Cottage in the Mist Read online

  "The head of your clan?"

  "Aye, and because my grandfather had always gone his own way, my great uncle was only too happy to countermand his orders."

  "He gave Aileen to Malcolm?"

  "He tried, but my father would have none of it. He and Aileen sought the approval of the head of her clan."

  "Chattan," Lily prompted.

  "And the Mackintosh gave the couple his blessing. They were married at Moy. Of course this dinna sit well at all with my great uncle or with Malcolm. But it was too late and Ian Ciar couldna risk angering the head of Chattan. Although he ne'er forgave my grandfather or my father. Anyway, Malcolm turned his mind to other things. My grandfather was getting old, and my uncle pushed him to let him take over Dunbrae. But my grandfather was still angry over what he viewed as Malcolm's betrayal."

  "Going over his head to his brother."

  "Aye. And so in a fit of anger, he gave the lairdship to my father. Malcolm swore revenge and began gathering men to the cause. But Iain's grandfather stepped in and with the might of Chattan behind him, forced a truce."

  "I bet that went over well."

  "My great uncle never forgave my grandfather or father for bringing the wrath of Chattan down on him and the clan. When my grandfather died, my great uncle was forced to let my father take over Dunbrae, but he cut off any kind of support from Dunmaglass. And he showered favors upon Malcolm. He gave him a prosperous tract of Macgillivray land and helped him make a strategic marriage. He was, for all purposes, the favored son of the clan."

  "But it wasn't enough for Malcolm," Lily said. "He still wanted Dunbrae. And he wanted your father dead."

  "If what Frazier says is true, then that would seem the way of it."

  "Oh, God, Bram, I'm so sorry. What a horrible situation."

  He shrugged, the twist in his gut belying his dismissal of her words. "I've never had any love for my uncle. And I know he has none for me. But I ne'er believed he would do something like this. When my mother died, it seemed that his vengeance had at long last been served, for my father was never the same again. I truly believed that was the end of it."

  "But instead, now you have to face him. To take back what rightfully belongs to your family."

  He rolled over to face her, grasping her hands in his. "Yours now, too. And one day our wee bairns."

  A soft smile tipped her lips. "You want children?"

  "I do. And you?"

  "Of course." Her smile widened. "Lots and lots of them. I was an only child."

  "As was I."

  "And I wouldn't wish that on anyone." A shadow chased across her face. "At least you had your cousins. I had no one."

  He squeezed her hands, then flipped her beneath him, relishing the press of his body against hers. "Well, now you have me. And if I have my way, we'll be swimming in bairns before you know it."

  He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers, desire usurping thought. As their tongues swirled together, tasting, tempting, teasing, Lily parted her legs, and Bram drove himself into her welcoming heat. Together they established a rhythm and started to move in tandem, meeting each other thrust for thrust as together they climbed higher and higher. Sensation winning out over thought. Emotion leaving little room for logic or fear.

  There was nothing but the two of them, and the pleasure building between them. He felt Lily reach the peak, her body spasming around him, her passage hot and tight. He drove deep into her, losing himself in the sweet smell of her skin and her hair. And then his mind exploded in white light. He called her name, his body pumping life into hers, his ecstasy beyond anything he'd ever felt before.

  Later, much later, he held her in his arms, her soft breathing signaling that she slept. The silver of Lily's ring was cool against his finger. And in that moment, he felt as if anything was possible. Magic—old magic—had brought them together. Against all odds. God's blood, against time itself. And now that they were together, he'd not let anyone or anything tear them apart.

  *****

  Lily opened her eyes to the sound of the rushing river. Overhead a green canopy of trees danced amidst a patchwork of dappled sunlight. She blinked, for a moment forgetting where she was, her mind struggling to make sense of her woodland bed. And then memory returned.

  She was in Scotland and last night...

  The enormity of the promises she'd made last night took her breath as she realized she was alone in the clearing, wrapped in nothing but her Mackintosh plaid. Had she dreamed it then? Bram. The handfasting. Had none of it happened? Automatically her hand rose to the silver chain around her neck, her fingers following the links to the hollow between her breasts. No ring.

