He headed down the corridor, shaking his head at the giggling sounds he heard from within his brother’s chamber. The next chamber was empty. He moved on to the door after that and opened it quietly.
Just as he was about to close it, he froze. The room was dark, but the candle from the corridor lit the side of a woman’s face asleep on the bed. Following his instincts once more, he took two more steps into the room, found a nearby candle, and closed the door behind him.
She was asleep on her side. Her gentle curves were visible through the thin blanket that covered her to her chin. He wanted to step closer, but did not dare, lest he wake her. As he inhaled her lavender scent, a strange sense of peace entered him. Her hair fell in soft golden waves over her shoulders. Who was she? Was this the laird’s sister?
His eyes fell on her full pink lips and he was hard instantly. He ran his eyes down her body again. She had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He returned his gaze to her face and took note of her porcelain skin and her small pert nose. Her long lashes rested on high cheekbones. But what he noticed next caused his erection to leave him in an instant.
She had been beaten. He stepped closer and brought the candle close enough for him to see the dried blood and swollen bruises on the other side of her face. She was the vision of an angel, and someone had beaten her. Anger raced through his veins, followed fast by protectiveness. He could see some discolorations on the soft, exposed skin of her neck. He reached down, wanting to touch her and comfort her. Wanting to protect her from whoever had done this.
Her eyes flew open, and he was instantly lost in an ocean of blue. Realizing how she would probably interpret his sudden presence in her room, he expected a scream. Instead, she pulled away from him, groaned in pain and whispered, “Nay.”
Not wanting to confuse or frighten her, he turned and fled. He found the door to the parapet at the end of the corridor and raced up the stairs.
But neither the view nor the night air brought him any peace. Who was the beautiful woman? And who had hurt her?
He would find out.
Chapter Eighteen
When Alex learns that Maddie’s betrothed raped her, he brings him to Grant Castle and challenges him to a duel. Alex’s reputation as the finest swordsman in the land is born.
Alex patiently waited for Niles to make the first move. He preferred to get a careful measure of his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. The crowd grew impatient and broke into a chant waiting for their laird to make his move. Niles raised his sword and came at Alex from above. He drove his sword over and over at him. The clash of steel on steel rang out as Alex easily blocked all of Niles’s parries.
Niles took a step back. “You will not get her, Grant. She is mine, and she was good, too!”
Alex turned and swung his claymore in a sideways arc at Niles. Niles blocked the blow, just missing having his belly sliced open. Alex parried at him again and again, swinging his powerful arms repeatedly at his adversary. The crowd’s chants grew louder. Sparks flew as the sounds of crashing metal continued. The ruthless drive continued, spurred by a power even Alex didn’t fully comprehend. Then a shout wrenched from the crowd as Alex slipped on the gravel and took the edge of Niles’s sword in his right thigh. The crowd booed at the injury to their laird. First blood had been drawn.
Alex stepped back to reassess. The wound was a small one, but he smiled. It was a reminder to him that he needed to stay in control. Niles would try to anger him with his taunts and lies about Madeline. He had to shut his mind to them if he was towin. He expected the Comming to be a dirty fighter. The man knew nothing of the word “honor” as he expected.
The crowd cheered Alex on. He couldn’t see Madeline but preferred it that way. He wanted no distractions. His brothers would take care of her and his sister. He would not have to see the fear in Madeline’s eyes anymore because of Niles Comming.
Alex lunged at Niles. Niles anticipated the move and rolled out of the way, but not before Alex sliced into his shoulder. The crowd roared. Niles still got up and was able to block two more blows.
Both men stepped to the outside of their circle. Niles paced as Alex held firm, both changing their strategies. The crowd quieted as they noted the blood dripping on the ground. Alex’s thigh was still trickling red, and Niles’s shoulder bled profusely. Alex knew he now had a weak spot on Niles. His shoulder had to be paining him and would weaken quickly. He glanced at his thigh. The pain was minimal and the bleeding was already slowing. But not on Niles. His shoulder continued to bleed heavily. He had to force him to swing overhead.
Alex glowered at his enemy. Slowly, Niles smiled. He walked a little closer to Alex and said quietly, “Did your lassie tell you how much I made her bleed? She was such a screamer.” Alex’s eyes turned dark as coal, but he refused to be baited.
At that, Niles swung his claymore over his head and brought it straight down on Alex, trying to slice him in two. Alex blocked the swing, but stumbled and fell to his left. Niles saw his opening and quickly brought his sword over his head again for the killing blow. Just as he swung in a downward arc, Alex turned back to his right in a flash and forced his blade into Niles’s belly and pulled up. Niles looked at him briefly, stunned, before crumpling to the ground, dropping his sword.
A cheer erupted from the crowd as the Comming went down. Alex’s men pounded his back as he lowered his sword. He turnedto search for Madeline but couldn’t find her in the throng of people. Sweat dripped down his face. He shook his head because his vision blurred, but he couldn’t stop. He frantically scanned the area for her. Kenneth was still out there and she was no longer with his brothers.
Chapter Twenty-One
Maddie learns how patient and loving Alex Grant is.
Maddie forced herself to meet the gaze of the man she loved. How could she explain? She was so humiliated. Her arms wrapped tight around her middle. She hated Kenneth for what he had done to her. She knew God did not want her to hate anyone, but she could not help it.
And what would Alex say about this? She was aware there was a possibility he would be so disgusted he would walk out of the water and never return. Then what would she do? Her humiliation would be complete. Maddie buried her face into her arms and reached back with her hands to fist her hair. Everyone would hate her, just like Kenneth had always wanted. He had always been jealous of the affection and respect people gave her, and he had tried to ruin her in every way possible. Mayhap he would have the last laugh.
But if she gave up now, when she was this close to happiness, she would belettinghim win. Alice had advised her to always be honest with Alex, and this was the time for honesty, even if it hurt.
“I need to tell you something,” she said, her arms still crossed in front of her.
Alex’s head dropped momentarily, but then rose to look at her. “I am listening.”
Madeline fought to keep herself from crying. “My stepbrother was very angry that I refused to marry the Comming.”
“I know that, Maddie,” he whispered. “I bore witness to his brutality.”
