His Secret Highland Bride

Chapter Fifteen

“Where is he?” Lindsay asked the dog once again. As she had each time before, Tre sat and tilted her head to the side offering no answer as far as Lindsay could tell.

When she’d arrived back at the cottage, she’d found the cottage empty. She’d thought he’d gone hunting, but he’d not taken his bow and quiver of arrows with him. Now it was after dinner, and the sun was working its way toward the horizon.

She didn’t think he would leave her alone—he was protective to the side of overbearing, which made her think of something. Going out on the porch, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted for her cousin.

Doran seemed to appear out of nothing as he came closer.

“Do you know where Shane is?”

“Nay. Only that he left with a large monster of a warrior and asked me to watch after ye.”

She nodded, unsure of the man Doran referred to. “Come in. You’re hungry.”

By the time they’d finished their meal, Lindsay had grown thin on patience and began to worry about her husband. What if he’d been injured? What if he’d run into the guards from the first day and they’d overpowered him? She didn’t think it likely, but if he’d been caught by surprise, the scraggly warriors could have gotten the upper hand. She was about to go look for him when the dog barked a second before the door opened and her husband stepped in. She rushed forward, looking him over to make sure he was unharmed.

“What has kept ye?” she asked, noting that Shane looked unhappy.

He let out a breath and shook his head. “I was needed up at the castle. The war chief came for me today.” He looked to Doran, who gave a nod and slipped out of the cottage.

Lindsay barely kept a squeak of alarm from crossing her lips. It was to be expected. The war chief would want every available warrior to be ready to defend the castle if needed. The thought of sending her new husband off to battle made her heart drop to her stomach.

Lindsay understood Shane had spent five years at war and could no doubt fight well, but she hadn’t had to wait at home while he left her behind before and didn’t know how she would stand such a thing. How had Maria managed every day when she was forced to stay behind while he faced uncertain danger? “Are ye hungry?” she asked. “I’ll make you supper.”

“Nay. I am not hungry for food. I just wish to hold ye.” He pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck below her ear, breathing deeply. “I’m glad to be back here with ye.”

“I’m sorry you were called away.” She bit her bottom lip, not wanting to know the answer to her next question. “Will you have to return?”

His head moved. A nod. She’d assumed as much, but fear twisted her stomach at the thought of her husband being put in danger. He was strong and brave. But he was a man, flesh and bone, and could be cut down by a blade as easily as any other man. Her arms wrapped around him, holding him tighter as if she could keep him there with her. Safe.

She’d been a fool to think they could hide away in their cottage forever.

He kissed her then, and she felt his need to join with her rise, as did her own. She may not know what would happen in the future. But they had now. She’d not waste a moment worrying about what was to come.

After they’d made love and gained enough strength to get up, he poured them each a drink. She asked him a few questions about the castle, but after each was answered with a one-word response, she determined he didn’t wish to speak of it.

“I have to go back in the morning. I’ll bring in the water first so you’ll have plenty for the day. And I’ll check the snares so you’ll not need to go out alone. Stay at the cottage. Doran will watch over you, but he’s only a lad. I’m not sure when I’ll return. I will most likely be late again. There is much to do.”

She wondered if the laird had realized she was supposed to have arrived at Cluny Castle by now. Was he searching for her? Even more reason for her to keep to the cottage, where she wouldn’t be seen. “I’ll stay here.”

…

The next morning at dawn, Shane brought the water and the rabbits he’d caught home to find his wife was awake. “It’s early yet. You didn’t need to get up.”

“If I won’t see much of you today, I’d rather spend the time we have together.”

He kissed her forehead and then her lips, making sure it didn’t lead to more, as was the way with them. Today, however, there was no time. The books awaited.

After breaking his fast with Lindsay, Shane kissed her and left to return to the castle with Treun following along at his side. “Ye must go back to the cottage. Stay with Lindsay. Keep her from being lonely.” He stopped walking and pointed back at his home. The dog let out a huff but turned and trotted back the way they’d come.

