Highlander’s Beautiful Liar
Adamina Young
Contents
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Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Highlander’s Ancient Vengeance
Prologue
Chapter 1 - Confrontation
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Prologue
The whole situation was preposterous. Cora swallowed hard and stared at the man in front of her. He was a hulking older man and looked uncomfortable in the small confining carriage space. He was a virtual stranger, but the more she studied him, the more familiar he looked.
She had the same hazel-colored eyes that her friends said looked so good with the new pastel fashion. His were older, harder, and when they swept over her, she could sense the pity in them. He knew he was usurping her from her home. They both had auburn hair, although her hair didn’t get as red as his until she’d spent some time under the summer sun. Her guardians used to admonish her for basking in the sun, but she loved it. The same straight nose. At least now she knew who to blame for that. From what she remembered of her mother, she had the daintiest button nose. Her mother had been a beautiful woman, but Cora more resembled the man in front of her.
Not sure what to do in the silence of the carriage, she unfolded the letter that was crumpled in her hand and reread it.
“Cora,” the older man said softly, “I know this is a wee bit strange.” His thick Scottish brogue was foreign to her ears. She’d heard tales of the wild highland men, but his was the first that she’d ever met.
“A wee bit strange?” she exclaimed. “Surely you realize this is more than strange. Two days ago, I was Cora Isles and about to enter my third season. Now I’m the illegitimate daughter of a Scottish laird and betrothed to a complete stranger!”
Duncan MacKay reached across to take her hand. “If I had known that this would happen, I would never have approached my King. You must believe me.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Yer guardians were kind?”
Calvin and Donna Thistle were more than kind. They took her in when she was eight after her mother had died. Together, with their daughter Lana, they were her family. Cora’s family history made it difficult for her to find a husband, but Calvin had promised her that she’d be taken care of no matter what happened. The Thistles were her parents, and Lana was her younger sister. They’d all cried when Duncan showed up to declare his daughter and whisk her away to the harsh Highlands.
“They love me,” she said with great difficulty. “And I love them.”
Duncan watched her with sadness in his eyes. “That’s good. I looked into them when ye became their ward. I hoped they’d be good to ye. It saddens me to take ye away, but I have to think of my clan.”
Cora shook her head. “I find it very hard to believe that your clan would want an English bride at the head of its table. If you want this Innes Campbell to be their laird, why not just make it so? Why force him to marry me?”
“If I could, I would. I doona take this action lightly. I approached the matter to King Edward, but he wants MacKay blood to rule. My son is cruel, and my clan would suffer at his hands. Cora, yer my only option.”
“Your people hate the English. They’d never accept me no matter whom I married,” she pointed out.
“They’ll come around.” He smiled gently. “How could they not? Yer my daughter. Yer kind and bonnie. Ye will win them over. I know it.”
“And Innes Campbell?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Is he kind?” She was aware of the famous Scottish temper and brutality. It terrified her to think of marrying one.
“I’ve known Innes his whole life. He and my son are friends, but they are verra different. He’ll be a good husband. I’ll see to it. I promise.”
Cora fidgeted nervously. The past few days felt like a whirlwind, but it gave her an opportunity that she’d never had before. “Do you remember my mother?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line and sat back. “Ye ask that with trepidation.”
“I’m not naive,” she said dully. “I know what she was. I’ve heard it all my life. I’m the daughter of a whore, but to me she was strong and beautiful. She loved me, and she protected me. She made sure I had a real chance at life.”
“Aye,” Duncan said with a snort. “She was strong and beautiful. I fancied myself in love with her.”
Cora blinked in surprise. “You knew her more than a single night?”
“Before I became laird, I had to make several trips to London for some business. Yer mother made those insufferable trips enjoyable. I fell for her and offered to save her from that life. She rebuffed me and…” His voice trailed off.
“And you could not claim the illegitimate daughter of a whore until you had use for her?” she asked hotly. “If it were not for the summons of my own King, I would not be here. Do not mistake my compliance for daughterly duty.”
“I deserve that. And more,” Duncan said hoarsely. “I only hope that in time, ye will come to see how much I love ye.”
“Did you ask her to marry you? My mother?”
Duncan hesitated. “I was married at the time,” he admitted. “And I had a young son. The best I could offer her was to be my mistress. I would have kept her safe and comfortable.”
“That’s not love. You treated her no better than anyone else. How could I believe that you love me?” She shook her head angrily. “No. We shan’t speak of this again. I’ll do as I’ve been ordered to do, but I’ll not discuss your idea of fatherly love.”
“Cora, sweetheart.” He closed his eyes. “I’m so sorry. This is not what I had in mind when I went to my King. I hope, one day, you’ll forgive me.”
