“Ah, clarification. So, my cousin comes for a visit. Well, assume your post and see if ye can get those other slug-witted dolts to do as they should. I ken that ye think I have no power over ye, but that my cousin Donald is your true master. Well, your true master now approaches our gates. I suggest ye dinna let him see how thoroughly useless ye are.” He met the burly man’s glare with a faint smile. “Best hurry. Time passes.”
As soon as the man was gone, Malcolm hurried off to Giorsal’s chambers. He did not have much time to decide what to do about his guests. As he stepped into Giorsal’s room, Malcolm grimaced, for the image Ailis presented was one guaranteed to tug at any man’s heart, any man except Donald MacCordy. Even lying on Giorsal’s bed, her stomach bulging with a MacDubh baby, she looked lovely. He was still drawn to her, to the warmth he knew she could provide. He stepped over to the bed even as Jaime helped Ailis sit up.
“Does trouble ride this way?” Ailis asked Malcolm.
“Oh, aye, my bonny little mother-to-be. Your betrothed rides our way.” He watched her become ashen, and when she tried to stand up, he held her in place. “Tell your faithful behemoth to cease bristling,” he ordered when Jaime softly growled and took a step toward him. “I will do ye no good dead. In truth, I believe it may annoy Giorsal somewhat if ye kill me, and I believe ye need all the allies ye can get. Aye, even questionable ones like me.”
Ailis held up her hand to stop Jaime’s advance on Malcolm. “I fear he is right, m’friend.”
“I need not kill him.” Jaime held up one large fist. “I could just beat some sense and honor into him.”
“He could benefit from that,” muttered Giorsal, scowling at Malcolm. “No mistake.”
“Ye wound me, sweetling.” Malcolm spared a mournful glance at Giorsal before fixing his gaze on Ailis. “I fear ye dinna have much time to decide amongst the choices I am about to offer.”
“Then I suggest that ye hurry and offer them,” Ailis said. “I should like at least one moment to think.”
“ ‘Twould gain me a great deal to hand ye back to my cousin.” Malcolm held up one hand to silence Giorsal when she started to protest. “So I should gain something fornothanding ye back to my cousin.”
“Ye waste time. Just name your price.”
“Ye are my price. When this trouble ends, as it must, and ye are returned to health from the birth of the babe, I want one night with ye.” He stepped back a little when Jaime snarled a curse. “That is my price.”
“Malcolm, how could ye?” whispered Giorsal, staring at him with hurt and dismay.
“When ye are older, ye will better understand, lassie.” Malcolm kept his gaze fixed upon Ailis’s face. “Well?”
“I still have a moment. Hush!” She held up both hands when Giorsal and Jaime started to talk. “I thank ye for your concern, but I must decide this for myself.”
“I dinna want ye to buy my life in such a way,” Jaime said.
“I mean no insult, my dearest of friends, but ‘tisna your life I must consider. Or mine.”
Jaime nodded and Ailis sighed. She wanted to tell Malcolm to curl up and die, but resisted the urge. It was not a time to be too emotional. She had to coolly consider her options. Malcolm had only named two, but she knew there was a third one. He would never stop her if she tried to get away. Ailis knew that instinctively. Unfortunately, all the reasons she had sought shelter with Malcolm were still there. In truth, she decided as she felt an easily recognizable contraction cut through her, there was now one very compelling one. It was still cold and wet outside and still dangerous. And she still had to avoid falling back into Donald’s murderous hands at all costs.
But, she thought, the cost could be very high indeed if she agreed to Malcolm’s price. It would destroy whatever chance she had of happiness with Alexander. She was sure that she had softened some of the hard bitterness of the Laird of Rathmor. No matter what her reasons, if she spent one night with Malcolm, what few grains of Alexander’s trust and affection she had managed to gather would be blown away. To save her baby she would have to surrender all hope of happiness with the child’s father. Ailis knew she could also be giving up any chance of being a true mother to her own child, for Alexander could well lock her out of Rathmor completely, and yet he would never give up his child.
None of that mattered, she told herself firmly as another contraction squeezed her body. It was all of a very small consequence next to the life of her baby. She fought the sense of defeat that threatened to choke her.
“I agree,” she said and was glad Malcolm had the wit not to smile or look too pleased with himself.
“Mistress—“ protested Jaime.
“Argue with me later,” she ordered him. “Where am I to hide?” she asked Malcolm.
“In my chambers. Follow me.” He led them out of Giorsal’s chambers to his own. “I have a secret room in here. ‘Tis a space within the walls. Your big friend may find it a tight fit. Aye and ye, too, since ye have swelled so much.”
Glad for Jaime’s arm around her shoulders as they followed Malcolm, Ailis asked, “Is there no other place we can hide from Donald? My pains grows stronger and more distinct.”
“Giorsal, get her a few things to make her stay within our walls a wee bit more comfortable. Aye and give her what she might need to birth her babe.”
Ailis kept a close watch on Jaime as Malcolm stopped before a large clothespress. Malcolm stepped inside of the huge wardrobe and pressed hard against the far side of the back. Slowly the back pivoted. Ailis watched as Jaime paled slightly. It would be a dark, snug hiding place. For a while they would be enclosed within the heavy walls of the tower house. She felt nervous about stepping into the dark narrow passage. Jaime had to be terrified. Ailis did not believe she could ask such a thing of her friend, nor would he be much use to her, for he would be too caught up in his own fears.
“This isna going to work, Malcolm,” she said. “Jaime canna abide such places, and I need him to be in his full right senses.”
“I will be fine,” Jaime said before Malcolm could reply. “I willna be alone. Ye will be with me, mistress. I will also have a light.”
“A light could be dangerous.” Malcolm frowned. “It could show through some crack and be seen.”
