Highlander's Wicked Gamel (Wicked Highlanders Book 1)

by Fiona Faris

  Fiona sat on her sister’s bed and watched Madeleine as she finished the last of her packing. “But, I am worried! If ye find a Frenchman to wed, ye will no’ likely be returning here to me! I fear that we will no’ live near each other, and ye and I will no’ get to see each other every day! I dinna want that to happen!”

  Madeleine sighed and nodded. “Aye. Things are probably going to change quite a bit for us. Mother and aunt Margaret rarely see each other, but I know that they write letters to each other all the time to keep in touch. Dinna ye fash, I will write to ye, and ye can write to me, and that way we can still be connected.”

  Fiona pouted and her shoulders slumped. “Can ye no’ marry a Scot? There are many who would have ye! I’ve no doubt!”

  “I have ne’er met one that I liked. Mother would have me married to the wealthiest and highest ranked man of title that she could find, and if I did, I’d be sacrificing my dreams of marrying for love. She says marriage is more often an arrangement of benefit than one of love.” Madeleine spoke with a dejected tone, though she tried to hide it from her sister. “Maybe I just need to wrap my mind around being sold off instead of marrying for love, since she’s so set on finding me a husband now. I dinna even want one. I’d rather stay here with ye and go hunting and riding, and help father with the lairdship. That would be the life I would choose.”

  She sat beside her younger sister on the bed and held her in an embrace. Fiona smiled a little. “Ye will get to be in France though, and that ‘tis a bright side of it. Aunt Margaret will take ye to balls hosted by the king, and ye will probably have lovely gowns and meet handsome men. I wish I could go and dae that!”

  Madeleine laughed a little. “Aye, ye would certainly be better suited for it. Ye would love the world of ball gowns and parties. Perhaps when ‘tis your time to wed, mother will send ye to aunt Margaret.”

  “What will happen to Bonnie if she does that?” Fiona asked worriedly about their much younger sister. “She’s but a wee thing! She’s just learning to ride!”

  Madeleine looked thoughtfully at Fiona. “Ye will be with her as long as ye can be, and then we will visit her when we can, but I’m afraid unless mother has another wee one, she will be on her own for a time.”

  Fiona fretted. “But ye and I, we are best friends! Who will Bonnie have?”

  “Bonnie may find a best friend in one of the other children here at the castle; a servant’s child or a cousin, if one comes along. We dinna ken what will happen for her. She’s such a sweet, mild tempered girl. I’m sure she’ll be all right,” Madeleine comforted Fiona.

  “She is, isn’t she?” Fiona laughed a little. “I am like mother, a fine lady with her proper ways, her lovely dresses, and her pretty hairstyles, and I am happy that way. Ye, ye are more like father, and I love ye for it. I think no one is as wonderful as ye, Madeleine. I admire you so much. Ye are brave and strong, resilient and clever. And fierce! Above all else, ye are fierce, in your love and loyalty, and in your spirit. Ye are so different from me.”

  “We are different, and that’s a good thing!” Madeleine gazed at her younger sister. “Ye are sweet and thoughtful, ye can sing like and angel, and ye play the harp so well. I spend my time learning swordplay and archery so I can become the best in the clan at it. We all have different things that make us who we are. We will see what Bonnie likes best and who she is, whether we are with her or no’.”

  “Aye. I suppose it must be the way of things. Ye will find a husband, and then I will, and Bonnie will be here with mother.” Fiona grew thoughtful and smiled in a dreamy way. “I hope someday I can wed a prince! Or if I canna, then perhaps a nobleman, like ye will. I want a fanciful, romantic wedding to a handsome and kind man, and then I can live a fine and pretty life as a wife and mother!”

