A Protector in the Highlands

by Heather McCollum

  “Open the gate,” came a demand from outside the wall, and Aiden ran with Kerrick toward the portcullis, which was rising without hesitation.

  Two carriages stood on the outside with two men on horseback. One was Scarlet’s brother, Nathaniel, and the other was Grey Campbell, the chief of Finlarig. “What the bloody hell is going on here?” Grey yelled, his gray horse leaping into the bailey. More curses came as he dismounted, pulling his sword free as he viewed the bloody and body-littered battleground. “Aiden?”

  The carriage door opened, and Evelyn barreled out. “Good God in Heaven,” she called, racing forward. A hand went to her mouth as she dodged around a dead English soldier. “Scarlet!”

  “We were attacked by an army run by Harry Covington and Finlay Menzies,” Aiden said, grabbing the reins of Grey’s horse. “I think they were part of the plot involving Captain Cross and Philip Sotheby.”

  “Harry Covington?” Evelyn said. “Scarlet?”

  “Is not here,” Aiden said, throwing his hand out to the steps of Finlarig, where it was obvious that Charles couldn’t follow orders. He stood looking out. “But the bloody king is.”

  Aiden mounted Grey’s horse while they stood stunned, looking back and forth between the king and Aiden. He had no time to waste. Each second ticked by with the pounding of his heart. Scarlet could be under attack or even… No, he couldn’t think it, wouldn’t think it. Scarlet, with all her warmth and softness, her quick wit and courage, couldn’t be dead. “Kerrick,” Aiden yelled. “Explain it to them. I’m going to get Scarlet and the rest of the Roses.”

  “The Roses? Harry has my students?” Evelyn said, her words sounding numb, though coming loud in the heaviness of the bailey. Campbells were checking bodies and dragging the dead while Hamish jumped down from the gate tower to run over.

  “Aiden,” Hamish yelled, jabbing his finger in large motions toward the raised gate. Hooves clopped against the packed ground as horses rode into the bailey, Scarlet on Caora at the lead.

  Violent relief exploded inside Aiden, and for a moment he felt weak, leaning forward on his hands where he sat Grey’s horse. She rode directly to him, and he straightened. “My God, Scarlet,” he said, realizing that he could hardly catch a breath. Her dark clothing hid much, but he could tell it was smeared with blood. Her hair was unbound, her curls free and wild about her. Dirt smudged her cheek where a bruise stood out against her lovely pale skin. But she was alive, and she was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

  As she drew close to him, she smiled. “You were right.”

  He took in every detail of her glorious, alive face. “Of course,” he answered, breathless, and she laughed. “How exactly…” He swallowed hard against the tightness of his throat. “How exactly was I right this time?”

  She cocked her head to one side. “I was ready. My demon didn’t stand a chance.”

  Aiden huffed out an exhale and reached forward, pulling her off Caora’s back, hardly noticing the woman seated on the horse behind her. Scarlet smiled broadly as he wrapped his arms around her atop Grey’s horse, his mouth descending to kiss her soundly. He inhaled and pulled back to capture her face in his hands. “Ye’re alive. Thank God, ye are alive.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, and then brushed across her lips. “I love ye, Scarlet Worthington.”

  “And I love you,” she replied, making his heart fill so much, he could imagine it bursting.

  Someone cleared their throat, and Aiden glanced down to find Grey and Evelyn staring up at them. Evelyn’s lips fell wide open like a fish left beside a riverbank. She blinked, looking between the two. Her mouth closed and opened twice before she finally found her voice.

  She cleared her throat. “So,” she said, her arched brows rising. Her arms rose slowly out from her sides, only to flop back against her skirt as if in surrender. “So, you’ve…gotten trousers for all the students while I was gone.”

  “Trousers and daggers,” Alana said, lowering her dog from the back of Aiden’s horse. Robert loped off toward the bodies in the bailey.

  Cat jumped down from her horse and helped Fiona dismount. Martha ran over to help Fiona, her leg bandaged and bloody, hobble toward the keep. William ran over to pick Fiona up, carrying her to the steps.

  “We have thorns now,” Cat said to Evelyn, a wry smile on her lips. Aiden caught the slight turn of her freckled face as she met Nathaniel’s gaze where he stood below Scarlet. Nathaniel kept his frown, and Cat gave a soft snort before continuing toward the keep.

