The Highlander's Promise by Lynsay Sands

  Aulay smiled wryly. The irony was, he wanted her more than ever, but was also more determined than ever not to claim her because he wanted her for life, not for one sweet night of pleasure. "My, how the tables ha'e turned."

  Rory glanced at him curiously when he murmured that. "What do ye mean?"

  "At the lodge ye were harping on me behaving and protecting her virtue, and now ye seem eager fer me to trick the lass into me bed and I am the one resisting."

  "True," Rory admitted with a faint smile, and then his expression grew solemn and he said, "I have never known ye to be as happy as ye have been these two weeks since Jetta woke, Aulay. At least not since ye were wounded. Ye actually laughed when we took Jetta to the beach to break our fast, and the way ye look at her . . ." He lowered his head slightly, and peered at his hands where they rested on the tabletop. "I believe ye could be happy with her, Aulay, and I'd like to see that. We all would."

  Aulay lowered his head and stared into his own drink. There was nothing he could say. He thought he could be happy with Jetta too, and it was definitely something he'd like to see.

  "Well, ye've a lot to consider and I should go check on Katie," Rory said, standing up. "I'll let ye ken when she . . ."

  "Aye," Aulay murmured, not needing him to finish the sentence. He would let him know when Katie died. Rory was positive she would. But then, he'd been sure Jetta wouldn't survive her wounds either and she had. Life was full of surprises. If Katie had a strong enough will, she'd survive and surprise them all as well, he thought as he watched Rory head for the stairs.

  Once his brother had disappeared upstairs, Aulay turned his gaze back to his drink with a sigh. He did have a lot to consider. Whom he could trust here as much as he trusted his brothers and uncle. How he would tell Jetta that they weren't married when he was finally able to. How he could convince her to marry him.

  Unfortunately, the moment Jetta entered his mind, his thoughts began meandering down another path. Rory had said Saidh and the other women were presently "preparing" her to come to Buchanan. He supposed that meant they were bathing and dressing her and so on, which made him wonder where they were in the preparations at that moment. Was she stepping naked into a steaming bath? Or had she already bathed and was now standing naked as they lifted one gown or another over her head? Mostly in his mind, she was just standing there naked as she had been when he'd last seen her. With that image filling his mind, any attempt at sensible thinking was pretty much useless at that point.

  Aulay tried though. He considered all his issues--from finding justice for Katie and Geordie, to whom among his men he could trust as much as his brothers, and even whom he should send out to ask around about the ship that Jetta had been on. He thought and thought and thought, and when thoughts of Jetta distracted him, he forced them away and continued thinking, right up until he judged it was time to head out if he wished to meet up with Jetta and the others ere they arrived at Buchanan.

  His timing was pretty good as it turned out. Aulay met up with the group no more than ten minutes away from the keep. Spotting them as he rode around a bend, he reined in to wait for them, his gaze sliding over each person in turn as he instinctively searched for Jetta. Not finding her, he began to scowl and consider where the devil she could be. Aside from his sister, her husband and their men, as well as his two brothers Dougall and Niels, their wives and their men, the party also contained Mavis, his uncle and the men he'd sent with his uncle. This meant they couldn't have left the lass behind. Mavis and his uncle wouldn't do that. Still, there was no Jetta that he could see, not even in the wagons carrying the chests of gowns.

  "Where the devil is she?" Aulay barked the moment the party reached him and came to a halt. He glanced to his uncle when all eyes turned his way, his eyebrows rising when his uncle lifted the plaid he had draped over the front of himself and revealed Jetta curled up against his chest, sound asleep.

  "I fear we forgot she is still healing and tires easily," Saidh explained apologetically. "We plumb wore her out with our fussing. She was sound asleep in Uncle Acair's lap ere we left the clearing around the lodge."

  Relaxing at once, Aulay urged his horse closer to his uncle and peered at Jetta silently, torn between a desire to drag her away from his uncle to rest in his own lap, and leaving her to sleep peacefully where she was for the rest of the short journey.

  "Ye can take her if ye like," Uncle Acair murmured, glancing affectionately down at the lass. "She'll no' wake. She's slept peaceful as a lamb the whole way, no' waking to sounds or the jostling she's taken. Yer shifting her to yer horse probably will no' even stir her."

