Highlander Ever After

by Paula Quinn

  Sina squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in Goliath’s fur. “Wake up,” she whispered.

  “Don’t untie him, or I’ll have to shoot him, Sina,” William warned when she moved to pull the rope off his face.

  “You better pray he wakes up.”

  He came closer and knelt beside her.

  “I read your letter. You said you would never love him. I know you’re angry with me, but don’t discard our years together.”

  She stared at him. She knew every inch of his face, every expression. She’d watched it go from small, round, and a bit cherubic, to hard and cynical over the years. She’d felt so guilty about betraying him that she couldn’t see the truth: she loved him like a brother. It was never anything more than that, not to say her love hadn’t been immeasurably strong. She hated losing him, but it was too late. She would never forget his face while he was choking her.

  “You stole my letter and gave it to the king. Adam is in prison because of you.”

  His eyes shone in the moonlight coming in from the window overhead. “You lied to me, Sina. We promised we would never do that to each other.”

  “Oh?” She lifted her brow at him. “Did you spend time in the beds of other women while on the tour?”

  He didn’t answer right away, which was answer enough.

  “I didn’t love any of them,” he finally said, weakly.

  She turned away in disgust. When she thought of keeping herself from Adam out of loyalty to her betrothed, it sickened her. “Don’t speak to me about deceit.”

  “You mean everything to me, and that is the truth,” he told her.

  She shook her head. “It’s too late.”

  “Because you love a MacGregor?” he spat.

  “Because you tried to take everything from me, William, including my life!”

  “I didn’t mean to—”

  She held up her palm. “Enough. Help me carry Goliath back to my rooms so I can fetch the physician.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t get out of Kensington alive with you. I won’t let you belong to anyone else, especially a savage. I just want a little more time with you.”

  “What…?” She looked at him and the pistol peeking out from behind his coat. “What are you talking about?”

  “How can you think I could live without you, Sina? I need you. You know that. You are everything to me. I can’t let you go. Not ever.”

  She tried to run, but he grabbed her wrist, yanked her back down, and swung at her, knocking her out. She landed in Goliath’s soft fur.

  King George paced his bedchamber as his sleepless night wore on.

  He wished he’d insisted on his beloved staying in the king’s quarters tonight. He could tread his way to the queen’s side of the palace to see and speak to her, but he felt an urgency to speak to someone else.

  He still had a hard time believing MacGregor had come here, convincingly disguised as someone else. It made sense now that, as Hamilton, he’d claimed to love Sina so quickly. And Sina loved him. George would have thought his daughter brainwashed, but then, so had he been. He liked the lad. Hamilton—MacGregor was witty and clever, and he didn’t kiss George’s arse. Of course, there were savage subtleties in his demeanor, now that George thought about it, like when his dog was in danger after MacGregor broke a man’s nose and knocked out four teeth for striking Sina, or the way his expression turned ruthless and cold when he spoke of William Standish.

  Other than that, he carried himself like a prince, sure and confident. He was well-versed and well-mannered, excellent at chess and at fighting. It had been easy to believe he was the grandson of a duke. How could he be the grandson of the Devil MacGregor?

  George had found out some things about this particular clan on Skye. This Devil had killed an entire garrison of men on his own and then took on the rest of the Campbells in a personal war.

  In truth, the more George had learned about him, the more curious he became about the rest of them. He was able to find out little about the Devil’s children, save that one of his sons had been a personal friend to King James and a general in his army.

  They were fighters, for certain. And mighty, if the rest of them were as big as Hamilton.

  Oh, how had he been so deceived? He should have known the lad was the MacGregor. Here to make a fool of the new king, or here because he had fallen in love with his daughter?

  MacGregor’s concern, even while being taken away, was her safety. His interest had been in her and no one else from the beginning.

  What father didn’t want a man for his daughter who would travel on horseback for days to find her? Who could protect her? William Standish was a worm, led by whichever way the wind was blowing. It was Sina who’d always protected him!

  George scowled. He never liked Standish, as a boy, or as a man. Rumors of his exploits on the tour were disturbing, so when Hamilton, a man who put his daughter’s happiness first, swooped in, George had been relieved.

  Now what was he to do? How was he supposed to feel?

  George decided to speak to him. He had things to say, things to learn before he made any final decisions. In return, he would listen to MacGregor’s defense. For Sina, he had to at least listen.

  His little girl had grown into a bold, beautiful lady. She had done so without him. He wanted to make that up to her. She seemed happy, and MacGregor was the one responsible.

  But could he, in good conscience, hand over his only child born from love to an outlawed Highland clan?

  He called for his servants. He wanted to be dressed and on his way out as soon as possible.

  He thought about stopping to speak to Sina first, but the sun was barely up. He’d let her sleep.

  “Newgate prison,” he told the carriage driver and stepped inside.

  On the way there, he wondered what the rest of the MacGregors were like. Anne had trusted them. Was it simply because there was a Stuart among them? Or was it something more? General Marlow left his service to the queen and became one of them! His daughter defended them, calling them kind and loving.