He wished he could do the same and shook his head when he realized he’d grown jealous of a little dog. Doran greeted him with a nod, looking like he’d just rolled from his bed.

Shane felt as tired as the boy looked. He’d barely slept last night for worry over what he was going to do. The ledgers were a mess. He could not tell how bad things were yet, but he’d seen enough to know it wasn’t going to get better just for having them straightened out.

His father and Deirdre had taken more and more from the people of their clan and spent the funds recklessly instead of investing the money in things that would offer protection. The castle was in ill repair, and the warriors, such as they were, were underpaid and poorly equipped.

Meanwhile, the lady of the castle wore the latest fashions from London while dripping with rubies and sapphires as big as his thumb.

He shook his head as he looked up at the gray clouds above him, threatening a storm. He could smell rain in the air, and he welcomed the turbulent weather as a fine match for the way he felt. He was the laird and would need to take his stepmother’s spending in hand. Besides, Deirdre wasn’t truly the lady of the castle anymore. Lindsay now was.

How different that would be. No longer a woman dressed in fashion, but one that could sew her own gowns.

A tender smile pulled up on his lips at the thought of his wife as she’d bustled around the hearth, making their morning meal while he assisted. She’d shoved him with her hip, telling him she would see to things herself. As with he and Ronan, standing back-to-back on the battlefield. Shane thought life was better faced with a partner, someone to count on who could count on him in return. A trusted companion. But Lindsay was much more than a companion. She was his wife, and he was coming to see how beautifully they fit together.

He worried about Lindsay now. He felt she was safe enough at the cottage, but what would happen when he brought her to the castle? Would she be accepted? A Cameron lass with no wealth. Surely, Deirdre wouldn’t be pleasant. His stepmother seemed desperate for Shane to follow through on the match his father had made. That could only mean she was eager to get the funds provided by the dowry. Shane smiled again at the thought of seeing his stepmother’s face when he told her there would be no dowry. Even if there had been, she’d not have seen a penny of it.

It was a shame. The funds would have surely helped his people had he put them where they were needed. But there was no sense thinking on it now. He’d have to find another path forward to set his clan to rights. He certainly had his work cut out for him, especially when Deirdre would continue her attempts to spend what little there was. Perhaps it would be better if he married her off to another clan—one he didn’t care for, so as not to feel guilty for setting the witch on them.

Alec was in the bailey with the warriors, running drills. Disgust roiled through Shane at the sight of them. Thin and slow. Weapons rusted and bent. He nodded in acknowledgment to his brother as he stood next to him, watching without a word.

Soon he’d send them out hunting to provide meat for the kitchens. That would take arrows and proper bows, which took coin. And he didn’t know how much of that he had as of yet. One thing he could take care of was making sure his wife and any other woman of the clan were safe to walk where they wished. “Line up the men. I wish to address them.”

Alec gave a quick nod and called out the order to stand. The men lined up with their chests thrust out for the laird’s inspection. Shane searched through the ranks until his gaze landed on the two he’d been looking for.

“You two,” he called. He saw the moment they recognized him.

“You?”

“Aye.” He turned to a confused Alec and explained. “A few weeks ago, I ran into these two men accosting a woman from the village.”

“That’s how you received that wound to your shoulder, Horace?” Alec snapped.

The man didn’t answer, just stood there with his head lowered.

“It was from my dirk. He’s lucky I only hit his shoulder. These men have brought shame to the MacPherson name. Take them to the dungeon. And hear me now. If I find any of you have touched a woman without her acceptance, you’ll be joining this lot below the keep. I’ll not stand for it. The women of this clan are to be respected. Without them, our clan will wither and die out. They’ll be treated as they deserve. Do I make myself clear?”

The rest of the men grunted their acceptance of his words as two of the larger warriors moved Horace and his cohort toward the dungeon.

“Well, you’ve certainly started off with a heavy fist, brother,” Alec said.

“Would you have handled it differently?” Shane needed to know now if his brother allowed this type of behavior. It would pain him greatly to toss his own blood in the dungeon, but he stood by what he believed.

