Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
I t had only been good fortune that Kieran had been out riding, or he would never have come across the bandits attacking the two carriages. It had been four against four, but the men defending had been struggling before he arrived.
Once the battle was over, he had been astonished at the sight of a woman standing beside the horses. A rather beautiful woman at that. Kieran had had to swallow back his reaction at her appearance. She was slender yet shapely, but he was more struck by her bright auburn hair. It was long and thick and fell in waves around the soft pale skin of her face.
He had been floored even further, however, when he had discovered her identity. Not that he wasn’t expecting his betrothed to arrive that day. But he certainly wasn’t expecting to see a lass like her. It also happened that her locks reflected her personality. Free and wild and spirited .
“Who dae ye think ye are, speaking tae me in such a manner?”
Not only her words, but the way in which she had said them had taken him off guard, for no woman would dare speak to him like that. He already had his reservations about this arranged union, and her attitude certainly wasn’t helping.
Once back at the castle, after he had ridden around the grounds to check that everything was safe, she had surprised him further with her comment of not caring if he had bedded half the castle. A fact that could not be further from the truth, not due to lack of interest from the ladies, but to the lack of interest from his side.
Kieran had not been ready for the words that had left her mouth. It was only good fortune that he had been behind her, and thus, she had not seen his initial reaction. A reaction that consisted of his mouth dropping open in shock. Steeling himself, he had snapped it closed, something he was glad she had not witnessed.
When the group gathered in the drawing room, refreshments were served. Laird Mackintosh talked about how positive the alliance was going to be, strengthening both clans and Kieran and Devon joined in here and there .
Lady Cameron showed only a mild interest, and remained in the room only as long as propriety dictated. Within the hour, she stood and excused herself.
“I hope ye dinnae mind, me laird,” she said, speaking directly to the laird. “But my sister and I have endured a long and rigorous journey. I would appreciate it if we could retire tae our room.”
“O’ course,” his father declared. “Yer maids are likely already there, but I will have someone escort ye directly. Ye’ll want tae be well rested fer the feast we are throwing this evening in yer honor.”
Ten minutes later, the lasses had left the room with a servant and Kieran’s mother.
“Well, what dae ye think o’ her?” Laird Mackintosh asked, his eyes wide with eager anticipation.
Expressing to his father what he had overheard from Lady Cameron earlier might be a little inappropriate, even if there were only men remaining in the room. Furthermore, he was aware that his father was eager for this union, and Kieran did not want to disappoint him, thus he lied through his teeth.
“She looks delightful, Faither. I cannae wait tae get tae ken her better. ”
Laird Mackintosh’s eyes opened with both surprise and delight.
“That’s fantastic tae hear, son. Fantastic.”
In his periphery, Kieran could see Devon smirking, but pretending he didn’t, he continued.
“The wheels are now in motion.”
“Indeed, they are, me son,” his father replied. “In fact, there is a council meeting this afternoon. Be certain tae be there. I must away tae me study, but I am sure I will see ye both later.”
When his father left the room, Devon’s smirk morphed into a full-on grin.
“ She looks delightful, Faither. I cannae wait tae get tae ken her better ,” he mimicked teasingly.
Kieran gave him a steady look. “What did ye want me tae say? That’s she’s a walking headache? ”
Devon pushed himself off the mantle, and with a tone loaded with sarcasm, he said. “Och, nay, braither. I think ye sold it very well.” He paused a beat, and then said. “But now we are alone, what dae ye really think o’ her?”
Kieran relayed what had happened when he first came upon the attack, and then added Lady Cameron’s words at his arrival at the castle.
Devon’s eyes widened. “She’s a wild one.”
Kieran sighed. “Aye, like nae wanting tae get married wasnae enough.”
“Aye, well,” Devon countered, stepping further into the room and aimlessly wandering about. “Ye dinnae have a choice, braither. The council want ye tae marry, and thus, marry ye shall.”
Kieran swallowed down a sigh and shook his head.
“If ye’d have arrived intae this world a few seconds ‘afore me, it would be ye in me shoes, ye bastard,” he said with no heat at all.
“But I didnae, did I?” Devon grinned .
While the brothers both had blond, long hair and might look exactly the same, they were not alike. Not at all. Devon’s messy mane was longer and currently swung about his broad shoulders as he swaggered around the room in his usual easy-going manner.
In contrast, Kieran’s hair was always neatly tied back; contained, like himself. Devon liked to tease him about his seriousness, as did his parents on occasion.
Unlike his brother, he was calm, quiet, and, he supposed, could be seen as brooding.
“I still think they’re rushing intae this,” Kieran countered. “Faither is alive and well. I willnae need tae take on that mantle fer a long while yet.”
Devon gave him a look that expressed what both brothers knew.
