Highland Menage: A Perfect Wife Part 4

Malcolm repeated MacKenzie's words as he entered the bailey beside Colin, Duff trailing behind. They'd left Kiera sleeping on three pallets. Only when she closed her eyes and relaxed did he see the dark circles of exhaustion under her eyes. Exhaustion and remorse, blaming herself for what had been done to her.

Treating his wife badly was an insult, but he was virtually a stranger here. Yet Kiera was not just his wife, she had acted as Lady MacKenzie between her mother dying and her father marrying Silean Chisholm. This severity of insult to Kiera, and therefore her father, in the home she'd cared for, could have gotten a man flayed.

"I would like to be a spider in the corner when Laird MacKenzie discovers what has been done in his absence," said Duff.

"I had no idea of this," said Colin again. "Kiera tried to speak to me once but we were interrupted and I didn't see her again."

"What about Silean?"

"She hasn't left her chamber as the babe made her belly erupt at all hours. As she had kin visiting I left her alone. I had a few wee things on my brain what with taking over for my father," he added with a touch of sarcasm.

"What will ye do now?" asked Malcolm Colin's scowl eased. "I shall help you escort my dear sister to Kinrowan."

"As Laird MacKenzie's spy?" asked Duff quietly. His eyes shot daggers.

"My lord and laird will think I spy on Ross of Balnagowan." Colin rubbed the silver pin at his shoulder with his cuff. "Like an adder he lies by a rock, so still you dinna see him afore he strikes."

"An adder bite rarely kills," said Duff.

"That's where he differs." Colin turned his eye to Malcolm. "Kiera is the youngest of us. She is smarter than most of my brothers and fought to be their equal. She kens she is a la.s.s and must obey her laird, but it vexes her."

"We've seen that a time or two," said Malcolm drily.

"I've never seen her happier than in the two days you've been back. Have you been speaking with her of Kinrowan during all that time you spend in her chamber?"

Malcolm trusted Colin. He'd been good to them, and to Cormac and James. It would do no harm to speak of his pride in Kiera. "I asked her what she might do there if she could. She spoke not of helping herself but of training widows and wives at home with bairns to weave so they could gain a few coins."

"She wishes to improve the sheep flocks so the wool is finer for weaving," added Duff.

Colin nodded as if he'd heard it before. "And what of the cattle?"

"She is wise enough to realize she'd best leave that to her men," said Malcolm.

"So Kiera is learning a wee bit of wisdom as well as all the rest?"

"Aye," answered Malcolm, "and that 'tis best if none ken we talk with her or that we listen. A clan wants a strong, decisive laird. I have learned from yer father, and also from Somerled."

"Our laird is grim and responsible, but Niall, his twin, yanks the stick out of his a.r.s.e now and then," said Duff. "As I do with mine." He barely ducked the swat Malcolm aimed at his head.

"And here I was thinkin' I could be the one causing trouble for once," complained Colin.

"The heir to Clan MacKenzie?" Duff rolled his eyes. "Ye willna get in trouble no matter what ye do."

Colin suddenly grinned. "I might if I elope with my wee bride."

"Elope?"

"Kiera did, so why shouldn't I do the same? Barbara's father keeps putting off the wedding." Colin adjusted the leather thong holding his eye patch snug. "First my father marries a woman my age, then your brothers come here with Alana Sinclair, and now you two are locked up with my sister all hours." He grimaced. "They're all having babes and I've not had a wedding night. I'm going to steal her away."

"She lives at Grantown-on-Spey, ye fool," said Duff, shaking his head. "Yer father's new wife is a Chisholm, and they're feuding with the Grants. Fraser of Lovat is their ally, so he willna help."

"Barbara's father is at home, aye, but my fiancee is visiting elsewhere. 'Tis only a wee ride through Fraser land to Loch Ness and then a wee boat ride. They'll let me into Urquhart Castle as I am to be her husband and am ever so responsible." He preened.

"Ye ken the place?" asked Duff. "We looked from the far side of Loch Ness on our way here." He shook his head at Colin. "Grant's built himself a fine towerhouse on the point. Ye may get in but will they let the two of ye out again?"

Colin's easy expression hardened. "We have a signed marriage contract so I've the right to bed Barbara. I'm making what we both want happen, just like Cormac and James did with Alana. We'll handfast, then take the boat back to my men, ones with fast horses.'"

"Does the Lady Barbara wish to have ye?" asked Malcolm. "It would not be right to shame her."

Colin grinned and clapped both of them on the shoulders. "Your brothers had a wee word with me while they were here. They said what to do to make my lady smile. I'd not thought learning my letters would be so useful." He winked. "Barbara's still a virgin, but I made her very happy. More than once." He winked, a strange thing with only one eye visible. "I'm not the only one wis.h.i.+ng to wed."

