The Laird's Captive Wife(69)

‘You horror! You frightened the life out of me.’

Rather than expressing any kind of remorse Iain’s merriment seemed to increase. Incredulous she could only stare at him, her body still trembling with reaction. Then, as the initial shock subsided, the humour of it struck her and somewhat ruefully she began to laugh too.

‘Truly you are well named!’ she said.

‘Admit that you enjoyed it.’

‘If terror can be said to be enjoyable then, yes, I admit it.’

‘Is it not such moments of terror that make us feel most alive?’

‘Don’t try to philosophise, villain. What you enjoyed was scaring the daylights out of me.’

‘I canna deny it.’

Ashlynn grabbed a handful of snow and pushed it in his face. ‘Take that!’

The words were succeeded by a gasp as, without warning, he tipped her backwards into the snow and then followed her down, pinning her beneath him. Worse, there was a gleam in those dark eyes that she recognised all too well.

‘Have you not learned that there are fearful penalties attached to that kind of thing?’

Then his hands were round her, tickling her ribs unmercifully. Ashlynn shrieked, trying in vain to escape.

‘Now then, beg for mercy, wife.’

‘I will not.’

‘Say you so?’

His efforts intensified. Helpless with laughter she had at last to cry quarter. ‘Enough, Iain, I yield.’

‘Then I claim the right as victor to name the terms of surrender.’

‘Which are?’

For answer he took a leisurely kiss. Powerless to prevent it she had perforce to submit. However, the experience was enjoyable to a most disquieting degree. Furthermore the expression in his eyes did nothing to detract from that. For a long moment they remained thus, until other voices broke the spell. They looked round to see Hamish and Donald approaching along the path at the top of the crest followed closely by Ban with James and Andrew.

‘Such perfect timing,’ murmured Iain between gritted teeth. ‘I swear Hamish does it on purpose.’

Ashlynn laughed and he threw her a speaking glance. Then she felt his weight shift as he got to his feet. A moment later he reached down and took her hand, pulling her up after, and together they toiled their way back up the hill.

As the oncoming quintet drew nigh Ashlynn saw her brother’s speculative grin as he took in her dishevelled appearance. However, before he could comment Hamish spoke up.

‘We’re following your example, my lord. This looks like much more fun.’

‘Indeed it is,’ replied Iain. Then in an aside to his wife, ‘The slope’s quite exciting too.’

Ashlynn gave a snort of laughter and then hurriedly turned it into a cough. Donald regarded her with hopeful eyes.

‘Will you come with me, my lady?’ he asked.

‘Thank you no. Once was enough.’

In evident disappointment he joined Hamish on the sled. Beside them Ban followed suit with James and Andrew. Then all five set off down the hill again.

For a moment Iain followed their progress and smiled. However, when he turned to his wife his expression was quite serious.

‘Was once really enough or will you adventure with me again, Ashlynn?’

His eyes met and held her own and she recognised in his face the invitation that was both challenge and promise. Her spirit leapt, remembering the heart-thumping excitement of the first dizzy rush down the icy slope. She knew now that she had never been in danger, that he would not have let anything happen to her. It had been exhilarating and not just because of the purported risk. Being with him was the real exhilaration. She saw him smile and hold out his hand to her. For the briefest moment she hesitated, then smiled in return.

‘Yes, I will.’

Iain’s fingers closed around hers. ‘Come then, my sweet.’

This time there was the thrill with none of the terror and they reached the bottom of the hill in gales of laughter.

* * *

At the end of that afternoon when they walked back through the snow to Dark Mount, Ashlynn’s cloak was soaked along with the hem of her gown and her shoes, and her fingers tingled inside her gloves, but there was a glow inside her that rendered such details irrelevant. In truth she had not thought two months ago ever to feel so alive again. For the first time she began to glimpse a future that was not filled with fear, a possibility that she might, after all, find happiness here in this remote and wild land.

* * *

Ashlynn returned to her chamber and changed out of her wet garments. The task had not long been completed when there was a knock at the door. Her heart leapt as she bade the caller enter. As the door opened she saw her brother on the threshold.

‘Oh, Ban.’

He smiled faintly. ‘Were you expecting someone else?’