Page 9 of A Scot for Bethan
But try as he may, all he could think of was using the table behind him for a purpose that had nothing to do with the one it usually served.
Damn it all, he had promised her only a moment ago not to allude to her skill in bed, and here he was, mouth watering at the idea of licking her into sweet surrender. This was a disaster. Cameron was admittedly a lusty man, his desire had always been easily roused, but this was different, stronger, almost inexplicable. More to the point, she was not a woman he could ever have. Bethan was not free, she was promised to another, and he was charged with escorting her back home. She was the last woman he should think about bedding. He was supposed to protect her body, not use it for his pleasure, and he was meant to guard her maidenhead, not take it himself.
Closing his hand on the hilt of his sword, he stormed out of the hall.
He had to find his men to inform them they would set off again before the day was over. The less time he spent in the temptress’ company, the better. He would also warn them they were not to inconvenience Bethan in any way. He had not lied; he doubted they would have recognized her as the woman they had mistaken for a whore the previous evening, but that didn’t mean they would not see how exceptionally beautiful she was. They would not act on it, of course, as she was set to marry his nephew, but that might not stop them from treating her in ways that would make her uncomfortable.
He found them at the back of the stables, partaking in a hearty meal with the grooms.
“I have spoken to Lord Sheridan and met Bethan ferch Morgan,” he told them, making sure to speak in Gaelic in case they should be overheard. “There is nothing more to do and we will leave before the day is over. Mark my words, I will nottolerate any crudeness in her presence, as she seems quite the shy kind.”
This last comment almost wrenched a smile out of him because there was nothing shy in the Welshwoman. The way she had berated him for doing precisely what he was forbidding his men to do was proof enough. But he had to say something to make the men behave.
“Of course, my laird,” Murdo said, a smirk curling his lip. “It wouldn’t do to shock the little virgin and?—”
“No, it most definitely would not,” Cameron snapped. “Need I remind you that she is soon to join not only my clan, but also my family? You will treat her with nothing less than the respect she is due.”
“Aye,” the men said as one.
“Don’t mind Murdo, you know how ill-tempered he gets when he is away from home,” Angus added, glancing toward his friend, who scowled back, proving the point. “He’s like a bear with a sore head. Still, worry not, we’ll look after the lady.”
“She’s not really a lady, as you know, and will never be, married to Dougal.”
Cameron started. Why had he felt the need to point that out? It was not like him to be so petty. The reminder, however, did not seem to matter to Angus, who nodded toward the keep meaningfully.
“She lives in this grand castle; she was all but raised by Lord Sheridan. As far as we’re concerned, she’s a lady, and we’ll treat her as such.”
Cameron barely repressed a snort, remembering how the previous night the men had refused to believe her claim that she was a lady and how they had wanted to treat her. Well, when they saw her in her finery, they would be shocked into respect, that much was certain. He trusted them unconditionally. They could be rough at times, and they were not above letting theirbodily urges overwhelm them on occasion, but they were good men.
All except McBain, that was.
McBain was a fool, but Dougal had insisted that his childhood friend join the retinue sent to fetch his bride. Cameron had often wondered if his nephew had not included the man to act as a spy. But to what end? That was what he could not fathom. Had he feared that his betrothed’s rumored beauty would entice the men into behaving like randy beasts? Surely he knew that Cameron would never let anything happen to her? Or was it worse? Did he mistrust him, his own uncle, thinking that he might try to seduce Bethan before they reached Crois Dhubh?
He stiffened his spine, not pleased by the notion, because had she been anyone else, he would most probably have tried to do just that.
“Well, I will not countenance any?—”
He was interrupted when Hamish’s eyes widened so much, they became in danger of falling off from their sockets. Something in the bailey had caught his attention, it seemed. Or perhapssomeone. Someone too stunning to be believed in her cream dress. Cameron turned in time to see Bethan draw to a halt in front of him. Though he had seen her only a moment ago, he was struck anew by her beauty. No wonder the men looked as if they had just seen a heavenly apparition.
“My laird, a word with you, if I may,” she said in her heavily accented English.
“But of course.”
He led her away from the men, glad to see they had indeed not recognized her for the woman they had accosted so crudely the night before. This was one issue he would have to deal with.
“What is it?” he asked once they were a safe distance from the stables.
“I have a favor to ask of you,” Behan said, staring him straight in the eye. “I know you want to depart as soon as possible, but I would like to say goodbye to my friends, Gwenllian and Seren, before leaving. They are still at the village with Lady Sheridan, their mother, and I would hate to leave before being able to?—”
Her bottom lip started to wobble, and he saw how painful this separation would be. If she had indeed been raised here, then Lord Sheridan’s two younger daughters would be like sisters to her. In this moment, he felt like an executioner dragging an innocent victim to the block on the order of some cruel king.
Cameron cleared his throat, waiting for her to get a hold on her emotions. She soon did, which did not surprise him. The woman seemed to have more backbone than most people he knew.
“There’s also my brother, Siaspar,” she carried on, her voice firm once more. “He lives a day’s ride away, to the east. Perhaps we could stop there for the night tomorrow? It would be the perfect opportunity to say goodbye. Not expecting you to arrive for a few days yet, I had planned to visit him before leaving. I would hate to leave without having seen him one last time.”
How could he refuse her this second, perfectly reasonable favor? If her brother’s castle was to the east, then it made sense to go there anyway. A small detour would be worth the comfort of proper bedding and hot food. There would be enough nights spent on the road during their ride north.
“Very well,” he agreed, deciding it cost nothing to grant her this boon. “We will depart on the morrow, once you have said your goodbyes to the Hunters.”
