Page 15 of In Bed with a Scot

“Oh?” Arran’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “She must have been quite something tae have tired the renowned warrior Madden Kinnaird.”

“She was,” Madden nodded in agreement.

Bain snorted. “A ride such as that must have cost ye dear,” he observed. “Perhaps I will pay her a visit on me way back through the village. What did she cost ye?”

“A priceless necklace,” Madden answered, his eyes held steady above Isabelle’s head on Bain’s face.

“Tae rich fer me blood,” Bain snorted. “I have never met a lass that was worth such a price.”

“Perhaps value is in the eye of the beholder,” Madden murmured, then turned and left the hall.

Isabelle sat helpless watching him walk away, her heart in her throat and tears in her eyes. Her hand fell to her neck to find it bare. She had not noticed until that moment.

Me necklace…

CHAPTER FIVE

Madden retired to the room that he was to share with Lorcan. He lay down on the bed that had been made up for him and closed his eyes but, try as he might, sleep evaded him. He was not certain how long he had lain there before he finally gave up and left the room to go for a walk. Leaving the room, he met Lorcan in the corridor.

“Are ye well, Kinnaird? Ye barely touched yer food at supper,” Lorcan asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Aye, I am tired but restless,” Madden answered with as truthful an answer as he could manage. He was not willing to dishonor a lady, even if she deserved it, by telling her business to strangers.

“I am making me rounds. Would ye care tae join me?” Lorcan invited.

“Aye,” Madden nodded. “It will give me a chance tae familiarize meself with the place.”

Lorcan nodded. They fell into step beside one another. “Keelin did nae seem pleased with ye at supper. Perhaps she was jealous of yer nighttime activities with another lass?” Lorcan’s tone said that he was not pleased with the notion that Madden was being disloyal to Keelin in some way.

Madden chuckled. “Nae, Keelin and I are friends, nothing more.”

“Does she ken that?” Lorcan asked doubtfully.

“Aye, she shares me feelings on the matter. She is a bonnie lass worthy of all love, but she is nae the lass fer me, and I am nae the lad fer her. It would be as if one had taken their sister or braither tae their bed.” He shuddered in disgust at the idea.

Lorcan nodded in understanding. “I see.”

Madden studied Lorcan out of the corner of his eye. “Ye care fer her.” It was an observation not a question.

“I have kenned Keelin her entire life. I dinnae wish tae see her harmed in anyway.”

“There is nae fear of that from me,” Madden reassured him.

“Good,” Lorcan nodded. “I would hate tae have tae kill ye.”

Madden got the sense that he was only half joking. “Aye, that would be unfortunate.”

The two men walked out onto the ramparts together as Lorcan inspected the guardsmen on duty. Madden looked out over the landscape taking in the beauty of the night. Starlight rippled reflected in the waters of the nearby loch. When Lorcan returned to his side, he turned with a smile. “I think that I will go fer a ride. The night is bonnie, and the loch is calling tae me.”

Lorcan nodded in understanding. “I will inform the men tae allow ye tae come and go as ye please.”

Madden inclined his head in gratitude. “I thank ye fer the kind hospitality.”

Lorcan smiled. “Any friend of Keelin’s is a friend tae me.”

The two men parted ways, Lorcan heading to his duties and Madden to the stables. When he entered the stables, he expected to be greeted by one of the stable hands, but instead he was startled when a cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows. “Madden, we need tae talk.”

Isabelle and Bain returned to their room together. Arran had yet to give Bain an answer and he was not pleased about it. He had drunk entirely too much at supper in his frustration. Collapsing onto the bed, he groaned. “Come tae bed,” he commanded, thumping the space in the bed beside him.