“And in your opinion, overly protective.”
She sighed. “Perhaps a bit.”
“Tell me something.” He set the goblet on the table and regarded her. “You say that locking away the ones we love for their own protection is wrong?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Then how do you explain the fact that, in the name of love, you and your sisters were spirited away to an isolated land far away from those who might wish you harm?”
For the space of a minute Allegra was too stunned to speak. Finally finding her voice, she shoved away from the table. “It isn’t the same.”
“Isn’t it?” As she started away he caught her roughly by the arm and turned her to face him. “I thought at first you were merely feigning innocence. But your kisses tell me otherwise. You’re a woman, Allegra Drummond. With a woman’s feelings. And yet you have no defense against them, because you’ve been so sheltered.”
“You see things that are not there. I have no feelings for you, Merrick MacAndrew. Therefore I need no defense.”
His voice went dangerously soft. “Would you like me to prove you wrong, my lady?”
She pulled free and backed away, her eyes wide with fear. “I forbid you to touch me, to kiss me, the way you did last night.”
“You forbid? You forbid?” With a snarl of temper he dragged her roughly into his arms and lowered his head, covering her mouth with his in a punishing kiss.
At once the heat poured between them, with all the flash and fury of a storm, heating their blood, searing their flesh. Neither of them would have been surprised to see lightning dance across the ceiling, or hear thunder echoing across the halls. It felt as if the entire fortress shuddered from an assault. Allegra wanted to fight him. But the minute his lips were touching hers, the weakness came over her again, leaving her trembling with need.
How could one man’s mouth be so clever? The mere touch of his lips to hers had her hot and cold and filled with such confusing feelings, her poor head was spinning.
He continued kissing her until she could feel the blood throbbing in her temples. She feared at any moment she would ignite and bum to ash.
A whimper escaped her lips and he lifted his head. For a moment he struggled, as though pulling himself back from a deep, dark cavern.
His eyes were hot and fierce and frightening in their intensity. “Leave me.”
“But I...”
“Leave me, woman. Now.”
Her legs were trembling so badly, she feared she might fall as she stumbled toward the door,
“And Allegra.”
At the deep timbre of his voice she turned.
“Before you retire this night, put a brace to the door of your chambers.”
“Aye.” Though she didn’t understand the reason for his sudden violence, she fled without a word.
Allegra awakened from a sound sleep with the prickly sensation that someone was outside her door. She sat up, eyes wide with fear, as the handle turned.
The brace held, and though the door moved enough to cause sparks in the fireplace to dance, it remained firmly closed.
She slipped out of bed and listened at the door to the sound of footsteps receding.
Shivering, she crossed the room and tossed a fresh log on the embers, watching as flames began to lick across the bark. Hugging her arms to herself, she pondered who might wish to enter her chambers while she slept, and why. It could have been a servant, wishing to stoke the fire. Or it could have been someone else, with a more sinister purpose.
She had many enemies in this place. In truth, she feared that she had not a single friend.
She climbed beneath the furs and lay listening to the sounds of the night. The sooner she helped young Hamish recover his memories, the sooner she could return to the safety of the Mystical Kingdom. To that end she would pour all her energies. For if she didn’t soon leave this place, she feared not only for her heart, but also for her very life.
Chapter Eleven
“M’lord.” The housekeeper bustled into Merrick’s chambers, wringing her hands. “I must speak with ye.”
He refused to look up from the ledgers that had occupied all of his energy in the past few days. He’d locked himself away, cool and distant with everyone in the keep. “What is it, Mistress MacDonald?”
“It’s the healer. She’s in the garden, digging in the dirt.”
“Aye? And what’s the problem?”
The old woman seemed startled. “It isn’t right, m’lord. She’s doing the work of a servant.”
“If that’s her choice, so be it.”
“There’s more, m’lord.”
Merrick gave a hiss of impatience. “Out with it, Mistress.”
“She has the lad working with her. His little hands and knees are filthy. The two of them are wallowing in the mud like... like... barbarians.”
He pushed away from the massive desk and swept past the old woman with a sigh of disgust. “I’ll see to them.”
Merrick made his way to the garden, but saw no one around. Just as he was turning away he heard a trill of laughter. Using the sound as a guide, he followed one of the garden paths until he came to a strip of land just beyond the garden, in a meadow filled with wildflowers. The earth had been neatly turned, and tender young plants had been set out in orderly rows. At the end of a row he saw Allegra and Hamish, kneeling side by side.
“Did I do it right, Allegra?” The little boy sat back in the dirt while the woman beside him turned to examine his work.
“Oh, aye. Are you certain you’ve never worked a garden before?”
Hamish caught sight of his father and got to his feet, flushed with pleasure. “Look. Allegra is allowing me to help her plant her herbs.”
“I see.”
Allegra stood, brushing down her skirts, avoiding his eyes. “I thought after I’m gone an herb garden would be useful for the household.”
Gone. The word did something strange to his heart. He’d refused to allow himself to think about the inevitable.