  It had been real then. But where was her husband? Surely after last night he wouldn't have left her. She pushed aside the plaid, shivering in the cool morning air, realizing only belatedly that she was still naked.

  "I see you're awake." William Macgowen stepped out from behind a tree and it was hard to tell who was more startled. Lily shrieked and grabbed for the plaid. William, red as a beet, ducked back behind the tree. "Ach, my lady, I beg yer pardon. I dinna realize… I mean… I never…"

  "It's all right William," Lily said, her voice emerging in a croak as she hurriedly pulled on her leggings and shirt. "You can come out. I'm dressed now."

  The young man emerged, his cheeks still red, his eyes glued to the ground. "Bram went to meet with Iain and Alec. He was afeart to leave you alone and so asked me to watch o'er ye. But I dinna think he meant for me to take that so literally."

  "It's okay, I promise." She held up a placating hand. "We'll just pretend it didn't happen."

  "I thank you for that." William almost bowed in his enthusiasm to put the episode behind them. "'Tis a great kindness. For I'm quite certain that Bram would no' be pleased to think I'd been ogling his new wife."

  She smiled. So Bram had already shared their news. That certainly seemed to negate the notion that she'd imagined the whole thing. "He'd understand, but as it is there's nothing to tell him."

  "Aye. So be it then. And may I be the first to congratulate you." This time he swept into a full and courtly bow. "'Tis no' every day that we have a wedding while in route to a battle."

  She shivered at the mention of fighting. "They haven't left, have they?" She didn't really believe Bram would leave her again, but still she couldn't stop herself from asking.

  "Nay." The young man shook his head. "They wouldna go without me. And Bram said he'd be back here directly with something to break yer fast."

  She nodded, relief making her giddy and slightly guilty. If she and Bram were to make a go of it, she had to trust him. Just as he had to trust her. Her head spun with the knowledge of how very far she'd come from that moment in Greenwich when she'd first heard of her parents' deaths. She hoped they'd approve.

  "But now that yer awake," William was saying, his words pulling her from her tumbling thoughts, "I can take you to him if you like."

  "Yes, thank you. I'd like that. Just let me put on my boots." She sat down on a log, her back to William as she adjusted her belt and pulled on her boots. Tendrils of mist still curled close to the banks of the stream, although the growing sunlight would soon disperse them as it continued to warm the ground.

  She reached for her hair, quickly braiding the curly mass, securing it with a length of ribbon Katherine had given her at Duncreag. Behind her the bushes rustled. "There's no need to keep hiding, William. I meant it when I said everything was fine. I'm completely decent now."

  "More's the pity."

  She swung around, her stomach clenching as she recognized the voice.

  Frazier Macbean stood only a foot or so away, a vicious looking knife in his hand. And flanking him on his left was an enormous man holding a claymore. A second man stood farther to the left, his eyes trained on the woods that separated them from the encampment.

  Lily pushed to her feet, muscles tensing to run.

  "There's nowhere to go, my sweet," Frazier crooned, the sound sendi
ng a shudder racing through her. "The river is too deep to try and cross it here. Ye'll drown if you try."

  Visions of her parents filled her mind, bile rising in her throat as she held her ground. "How did you…" She trailed off, her mind spinning as she tried to find a way out.

  "I had a little help. Ye dinna think I was in this alone, did you?"

  She shook her head and then opened her mouth to scream, but Frazier was faster, one hand bringing the knife to her throat as the other covered her lips to prevent her crying out. "If ye dinna want to die here and now then I suggest ye hold yer tongue. Do ye ken what I'm saying?"

  She nodded. And he released her, but kept one hand circled about her wrist. "There's a good lass."

  "Where's William?" she asked, her stomach churning with worry.

  "My man has him." Frazier's smile held no humor. "And unless you want something more to happen to him, you'll give me what I've come for."

  She shook her head, fear holding her tongue captive.

  "The ring." He held out an impatient hand. "Give me the ring."