  “Thorns?” Evelyn called, her gaze catching on Cici with more questions in her eyes.

  “Aye,” Cat called behind her. “We are Roses with deadly thorns.” She raised her bow with one hand and a mattucashlass with the other.

  Evelyn turned to Scarlet. “Thorns? The Roses have thorns now?”

  “It seems we do,” Scarlet said, smiling down at her. “I’ll explain everything, Evie.”

  The queen clicked her tongue and guided Caora over to where the king stood surveying the field. He hurried down the steps to help her dismount and pulled her into a hug. Maybe there was some tenderness between them.

  “Aye, I think some explanations are in…” Grey’s words ebbed off as he stared at the gate where his grandmother, clothed in her blue cloak, walked sedately inside, her gaze straight ahead. “Gram?” Grey called, more shock than question in his voice.

  “She’s been living in a secret tunnel under Finlarig,” Alana said.

  “Bloody hell, what?” Grey asked, jogging to follow his grandmother, but she reached the king and queen before him. “Are ye armed, Gram?”

  “I’m always armed,” she called over her shoulder. “But not to worry.”

  “Oh lord,” Scarlet said.

  “What?” Evelyn asked, turning to watch.

  “She has no love for them,” Scarlet said, but the old woman came level with the queen and gave a small curtsey.

  Elizabeth Campbell’s words came clear and strong across the hushed bailey. “Welcome to my home. I am Elizabeth Campbell.” She indicated the splintered door as if it were whole and there weren’t bodies of traitors littering the courtyard below. “I believe the Highland Roses School serves tea. Let us find some inside, as we all seem to be in need of fortification.”

  …

  “I just…” Evelyn said, shaking her head. “I can’t believe all this happened in a few short weeks.” She narrowed her eyes at Scarlet. “How long was I gone, again?”

  Scarlet chuckled as she finished tying the stays around Evelyn’s widening waist. “Long enough for me to know that you’re definitely with Grey’s child.”

  Evelyn turned, a huge smile on her face. “I told him once we reached London. He was so worried that he yelled at everyone and brought two midwives to inspect me.”

  Scarlet laughed. “Due in early summer, then?”

  “Yes.”

  Scarlet clasped her hands. “What a wonderful Christmas gift, finding out that I will be an auntie.”

  They walked out the door of Scarlet’s room arm in arm. Grey and Evelyn had taken one of the small bedrooms while the king and queen still used their bedchamber, but Scarlet had brought Evelyn’s clothes into her own room.

  “I wasn’t sure if we’d make it home in time,” Evelyn said. “Especially with Grey insisting that I couldn’t be jostled. I thought Nathaniel might punch him, but we picked up speed once Grey decided it was safer for me and the baby for him to cradle me before him on his horse, which is how I rode most of the days.”

  They walked down the turning stairs, Scarlet going in front to help protect Evelyn in case she tripped. It had been two days since the battle against the assassins, and it was a Christmas blessing that most had come out of the turmoil alive and well. Even Titus was beginning to heal after Cat and Jacqueline had pulled the iron bullet from his chest and sutured the hole closed. Aiden’s new sister was an accomplished healer, too, and seemed to have a fondness for the mysterious Moor who had protected her and the queen.

>   “I think you were gone almost four weeks,” Scarlet said. “Enough time for me to bring three new students in, along with Aiden’s new sister as an instructor.”

  “And a herd of lovely white sheep for Nathaniel,” Evelyn said. “Not to mention saving the queen and king of England, Scotland, and Ireland.” They stepped down to the bottom. “Ousting a traitorous neighboring clan chief, convincing Cat and Elizabeth Campbell to live at Finlarig, thwarting that treasonous bastard Harry Covington, and…” Evelyn took a full breath, tugging Scarlet to look at her. “And getting Aiden Campbell to fall in love with you.”

  Fluttering in Scarlet’s stomach caught at her breath as she smiled. Yes, she was nervous, more so than when she’d informed Aiden that she was going to save the queen. For her newest plan didn’t involve the safety of her body; it involved the safety of her heart.

