Rescued by a Highlander(3)

He had been betrothed once, but it had left him cold. The woman had not been one of his choosing, so the breakup certainly had not upset him. Was he destined to be alone? He only spent time with a woman when his needs overtook his clear thinking. He chose kind but simple women. What he hoped for was a woman as intelligent as his mother had been, but he had yet to find her.

Alex found himself walking toward the door. He entered the corridor and searched in both directions. The parapet, he needed to find the parapet. If he opened enough doors, he was certain he would find the right one. If he was high up in the night air, his head would clear. That was what he needed this night.

He headed down the corridor, passing the chamber his brother occupied, shaking his head at the giggling sounds he heard. The next chamber was empty. He moved on to the next door and opened it quietly.

Just as he was about to close it, he froze. The room was dark, but the candle from the corridor lit the side of a woman’s face asleep on the bed. He took two more steps into the room, found a nearby candle and closed the door behind him.

She was asleep on her side. Her gentle curves were visible through the thin blanket that covered her to her chin. He wanted to step closer, but didn’t dare. He leaned toward her and smelled lavender. Inhaling her scent, a strange sense of peace entered him. Her hair fell in soft golden waves over her shoulders. He reached down to touch a strand but pulled back in hesitation. He didn’t want to disturb her sleep. Who was she? Was this the laird’s stepsister?

His eyes fell on her full pink lips and he was hard instantly. He ran his eyes down her body again. She had to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He returned to her face and noted her porcelain skin and her small pert nose. Her long lashes rested on high cheekbones. But what he noticed next caused his erection to leave him.

She had been beaten. He stepped closer and brought the

candle in enough to see the other side of her face, staring at the dried blood and swollen bruises around her eye. She was the vision of an angel, and someone had beaten her. Anger raced through his veins. He could see some discolorations on the soft, exposed skin of her neck. He reached down, wanting to touch her and comfort her.

Her eyes flew open. He was instantly lost in an ocean of blue. She never moved, but somehow, she reached in and grabbed a part of his soul. Realizing her view of the predicament, he expected a scream. Instead, she pulled away from him, groaned in pain and whispered, “Nay.”

The door flew open and a maid came in, swinging a broom at him. In his confusion, he turned and fled. He found the door at the end of the corridor and ran up the stairs to the parapet.

Who was she? And who had beaten her?





CHAPTER TWO




Alex hadn’t been able to sleep much. He raked his hand over his face as he thought of last night, sighing. The few times he had been able to doze, a blonde angel had called to him, but he could never reach her. He paced in the great hall thinking of the beautiful woman he had seen last night. Had he dreamed it? Who would beat a woman so? His father had drilled him about the treatment of the fairer sex. He had never seen his father raise a hand to his mother.

Brodie stared at his brother, “We need to get away from here. This keep was never like this when the previous MacDonald laird was here.”

Alex pulled up short and stared at his brother. Should he tell him? He shook his head. Tell him what? That he had found an angel in a chamber that had been grossly beaten? What could two of them do about it in a strange man’s keep, surrounded by the laird’s own guardsmen, even with a few of their own guards outside? Brodie would think him half crazed. Before he had time to give it more thought, the laird entered from the outside.

Alex spoke bluntly. “Laird, you made mention of a stepsister. Is she of age to be married?” Who else could it be? She was in the chamber above the great hall. He had mentioned his stepsister being ill. He had to ask to settle his mind.

“Madeline? Madeline is long in the tooth, unfortunately. She is to wed my neighbor, Niles Comming. Good riddance to her. She is a nasty woman. The Comming will know how to get her to behave. He will take her strong mind and crush it quick, as it should be. Her father spoiled her and I cannot wait to get her wed. She is naught but trouble to me.”

Alex noticed the servants kept their eyes to the floor as their laird spoke. One finally dared to peek at Kenneth behind his back, her eyes raging. Was MacDonald lying about his stepsister? Alex pressed the issue further, unable to stop himself.

“Is she fair-haired?” Alex asked.

“What interest is it to you? You will never set eyes on her. She stays in her chamber unless I allow her out. Don’t push me, Laird Grant. Be on your way. I have much business to attend to.” Kenneth stared at Alex harshly, turned on his heel and left.