Page 19 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

“Ye sound in awe just now, and yer lover is on the other side of the castle,” Kyven murmured as she lifted the clove and lavender-scented lye and washed her body in the water.

“Aye, he has that effect on me. It is proof that ye have found a good lover when ye cannae help thinking of him even when ye are far apart.”

Kyven paused with the lye. There was such a man, a man she thought of an awful lot, but it certainly wasn’t Laird Shay. She pictured Captain Gilchrist was the one holding the lye instead of her, his tall frame and imposing body climbing into the bathtub with her. It didn’t frighten her, not in the slightest, but excited her. She practically trembled despite the heat of the water, longing to know what it would be like.

“The first time hurts, ye ken,” Helen whispered. These words broke through and Kyven halted.

“It does?”

“Aye, but if ye have the right lover, he will be gentle with ye. It will nae hurt again. A good lover will show ye true pleasure.”

Kyven laughed at Helen’s words.

“Ye clearly have a lot of experience, me friend.”

“Just good experience,” Helen agreed with her own laughter. “I hope ye find the right lover yerself, me lady. Whether that is Laird Shay, or… or another.”

“I am nae sure I have much choice in the matter,” Kyven muttered miserably and continued to wash, her movements now frantic. “The council have made it clear I must marry soon, and I have only had one proposal. Nae many men want tae take on the burden of this clan when it has invited such trouble and evil over the last few years. Laird Shay is the only man who has made me an offer.”

Her breath suddenly caught in her throat. To be so undesirable, even when her dowry consisted of a clan, was gutting.

Captain Gilchrist’s face appeared in her mind once more, then she remembered his darkened expression as he had turned away from her in the shadows the night before, and marched away, snapping angrily at her.

“Captain Gilchrist and I argued last night.” She wasn’t sure why she said it, but the confession fell from her lips suddenly. “He seemed so mad at me, so angry. I dinnae ken why. I dinnae understand him!”

“Dae ye nae?” Helen asked, her tone not so innocent as she now tidied the bed.

“He practically barked at me,” Kyven murmured. “Laird Shay was about tae kiss me hand last night, and all at once, he was there! He must have followed us from the feasting hall, but quietly. I didnae hear him or his footsteps. It was like he was made of shadows.” She trembled, uncertain if it was attraction she felt now or anger.

“I thought we were talking about Laird Shay, nae Captain Gilchrist, me lady.”

“What?” Kyven mumbled distractedly. She washed the lye off her body as Helen tossed a towel over the screen, ready for Kyven to use.

“If ye and the Captain are at odds, talk tae him openly about it,” Helen encouraged. “Ye two have been such good friends fer so long, it is hardly surprising ye sometimes argue. Everyone does, sooner or later, but ye can surely put the argument tae bed, aye?”

“Aye,” Kyven murmured, but with no firmness in her tone. For some reason, she couldn’t help feeling that hers and Gilchrist’s friendship had changed for good now.

When the conversation fell silent between her and Helen, she held her breath and plunged under the water again. Her hair bobbed about her in the watery depths, and she closed her eyes tightly, thinking of Gilchrist and how he had marched away from her, refusing to continue the argument.

Ye confuse me so much, Gilchrist. I dinnae understand ye at all.

Gilchrist watched over the new recruits as they trained. Parrying back and forth in the long grass, some of them nearly fell over more than once, losing their footing.

“Myers!” Gilchrist called to one. “Widen yer stance. Ye fall, ye give yer opponent the advantage. Hold yer ground.”

“Aye, Captain,” young Myers called back and spread his legs further. Suddenly, with a stronger foothold, he was able to get the advantage in his own fight.

Gilchrist walked around the training ground, giving such tips to both the new recruits and the older, more experienced soldiers. Amongst them was Aaden, in a fight with one of the other soldiers, both well matched, and both making the same usual mistakes.

“Aaden, Faulkner, ye are both sluggish today,” Gilchrist called to them. “Ye need tae start changing yer battle strategy more. Aaden, ye’re leaving yerself open fer a chest blow. Faulkner, yer weight’s too far back. Aaden could cut yer feet at any moment.”

Aaden swiped down at Faulkner’s feet in answer, and Faulkner leapt back.

“Aye, Captain!” They both shouted back and returned to their fight with renewed vigor. Faulkner put his weight forward and Aaden protected his chest more than before.

Gilchrist circled them all. He rested his hands on the hilts of the weapons, but they were not needed. Everyone was fighting well, and no one wanted to fight him.

“Tut tut, what’s this?” The familiar voice made Gilchrist’s gut curl in hatred. He didn’t bother turning to look at who had spoken. He could feel Laird Shay approaching from the side of the field. “What’s this I see as I take me morning stroll? A war leader, a captain, who willnae fight with the rest of his men?”