Page 7 of The Secret (Highlands' Lairds 1)

  They were all dressed in their hunting plaids. Each clan, Judith knew, used two separate plaids. The muted colors of gold, brown, and green were preferred for hunting wild game . . . or men, for those colors blended into the forest more easily and hid them from their prey. The more colorful plaids were used for all other occasions.

  Their bare knees didn’t take Judith by surprise. She was used to their unusual dress, as all the men who attended the border games wore their knee-length plaids. She could even identify some of the clans by their colors. In England, a baron’s banner carried his colors, but in Scotland, as Frances Catherine had explained, the laird and his followers were recognized by the colors of their dress.

  What did surprise Judith was their angry expressions. She couldn’t understand why they were so obviously cranky. Then she decided the journey must have made the men weary. It was a paltry excuse, but it was the best she could come up with.

  None of the warriors dismounted when they reached her. Three of them formed a line behind the man she assumed was their leader. No one said a word for a long, long while. They all rudely stared at her. She couldn’t stop herself from rudely staring back, though her attention was centered solely on their leader. She didn’t think she’d ever seen such a magnificent sight in all her life. The man fascinated her. He was certainly the biggest of the lot. His broad shoulders fairly blocked out the sun shining down behind him, and only rays of light surrounded him, giving him an invincible, magical appearance.

  He wasn’t magical, though. He was only a man, a ruggedly handsome man at that, and surely the most muscular warrior in the group. The plaid he wore had opened on the side of his left thigh. The bulge of sleek muscle there looked as hard as roped steel. Since it wasn’t proper for her to stare at such a private area, she turned her gaze back to his face. His expression didn’t indicate he’d noticed her taking a little peek at his thigh, and she let out a sigh over that blessing.

  Lord, she thought, she could be content to stare at the warlord for the rest of the day. His hair was a dark, rich brown in color, with just a little hint of curl to it. His bare arms were as bronzed as his face. He had a striking profile. Oh yes, he was a fit one all right, but in truth it was the color of his eyes that held her interest the longest. They were a beautiful, brilliant shade of gray.

  The warrior’s stare was intense, unnerving. There was such an aura of power radiating from him, it almost took her breath away. The intensity in the way he was staring at her made her want to blush, but she couldn’t imagine why. Dear God, she hoped this one wasn’t Frances Catherine’s husband. He seemed to be a terribly rigid man, controlled too. Judith didn’t think he was a man given to much laughter.

  Yet there was definitely something about him that pulled at her heart, something that made her want to reach out to him. It was an odd reaction to the Scotsman, yet certainly no more odd than the fact that the longer she stared up at him, the more her worry dissipated.

  She was going to have a wonderful adventure. That realization popped into her mind all of the sudden. It didn’t make any sense to her, but she was too confused by her reaction to the warrior to try to sort it out now. She only knew that she was suddenly feeling completely free of all her worries. Safe, too. The look on the warlord’s face indicated he had little liking for the duty he’d undertaken, but she was certain he’d protect her on this journey to his home.

  She didn’t even care that there weren’t any ladies riding escort for decency’s sake. Hang convention. She couldn’t wait to get started. She was going to leave the lies, the hurt, the rejection, all the betrayals behind her. She made a promise to herself then and there. She would never come back here. Never. She wouldn’t even agree to a visit, no matter how brief. She would stay with her aunt Millicent and Uncle Herbert, and by God, if she wished, she would call them Mother and Father, too, and no one was going to stop her.

  Judith felt an almost overwhelming urge to shout with laughter just to give sound to the happiness she was feeling. She suppressed that desire, knowing full well the Scots wouldn’t understand. How could they? She barely understood herself.

  It seemed the silence had gone on for hours, yet she knew only a few minutes had actually passed. Then Paul pushed open the stable doors. The noise of the old hinges squeaking and groaning for fresh oil drew the warriors’ immediate attention. All but the leader turned to look in that direction. Two, Judith noticed, reached for their swords. It dawned on her then that the warriors considered themselves to be in hostile territory and would naturally be on their guard against attack.

