The Highlander's Bride Trouble (10 page)

He patted Saer on the shoulder. “Mind ye, if ye were here to court me daughter, that
stone might have found itself attached to her dowry.”

“If I wanted to wed for gain, I did nae have to leave me land, but would have sent
me secretary to sort out the details and fetch me a bride.”

“Are ye so sure I would have given me daughter into the keeping of a man who will
nae look me in the eye?” The earl responded with a touch of vigor that hinted at the
young man he must have once been.

Saer hooked his hands into the wide belt holding his kilt around his waist. “I’d expect
ye to understand that I am very new to being laird of the MacLeod. They deserve a
man who will nae ride off without good purpose, especially when the castle has been
proven ineffective against attack.”

The earl seemed to slump, his eyes growing cloudy. “’Tis truly a shame that ye are
nae drawn to Abigail. That lass needs a man with a sure hand, and I would see her
with one who wants more than what I can dower her with.”

But he brightened and waved Saer forward. “I’ve plenty of stone and will make ye a
better deal than anyone else.”

Saer felt a momentary tug of warning, but there was nothing out of place. He realized
it was the fact that he hadn’t seen Nareen yet. Both she and her mistress had missed
services.

He did need the stone, and the sooner he had it, the sooner he might depart for MacLeod
land.

With Nareen.

He refused to consider any other outcome. She would be his, if he had to use the savage
side of his nature to haul her home.

***

“We are leaving now.”

Nareen looked up as Abigail burst back into her chambers. Her face was flushed and
her eyes bright with excitement. In her hands, she had a small chest with a lock on
it that looked heavy, but she kept her grip tight on the handles.

“Good,” Abigail said as she looked at the trunks Nareen had been filling. “Close them
up, I’ve already instructed that the horses and escort be readied.”

“I did nae realize we would leave quite so soon.”

Abigail smiled slyly and moved closer to Nareen. “Me father has taken Saer MacLeod
off to the quarry. It’s the perfect time for both of us to take our flight.”

So he hadn’t left…

“But the king’s order for ye to be gone from court has nae yet reached its time.”

Abigail shrugged and put the smaller chest inside one of the larger ones. “The king
will nae have time to notice I have returned a week or two early. I shall stay out
of his sight and he’ll not even know I am there.”

Nareen doubted it. Abigail didn’t know how to avoid drawing notice to herself. “Hurry,
Nareen. We must be well away before me father returns. Now that Saer MacLeod has had
a taste of ye, I doubt he’ll think very long on riding after us if he thinks he can
catch us.”

A memory of Saer on his black stallion surfaced. A ripple of sensation traveled along
her spine and left her fighting back regret. But she’d made her decision, one that
did not include Saer MacLeod in her life. She couldn’t worry too much about him. In
fact, seeing him again would only grant her fickle emotions another opportunity to
soften toward him. He made it appealing to change her mind.

But trust was too much. More than one bride had discovered her groom’s kindness evaporated
after the wedding vows were spoken. Perhaps Abigail wasn’t so spoiled after all. It
was possible the woman was no fool and had decided to enjoy the ease of being courted
over the duty of being a wife.

Aye, there was a price for everything. Saer MacLeod’s offer to take her home with
him would be no different. He’d already told her what he’d expect. Sons. And if she
didn’t conceive quickly, or produced a daughter, his temper would rise. It was the
way things were. Her only choice would be to not wed him.

“I am coming,” Nareen replied. Abigail laughed merrily as she rummaged through one
of the open wardrobes for a dress suitable for traveling. Her smile didn’t even fade
when she pulled out a wool dress.

“Do nae be so pensive, Nareen.”

Abigail brought the dress over and carelessly tossed it onto the bed.

“I’ll find ye plenty of lovers at court to take yer thoughts away from that savage.”

“I do nae wish ye to do so.”

Nareen was busy unlacing Abigail’s gown. Abigail let out a long sigh.

“Ye really should mature, Nareen. There is much pleasure to be had if ye will stop
being such a child.”

Nareen slid the bodice off Abigail and began to help her with her overskirt. Abigail
stood still, waiting to be disrobed.

