Timeless Mist (30 page)

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Could
n't
be better." She
straightened, firm
ly
tell
ing
herself to get
a grip. "I came to speak with you, about what you asked me the other
day."

"Aye?"

"Can we go inside?" She
glanced over her shoulder at the maid sweep
ing
the floor, "I do
n't
think you want this to be a public conversation, do you?"

Iain followed her look then
ushered her inside and closed the door. He folded his arms in front of his
chest and
almost
seemed to glare at her. What
was
up with
that
? She
shrugged and moved to one side so she could
have
a look around, gather
ing
her courage before she spoke.

It
was
definite
ly
a man's
room. The walls
were
done
in dark wood, the desk of the same s
had
e.
A small couch
was
placed before the fire, two comfortable look
ing
chairs placed kitty corner on either end of it. Two more straight-backed chairs
were
set in front of
the desk. A soft fur rug lay in front of the fire and tapestries decorated the
walls. Above the mantle hung a large portrait of Sorcha and a man, three small
boys on the floor in front of them, while Sorcha held a tiny bundle wrapped in
pink.

"You look
a lot
like
your father." Kris
turned to look at Iain who still stood by the door.

He looked startled then shrugged
and strode to his desk, seat
ing
himself in the ornate
ly
carved chair behind it. He gestured to one of the other chairs and nodded for
her to sit.

"I assume ye ha'e come to
tell me of your decision to my, ah, suggestion, from the other day."

Kris nodded. She sat and
surreptitious
ly
wiped
her sudden
ly
damp
palms on her gown.

"Before I tell you what my
decision is, I'd
like
to ask a couple of questions if I may."

Iain sat rigid in his chair but
nodded just the same.

"Well, you said
that
us gett
ing
betrothed, or handfasted,
would
not
on
ly
give me a place to live,
but would protect me, right?"

"Aye."

"How?"

"Pardon?"

"How is our be
ing
handfasted go
ing
to protect me? And from
what?"

"Our be
ing
handfasted will protect
ye from hav
ing
to go
out on your own and try to make a liv
ing
.
This is nay the twenty-first century, Kristianna. There arenae many th
ing
s a lass can do in this
time, in this place, to earn her keep."

"Ok."

"I cannae picture ye be
ing
some servant wench. Nay,
especial
ly
as ye ha'e
already admitted to me
that
ye cannae sew verra well. Ye could always help out in the kitchens I suppose,
but do ye know how to cook highland foods?
Not
to mention 'tis a hot, sweaty, backbreak
ing
job."

Kris held up a hand. "Alright
already, I get the point."

"Stay
ing
here, wi' my clan is the best solution to
that
, would
n't
ye agree?"

"I would. But I ask you
again, why a handfast
ing
?
Could
n't
I just stay
here as a companion to your
màthair
or someth
ing
?"

"
That
wouldnae work, lass. My clan is verra
suspicious of strangers. Ye dinnae understand the way of it. We ha'e been fight
ing
and battl
ing
the Campbell's for many
years now. Aye, and the English as well." He looked at her, a grimace on
his face, "I assume either my
màthair
or Elsie
has
told ye
of the last battle we fought? The one
that
led us to seek refuge in these hills because e'en our name
was
made illegal?"

"Elsie did. I know it's
inadequate, but I'm sorry."

Iain raised a brow at her,
"ye ha'e
not
h
ing
to be sorry for. 'Tisnae
as if ye
had
anyth
ing
to do wi' it and ye
arenae a Campbell or a traitor."

Kris winced, but looked quick
ly
at her hands, hop
ing
Iain
hadn't
not
iced.

"Ye are howe'er, English. Which
is
almost
as bad in
these parts."

"So how will our be
ing
handfasted solve
that
problem? I'll still be
English."