"The Lord of Kintail willna be pleased," said Malcolm. "Nor will her father. He's Lord Strathspey, aye?"

"The lords willna be pleased, but my father will," replied Colin. "He will bl.u.s.ter at me as a lord should but there is a contract so they canna do much once Barbara is well bedded. And she will be."

"Where will ye go?"

"We'll visit my brother Roderick Mor at Redcastle. We'll take a boat across Beauly Basin from Inverness."

Duff turned to Malcolm with a false groan. "Now I ken why Kiera is trouble. Her father is a bold man and her brother, the heir, wild. Kiera has it from both of them."

"We have heard nothing of whatever this lad was jabbering about, Duff." Malcolm tilted his head toward the hall. "We've been speaking of what to bring. Our bed-"

"Is already on the way to Kinrowan," said Duff. He smirked. "I heard Mistress Chisholm shrieked when she returned to find it replaced with a thin pallet."

"Good," said Colin. "I'll send her home on the slowest, most uncomfortable cart I can find."

"Do ye ken why would she attack Kiera?" asked Malcolm.

"Aye. Dougal Chisholm is her son. She thought she'd get to control Kinrowan when he married Kiera."

"He the one Kiera heard plotting how to take her dowry and lock her up, so told yer father?"

"Aye. Kiera was fifteen at the time. She hasn't trusted a man since. Until you two." Colin's one-eyed glare was fierce. "Dinna harm my wee sister, or when I'm the Lord of Kintail I'll-"

"Dinna fash," said Duff. "We like Kiera too much to harm her. Now, spanking's a different matter. Ye have heard the best way to do that, aye?" He put his arm around Colin. "Let's get an ale, and we'll tell ye all about it."

Chapter Six.

Kiera knew Cromarty Firth was downhill to her left. On a clear day no doubt it would be a pretty sight. Now all she cared about was going home, for the first time. She focused on that wonderful thought rather than the rain. It was to be expected this time of year but she was cold, wet, and sore from riding. Riding her men as well as her horse. A flash of heat at what they'd done the last few nights momentarily warmed her.

Soon.

Perfect wives did not complain. Malcolm wanted to be the perfect laird and Duff wished to be the best steward ever, even if neither had done the job before. As their wife, and Lady of Kinrowan, it was her duty to help them any way she could. That meant giving advice in private, usually when asked, and creating a welcoming, comfortable home.

She would show them all! No one would ever connect her with the mean-spirited woman she'd been for a while at Castle Leod.

"Please let it be over this hill," she murmured while s.h.i.+fting in the saddle once more. If she could see it through the rain her pain might vanish. A horse stepped aside from the plodding column in front of her. She couldn't be sure who as they were all hooded. He waited until she caught up, and then joined her. He pushed back his hood enough for her to see Duff's wet leather mask.

"This is not weather to welcome a lady to her home," he said wryly. "'Twas far more pleasant when Malcolm and I rode up. It is a far different country than near Duncladach. There is rolling land to grow crops, not rocks and a sea's vicious winds. We will do well here." His smile didn't reach his eyes, but he tried. "Once it stops raining."

"I will soon be home at Kinrowan Castle. 'Tis all that matters." She wiped rain from her face and forced her own attempt at a smile. "I think 'tis easing now."

"I sent a rider ahead. There'll be a hot bath, a fire, and food waiting in our chamber for ye."

The thought of warmth made her s.h.i.+ver anew. "Thank you, Duff. It sounds wonderful."

"My duty is to make all well for the laird. It is my joy to make ye smile."

"You willna join me?"

"Laird Kinrowan and I will have much to do. Playing with our wife must wait. By then ye'll be dry, warm, full, and rested."

"What of you? I'm not the only one cold and wet."

"Ah, but my lady, yer very presence heats my blood."

She rolled her eyes at him. "You've been listening to my father's bard. He has a way with words."

"Seeing ye makes my heart speed up and my c.o.c.k harden."

"Gillebride the Bard never said that!"

He leaned closer. "I promised ye truth when we swam and played chess at the sheiling, aye?"

"So you did."

She thought back to those warm days and eager nights. He was right. Being near him did warm her. Not her toes and fingers, but certainly the parts between her saddle and her chin.

He squeezed her hand. "Are ye ready? The rain eased just in time. Take a look at yer new home, Lady Kiera of Kinrowan."

She realized they'd topped the rise as they spoke. Fallow fields and wooded areas rolled down to the sea on all sides. Cromarty was on a point with a headland to the east and another across a narrow strait half as wide as Loch Ness. Before it, on a rise, was a great tower, rising six stories. Round turrets with conical roofs marked the corners of the parapet. A straight section the same height went off to the right. The bailey's walls were far higher than a man's head. Kinrowan was magnificent, far more grand than her father's castle.

