The Imposter Part 15

"My husband was unable to consummate our marriage," I said matter-of-factly, feeling the rush of blood that would color my face. The lie was a bold one. It was not that Devon had been unable to consummate our marriage; the truth was that he had chosen not to. He had chosen not to consummate our marriage despite the fact that I had nearly begged him to make love to me.

"Sae yer marriage could be annulled?" he asked, eyes driving to my very core. "I will find ye to be a virgin still?" he asked, eyes alight with excitement.

"Yes," I admitted truthfully, shuddering about the idea of giving myself to this repulsive man.

"I'll warn ye not tae toy with me la.s.s. If I find ye damaged in anyway, rest a.s.sured that the McClain will be killed immediately and consequences would befall ye as well," he hissed in response to my claim.

"I am untouched," I volunteered the half-truth, knees quaking.

"Take the la.s.s to my chambers and have her prepared. If I find her to my satisfaction, I shall wed her at daybreak tomorrow. Make the appropriate preparations for the annulment," he barked. Servants immediately began to spring into action, and a guard grabbed my elbow from behind.

He's bought my story. This could work!

"I'll have a bath first!" I demanded, catching the Laird off guard. "And a proper gown." I looked at him intensely, daring him to deny my request. I knew that these requests would buy the McClain men time. They needed time to figure out where Devon was being held and get into position to secure his release. "And wine," I added, needing to make sure that the most important part of our plan was carefully put into place. "I would like to have some good quality wine," I said, meeting Cameron's beady eyes.

"I see that ye are a demanding woman already," he nodded in apparent approval. "I like a woman who kens what she wants," he said, motioning to his servants to get started meeting my list of requests.

I was motioned to follow a large man with red hair and a matching red beard by Cameron, and I followed rigidly, resisting the urge to look back and try to find Nathan. I clasped my hands firmly together in front of me as I walked after the man, concentrating on the way his kilt swished from side to side as I trailed behind him. My palms were sweaty and I felt like I was going to throw up from nervous antic.i.p.ation. I turned my mind inward, trying to focus on Devon, trying to feel his presence, seeking his comfort in this G.o.d forsaken place. I was terrified as the red haired man stopped in front of me an opened the large wooden door to a ma.s.sive chamber, extended his hand and motioned for me to enter.

"The things that ye requested will be here shortly," he said dismissively, closing the door immediately after I entered the vast room.

I looked around the room, stunned by the riches that surrounded me. There was a ma.s.sive four poster bed, draped in a thick fur coverlet. I looked away from the bed, gulping audibly as I swallowed.

What if Nathan's plan doesn't work?

Within minutes, the bath that I had demanded arrived, as did the wine. I poured myself a gla.s.s of the ruby liquid, swallowing each sip slowly as I watched the maids fill the tub. I sat on a heavily upholstered bench looking blankly into the fire, completely consumed by my thoughts and fears. The maids finished filling the tub with hot water and I heard the thud of the heavy door as it was closed behind the last maid as she left the room.

I knew that I would not risk being caught naked in the bath, unsure of when the Cameron Laird would choose to enter his chambers. I set my gla.s.s of wine down and changed quickly into the new gown that had been hung on the armoire. It was a beautiful dress, but it did nothing to make me feel attractive. I felt dirty, sick with fear, and I again picked up my gla.s.s of wine, drinking deeply to calm my nerves. This was the only gla.s.s of wine that I would allow myself. I needed to think clearly if there was any chance that I might actually be able to pull off Nathan's scheme.

I surveyed the dress, reviewing Nathan's instructions. Cameron could not have provided a more perfect dress. The sleeves were full and ended at my wrists in slight bells. Perfect for concealing the poison that I intended to put into Cameron's wine. I reached into the pocket of my discarded dress and pulled out the small satchel that Nathan had given me earlier. I poured the powder into the bell of the right sleeve of my dress, happy with how easily it was concealed in the fabric and how well it was contained by the embroidery around the cuff of the dress. It would be easy to sprinkle the powder into Cameron's drink or directly into his mouth if need be. Nathan had a.s.sured me that the poison would take effect almost immediately, a fact that my life would be dependant on.

