“Nay,” Alex said and brushed pastArchibald. Tipping his hand in the air, the MacLean laird disappeared down thehall.
Iain lingered for a moment andfaced Archibald, and when it appeared the man was going to go around him, hestepped in Archibald’s path. Rory Mac moved to Iain’s side.
“The trail was nae at the stones asye said,” Iain said to Archibald.
“The trail was there,” the manretorted. “Ye must have missed it, which is whyI’mthe best tracker.Now if ye dunnae mind, MacLeod? It’s late and I’m tired.”
It was pointless to argue with theman. Clearly, he’d not relent that he’d been wrong or confused, though eitherpossibility seemed odd to Iain given what Alex had said of his cousin’stracking abilities. Maybe they had missed the trail. The one they’d foundhadn’t been that far away from where Archibald had said it’d be. Iain movedaside and motioned for Rory Mac to do the same.
Once Archibald disappeared down thecorridor, Rory Mac spoke. “He needs a lesson in humility.”
“Aye,” Iain agreed and startedtoward his bedchamber. “A man who kinnae admit he’s wrong has a lifetime ofproblems to come.”
Rory Mac grinned. “If he were inour clan, I’d be happy to teach him with my fists.”
“I’m sure ye would.” Iain chuckled,then paused. “I’ll see ye in the courtyard in the morning.”
Rory Mac mumbled his farewell, andIain opened his door and entered his bedchamber as quietly as possible. Themoonlight trickled into the space, bathing the form of his sleeping wife on thebed, and he moved toward her. Unclothing quickly, he carefully slipped inbeside her, but she immediately stirred and turned toward him.
“Where have you been?” she askeddrowsily.
Iain quickly told her what hadhappened, and he could see Marion worrying her lip in the moonlight.
“If Archibald really did see aknight, it had to be one of Froste’s men,” she said.
“It is likely,” he said, pullingher into the crook of his arm. “But ye’re safe here. Alex has increased hisguards threefold, both at the stronghold and throughout his lands. By dawn, noEnglishman will be able to make a move on MacLean land without encountering aMacLean. So if Froste sent more men, they’ll nae have a hope of escaping.”
Marion pressed up on her elbows,her long hair falling over the front of his shoulder and onto his chest. “Iain,will you tell me about David? My father never spoke to me except to order meabout, and I’d like to know how David came to be captive in England.”
Iain bit back a tired sigh. Hedidn’t have the heart to deny her, though he didn’t have much time to sleep.Sleep could wait. Making his wife feel valued could not.
“For years, David has been fightingto stop yer king from crowning another, a man of King Edward’s choosing, asKing of Scots. Do ye ken about King Edward putting his apprentice, EdwardBalliol, on the throne?”
She nodded.
“Balliol was a fraud, ye ken?”
“Do you mean he made a false claimto rightfully be King of Scots?”
“Aye,” Iain replied, running hishand up and down the length of her back and then lower over her delectablebottom. She sighed and snuggled back against his chest. Desire for his wifeflared once more, in spite of how bone-weary he was feeling. He wonderedgroggily, and with a great deal of amusement, if he’d always hunger for her ashe did now.
She tapped her fingers on hischest. “Are you not going to continue?”
He chuckled. “Aye. I’m sorry. Yerpretty bottom stole my attention.”
She gave him a coquettish smile.“I’m pleased to hear I can distract you, and I’ll be happy to distract youfurther…after you tell me a bit more.”
Iain purposely rested his palm onher backside and then spoke. “David was sent to France for his safety for thebrief time Balliol was in power. But while he was gone, his representativefought to restore David to power and succeeded. David returned in 1341 and tookcontrol of Scotland. But he was captured by King Edward when David invadedEngland on behalf of the French, who were fighting the English in Normandy.” Heglanced at Marion, who was listening intently, and kissed the top of her headbefore continuing. “David is a worthy king. He loves Scotland and he wantspeace with England, but he will nae lie down and let King Edward trample on himto get it.”
She nodded. “Do your people loveDavid?”
“Ourpeople,” he correctedher gently.
A grin spread across her beautifulface. “Yes, our people.”
“Aye, they do,” he replied andtrailed his fingers from her bottom up toward her breasts. He traced the curveof her left breast, and she wiggled against him.
“Are you trying to tell mesomething, my lord?” Her voice was teasing, and he answered her question with along, drugging kiss. The intensity of desire that sprang forth surprised him,but what surprised him more was that Marion’s desire seemed to match his own,even at this late hour. Soon they were locked together in passion, which endedin them tangled in each other’s arms and Iain totally sated and exhausted.
