Page 18 of Highlander's Rebellious Affair
Hope’s eyes remained closed as he massaged her, and soon she was leaning against him, already dozing off. Ian knew she wouldn’t be able to use the water Orlaith went out to prepare because she was too exhausted, so he gently led her to the bed, helped her get into it, before he went to tell Orlaith not to bother with the water.
Outside, he found her crouching down over the fire she had made. “Orlaith,” he called and she stood up and turned to look at him. “Hope is asleep, she is too tired to wash up tonight,” he said and she nodded then turned back to put off the fire.
When she was done, she turned around to face him and he spoke, “I want ye to come to Galloway with me.”
Orlaith paused and looked at him. “Ye say ye were Laird Galloway’s favorite and ye were in love with him, do ye ken what happened to him? do ye ken how he died? Can ye tell me what happened?”
She blinked and then stared right into his eyes. Her look always made him shiver and he pushed back the feeling of fear that clamped over him as she stared at him. “Orlaith,” he called and she blinked.
“I was Laird Galloway’s favorite; we were in love. He loved me and I loved him,” she said and it sounded like a chant to Ian.
“Ye will come with me to Galloway,” he said again and she nodded.
“I’ve missed Galloway,” she replied and smiled. “I’ve missed seeing Callum.”
Ian froze and watched her as she walked away from him and headed back into the cottage. She confused him, one minute she acted like she was out of her mind and the next minute she acted like she was all right. He didn’t know if he should believe anything she said or ignore it and conclude that even if she had known his father, she couldn’t know anything about his death, or about the Treasure of Galloway.
But as she got to the door of her cottage, she began to hum the song, and he was convinced that she had to know something. The song made him make up his mind to make sure she traveled to Galloway with them. That and the fact that Callum was the name of his father’s best friend.
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
14
Dawn met them as they rode into Galloway a day later, and Ian longed to get a fresh bath in the lake close to the Galloway Castle, then spend time in his bed with Hope in his arms.
He helped Hope dismount the horse, then helped her into the Castle. Servants rushed to him as they made it to the entrance, and his sister came rushing out to greet them. Her arms wrapped around his body, and he let go of Hope’s hand and placed his hand on her head.
“Brother,” she said, her voice a lighter version of his, and he smiled and kissed the top of her head. “It is so good to see ye.”
“Rhea,” he said and she stepped away. Her lips were lifted and her eyes full of her smile. “How have ye been in my absence?”
Her gaze drifted from his to Hope’s, and her smile faded a bit. She also looked at Orlaith who was busy staring in awe at the stoned walls of the Castle. “Ye brought guests,” Rhea said and turned to him again.
Ian saw Hope flash her a smile as he made the introductions. “This is Lady Hope Burnett of Drummond,” he said and then pointed at Orlaith. “This is her aunt.”
“A pleasure to make yer acquaintance,” Hope said and extended her hand for a shake. Rhea accepted the gesture with a pleasant smile, and Ian added, “Hope is my wife.”
He saw his sister’s eyes widen, and then he draped his arm around her, and whispered in her ear, “Act nice, we will talk about it later.”
Minutes later, after Rhea had instructed a servant to show Hope to his chambers and prepare a bath for her, then Orlaith to another in the same wing of the Castle, he followed Rhea into their small gathering hall, and shut the door behind him.
“Ye got married?” she shot at him the moment they entered the hall, her dark eyes flared at him, and he laughed. “There is nothin’ amusin’ about ye gettin’ married to the daughter of Laird Drummond, Ian. Ye went to Drummond to stop Lyall from gettin’ his hands on more power.”
“And that is exactly what I did,” he replied. “Lyall’s plan was to wed the fine lass, so he could have heirs and oust us in the power holdin’ with the supporters. Now I have a bride, I can have heirs before him.”
Her brows shot up, and she folded her arms over her chest. She wore a riding outfit, black skirts that fit loosely, and a black leine with a wrap tie on the collar, and her boots were wet, telling him that she just returned from a ride out on the moors. “Do ye even love her? Does she ken that ye are usin’ her?”
“I am nay usin’ her, Rhea. We have an agreement, and she understands that, besides she would rather wed me than Lyall, so it is a win-win arrangement for us both.”
He placed both hands on her shoulders, and shook her gently. “Now quit frownin’ and tell the servants to prepare us a meal, I have missed the hot soup and the mutton prepared here.”
“What about the other woman? The aunt?”
“She is a piece in a puzzle, one I have been tryin’ to solve,” he replied and then dropped his voice a notch. “Under nay circumstances should Lyall find out that Orlaith is here, if she is who I think she is, then he might ken her and that means he will lay his hands on the truth she kens.”
Rhea’s brows shot up, and her eyes widened. Ian knew she understood what she meant, but she pressed her lips together and only replied him with a nod. Soon Lyall would be back from Drummond himself, and he had to prepare himself to face his wrath and quarrels over ousting him and getting Hope to himself.
Ian went into his chambers after telling Rhea of his plans to see his father’s trusted man, Callum Thomson. He had a lot to discuss with him, and Ian was hoping the man could tell him what he knew about Orlaith.