  No wonder they were all so cranky. Their frowns made good sense to her now. Judith turned her attention back to the leader. “Are you Frances Catherine’s husband?”

  He didn’t answer her. She was about to repeat her question in Gaelic when the warrior directly behind the leader spoke up. “Patrick’s with his wife. We’re his relatives.”

  There was such a burr in his voice, she had difficulty understanding him. The warrior nudged his mount forward. When he reached his leader’s side, he spoke again. “Are you Lady Judith Elizabeth?”

  She smiled. No one but Frances Catherine ever added Elizabeth to her name. It was a sweet reminder to her of days gone by. “I am,” she answered. “Though you may call me Judith. Please tell me, sir. How is Frances Catherine?”

  “Fat.”

  She laughed at his curt reply. “She’s supposed to be fat,” she said. “But she’s also feeling well?”

  He nodded. “Madam, we’ve come a long way to hear you tell us you won’t come back with us. Kindly give us your refusal now and we’ll be on our way.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. The one who had so casually insulted her had dark auburn-colored hair and pleasing green eyes.

  She turned to look at the others. “Do you all believe I won’t go back with you?” she asked, her voice incredulous.

  Every single one of them nodded.

  She was astonished. “You came all this way just to hear me tell you no?”

  They all nodded in unison again. Judith couldn’t contain her amusement. She burst into laughter.

  “Do you laugh at our Frances Catherine because she innocently believed you would keep your word?” one of the warriors asked.

  “Nay, sir,” she blurted out. “I’m laughing at you.”

  She decided she shouldn’t have been so honest with the Scot. He was looking like he wanted to throttle her now.

  She forced herself to quit smiling. “I do apologize if I’ve offended you, sir,” she said. “I was laughing at you, but only just a little. Your comments, you see, took me by surprise.”

  He didn’t look placated by her apology.

  Judith let out a little sigh over the sorry beginning of the conversation and decided to start over. “What is your name, sir?”

  “Alex.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Alex,” she announced with a quick curtsy.

  He rolled his eyes heavenward in exasperation. “Madam, you’re wasting our time,” Alex returned. “If you’ll only give us your refusal, we’ll take our leave. You don’t have to go into your reasons for declining. A simple no will suffice.”

  They immediately all nodded again. She thought she might strangle on her laughter.

  “I’m afraid I won’t be able to give you what you’re so obviously hoping for,” she began. “I have every intention of keeping my word to my friend. I’m most anxious to see Frances Catherine again. The sooner we leave, the better, to my way of thinking. I will of course understand if you would like to refresh yourselves before we depart.”

  She had astonished them with that little speech, she decided. Alex looked stunned. The others, save for the leader, who still hadn’t shown any outward reaction at all, looked only mildly ill. Judith didn’t laugh, but she did smile. She’d deliberately spoken in Gaelic, too, just to impress them, and from the way they were staring at her, she assumed she’d accomplished that goal.

  Judith decided she must be

certain to remember every one of their expressions so she could recount every single detail of this initial meeting to Frances Catherine. Her friend would surely find this just as amusing as she did.

  “You really mean to come with us, lass?” Alex asked.

  Hadn’t she just said as much? Judith hid her exasperation. “Yes, I really do mean to come with you,” she answered in a forceful, no nonsense tone of voice. She turned her gaze to the leader again. “You had better understand that it doesn’t matter if you want my company or not. Nothing’s going to stop me from keeping my promise. If I have to walk to Frances Catherine’s home, then by all that’s holy, I will. Now then,” she added in a much softer voice. “Have I made myself clear enough for you?”

  The leader neither nodded nor spoke, but he did raise one eyebrow. Judith decided to take that reaction as a yes.

  Paul drew her attention with a long whistle. She motioned for him to bring out the horses. She lifted the hem of her blue gown and hurried down the steps. She was just passing the line of warriors when she heard one mutter, “I can already tell she’s going to be difficult, Iain.”