Ignoring him, she stared out the window. The sun had long ago set below the horizon, but she could still see the silhouettes and shadows cast by the full bright moon. They had passed the city and were well into the country. Cora had never been outside London and watched the passing landscape with fascination. Despite her hesitation, the idea of the adventure that waited before her was thrilling. She’d long ago suspected that she’d never marry, and now she’d have her chance. It wasn’t like she was leaving a slew of friends behind her, but leaving the Thistles did break her heart.
The carriage suddenly halted. There was a piercing scream that cut through the night. Cora gasped and pressed herself into the corner. “Highway robbery?”
“Not my carriage,” Duncan growled. He moved to protect her from the entrance. Filled with fear, Cora crumpled the letter in her hand and
waited. Nothing happened. “Wait here.”
“No, don’t!” she cried out, but he was already exiting the carriage.
“Father,” another voice said cheerfully. “So good of ye to join us.”
“Seth? What the bloody hell are ye doing? What have ye done to my men?”
“Did ye really think ye could replace me? I’m wounded. Have I not been a good son?” There was a hollow laugh. “Yer desperate actions were for naught. All ye’ve done is secure the execution of my dear half-sister.”
“Seth, please.”
“Ye have never loved me. Ye think me cruel and reckless, but ye are just too weak to appreciate my ambition. Ye wanted to take my inheritance away from me, and now ye will pay the price. Goodbye, Father.” There was a horrible sound of a blade sinking into flesh followed by a guttural moan. Cora pressed her hand against her lips and stifled a cry.
It didn’t matter. The door flew open, and rough hands grabbed her and dragged her from the carriage. “Unhand me,” she demanded, but her bravery left her when she saw Duncan MacKay’s body.
The father that she’d only known for two days was dead. Slain by his own son. She was next.
Meeting the cold stare of Seth MacKay, she swallowed hard. Duncan had called him cruel, but that didn’t even come close to explaining the maniacal glee she saw in his eyes.
“So yer my English sister? Tell me, my dear sister, are ye a whore like yer mother?” he demanded.
She straightened her back. His friend was openly staring at her with lust in his eyes. “Go to hell,” she hissed.
“My, my, my,” Seth mocked. “Such a dirty mouth for a dainty English lady.”
“You just murdered your father! How dare you judge me?” she yelled.
Seth shrugged. “I don’t see ye shedding tears for our dearly departed father. Besides, I have my clan to think about.”
“You don’t care about your clan. You care about power. Don’t mistake the two, and don’t think that anyone else does.”
“Ye think that I care of yer opinion?” he sneered. “Time to join our father.”
He raised his sword, and Cora closed her eyes. She refused to give him the satisfaction of screaming.
“Wait!” his companion said suddenly. “I rather like her.”
She opened her eyes, and the other man stepped forward and grinned. He was handsome with thick locks of blond hair and dark eyes, but he wore the same cruel expression as Seth. She knew that whatever he said next would not be in her best interest. “She’s supposed to be mine, and I want her. Let me have her.”
“And lose my clan?” Seth snapped. “Must I kill you too, Innes?”
“Innes?” Cora gasped. Her stomach turned, and she felt ill. “God.”
“Yer clan has no idea who she is. We’ll imprison her, and when we’ve taken care of my brother and I’m laird, ye’ll give her to me.”
Seth snorted. “Ye want to marry her? Ye just met her.”
“Look at her,” Innes urged. “Ye’ll not find anyone more bonnie in either of our clans. I want her.”
“Ye can have her right now. Ye don’t have to marry her to slake yer lust. Have at it. We have time.”
Swallowing hard, she jutted out her chin and met his gaze. She would not whimper or beg for mercy. She would not show fear. Innes sneered and reached down to stroke her cheek. “I want more than to bed her for the night. She isn’t just a beauty. She has the potential to be a wild ride. I want to break her. I want her to carry my name, to wither under my control.”
Cora felt like a piece of meat between two wolves. It took all her strength not to be sick right then and there. “She’s a witness. I can’t let her live,” Seth argued.
“I’m sure we can keep her in line. There must be something she cares about.”
Cora’s eyes widened as she thought of the Thistles. Lana. Dear God, she had to protect them! Seth watched her reaction and grinned.
“Verra well, but ye will have to find a replacement for her body. Cora Isles must die tonight.”
Her would-be husband grabbed her, and this time, she did lose it. In the face of her future, she leaned forward and vomited on him.
Howling in rage, he struck her hard, and she knew nothing else.
1
Six Months Later
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The afternoon sky was clear as the sun touched everything as far as the eye could see. Alec Sinclair and his warriors waited patiently behind the ridge to the MacKay lands as their scouts rode forward to see if Seth MacKay was wise of their plans.