  When Aulay merely nodded and reached for her, his uncle shifted the plaid out of the way and lifted her carefully in his arms to hand her over. He was right. Jetta barely stirred at the transferal. She murmured sleepily, inhaled as her head rested against his chest, and then smiled and without ever opening her eyes whispered "husband" with recognition.

  Smiling over the fact that she apparently recognized his scent, Aulay took the plaid his uncle now offered and draped it over her, murmuring, "Aye wife. Rest now, we'll be home soon."

  When Jetta murmured something unintelligible and then seemed to fall into a deeper sleep, Aulay tucked the plaid around her and then lifted his head and froze. His uncle, his siblings and their mates had all urged their horses closer and were watching him with smiles on their faces. It made his own soft smile morph into a scowl and he growled, "She's been verra ill. Ye should no' have worn her out so."

  Aulay didn't then wait for a response, but urged his mount to turn and headed back toward Buchanan, leaving his family to follow. He rode his horse into Buchanan and straight up to the keep doors. Holding Jetta close, he then slid off his mount and nodded at the lad who rushed forward to take his horse's reins. Leaving the lad to it, he carried Jetta up the steps, only to pause when he reached the doors.

  "Shall I get that fer ye, m'laird?"

  Aulay glanced around to see Cullen, one of his soldiers, hurrying up the stairs behind him. "Thank ye," he murmured as the man reached past him to open the door.

  Cullen nodded and held the door as he carried Jetta in. Aulay heard the door close behind him and assumed Cullen had remained outside until he got above stairs and reached the closed door of the master bedchamber. Cullen proved he hadn't left him to his own devices when he suddenly moved in front of him to open that door as well.

  "Thank ye," Aulay said with surprise.

  "I thought ye might need a hand once ye got up here," the man said with a wry smile.

  "Ye were right," Aulay said quietly, and made a note that the man had forethought.

  "I'll close the door behind ye, and go back to me business then, m'laird," Cullen said solemnly.

  "Aye," Aulay murmured and finally stepped into the room. Cullen eased the door closed as he'd said he would and Aulay carried Jetta to the bed.

  She barely stirred when he laid her in it. He took the time to cover her up, and then straightened and eyed her for a minute. She looked so sweet in sleep, a peaceful smile on her face. Aulay brushed one finger gently down her cheek.

  His touch made her stir and blink her eyes open.

  "Husband?" she murmured sleepily.

  "Aye. Rest, lass," he said quietly. When she closed her eyes again, he straightened and left the room to head below stairs. The Great Hall was relatively empty as he made his way toward the trestle tables, with just a few men seated at the far end nearest the Great Hall doors.

  Chapter 10

  "A drink, m'laird?" one of the maids asked as he approached the trestle tables.

  "Aye. Ale, please, Maggie," he murmured, recognizing the woman and smiling in passing. Her eyes widened briefly at the smile, but then she bobbed a nod and hurried off to fetch it, leaving Aulay to take his seat at the head of the trestle tables. It seemed he'd barely sat down when the keep doors opened to allow the large crowd that was his family to enter. The group was chattering as they came in, and continued to do so as th
ey crossed the Great Hall and made their way upstairs. Aulay watched them go, a bit surprised that the men were going above stairs. But while the women all headed off to the doors to their rooms, no doubt to settle in and unpack, the men all went as one to the chamber Katie, Geordie and Rory were presently in. They were checking on Geordie and the lass, he realized.

  Aulay briefly considered going up to Katie's room as well, but then let the idea go. He was exhausted after being up all night and simply didn't have the energy to chase after his guests. No doubt they'd make their way back here in search of drinks to wash away the dust of the journey when they finished talking to Geordie and Rory.

  "Yer ale, m'laird."

  Aulay glanced up and sat back as the maid set it before him. "Thank ye, Maggie."

  "Me pleasure, m'laird," she said and smiled brightly before moving off.

