Bound to the Highlander(59)

She’d lost more than that. She was tainted now. A fresh set of tingles meandered their way down her spine at the thought of what they’d almost done. His broad chest and rock hard thighs rammed up behind her didn’t help either. As much as she regretted her unfortunate behaviour, she couldn’t deny the man’s effect on her. It was no wonder he’d been rumoured to have had so many women, for who could refuse him when he was so determined? Well, she would. With every ounce of convincing she could muster, the king would agree they were mismatched. After that she would have no choice but throw herself on the man’s mercy and hope for the best.

Each step Arion took was like an extra weight pressing down on her. The torment seated behind her was one thing, but she was about to face the man responsible for her father’s death. Did she have the strength to resist accusing him? She’d have to. Even after everything she had been through she would need to keep her thoughts to herself.

They rounded the bend and the palace came into view. Her jaw dropped. It was hard to believe only six years ago a tragic fire had laid the area to waste. The structure standing so proud overlooking Linlithgow Loch was likely the most beautifully situated dwelling in all of Scotland. Aye dwelling, if one could call it that. The east entrance was the like she’d never seen. A large drawbridge was flanked on both sides with canopied niches housing statues of a bishop and a noble. The central niche above the drawbridge housed the Stewart crest and an angel with outstretched wings. She’d heard the palace was like none other and if the inside was anything like this grand entrance, she could believe it.

“You’re trembling,” James said.

“’Tis beautiful.”

“Are you nervous?”

Why did he have to give voice to her inner turmoil? To hell with keeping her thoughts to herself, he needed to know just how affected she was by these events! “Of course I’m nervous. My fate is about to be set by the man responsible for my father’s—”

“Do not speak those words inside these walls,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

“And why not?”

“Because you will end up in the dungeon with Fergus and his men and there won’t be a thing I can do about it.”

“Why do you care? You’re only here to dump me at the man’s feet aren’t you?”

When he didn’t speak she turned to see if his expression might offer some clue to his bizarre behaviour. She was not prepared for the hurt in his eyes.

“You will come to no harm while under my care. Do you understand me?”

“Aye, I understand you are the only one permitted to abuse me. I understand that all too well.”

Just before ascending the bridge, he stopped Arion and turned her to face him.

“How have I abused you?”

“You ask me that after accusing me of being faithless and impure? Even after you discover that I—when we—”

“That you didn’t share your body with Gawain?”

Put like that, his words were much less cutting than when he first accused her.

“Aileana, I am sorry I accused you of lying with him.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And the rest of it! I didn’t run away with him either, yet you still treat me like I did.”

“What’s past cannot be undone. I am willing to forgive you.”

“Forgive me? For what?”

He sighed. “For deceiving myself and countless others. Aileana, I don’t know why you continue this pretence. I said I am willing to forgive the past. Doesn’t that please you?”

She couldn’t speak. Perhaps he thought because she was still a maiden he was in a better position to barter with her life. No wonder he was almost giddy. After all, it wasn’t damaged goods he peddled any longer.

She turned to face the yawning drawbridge. “What will please me is to be brought directly to the king and be done with this business.”

“As you wish, my lady.” There was a definite hint of laughter in his voice. What the hell did he find so funny?

The sound of Arion’s hooves clip clopping over the planked bridge grew louder and she mused this was like being sentenced, but without a trial. Well she’d let him tell all the lies about her he wanted. The sooner she was done with him the better.

They passed under the portcullis, through a wide archway and on to the inner courtyard. After they dismounted, a young stable boy took Arion’s reins and scurried off to tend to the beast. She took note of the bustling activity around her. Dozens of soldiers trained horses and each other; there was no doubt of the palace’s security.

James led her to a doorway on the left. She looked back once to see Gwen and Calum following a distance behind. They were deep in conversation and looked almost…oh! She recognized the look on Gwen’s face. So she was seeing someone new. Before the day was done, she intended to find out just how deep her friend’s feelings ran. Gwen’s throaty laugh was the kind only meant for her lover’s ears. Aileana sighed. Would she ever know such a feeling?