  Evelyn’s eyes narrowed as she gazed at her while they stood outside the great hall, the sounds of gaiety and music drifting from inside. “That smile is a worried smile, Scar. What has you nervous now? Burdock is dead, Harry is dead, Finlay is dead. There isn’t another villain about whom we should be concerned, is there?”

  Scarlet felt a real smile grow. “There are always villains, Evie. You know that.” Scarlet held up a hand when Evelyn opened her mouth, her eyes round. “None of whom are here right now.”

  She tucked her arm into Evelyn’s as they walked into the decorated great hall. Despite her early grumbles, Aiden’s grandmother had orchestrated the Christmas decorating like a woman reborn to command a household. They hadn’t celebrated Christmas at Finlarig since the 1500s, but it was the king and queen’s holiday. Since they were visiting, Elizabeth Campbell had Kerrick set the Yule log in the fire, and all the Highland Roses had gathered winter holly and mistletoe to hang in long garlands. The mantel was draped with candles, holly, and gaily wrapped gifts, which Alana kept calling Hogmanay gifts that couldn’t be opened until the New Year’s Eve.

  With the end of the great threat, King Charles was in a jolly mood, drinking merrily with the Campbells and calling them the most loyal of men. Louise and the queen spoke pleasantly, and Jacqueline popped in and out to visit with them when she wasn’t tending Titus, whom the queen had defended to Charles for his heroism.

  “Then, what has you worried?” Evelyn asked, obviously not willing to let it go.

  Scarlet patted her hand. “Still the older sister, always watching out for my happiness.” She leaned in to kiss Evelyn’s cheek. “You’ll just have to see,” she whispered in her ear and guided them toward the hearth where Grey and Aiden talked with the king and Calum Menzies, the new Menzies chief.

  Scarlet’s heart raced seeing Aiden. Clad in his crisp white shirt and dress kilt, his hair long enough now to curl around his ears, he was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. And if all went well tonight, he’d be hers forever. Forever without him worrying that she’d leave him like his mother had.

  “You must come to London again,” Charles said to Grey as they walked up. “I will throw a ball in honor of your brave clan.”

  “Perhaps after my lad or lass is born,” Grey said. Charles didn’t seem to notice the reticence in his tone and laughed, nodding.

  “Yes, bring them along, and with your best warrior here,” Charles said, patting Aiden on his shoulder. But Aiden was only staring at Scarlet.

  “Not likely,” he murmured and stepped forward to pull Scarlet close, his lips brushing against hers. Despite the busyness of the last two days, with answering questions, burying the dead, and figuring out the players in the deadly scheme, Aiden had come to Scarlet each night. Their fire, erupting upon contact, had consumed them. They’d held each other all night long, as if making certain that they were both truly alive and together.

  He bent toward her ear. “Lass, ye look as lovely as the most perfect rose.” She wore a deep red gown edged with green.

  She smiled up at him. “You are writing poetry again.”

  “Poetry?” the king said. “Lady Worthington used to be ringed by interested suitors spouting poetry to her at court.” He laughed.

  Scarlet watched a shadow pass over Aiden’s gaze, but he smiled despite it. She’d do anything to banish that shadow forever. “Come,” she said, tugging him to follow after the king as he made his way to where Queen Catherine sat. The queen nodded to Scarlet, her gaze shifting briefly to Aiden, then she stood.

  “Lady Scarlet Worthington,” she intoned. Despite being a small and humble lady, her accented voice rang with true majesty.

  Scarlet curtsied and rose. “Your majesty.” Aiden bowed his head briefly.

  The queen looked out on the crowded hall where all the villagers from Killin and from around Castle Menzies had gathered. All the Roses were there, once again in dresses. Even Fiona, with her leg stitched and wrapped, sat nearby, smiling as her mother fussed about her, bragging to everyone about her daughter saving the queen. Izzy stood next to Cat, who wrapped her arms around her little sister. Cici waited, smiling with some of her old friends from Castle Menzies, the ones who hadn’t supported her terrible brother. And Elizabeth Campbell came up to link arms with Evelyn as she stood by Grey.

  Queen Catherine held the pause for a count of five and then spoke out as if she addressed the London court. “I personally give thanks to you and your Highland Roses for coming to the aid of myself and Lady Jacqueline.”

  “Yes,” the king added, nodding as if he’d decreed it.

  Catherine looked back to Scarlet. “And in honor of your bravery, I order you…” She paused again. “Never to return to England.”