I paced in the firelight, back and forth, back and forth. I had tried in vain to settle myself, but my nerves wouldn't allow it. I worried about Devon's safety. I didn't even know if he was still alive. Thinking of his steady strength calmed me, settled me, and gave me focus.

He's alive. I can feel his presence here.

The door opened loudly and my eyes flew open. I was startled to see Cameron walking into the room. He closed the door behind him and walked briskly towards me.

"I trust that ye found everything tae yer satisfaction," he said, glancing to the bath that admittedly looked untouched.

"Yes, it was fine, thank you," I said, finding manners to be rather painful at the moment. I detested Cameron for what he was doing to Devon and found it challenging to remain civil with him.

"Let's get on with it then. Tae the bed with ye," he commanded head motioning to the great fur covered bed looming in the center of the room.

This man had no shame. He thought that I was going to jump willingly up onto his bed?

"Excuse me, but consummated or not, I am a married woman. It would be a sin to lie with another man before my marriage with the McClain is annulled," I said firmly, standing and crossing my arms in refusal.

The Cameron Laird sputtered, taken aback by my bold refusal. He was clearly not a man who was accustomed to being refused. "I doona intend to take ye until yer marriage is annulled and we are properly marrit," he said, trying to cover his blunder. "I do however intend to check tae see if ye remain a virgin as ye say that ye are," he said challengingly, beady eyes starting at me in a way that made me want to die of embarra.s.sment.

"And how do you plan to find out if I am a virgin still?" I questioned boldly, holding the gaze of his beady, hungry eyes.

A smile spread over his lips, which he licked in antic.i.p.ation. The man was foul, and the thought of being any closer than I already was to him made the bile rise in the back of my throat. He raised his right hand into a fist and then extended his middle finger. "I plan tae check ye," he continued to smile, driving his fist and extended finger up in demonstration of what he planned to do.

I swallowed hard, repulsed by the thought of this man touching me. My mind flashed back to Devon and to what his fingers had done to me the night before he left for battle. I needed to use the poison and use it quick. My mind raced, seeking to find a way to kill him before he had a chance to touch me.

I laughed nervously, catching him off guard. "I am a lady, Cameron!" I exclaimed. "Do you really think that I will hop up on your bed and spread my legs so that you can check to see if my virginity remains intact?"

"If ye seek tae marry me, tae escape from the b.a.s.t.a.r.d McClains, then check ye I will. I'll not marry a wh.o.r.e."

"We had better start drinking then, because there is no way that I can allow you to do that while I am sober," I said, pouring myself a full gla.s.s of wine, then filling another gla.s.s to offer to McClain. "Maybe we can use this unique opportunity to begin to get to know each other," I said, raising my eyebrow at him in invitation, gauging to see if he was going for my plan.

"If that's what it will take tae dull yer senses, tae make ye more willing, let's get on with it," he said, nodding in approval.

I knew that it was now or never, and I spun around the table, turning my back to him, looking like I was setting the bottle of wine down and picking up the gla.s.s to serve him his wine. With my back turned to him, I tapped the bell of my sleeve, sprinkling the white powder into his winegla.s.s. I quickly swirled my finger in the red liquid, ensuring that the powder was completely dissolved before I spun and handed the gla.s.s to Cameron, taking my own gla.s.s of wine in my other hand. My heart thundered in my chest, fear and antic.i.p.ation consumed me and I hoped that my hands were not shaking too noticeably.

"To a new start," I offered, clinking my gla.s.s against his, then hastily bringing my gla.s.s towards my lips and taking a deep drink of the wine. I inhaled sharply through my nose and swirled the wine on my palette before swallowing in a big unladylike gulp.

I watched Cameron nervously as his gray eyes surveyed me, I didn't see any sense of suspicion. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d was probably so consumed with the idea of checking my virginity that he could think of nothing else. I watched as he took a deep swallow of the wine, and closed his eyes, savoring what I hope would be his last drink.

"Aye, this is good," he nodded in approval and took another hearty swallow.

My nerves hung on the edge, antic.i.p.ating what I hoped would be a swift death at the hand of Nathan's poison. Just as Nathan had explained, Cameron began to cough as if something had become lodged in his throat.

"Are you alright?" I asked, feigning sympathy as I set down my wine gla.s.s on the small table next to the fire.

