My Highland Love: Highland Lords Series (10 page)

"Brian here has brought a message from
Declan." Cameron looked at the man. "Go ahead, lad."

"Declan wanted ye to know there's been
Campbells on MacLaren land."

"When?" Marcus demanded.

"Three days in a row now."

"You haven't caught any of them?"

Brian snorted. "The bastards are getting
better at running."

"They are," Marcus agreed, then asked, "You
will stay the night?"

"Aye."

"Good. Be ready at first light. I'll travel
back with you. Have some supper." He motioned toward the great
hall, then looked back at his father. "Cameron, I wish to speak
with you." Marcus waited until Brian was out of earshot, then said,
"Have Elise moved into the castle while I am gone."

Cameron showed no surprise at the request.
"What reason should I give?"

"Ask if she plans on living with Winnie the
rest of her life."

His father gave an approving look. "I will
put her in the west wing's private suite."

"Nay," Marcus said. "The east wing, the room
nearest mine.

Cameron frowned. "'Tis hard on you, her
sharing a cottage with Winnie, but to put her in the lady's
quarters next to yours is going a bit far the other direction."

"The guest room, Cameron," Marcus said. "Not
in the adjoining room—at least, not yet."

"At
least, not yet
?" Cameron
exclaimed.

Two men passing turned their heads at his
raised voice.

He glanced at them, then leaned in closer to
Marcus. "That's a bit obvious, don't you think, lad? A man doesna'
flaunt his mistress."

Marcus raised a brow. "Aye."

His father blinked. "What? Are you saying
what I think you're saying?"

"I am."

Cameron rubbed his chin. "I have never known
you to take advantage of a woman under your protection."

"I have no intention of doing so now," Marcus
replied, though he couldn't help the mental image of how much he
would relish
taking advantage
.

Cameron regarded him. "I thought you would
not marry again. 'Tis ten years since Jenna died."

"I hadn't planned on remarrying."

"You have a son and, at your age, you need
not marry."

Marcus gave a short laugh. "I needn't do much
of anything, Father."

Cameron gave a single nod. "Your marriage to
Jenna wasn't one of love." His mouth turned down wryly. "You always
were the politician. You should have told King George to go to the
devil when he insisted you marry the wench."

"I have no regrets," Marcus replied. "And I
shall have none now."

"Tiring of the demimonde?"

He gave a slight smile. "'Tis not the
same."

Cameron grinned. "I thought you would want
the lass, but I hadn't realized how badly."

Marcus exhaled. "No one is more surprised
than I."

* * * *

Marcus and his men dismounted in the outer
bailey of the MacLaren holding. He tossed his horse's reins to a
MacLaren guard and waited. A few moments later, Declan entered the
bailey.

Marcus stepped forward and caught Declan's
hand in a firm grip. "Good of you to allow us entrance."

Declan's eyes twinkled. "Aye, considering
your treatment of me when last I visited Brahan Seer."

"I recall your night ended well."

Declan grinned. "Aye, a fine night it was.
What brings you here? Have I ruined the MacGregor lasses for you?
Kristine cried when I left."

"I heard she got rather feisty," Marcus
remarked.

Declan laughed. "Aye, she's a sassy one, but
nothing like your Ceasg."

Marcus gave a rueful grimace. "Elise's temper
is much like the Highland mermaid's."

"A resemblance? If the lass were a
Highlander, she could grant the mythical three wishes." He gave
Marcus a shrewd look. "Perhaps she has already granted yours,
eh?'

Marcus snorted. "I suspect granting any wish
I have is the furthest thing from her mind."

"Ahh," Declan intoned. "You haven't exactly
endeared yourself to her?"

"Not quite."

"Mayhap, you should have let me teach her a
lesson after all." His brows lifted. "Break her in, so to
speak."

"I would have had no sympathy for you when
she broke you."

Declan grimaced. "Aye, well, 'tis best, then,
that I leave you with the taming."

"God help me," Marcus said under his breath,
then gave him a serious look. "I hear you have had Campbells on
your land."

"Aye." Declan led Marcus toward the great
hall.

"Elise was kidnapped by the Campbells six
days ago," Marcus said.

