Page 37 of Deception of a Highlander

Alec furrowed his brow in momentary confusion. “Nay, Laird. I’ve uncovered a plot to kill her.”

CHAPTER 15

“Someone wants to kill Mariel,” Kieran said with a note of bemusement. “And how do they intend to accomplish this?”

Alec crossed his arms over his chest. “Take her from her room tonight and throw her over the cliffs.”

Kieran nodded. The brutish plan was simple but would have been effective. “I’m surprised it took so long,” he said. “She has, after all, been here for several hours.”

The warning Kieran had issued to the clan earlier had not been taken seriously by everyone, and he had a strong idea who dared defy him. “Do ye know who was behind it?” he asked.

“Hamish.”

Hamish. Young, over-sure Hamish constantly overstepped his boundaries. When Brennan had been alive, he’d acted as a father figure in Hamish’s life and been the only person able to control the lad. Brennan’s death had been difficult for the clan, but Hamish had taken it especially hard.

“Very well, I’ll deal with him in the morning. Hamish has been allowed to do as he pleases for far too long. It is time he learned a lesson.” Kieran was not certain what he would do, but such blatant disregard for his direct order would have to be publicly acknowledged and reprimanded.

“And Mariel?” Alec narrowed his pale blue eyes.

Kieran knew what Alec referred to. Even after teaching Hamish a lesson, others might still plot against her. His people had always been loyal to him, even in the trying time following his brother’s murder. Hatred for the English, however, could overwhelm even the most loyal of hearts, and he was not willing to risk Mariel’s life.

“Keep her company at all times. If ye are unable to do it, then leave Colin in yer stead.” Doubtless, Colin would not mind that duty. “And have her placed in the room nearest mine. Keeping her close to me will dissuade attacks.”

The corner of Alec’s lip twitched upward.

“Dinna give me that. I dinna have time for a lass.” To prove his point, Kieran lifted a stack of account books and let them slam back down onto the worn, wooden surface of his desk, sending dust motes swirling frantically in all directions.

“She wants ye, Kieran. She’s bonny enough, even if she is a wee thing. I dinna understand—”

“That’s enough.” It came out harsher than he’d intended.

Nonplussed, Alec rose with ease, and a wide grin spread over his usually serious face. “I’ll have her placed in the room next to yers.”

Kieran turned back to the ledger in front of him without responding and waited for the door to close behind Alec.

The neat row of numbers occupied Kieran’s eyes, but his mind filled with the memory of Mariel arching her back so that her breasts stood out beneath her thin gown and the way her fingers had caressed her creamy flesh. He remembered how her cheeks flushed when she begged him to touch her. His cock throbbed to life.

Kieran cleared his throat loudly and focused on the parchment in front of him to no avail.

In placing her out of harm’s way, he had left himself without the defense of multiple walls of stone between them. He hoped he was strong enough, disciplined enough, to resist what lay sweet and tempting in the room beside his.

* * *

That evening, Kieran sat at the head of the table in the large, intricately carved chair that had belonged to his brother and their father before him. The smell of venison and freshly baked bread hung among the scents of home.

He refused to touch the food before him, not when Mariel had yet to arrive.

Out of concern for her discomfort among strange people in a strange place, he had offered her the opportunity to dine alone in her room. She had politely declined and insisted on eating in the main hall with his clan. Truth be told, he had been pleased with her resolve to join the others. Coming to Skye had been her decision—nay, her insistence. She would do best to deal with the repercussions of her choices rather than hide from them. He could not protect her from everything.

The large wooden doors to the great hall swung open, and in stepped Mariel, within seconds of being considered late. A blue velvet gown hugged her shape like a second skin regardless of the modest cut. The fabric fully displayed every enticing curve, from the generous swell of her breasts to the sensual dip of her lower back.

Women stared with spite; men gawked with open lust. Mariel ignored every one of them as she strode to the table, her brilliant stare fixed on him and him alone. Despite his determination to remain cold and distant, he went hot beneath her gaze and was about to stand to offer her the place beside him when Colin rose smoothly to his feet.

Kieran gritted his teeth. Damn Colin. Kieran glared at his old friend and watched Mariel sink gracefully into the seat between them.

Dinner was a long, torturous process. The warmth of her body blazed beside him, a constant reminder of her closeness. Her sweet scent hovered over the aroma of food and teased him with memories he could no more ignore than the woman beside him.

“Don’t you agree, Kieran?” She arched her eyebrow in expectation.