  As his carriage rolled into the front courtyard of Newgate, he wondered why the queen had never told him about Claire Stuart. As far as he could find out, she was married to a Grant—not a MacGregor.

  The prison was filthier than his stomach could bear at first, but at least MacGregor hadn’t been taken below stairs where the stench was worse.

  A guard led him to a shadowy cell at the end of a long, dark corridor.

  “Let me inside,” the king commanded. The guard took out his keys without question, but cast the king a curious look.

  “Do you want me to come inside with you?” the guard asked.

  George looked him over and almost laughed out loud. The scrawny, grimy guard was no match for MacGregor if the Highlander sought to hurt them.

  “No. Stay here,” George ordered and waited while the guard pulled open the door. He looked inside the cell, dimly lit with a small torch and a single candle. When MacGregor saw him, he stood up from a small stool where he’d been sitting.

  The door shut behind George with a resonating clang that made his heart thump harder.

  The Highlander appeared even bigger in such a small space. “MacGregor.”

  “Aye,” he answered with a tilt to his chin.

  He looked more like a Highlander now, with his raven hair coming loose from his ribbon and his cravat tossed to the floor.

  “You deceived me.”

  “Nae,” MacGregor argued and then offered him the stool. “I wanted ye to know me withoot the preconceptions that come with my name.”

  The king refused the stool and eyed him. “You’re telling me the man I came to know is the real you?”

  “Aye.”

  “Then tell me the truth,” the king said. “Why did you come to London? Are you here on behalf of Claire Stuart?”

  “Claire…,” MacGregor repeated with a confused look. “I came fer Sina. She stole my heart before I even knew it was hap
pening. She was forced to marry me by the queen’s order, and she fought back.” He smiled, as if remembering. “I accepted her into my life to save my clan but she ended up saving me.”

  George listened. He liked what he was hearing, so far. “You must understand, I’ve heard some stories.”

  “Ye havena heard them all,” MacGregor replied with the torchlight shining in his gaze like lightning-tipped arrows.

  “I would like to,” the king admitted. “But for now, let’s discuss your family’s ties to Anne.”

  “Is there a purpose to all this?” MacGregor asked him, not flinching when a rodent scurried past.

  “Yes, there is.”

  “Then can we do it somewhere else?”

  George knew the prison wasn’t properly tended to, but he had no idea it was this bad. He didn’t want to remain another second, but he didn’t want to release MacGregor just yet.

  “Where is the king?” he heard a woman shout in the corridor. “I have urgent news! Bring me to the king at once!”

  Poppy Berkham, Sina’s spirited friend. Sina!

  The king pulled open the door and called to her, forgetting MacGregor behind him.

  “Your Majesty!” she said, rushing to him. “I went to check on Sina. She was not in her apartment. When I questioned the palace guards if they’d seen her, they hadn’t, but a few of them claim to have seen William Standish last night.”

  “I’ll have them quartered for not bringing this to my attention last night!” George roared, moving to leave the cell.

  “Release me,” MacGregor said, stopping him. “I’ll find her. I’ll bring her back.”

  The king stared at him for a moment and then nodded and tried to keep up with him.

  Chapter Forty

  Sina opened her eyes. It took her a moment to realize where she was, whom she was with.

  He’d struck her. She would never forgive him. Never.

  She sat up and rubbed her sore jaw. She felt something cold and wet touch her cheek and threw her arms around Goliath. His mouth was still tied shut and there was another rope tied around his neck, securing him to the wall.

  Waves of memories flooded her thoughts. Adam…Adam was in prison, arrested by her father for being a MacGregor.

  William had nearly killed Goliath and—

  “Ah, just in time to eat,” William said, smiling as he came closer carrying two bowls in his hands.

  Goliath leaped forward, growling from deep within. He clawed at his nose when he tried to open his mouth to bite. William laughed and stepped closer. When the valiant dog moved in front of her, she pushed him back, unsure of what William was capable of.

  “When did you become what you hated most, William? You lord yourself over a dog that is helpless to fight back.”

  William’s laughter faded to a smirk. “Tying its muzzle was a wise decision, dear one. Not a foolish one.”

  “Well, it needs to come off so he can eat,” she demanded.

  William pouted and shook his head. “There’s only enough for you.”

  “He can have mine. I’m untying him.” She reached around his head, but William drawing his pistol stopped her.

  “All right.” His sinuous smile returned. “If you want the dog to have the food, then you may loosen the rope enough to squeeze your fingers between its fangs and feed it.”

  Bastard, Sina cursed him. He knew of her terrible fear of dogs. He wanted to enjoy this. But he didn’t know she had changed. And he didn’t know Goliath.

  She continued to loosen the thick knots beneath his furry chin, giving him room to open his mouth to eat.

  “That’s enough, Sina,” William commanded, waving his pistol around. “Feed it. You’re trying my patience.”

  “If you want to see me possibly get bitten”—Sina boldly defied him and continued loosening the ropes—“his mouth needs to open a little more.”

  “You think very low of me if you think that’s what I want.” His smile belied his cold gaze.

