The Accidental Highland Hero by Terry Spear Page A

opened the door further. It squeaked again. She hadn’t remembered it was so noisy before. The space was still not wide enough for her to see out. Her skin chilled. No response on the other side of the door though.
    Swallowing hard, she pulled the door open enough that she could squeeze out.
    Fergus watched her, his eyes and stance as hard as steel.
    Her heart shriveled. What now?  Pretend she needed something?  Shut the door and return to bed?
    “Could you fetch me something to drink?”
    He gave his head a shake.
    “I cannot sleep as I am parched.”
    “Wake Tavia and have her fetch something for you.”
    Eilis frowned. “She is sound asleep.”
    “Shut the door then and return to bed.”
    Lifting her chin, Eilis motioned to the stairs. “Fine, I will get it myself.” With that, she stormed out of the chamber.
    Seizing her wrist, Fergus glowered at her, the fire burning in his eyes. “His Lairdship says you shall remain here at Craigly Castle. Until he says otherwise, you willna go anywhere, lass.”
    She tried to wriggle free. “Let me go!”
    “What is wrong?” Tavia asked from inside the chambers near the bed, her voice groggy with sleep.
    Eilis heard Tavia moving around in the room, probably trying to locate her kirtle in the dark.
    “The lady is thirsty, so she says,” Fergus growled.
    Her hair tangled about her shoulders and her kirtle rumpled, Tavia joined her and glowered. “I will fetch her something to drink.”
    Fergus released Eilis’s wrist as she seethed at him.
    Tavia rushed past her while Eilis returned to the chamber and shut the door.
    Having no other choice, Eilis headed straight for James’s bedchamber. Again, she listened at the door for any sounds. Silence.
    Pushing James’s door open cautiously, she was relieved it made no creaking noise.
    Inside, she could see naught except the faint illumination beneath the door leading outside. Like a beacon of light on a cold black night, she headed straight for it and ran into the sharp and flat edge of a table. And bruised her thighs.
    Instantly, something crashed on the floor. Shaken, she darted for the door, her shoes crunching on what she thought were bits of clay. The mattress creaked, feet hit the floor, and most likely James pursued her. Her heart couldn’t have beat any harder as she tried to keep the panic from overwhelming her. Halfway to the door, a hand grabbed at her arm then seized her wrist. She screamed.
    The outer door flew open, spilling light into the chamber while four men rushed in with swords drawn.
    James tsked, still confining her wrist in his iron grip, heating her blood. “You look like you just fell out of bed, lass. Have you lost your way?”  He motioned to one of his men. “Naught is the matter that I cannot handle. Light a candle for me, Fergus, will you?  The wee lass has made a shambles of my chamber.”
    “Aye, my laird.”
    Chuckling and shaking their heads, the other men sauntered out of the room with backward glances at Eilis and their laird while Fergus lighted a couple of candles.
    The word would be all over the castle by morn as to what she’d done. Her whole body flushed anew.
    “Do we need to post a guard in my room also, lass?” James asked, touching her hair with a gentle sweep of his free hand, his other still holding firm. “You did not wish to share my bed with me, did you?”
    Her cheeks grew even more feverish, and she tried to twist her wrist free.
    A slight smile curved Fergus’s lips. “Wish you anything else, my laird?”
    James’s expression mirrored Fergus’s. “Nay. Just a good night’s sleep, which the lass seems intent on disturbing.”
    “I was thirsty,” Eilis snapped.
    “Aye, and Tavia has already gone to fetch her something to quench her thirst,” Fergus said, his words verging on a growl. “She had nay reason to come in here, my laird.” He bowed his head slightly.
    Eilis flashed him a derisive look. Anyone but a fool would see the obvious reason behind her