  A hushed murmur filtered from the crowd. Scarlet felt Aiden’s arm tighten under her hand. “Never?” the king asked.

  “Never,” Catherine repeated. “You may visit your brother if you wish, but you are to remain, until the end of your life, living here in Scotland, amongst these good people. You will help your sister, Lady Evelyn Worthington Campbell, to run her royally backed school for ladies.”

  “Royally backed?” Charles asked low, but Catherine patted his arm and continued.

  “Your Roses have shown great courage and skill in thwarting the enemies of justice and right. We order you to continue in your good works here in Scotland.” She shook her head, glancing at Aiden. “And nowhere else.” She turned back to Scarlet. “Do you accept, Lady Worthington?”

  Scarlet slid her hand off Aiden, her heart beating wildly in her chest. “I accept under one condition.”

  “Speak it,” Catherine said.

  Scarlet turned to Aiden. “I will stay here in Scotland until the end of time itself, as long as…Aiden Campbell agrees to wed me.”

  The whole room held its breath. Not a single person even shifted or coughed as Scarlet gazed into Aiden’s frowning face. Oh Lord. He couldn’t turn her down, not when she’d put her heart out for everyone to see. Scarlet swallowed, wetting her dry lips. “Aiden Campbell,” she said, her breaths coming too quickly. “I love you. Will you marry me and keep me here in Scotland until the end of days?”

  Aiden’s face relaxed bit by bit, like ice thawing on a spring day, until a grin played on his perfect lips. “Scarlet Worthington.”

  “Yes?” she whispered.

  “I pledge to keep ye with me in Scotland until the end of days,” he said, and she released the breath she’d been holding with a small huff of laughter. “Even if I have to tie ye to me.” He pulled her closer. “I love ye, Scarlet. Aye. I will wed ye, lass.” His warm lips pressed against hers, and Scarlet wrapped her own arms around him, molding her body to his as the room erupted around them in cheers.

  “Lord help us,” Elizabeth Campbell said beside them. “First, she has the ladies wearing trousers, second, we have to celebrate Christmas, and then, she asks a man to marry her. All our ways are being shattered. What’s next?”

  Someone hushed her, and Aiden released Scarlet from the kiss. He gazed into her eyes. “Even the most shattered mess can be made into something stronger and more beautiful if we pick
up the pieces.”

  “I said that to her,” Evelyn whispered with a smile, and Grey pulled her closer.

  Scarlet laughed as she stared up into Aiden’s blue eyes. “My warrior poet,” she said, pulling him closer for a kiss. Forged from ashes of nightmares, their binding love was the most beautiful creation under heaven, made from the shards of their pasts.

  Epilogue

  “Where are ye?” Aiden called from below.

  “I’m up here in the second bedroom,” Scarlet replied and listened to the heavy footfalls of her husband as he rushed up the steps in their cabin on Loch Tay.

  “What are ye doing in…?” His words stopped as he stood in the doorway of the small room down the hall from their bedchamber. “In here?” he finished as he stared at the wall where Scarlet had been laboring all day, while he worked with Grey at the castle on the cradle for Evelyn’s baby, due in a few weeks.

  “I think it is time to start fixing up this room,” she said, stepping off the stool. She backed up to look at her mosaic. “I used some of the leftover pieces from Finlarig, and Rebecca gave me some of your mother’s plates that you broke after she—”

  “Is that…?” he asked, cutting her off.

  She smiled broadly. “Two roses,” she said, pointing. “One red. One blue.”

  “With a third…wee rose under them,” he said slowly, and she heard him step up behind her. “A purple rose—a mix of the two?”

  “Why, yes,” she said and looked up into his question-filled eyes. She tilted her head. “Perhaps you should ask Grey to help you to build a baby’s cradle.”

  “You are with child?” he asked, his words breathless.

  She nodded, a smile forming so broad that she felt tears squeeze from her eyes. “Due around Christmastime,” she said. “Or Hogma—”

  Scarlet half squealed, half gasped as Aiden caught her up to him, spinning her around as she laughed. He set her gently on the floor and cupped her cheeks, pressing a kiss to her lips. Scarlet’s heart soared, her happiness mixed with Aiden’s, so high that she felt like she could float.