The Laird of Stonehaven (7 page)

Because you don’t believe in witches.

Nevertheless, seeing Blair at the window while all those unnatural phenomena were taking place in the chamber had definitely unnerved him. Magic had been in progress. Somehow he had to prevent Blair from summoning forces that could disrupt Stonehaven and its people.

Witchcraft
. Did it really exist? Common sense told him it did not, but his eyes had beheld something indisputably odd. A shudder went through him. What had he done? Whom had he wed? Why did he want a woman he neither understood nor trusted?

Graeme decided he did indeed need a woman. One who neither claimed powers nor spoke to spirits. A woman willing to ease his body without complicating his life. His body hardened at the thought of Glenda’s generous curves and sweet mouth working their magic on him. He had only to climb the stairs and summon her.

He strode toward the portal. His hand was on the latch when the door connecting his chamber to Blair’s flew open. He whirled at the sound, shocked by the intrusion but utterly bewitched by the angry beauty confronting him.

Her hair appeared alive and glowing, her face illuminated by an inner light that made her seem otherworldly. Her figure was perfection, softly rounded and sweetly curved. But her violet eyes held a spark that did not bode well for him.

Witch or nay, he wanted her still.

“You’re like all the others. You believe I am a witch,” Blair charged.

“What would you have me believe?”

“That my powers come from God.”

“I once knew a woman who claimed her powers came from God, and she is dead now because of it. Is that what you want for yourself?”

“Nay, of course not. But I canna refuse to heal because I fear death. I want to help people, Graeme . . . I must.”

He shook his head. “I understand none of this, Blair. I will protect you because I promised and my word is my honor.” He sent her an exasperated look. “In exchange, I expect to be obeyed.” He turned away. “Return to your chamber.”

“Where are you going?”

“To fetch a normal woman to warm my bed.”

Her cheeks flaming with anger, Blair whirled on her heel and stomped off, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled. Graeme dropped his hand from the latch and leaned against the panel, shaking his head. What was a thwarted bridegroom to do?

Blair returned to her chamber in a huff. The man was impossible. What would it take for him to believe in her powers? Nothing she said seemed to get through to him. She glanced toward the closed door. Tears formed in her eyes when she imagined him with another woman.

Why couldn’t Graeme Campbell be the same uncomplicated man who had visited her in her dreams?
That
Graeme accepted her as she was.
That
Graeme never questioned her powers.

Blair’s fists clenched in frustration when she recalled the countless times Graeme had invaded her dreams. Why had the spirits brought him to her if he couldn’t accept her as she was?

The door to her chamber opened and Alyce bustled inside, carrying a stack of towels and soap. “Are ye ready for yer bath, lass? Yer trunks have arrived.”

“Oh, aye,” Blair said, dashing the tears from her eyes.

Alyce pushed the door open and a manservant rolled in a tub. Other servants followed, carrying jugs of hot and cold water. Within a short time the tub was set up behind a screen and filled. Blair thanked everyone politely and began to undress.

“I’ll see to yer trunks,” Alyce said.

Blair sank into the tub, the hot water soothing both her body and her temper.

His decision made, Graeme left his chamber, lifted a torch from a wall sconce and made his way up to the third floor. It mattered not that Glenda slept in a room with others, he would fetch her anyway. He wasn’t a man who indulged his needs frequently, but Blair had fired his lust. But for MacArthur’s death, he would have already made love to Blair and rid himself of his annoying hunger for her.

Heath had the right of it, Graeme decided. Blair had bewitched him. Would bedding another woman purge her from his system? He did not know, but was willing to find out.

Three women slept in the small chamber at the top of the stairs. Holding the torch aloft, he spotted Glenda lying on a cot in the far corner. Uncaring whether or not the others awoke, he made his way toward her cot. She awakened at his approach and rubbed her eyes.

“Laird Graeme.”

“Come,” he whispered, beckoning.

Without hesitation, Glenda rose naked from the cot, donned her shift and followed close on his heels. She touched his arm when she caught up to him. “What about yer wife?”

“Let me worry about her.”

He entered his chamber and waited for Glenda to follow before closing the door behind them.

Glenda, whose morals were none too strict, preened for his benefit. “I feared ye wouldna want me in yer bed after ye wed.”