"Aye, just got some down the wrong pipe," Cameron said, face flus.h.i.+ng with embarra.s.sment. He took another deep sip of wine seeking to clear his throat. His coughing became worse and I saw in his eyes the flash of recognition as he dropped his gla.s.s. The gla.s.s shattered on the flagstone floor, spraying my skirt with wine droplets.

"b.i.t.c.h!" Cameron said angrily through gritted teeth as he fell to his knees. He knew that he had been poisoned and grasped in vain at his throat seeking to stop the coughing and gagging that resulted from the poison. His eyes were wild with fear and he lurched towards me, grabbing onto the hem of my dress.

I kicked him away and backed into the far corner of the room, watching guiltily as he was consumed by throws of agony as the poison spread rapidly through his body. He began convulsing and he frothed at the mouth. I watched, stunned as his body began to quiet, and now was shaken only by occasional tremors. His eyes were open and gla.s.sy, but his chest still rose and fell spasmodically although his breathing was labored and irregular. Finally, his muscles clenched in a final tremor and he was silent, still. I walked cautiously over to him and knelt down, ready to spring back if he moved. I felt for a pulse and found none.

He was dead. I had killed a man.

I took a moment to collect myself and then coolly and mechanically followed through with the rest of Nathan's plan, just as I had been instructed. I knew that there was no time to waste. I would deal with the consequences of my actions later if I made it out of this situation alive. I a.s.sured myself that I had only done what was necessary for Devon to survive. I had chosen to take Cameron's life in an effort to save Devon's, and if this meant eternal d.a.m.nation, it was a price that I was willing to pay.

It took all of my strength to heft Cameron into the enormous bed. I removed his clothes and settled the fur comforter about him, making it look as though he was sleeping.

Alerted by the jingling in the sporran that I had discarded with his kilt, I found a large number of keys on an iron ring. I held the keys in my hand and said a prayer that one of them would lead to the place where Devon was being kept. I just knew that one of these keys would lead to Devon's release.

I surveyed the scene in the bedroom and tousled my hair in preparation for the next step in the plan. Holding the keys firmly in my hand, I walked confidently to the door and unbolted it. I opened the door and peeked outside, clearing my throat to draw attention of the guards. There were two of them, standing a ways down the corridor, heads bent in casual conversation. They heard me and walked briskly towards the chamber.

"Excuse me," I said, looking down, feigning embarra.s.sment of a girl who had just been confirmed to be a virgin.

"Yes, mistress? Is everything alright?" one of the men asked urgently.

"Yes, everything's fine. The Laird told me to tell you that he is too exhausted to leave his bed," I said, keeping my eyes on the floor, hoping that my face was flushed appropriately.

The guards chuckled and raised their eyebrows at each other.

They were buying my act.

"He asked me to bring you these keys and tell you that the McClain is free to go," I said, extending my hand and dangling the key ring out into the hallway. "Good riddens to him, I might add," I said for affect and then promptly closed the door.

I collapsed against the door and waited for my breathing to return to normal. I was now fairly certain that Devon would be released, but now I had to follow through with the final stage of Nathan's plan. The worst part of Nathan's plan.

I didn't have much time and my heart thudded in my chest. I moved towards the bed and threw back the covers. I walked over to my dress, which was neatly folded on the dresser and retrieved the dirk that Devon had given me. It was concealed in the pocket of my gown and just the act of holding it in my hands made me ach with longing for Devon.

I walked back over to the bed and pulled the dirk quickly across the sensitive skin of my inner arm, wincing in pain as blood spilled forward onto the white sheets. Nathan had instructed me to make the bed look as though Cameron had taken my virginity so as not to rouse suspicion. I smeared the blood around and tucked the dirk into the pocket of my new dress. I bound the wound on my arm with one of my stockings and pulled the bell sleeve back over it for cover.

With my heart racing and my thoughts scattered, I lay back on the bed and pulled my skirts up around my waist. I rolled onto my side and faced Cameron, trying not to look at his gla.s.sy eyes and the vacant look on his face. I put my arms around his shoulders and was surprised to find that he was still very warm. It took all of my might to roll him on top of me and to position him between my spread thighs. The feeling of his skin against my naked flesh was repulsive, and I fought the urge to gag.

