Page 51 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

She felt something else too; a warm glow around her heart that she knew full well went against all her previous promises to make his life a misery, but which seemed to be growing every day. Now that she had let him in and begun to discover the real Odhrán beneath the fearsome exterior, she only longed to ease his burdens. She wanted to see him smile, hear him laugh, hear him murmur her name, Maddy, as they lay together in mutual passion.

I cannae help it, I’m fallin’ fer him.

The realization brought with it a small frown, for she still could not quite accept what was happening to her. Though she understood that Odhrán had played no part in his father’s atrocities, to admit she cared for him still felt like a betrayal of her murdered family. Pushing the thought away, she finished her tea, swung her legs out of the bed, and sat on the side for a few moments, gathering her wits for the day ahead.

“Come on, there’s work tae dae,” she told herself, getting up and deciding not to bother to wait for Jessica to come and help her dress. Instead, she washed in cold water before putting on clean linen and an old dress, meaning to go and help Alana and Kate tend to the wounded. She brushed out her hair and tied it up firmly in a scarf before slipping into her shoes and leaving the room.

She hurried downstairs, finding the hallways busy with people rushing here and there in the aftermath of yesterday’s battle. But no Odhrán.

“The laird’s with the council, me lady,” a passing servant told her when she accosted him. “He’s likely tae be busy fer most of the day.”

“Aye, of course, thank ye,” she replied, a little disappointed not to be able to have just a few words with him. She went on to the great hall to help with the wounded. She would have wanted to in any case, but now it seemed vitally important to lend Odhrán all the support she could by fulfilling her duties as Lady Lennox. She felt suddenly proud to bear the title and had come to share her husband’s frustration with the council, wishing she could help him prove Rollo was behind the attacks.

I hope those fools give him the men he needs tae vanquish that twisted cousin of his at last. The man’s as cunning as a fox, damn him tae hell!

“But we still have nae direct proof Rollo is behind the attack,” one of the councilmen pointed out for the umpteenth time despite Odhrán’s spirited arguments to the contrary. “The men who attacked us yesterday wore nae insignia,” he added. “We cannae be sure he’s responsible. ’Tis too risky tae retaliate without a good reason.”

Feeling the absence of his two captains supporting him, Odhrán burst out, “Ye talk of reason, but can ye nae see there’s nae one else who could be responsible? Nae other clan has any reason tae attack us. Rollo is the only one with a stake in all this. There’s ye proof. How much more d’ye want? I warn ye, the longer ye make me wait for a counterattack, the weaker we are, and the more ye’ll be chemin’ us all at risk. Ye say ye dinnae want Rollo as yer laird, but ye’re going the right way about chemin’ it happen,” he protested, banging his fists on the table and making it shake out of sheer frustration. The councilmen looked alarmed by his angry outburst, but Odhrán sensed he had failed to convince them.

“’Tis nae enough, me laird, I’m sorry, but we all agree on this,” the man insisted, spiking Odhrán’s ire even more. “We need justification tae show we’re nae dishonorable dogs that attack their own family on a whim.” He did not add, ‘like yer faither,’ but he might as well have done. To know what they were all thinking made Odhrán even more furious. In the few months he had been laird, had he not busted his guts to improve the relations with their neighbors, which his father had poisoned? And this was his thanks!

“Aye, we must have that proof!” the same councilman put in, adding insult to injury.

“Ach, damn ye! All right, but while ye dally with our lives, I’m callin’ all our men in from the borders. I want every fighting’ man here in the castle, fer when I get ye yer precious proof. And when I dae, ye’ll see how Rollo’s been playin’ us all,” he declared furiously. “Until then, this meetin’s over.”

He stalked out of the chamber boiling with rage at their refusal to support him. He had no idea how to get the proof they demanded, and he knew he needed to calm down to think properly. His thoughts immediately turned to Maddison. He craved her soothing effect on his troubled soul, so he decided to go and find her and go with her to see Tadgh.

He wanted to check up on his friend’s recovery. Plus, Liam would likely be with his brother. Even if Tadgh was not well enough to speak on the matter with the council himself, Liam would. Odhrán urgently wanted to be among friends and discuss how to satisfy his advisors. After that, he would take time off to spend with his wife and forget his problems for a while, hopefully, in her arms.

Guessing she would be helping with the wounded, he went straight to the great hall. There he found her, serving tea to those who could drink it and comforting them with kind words. His anger began to drain away, and he felt immediately better when he saw how her face lit up on seeing him. In truth, each time they had been together these last few days, he half expected her to revert to her former hatred of him at any moment. She could not know how much her little signs of affection meant to him. He smiled back at her and waited, watching her while she finished what she was doing and came over to him.

Even swamped in her apron, wearing a plain, dark dress, with her hair tied up in a scarf, she was beautiful. His heart clenched to see she was wearing the sapphire ring, for it was proof that she really had come to care for him. It was such an amazing feeling that he felt selfish for wanting more, for wanting her to say she loved him.

“There ye are,” she said, laying her small hand on his arm and planting a sweet kiss on his mouth. “Are ye all right? I’ve been worried all day about yer head. Ye should nae have gone out like that without wakin’ me,” she chided gently.

“Ye were sleeepin’ so peacefully, I didnae have the heart tae wake ye, and I had tae see tae me duties after the battle,” he told her. “But I’m feelin’ fine… now I’ve seen ye,” he added, meaning it but also for the added pleasure of seeing her smile and blush.

“Nay more dizziness?” she asked, scrutinizing him closely.

“Nay, but me head’s a bit sore still,” he admitted. “Especially after dealin’ with the bloody council.”

Her face fell. “They still willnae believe ’tis Rollo who’s the enemy, I take it.” He was touched that she seemed to care so much.

“Correct.” He looked around the peaceful room. “Are ye still busy? Can ye come with me tae see Tadgh?”

“Aye, of course, I’d love tae.” She went and spoke briefly to Kate, to tell her she was leaving and then took off her apron and joined him. “Kate says Alana’s already upstairs checkin’ on Tadgh,” she told him, taking his arm without prompting and going with him out of the hall.

When they arrived at the brothers’ chambers, it appeared that Alana had just redressed Tadgh’s wound, for she was clearing away the things she had been using. Tadgh was laying under the covers, propped up by pillows. The warrior appeared drowsy, but there was color in his cheeks once more, and he acknowledged them both with a crooked smile before his eyelids drooped tiredly.

Liam had been sitting in a chair next to the bed, but when Odhrán and Maddison entered, he stood up.

“I wondered when ye’d show yer face,” he said to Odhrán by way of greeting, his battle-worn face splitting into a huge grin.

“I would have come before, but I’ve been tied up with the council,” Odhrán murmured, letting go of Maddison’s hand long enough to embrace his faithful captain. The pair leaned into each other, laughing and slapping each other’s backs heartily. When they had done, Maddison too embraced Liam. The big man looked surprised, but when Odhrán grinned at him, he returned the hug with enthusiasm.

“’Tis wonderful news indeed,” Maddison said, smiling brightly “There, Odhrán, did I nae tell ye Alana would work her magic on him?” She put her hand in his again, as if that was where it belonged. The small gesture pierced Odhrán’s heart all over again.

“So, how are ye feelin’?” he asked Tadgh.