Highland Engagement

by Dana D'Angelo

  “I dinnae care about Artur,” Anabell said, staring at her mother. She had never known her to be so coldhearted. Of course, there was truth in her words. Her grandmother had lived a full life. But all Anabell wanted was to spend time with Lady Beitris before she passed away.

  “I’m going to Scotland,” she said, making up her mind.

  “Non, you will not,” her mother said.

  “I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” she said defiantly and marched out of the room.

  It had angered her that her mother would abandon Lady Beitris like this. Perhaps it was easy for her, but Anabell couldn’t do it. She remembered the first time she was sent to stay with her grandmother. She had feared the noblewoman, and she remembered crying and begging her mother to keep her at home. But all her pleading was futile, and she was forced to go to Dunburn Castle.

  On the way there, she became deathly ill. Then from the moment she arrived at the castle, her grandmother took care of her. The sickness was awful, and the pain and fever ravaged her small body. Somehow her grandmother managed to nurse her back to health. And as Anabell slowly regained her strength, she discovered Lady Beitris was actually a warm and loving person. She couldn’t turn her back on the woman who had saved her life. She only wished that she had learned about her grandmother’s condition earlier. Perhaps she could have helped somehow.

  When the birthday feast finished, Anabell returned to her bedchamber and spent her waking hours planning her trip. She wished Maggie knew how to manage the affair of booking the passage or hiring escorts; it would have made things easier. Alas, the servant’s abilities to negotiate and communicate with the ship’s captain were severely limited. Fortunately, there was another solution. Father Pierre had knowledge of arranging voyages to Scotland, and she decided to visit him.

  But her plans for the next day were thwarted when she discovered a guard installed at her door. Faced with no other choice, she instructed Maggie to distract the guard while Anabell slipped past him. The diversion allowed her enough time to call on Father Pierre, and entrust him with the task of securing her passage, and organizing any other pertinent details.

  A couple of days later, Father Pierre confirmed that all the arrangements were complete. “You will leave three days from now,” he told her.

  Filled with anticipation, Anabell rushed home and drafted a letter to her mother, expressing her intent to leave France. Then on the scheduled night, she and Maggie stole past the sleeping guard and boarded the ship that was bound to Scotland.

  Anabell didn’t enjoy the journey as much as she hoped, although that changed when they were close to land. On impulse, she dragged her nursemaid to the ship’s upper deck.

  The cold, blustery air whipped across her face and blew her hair everywhere. But she hardly noticed. Although she was unwell, she didn’t want to miss seeing her beloved country.

  When she caught sight of the shorelines, the view was better than she imagined. From her spot on the deck, she saw several fishing boats dotting the area. There was a stretch of sandy beaches, and on the horizon were green rolling hills. Suddenly, all the trouble she experienced with her mother vanished, and her heart swelled with excitement and pride. Finally, she would return to her bonnie homeland.

  Loud voices suddenly jarred Anabell out of her reverie as a large ship arrived in the harbor. She also became conscious of the waves crashing against the wharf, and she glanced in the direction of the noise. She let out an involuntary grimace as the reality of their situation rushed back to her. It was also starting to get chilly by the water, and she hugged her arms to her chest.

  “I think Father Pierre forgot tae arrange an escort for us,” Maggie said. She pulled her cloak closer to her body, although she still shivered. “It wasnae a guid idea tae rely on him. He’s auld and senile, and your mother should have replaced him long ago.”

  “You have never liked the priest,” she pointed out.

  “Whether I like or dislike him disnae matter,” she said. “’Twas wrong tae trust him with such an important task as this.”

  Anabell rarely spoke the Scots language in her mother’s presence, but she allowed the soft words to easily roll off her tongue.

  “Ye ken we had nay choice but tae ask for his help. Besides, he told me that he took care of everything,” Anabell said. But even as she defended the priest, it was plain that there was no one here to collect them.