“Allegra’s teaching me the names of all the plants, and what they’re good for.” Hamish idly rubbed the dirt from his hands. “We’ve already planted savory, thyme, sage and rosemary, and as soon as we can find some young plants, she said we’ll add chamomile and mint.”
Merrick turned to her, fighting to keep any emotion from his tone. “And how do you propose to keep the forest creatures from eating your tender plants?”
“When we’ve finished planting, I’ll make a wattle fence woven of sticks and green willow branches. That should keep the creatures at bay.”
He couldn’t help but admire her resourcefulness. “It would appear that you’ve thought of everything.”
Merrick was fascinated by a smudge of dirt on her cheek. He wondered how she would react if he were to lean close and wipe it with his finger. Still, in truth, he didn’t trust himself to touch her, and so he curled his fingers into fists at his sides. “Why didn’t you ask the help of some of the servants?”
She shook her head. “That wouldn’t be fair to Mistress MacDonald. She needs their help in the keep. Besides, I enjoy working the soil, and I thought it would be good for Hamish to learn how to care for his own needs.”
“You sound like my first instructor. When Mordred, Desmond and I were being trained, we were taught that a warrior must be able to see to not only his own needs, but also those of the men he leads. And so we were each taken to a different spot in the forest and told to hunt our food, prepare it, find a safe place to sleep and to return within a fortnight as either leaders or followers.”
“What did you do, Father?”
Merrick smiled at his son. “I dug a pit and started a fire, then went off and killed a stag with my dirk. While it roasted, I went in search of Desmond, fearing he was too slow-witted to survive. I found him huddled in the branches of a tree and brought him back to my camp. The next day Mordred wandered in, cold and hungry.”
Allegra glanced over. “How ol
d were you?”
“Nine years.”
Allegra had no time to react before Hamish caught his father’s hand and led him along the neat rows. “Look, Father.” He began reciting the names of all the plants, and the many illnesses they could cure.
Allegra trailed behind, deep in thought. What oddly divergent lives they had lived. While she had been safe and complacent in her Mystical Kingdom,
this man had been learning the tasks of a warrior while still a lad. There had been no time for childhood pleasures, such as fishing in a stream or swimming in a loch. Instead he’d learned how to place his own life in jeopardy for those he loved.
When they came to the end of the row Merrick knelt, so that he and his son were eye-to-eye. “You don’t find the work tedious?”
“Is this work?” Hamish seemed genuinely surprised. “Allegra told me it’s play.”
“And you believed her, lad?”
“Aye. ’Twas as much fun as climbing trees.” Merrick’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed a twinge of guilt. “Do you miss the climbing?”
“Aye.”
“And you truly wish to climb again?”
“Aye, Father. When I’m stronger, and you give your consent.”
Merrick lowered his head, considering. “Then I promise to think on it.” Without taking time to change his mind he added, ‘ ‘Now, what do you say we take the healer into the village?”
The boy clapped his hands. “In the pony cart?”
“If you’d like.”
“Oh, aye.” Hamish looked down at himself, then at Allegra’s filthy gown. “But we’ll have to wash.”
“That you will. I don’t believe you’d like the entire village to see the two of you looking like beggars.”
“Come, healer.” Hamish caught her hand. “Let’s hurry and wash so I can show you the village of Berkshire.”
As she danced away beside the boy, she could feel Merrick watching, and was surprised by the little thrill that raced along her spine. At once she dismissed the feeling. It wasn’t caused by the man. After all, since that night he’d ordered her away, he’d kept to his room, refusing to join them even for meals.
Nay, it wasn’t the man. It was merely the knowledge that she would get to see something of his world before returning to hers.
“Well, you certainly look better than when I saw you last.” Merrick brightened when his son came dancing down the steps of the keep toward the waiting cart. Perhaps he’d been wrong to worry about the lad. He seemed fit and healthy, and there was good color to his cheeks.
“Up you go,” he called as he lifted Hamish to the wooden seat.
He turned to Allegra, who was busy wrapping a shawl around her shoulders. Before she could look up, he had her in his arms, lifting her up.
Seeing the flush that stole over her cheeks, he couldn’t resist leaning close to whisper, “Light as a feather you are, my lady. And though I’m loath to admit it, you feel good in my arms.”
This light, almost playful mood was so out of character, Allegra could make no response. She was settling herself on the seat when Merrick pulled himself up beside her.
Hamish seemed delighted. “You’re going to drive the cart yourself, Father, instead of riding your horse alongside?”
“Aye. What need have we of a servant?” Merrick accepted the reins from a young stable lad and gave them a flick. The horse started off, with the little cart moving smartly along the curving path that led to the village.
Hamish turned to Allegra. “Father says when I’m bigger, he’ll let me handle the reins.”
“Won’t that be grand?” She dropped an arm around the lad. “But it won’t be enough. As soon as you’re old enough for that, you’ll want to be even bigger, so that you can do more grown-up things.”
“Aye. Like wielding a sword, and going off to do battle with the invaders.”
At his words, she saw Merrick look over at the lad. His tone was gruff. “Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up, lad.”
“Weren’t you, Father?”