“It has little tae dae with that, Kieran, and ye ken it. If Laird Campbell hadnae been killed by one o’ our own, his son wouldnae be so intent on revenge. And let us nae forget that his faither kidnapped our cousin! Madman!”
“Ye can hardly call him a madman, Devon. Would ye and I nae react in the same manner if our faither was slaughtered? ”
Devon leaned against the mantle and gazed into the fire. Kieran was not surprised at his lack of reply. Both brothers knew his words to be true. Family and loyalty were all that mattered in a clan. Rory Campbell was only doing what any son might do under the circumstances. But io course, Kieran kept that opinion to himself. With the ongoing and aggressive feud between the Campbell’s and Mackintosh’s, few others would sympathize with his logic.
“Whether he’s right or wrong makes little difference, brother,” Devon eventually said. “The onus is now upon yer shoulders.”
“I dinnae need tae be reminded,” Kieran growled. “I ken we have tae make a good alliance with another clan tae safeguard our own. Only, I’m nae ready. It’s well for Maither and Faither. They think because their arranged marriage turned intae true love, it will be the same for me. Bollocks.”
Devon turned and grinned at his brother. “Och, ye dinnae ken. It might turn out well. She is stunning, if naething else.”
Kieran scowled. “She isnae a lass I can take tae me chamber and discard the next day. I cannae sleep with her and never see her again. I am marrying this woman. She is tae be me wife!”
Devon looked a little contrite then .
Kieran sighed and lifted a hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldnae tak’ me frustrations out on ye. But I assure ye, it willnae work out as well as ye think. Besides, I’m too young tae be wed.”
“Ye are five and twenty!” Devon blurted. “That’s nae young at all.”
“It is fer me,” Kieran murmured.
“Right. Come on.” Devon moved to stand beside Kieran. “I think ye need tae clear yer head. Come and spar with me.”
A bit of fresh air might do him the world of good. Besides, he could get rid of the pent-up frustration that had sat in his gut from the minute he discovered he was to be betrothed.
“Fine,” he replied.
The brothers left the drawing room and wandered down the corridor side by side.
“Ye ken, I would tak’ this from ye if I could.” Devon grinned.
At that very same moment, a maid moved towards them coming in the opposite direction with a bundle of bedding in her hands. Devon beamed a grin at her .
“Hello, Kenna,” he said in a more than friendly manner.
The maid’s face lit up at the sight of him, and blushing and fluttering her eyelashes, she breathed a reply. “Master Devon.”
The lass flashed Kieran a quick glance, but her smile faltered as she pulled her eyes quickly away as though she were afraid of him. She gave him a little nod and a very quiet “Master Kieran,” before she scurried away.
Continuing on down the corridor, Kieran lifted an eyebrow. With his tone laden with sarcasm, he said, “Aye, course ye’d tak’ me place. I can see it now. Ye, a one-woman man.”
Devon burst into his usual loud laughter, before clapping Kieran’s shoulder with his hand. “Aye. Maybe ye’re right. I’ve rethought me offer. I’m going tae let ye be the sacrificial lamb.”
“Great,” he quipped back. “Thanks fer that.”
While Kieran kept his tone neutral, he hid his own demons. Demons that taunted him about his lack of capacity compared to his brother. For as long as he could remember, he had never felt enough where women were concerned. Being around lasses was effortless for Devon, and they loved being around him. He was far more open and outgoing. He had a way with them that Kieran knew he could never emulate.
Because ye’re too damned serious all the time.
But he couldn’t help it, it was just the way he was. Given the choice, the lasses would choose Devon every time, and who could blame them? Still, Kieran could not say that it didn’t bother him. He would never match his brother, not in that department, at any rate.
Once in the training area of the courtyard, the brothers unsheathed their swords.
“Ye ken, if ye were actually interested in getting tae ken lasses, that might help ye,” Devon said, swinging his sword back and forth to loosen his muscles.
“What are ye talking about?” Kieran frowned as he did the same.
“Och, come on, Kieran. When we travel tae the village together, ye barely look at them for more than tae take them tae bed, and ye never see them after. Ye never speak tae them. ”
“Aye,” Kieran countered. “That’s because they’re all too busy swooning over ye tae converse.”
His brother shook his head. “Nay. It’s because I mak’ the effort. A lass needs some kind o’ sign that ye’re interested in her.”
“At least I am honest about what I want, I dinnae illude them” Kieran sneered. “And now I dinnae need tae charm one anyway, dae I? One has already been selected for me. She is in the castle as we speak.”
Devon shrugged and nodded. “Aye, well. There is that.”
The brothers moved around each other, beginning their training slowly. Their swords came together in hesitant movements to begin with, each testing the other. Devon was the first to lunge, forcing Kieran to defend. The swords clanged together, echoing around the cobblestone beneath their feet, and sounding off the walls of the stables and castle.