"Aye, ye will. But my clan
will more readi
ly
trust ye, accept ye, if ye become part of them. If we are handfasted, ye will
be do
ing
just
that
. They will accept ye as
one of the fami
ly
. Most
will welcome ye. Though some may still nay complete
ly
trust ye, they will at least gi'e ye more of
a chance to earn their trust if they dinnae see ye as an outsider."

"Okay. I see your
point."

"Good. Now might I ha'e your
answer?"

"
Not
just yet, I still
have
a
not
her
question or two."

"Verra well."

Kris gave him a nervous smile and
wiped her hands on her dress again. "What happens after this handfast
ing
?"

"I'm nay sure I understand
the question. Ye mean when the year and day are up?"

"No,
not
exact
ly
,
though
that
is one of
my questions. I mean how far do you plan to go with this charade if I say yes
to your proposition?"

"Charade?"

"Yeah. Do we
have
to play act in front of
your clan? Do we
have
to convince them
that
we're in love or someth
ing
?
Or at least
that
we care
about each other? How far do we
have
to go with this? I mean, do we
have
to sleep in the same room? Spend time together? Kiss once in a while? Wh…"

"Hold on, lass. One question
at a time. Ye are go
ing
so fast I cannae keep up wi' ye."

"Right." Kris held up a
f
ing
er,
"breath."

Iain laughed. "Now, I will
ha'e to think on those th
ing
s.
Ye are right in ask
ing
them. I
had
nae thought
of what we must portray to my clan in order for them to believe
that
we are tru
ly
handfasted. Which doesnae
usual
ly
happen unless
a couple
has
true feel
ing
s for one a
not
her."

"I thought so."

"Wait, let me finish, if ye
please."

Kris clamped her lips shut, try
ing
to keep herself from
babbl
ing
some more. If
she did
n't
stop do
ing
that
, she
was
sure to give someth
ing
away.

"We most certain
ly
must put up some kind of
a front before my clan else they will know someth
ing
is amiss. I dinnae think we ha'e to make it too obvious or elaborate, howe'er
as ye ha'e on
ly
been
here a short time. A handfast
ing
is sort of a trial marriage, to see if the couple fits and can get on together.
If at the end of the year and day, they find they suit, then a formal ceremony
is held. If they find they dinnae," he shrugged, "each party is free
to go his or her own way wi' no recriminations. They are free to wed elsewhere
should they so desire."

"So, what happens to me
then?"

"By then, ye will ha'e
hopeful
ly
earned the
clans trust and could then stay here and wed a
not
her
of my clan or we may stay wed. If there is a child from our union,
that
child will be legitimate
and nay considered a bastard."

Kris blushed, but said
not
h
ing
.

"'Tis all verra logical, as
ye can see."

"Right." Kris nodded
slow
ly
, "
very
logical, indeed."

"So then, lass, what is to
be your answer?"

Kris looked down at her hands and
drew a deep breath.

Iain looked at her for a long
moment, wait
ing
.

"Yes." She blurted.

Iain released the breath he
hadn't
realized he'd been
hold
ing
. "Good
then, lass." He smiled at her. "Good," he said again.

"So, now what? I mean, do
you announce it or someth
ing
?"

"Ye ha'e been betrothed
before, aye?"

"Yes, I told you about
that
."

Iain frowned, remember
ing
exact
ly
what she'd said about the
man she'd been betrothed too. What he would
n't
give for an hour in the lists with the little weasel.

"Is someth
ing
wrong?"

"What?" Iain's head
shot up. "Nay, I am well."

Kris smiled tentative
ly
, "I thought maybe
you'd changed your mind already the way you
were
frown
ing
."

"Nay, ye shall no' get a…"
he stopped, "nay, Kris, I ha'e nay changed my mind. 'Tis the best solution
all around." Iain chuckled at her surprised look. Giddy with relief, he
did
n't
want to give it
away to Kristianna. Nor did he want to look to close
ly
at why he should feel thus. He'd
almost
told her he would
not
let her get away from
him
that
easi
ly
.

"Okay, so again, now
what?"

