“They have not chosen Caerlaverock.” Elspet halted. She stared down at the steps, a frown puckering her brow. “Beitris tells me William wishes to return to Argyll. She even said she looks forward to seeing that part of Scotland.” With the barest shake of her head, she trembled with a faint shrug. “She’s never been away from Maxwell lands before. Not ever.” Her troubled gaze slid from the stairwell to him. “She wants no part of this place ever again. While her father brought nothing but honor to Clan Maxwell, she says the treasonous acts committed by Euban and his ilk have left a stain that canna be removed.” Her frown deepened. “It appears the chore of rebuilding Clan Maxwell’s honor, as well as the village, falls to me.”
While Valan didn’t wish to reside in the borderlands, if Elspet chose to do so, then so be it. He would stay at her side. A life with her was more than worth it. He brushed a kiss to her cheek. “Know that whatever ye choose, I am with ye, m’lady. Always.”
Even in the dimness of the stairwell, the sheen of unshed tears made her eyes glisten. She reached up and touched his cheek. “And for that, I am more grateful than ye will ever know.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, fueling the kiss with tender reassurance.
Her hands slid up his chest, then her arms hugged around his neck. She molded against him, her softness perfectly fitting his hardness. It made him entertain thoughts of taking her up against the wall, but the possibility of slipping on the narrow stone steps and tumbling down them brought him to his senses.
As much as he hated to break their connection, he lifted his head and groaned. “Come. I want my brothers to meet my future wife.”
“And here I thought to delay the inevitable,” she teased with a disappointed laugh.
“We will return to where we left off as soon as possible, m’lady. I assure ye.” He placed her hand back in the crook of his arm, enjoying the swell of her breast rubbing against him with every step. Aye, they would most definitely pick up right where they had left off at their earliest possible opportunity.
They exited the tower and gatehouse and waited at the end of the bridge across the moat. The army ofGallóglaighslowed, then fanned out, filling the grassy lands surrounding the castle.
Valan strode forward to meet them, greeting them with a hearty wave and hand signal they would recognize. “All is well,” he bellowed. “Welcome!”
Thorburn lifted a hand and glanced all around, a signal to his men. The warriors behind him halted their mounts and remained in their saddles. All except Ross. He rode forward with his brother and dismounted.
“I told ye we would get here and discover the pup just fine and having no need for us.” Ross shot a lopsided grin at Thorburn.
“And glad I am of it.” Thorburn dismounted, swaggered forward, and grabbed Valan into a burly brother hug. “Ye scared the shite out of me,” he said in a gruff whisper, then thumped his back. Grabbing hold of his shoulders, he gave him a hard shake. “Dinna do that again, young one. Understand?”
Before Valan could answer, Ross grabbed him next, shook him even harder, then lowered a stern scowl on him. “Did I not say ye would be a fine constable?”
“That ye did, brother.” Valan’s chest swelled with the rare praise. The MacDougall brothers were each other’s harshest critics. “Come. I have someone I wish ye to meet.”
“Damn. We should never have argued with Adellis and Elise,” Thorburn said to Ross.
Ross gave a heavy sigh. “Aye, brother. It appears we have lost the bet.”
Valan came to a halt before they reached Elspet. He lowered his voice so she wouldn’t hear. “What bet?”
“Both Adellis and Elise said Lady Christiana had found ye a proper match, andthatwas why our liege insisted ye lead the campaign here at Caerlaverock.” Thorburn raised both hands in the air. “After all, he couldha just as easily sent one of us or our seconds.” He jutted his bearded chin to a challenging angle. “What say ye to that? Has the matchmaker succeeded?”
Valan stepped forward and curled an arm around Elspet. “I say, this be the Lady Elspet Maxwell, my future bride.”
Elspet charmed them with a winning smile, just as he had known she would. “Welcome to Caerlaverock, m’lords, and please dinna think yer trip wasted.” She paused, her full lips quivering just a bit. “If Valan and his men hadna been able to outwit their captors, ye would have been sorely needed for certain.”
Thorburn smiled and granted her a polite bow. “Praise be that Valan and his men reigned supreme and overcame the traitorous fiends.”
“By the way,” Ross interjected. “Did ye ken that William’s mother is kin to Marie de Coucy—the king’s mother?” His upper lip curled as if dreading something dire. “Pray tell us the boy is alive and well. If not, it will be all our arses.”
“Alive, well, and betrothed to my daughter,” Elspet said with an amused tip of her head. She turned to lead the way inside the castle, then paused and glanced back. “Caerlaverock canna hold all yer men, but as many as can fit are welcome to come inside and sup with us.”
“Our men will make camp out here, m’lady,” Thorburn said. He cast a glance at the scorched plain where the village once stood. “Niall warned us there is much rebuilding to be done. Since we appear to be unneeded for battle, perhaps we can help with that.” His focus shifted to Valan. “Or at least get it started. It was not our intent to be here long. Merely long enough to make things right, then return to our duties in Argyll.” The intensity of his stare hardened. “Will ye be returning with us, Valan? Or are ye now the new master of this keep?”
Valan turned to Elspet. “How shall I answer that, m’lady?”
She settled what appeared to be a longing glance on Caerlaverock, then let her gaze drop to the ground. After what seemed like forever, she lifted her head, pulled in a deep breath, and blew it out. “This place is no longer my home,” she said. “Or my responsibility.” She managed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “A prison full of traitors, a hall stained with my daughter’s blood, and a tower haunted with demons. I shake the dust of this place from my shoes and willna look back at it when we leave.” She turned to Thorburn and squared her shoulders. “Do as ye wish about helping them rebuild. In my opinion, ’tis high time they learned to help themselves. Perhaps that will make them realize what sort of person their next leader should be.”
Thorburn’s eyes narrowed. He pursed his lips and gave a slow nod. He met eyes with Ross, and the two brothers appeared to exchange a silent communication.
Valan understood completely. While he didn’t know for certain what passed between them, he had a fair idea.
Ross confirmed it with another polite bow. “The two of ye are welcome to stay with me and my family at Tòrrelise until renovations are finished at Creagshead.”
