“Careful, Lady Annabella. Name calling may earn you a turn over my knee, as is wont for spoiled little girls.”
Annabella grew silent after that, and Angus was grateful. He had no idea where his words came from. It was as though she brought out the absolute brute in him, for some reason. Well, he suspected he knew the reason—he could not be around her and he could not be apart from her. Damned woman!
CHAPTER SIX
As much as it pained her to admit it, Annabella was struck once again by the rugged beauty before her. Rolling hills awash with the most stunning variances in greens, browns, and oranges. A perfect painter’s palette. Had the circumstances been different, she was sure she could have fallen in love with this place. There was something ethereal in the way the hills kissed the sky as the mists enshrouded them.
In stark contrast, the body behind her evoked opposite emotions. She tried her best to wiggle forward, away from him, but there was too little room and she kept sliding back. Her back ached and her mind was troubled. She did not look forward to being locked in the tower, but anything was better than this proximity.
She sighed. She should be aiding her cousin and coddling the new babe right now, instead of trying to find a way to keep her distance from Angus. Lord above, how could she have let him kiss her? Annabella thought back over the things she had heard about Highlanders and, while their manners were less refined than she was used to, she had to admit they were not as savage as she had been led to believe. Well, at least those she had encountered. And as for filthy, Angus had bathed the night before, and even prior to then all she could detect from him was the scent of leather, something that had never been so intoxicating to her before now.
There appeared to be much more to these Highlanders than she had been understood, and she was more than curious to find out how the people fared in the castle. Were the women treated well? The children?
She did not have long to wait to find out. A large, grey castle loomed on the horizon, and Annabella was surprised at its size. At the head of a long loch, the castle was complete with a keep and two towers. A palisade surrounded it, and Annabella imagined a large bailey inside.
“Welcome to Finlaggan, Lady Annabella,” Angus said. “It is much grander than I imagined.”
“I told you we were going to my castle. Did you not believe me?”
“No, but I did not expect this size. I thought maybe a small keep and one connected group of chambers. You must have dozens of servants!”
“Aye, servants, a cook, steward, priest, and many more. Some live at the castle, and others live nearby. Our farmlands have been good to us these past few years and have afforded these people a good life.” Angus pointed to a structure near the castle as it came into view. “That is our chapel. It is beautiful, is it not?”
When she got closer, she realized that the castle and all the structures were actually on another island in the loch. But how were they to get over there?
“Do you plan to make me swim to the castle, MacDonald, or is there a secret roadway I cannot see?”
“It is not easily visible, but there is a narrow isthmus connecting the island to the mainland.”
As they rounded the northern side of the loch, a narrow road came into view.
Water rose and fell around it, sometimes nearly washing over it. “And the horses do not mind their hooves in the muck?”
“They are used to it. Our horses have been travelling back and forth since they were foals.”
Calm settled over Annabella as she took in the incredible view of this large, grey stone castle settled amongst the wide-open landscape. As soon as they made landfall on the loch island MacDonald called Eilean Mor, the sound of castle life filled her ears. She was no stranger to it. The large manor in which she was raised had been close to King Henry’s palace, so she had a very good idea of what went into the running of such a large dwelling.
“It is very beautiful. And unexpected.”
Annabella was silent as they approached the gatehouse. As the gates swung wide, Angus dismounted and guided the horse in through by its reins.
“My lord, what news of your father?” the guard asked Angus, without offering Annabella a second glance.
“He was not there, Colin. Graham will be along shortly. Have him gather the war council and meet me in the council chamber on Eilean Comhairle.” He then nodded in Annabella’s direction. “Send two guards to the tower room, and tell them they will guard my prisoner until I relieve them.”
The one called Colin finally turned to her with raised eyebrows. “As you wish, my lord.”
Angus took some rope from the side pouch and raised it toward her. “Your hands.”
“What about them?” she asked.
“I will bind them now.”
“And if I refuse.”
“I will bind your hands, and you will let me.”
Annabella was weary from travel, and eager to be rid of Angus’s company.