Alec shook his head. “I didn’t know of it, or I would have already seen to their punishment. However, it would’ve been at the end of a rope.”

He patted Alec’s thick arm, glad they were aligned.

“It is only that you said you didn’t wish to bring attention to yourself. This act will certainly have the keep whispering of ye.”

“So long as there is no confusion over what will be tolerated and what will not. I do not care if a few people flap their gums.” With that, he left Alec to his men and their drills and headed toward his study. But inside, he found Deirdre sitting at his desk, frowning at the books.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked, startling her.

The false smile pulled up, giving her the look of a serpent who had just spotted its next meal.

“I was helping, of course. You’re new to seeing to the ledgers, while I have handled them for years for your dear father.” Her voice was smooth and silky—no doubt she’d perfected it in order to woo men to their demise. A siren of the land.

He made a noise at that. She could take it anyway she liked. “I have no need of your help. In fact, I don’t want you in this room again. Do you understand?”

She gasped in offense as her eyes narrowed on him. For once, he thought this expression might be sincere. He wondered if she even recognized herself when she looked in a mirror. From the very day she’d arrived at Cluny Castle, he’d known the real Deirdre as a conniving wretch. While his father was enamored by her beauty, Shane and his siblings saw beneath her disguise when she’d pulled them aside and threatened to poison their meals if they didn’t obey her.

Shane might have disliked Ronan at the time, but it became clear he was treated no better for being his mother’s blood child. “Leave now,” he said. His own voice had dipped low with the threat.

She crossed her arms and pushed out her lovely, rose-hued lips. No doubt this display had gotten her her way any number of times, but Shane was unmoved. When he turned his attention away from her, she stomped her foot like a child.

“There is the matter of the marriage that needs to take place now that you’ve returned,” she said, giving up the previous ruse.

“There will be no marriage,” Shane answered without bothering to look at her.

“But there must be.”

Her voice cracked, and he feared she might cry. He just wanted her to leave him in peace with his miserable task. “There will not be. And that is the end of the discussion,” he barked, making it clear he was done with the topic. She would’ve been wise to let it drop, but Deirdre was not wise.

“We canna go back on the agreement.” She twisted her fingers, making the rings sparkle in the lamplight.

Folding his hands over the ledgers filled with illegible scratching, he set his most firm look upon her. “I cannot marry, for I’m already wed. You will have to do without whatever bauble or gown you planned to purchase with the dowry, for it is not coming, and if it did, you wouldn’t see a single coin of it. Your purse strings have been drawn and knotted.”

Rage took over her dainty features, her rosy cheeks mottled with red splotches. Her honey-colored hair had shaken loose from its pins.

“It is you who doesn’t understand, you ungrateful whelp. For the dowry was already delivered and is spent. Without the funds to repay the Wallace clan, they will come down upon us and take the castle. So, ye had better find a way out of the entanglement you’ve gotten yourself in so you can do your duty.”

“They paid the dowry already?” Why would they do such a thing? Perhaps they’d seen the wealth in the laird and lady’s clothing and assumed prepayment would guarantee the deal was done.

“Aye.”

“And ye spent it? On what?” Whatever it was would be resold so the dowry could be returned to the Wallace laird.

“A ship.”

“A ship?” His eyes went wide, for he couldn’t believe such a thing were true. “A ship?” he repeated, for surely he’d misunderstood.

When she offered a sharp nod in reply, he stood and slammed his fists on the books before him.

“You and my father bought a bloody ship when our lands don’t touch the sea on any side?” MacPherson lands were located near the center of the Highlands and as such had no access to a port.

“We wished to travel. It has been commissioned by the MacLeods. They’ve started work on it.”

Shane had no words. He was being struck on all sides as if a whole battalion of French soldiers had come down on him at once. The amount paid by Wallace to have their daughter married to the MacPherson laird must have been excessive.

For a moment, he wondered how horrid the lass must be to require a dowry of that size, but it didn’t matter, because he wouldn’t be marrying her.

He would find a way out of this.