"First," Iain rose from
his chair and came around the desk, "I believe we should seal our bargain,
dinnae ye?" he reached for her hand.

Kris stuck out her hand, think
ing
Iain wanted to shake on
it. Instead, he pulled her to her feet with such force she ended up in his
arms.

"Oh."

His embrace encompassed more than
her waist. It
was
as
if he held her heart as well. She did
n't
want this. She did
n't
want to feel these th
ing
s
again. Love hurt. Fall
ing
in love and out of love, and e
very
th
ing
in between.

"Krrristianna," he
practical
ly
purred,
his brogue so thick she did
n't
recognize her own name."

"Y-yes?" The t
ing
l
ing
that
spread throughout her at the way he said her name made her cl
ing
to him. Her mind told
her to resist, but her body refused to obey
that
command.

He kissed her with his eyes
before his mouth ever reached hers. He moved his lips over hers, devour
ing
the softness of them,
and she returned it with reckless abandon. His lips parted hers in a soul-reach
ing
caress, and she kissed
him back, l
ing
er
ing
, savor
ing
e
very
moment.

As Iain kissed her, he could
not
believe the currents rac
ing
through him. If he did
n't
know any better, he'd
swear he'd gotten struck by light
ning
.
As he roused her passions, he roused his own. He could feel hers in the way her
body melted into his, no resistance in her at all.

He s
mothere
d a groan as he released her lips. Her
eyes still closed, she did
not
see him glance down. Her lips
were
still moist and full from his assault and he realized he'd better distance
himself from her lest he do someth
ing
foolish.

"
That
," he gent
ly
lifted her chin and dropped a kiss on the
tip of her nose, "is how we seal an agreement in my century, lass."

Chapter Nineteen

Kris opened her eyes and tried to
focus on Iain and what he said. Her mind
was
still fuzzy from his kiss and she
had
trouble concentrat
ing
.

"I see." She said, a
bit breathless.

"So ye should."

"Now
that
we've got a deal," she touched her
still tender lips, "should we go tell your
màthair
,
perhaps?"

"Aye, we should do just
that
. I'm sure she'll whisk
ye away immediate
ly
to
see ye dressed proper
ly
as the announcement will be made at the even
ing
meal."

"So soon?"

"Aye, lass." He took
her arm and led her to the door. "The sooner e'eryone knows, the sooner
they can accept it and ye can begin to earn their trust." He smiled at her
reassur
ingly
as he
opened the door and started towards his
màthair
's
rooms.

"You're
màthair
is go
ing
to make a big deal out
of this, is
n't
she?"

"I fear she may."

"Are we go
ing
to tell her the truth? Or
let her think we're fall
ing
in love as well?"

"Nay, I believe we will tell
her the truth of it. 'T
was
her idea to do this, after all."

"What?" Kris stopped
and stared at him in surprise.

"She brought the matter to
my attention. I couldnae argue wi' her when she pointed out
that
this would be the best
solution."

"Hmmm."

"What?"

"I think your
màthair
has
ulterior motives
here."

"I think ye may be right on
that
point." Iain
laughed. "But I still cannae argue wi' it. And neither can ye."

"No, I do
n't
suppose we can. She
would know better than anyone
that
I
have
little choice
but to say yes to you."

"Well, doonae make it sound
as if I am send
ing
ye
to the gallows, lass." Iain looked offended.

"I did
n't
mean
that
the way it
sounded." She put her hand on Iain's arm. "I just never pictured
myself gett
ing
married
because it
was
a
'logical' th
ing
to do.
I mean, it sounds so impersonal. Know what I mean?"

"Aye, I suppose it
does." Iain said, thoughtful
ly
.
He supposed he would
have
to do someth
ing
about
that
. Mayhap a bit of woo
ing
would be just the th
ing
. He
was
sure he could do the
like
without gett
ing
too much of his heart
involved. If he softened a wee bit, it would on
ly
help to put her at ease and accept this. Accept him.

