Page 58 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

“Ah! Ye’re jealous, are ye?” She smiled as she gently pressed a cold compress of witch hazel to the worst of the bruising.

“Damn right, I’m jealous! But that’s beside the point. ’Tis nae why I’m rejectin’ yer so-called plan. Well, nae entirely.”

“Why then?”

“Because ’tis dangerous fer ye, of course. I dinnae want ye tae be alone with

the man. Who kens what he’s capable of? If that performance of yesterday was anythin’ tae go by, he wants me dead. And with me out of the way, ye’re at his mercy.”

She stopped what she was doing and looked at him keenly. “Ye really think so?”

“I ken it, lass! Ye’re the one who told me how fast that bastard who was beatin’ on me and tryin’ tae take ye ran out when ye told him yer name? And then how quickly Blaine came tae the rescue?” He shook his head. “If ye hadnae been with me, ye can bet yer last crown I’d be lyin’ in a ditch somewhere, food fer the crows.”

“Lord, Tadhg, is that what ye believe? That he meant tae kill ye?”

“Alana, ’tis ye he wants, but ye have a husband, me. A very inconvenient husband,” he explained patiently. “I was meant tae die in that cellar, so he can marry the MacTavish widow. Ye bein’ there too saved me. He didnae expect that tae happen. I have a target on me back, fer sure.”

Her eyes widened as she contemplated his words, and he could see she was

disturbed by them. “The bastard!” she muttered to herself, returning to her task. Then, after a moment, she added, “When I was talkin’ tae Moira just now, she mentioned Blaine, and she said he was always troublemaking, even as a bairn.

“Apparently, he’s always been headstrong, and a bit violent too. I got the impression she daesnae really like him but didnae want tae come out and say it plainly. She has a lot of respect fer me faither, and I suppose if me faither daesnae come back, Blaine will be her employer. She didnae wish tae speak out of turn perhaps.”

“Aye, I expect so. I can believe that about Blaine. Knox said he’s headstrong as well. Remember the way he set about me with such fury when we were supposed tae be havin’ a friendly spar?”

“Aye. Ye still have the wound on yer chest from it. Well, that settles it as far as I’m concerned. We have tae try tae find out what he’s up tae. “So, d’ye have a better plan than mine?” she asked, applying more salve.

“Aye, as it happens, I dae. We dae what any good scout would dae. We watch him tae see where he goes, and then we follow him. He may well give us some answers without ye takin’ any risks.”

“And if that daesnae work?” she asked, casting a final approving look over her handiwork before starting to tidy away the medical supplies.

“Then I’ll reconsider yer suggestion.”

“All right. Let’s try it.” She smiled at him and gave him a small kiss. “Now, how are ye feelin’? Is the willow tea workin’ yet?”

“Aye, me headache’s fadin’. I’m startin’ tae feel better,” he said, returning her smile. “But I can think of somethin’ that’ll perk me up nae end.”

Alana shrieked with laughter as he pulled her back into the bed with him and rolled on top of her. “I think we’ve just about got time afore breakfast,” he murmured, looking deeply into her eyes before hungrily taking possession of her lips once more.

Later that day, they were invited to attend another council meeting.

“They’re only askin’ me tae attend out of politeness because they dinnae wantae upset ye,” Tadhg whispered to Alana after a servant informed them of the meeting after luncheon.

“Aye, good. I hope it annoys them tae see us together after what happened yesterday, especially Blaine. Let’s be extra lovin’, just tae make them sweat a bit and see ye’re nae so easily gotten rid of.”

Tadgh grinned and said, “That’s me lassie, a wee spitfire. Aye, I’m all fer layin’ it on thick. If Blaine gets angry about us bein’ so close, he might let somethin’ slip. And I suggest we start here, so it gets back tae him,” he added, taking her in his arms in the busy vestibule and kissing her soundly.

Alana threw herself into the part of doting wife with enthusiasm, even giggling shyly after they broke apart in the face of some strange looks.

They spent some time walking in the garden hand in hand before the meeting, going over the matter of following Blaine.

“The best time tae dae it would be after dinner tonight when there are quite a few people about the place. That should give us a bit of cover,” Tadhg said.

“Aye, alright, and if he sees us and challenges us, we can say we were tryin’ tae find somewhere private and got lost,” Alana suggested.

“Sound plan.” He nodded just as a servant came to tell them the meeting was about to start, and Blaine was requesting their presence.

“We’ll be there directly,” Tadhg told the man, who hurried back to the castle. They followed him at a more leisurely pace.