  She snatched the small bowl from his hand. Inside were a few slices of venison, some turnips, and bread. “Where did you get it?” she asked. “You didn’t get inside the palace again, did you?”

  “No. Catherine, my dear cousin, just delivered it. She is also the one who found your letter and that stem of heather. Did he pick it for you? Was it before or after your letter to me?”

  “Ah, Catherine, of course,” she muttered, ignoring his questions. Helping to kidnap the king’s daughter wasn’t going to go over well with her father.

  She broke up small pieces of meat and held her fingers up to Goliath’s mouth. For a moment, her heart thrashed wildly in her chest, but Adam’s faithful hound would never hurt her. He pushed out his tongue to lick her fingers and then gently ate from them.

  Sina watched him while her heart swelled with love. Goliath had been a difficult adversary, but he was worth the fight.

  “I’ve indulged you long enough, Sina.”

  Everything she felt for the dog faded from her expression when she turned to look at William. “And I’ve indulged you by not ripping out your eyes for doing this.”

  “You always were so spirited,” he said, admiring her with a soft smile.

  “How long do you think you can keep us here?”

  “Not much longer, I’m afraid.” He looked at the pistol in his hand. “There are some things I wish to tell you first. You are my best friend. I must confess, and you are the only one I trust.”

  He told her about the things he’d learned abroad, depraved, sexual things that men paid to do to women.

  “I found that I enjoyed inflicting pain on women during sex.” She would never forget him saying it. “It opened up a whole new world to me. One of power. For the first time in my life, I was in control.”

  “You feel in control when you’re hurting a woman?” she asked with seething disgust. How could she have loved this creature?

  “’Tis temporary pain and many of them enjoy it.”

  “And the rest?”

  “The rest were paid well,” he said woodenly, boosting her disgust.

  “And I denied a man I promised myself to before God because of you.”

  “I didn’t give my heart to any of them, Sina. It belongs to you and you alone.”

  “I don’t want it!” she shouted at him. “You are the one who should be in prison!”

  “I am not the one who deceived the king,” he retorted. “How can you defend a MacGregor? They are the scourge of Scotland, the lowest form of human being there is.”

  Goliath growled. Sina looked up to find that he had scratched off the loosened rope from his muzzle and was showing William his long, glistening white fangs.

  She heard the click of William’s pistol being locked. She looked at him. The pistol was pointed at Goliath.

  “There is no more need for the hellhound.”

  “No!” Sina screamed and threw herself on Goliath.

  She heard the rush of feet and looked up in time to see Adam running toward her. Was she dreaming? Had William shot her?

  She watched, horrified, as William turned the pistol on him. He fired and missed. Adam never stopped coming at him. Goliath was going wild trying to get loose as Adam reached William and smacked the pistol out of his hand, punched him in the mouth, and tossed Sina a dagger in one fluid motion.

  “Cut Goliath loose,” he said.

  “Don’t kill him,” she whispered to Goliath and cut him loose. He bounded forward and clamped his teeth around William’s leg at the same time Adam reached her and took her in his arms.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, still unable to believe he was here. Had he escaped?

  “I’ll explain everything later. Are ye hurt, lass?”

  “No,” she told him and then went still as her mother, the king, and his guards arrived. Would they arrest Adam again?

  She let out a breath she’d been holding and relaxed as her father’s men bypassed him and went to William.

  Adam tol
d Goliath to let go of William’s bloody leg and waited while the guards dragged William to his knees.

  “He was aboot to shoot her,” Adam told her father while her mother drew her in for a tight, tearful embrace.

  “Bring him straight to Newgate!” her father commanded.

  “His cousin Catherine helped him,” Sina informed them. “She is the one who stole my letter.”

  “Find and arrest Miss Newton,” the king ordered.

  He took her in his arms next. “Your mother and I are thankful for your life, daughter.”

  “Adam saved me.”

  “I know,” he whispered into her hair. “I made the correct decision to release him, then.”

  Sina pulled back from their embrace and stared at him first, and then at Adam. When he smiled and nodded, she threw her arms around her father again and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. You have made me very happy.”

  “We still have things to discuss, MacGregor,” her father said as she broke free and ran into Adam’s arms. “Freshen up, the both of you. I will see you in my quarters in an hour.”

  “Two,” Adam called over his shoulder as the king and her mother set off for the stairs.

  Her father didn’t answer, but she thought she heard him grumble something. She smiled and looked up into her husband’s silvery-blue gaze, eclipsed by strands of ebony hair. “He released you.”

  He quirked one side of his mouth. “I told ye he would.”

  She loved his confidence. It shone like a radiant light in him and drew others like moths to a flame. It had drawn her out of her anger, her loneliness, and into the marvelous light of living her life with passion. “You’ll tell me how you did it.”

  “Aye.”

  “But first—”

  His smile went soft and warm. “Aye, first…”

  Sina lay naked, sprawled out over Adam’s hard, glistening planes. Their breathing came shallow and fast after separating. He ran his hand down the column of her back while she kissed his chest.

  “I never thought anything could feel so good,” she purred against him.