“Ye look stiff, Connor,” Alec teased with a wry smile. His older brother shot him a cold look.
“This is an important day for ye, Alec,” Connor snapped. “Ye should take it more seriously.”
“Aye, I do. But I also know that Seth MacKay, even when he’s sober, is no match for us. If he’s smart, he’ll step down. If not, he’ll die,” Alec said simply. He patted the pouch around his waist as if to ensure that it was actually there and it wasn’t just a dream.
Connor Sinclair, as the oldest son, had been groomed to be laird of the Sinclair lands since birth. When their father died, Connor stepped easily into his new position, and Alec took over training the men. Everything was fine. As the younger brother, he had more freedom. He was still heir, but Connor would marry soon and produce a son. Other than his loyalty to the Sinclairs, Alec had no real responsibilities. He didn’t even realize that he was unhappy until the letter came for him.
It was no secret that Seth MacKay was rapidly ruining his clan. Word had somehow reached King Edward of the real damage Seth was doing, and Edward stepped in. Seth was to step down as laird and Alec Sinclair take his place.
Taking over another clan simply wasn’t done. Alec knew that the job wouldn’t be easy. The MacKays would no doubt balk at having a Sinclair as their leader. He would have to take them in hand, retrain their men, and rebuild their strength all while dealing with a clan that didn’t want him. This moment, with his brother, might be the last chance he had to feel at ease for a long while.
“Connor, ye should have taken my offer to bed Dolly,” his friend Shane said as he clapped him on his back. “Perhaps ye wouldn’t feel too uptight.”
“Her name is Ginny, and I should have taken you up on it if only to make sure that she had a good time last night,” Connor snorted.
Alec roared with laughter and even his brother finally smiled. It was rare to see Connor so relaxed. Although the Sinclair clan was in good shape, the responsibility weighed heavily on his brother’s shoulders.
Or maybe rearing their little sister, Grace, was taking its toll on them. The girl had been a hellion all her eighteen years, and the loss of their father hadn’t slowed her down in the least.
“Aye, Ginny was the first girl to warm my bed, and Bonnie was the last. I assure you, they both had quite a good time,” Shane retorted with a wink.
Alec was about to join in on the banter when his horse pricked his ears. Straightening in his saddle, he raised his hands to silence the men as Jamie and Stephen returned.
“No sign of any activity,” Jamie said with a frown. “We could see the crops. They’re in poor shape. I shudder to think of what we will find when we breach the keep.”
Alec nodded. “Verra well. We give Seth MacKay a choice.”
All traces of amusement fled the men as they straightened. They knew things could go one of two ways. The MacKays could surrender and there would be no bloodshed. Or they’d be forced to fight.
Spurning his horse forward, he clenched his jaw as he led the men over the ridge. Every man was different when they faced battle. Shane relieved his tensions with women the night before and held their pleasure in his mind as a reason to fight. Stephen was always spoiling for a battle, and Jamie was loyal until his last breath. He’d ride into the mouth of hell itself for Connor and Alec.
His older brother did everything for duty, but Alec felt almost nothing before battle. A strange sense of peace and calm settle
d over him. Gone was his pride that his King had chosen him. Gone was the fear that he wouldn’t be good enough. All that was left was the goal.
Take down Seth MacKay.
By the time they made it to the crumbling keep, Seth had been alerted. They were greeted by a sad looking group of men.
Alec swept his eyes over them dispassionately. It was clear that they were loyal to their land, but most were on foot rather than horses, and it was obvious that most of his army were still young and untrained.
“What is the meaning of this, Sinclair?” Seth snarled as he weaved on his horse. It was obvious that the man was drunk but then, from what Alec heard, he stayed in that condition.
“I’m not here of my own volition, MacKay,” Connor said quietly. “Yer poor treatment of yer clan has reached the highest level.”
Connor nodded at Alec, and he stepped forward with the letter. “Seth, I have here a missive from King Edward. Step down as laird, and face the consequences of yer actions in court. The Sinclair warriors are here to see that you comply.”
“Poor treatment?” Seth spat. “Lies! I have done nothing but treat my people fairly. I’ll not be going anywhere with you.”
“Verra well,” Alec said softly as he slid his sword from his sheath. “We have no choice. Let it be known that whoever fights with this man today will do so against the orders of the King.”
He didn’t expect it to make the men back down. They had been taught since birth to be loyal to their laird no matter what the situation, and it was clear that today they would do just that. Alec knew his men well, and he knew they would be as compassionate as possible. Only those that could not be subdued would die today.
Highlander's Beautiful Lia ( Historical Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 1