Kieran watched Devon’s approach. They had sparred so many times together, they knew each other’s tells. There were few surprises. Still, the training kept their wits about them, as well as keeping them in good physical shape. One never knew when an attack might arrive, either announced or unexpectedly .
“So, now she is here, dae ye feel ready?,” Devon said, defending a strike.
“Nope,” Kieran said flatly. “I might get lucky. Maybe if our faither and her faither sit down tae talk, they might hate each other.”
Of course, that was never going to happen, but he could wish it, for all the good it would do him.
His brother lifted his eyebrows. “But ye find her attractive?”
“O’ course, I dae. She’s a beautiful lass. But she’s also spirited and wild. Nae only am I being forced tae marry. It appears I’m marrying Andraste herself!”
Devon couldn’t hold his chuckle back. “I’m nae sure comparing yer future wife tae a warrior goddess is a good idea. At any rate, ye want tae be careful she isnae listening.” He nodded to the sky. “I think ye have enough on yer plate without inciting the wrath o’ one o’ the gods, dinnae ye?”
It was bad enough that he was being forced to get married to ensure the safety of the clan. Indeed, it was necessary. It was, after all, going to be the clan he would eventually rule. But the idea that this woman, as opposite to him as she was, would now upend his life was worse. And then, he remembered something that distressed him even further .
“And I am tae entertain her without any support,” he blurted.
Devon nodded knowingly. “Uncle Evander, Aunt May and our cousins are away tae visit Aunt May’s braither. They willnae return fer two weeks.”
“And Kathleen and Blaine are traveling,” Kieran added.
Kathleen was the daughter of their father’s brother. Only earlier that year, she and Blaine, a hired sword, had been thrown into their own battle. While Blaine had been assigned to look after Kathleen on her journey to a friend’s wedding, the two of them had fallen in love, much to the chagrin of Bran, her father.
Not only was Blaine more than ten years older than Kathleen, he was also a commoner. However, after an attack by clan Campbell, Laird Campbell was killed, the very reason they now had an enemy in his son, Rory. Blaine saved Kathleen’s life then and Bran finally granted them what they desired, the opportunity to be together. They had recently gotten married and had then decided to travel.
“Basically, half the family isnae home,” Kieran continued. “Why didnae Lady Alina Cameron wait a while ‘afore storming the castle? The last thing I need is tae have tae entertain a… stranger. Especially when I can be getting on with something far more interesting.”
“That stranger is going tae be yer wife,” Devon pointed out unnecessarily. “Besides, what could possibly be more interesting than entertaining a lass?”
“Counting sheep. Watching grass grow. Taking a long walk and forgetting me way back tae the castle,” Kieran said dryly.
Devon was now in stitches, and despite himself, Kieran couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “Besides, we’re unevenly matched. Ye saw the way she was in the drawing room. She could hardly contain herself. I’ve seen her in action already. I’ll bet she’ll nae last a month.”
“Ye think she’ll leave?” Devon said, his eyebrows hitched in surprise.
“I dae,” Kieran replied confidently.
“If she’s as feisty as ye say,” Devon grinned, “I hedge me bets it’ll be ye who runs away first.”
“A bet ye would lose, me friend,” Kieran replied confidently .
His brother shifted his head and gave Kieran a long look. “All right. How about a serious bet fer a bag o’ gold.”
“What’s the bet?” Kieran said, now more interested. A bag of gold was no small amount of money.
“If ye can make Lady Alina fall in love with ye, and have her tell ye that she actually wants tae marry ye, then the gold is yers.”
“But that’s the opposite o’ what ye just said. A minute ago, I was running away according tae ye,” Kieran argued.
“I want tae see if ye can actually dae it.”
“Ye want me tae mak’ this woman,” he flung a hand at the castle, “fall in love with me? Nae a chance. It’ll never happen. It cannae be done. I will probably kill her on day one.”
Devon smirked. “True. I dinnae think ye’re up tae the task. Which means, I’ll keep me gold and ye can be miserable fer the rest o’ yer life.”
Kieran frowned at that last part. He didn’t relish the idea of a life spent with a wife he couldn’t handle. Surely, if he got her to feel something for him, there might be some compromise further down the road. For a long moment, Kieran eyed his brother, trying to work out if there was some kind of trick he was playing. But no matter which way he looked at it, the bet was plain and simple. Get Lady Alina to fall in love with him.
It cannae be that hard, right?
Eventually, he nodded. “All right. Ye’re on.”
“Really?” Devon blurted, surprised at Kieran’s change of heart.
“Really,” he replied.
Devon beamed a huge grin and threw out his arm. Kieran stepped forward and the men clasped their forearms together to seal the deal. Still holding Kieran in a tight grip, Devon smirked.
“This is going tae be fun. I hope ye ken what ye’re daeing, braither.”