Kieran wasn’t sure if he wanted to haul Maude off her horse and kiss her senseless or haul her off her horse and throttle her. All he knew was he wanted to hold her again. She had terrified him as she took off on her horse. She angered him when she stopped to taunt him before spurring her horse on again. It wasn’t because he doubted her riding skills; it was because he didn’t trust the roads to be free of highwaymen. He leapt from his horse just as Maude swept her leg over her mount. He reached up and lifted her free, his body brushing against hers as he settled her on her feet. They stood that way for a moment before Maude turned to unfasten the baskets and hand her reins to the stable master who came to greet them. It forced Kieran to step back and remind himself that he was crowding her in the courtyard of a monastery. Women were rare guests, let alone one who was on the verge of being pawed as lust thrummed through his veins.
“Do you always take such risks? And before you tell me you’ve been riding your entire life, I mean do you always risk riding apart from your escort? You have guards assigned to you for a reason.”
Maude looked into eyes the color of the North Sea as a storm approached. She saw hints of anger, but what she saw the most was concern. Genuine worry and perhaps fear.
“I wouldn’t have let us get too far ahead of you. Couldn’t you tell I held back so your horse could keep up once I stopped the first time?”
“Could keep up?” Kieran clenched his jaw to keep from snapping at her. His steed was a battle-tested warhorse, not a plow animal. His horse was among the best he’d ever seen, but Maude’s put him to shame. Loyalty to his ride kept him from accepting that hers was superior horseflesh. “Do you outpace your guards every time you ride here?”
“No. I thought it would be fun to race. I do with my guards all the time, but I never push Trioblaid to get too far ahead. Those horses are from Sutherland, too. They keep up as well as yours did. I’m never out of sight and never more than a furlong ahead, if that.” Maude placed her hand on Kieran’s arm before she realized what she was doing. When she attempted to snatch it away, Kieran pressed it against the bunched muscles. “I was enjoying the ride, and I thought you might like to race me. Lachlan can’t help but accept the challenge whenever we ride together. You remind me of him.”
Maude watched the darkest scowl take root across Kieran’s face, but she didn’t understand what she’d said to make matters worse.
“I won’t race you on the way back if it bothers you that much,” she tried for a conciliatory tone.
“I remind you of your brother.”
“What?” Maude was confused about why Kieran latched onto that part of her explanation.
“You said I remind you of your brother. That is not a comparison I care for.”
Maude’s lips drew into a fine line as she tried to keep from snarling at him. She glared at him as she tried to push past him. She swung the basket on purpose so it would hit Kieran’s stomach.
“My brother happens to be one of the finest men I ken. You should be so lucky to be considered in his company.”
Kieran grasped her arm and almost jerked her back into place before crossing his arms. He was aware it made him appear imposing, but it was the only way to keep from wrapping them around her. The stubborn set of Maude’s jaw told him he didn’t intimidate her. He leaned forward as he had the night before to whisper in her ear.
“But your brother doesn’t want to do the things to you, and with you, that I do.”
Maude’s eyes narrowed before she used her shoulder to push past him.
“You have a cruel sense of humor. I don’t find you funny.”
When Kieran came abreast of her, he reached for her again, but he realized she was livid.
“Remember where we are,” she hissed. As she crossed the courtyard, Kieran watched her face relax and settle into the mask of serenity he was certain she wore every day at court. She flashed a warm smile as a monk came out to greet them. The man was tonsured, and he wore a flowing black chasuble over his white cassock and a large cross swinging against his chest with each step. His hands were tucked within his opposite sleeves. Kieran was shocked to realize how young and handsome the man was. “Father Michael, the queen sent me to request if I might impose upon your generosity and gather more herbs and medicinals. The ague swept through the castle a few sennights ago, and it depleted many of the supplies.”
“Aye, lass. Well I know, since Brother Christian said as much when he returned. You ken you’re always welcome in our gardens, Lady Maude.”
Maude shifted so to glance between Kieran and Father Michael, who she sensed were sizing up one another up. Kieran’s face hadn’t relaxed, while Father Michael wore a knowing expression. What he knew, Maude hadn’t a clue.
“Father Michael, I’d introduce you to Laird Kieran MacLeod. Laird MacLeod offered to accompany me to ensure I was well protected on the road.” Maude once more smiled at the priest, and Maude thought Kieran growled, but it was too quiet to be certain. “Laird MacLeod, please meet Father Michael, the priest in charge of the herb gardens. He graciously allows me to pilfer from his garden and stored herbs whenever I need to.”
“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Laird MacLeod. Perhaps you’d care to join Lady Maude’s guards in the refectory.”
“I do not.”
Kieran begrudgingly stuck out his hand and was surprised when the monk gripped his forearm in a firm warrior’s handshake. The men stared at one another as their grips tightened on each other’s arms. Maude watched and wanted to roll her eyes. She understood there was some sort of silent standoff; she’d seen her brother engaged in such plenty of times, but she still didn’t understand what this one was about.
“If we might make our way there. I’d like to be back on the road well before dusk,” Maude attempted to ease the tension.
“Lady Maude’s correct. She won’t be on the roads in the dark,” Kieran decreed, which earned him another scowl from Maude. He followed the priest and Maude toward the back of the monastery, where a large garden spread before them. Kieran noticed that it was a multipurpose patch of land. He spied vegetables, herbs, and flowers, each in their separate plots. He tripped over Maude when she came to an abrupt stop.
“Father Michael, to make this quicker, could you please show the laird the spense and assist him with collecting the dry medicinals while I cut fresh shoots?” Maude handed Kieran a basket. As his fingers wrapped around the handle, they grazed Maude’s. A charge of electricity surged up his arm, and from the way Maude held her breath, he sensed she experienced it, too. Father Michael turned toward a building that ran parallel to the garden and began walking, expecting Kieran would follow him. Maude whispered, “Please. I’m sorry for earlier. I would appreciate the help. It will make this go faster. I promise I’m safe here.”
Kieran nodded. He recognized that she had added the last bit to reassure him once she watched him scan the area, his hand involuntarily on the hilt of his sword. Kieran kept Father Michael in his periphery, but he didn’t turn to follow the man until he saw Maude settled in a patch of chamomile. He joined the priest in a cool storage room with poor lighting, where the holy man already gathered bunches of dried herbs and flowers.
“How long have you known Lady Maude?” Father Michael asked, adopting a tone meant to sound conversational. Kieran didn’t believe the priest meant to chat.
