The boons between them would never be paid. He drew in a deep breath, filling his nostrils with the sultry scent of their loving still clinging to the bedclothes. God’s teeth. He needed her all over again. Nay, their boons were far from settled. But Valan knew better than to argue the point at the moment. One night of passion with this remarkable woman only made him want her more. He pushed himself out of the bed and pulled on his trews. “I feel ye should rest. My men and I will handle whatever comes. See to yerself, Elspet. Ye no longer bear this burden alone.”
She ignored him, pulling on her leather armor as if he hadn’t spoken.
He caught hold of her arm and forced her to stop dressing long enough to look him in the eyes. “Elspet. Listen to me—please.”
“My people are as weary as I am. Some even more so. I willna insult them by claiming respite for myself when there is none for them.” She rested a tender touch to his cheek, softening the refusal. “By the day’s light, ye will see where the English destroyed almost half the settlement a mere fortnight ago. I canna lose the rest of castletoun under any circumstances. With every building that turns to ash, the hope in my clan’s eyes diminishes.” Her voice trembled with worry and frustration. “’Tis as if they toy with us. Attacking here and there, never fully razing even though they could. I dinna ken how to battle such tactics.”
“M’lady?” Dullis rattled the latch and bounced the door against the bar. “M’lady! Be ye well?”
“I am better than I’ve been in a verra long while.” Elspet gave Valan a wicked smile that hardened him even more. “Dinna fash yerself, Dullis. Hie to the kitchens for Beitris’s morning meal. I can tend to my dressing alone.”
“Will the Constable nay be needing the rest of his clothing, m’lady?” Dullis’s sharp, disapproving tone left no doubt about her thoughts.
Her golden eyes dancing, Elspet playfully covered her mouth and then gave a shrug as she let her hand fall away. “The woman misses nothing,” she whispered.
“Verra true, m’lady,” Dullis grumbled through the closed door. “Got good hearing for one so aged, too.” She rattled the latch again. “I have the Constable’s clothes right here. If ye will open the door and take them, I shall fetch parritch and bannocks for him along with the morning meal for yerself and the Lady Beitris.” Her fussing took on a warning tone. “And ye need to speak to yer daughter at first chance, yer ladyship. I saw her walking with one of those men that arrived last night. Got her hair all loose still and instead of a proper kirtle, she’s wearing that armor again.”
“I shall address that.” Valan crossed the room, set the bar aside, and yanked the door open. “I want the man ye saw with the Lady Beitris summoned to this hall immediately, ye ken?” Even though he ignored his own orders, he would not tolerate such behavior from his men. Besides, it was different between Elspet and himself. What they shared last night was a far cry from a light-hearted bedding.
The maid didn’t move. Just glared up at him.
“Fetch him,” he said, speaking louder. Insolent woman. How did Elspet tolerate her?
Dullis resettled her stance and glared up at him. Her determination to stand her ground unfazed by his stern tone. “Yer garments, m’lord.” With a haughty sniff, she shoved them into his arms. “I shall fetch yer man before I gather this morning’s repast.” Her soured expression tightened further as she leaned to one side and peered around him. “Be ye well, m’lady? For true?”
Elspet came forward and stood at his side, as if ready to defend him. “As I said, much better than I’ve been in a long while, Dullis. This was my choice, ye ken?”
Relief and no small amount of pride filled Valan. Not only had he done right by his lady, but it seemed Elspet bore no regrets.
The elderly maid’s perpetual scowl puckered even more. “Verra well, m’lady. I was but concerned for yer safety.” Her fierce glare shifted to Valan as she continued, “I know about themGallòglaigh, and I may be old but I am nay afraid.”
The woman’s loyalty made up for her insolence. Valan admired it and had no doubt she would either poison him or stab him in his sleep should he make the mistake of harming Lady Elspet. He pressed a hand over his heart. “I swear I willna hurt yer mistress.”
“Oaths are as easy to break as they are to make.” Dullis swung about and headed for the door leading to the stair.
“Dullis!” Elspet overtook the surly maid and barred her way. “Ye will treat Constable MacDougall and his men with respect until they prove they dinna deserve it. They came to help us and are honored guests. I will tolerate no more rudeness toward them. Is that understood?”
With a sullen jerk of her chin, Dullis stared down at the floor. “Aye, m’lady.” She stole a glance at her mistress, then nodded. “Ye should cover yer hair with so many strange men about. Shall I bring a fillet and veil along with the food?”
Valan turned aside to don his remaining garments while the women discussed proprieties. He hoped Elspet wouldn’t cover her lustrous hair. He longed to run his fingers through its silkiness again, remembering how it fell across his body in an ebony waterfall. With a stifled groan, he adjusted the seam of his trews to grant his hardened cock more room.
“She will be more respectful.” Elspet picked up his long leather belt where he had laid it on the table. “And she has never been one to gossip.” After a pensive look back toward the stairwell, she added, “That I know of, anyway. Of course, never have I given her such fodder before.”
He took the belt out of her hands, tossed it to the table, and gathered her into his arms. “Whether she gossips or not, I regret nothing, and after all yer years of sacrifice to this clan, neither should ye question yerself, m’lady. Not about anything.” A protectiveness swelled in his chest. A dangerous protectiveness he had seen his brothers display toward their wives.
“And what is this?” Lady Beitris stood in the open doorway, a brow cocked to a mischievous slant.
Valan stifled a smile as Elspet changed before his eyes. Gone was his ravenous lover. In her place, stood a mother goddess ready to unleash her fury upon her disobedient young.
Shoulders squared and hands fisted, she strode toward her daughter. “Did I not refuse yer request to train with theGallòglaigh?”
Beitris puffed up, mimicking her mother’s defensive pose. “Aye, Mama, and ye should know better than to accuse me of going against yer wishes. Have I ever done so?” With a remorseful shrug, she added, “Well…at least not over anything important?”
Not entirely certain he was doing the right thing, Valan stepped between the two women who reminded him of a pair of sparring Highland cats he had come across during a hunt. “Dullis reported seeing ye with one of my men,” he explained, forcing a gentler tone than he would use on the man who had ignored his order.
“Dullis is a gossipy, meddling old cow who still thinks me a child.” Beitris gave an impatient toss of her auburn curls. “And if she tries to cover my hair one more time, I’ll be throwing her in the moat.”
Before he could prevent it, a snorting laugh escaped him. “I shall help ye foist her high enough to get a good arc going over the wall.”