  Maggie snorted at her comment, revealing exactly what she thought. But then she went quiet as she glared at a new set of rough men who had arrived on the docks. The majority of people went about their business. But she noticed the three young seamen stopping to lean against a wall, and eying them as if they were prey.

  “Keep moving!” Maggie shouted. She thrust her fist in the air and waved it wildly at them. In all respects, she appeared like a lunatic, and the leering expressions on their faces turned wary. It was not surprising that they eventually moved on.

  But while Maggie chased away one set of questionable characters, Anabell noted that others came to take their place. Many of the unsavory men looked as dangerous and as scary as her mother had described. Clearly, Anabell and her companion couldn’t stay here any longer. Judging by the curious looks cast their way, they probably appeared stranded.

  “What are we tae do now?” Maggie asked bleakly. The damp air was starting to affect her, and she covered her mouth, letting out a small cough. “Perhaps we can hire someone else tae take us tae Dunburn Castle.”

  Anabell looked toward the town, her brows furrowed in concentration. Rows of buildings spanned near the dockside. The main street was muddy from the previous night’s rain. But no one seemed to care about the dirtiness. It was now afternoon, and the town was bustling with people going about their business. The nursemaid’s suggestion sparked an idea in her head. She had a little money that she carried with her. With that amount, they might find someone to guide them to their destination.

  “Ye stay here with our belongings, Maggie. I’m going tae that tavern over there,” she said, pointing to the clearly marked building. “And I’ll speak with the owner. With a town this size, there has tae be someone who can help us.”

  Chapter 4

  Giles got up. “I’m leaving now,” he announced loudly.

  Blane stood with his friend and clasped him in a brotherly embrace. He was going to miss him.

  Other members of the mercenary group came over. And as Giles reached the door, they slapped him on his back and wished him farewell.

  Blane started to return to his table when something made him look past his mate. His eyes hooded as he assessed the cloaked figure that walked into the smoke-filled common room. The movements were graceful, and he knew immediately that it was a woman. But with the loud chatter in the room, no one seemed to notice her.

  The lass took a couple of steps and hesitated. Appearing ill at ease, she scanned the crowded tavern. But her caution was understandable. A respectable woman rarely ventured into establishments like these. Still, he found her presence here mildly intriguing. He noticed the quality of her cloak. The lass was obviously a foreigner since all the women in these parts wore arisaids. But while she looked far from being poor, no attendants accompanied her.

  After a minute, the lass spotted the tavern owner. As she hurried over to him, she passed Blane. Her head was completely covered, and he couldn’t view her features. But just as he noted this, she drew back her hood when she reached the tavern owner. The candlelight in the room reflected off her face, revealing a fresh beauty. She had high cheekbones, and her cheeks and plump lips were flushed from the warm air outside. Long chestnut-colored hair framed her oval face. She was almost too beautiful.

  But then Blane shook his head and decided to dismiss the temptress from his mind. No doubt, the lass was alluring, but there were plenty of other attractive women in the establishment. A few of them had already approached him. However, the only thing that interested him at the moment was another round of whisky.

/>   “I’m looking tae hire someone tae take my nursemaid and me safely tae the town of Dunburn,” the lass said, speaking earnestly to the tavern owner. “Can ye recommend anyone?”

  The tavern owner caught Blane’s eye just as he started to settle in his stool. The owner quickly turned to the woman. “The Black Targe Company —” he started to say.

  “Maybe I can help ye,” a man interrupted. He sat on a stool near the counter. “My name is Davy, by the way. Where did ye say ye were going?”

  “Tae the town of Dunburn,” the lass said cautiously. “Do ye ken where that is?”

  “Aye, ‘tis nae too far from here. I can definitely get ye there,” he said. “First, I’ll need tae get some supplies. And since ‘tis almost noon, we can leave right after that.”

  “That sounds verra guid tae me.” Hope lit the lass’s face. “I dinnae have much money. Will three gold coins cover the expenses?”

  “Och, that will be more than enough,” Davy assured her. “Give me the coins, and I’ll use a portion of it tae pay for the supplies. I can meet ye up front in half an hour.”