  Aulay watched her go and then peered toward the upper landing, wondering how long Jetta would sleep. She had spent a good deal of time sleeping during her first week after regaining consciousness, but had done better this last week. However, he was guessing the arrival of his sister, sisters-in-law and Jo Sinclair had probably been a lot more excitement than she was used to. He just hoped she did not sleep through the sup. While she'd gained back some of her weight, she was still far thinner than she'd been when they'd pulled her from the water. She couldn't really afford to miss meals. On the other hand, he supposed the sleep would do her good and he could have Cook prepare a tray for her later.

  "Rory says ye want to send out men to ask around about the ship Jetta was on, but do no' ken whom ye can trust with the job among yer men."

  Aulay looked up with a start to see Dougall settling at the table next to him. Noticing movement beyond him, he watched as Niels, Uncle Acair, Greer MacDonnell and Campbell Sinclair all settled at the trestle tables around him. It seemed they were done with their visit with Rory and Geordie.

  "Rory talks too much," Aulay said dryly as he caught the eye of the nearest maid and gestured for her to bring more ale.

  "Aye. He always did," Dougall said with a chuckle, and then added seriously, "But I understand yer problem."

  Turning to him in surprise, Aulay raised an eyebrow in question.

  Shrugging, Dougall admitted, "I found meself with the same issue at Carmichael. I knew none o' the men there, so at first did no' ken whom I could trust when it came to delicate situations."

  "As I found it was fer me at Drummond, at first," Niels put in solemnly. "It'll take a while to suss out who can be trusted, but ye will."

  "I do no' have a while," Aulay said, shifting impatiently. "I need men I ken I can trust right now if I wish to learn who Jetta is and the situation she is in."

  "Or the boys and I could take turns above stairs in Conran's stead, and ye could send out him and Alick," the Sinclair said mildly. "With the four o' us doing it, 'twould mean shorter shifts."

  "Five," Aulay corrected him. "I'll take a shift too."

  "Six," Uncle Acair countered firmly. "I'm no' so old I can no' stand watch fer an hour or two." Grimacing, he added, "Any more than that and I might fall asleep, but I can manage a couple hours at least."

  Aulay considered him briefly and then nodded. Glancing from man to man, he pointed out, "It could take a while. Mayhap a couple o' weeks. Ye'd be willing to stay that long?"

  The Sinclair shrugged mildly. "We did no' travel all this way just to turn around and head home. We planned to stay a few days at least, but can easily extend it."

  "Aye," Greer agreed. "Besides, I'll no' be able to get Saidh to leave here until the situation between you and Jetta is resolved. She likes her, by the by. She'll be doing all she can to make yer marriage a real one."

  "If ye expect me to be upset by that news, ye're bound to be disappointed, for I wish Saidh good luck with the endeavor," Aulay admitted.

  "There is no luck needed. Jetta loves ye."

  Aulay turned sharply in his seat to look over his shoulder at that announcement, his eyebrows rising when he saw his sister approaching the table. She took the last few steps, paused behind and between him and her husband, Greer, who had taken the seat on his left, and then waited expectantly. The MacDonnell smiled faintly and turned to look at Campbell Sinclair, who immediately slid along the bench seat, giving him room to make way for Saidh.

  "Ye think she loves me?" Aulay asked with interest once his sister was seated.

  "I do no' think it, I ken it," she assured him solemnly. "She told me she did."

  Aulay stared at her for a moment, his mind slow to accept what she said, and then sure he must have misheard, he asked, "She told ye that she loved me?"

  "Aye," she said softly, a smile curving her lips. "She loves ye, Aulay. She thinks ye're wonderful. She thinks ye're kind and smart and sweet, and ye're kisses and touch leave her wanting. She loves ye, Aul. She says she does, and there's no doubt in me heart at all that she was no' telling the truth. Jetta loves ye."

  While Aulay stared at his sister, trying to accept what she said, the men at the table, his uncle, brothers, brother-in-law and friend, broke out in whoops and congratulations, all of them standing to approach and pat his shoulders as they did.

  "Ye've found yer bride, nephew."

  "Congratulations, brother. I'm happy fer ye."

  "Congratulations. She's a fine woman."

  "She's a lucky woman. I'm happy fer ye both, brother."

  Aulay swallowed and even managed a smile as they thumped his back, but his mind was racing. She loved him. She'd told Saidh she loved him. Mayhap he wouldn't lose her after all when she found out they were not married as she'd assumed.