  She didn’t even pretend she hadn’t heard that remark. “Tis the truth I probably will be difficult,” she called out as she continued on toward the stables. Her laughter trailed behind her.

  Because she didn’t turn around, she didn’t catch their smiles over her boast.

  lain couldn’t seem to take his gaze off the woman. He was certainly astonished she meant to keep her word, of course, but damn it all, he hadn’t expected to be attracted to the woman. It took him by surprise, this appalling response, and he wasn’t at all certain what he could do about it.

  Her long wheat-colored hair was lifted by the breeze as she hurried over to the stable master. lain couldn’t help but notice . . . and appreciate the gentle sway of her hips. There was such grace in her every movement. Aye, she was beautiful, all right. Her eyes were the prettiest violet he’d ever seen, but it was the wonderful sound of her laughter that had truly affected him. It was filled with such joy.

  lain had already made the decision to force the woman to come home with him, a decision he hadn’t shared with his companions. When the time came, they would do what he ordered. Lady Judith had certainly surprised him, though. She was a woman of her word. And yet she was English. He shook his head over the contradiction.

  “What do you make of her?”

  Iain’s second cousin, Gowrie, asked that question. He stared after the Englishwoman while he scratched his dark beard in a rhythmic motion, as if that repetitive action might help him come to some important conclusion. “She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she? I’m thinking I’m warming to the lass.”

  “I’m thinking you talk too much,” Alex muttered. “Hell, Gowrie, you warm to anything wearing a skirt.”

  Gowrie smiled. He wasn’t the least offended by his friend’s insulting remarks. “She’s keeping her word to our Frances Catherine,” he said. “And that’s the only reason I’d ever warm to an Englishwoman.”

  lain had heard enough of the idle chatter. He was in a hurry to get started. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he ordered. “I can’t breathe when I’m in England.”

  The other warriors were in full agreement. lain turned in his saddle to look at Brodick. “She’ll ride with you,” he said. “Tie her satchel behind your saddle.”

  The blond-haired warrior shook his head. “You ask too much, Iain.”

  “I’m not asking,” lain countered, his voice as hard as sleet. “I’m giving you an order. Now try telling me no.”

  Brodick backed away from the threat. “Hell,” he muttered. “As you wish.”

  “She can ride with me,” Gowrie suggested. “I won’t mind.”

  lain turned to glare at the soldier. “Aye, you won’t mind. You aren’t touching her, either, Gowrie. Not now, not ever. Understand me?”

  He didn’t wait for Gowrie’s agreement, but turned his gaze back to Brodick. “Move,” he commanded.

  Judith had just mounted her steed when the warrior reached her side. “You’re riding with me,” he announced. He paused when he saw the number of baggages tied on the mount’s back. Then he shook his head. “You’ll have to leave—”

  He never got to finish his explanation. “Thank you so much for offering, sir, but there really isn’t any need for me to ride with you. My mare’s quite strong. She’s certainly fit enough for this journey.”

  Brodick wasn’t accustomed to being contradicted by a woman. He didn’t know how to proceed. He started to reach for her, then stopped in mid action.

  Iain noticed the soldier’s hesitation. Then Brodick turned to look at him and he saw the confusion in his expression.

  “She’s being difficult,” Alex muttered.

  “Aye, she is,” Gowrie agreed with a chuckle. “I was wrong, Alex. She isn’t pretty. She’s damn beautiful.”

  Alex nodded. “Aye, she is,” he admitted.

  “Will you look at Brodick?” Gowrie said then. “If I didn’t know better, I’d guess he was about to swoon.”

  Alex found that remark vastly amusing. lain shook his head and nudged his mount forward. Judith hadn’t noticed Brodick’s discomfort. She was occupied smoothing her skirts over her ankles. She adjusted the heavy cloak over her shoulders, tied the black cord into a bow, and finally reached for the reins Paul was patiently holding for her.