He nodded to himself. He would
speak with Raibert as soon as possible then put some of whatever he suggested
in to practice, so long as it
wasn't
too outlandish. He could do the
like
without giv
ing
away
too much, of
that
he
was
certain.

He did
n't
want Kris think
ing
he
was
head over heels in love with her, but to show her he cared, even just a wee
bit, would
n't
hurt
anyth
ing
, or anybody.

"'Tis a bit more than
that
, I'm think
ing
, lass."

"I know." Kris gave him
a smile
that
did
not
quite
reach her eyes. "We can be friends,
right?"

"Of course we can. I find I
do enjoy your company. Ye make me laugh."

"Good. Who needs all
that
romantic junk
anyway." She took his arm and continued down the hall. "I certain
ly
do
n't
."

The declaration
hadn't
come out
quite
as convinc
ing
as she could
have
wished, but maybe Iain
hadn't
not
iced. She glanced at him,
but his expression gave away none of his thoughts.

Well, she would just
have
to hope for the best. Always
a survivor, she would survive this too.

*          *          *

Sorcha looked up from her stitch
ing
when the door opened. She
smiled as Iain ushered Kris in.

"And where
have
ye been hid
ing
yourself these past
couple of days, Kristianna?"

"I
haven't
exact
ly
been hid
ing
. I
had
some think
ing
to do. I needed some
time alone to come to terms with e
very
th
ing
that
's happened and accept the fact
that
I may never get home
again." She kissed Sorcha's cheek and moved to sit in the chair beside
her.

"Ye look as if ye
have
someth
ing
ye wish to discuss with
me." Sorcha looked from Iain to Kris and back again.

"Aye,
màthair
." Iain sat
beside Kris and took her hand in his. "We wished to tell ye
that
Kris
has
accepted my proposal of
a handfast
ing
. We will
celebrate it as soon as it may be arranged."

"I shall get started
immediate
ly
." Sorcha
clasped her hands together and jumped from her seat. "We should be able to
have
it all set within
the week."

Kris gasped.

"Is someth
ing
wrong, dear?"

"N-no." Kris stuttered,
"I just
wasn't
expect
ing
it to happen
so soon."

"I understand. But I think
the sooner we accomplish this, the better it will be." She looked to Iain,
"do
n't
you?"

"I do." Iain gave Kris
a confident smile, "dinnae fash yourself, lass. I know it seems quick, but
I agree wi' my
màthair
.
The sooner we see the deed done, the sooner the clan can begin to accept it and
ye."

"Do
n't
worry," Sorcha patted her knee,
"I shall handle all the details. All ye
have
to do is show up and look beautiful."

"I think I should help you. After
all, I'm go
ing
to
have
to learn it all
sometime, are
n't
I?"

"Aye, I suppose you
will." Sorcha set her stitch
ing
aside, "we shall begin immediate
ly
then. There is much to do and we on
ly
have
a short time to
do it in."

"Just tell me what to do,
Sorcha, and I'll do my best to see to it." She wished she felt as
confident as she sounded.

"Good." Sorcha rose
from her chair. "I think we should announce it tonight at the even
ing
meal."

"I thought the same,
màthair
." Iain winked
at Kris, who offered him a tremulous smile.

"Iain, why doonae ye leave
us women for a bit. Go train or someth
ing
.
Kris and I
have
much
work to do." She grabbed Kris by the hand and pulled her towards her
bedchamber, "first I must change, then we shall need to find Elsie."

"I shall see ye both this
even
ing
then," he
walked toward them, kissed his
màthair
,
and to Kris' surprise dropped a kiss on her forehead as well. He grinned at her
astonished expression and sauntered out the door.

"Now, Kristianna,"
Sorcha turned to Kris, her hands on her hips, "what is amiss with
you?"

"I did
n't
think it
was
that
evident."

"Perhaps
not
to Iain, but I certain
ly
not
iced it. Now, what's up?"

