Page 5 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

She had to push away all the pictures she’d ever had of her and Captain Gilchrist together. She had often dreamt of the two of them, sitting in this room, reading and drawing into the late hours. What would it be like if a small child ran between them, with her green eyes and Gilchrist’s black hair? She always pretended in front of other people that she couldn’t care less for Gilchrist but deep inside, her truth was different.

“Knock, knock,” a familiar voice called from the doorway.

Kyven looked around, surprised to be disturbed in this room. She considered the library her haven, her place to be alone with Gilchrist.

In the doorway stood Aaden. He had been Elliot’s man-at-arms when he had stood in place of the laird of the clan, and still occupied the position, though he was not their war leader. These days, that role resided with Captain Gilchrist.

Aaden’s dark blond hair was ruffled, as if a lover had just trailed a hand through it. His rather full beard these days was neat in comparison and as he leaned on the doorframe, she noticed one of the laces of his doublet was tied at an odd angle, as if he had just thrown it on. She sighed loudly, realizing he must have seduced one of her maids again.

“Nae disturbing, am I?” he said with a mischievous smile, leaning on the frame. “Only, ye’d think the two of ye might be locked in an embrace, based on the amount of time ye spend alone in this room together.”

“Aaden!” she snapped at him, her face blushing as purple as a beetroot. She refused to turn around and meet Gilchrist’s eye. “Just because ye jump into bed with every woman in me clan, doesnae mean every man is like ye.”

“Nae every woman.” Aaden winked at her. “I havenae found a bed with ye in it yet, have I?”

“Aaden.” Gilchrist’s warning tone only made Aaden laugh all the more, tipping his head back and guffawing.

“Ye ken I would never dae that tae me lady.” He bowed ostentatiously. “Now, before I can tease ye and make poor Lady Kyven’s face even redder, ye are needed Gilchrist. The scouts have returned and seen movements of the other clans’ soldiers. They wish tae talk tae ye.”

“I’m coming.” Gilchrist stood. Kyven looked up at him, wondering if the fear showed on her face.

It was something the council had talked to her about an awful lot, how without a laird in place, someone could seek to take advantage of their weakness as a clan and attack to take the land for themselves.

“It will be nothing tae worry about,” Gilchrist said, pausing beside her, his voice deepening. “Trust me,” he added. “Any soldier would have tae fight me tae get here, and I’ll be as ruthless as the devil in his fiery hell tae stop them.” With these impassioned words, spoken so calmly he might as well have been talking about the weather, Kyven shuddered in a kind of delight.

She waited, watching as Gilchrist left. Aaden didn’t follow him thought, just standing in the doorway, staring at her.

“Ye dinnae need tae blush so much now. He’s gone.”

“Then dinnae make such comments like that in future. Ye are simply poking at something that isnae there.”

“Ah, Kyven.” He sighed loudly and stepped into the room. “I could jest about ye and Captain Gilchrist all day, but unfortunately, business calls and the council want ye.”

“What fer?” she asked, noting that all traces of humor had left Aaden completely.

“They have found a husband fer ye.”

CHAPTER TWO

“Captain Gilchrist? Are ye ready?”

Michael forced himself to turn around and pay attention to Aaden’s voice. He had been struggling with this for the last eight years. It wasn’t just the fact that Gilchrist was not his real name, but the fact that he never heard the name ‘Michael’ anymore at all. It was almost as if Michael was but a ghost, a man from the past, no longer him.

“Gilchrist?”

“Aye, I’m coming.” Gilchrist left the barracks and followed Aaden outside. He was not looking forward to this day. After seeing Kyven being taken from the library two days earlier to discuss the matter of her marriage with the council, he had been resenting it ever since.

The early morning was frosty, the ground covered in dappled ice. The wind was so strong that it bent the branches in the wind. A line of soldiers who had gathered to greet their guest all staggered in gale.

Gilchrist stopped, no longer following Aaden.

Superstition crept into his bones as he recalled the lesson Braydon had taught him long ago.

“Captain? Is something wrong?” Aaden called from amongst the soldiers.

“Nay,” Gilchrist lied, his eyes darting to the clouds which were travelling fast across the sky.

It’s just a superstition. It means nothing.