  "I can't," she croaked. "I don't have it."

  "Of course ye do." He snarled and reached between her breasts to grab the chain, his eyes flashing when it yielded nothing but silver links. "What have ye done with it then?"

  She lifted her chin, determined not to let this man get the better of her. "I gave it to my husband. Last night when we pledged ourselves to each other."

  The man with the claymore cursed. "We've the need to move, Frazier. We canna be sure they havena discovered that yer gone."

  "Only a moment more," Frazier replied, stroking the edge of his knife as he watched her, his fingers still clamped about her wrist. "I'm afraid I dinna see that one coming. I'd assumed the boy would reject you because of your kin."

  "Well, he hasn't. And if he finds you here, he'll kill you. And then he'll kill your master." Again she lifted her chin, feigning a bravado she was far from feeling.

  "I'd thought to bring Malcolm the ring. A token of my devotion. But perhaps this new turn of events is even better." He took a step closer and she backed up, her heels at the edge of the river bank. "I'll bring him his nephew's bride." With a swiftness that belied his age, Frazier jerked her into his arms and called to his friends, "Kill the boy and help me with her."

  Lily fought like a wildcat, striking out with her free arms and her legs. A knee landed squarely in Frazier's groin and with satisfaction she heard the man grunt in pain. But if she'd thought to stop him, she was wrong. Frazier cursed and then brought the full force of his fist against her cheek and temple. Red hot pain exploded through her head, white light obliterating the scene before her.

  She fought to hold onto consciousness but the pain was too great, the light fading quickly as blackness invaded, flowing through her brain, obliterating her thoughts until it swallowed her whole.

  CHAPTER 30

  "SO I HEAR CONGRATULATIONS are in order." Alec Comyn walked up to the campfire where Bram, Iain and Ranald were talking.

  "Aye, my cousin has seen fit to take himself a bride." Ranald slapped Bram on the back with a beefy hand, his face split with a grin. "I assumed he'd tup the wench; I had no idea he'd up and marry her."

  "Watch your tongue," Bram cautioned, boxing his cousin's ear. "I'll no' have you talking like that about my wife."

  "Come now," Alec said. "Seems to me like this calls for a wee dram. Or maybe two."

  Bram grinned as Alec produced a bottle and poured a measure in each of the cups they held.

  "To Bram," Iain offered, holding his cup aloft. "May your marriage bring you the same degree of happiness as mine."

  For a moment the two men's gazes met and held—a world of meaning passing between them. Ranald and Alec might be aware of the story behind both Katherine's and Lily's strange appearances, but neither of them could truly understand the sheer magic of it. Nor the accompanying fear that at any moment it might be snatched away.

  Alec waited until they'd all drained their cups and then filled them again, lifting his high. "To Lily."

  "To Lily," the others echoed as Jeff emerged from the edge of the woods.

  "Why are we toasting Lily?" he asked, pushing his hair back from his face.

  "Bram has wedded and bedded her," Ranald said, the crooked smile still fixed on his face.

  "I beg your pardon?" Jeff asked with a frown. "I thought the two of you weren't speaking."

  Bram felt some of his elation vanish as he recognized the concern in the other man's face. Lily had said that they were just friends. That Jeff was in love with his wife. God's blood, the man had said as much himself. But suddenly Bram wasn't as certain. "We had a long talk. Among other things. And all is well between us. Better than that, in truth. Last night we pledged our lives to each other."

  Jeff studied him carefully for another moment or so, and then his lips turned up into a smile. "Then I can understand the cause for celebration." He took the cup that Alec offered and lifted it toward Bram. "To you and your Lily. She loves you more than you know."

  "Ach, I think I've an idea of it now. And more importantly, I realize just how much I love her."

  "Then what are you doing lollygagging around here with us?" Ranald asked. "Go to your woman, man."

  Bram shot a questioning glance at Iain.

  His cousin smiled. "Go on with you, then. We've an hour or more until we're ready to go. Time enough for fighting. Take a moment and savor what it is you're fighting for."

