hall, looking graver still. Leith peered up at him, but Gavin shook his head. “Naught!” he announced.

  “Did you search the chapel?” Leith asked. “Colin said she was there this morn, fretting over some bird.”

  Gavin continued to shake his head. He peered down thoughtfully at the floor, looking troubled.

  Alison listened to their conversation with growing trepidation and no small measure of guilt.

  “’Twas the first and again the last place I looked,” Gavin disclosed. “She’s not there, Leith.”

  “Damn!” Leith said. “Where the devil could she be?” There was a note of panic in his voice now.

  “I’ve said before that if she spent more time at prayer, and less at—”

  Leith raised his hand, silencing him. “Cease, Gavin! I cannot hear this now!”

  Gavin seemed determined to make his point. “Now is when you must hear it, Leith. If not now, when?”

  “This has naught to do with your perceived notions of Meggie’s irreverence, Gavin.”

  Colin entered the room in that moment. “Meghan has a right to believe whatever she will.” His expression was angry. He didn’t acknowledge Alison, but he rarely did straightaway.

  “It has everything to do with it!” Gavin persisted, igniting Colin’s anger.

  “Shut your mouth, Gavin, unless you can open it to help instead of making things worse with your godamned sermonizing. You’re gettin’ on my bluidy nerves!”

  Alison had never seen him so furious.

  Gavin glared at Colin. “Why, you—” His body tensed though he remained seated.

  Alison held her breath at the sight of the brothers sparring. She had never seen them so at odds before. They were usually the most mild-tempered men, and she had always envied Meghan’s easy relationship with them.

  “Why me, what?” Colin fired back, standing with his fists clenched at his sides. “Say it like a mon, Gavin, or dinna say anythin’ at all!”

  “Shut your bluidy mouths, both of you!” Leith commanded.

  Gavin and Colin obeyed at once, though both of them were physically bigger than their eldest brother. Leith was tall, certainly, but Gavin, though he was youngest, was taller yet. And Colin, though he was of goodly height, was by far the most muscular.

  “This is no time to be locking horns. This is about Meghan, remember?” He cast a pointed glance at Colin.

  Colin’s jaw tautened, but he nodded.

  “Gavin?” Leith prompted.

  Gavin nodded as well.

  “We are all concerned here,” Leith added. “It will serve no one to battle each other.”

  “I should never have let her go,” Colin lamented. “Damn, but I knew not to let her go! I had this feeling, Leith!”

  “This is not the time for regrets either, Colin,” Leith said. “I would have forbade her myself, but you and I know perfectly well that Meghan would have done what she pleased.”

  “That’s exactly the point I was getting at,” Gavin interjected.

  “Make it another time, Gavin,” Leith commanded. “Not now, I said.”

  Colin’s eyes met Alison’s suddenly, and they were full of emotion—not precisely what she’d hoped for. It was clear to her that he blamed her mostly.

  What would he think of her once she told them everything?

  “I never have told her that Alison awaited her upon the meadow,” Colin persisted.

  Alison lowered her head. “’Tis my fault, I know,” she offered.

  “Nay, lass,” Leith assured her. “It is not. Colin is simply angry with himself.”

  As much as it pained her to confess, she knew she must. Now. “Aye,” Alison insisted. “It is my fault.” She met Leith’s gaze, not daring to face Gavin or Colin. Somehow, it was easier to do this if she pretended those two were not listening.

  “Nay, lass,” Leith said.

  “Aye, but it is!” Alison asserted, straightening her spine. “Because I stole the goat!”

  Leith’s brows collided. His expression clearly revealed his confusion. He uncrossed his arms. “What the devil are you talking about, lass? What goat? What has a bluidy goat to do with Meggie’s disappearance?”

  Alison’s lower lip began to tremble, but she faced him bravely. “Montgomerie’s goat.”

  “Montgomerie’s goat?” Leith was clearly stunned by her proclamation.

  “You mean the goat?” Colin asked, his tone one of disbelief.

  Alison nodded and kept her gaze fixed on Leith. “Aye,” she replied.

  “The goat?” Colin repeated, his temper obviously rising. Alison cringed, though she didn’t dare look at him, for fear of what she would see in his eyes.

  “You did say Montgomerie’s goat?” Gavin asked again, as though to be certain they were all hearing correctly. Alison turned to face him and nodded, still avoiding Colin’s gaze.