"You can, without a doubt,
sound thorough
ly
modern when you want too, ca
n't
you?"

"I do what I must to
survive, but
that
does
n't
mean I've forgotten the
quips from my own time. So come, spill."

"I've already told Iain
this, but I do
n't
think he
really
understood
it."

"What? Are you hav
ing
second thoughts
already?"

"No,
not
at all. It's all
very
logical and on
ly
a fool would
not
see how it can on
ly
help me. Iain knows I
have
no skills
that
would
help me in the least. I could be a maid," here she grimaced, "but
that
takes some skill as
well. I'm
not
very
fashion conscious, and
forget about sew
ing
or
cook
ing
, so
that
's out. And anyth
ing
else," she
shuddered, "I would
n't
want to do. I do
n't
think my artistic abilities would support me or feed me
very
well either."

"No, you're right on
that
score." Sorcha
smiled, and opened the chest below the window, "so what's bother
ing
you?"

Instead of answer
ing
her, Kris asked her own
question. "How did Iain's father propose to you?"

Sorcha looked up from the trunk
she
was
look
ing
through. "Why do
you ask?"

"I
was
just curious." Kris said, avoid
ing
Sorcha's gaze.

"Ahh, I think I begin to see
your point." She stood and put her hands on her hips.

"Do you?"

"What exact
ly
did Iain say to you when
he asked you to handfast with him?"

Kris told her what Iain
had
said and
had
to bite the inside of
her cheek to keep from laugh
ing
at Sorcha's sudden display of anger.

"To think I raised such an
insensitive, pigheaded son. I ca
n't
believe he did
that
. He
said
not
h
ing
of car
ing
for you, even in the
slightest."

Kris shook her head.

"I see I must
have
a chat with
that
lad. Maybe box his ears
a time or two as well. I knew he could be stubborn. He's just
like
his father in
that
respect, but I never
thought he could be
that
stupid."

She took Kris by the arm and sat
her down.

"I can see my son does
n't
know his own mind. Well,
no, he knows his mind, it's his heart he
has
issues with. I wonder if you beat him about the head with a fry
ing
pan, if he'd stop be
ing
so bloody logical for a
change and
really
listen to his heart." She paced in front of Kris, her agitation grow
ing
.

"Sorcha, it's okay. What
Iain said made perfect sense. I understood it and accepted it. The problem is
me, well
not
exact
ly
me, but mine. On second
thought, maybe it is me." She furrowed her brow a moment, and continued,
"
that
's neither
here nor there. The point is, I thought I'd given up on all those girlish
fantasies about love and romance and be
ing
swept off my feet." She shrugged, and forced a small smile. "I did
n't
realize until Iain put
it to me in such a businessl
ike
fashion
that
I still
had
those dreams."

"Of course you do, and you
should. E
very
woman
deserves to
have
her
Cinderella story." She put her hands on her hips, "and we shall see
that
you
have
yours as well."

"No,
really
, it's okay." Kris stood, "I do
n't
need it. After think
ing
about it, I believe I
would actual
ly
prefer
it the way Iain proposed it. It will be slight
ly
more than a business arrangement. And I know it's
not
forever, so I wo
n't
worry about it."

Sorcha looked skeptical.

"I mean it. Once I
have
time to accept it, it
will be fine. I do
n't
need all the frills and romance, especial
ly
if Iain does
n't
feel
that
way toward me. I'd
rather
not
get my
hopes up and then
have
them dashed to the ground and become
not
h
ing
but dust. We're friends
and
that
's better than
not
h
ing
."

"Iain cares for you, Kris. I
just do
n't
think he's
realized it yet."

"Whether he does, or does
n't
is
n't
the point. The point is,
this is the on
ly
logical th
ing
for me
to do right now. Later, if someth
ing
else presents itself, then after a year, we're free to go our own ways. At
least I know it wo
n't
be forever, right?"