“Aye, well, you thought wrong.” He removed his belt and pulled off his plaid, naked now but for his boots. “Climb into bed, lass. I’ll be with you as soon as I remove my boots.”

Glenda whipped off her shift and climbed into bed, posing seductively for Graeme’s benefit. “I’m glad ye still have need of me, laird.” She held out her soft white arms.

Graeme turned and stared down at her. Red-haired and buxom, she was naught like the Faery Woman he had wed. But that was a good thing, was it not? The answer surprised him. It wasn’t a good thing when the woman he really wanted lay just beyond the connecting door. His cock, rampant with need but a moment ago, abruptly deflated.

He recoiled in alarm. What had Blair done to him?

“Get up!” he barked. “Return to your bed. I dinna need you, after all.”

Glenda sent him a confused look. “I thought . . . What have I done to annoy ye, laird?”

“ ’Tis not you,” he said, his tone softening. “The mood has left me. Another time, mayhap.”

He turned away as Glenda donned her shift and sidled out of the chamber. The moment the door closed behind her, Graeme flung on a chamber robe and stormed through the connecting door.

“Laird Graeme, is aught amiss?” Alyce gasped, startled by his appearance in Blair’s bedchamber.

His gaze probed the dimly lit chamber. “Where is my wife?”

Alyce’s frightened gaze went immediately to the screen.

“Leave us!” he ordered Alyce. “And close the door behind you.”

Alyce glanced worriedly at the screen, then scooted from the chamber. Graeme marched to the screen and flung it aside.

“What have you done to me, woman?” he roared.

Blair sank down into the water. “I did naught. Get out. I prefer to bathe in private.”

His heated gaze raked over her exposed flesh. “You cast a spell on me. Take it away.”

“I canna take away what I didna do. What are you talking about?”

“You stole my manhood. You took from me the ability to bed another woman.”

“I . . . what?”

Reaching down, he hauled her from the tub. “You heard me. I was useless to Glenda. That has never happened to me before.”

Blair laughed in the face of Graeme’s anger. “You give me too much credit, Laird Graeme. I couldna do that even if I wanted to.”

She knew that goading him was a mistake, but she couldn’t help looking down his body. What she saw, however, made her mouth drop open. He was fully aroused, his sex jutting boldly from the folds of his robe.

Graeme must have noted the shocked look on her face, for his eyes followed the direction of her gaze. Nearly as astonished as Blair, he dropped his hands from her and backed away.

“Damn you! Just touching you arouses me. I’m cursed!” Whirling, he stormed from the chamber.

Graeme had already eaten and left the hall when Blair broke her fast the following morning. A fetching red-headed serving maid sidled up to her and asked if she’d like a bowl of oats or eggs and ham. The girl’s manner was blatantly disrespectful. Hand on one hip, she inspected Blair from head to toe, then quickly dismissed her with a toss of her head.

“Is something out of place?” Blair asked. “Have I forgotten to fasten my dress?”

Checking first to see if anyone was looking, the girl said, “I never saw a witch before.”

Blair sighed. Would it never end? Would people never tire of thinking ill of her? “I am not a witch,” she replied.

“Ye must be to have bewitched our laird.”

“Who are you?”

“Glenda. I serve Laird Graeme.” She grinned. “If ye catch my drift.”

Blair did indeed catch Glenda’s drift, and she recognized the woman’s name. Glenda was the one Graeme had intended to bed after Blair had refused him. The thought of Glenda intimately entwined with Graeme sent an immediate surge of anger through Blair.

“Henceforth you will confine your duties to the kitchen,” Blair said, stressing the word
duties
.

“I will continue to do as I please until Laird Graeme commands otherwise,” Glenda returned. “It’s not your decision to make. Have ye decided between porridge and eggs?”

“Porridge,” Blair said, vowing to deal with Glenda later.

She watched Glenda stroll off, all too aware of what Graeme saw in the flamboyant flirt. Aside from being voluptuous, she boasted a blatant sexuality that all but screamed for a man’s attention.

From the corner of her eye Blair spied Alyce hurrying toward her, her face flushed from exertion. Alyce’s aura had turned from the usual placid blue to a more volatile violet, and Blair knew immediately that she was upset.