  “What would make you go and do a thing like that?” Leith sounded dumbfounded.

  “Christ!” Gavin exploded, and both Leith and Colin looked at him in surprise.

  Alison couldn’t help it; tears pricked at her eyes, as she’d never heard Gavin once—not ever—take the lord’s name in vain.

  “Explain,” Leith said, turning once more to face her.

  Alison’s eyes welled with tears. “I didna intend for Montgomerie to blame you. I meant only to keep from wedding him, you see.”

  “By stealing his goat?” Colin asked, aghast.

  Alison faced him then, and wished at once that she had not. His expression was undeniably full of disgust.

  And fury.

  “I just did not want—”

  “You should be pleased to wed any mon at all!” he told her cruelly, shouting now.

  Alison flinched at the tone of his voice. “I didna mean to... I only thought that if he and my da could be at odds... I didna mean for him to believe—”

  “I do not want you, Alison MacLean! I do not know how to make it plainer than that!” Colin announced.

  Tears spilled over Alison’s lashes and streamed down her cheeks. “But… I only did not wish to wed with him!” she explained once more, pleading with Colin to understand. He had to understand how she felt about him. “I cannot love him, don’t you see!”

  His eyes glittered with anger. “If anything happens to my sister because of your foolish little-girl notions, I will never forgive you,” he swore, and the contempt in his tone, more than his words, cut like a blade to her heart. “I will not forgive you, Alison MacLean!”

  Alison gasped for breath; she couldn’t seem to catch one.

  “Enough!” Leith demanded.

  “Leave her be, Colin,” Gavin entreated. “She didna mean to.”

  “I’ll leave her be all right!” Colin announced. “I’m going out again to look for my sister. The two of you can stay and play nursemaid if it please you!” And with that, he pivoted on his heels and stalked angrily from the hall. Alison kept her eyes on his back until he was gone from the door. All the while, tears streamed from her eyes.

  She loved him madly and he hated her truly.

  Leith came about the table to where she sat. Alison watched his approach with hazy vision. She peered at Gavin and saw the pity in his gaze. She couldn’t bear it, and, leaning forward, she rested her head upon the table and cried even harder.

  She felt Leith’s hand upon her back, soothing her. “Colin does not mean it,” he swore.

  “I’m going to look for Meghan as well,” Gavin said. “Mayhap she merely lost track of the hours.”

  “Go on,” Leith agreed as he knelt beside Alison. “Be certain to check the shortcut from the meadow. I know she favors it though I’ve asked her not to take it.”

  Alison was acutely aware of Gavin’s footsteps as he left the
m, but she continued to sob, unable to face even Leith in her shame.

  Leith continued to soothe her. “Now, now,” he said tenderly. “I know you didna mean to, Alison.”

  He leaned awkwardly toward her, and Alison, desperate as she was, turned into his arms, grateful that he was here to reassure her. Colin hated her! Gavin pitied her! And her very best friend was in trouble—and it was all her fault, she just knew it!

  “We will find her,” Leith reassured, and Alison wanted so desperately to believe him. She clutched at his tunic, sobbing against his shoulder.

  “We both know our Meggie... she’ll turn up on the doorstep, I’m certain. If not on her own,” he said with a faint smile, “then whoever has taken her will dump her there directly—wicked tongue and all!”

  Alison gave a reluctant chuckle. Och, but it was true; Meghan certainly spoke her mind well enough.

  “That’s it, now,” Leith crooned. “Wipe the tears from your eyes, lass. We must work together in this.”

  Alison did as he bade her and stopped weeping. She peered up at him, sniffling. He was right, she knew. And she had to be strong. For Meghan’s sake.

  “Now,” he proposed, “why don’t you tell me everything, lass... start from the beginning...”

  CHAPTER 10

  “Get off the horse, wench.”

  “Nay!” Meghan replied. “I’ll not. You cannot tell me what to do!”

  He stood before her with his hands upon his hips, looking at her much as though she were a wayward child he’d like to toss over his knee and spank. To his credit, he did no such brutish thing. He merely raised a brow at her.

  “We had a bargain, do you not recall?”

  Meghan shook her head. “You perhaps had a bargain,” she reminded him. “I merely suggested it would be a pity for everyone to see you carry me in against my will.”

  Meghan was well aware that they were drawing an audience, but she didn’t care. Let them all watch. They should see that their new lord was naught more than a ruthless Sassenach barbarian.