  Madeleine laughed. “Aye. That would be a good life for ye! No mere clansman for ye! Ye shall have a prince! I would rather avoid a wedding altogether. I am happy to live here, hunting and fishing, training in the use of weapons with our cousins, and helping father manage his duties as laird. I’ve been learning all that I can about his work and position. I’ve spent so much time learning about politics and business that I ne’er take a moment to think about men at all. I hardly notice them, and ne’er in a romantic way.”

  Fiona gave her a teasing poke in the arm. “That has no’ stopped several of them from noticing ye! So many of them have lost their hearts to ye!” She giggled, and her cheeks blushed pink.

  Madeleine shrugged. “I ignored all of that. I dinna want romance. I wanted to remain friends with them, and so we have. All of the boys here who ye say have lost their hearts to me are still steadfast friends. We’ve kept those bonds strong.”

  “Aye, but any one of them would wed ye in a moment if they thought ye would have them.” Fiona nudged her gently. “Then ye could stay.”

  Madeleine shook her head. “I canna. Mother will no’ let me marry anyone here. I have to marry up. I am the eldest of her three daughters. I have to marry best, and then help ye and Bonnie find good husbands. None of the Scottish lairds have turned my head, so I guess ‘tis off to France with me. She is pleased about that, though. The men their have greater title and wealth and will make a better match for me than anyone here.”

  Fiona gave her a wink. “Well try for the heart of a prince then, and I can marry his brother, and then we can always be together.” They both laughed and stayed at each other’s sides for the remainder of the night, talking until they slept. Fiona watched with sad tears when Madeleine left the next morning.

  * * *

  Madeleine stared out of the carriage window and wondered how her days of riding the hills and valleys of the Highlands, of hunting in the forests and fishing on the loch, could have come to such a sudden end. She could scarcely make herself believe that she was watching the French countryside roll by on the way to her mother’s sister’s home, bearing with her a letter from her mother to her aunt, pleading with Margaret to find a good husband for Madeleine and to make a fine lady out of her. Madeleine had the title of a lady, given to her by Mary, Queen of Scots, but she had never felt like a proper lady, and she had little interest at all in it.

  Madeleine was still pondering over her jarring state of personal affairs when the carriage turned onto a lane and came to stop before a grand estate that looked just shy of befitting royalty. She stared open-mouthed for a moment out of the carriage window and managed to gather herself as the driver opened her door for her.

  Margaret was her mother’s older sister, and Margaret had married a French duke many years before. He had been wealthy and held lands and titles, and when he died, Margaret had inherited all of it. Margaret had a son and a daughter, but they were married off and gone, and she lived alone in the big home, spending much of her time at the French royal court and with her friends. It was the furthest from any reality Madeleine had ever known.

  With her heart pounding in her chest, Madeleine stepped down from the carriage and made herself take a deep breath. She stood tall and lifted her chin, knowing somehow that she should show no weakness or inhibition. At her father’s request, she was going to meet the challenge head on, as she did with every challenge, and she was going to master it, no matter what or who might come her way.

  The house was surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, all in bloom and radiant in the sunshine, and the floral scent that wafted in the air was a sweet perfume. Madeleine breathed it in and told herself that a place so charming couldn’t be so bad.

  As she walked up a few steps to the promenade that led to the house, she saw that there was a flurry of activity at the entrance to the grand façade. The household staff lined up on either side of the walk, facing each other, as a stately and elegant looking woman came out of the home and stood before it with a wide smile on her face, her arms open wide.

  “Madeleine, welcome to my home, mon cherie, how are you? How was your journey?”

  Madeleine looked at her aunt with relief. She had faint memories of
the woman, and though they were good, she’d had no real idea what to expect upon her arrival at the estate. Her aunt’s warm welcome lent her a sense of peace. “I… I’m good, thank ye. The journey was no’ too bad, either.”

  Margaret laughed and grinned. “Oh, how I’ve missed hearing that accent! It reminds me of my childhood home. I’ve been in France so long that it’s a rare treat to hear it these days. Well, look at you! You’re so lovely! I don’t know how it can be possible that you’re not already married!”