"Kidnapped?" Declan gave Marcus an appraising
look. "You don't look broken up like you were with Katie. Is the
lass…?"

"She is well, though only by the grace of
God. We need to talk."

Marcus shook his head at the serving girl who
offered to refill his dinner plate, and she moved to the man
sitting to his right.

"They never touched her?" Declan asked.

"Nay."

"Can you be sure?"

"Bruised a bit, but nothing like Katie."

"Aye, well," Declan said, "I suppose if she
wasn't in the same shape as Katie…"

"She wasn't," Marcus replied. "Which is
damned lucky for the entire Campbell clan."

Declan leaned back in his chair. "Too close
for comfort."

"They were within half a mile of Brahan
Seer."

"Jesus, they've grown bollocks of late. I am
surprised they didn't do the deed right there." His mouth twitched.
"You don't suppose they suddenly got religion?" He laughed, giving
the table such a slap it rattled the plates.

"Nay," Marcus replied, his mouth twisting
into a grim frown. "But they did meet their maker."

"Good. You have been too soft with them in
the past. Aye," he went on when Marcus started to interrupt, "ye
made them pay for Katie, but there have been other times."

Declan reached for his mug and took a long
draught. He set the mug on the table while watching the serving
woman who approached from the far end of the table. She looked up
and Declan winked. His gaze remained on her as she passed. He took
another drink of ale, then turned back to Marcus.

"They've been spending an unusual amount of
time on MacGregor land of late."

"So I have noticed." A pause followed, and
Marcus said. "You have something on your mind?"

"'Tis interesting they made off with her. One
would expect them to take care of business and be done with
it."

"I'm not one to question good fortune,"
Marcus said.

"But you are." Declan's expression sobered.
"What do you know of the lass?"

"She's American, as you know. The ship she
and her husband sailed on went down in a fire. Shannon and Joshua
found her washed ashore at Solway Firth."

"She is no serving wench," Declan
commented.

"Nay."

"Have you any idea why she is acting the
part?"

Marcus gave a single shake of his head. "Nay,
but I will find out."

* * * *

Hooves pounded on moist ground, the roll of
their thunder cutting in heavier strikes as they neared the castle.
Swirls of thick fog whipped upwards and into the night as the gates
of Brahan Seer swung open by an unseen hand. One after another, men
forced their way in until the keep overflowed with the blue and
green of Campbell plaide.

Fear lodged in Marcus's throat at sight of
his enemies' raised swords.

"Buadhaich!" came the battle cry.

A shudder shook Marcus.

The devils' weapons stabbed through the grey
of the murky fog. Pleas for mercy resounded. Still, Marcus remained
rooted to the spot, watching until the last MacGregor fell.

A Campbell glanced at him, the first to
acknowledge his presence. The man smiled, stepping on the head of a
vanquished enemy and grinding the skull with his foot. As if
magically freed from unseen bonds, Marcus lunged at him. They
crashed to the ground, Marcus's grasp closing around nothing. He
leapt to his feet, seizing another Campbell. He, too, vanished. One
by one, they disappeared each time he grabbed their necks. His mind
sought for purchase within the ghostly battle, his senses reeling
with the echo of laughter that rose from the curling mist.

Finally, every Campbell gone, Marcus stood,
his breath coming in labored gulps. Torn and twisted bodies lay
scattered about him—the ruin of his clan. A cry broke the silence.
He whirled. Elise lay on the ground, a trembling hand raised to
him.

Marcus rushed to her side. He fell to his
knees, lifted her head, and cradled it in his lap. Tears streamed
down his cheeks, splashing onto her lips. With gentle fingers, she
wiped a tear from his cheek.

"Shh," she murmured. "It's not your fault."
Her hand fell away and her eyes closed.