  Bram handed Ranald his cup and turned toward the woods just as Dougan Macniven burst into the clearing. "Frazier's escaped," he bellowed without pretense.

  In an instant, anger replaced jubilation and Bram swung to face the man. "What do you mean he's escaped? I thought you had men guarding him."

  "We did," the big man replied, a great gash gaping above his left eye. "But they took us by surprise."

  "They?" Alec asked, as he and Iain moved to flank Bram on either side. "How many were there?"

  "Three," Dougan said. "Two of them caused a distraction and I'm sorry to say we fell for it. While we fought them off, the other man snuck in behind and managed to free Frazier. By the time we realized the ploy it was too late; they had us by the bollocks. Killed Timothy and knocked me out cold."

  "How long ago?"

  "I dinna ken." The man blew out a long breath, swiping at the blood dripping into his eye. "Long enough to get away, I'm afraid."

  "Bloody hell." Bram's eyes moved toward the woods and the river. Lily. He started forward, then froze as his worst nightmare materialized in the form of William. He was limping, and even from here, Bram could see the sorrow on the young man's face.

  "She's gone," William gasped as he stopped in front of Bram, bent at the waist as he struggled to breathe. His plaid was stained with blood, and he held a hand to his side.

  "Are you injured, lad?" Alec asked, coming forward to offer an arm.

  "I'll live," William said. "All that matters now is Lily."

  "Is she… is she…" Bram couldn't bring himself to say the words, and he felt Iain's hand on his shoulder.

  "Nay," William was shaking his head. "She lives. But they've taken her."

  "By God, I swear I'll cut my uncle's heart from his body if he hurts a hair on her head." He jerked free of Iain's grasp and turned toward the horses.

  "Hold." Iain's voice held him in place, if only because he knew his cousin would never do anything that would endanger Lily. "We need to understand what's happened before we take action."

  "It's clear enough to me," he barked, agony searing through him like a brand. "The bloody Comyns let Frazier get away and now, no thanks to William, he has my wife." From the haze of his rage he saw William flinch and, despite his despair, knew a moment of regret. "I'm sorry. I'm angry. I dinna mean to lash out at you, lad. I know you wouldn't have let them take her if there was anything else to be done."

  William still looked miserable, but Bram knew there was nothing else he could say that would ease t
he lad's remorse. Still he had to try. Had to at least be honest.

  "If this is anyone's fault, 'tis mine. I should never have left her."

  "You couldn't have known that any of this would happen," Alec said, his expression as grim as Bram's no doubt was. "I would ne'er have expected them to have the bollocks to come right into our camp."

  "We were vigilant, Alec, I swear it." Dougan looked to Bram. "And we fought with valor. 'Twas just too much of a surprise."

  Bram nodded, unwilling to totally absolve the man, yet certain even so that none of it had been intentional. "It still remains that they have Lily and we have to go after them."

  "Agreed," Iain said. "But we cannot go off without knowing the whole truth." He turned to William, who was being patched up by Geordie. "Tell us exactly what happened."

  William swallowed as the healer tied off the bandage, then turned his attention to the assembled men. "I was standing at the edge of the trees. Lily was dressing and I dinna want to see… I mean, she needed her privacy."

  "And then?" Ranald asked, his frustration clearly matching Bram's.

  "She was putting on her boots—her back to me, and then someone grabbed me. I tried to fight back, but there were three more of them and I knew I dinna stand a chance."

  "And Lily?" Bram asked, pacing in front of the fire.

  "She's a brave one, yer wife. First she argued with the man."

  "Frazier?" Alec interjected.

  "Aye. He wanted the ring. But Lily said she'd given it to Bram." He cut his gaze to Bram's hand and the silver ring he wore. "Frazier was none too happy. But he said that Malcolm would have to do with her instead." William blanched. "I tried again to fight my way free. I was still in the bushes; Lily couldna see me. And before I could do anything to get away, the man who held me stabbed me. I managed to twist away, but in so doing, I fell and hit my head. The last thing I remember is Frazier saying he would make use of having Bram's bride."