  “Ye look just as I remembered ye as a child. Ye came to visit us when I was eight or nine, I think.” Madeleine marveled at her aunt. Time seemed barely to have touched her.

  Margaret beamed. “Oh, now that’s a sweet thing to say to an old lady like me! Merci! But come now, come in. You must be tired after your journey. I’ll show you to your room, and after you’ve rested, you can join me for tea and a meal in the dining hall.”

  Margaret took Madeleine by the arm and led her into the home while her things were brought in behind them. They went to a large and beautiful chamber overlooking a particularly pretty rose garden, and Madeleine could see a pond in the distance, dotted with white and black swans, and ducks. Her aunt made sure that she had everything that she needed and then left her in peace.

  Madeleine stared around her new room. She was surprised at the amount of light in it; it had more windows than she was used to seeing in any building, as well as a large fireplace, and a large, luxurious bed, twice the size of her bed at home in Scotland. There were tapestries hanging on the walls and various pieces of elegant furniture throughout the room, from tables and chairs to a chaise lounge near one of the windows. It was more foreign to Madeleine than any place she had ever seen or been in, but it didn’t frighten her. She was fascinated by it, intrigued with the architecture and style of the place, and she began to wonder even more what her time there would be like.

  She rested a short while and then tidied herself up from her journey, going in to meet her aunt later that afternoon. There was a large meal set out of meats and breads, fruits, cakes, and tea. Madeleine sat with her aunt, and as they ate, they talked and got to know one another as adults. All the while, Margaret watched Madeleine, seeming to take in everything about her, and Madeleine knew in no time at all that her aunt was a sharp, wise, clever woman.

  “I understand that you do no wish to find a husband while you are here, but your mother has made it very clear that she expects you to become a lady while you are with me, and to find a suitable husband.” Margaret chuckled softly, but her face was serious. “I will get to work on you, and you will let your Campbell stubbornness go while you are here, and if we do this together, we may have quite a bit of fun. We can make the most of it, and if you keep your mind open, you may discover that you like it.”

  Margaret seemed certain that she knew just what she was doing, and Madeleine sighed, realizing that her aunt was right. Echoing the sentiments of her father, she might just have to give the whole endeavor an earnest try.

  Margaret’s dressmaker came to make dresses for Madeleine, and while that was being done, Margaret showed her niece how to style her hair in the current fashions of the French court. As Madeleine learned, her aunt carefully instructed her in the proper etiquette, manners, and behaviors of court politics.

  “French court is like a game of chess, and everyone is a player. Everyone has their own interests and agendas, and because of that, alliances are made, and sometimes that results in betrayals. There are some people who are loyal to others, but most often the people there are only interested in benefiting themselves, and they act accordingly. You will want to be careful who you make friends with. The young ladies might be after a suitor you like, or the men will be vying for your hand and attentions and cause trouble trying to win you over. You should be mindful of that, and you should also be aware that not all men have marriage in mind. Some men are only interested in a passing dalliance with a young lady, and you cannot allow something like that to happen, for it would ruin your chances of finding a good husband.”

  Madeleine tried to conceive of it all in her mind. “It sounds like different world altogether.”

  Her aunt raised her brows and nodded. “It is. I know the world you come from. I was a Scottish lass many years ago, but your grandmother sent me here for an arranged marriage, and it changed my life completely. I learned the ways of court early, and I know you will too. Mine was a good marriage. I loved my husband and the life that we shared here. I see no reason why you couldn’t find a wonderful man at court to be wed to.”

  Madeleine frowned. “I dinna ken if the men here at court would want a girl like me. I am myself in the woods, or riding and hunting, or swimming in a loch, or roaming the hills freely. I can no’ see myself in fine dresses or attending balls. It does no’ seem like my kind of life. I dinna ken if I will fit into a world like that.”