  The lass paused as she considered the man’s offer. Her inexperience was evident as her lips twisted with uncertainty. And she looked toward the entrance as if she hoped someone would appear to help her broker the deal. But there was no one.

  She turned to the tavern owner. “Guidman, can ye vouch for this man?”

  “He comes here once in a while,” the owner said. “But I cannae —”

  “Of course, ye can get someone else tae escort ye,” Davy interrupted again, his lips widening to a grin. “But ye willnae find a more honest man in these parts.” He gave her an assessing look. “Did ye arrive by boat?”

  “Aye, we came in this morning.”

  “In that case, ‘tis unlikely ye have a horse,” he nodded wisely. “And where ye are going, ye will need one tae travel. Provided that I have the money, I can secure a mount for ye. ‘Tis up tae ye, naturally. But ye seem tae be in a rush, and I wouldnae recommend ye wait too long since it’ll get dark soon.”

  “All right,” the lass said, making her decision. She dug in her purse and handed Davy the payment. “Ye get the things we need, and my nursemaid and I will meet ye outside.”

  ***

  Anabell used her remaining coins to hire a stablehand to relocate her belongings to the front of the tavern.

  “That man isnae coming, is he?” Maggie asked. The fight had gone out of her, and she looked a little pale. Dark shadows showed under her eyes.

  “We’ll give Davy a few more minutes,” Anabell said.

  “We’ve likely waited here an hour already,” the nursemaid pointed out. She let out a weary sigh. “In fact, all we’ve been doing today is wait.”

  The church bell rang in the distance, acknowledging her companion’s conclusions. The sun was directly overhead, and if they didn’t head out soon, they would be compelled to stay in town. She didn’t want to think about the prospect of staying overnight since she had no more money.

  Anabell plopped down on top of the trunk. “The fellow said that he would be back in half an hour,” she said miserably. “I was too hasty tae trust the man.”

  Maggie let out a sigh. “Dinnae worry, lass. We’ll figure this out,” she said. “Let’s go back inside the tavern. Perhaps the owner might be able tae tell us where he’s gone.”

  Her suggestion gave Anabell hope.

  Since they couldn’t leave their possessions unattended, they were forced to heave the trunk inside the building. It was heavy, and after considerable effort, they set it down near the entrance. She scanned the room, hoping that perhaps Davy had somehow returned without either her or Maggie noticing.

  A dark-haired man looked up and caught her eye. He was the Highlander who she had noticed when she first walked into the establishment. He wore a great kilt and somehow seemed more aloof than the rest of the patrons here. At the moment, he was nursing his drink while the people surrounding him laughed and danced. From his demeanor, he didn’t seem like he was at the tavern to enjoy the entertainment. Probably his sole focus was to get drunk, just like most of the stumbling customers in the common room.

  But the Highlander gave her a cursory look before he turned away. His dismissal of her was clear, and it angered her. Who did this man think he was? She frowned at him, but her ire had no effect on him. Instead, his tankard recaptured his attention.

  Anabell made a resolute decision to ignore the stranger and turned to Maggie. “The tavern owner is over there, behind the counter,” she said, pointing to the man.

  “I’ll handle this. Ye need tae be firm with these people,” Maggie said. She looked at the heavy trunk and frowned. “We’ll have tae take this with us.”

  They grabbed each end of the chest and struggled to carry it across the room. When they finally reached the counter, they dropped the crate on the ground with one loud thud.

  The tavern owner gave them a curious look. “What do ye want?” he asked.

  “Do ye ken where the man we hired has gone?” Maggie said, blowing away a strand of hair that fell across her cheek. “He was the man that my mistress spoke with. Davy is his name.”

  “Why should I ken the person ye speak of?” he asked. “Dozens of people come into my tavern. I cannae keep tabs on everyone.”

  “But ‘twas ye who recommended the man tae my mistress, was it nae?” Maggie insisted.

