He opened the door and stepped out into the hall, already anticipating seeing Kinsey. Except that his father stood several paces away, arms folded casually over his chest as he waited.
There would be no getting around him to go to Kinsey, and William refused to go to her with his da present.
Laird MacLeod noticed William and approached. “Come, lad. The horses are waiting.”
William didn’t so much as glance at Kinsey’s door as he passed. Still, something squeezed in his chest. He hated leaving like this after what they’d shared the evening before.
The journey to Newcastle would take four days, and with William a day ahead, he would not see her for five at least.
He and his father strode from the inn into the drizzling rain. The heavy clouds overhead promised even more rain as the day pressed on. The stable lad took William’s pack and secured it to the horse alongside a bit of food and a bedroll.
“Ye’ve done well, William.” His father climbed onto his own steed.
William mounted his horse and regarded Laird MacLeod with a careful look, unsure if he’d heard correctly, but almost afraid to ask.
His father shook his head with a laugh. “Aye, ye heard me right, lad.” He clicked his tongue, and their horses began to climb the steep street toward the castle where the others were waiting. “Yer army is well trained. I see how they listen to ye, and I’ve witnessed their skill.” He nodded in approval. “Ye’re a good leader.”
Warmth expanded in William’s chest, unwanted but glorious regardless. He was a grown man, one whose concern should extend beyond his father’s opinion. But those words, small and freely given by others, were ones he’d waited his whole life to hear. A goal finally attained.
“Good enough to lead the clan?” William asked.
His father grinned at him, an older version of William’s own smile. It bolstered William’s spirits. At least, until Laird MacLeod spoke. “That depends on what marriage ye’re considering.”
“Marriage?” William shook his head. “It doesna suit me.”
They were near to the castle now, where the king and a group of his men gathered for departure.
Laird MacLeod slowed his horse to delay their arrival. “It suits a laird.” A frown tugged at his face. “This is what I meant when I said ye were no’ ready to be a laird. Ye dinna think of yer people. Ye think of yerself. Ye need only wed a bride. Once ye’ve secured the marriage, ye can carry on rutting every lass in Christendom.”
Such a thought was even worse than marriage to a woman William didn’t want.
He’d bedded women married to men who hadn’t cared for them, men who were off with other women while William pleased their wives. He’d vowed never to be one of those men.
“The Campbells have a daughter,” his father continued. “She’s bonny enough. She hasna much wit about her, but her dowry will bring land and a considerable fortune. It would secure our alliance with the clan, which would be a great benefit to yer people.”
The Campbells would be a powerful ally, and alliances through marriage were well-sealed. William clenched his jaw, hating the truth behind his father’s words.
They were close enough to the others to make out the murmured hum of the men conversing as they mounted their horses for the journey.
“I saw ye last night,” Laird MacLeod said abruptly.
William glared at his father. “What do ye mean?”
“With yer archer.” His father stopped his horse, forcing William to do likewise. “I’m sure that sharp tongue tasted sweet once ye finally got it tamed.” His da winked.
Anger flashed hot in William’s chest. “I dinna—”
“Dally with her as ye like.” Laird MacLeod narrowed his gray eyes. “But a laird marries for the betterment of his clan. No’ his cock.”
He turned away without giving William a chance to protest and joined the others.
Marriage.
William’s chest squeezed at the very idea. The relationship between him and Kinsey was a delicate, fragile thing, slowly growing into something beautiful. Even still, it was far too soon to propose marriage. And even if she did agree to marry him, would his people accept a woman with English blood in her veins?
All at once, he was glad he had not lain with Kinsey despite the temptation and knew he would do well to remember the reality of what his clan needed from him going forward. No matter how much it hurt.
* * *
Kinsey woke later that morning than usual. Her sleep had been deep, her body more rested than it had been in some time.
Before she blinked her eyes open, the reason why rushed back at her. The battle the day before, the horrors of what she’d seen. How William had comforted her.
A sudden thought struck her. She’d begged him to stay with her. He was still there.
She winced inwardly, squeezing her eyes shut, thoroughly humiliated at her memories. The way she’d spread her legs for him, cried out in pleasure, begging him to take her completely. A warm tingle pulsed between her legs. His touch on her had been exquisite.
It had been different then under the cover of night, her mind swimming with terrible images she wanted to forget, when she’d been so overwhelmed with lust. Though she didn’t know what embarrassed her more, how she’d reacted to her need, or that he’d rejected her when she’d offered herself to him.
But she wasn’t the kind of person to hide from anything. No matter how she had acted, it was better to face William. She opened her eyes and rolled to the other side of the mattress. Her bed was empty, and she suddenly felt all the more foolish.
He had left.
She roused herself, knowing there would be practice to attend soon. And she was a warrior—not some foolish girl losing her head over a man.
She quickly washed and dressed and rushed to the castle, her heart thundering at the idea of