“Blair, lass, ye must come quickly,” Alyce panted.

Blair rose from her chair. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“ ’Tis yer husband, lass. He’s in the stillroom, rummaging through yer box of herbs,” she said meaningfully, “and his mood is nae good. What happened last night?”

Blair paled. “Show me the way. I will tell you about it later.”

The stillroom was situated beyond the kitchen. They reached it by way of a vine-covered arched walkway. Blair burst through the door just as Graeme was removing four candles from a box and holding them aloft to inspect them.

“What are you doing? Why are you searching my belongings? Be careful. Those herbs are precious to me.”

Graeme whirled at the sound of her voice. “After what I saw last night, I canna trust you, Blair. I am making sure there is naught in here to cause mischief.”

“As you can see, I brought naught but herbs, salves and simples with me to Stonehaven.”

He shoved the candles beneath her nose. “What are these used for?”

Blair shrugged. “They are just candles. Sometimes I work late and need the light. Are you satisfied?”

Graeme returned the candles to the box. “For the time being.” He turned to leave.

“I met your leman this morn,” Blair ventured. “I suspect you’ll soon hear about it from Glenda. I’ve confined her duties to the kitchen.”

Graeme’s elegant eyebrows shot upward. “You what?”

“I’d best go unpack your trunks,” Alyce said, scooting out the door. “I’m not needed here.”

“Coward,” Blair hissed as her friend left her alone to face Graeme’s wrath.

“ ’Tis just as well she left,” Graeme said. “Alyce is a wise woman. Now, Blair, please explain yourself. Glenda’s duties are none of your concern.”

“I beg to disagree, my lord,” Blair said sweetly. “Am I not your wife?”

“That’s debatable,” Graeme groused.

Blair chose to ignore his comment. “As your wife, I have complete authority over the servants, do I not?”

“Under normal circumstances,” Graeme allowed. “But our marriage is . . . unusual, to say the least. You are not truly my wife, are you?”

“Father Lachlan would disagree.”

“You’re avoiding the subject, Blair. As for Glenda, she is answerable to no one but me.”

Blair’s eyes narrowed. “As you wish, laird.”

A smile stretched the corners of Graeme’s lips. “Och, lass, you’re jealous.”

“Jealous!” Blair huffed. “I barely know you. How can I be jealous?”

His smile widened as he extended his hand and stroked her satiny cheek. “I can remedy that, lass. I know a way we can become better acquainted verra quick.”

Blair was sorely tempted. Graeme must have noted her indecision. Before she knew how it happened, she was in his arms, his lips plundering hers. Then she felt the blunt force of his tongue exploring her mouth. His hand tangled in her hair, his mouth a bruising pressure as his kiss turned fierce.

The Prophecy,
an inner voice warned.
Heed the Prophecy. Dinna lose your heart.

Of course Blair knew why she couldn’t lose her heart but she was in no mood to listen to reason. Graeme’s kisses were making her wild to experience the pleasure she had known in her dreams. Her dreams had never shown her the glory of completion with Graeme; they had stopped just short of that wondrous knowledge.

Lust shot through Graeme as swiftly as a sword. He broke off the kiss and lifted his head to stare at Blair. Her eyes were closed, her lips cherry red and wet, her expression dazed.

She’s mine
, he thought exultantly. Once he bedded her, this mad desire for her would cease. Sweeping her into his arms, he took possession of her lips in a long, slow kiss that was deliberately seductive. With Blair secure in his arms, eagerly returning his kisses, he walked toward the door, wild to be inside her.

Blair must have been aware of his movement, for she shrugged free of his kiss, her eyes wide with alarm. “Where are you taking me?”

“To bed. It’s what we both want.”

“Nay! Put me down.”

“Why are you fighting this? We’re wed. The church expects us to have children. And there is only one way for that to happen. Dinna you want children, lass?”

Her face assumed a wistful expression. “Aye, I do . . . but . . .”

She would love to have children. But first she wanted to know why Graeme was so set on having her in his bed. They scarcely knew one another, and he had been a reluctant bridegroom.

“Why do you want me, Graeme? I am not beautiful. You yourself said I am . . . strange, and I am not experienced in bed play.” She counted his hesitation in heartbeats.

“You think you’re not beautiful?”