  “I did nay such thing,” he said.

  “Aye, ye did. Otherwise, she wouldnae have paid him three gold coins.” The nursemaid’s temper was beginning to flare.

  The tavern owner’s face turned red, and he slammed his palms on the small wooden counter in front of him. “I said I didnae vouch for the man,” he roared. “The lad interrupted me, and before I could finish speaking, your mistress hired him!”

  The man’s fury did little to deter the smaller woman. She opened her mouth to retort when Anabell pulled her aside. “He’s telling the truth, Maggie. I dinnae think he actually recommended the man.”

  “Well, he must have said something. Otherwise, I doubt ye would have hired him.”

  “The owner was telling me about a Black Targe Company, but Davy interrupted the conversation and offered his services. I was desperate for a guide, and he sounded reasonable at the time.”

  “Well, the owner should have said something instead of yelling at me.” Maggie twitched her skirt and sniffed.

  “I cannae believe anyone would employ trickery like this. What will we do now?”

  At her question, a nearby lad glanced over in their direction. He set his cup on the table and approached them. He didn’t look much older than Anabell, although he carried himself with confidence.

  “I couldnae help overhearing your troubles,” he said, sounding a bit apologetic. “Ye have tae be careful in port towns. There’re all sorts of vultures here.”

  “That would have been guid tae ken before I was approached by the thief,” Anabell said, dryly.

  “’Twould be guid certainly,” he said, laughing. “My name is Seamus, and I’m a member of the Black Targe Company that ye mentioned earlier.”

  “What’s this Black Targe Company, anyhow?” Maggie asked, suspiciously.

  “We’re a mercenary group,” the youth said proudly.

  A mercenary group? Anabell exchanged a glance with Maggie. Seamus seemed sincere when he spoke. His physique resembled someone who fought for a living. And while she didn’t know much about soldiers of fortune, she knew they would offer protection. After Davy took off with her money, she didn’t want to get robbed again.

  “Are ye the leader of the group?” she asked cautiously.

  “Me?” the lad’s brows shot up in surprise. “I’m nae the leader. But I can take ye tae him. Just follow me.”

  Seamus led them through the crush of people. Then out of all the men in the room, he stopped in front of the Highlander she spotted earlier.

  “Blane,” the youth said, calling for the man’s attention.<
br />
  The Highlander carefully set his cup on the table and looked at them.

  “Aye?”

  The man’s expression was bland. When his eyes fell on her, it swept over her, and she felt a sudden rush of heat. From a distance, Blane appeared large, but as she stood next to him, he seemed more massive and intimidating. Perhaps the intense energy he emitted contributed to it. Still, there was no denying that he exuded an air of danger. If anything, he was the type to carefully gauge his position before he lunged.

  “These women need transport,” Seamus said, waving at them.

  “I was told that ‘tis dangerous tae travel on the roads without an escort,” Anabell said, finding her voice. “Do ye think ye can safely get us tae the town of Dunburn?”

  “We’re fighters, nae transporters,” the dark-haired warrior said. “Besides, I wouldnae do this job for a measly three gold coins. ‘Tis nae worth it.”

  Anabell pursed her lips. So this man had overheard her humiliating transaction with the thief.

  “I actually dinnae have any money,” she said.

  “Then what are ye going tae do?” Blane asked, raising a thick brow. “Ye will need money if ye want tae hire anyone.”

  “Well, that would be a problem. But if ye get us tae our destination, I promise ye, I’ll have your payment. And the amount will be well worth your time.” She explained how they were robbed, but he didn’t even blink.

  “This will be an easy job,” the youth observed. “That assignment hasnae come. While we wait for more information, a couple of us can take these women tae their destination.”

  Blane ignored the youth. Instead, his eyes settled on her. “Ye need tae go back tae wherever ye came from. I dinnae think ye are prepared for this trek.”

  “I dinnae have the funds tae return home,” she said. “Besides, I’m nae going back. One way or another, I’m going tae Dunburn.”