When I was satisfied with my preparations, I let loose a blood curdling scream.

"Help!" I yelled, "Guards! I need help!" I screamed, blood thundering.

The doors burst open and the same two men that I had given the keys to earlier sprang into the room, eyes frantically scanning to room trying to get their bearings about what was going on.

"He's dead!" I screamed, "Get him off me!" I continued to scream hysterically as the men ran to the bed and pulled Cameron off of me.

I scrambled to cover myself with my skirts as the men tried in vain to rouse their Laird.

"What happened?" one of the men exclaimed in my general direction as he shook Cameron.

"He woke up and wanted to... he wanted to do it again," I tried to act demure, and reminded myself to look at the floor. "And he was on top of me, pumping away and I think that his heart exploded from the exertion," I explained, pleased that I was able to summon some tears to look more convincing. They were not tears of sadness, but were tears of genuine fear.

"Aye, the Laird's dead," the red-headed man confirmed, rolling Cameron onto his back, and glancing accusingly in my direction.

"What are we going tae do with her?" the taller man said to his comrade. "It's clear that the Laird took her maidenhead," he said, eyes scanning the blood stained sheets.

"But she's still married to the McClain. No one else will want her after this," he said, glancing back at the bed. "Mayhap she's a witch if laying with her caused his heart tae explode," he said, looking at me with disdain.

"I don't know what tae do with her, but go catch the McClain's before they leave. Let her be their problem," the red-head guard said, using a blanket to cover the Laird's exposed privates.

The tall guard ran from the room, the soles of his shoes running down the hall were a beautiful sound. They just might be the sound of my salvation, I thought.

The guard pulled the fur coverlet up and over Cameron's face, and then stood from the bed.

"I'll walk ye down tae the foyer," he said, motioning for me to follow him.

I followed silently behind him, hope beginning to build tentatively within me. I might have just pulled this off! All that I needed now was to see Devon, to know that he was safe and to keep myself from falling apart in his arms. I had a part to play, the part of an unhappy wife who had just had s.e.x with someone else, someone other than my husband.

As I followed the guard into the foyer, my heart soared when I say Devon, badly beaten but all in one piece, standing next to the ma.s.sive entry doors. His eyes met mine, and then darted away. He was angry with me.

We were all but thrown out of the keep and the doors clunked into place behind us. I wanted to throw myself at Devon, to capture his face in my hands and see how badly he had been hurt. It took every ounce of my composure to fight my instinct to kiss him, to hold him, to see if he was hurt badly.

"Doona touch me," he gritted angrily between clenched teeth in a voice so soft that only I could hear.

My heart sank at the controlled anger ringing in his voice. I was so happy to see him, but I could tell that my sentiment was not reciprocated.

We walked silently to our horses, Devon, Nathan, and I with Brennan trailing slightly behind us. I moved towards Nathan when he mounted his horse, thinking that it would be safer to ride away from the keep with him rather than Devon.

Devon's hand shot out possessively and grabbed my arm. His touch sent waves of electricity through my body. I looked up at him, and he swung up into Stanley's saddle, pulling me effortlessly into his lap. I rested my head against his chest and promptly fell apart, sobs racking my body.

There were so many things that I wanted to say to him, so many questions that I wanted to ask, but for the moment, just knowing that he was safe was enough.

Chapter Fifteen.

Close to midnight, Devon dismounted as they arrived at McClain castle. He held Kate fast against his body. She felt so slight and looked so peaceful as she slept. He regarded her lovingly; now regretful of the harsh words he had spoken to her earlier. He wanted to kiss her and yet he wanted to spank her lovely behind for putting herself in danger.

He carried her to their chamber and settled her gently on their bed. Using his dirk, he cut the fabric of the Cameron's gown from her sleeping form, not wis.h.i.+ng for the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's possessions to be in contact with his lovely wife. Removal of the silk gown revealed a sheer barely there chemise, a garment that would surely make sleep impossible tonight. Through the thin fabric, Devon could see the pink nipples crowning her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the outline of the thatch of curls that covered her womanhood. He groaned out loud, taken aback by the torment that his woman lorded over him, even when she was asleep.

