haled deeply of the heather-scented air. “It’s so beautiful here.” Her gaze wandered over their surroundings.
“Aye, verra bonny.” But it wasn’t the scenery he referred to. Not the shimmering loch the golden eagle soared above, or the Cuil ens in the distance, wreathed in mist. For him, their attraction dimmed in comparison to the woman at his side.
“I’d love to take a walk over there.” She shifted careful y in the saddle, pointing toward the loch. “It looks so peace ful. I imagine heaven would be a little like that.” She gave him a shy smile; a becoming flush bloomed in her cheeks.
“That sounded sil y, didn’t it?”
“Nay.” He returned her smile. “When yer feet have healed I’l take you there, Aileanna. ’Tis where I go when I need to think.”
She studied him for a long moment before she said, “It 116
must be difficult to be responsible for al of this. To have so many depend upon you.”
Rory shrugged. “Nay, ’tis what I was raised to do.” He paused and stroked Bessie’s mane. “I only wish it were no’
necessary to fight to hold on to what is ours.”
“Is that what your feud with the MacDonalds is about?”
“Aye, and now the king draws us into yet another battle.”
She frowned. “What other battle?”
“You doona’ remember, lass? The adventurers who kid
napped you, they’re bound for Lewis—and my cousin Aidan wil need our help to hold them back.”
“Of course, I’d forgotten.” She turned away. He narrowed his gaze upon her, but before he could question her further, he heard his brother cal out. Iain’s deep voice scattered the birds that moments before chirped happily in the branches overhead.
His brother scrambled up the path toward them. He chuckled when he saw Aileanna’s mount. “No wonder I had no difficulty catchin’ up to you.” He gave Bessie a pat and smiled up at Aileanna. Rory tamped down his annoyance at the interruption.
“What is it?”
Iain gave him a questioning look, then shrugged. “A messenger arrived. We’re receivin’ guests.” He handed Rory a rol ed parchment.
The paper crackled as Rory unraveled it. He scanned the missive. With a troubled sigh he looked out over the loch.
“See Lady Aileanna to the Chisholms’ fer me, Iain.” His tone was brusque as he stalked off toward the castle with out a backward glance.
Rory crumpled the parchment and cursed under his breath. His cousin Aidan now rode to Dunvegan accompa nied by Moira and Cyril MacLean. He knew Aidan wanted to assure himself that when the time came Rory would aid LORD OF THE ISLES
117
him in his fight against the adventurers. Rory couldn’t refuse him, but with the ongoing feud against the MacDonald, he’d be hard-pressed to provide the men his cousin required. An al iance with the MacLeans would be the answer, and Aidan knew it as wel as Rory did. The MacLeans had the men they needed, but their price was steep. They wanted a match between Rory and Moira MacLean.
Chapter 10
“Mrs. Mac. I can’t breathe,” Ali protested. The corset sucked in her waist several inches smal er than it had the right to be, crushing her ribs in the effort. Her breasts pushed up to ungodly proportions.
“Hush with yer complainin’. I’l no’ have that viper en
snarin’ my laird,” the older woman muttered under her breath while she gave the laces at Ali’s back another firm tug. Light-headed, Ali wrapped her fingers around the wooden post of the bed. “What viper? And what does it have to do with you stuffing me into this thing?”
“Lady MacLean . . . Lady.” She harrumphed. “Did you no’ ken they’d arrived?”
“Iain said something—” The rest of her response ended up buried beneath layers of plum colored satin. Arms flail ing, Ali pushed her way out, determined to get an answer from Mrs. Mac. The woman hadn’t given her a moment’s peace since she’d returned from the Chisholms’. Iain had mentioned the MacLeans and his cousin in an attempt to excuse his brother’s abrupt departure and manner. He needn’t have bothered. Ali was growing accus tomed to the Laird of Dunvegan’s domineering behavior. Although she had to admit she had enjoyed their time 120
together before Iain appeared on the scene and had been sorry to see it end, it was for the best. The more time she spent with the man the more she came to admire him, and that was not a good thing, especial y when she had every intention of finding the fairy flag.
Not that her time with Iain had proven productive in that area. She hadn’t managed to find out anything about the clan’s revered treasure. She ignored the dul ache in her chest. No matter how she felt about Rory, any relationship between them was doomed. She didn’t belong here, and if she had any doubts before, what happened to Mari put an end to them.
Freed of the voluminous fabric, Ali tugged at the low, squared neckline her breasts threatened to pop out of.