  Iain motioned Brodick out of the way, then edged his mount closer to Judith’s side. “You may take only one bag with you, lass.”

  His voice didn’t suggest she argue with him. “I’m taking every one of them,” she countered. “Most are presents I’ve made for Frances Catherine and the baby, and I’m not about to leave them behind.”

  She thought she was acting very courageously, considering the fact that the huge warrior was trying to glare her soul right out of her body. It was apparent he liked getting his own way. She took a quick breath, then added, “I don’t wish to ride with that young man, either. My horse will carry me just as well.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long minute. She was matching him frown for frown, too, until he pulled out his sword from the sheath at his side. She let out a little gasp then. Before she could move out of his path, he’d raised the sword, shifted his position in his saddle, and then used the blade to slice through the ropes holding her precious baggage.

  Her heart was pounding inside her chest. She calmed down when he put his sword away. He motioned for his friends to come forward, and then ordered them to each take one of her satchels. Judith didn’t say a word while the disgruntled-looking soldiers secured her baggage behind their saddles, but she let out another startled gasp when the leader tried to snatch her out of her saddle. She slapped his hands away.

  It was a puny defense against such a big man, and it was obvious to her that he was vastly amused by her action, too. The sparkle in his eyes said as much. “It will be a hard ride up the mountains, lass, and it would serve you better if you rode with one of us.”

  She shook her head. The idea of being so close to the handsome man wasn’t actually dispeasing, but she didn’t want him to think of her as inferior. She’d had enough of that in the past to last her a lifetime.

  “I’m very fit for this journey,” she boasted. “You needn’t worry about me keeping up.”

  lain held his exasperation. “There will also be times when we’ll have to ride through hostile territory,” he patiently explained. “Our mounts are trained to be quiet—”

  “My horse will be just as quiet,” she interjected.

  He suddenly smiled at her. “Will she be as quiet as you are?”

  She immediately nodded.

  He let out a sigh. “I suspected as much.”

  She didn’t realize he’d given her an insult until he reached for her again. He didn’t give her time to push his hands away, either. The man was determined, all right. He wasn’t overly gentle when he lifted her from her saddle and settled her on his lap. He

hadn’t considered the indecency of the position. Her legs straddled his saddle in just the same way a man’s would when he was riding, and if that wasn’t an embarrassment, the fact that the backs of her thighs were plastered on top of his certainly was. She could feel her face turning pink with a blush.

  He wouldn’t let her correct the shameful position. His left arm was tightly wrapped around her waist. She couldn’t move at all, but she could breathe, and she guessed that would have to be enough. Judith waved farewell to the servants watching the spectacle.

  She was a little irritated with the warrior for using such high-handed tactics to get his way. She still noticed how warm she was feeling in his arms, though. She noticed his scent, too, and found the faint masculine aroma extremely pleasing.

  Judith leaned back against his chest. The top of her head was just below his chin. She didn’t try to look up at him when she asked him to give her his name.

  “Iain.”

  She bumped his chin when she nodded to let him know she’d heard his gruffly whispered reply. “How are you related to Frances Catherine?”

  “Her husband is my brother.”

  They’d crossed the drawbridge now and were climbing the hill adjacent to the family cemetery. “And his name is Patrick?”

  “Yes.”

  It was apparent he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Judith pulled away from him and turned to look at him. He was staring straight ahead, ignoring her. “I’ve only one more question to ask you, Iain,” she said. “Then I promise to leave you to your thoughts.”

  He finally looked down at her. Judith’s breath caught in her throat. Dear Lord, he had beautiful eyes. It was a mistake, asking him to give her his full attention, she decided, because his penetrating gaze robbed her of her concentration.

  It was perfectly safe to find him attractive, she decided. Nothing could ever come of it, of course. She was going to his home, yes, but she was going to be an outsider, a guest. Once there, he probably wouldn’t have anything to do with her, or she with him.

  Besides, she was English. No, nothing could ever come from this harmless attraction.