He tightened his grip but she vanished,
causing him to tumble forward. Her garments twisted in his hands.
He shoved and kicked, trying to dislodge himself from the
fabric.
Leaping up, his fingers closed around a post—

Marcus stood in darkness, gasping in heaving
gulps of air. His grip on the bedpost tightened as he looked about
wildly in the darkness. No moon shone overhead. No bodies lay
around him—a soft chime sounded—
a clock
. A shudder
reverberated through him and he fell to his knees on the stone
floor of the bedchamber. The cold of the floor against his knees
contrasted the sweat that beaded his forehead. A drop trickled
along his hairline. A dream. But Elise's kidnapping had been no
dream. Had she not escaped… Marcus bowed his head, the cold barely
noticeable to his naked body, and he touched the tear trailing down
his cheek.

The clock chimed again. Four gongs this
time.

His heartbeat had slowed and his body
chilled. Fingers still wrapped around the bedpost, Marcus pulled
himself onto shaky legs. He gathered his kilt from the floor near
the foot of the bed and wrapped the
plaide
around his waist.
Brahan Seer lay but half a day's ride away. Marcus paused.

A dream.

To return home before visiting the young
MacFarlene chief would be foolish.

A dream.

His heart rate increased. A dream where
everyone he loved had perished. Where Elise had perished. He
grabbed his belt from the chair, then halted. He had left the keep
well-guarded. He would wake his man Kyle. One day for Kyle to ride
to Brahan Seer and make sure all was well, then meet them tomorrow
at the MacFarlene holding.

Marcus studied the men gathered in the
MacFarlene great hall, then returned his attention to Langley, the
young MacFarlene chief, who stood beside him at the massive hearth.
Marcus set his glass of scotch on the mantel. "No sign of Campbells
on your land?"

Langley nodded to one of his men. "Nay." He
finished his scotch, then placed the glass next to Marcus's. "If I
had, they would be buried—and King George would never find
them."

Marcus well remembered Langley's uncle, Cory
MacDonald. The MacDonalds had not forgiven the Campbells for the
Glencoe massacre over a hundred years ago. MacDonald blood flowed
as hotly in Langley's veins as did MacFarlene blood.

"Ye have a spy, MacGregor."

Marcus's attention snapped back to the young
man. "What?"

"How else do you explain their success in
creeping about your land? You say Shamus was killed in Montal Cove.
That isna' MacGregor land. I remember hearing about Katie
MacGregor. She was in MacLaren territory when they attacked her."
Langley regarded him. "Before this last incident, how long since
they were seen on MacGregor land?"

"Two months." Marcus stilled. "The night I
escorted Elise back from Michael's."

"The same lass they made off with?" Langley
grunted. A young woman carrying several bottles of whiskey wound
her way through the crowd. "Brenda," he called. "Bring me one of
those bottles, lass."

She turned and hurried forward. He took a
bottle from her tray. She glanced at Marcus.

"Off with you," Langley said.

With a flash of a smile for Marcus, she
sauntered away.

Langley opened the bottle, filled their
glasses, then set the bottle on the mantel. He took a large drink
before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Two months ago,
you say?"

"Aye," Marcus replied.

"What came of it?"

"Nothing. They were gone when I
returned."

"A shame, and a little strange, wouldn't you
say?" Langley finished the drink, reached for the bottle, and
refilled his glass.

"They may have heard me passing by and ran,
or luck might have been with them."

"Aye," Langley agreed. "They're a cowardly
lot. But considering they returned, that makes the situation more
strange than lucky." He shrugged again. "Think what you like, but
you have a spy." He lifted a brow. "Mayhap it's you they want?"

"They had their chance when they abducted
Elise. They knew I would pursue them yet didn't lay in wait for
me."

Langley grunted. "The pleasures of the flesh
are a powerful distraction."

Marcus's jaw tightened.

"Dinna' lose your temper," the young chief
said. "'Tis an observation, nothing more."

"An astute observation," Marcus muttered,
then added, "Someone who is reporting the comings and goings."

"What they are reporting, I can't say. But
'tis clear they are hunting. I wager it's big game. 'Course, we
will fight alongside you."

Marcus smiled to himself. The clans feuded
far less in these modern times, giving a restless Highland heart
such as Langley's no outlet for its brand of justice.

"You will stay until tomorrow morning and
train?" Langley motioned toward the men who tonight sported with
whiskey and lasses, but tomorrow would train hard.

"Aye," Marcus replied, the memory of Kyle's
report that all was well at Brahan Seer fresh in his mind.