"Oh, my! 'Tis bigger than Castle Leod."

Duff's bark of laughter took her by surprise. "There's more. A three-story section is beyond what ye can see, and that's even bigger. 'Twill take us all a wee while to learn our roles here."

She'd managed to care for Castle Leod after her mother's death. She would learn how to do the same here. Unless stories about her had been spread...

"I hope they accept me," she murmured hesitantly.

"They said they were eager to see ye when we were here."

"That might have changed after the stories my father no doubt told them about me."

"Malcolm ordered there'd be no tales told of ye, Kiera." Duff squeezed her hand once more. "He said ye'd make yer own way and he'd allow no one, not even yer lord, to take that from ye."

She gave him a speaking glance. "He stood up to my father?"

"Aye. Why should that surprise ye? Malcolm is yer husband and yer laird. Ye are his, to have and to hold." Duff tugged on her hand. "And we'll be wanting to hold ye, and have ye, this night." He winked. "I sent our bed ahead so Silean's aunt couldn't have it. Ye'll be able to have a wee nap in comfort after ye bathe."

"Our bed!" Tears sprung forth. As it was raining and none could tell, this once she let them fall. "Oh, Duff!" She wiped her eyes with the chilled back of her hand. "Thank you."

When she looked back at him all traces of joking had faded. "Sweetling, I said I'd take care of ye when we handfasted," he murmured for her ears only. "Marrying my brother doesna change that. Ye're still my wee Kiera." He chuckled. "I wish to enjoy sleeping beside ye in that bed. Aye, and more. 'Tis the right height for me to lie ye down and-"

A roar filled the air. Startled, she pulled her eyes from Duff. The wall walk was filled with people cheering and waving. Through the mist she watched the MacKenzie flag rise to show the laird and lady were in residence. She burst into tears. Her heart ached at the joyful welcome. They wanted her, and the strong men she brought.

"They're raising the MacKenzie flag for us!" She sniffled, full of emotion, no longer cold, sore, or miserable.

"They didna do that last time." Duff stood in his stirrups to see better.

"They wouldn't have had a MacKenzie flag until Father brought it. This was Urquhart land. Now that we're here the flag will stay up."

"I see flames on it. What's supposed to be burning?"

"It's a mountain on fire. Our motto is I s.h.i.+ne, not burn."

"The MacDougal clan motto is Conquer or die," he replied. He turned his eager blue eyes on her again. "I conquered ye, and since I am for the MacKenzies now, I shall make ye s.h.i.+ne for me, my lady. Every chance I can." He gave her the look that made her insides heat. "'Tis a big castle. My brother and I shall make ye scream in every room. Starting with our tower chamber, tonight!"

He touched his heels to his horse and was gone before she could reply. At Malcolm's encouraging wave, Kiera moved to the left and slightly behind him. Lady Kiera and Laird Malcolm of Kinrowan would enter together. Back straight, head high, and hood back, she rode through the east gate into the bailey. Duff rode half a length behind on Malcolm's right, mask in place. They were soaked, their hair plastered to their heads. She smiled while her husbands nodded regally in reply to their welcome. The people gathered in the bailey, now their people, cheered.

"Thank ye for greeting us," said Malcolm while still on horseback. He placed his hand over his heart and bowed. "Yer warm welcome makes up for this rain." He encouraged Kiera forward. "My lady has always had ye in her heart." He took her right hand, raised it to his mouth, and kissed it. "I give ye Lady Kiera MacKenzie of Kinrowan!"

Her wide smile fought with tears at the cheers that rang forth. She knew his gesture was to win them over rather than show his love publicly, but she still appreciated it.

"Thank you so much," she looked around at the faces. "We may appear strangers now, but not for long. I look forward to getting to know each of you."

Malcolm beckoned Duff to move forward. "As ye ken from afore, my brother, Master Duff MacDougal, is my steward. His orders come from me, and shall be taken as such."

Duff made the same bow, hand over his heart. He said nothing.

"Where is the wee surprise for my wife?" asked Malcolm.

"Let him go, Roddy!"

A familiar bark made her catch her breath. "Chester?"

A dark streak dashed through the crowd. She couldn't see him, but she could hear his barks. Malcolm dismounted and helped her down. He held her until her legs were steady. By then Chester was leaping up, his front paws on her dirty skirts. She laughed and gave him a good scratch around the ears, praising him for welcoming her. She'd a.s.sumed Malcolm wouldn't let her bring her dog, especially as he and Chester had a few disagreements as to who was laird.

"My lady, if ye'll come with me, we'll get ye dry and warm."