She was lying on her side, auburn hair pooling around her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Devon ached to touch her, brave la.s.s that she had been today. He ached to claim her as his own, make her his wife in all senses of the word. Fill her with his c.o.c.k and spill his seed deep within her.

He stripped off his s.h.i.+rt and kilt, letting them pool around him on the flagstone floor. Naked, he joined her on the bed, wondering if he could withstand the sweet torment of lying next to her without taking her as she slept. For the first time, he settled his naked body behind her, his front to her back, and wrapped his arm about her waist. In immediate response, she nuzzled her sweet bottom back against him, a tiny movement that almost caused him to loose all reason. If she only knew how her body affected him! He stroked his callused hands, one finger at a time, up the curve of her hips, over her perfect bottom, and through her auburn hair. She would be the death of him. It felt so good, to lie here with her, to lie with his wife, and touch her so innocently. Touching her stirred a need deep within him, and he felt his c.o.c.k harden, ready to take her at the slightest invitation. h.e.l.l, he needed no invitation!

Using every thread of discipline that he had, he held his beautiful wife while she slept. He fought off the urge to take her from behind, to wake her as he entered her slick, wet heat. She was far too tired, the role that she had played today with the Camerons had been a mighty one. He would let her rest now, and go about the business of making her his wife tomorrow. Maybe even first thing in the morning, he promised himself, causing his c.o.c.k to pulse and buck against her behind.

Devon fought his masculine instincts with every thread of will power that he was able to cling to. He had promised not to touch her until she was ready, ready to be his wife in every sense of the word. He would wait until she was ready. Wait until she was ready, even if it killed him in the process. And with that thought, he pulled Kate up snug to his chest, and tried to ignore the sweet smell of her hair and the provocations of her body. He would be a gentleman if it killed him.

Devon awoke before the first light of morning with Kate still curled against his body, sleeping like the dead. He kissed her temple and brushed her auburn hair back from her face. She looked so innocent and beautiful while she was sleeping. Heck, she looked innocent and beautiful all the time, he admitted to himself. This brave la.s.s had stirred feelings inside of Devon that he hadn't known he was capable of having.

He forced himself to slowly draw away from his wife, and quietly crept from her bed, still admiring her sleeping form as he quickly dressed and closed the chamber door behind him. There was much that needed to be done this morning, and he planned to return to their chamber in a couple of hours. She would probably still be fast asleep when he returned from his duties. He needed to brief Collin on the battle with the Camerons and speak with his men. He also needed to find Brennan and give him a tongue las.h.i.+ng like he had never experienced. Not only had Brennan's stupid actions almost gotten him killed, but they had put his wife into danger.

A tongue las.h.i.+ng would not be enough; Brennan might just need to be beaten within an inch of his life for putting Kate in such danger. Brennan's negligence was not acceptable in the least.

Devon hated the feeling of not being in control and loathed the fact that he had not been able to protect Kate, had not been able to stop her from trying to sacrifice herself in order to save him.

He would make sure that she understood that she was never, ever to place herself into danger, even if it meant that his life would be taken. It was his job to protect her, not the other way around. Devon planned to make sure that his wife understood this message, just as soon as he kissed her senseless and drove her mad with desire. He set off about his tasks, looking forward to a quick return to his sleeping wife.

I awoke in the early morning hours, and instantly panicked when I felt the cold bed beside me. Devon should be here, here with me. Where had he gone? I looked around the room and was relieved to see a bundle of his things next to the door. So he had been here, I thought, relaxing a little. He probably had business to attend to, I a.s.sured myself.

"He could at least leave a note!" I said out loud to the quiet chamber, mentally cursing his insensitivity. After all we had been through I desperately wanted him here with me.

I quickly got out of bed and resolved that I would go find him. There were so many things that I wanted to say to him, wanted to talk about. And, I wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to rea.s.sure myself that he was back in one piece. Almost losing him had been terrifying.

I chose a blue gown that I knew suited me well and accentuated my figure in all of the right places. I spent extra time fixing my hair and even pinched my cheeks a few times to give them color before heading out to search for my husband. I planned to waste no time getting him right back here to this room, to this bed where I could finally make him my husband in every sense of the word. Having felt the terror of nearly losing him, I would not be denied again.