In Bed With A Stranger(73)

He lifted her as though she were a child, placing her atop the mare and handing her the reins.

“Thank you, my lord.”

He frowned at her, wrinkling his nose like a boy.

“I could not use your name in front of everyone.”

He mounted his steed and cast a look over the curious eyes watching them. There was a hint of smug satisfaction in his midnight eyes. He cut a firm glance back toward her.

“Do it.”

Anne suddenly understood and it reduced her to wanting to weep once more. He was making a public display of affection, dealing with the staff without ordering them to like her. It was clever and so touching she had to look down to hide the sparkle of tears in her eyes.

“You’re too kind, Brodick.”

“’Tis nae something that should be absent from a marriage, lass.” A warm hand reached across the space between them to cup her chin. “Just because ours is a noble union  , that doesnae mean it must be unhappy.”

He smiled and tossed his head. “Come with me, lass. The day is fresh and ’tis time I introduced ye to a bit of Scotland. ’Tis a bonny land.”

Brodick gave his steed his freedom. As they cleared the gate, the pair of horses took to the road with zeal. In just moments the castle fell behind them, leaving her alone with her lover.

The sun was warm on her cheeks, spring finally dominating over winter. The mare felt it, too. She charged forward, her muscles flowing. They crested a hill and Anne gave the powerful animal her freedom. A valley lay below them, rich and green with new crops. Time and cares blew past her as fast as the ground beneath the pounding hooves of the horse.

Anne did not stay her but leaned over her neck, becoming one with the animal.

Brodick reached over and pulled the reins. The mare started, frustrated at having her run cut short. She pranced in a nervous circle but her husband held firmly.

“McQuade land begins over that river.” There was a serious note in his voice that drove Anne’s light mood away. His eyes scanned the ridge above them, searching it thoroughly.

“You do not get on well with your neighbors?”

Philipa’s words about Scots raiding one another surfaced. The last two months had nearly driven all thoughts of her away.

“The old lord is nae friend of the McJames.” Brodick shrugged. “He holds an old grudge against my father and in turn me. ’Twas his men I was chasing for the last month and a half.”

“I see.” She really wasn’t sure what to make of Brodick’s words; he’d told her little.

“You cannae ever cross the river, lass. Stay away from it.” His eyes swept the area once more. His hand was still in command of her reins and he tugged on the mare, turning both horses around.

“Even then, the McQuades cross onto my land as bold as be. You should nae be riding alone at all. My men know to stop ye if ye stray onto unsafe ground. I’ll be instructing the captain to nae allow ye outside the walls without good escort.”

Clearly he considered the matter closed. Anne frowned, his tone rubbing her pride. He noticed the disgruntled expression.

“Dinnae be vexed with me for protecting ye.”

“’Twas more that I do not appreciate you taking up my reins, as if I can not heed a warning. Or understand the wisdom in not questioning why you tell me to do something as understandable as remaining inside your borders.”

He scoffed at her but released control of the mare. “Ye dinnae ken, lass. McQuade would extract payment from ye for the wrong he thinks my father did him. Scotsmen can hold a grudge for a very long time. His men still burn down the farms of my people without a care for the loss it inflicts on them.”

“And what was the grievance?”

Brodick frowned, his lips set in a hard line of refusal. He shook his head, denying her question.

“If he’s angry enough to act out revenge on me, shouldn’t I at least get to know the reason why?”

Brodick led them to the top of the rise before he pulled up his stallion.

“My mother was betrothed to McQuade but he lost her contract in a game of dice to my father.”

“That’s absurd.” But it was exactly the sort of thing that she’d heard tales of at Warwickshire.

“Nae in Scotland, it isnae.” Brodick grinned in the face of her astonishment. A wicked gleam twinkling in his eyes. “Didn’t I claim ye as boldly?”

She shook her head, caught between the need to reprimand him and laugh because he spoke the truth.

“You’re a devil, I’ll agree to that much.”

His expression changed, darkening with passion. “Be careful what words ye place on me. I might decide to live up to them.”

“I can hope.”