  Margaret pinned a few more curls of Madeleine’s hair in place and patted her shoulder. “You will do fine. You are beautiful and intelligent. You will fit right in, as long as you are careful about who you trust and who you spend time with. We mustn’t leave anything to chance. I’ll be helping you, so you won’t be navigating the deep waters of court alone. I know that you will do your best.”

  “Aye, aunt, I will try.” Madeleine answered quietly.

  Madeleine took it all in stride, knowing that though she might be stubborn and independent, if she was to be presented at the French royal court, she wanted to be at her best, if for no other reason than she was representing the Campbell clan on foreign soil, and her proud heritage and name must be upheld and honored above all else. For that reason alone, she allowed Margaret to do any and all things that might be needed to prepare her properly for when the day of presentation came.

  As Madeleine was readied for her first trip to the court of King Charles IX, son of the formidable Catherine de Medici, she felt as if she wasn’t herself at all. She stood before a full-length mirror, gazing at a total stranger.

  Her waist-length dark curls were pulled up and arranged beautifully at the back and top of her head, adorned with small jewels throughout, making her hair look like a starry night. Her face was touched delicately with makeup; just enough to bring some extra color to her full red lips, and her finely rounded cheeks. She wore a breathtaking gown designed in hues of blues and greens the shade of the sea, which brought out her emerald eyes and her porcelain skin. Her shoes were made to suit the gown she wore, and it felt to her as if she had to learn to walk all over again, having a fabricated heel on her shoe.

  She stared at the unfamiliar young woman in the glass and wondered where her true self had gone and if there was any part of herself that she could show, or be genuine to, amongst the nobility of France.

  “Feeling nervous?” Margaret asked, smiling over Madeleine’s shoulder and catching her eye in the mirror while giving her a last examination before they left for the castle.

  “Yes. I dinna ken if I can dae this. I think I might be in over my head.” Madeleine tried to take a deep breath, but it found no place in her.

  Margaret smiled and patted her hand as she took it. “You’ll be fine. You look divine, and if you just remember everything that I taught you, you’ll fit right in, and you may even have some fun.” Madeleine wasn’t sure if she believed her aunt, but she knew that tomorrow would still come, whether she had a successful day at court or not. She swallowed hard and determined to give it her very best, if only for her family back at home in Scotland and her aunt Margaret, who had worked so tirelessly to create the vision that Madeleine had become.

  Margaret kissed her cheek lightly, and with that, they went out to the carriage and headed off to make Madeleine’s future.

  Chapter Two

  It was all that Madeleine could do not to stare in amazement at the castle and all of the finery in it, or all of the people dressed so grandly in and amongst its halls. She said nothing as she stayed at her aunt’s side, nodding and smiling slightly
at those they passed or people to whom she was introduced, all while sorely missing her rugged Highlands.

  They’d been in the castle for fifteen minutes when Margaret turned an eye to Madeleine and gave her a knowing look. “How are you feeling?”

  “Suffocated,” Madeleine answered honestly.

  Margaret chuckled and patted her arm. “Well, if that’s the worst of it, then you’re doing fine. It can only get better from here. Now come along; you’ve only met some of my friends so far. Let’s get you in amongst some girls your own age. That will help put you at ease.”

  Madeleine didn’t really spend time with girls her own age back on the Campbell lands at home. She was most often with her younger sister, Fiona, or her male cousins who ranged in age from slightly older than herself to little Bonnie’s tender age. Madeleine was certain that spending time with other girls her age at French court wouldn’t do much to assuage her consternation.

  Margaret led her and introduced her to a group of young women. “These are the ladies Anne, Marie, Claudine, and Marguerite. Ladies, this is my niece, Lady Madeleine Campbell. She has come from Scotland to stay with me for a time. She is in need of some fine company and some assistance in getting to know the games of court here.” Margaret eyed all of the girls intently, and each of them smiled widely and gave their hands to Madeleine; they all knew right away that they were to take her into their circle, and they did.