“I know who is a good lover at court,” Abigail continued. “The Earl of Matheson’s
sons are quite vigorous, and they do nae mind sharing.”

“I am nae interested,” Nareen maintained.

Abigail simply clicked her tongue. “There is naught like having two men to please
ye at the same time. Men are often easily spent, leaving a woman unsatisfied.”

Nareen locked gazes with Abigail, sending her a stern look.

“As ye like,” Abigail groused.

Nareen finished dressing her and turned to making herself ready. Unlike Abigail, Nareen
took time to be certain she had a dagger strapped to her thigh and another one tucked
into her boot. Those were the things that mattered when one was riding across open
land.

“Hurry, Nareen…” Abigail sang out cheerfully. The retainers had returned to take the
trunks, and Abigail was hot on their heels.

Nareen took a moment longer to put on an arisaid. The length of plaid was falling
out of fashion with many, but she’d been raised farther up in the Highlands, where
tradition remained firm.

She was a Grant and would wear the colors proudly.

She used a belt to secure it around her waist. The wool fabric draped down her back,
covering part of her skirt. She’d belted it at the three-quarters point, which allowed
her to pull the end of it up and secure it on her right shoulder with a broach of
silver, with her father’s crest. Fabric draped across her shoulders so she might raise
it to cover her head and protect her from rain. Abigail would insist on a hooded cloak,
but Nareen preferred her arisaid.

She slid a dagger between her belt and back before leaving. The drape of the arisaid
hid it somewhat. There would be hell to pay if it was spotted, to be sure. But she
wasn’t going onto the road unarmed. Her brother, Kael, might have agreed to Saer’s
suit, but he’d also taught her to defend herself in spite of the Church’s teachings.

So she’d forgive Kael, just as soon as she made it clear to her brother that there
would be no matches for her.

Her mind was set.

***

It was a fine day for traveling. The sun was warm, and there was no sign of rain.
But the Ross retainers were not happy with their mistress’s order to ride out.

“It would be best if ye waited on yer father to return, mistress.”

The captain of the guard met Abigail at the top of the stairs that led out of the
tower and into the yard. His tone was respectful but firm. He blocked Abigail’s path
to the yard, gripping the wide leather belt holding his kilt around his waist.

“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail informed him with her nose in the air. She swished
her hand, but the captain remained firmly planted in her path.

“Yer father took a large escort with him,” the captain continued. “I have only limited
numbers of men to provide ye as escort. On the morrow, I will have the proper number
to ensure yer safety.”

The horses were standing ready, along with a wagon holding Abigail’s trunks. She gazed
longingly at them, but Nareen focused on the six Ross retainers. They held their expressions
tight, but there was no missing the look in their eyes that told of their misgivings.
Six was not enough if they encountered trouble.

“We should wait,” Nareen counseled Abigail.

“I do nae wish to wait,” Abigail whined.

Nareen shared a frustrated glance with the captain. He had his hands settled on his
belt, which reminded her of Saer.

“Mistress, I would prefer nae to send ye out so poorly attended. The MacKays—”

“Have nae raided in months!” Abigail cried. “I am going back to court. No one will
trifle with me. They will fear I have the ear of the king.”

Abigail started down the steps. Nareen grabbed Abigail’s wrist. “It’s an unnecessary
risk. Ye need to consider those six men. Two are only lads. If there is trouble, they
will suffer for yer choice.”

Abigail’s eyes widened with outrage. “How dare ye tell me what to do. Ye are me—”
She shook off Nareen’s grip. “If ye do nae do as I bid ye, I shall tell me father
I am finished with ye, and to give ye to that savage.”

She grabbed the front of her skirt and stomped down the steps toward her mare.

“Brat,” the captain muttered under his breath.

“I was thinking selfish fool,” Nareen answered softly.

The captain grunted and nodded. “That as well.” He stepped partially into Abigail’s
path and leveled a hard look at her. “I advise ye to stay here, lass. I know Laird
MacLeod will nae be happy to hear ye have departed, much less so when he hears that
ye ride without proper escort. The MacKays have vowed vengeance on the Ross with just
cause, I’m sorry to say.”

It was a foolish risk. She knew better.

