“I know. But she has a strong reason to return. We hold her sister here.” Although her husband’s words were calm, Rowena took comfort in that. It was true that they could use Melisandre if necessary.
She smiled. “Perhaps we should send her a token to remind her of what she’s left behind.” A garment or perhaps Melisandre’s long braid. “Something to lure her back.”
Her husband did not smile. Instead, his gaze hardened. “We will find Celeste. Whether or not we bring her back alive depends upon her obedience.”
Dougal followed Celeste beyond the crowd of people, deeper into the shadows. Although she likely knew he was there, she didn’t speak. Only when he came to stand at her side did she admit, “Don’t do this to me, Dougal. I don’t want to be your enemy anymore.”
She turned to face him, and the look of anguish in her eyes was a blow to his gut. “I can’t go back and change the decisions I made. But it hurts me even more to see how much you’ve come to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” he said quietly. “But I wish you hadn’t returned.”
“They don’t know about me, do they?” She gripped her arms, the sadness evident. “You never told them.”
“There was no reason to.” He was glad he hadn’t. At least then he could maintain his pride. “And if you say anything, I’ll deny it.”
Her face grew pensive. “I had my reasons for the choice I made. And I don’t regret marrying Edmon. I only regret hurting you.”
It wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear. He’d wanted her to say that she’d made a terrible mistake, that she’d wanted to wed him. Not a Norman lord who’d given her silks and hundreds of acres.
“I suppose it was good that we didn’t wed. For I now know that gold was more important to you than anything else.”
She looked stricken at his words, and they’d hurt her the way he’d wanted them to. But to her credit, she made no denial.
“I never forgot you. Not then, and not now.” She squared her shoulders and faced him. “I want you to go back with me. Be my escort and help me protect my sister. Melisandre is their hostage now.”
He dug a little deeper for more information. “Have you no one else to help? Uncles or cousins?”
“My uncles live far to the south. Even if we did journey there, we might not find them. They’re mercenary knights.” She finally turned back to him. “I need a way of protecting her and—” From the bleak expression on her face, he could see the dark fears. “I don’t want to give up on Eiloch,” she said. “Part of it is mine, by law. I want to fight for it. And you will have your reward if you come with me.”
If he traveled with her to Eiloch, every hour would be nothing short of torment. Even now, Celeste's beauty was a siren’s call, tempting him to cast aside common sense and accompany her on this futile quest.
God help him, no. He would not let her talk him into this. He’d kissed her because he wanted to punish her for choosing another man. To show her what it would have been like, had she wed him. Instead, it had only fired up the dormant feelings of desire.
“Please,” she whispered. Without waiting for his refusal, she brushed past him, and her scent invaded his mind. Reminding him of the way she’d kissed him back, clinging to him.
Dougal waited for several minutes before returning to the bonfire. The contests had begun, and he saw other men lining up across from one another, bare-chested. The MacKinlochs enjoyed challenging one another in physical sparring, and his brothers were among those who fought.
“I’ve been wanting the chance to fight you again, Dougal,” came the voice of Robbie. The man had removed his tunic and wore only trews. He had already defeated several men in wrestling, and his gaze narrowed upon Dougal.
This was not about physical prowess. In Robbie’s eyes, Dougal had caught a hint of jealousy. He wanted to unman Dougal before the others, to prove himself a better protector for Celeste.
It wouldn’t happen. Dougal had nothing to prove, for all the MacKinlochs had seen him defeat Robbie with no weapons, save his hands and his agility.
“I’ve bested you already,” he told Robbie. “I’ve no need to do it again.” The laughter and murmurs of approval surrounded him, as he crossed to stand by his brothers.
“Are you afraid you can’t manage it a second time?” Robbie flexed his muscles, showing off his arms as he walked around the fire.
“No. I’ve simply no desire to humiliate you before the women.”
It was the truth, but Robbie viewed the words as a taunt. “Come and fight, MacKinloch,” he dared, beckoning.
Celeste didn’t want either of them to fight, for she sensed that she would somehow end up caught in the middle. She had already made her decision and had no intention of letting the outcome be decided by a sparring match.
She wanted Dougal to be her champion. Not only because he was a strong man, easily able to guard her . . . but also because she wanted to heal the enmity between them.
“Don’t fight over me,” she asked, standing between the men. “Please.”
“I would be glad to serve you,” Robbie said. His gaze turned heated and he added, “In any way you would have me.”
