lands to the flatter ones as they approached the southern part of Scotland. He had no doubt that Murray warriors would await them near Perth to escort them to the family’s keep.
The journey back? He had no idea of what would be involved or who would make it, so he did not waste time worrying over it. After enjoying the refreshing water, they headed back to the keep for supper and a good night’s rest.
Iain Robertson returned to his chambers after watching Tavis leave to seek out his men. Pouring a full cup of ale, he sat in his chair and drank most of it in one mouthful.
Watching the grave errors of his youth brought full circle to him was not easy. He’d had years to wonder how she would turn out and now he could see it for himself—Ciara was a beautiful, accomplished, intelligent young woman that any man would be proud to call daughter.
As he would if he were free to speak the truth. But he could not, for others had paid with their lives and their souls to keep her true parentage a secret.
There was no way now to right the wrongs he’d done in the past. There was no way now to keep the secrets that lay silent with the dead. And when loved ones were threatened, there was no way that oaths sworn under pressure would remain intact.
Iain drank the rest and thought about how much Ciara resembled her mother. Both blonde, both with the same shade of brown eyes. Pushing away the past, Iain threw his cup down and rubbed his eyes and face.
Too much depended on his sister and her peacemaker husband and too many years of not worrying about the consequences now caught up with him. The truth they’d all hidden had kept his clan and their honour intact for these last ten or so years. Was he strong enough now to weather any challenges made if the truth were outed?
God help him, he hoped so.
Ciara feared her cheeks would never stop blushing. Touching them, she felt the heat of it and knew she must look feverish. Elizabeth’s had the same red glow, but she was more distraught over it than Ciara was. In the chamber assigned to them by her uncle, she’d sent Cora on some errands so that she and Elizabeth could speak on what had happened. But no words would come.
She had never considered herself sheltered or easily embarrassed or ignorant until now. After organising her clothing in their chamber, she and Elizabeth had decided to take a walk before supper. ’Twas something they did often, especially on this journey and especially after riding so many hours each day.
One of her favourite places on a hot summer’s day was the stream that ran along the edge of her uncle’s village and the falls that the stream had carved in the hillside over the centuries of running over it. The most wonderful little pool caught the water and she loved to put her legs in the water on hot afternoons when she visited Dunalastair.
They’d sped along the path and reached the stream, intending to turn south along its run to reach the pool. The sound of splashing and men’s voices, familiar ones, captured their attention and she led Elizabeth along the banks to find them.
And find them they did!
Though Ciara had seen naked men before, seeing Tavis naked was something she’d dreamt about, but never thought possible. He sat near the opposite bank, in the water up to his waist, his broad chest and muscular arms glistening in the sun that managed to peek through the trees. He dunked his head under the water and shook it back away from his face, giving her a view of his strong back.
When he swam across and climbed out of the water, she thought her heart had stopped! Elizabeth clutched her chest, so she must be having the same reaction. Then her friend covered her eyes and turned away. Ciara allowed herself several additional moments to watch him dress, holding her breath for fear of giving her position away and for fear of making a sound.
A proper young lady would have screamed in fear and shock and run away at first glance. A proper young lady would have covered her eyes or had the decency to faint. She did none of that, instead watching every move he made and never turning away from his magnificently masculine form.
Until Elizabeth grabbed her by the hand and dragged her away.
They stumbled through the trees, back to the path and ran to the falls and the small pool there before stopping. There they’d fallen to their knees, laughing as they did when they did something naughty as girls. Though seeing Tavis naked made her feel something she’d not felt before—an ache that throbbed deep within her and sent tendrils of heat throughout her body. Her mouth grew dry, but she craved … something.
Now, back in their chamber, Ciara wanted to speak of it to Elizabeth, but the image of his body as he climbed out of the water interfered with her attempts to do that. And that led her to thoughts of what being his wife might involve. And that kept her blushing at the truth of it as she understood it and unable to speak to Elizabeth.
So, when the call came for supper, Ciara fought to keep all of her confusion and embarrassment inside. Mayhap if she did not look at him, she could control these strange feelings? Mayhap she should beg off and remain here until morning? Once they were on the road, she could avoid Tavis easily until the unease wore off.
Nay, she was a grown woman now and she would soon learn a man’s body intimately. Not Tavis’s. She would need to put Tavis from her mind. Accepting that she must move on, Ciara rose and walked to the door. As she lifted the latch, she faced Elizabeth and smiled.
‘I was wrong today,’ she admitted. ‘I should not have remained there.’
‘He is … beautiful,’ Elizabeth said.
‘He is not mine to gaze on that way.’
Her wayward thoughts then brought James Murray into her mind. He was at least a half-score of years younger than Tavis and did not have the training and experience as a warrior that he had either. Though quite attractive, he did not have the wildly handsome features that Tavis did, with his green eyes matching the tones of the forest around Lairig Dubh and his chiselled chin and wonderful mou—
What was she doing? She seemed more under the spell of her childhood feelings about Tavis now than she had a year ago! She met Elizabeth’s gaze and could see her deciding whether or not to pursue this. Her friend smiled and nodded.
‘I am sure that James will be as pleasing as what we saw today.’
Knowing the truth, they laughed for a moment, until Cora opened the door, urging them on to supper. Ciara had only a few more days, a week at most, to tame these errant thoughts and reactions before arriving in Perthshire. Taking in and releasing a deep breath, she calmed herself and nodded to Cora.
Chapter Six
By the time they reached the hall and walked to the front table where her uncles waited, Ciara believed she had this yearning for Tavis under her control. She greeted her family and cousins and sat down, only then looking around the large room for the rest of the travellers from Lairig Dubh.
‘Your MacLerie escorts sent along their regrets. They have other duties to see to so that you can leave in the morn,’ Uncle Iain said.
If she had looked away just then, she would have missed it. A slight narrowing in his gaze. A minor lift in the corner of his mouth. All signs to anyone who knew Iain Robertson that there was more going on here than