“Well, Nareen?” Abigail called from atop her mare. “Are ye attending me, or shall
I make sure me father knows he owes ye not a single crust of bread? He is me sire,
so do nae be thinking he’ll have ye beneath his roof without me good word.”

“Laird MacLeod would want ye to be here when he returns,” the captain pressed quietly.

“Which is why I must go,” Nareen replied. “I know ye are right, but I cannae accept
his suit. So I cannae make any demands on him. That would nae be right. I’m going
home to me father from court.”

“At least ye are nae going to continue serving her.”

It was a bold thing to say about the earl’s daughter, but the captain was a Highlander.
Just as Saer was. They were men who kept their own minds and didn’t bend their knees
to the undeserving.

“Nareen…” Abigail whined again.

“Good luck to ye, Mistress Grant.” The captain stepped aside.

“Thank ye,” Nareen replied.

Her belly was knotted, and she worried that she was going to need that luck.

A great deal of it.

***

Saer discovered himself happy to see the walls of the Ross fortress that evening.
It wasn’t the sturdy walls that warmed his heart, even though he had spent the day
selecting stone to build up his own. No. He craved Nareen. It was more than a need
to ease his lust. He longed for her smile and the way she looked him straight in the
eye when she had something to tell him.

His grin broadened.

And he liked the way she resisted him. Propping her hand onto her hip. He doubted
she realized how much that pose pushed her breasts up. He might just tell her, for
the sake of seeing her reaction. She’d spit fire at him, but he liked that facet of
her character.

And hoped marriage would never change her.

But the captain of the guard met them in the yard, and the news he carried was grim.

“Ye allowed them to depart with only six retainers?” Saer exploded before the earl
had a chance to respond. “Are ye a half-wit?”

The captain’s eyes narrowed, and he directed his answer to the earl. “I warned them
of the dangers. Mistress Grant even tried to hold yer daughter back, but there was
no stopping her.”

“She’s half yer size, man,” Saer growled. “Ye should have locked her in the damned
stocks and left her there until she gained some sense.”

The earl waved his hands in the air. “Me daughter is strong-willed.” His body was
trembling, and he licked his lips repeatedly. “They will be well enough.” The earl
dismissed the news as he began to climb the stairs. His gillie was already waiting
at the top with his master’s goblet. The earl reached for the drinking vessel like
a starving babe, gulping down mouthfuls of the wine so fast, it trickled down the
sides of his chin and stained the collar of his shirt.

Saer turned away in disgust, eyeing the captain again.

“The mistress was right nasty to Mistress Grant.”

Saer forced himself to hear the man out. It took effort, because all he wanted to
do was get moving after Nareen.

“She threatened to dismiss her and have her father give her to ye.”

“That’s the drivel of a spoiled brat,” Saer snarled. “The earl has no say in Nareen’s
fate.”

“He is the master here,” the captain replied. “The lass would have no one to guard
her back, and that much is true. It would also be true on yer land, for one who is
nae yer own clan.”

“The hell it would be,” Saer snapped. “Any man wearing me colors will have integrity
or find somewhere else to lay his head. Innocents will nae fear being attacked in
me hallways. I’ll turn out any man who acts so savagely.”

“I can only wish things were so here,” the captain said with a jerk of his head. Saer
looked up the steps to see the earl finishing off his second goblet of wine. He was
out of breath because he’d been drinking so quickly. He smiled with relief as he stumbled
into the keep.

It was sickening. He had once been a Highlander, but no more.

“The man’s sons need to know of his state,” the captain muttered. “Yet the pair of
them seem to have more interest in serving at court.”

Saer looked back at the captain. “I am more concerned with retrieving Nareen Grant.
If ye’re worthy of yer position, find a way yerself, or live with the consequences.
A coward deserves his fate.”

That was a law of the isles and those who tried to make their way there.

Saer whistled, and his men grinned. They refastened straps they’d begun to undo and
made their horses ready to ride again. They were sixty strong and would not have to
fear anything on the open road.

“So we’re off at last?” Baruch asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Aye,” Saer responded as he swung up onto the back of his stallion. “There is naught
here to interest me any longer.”