He nodded. “Aye. But times were different. After losing my father in battle, I wanted more than ever to be able to protect my mother. I’d have willingly given my life to keep her safe.”
Allegra felt a rush of tender emotions for the man beside her. “When I was nine years my life was so serene. My greatest worry was whether my garden of herbs would survive a drought.”
Merrick flicked her a glance. “And did they?” She felt the rush of heat from his gaze, and became aware of his thigh pressed to hers on the hard seat. Though she held herself stiffly, their shoulders brushed as he worked the reins. With each touch she could feel the heat that passed between them.
“Aye. My garden thrived, and my days remained simple and carefree.”
“Then perhaps your mother was wise to spirit you and your sisters off to your Mystical Kingdom. For our lives here in the Highlands have been rife with war.”
“You make me feel guilty for my life of peace, my lord.”
He closed a hand over hers. “It is never my intention to burden you with guilt, Allegra.”
Perhaps it was his touch, or the tone of his voice. Perhaps it was the fact that he called her by name. Whatever the reason, she felt her heart flutter like a caged bird.
“It’s the sort of life I want for Hamish, as well.
It’s what every parent wants for his child. What every man wants for the people he cares for.”
There was such passion in his tone. She could understand why his people had chosen him as their lord. She had no doubt that he would willingly lay down his life for every person under his protection.
As they moved along the trail they spotted Mordred and Desmond in the distance, their swords glinting in the sunlight.
Allegra shielded the sun from her eyes. “Are they fighting?”
Merrick chuckled. “Merely honing their skills as warriors.”
“But why? Don’t they get enough of that when they engage in batde?”
“Most warriors do. But it’s different when you’ve lost a father to the invaders. Then you feel that you must always be ready to face the enemy.”
“Do you feel that way?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps not as much as my cousins. You see, they lost not only a father and mother, but their home, as well.”
“But you’ve opened your home to them.”
“How could I not? Their father was brother to my father. They know they will always have a place with me and mine.”
Allegra continued watching the glint of their swords until they were out of sight. Again she felt a chill, as though a shadow had passed over the sun.
She was grateful when they rounded a bend and found themselves in the little village of Berkshire. Up ahead she could see crowds of people milling about the square.
“So many people.”
“Aye. It’s market day. As a lad, this was always my favorite day.”
“As it was mine.” Allegra smiled. “It’s one of my earliest childhood memories of the time before we fled to the Mystical Kingdom.”
Merrick brought the horse and cart to a halt and helped Allegra and Hamish to the ground. As Allegra was smoothing down her skirts an old man hobbled over to grasp her hand.
With a crowd of curious onlookers watching from a safe distance, he said, “My lady, I drank the tea made of thyme as you suggested, and my throat, which had been sore for more than a week, was instantly healed.”
Her smile bloomed. “I’m glad I could be of some help to you, sir.”
“’Twas more than help.” His voice had others looking over. “I told my wife it’s a miracle.” He bowed grandly over her hand, which he lifted to his lips. “I thank you, my lady.”
His words had the crowd surging closer, staring in silence.
Allegra drew an arm around Hamish’s shoulders as she followed Merrick toward the booths, filled with squawking chickens and geese, bleating lambs, bits of lace and embroidery, and tables laden with biscuits and s
weetmeats.
She approached a table where an old woman sat hunched in her shawl, the needles in her hands clacking in rhythm as she knitted a fine tunic.
The old woman’s head came up sharply. “Are you the one they call the healer?”
Allegra paused in midstride, aware that the crowd had gone very quiet. “I am.”
“I’ve heard of your deeds.” The fingers had ceased their work.
Allegra stepped closer, peering into the cloudy eyes. Her voice softened with tenderness. “How long have you been without sight?”
“All my life.”
Allegra caught the gnarled hands in hers. “It is my fondest wish that I could work miracles, but I haven’t the power. All I can do is heal that which is wounded.”
The old woman reached out, tracing her fingertips over Allegra’s face, pausing at the arched brow, then moving across the high cheekbones, down the curve of jaw, outlining the pursed lips.
“I’ve no need of a cure, my lady. I’ve lived all my life in darkness. Surely the light would cause me great pain after all these years.”
By now the crowd had surged forward, eager to hear everything, for the old woman was known to be a wise old seer.
Her voice rose and carried in the silence. “But even without the gift of sight, I sense a heart that’s pure and clean and untouched by the evils of this world.”
At her words the people began murmuring among themselves. They watched in amazement as the old woman wrapped her arms around Allegra’s shoulders and drew her close, whispering something for her ears alone.
When Allegra turned away, there were tears in her eyes.
Alarmed, Merrick touched a hand to her arm. “What is it, my lady? What did the old crone say to cause you pain?”
Allegra merely shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just the kindness of a stranger.” She took in a deep breath to compose herself before saying, “I believe this tunic is the perfect size for Hamish. What say you, my lord?”
He placed a bag of coins in the old woman’s hands. As he reached for the tunic she whispered, “My lord, the lass is a special gift that you must treasure. But beware. See that you guard her with great care.”