  "What are ye all so happy about?"

  The men all paused and turned to smile at the women crossing the hall toward the tables. It seemed the other girls were finished organizing their rooms to their satisfaction as well. Edith, Murine and Jo were joining them.

  "I just told Aulay that Jetta loves him," Saidh said with a smile.

  "Aye." Edith grinned. "She called ye her 'sweet Aulay.'"

  Murine nodded. "And she said ye were the kindest, most considerate man alive."

  "And she thinks ye handsome too," Jo added. "She thinks yer scar merely adds a rakish air to yer good looks."

  "Oh ho," Dougall said with a grin, punching him lightly in the shoulder. "Did ye hear that? Handsome and rakish."

  "She wants ye, Aulay," Niels said smiling widely. "It must be love. Ye're as good as done fer now. Ye'll be sending fer the priest any day now."

  "Aye," Saidh said at once. "And the sooner ye do, the better, if ye want to avoid losing her."

  Stiffening, Aulay turned to her in question. "Losing her?"

  "Trust is part o' love, brother," she pointed out solemnly. "Ye need to tell her the truth about yer no' being married ere she finds out from another source. Else ye risk her finding out on her own, and mayhap fleeing or some such thing."

  "Fleeing?" he said sharply.

  "I would," Saidh said grimly.

  "Ye'd flee?" he asked with dismay.

  "Well, aye. If I found out on me own I would," she assured him. "Because it would no' just mean that you lied to me, but that everyone I knew, the only people I knew, had all been lying to me." Shaking her head she said firmly, "Mark me words, does she find out on her own, she will no' longer trust a single one o' us, or feel at all safe here."

  Aulay stared at her with openmouthed dismay, and after a moment, Saidh arched an eyebrow and asked, "What would ye do if ye woke up somewhere with no memories and then after weeks o' living with whom ye thought were yer family, ye learned the people whom ye've been trusting and believing in were no' who they claimed to be and had been lying to ye the whole time?"

  Aulay's jaw snapped closed, his teeth grinding viciously together. He was in an impossible situation. Rory was telling him he shouldn't tell her and had a good reason for it, and Saidh was giving him a good reason why he should. He felt like he was being torn in two directions. He didn't want to set back Jetta's hea
ling, but on the other hand, he definitely didn't want her feeling she could not trust him or anyone else here, and Saidh was right, that could happen if he didn't tell Jetta they were not married, and she found out from another source.

  The worst part about all of this was that he hadn't really lied at all. He wasn't the one who'd claimed to be her husband. She'd assumed he was. He just hadn't corrected her. He hadn't corrected her at first because . . . well, he hadn't really got the chance. But then Rory had told him not to and he'd been happy to let her think he was her husband. He'd actually enjoyed pretending she was his wife. Too much. Now he wanted it to be true. But that wasn't likely to happen if she found out they weren't married from someone else, and felt so betrayed she ran off.

  "Ye're putting him in a tough spot, Saidh," Uncle Acair said when Aulay remained silent. "Rory is advising him no' to tell her, at risk o' damaging her health, and yer telling him to tell her or risk her ne'er trusting him and perhaps losing any future with her. Ye're asking him to choose between her health and their future. How can he choose? He loves her. He'll neither wish to harm her health, nor lose her."

  Aulay stiffened. He hadn't said he loved her . . . had he? Nay, he was sure he hadn't. He'd admitted he liked her and would like to really have her to wife, but he didn't think he'd mentioned love.

  "Aye, ye're right," Saidh agreed with a sigh. "'Tis impossible."

  "Well, mayhap he could tell her without telling her," Edith suggested tentatively and then turned to Aulay and said, "Mayhap ye can tell her ye love her, and that there are some things Rory wished ye no' to tell her, but ye're concerned she may learn before he allows ye to tell her, and that should that happen, she should remember that ye love her."

  "That'll just drive her mad with curiosity," Dougall predicted, and shook his head. "And she might get angry that he will no' tell her what he's no' telling her."

  "Aye," Murine agreed pensively, and after a pause suggested, "instead, mayhap ye should just tell her ye love her and that ye want her to ken ye'd marry her all o'er again, any day she chose, because ye want to spend the rest o' yer life with her."