Mary’s eyes immediately widened. “Six months?” she whispered. “What did ye do?”
“I have already answered that question. Nothing. I really prefer not to discuss it.”
She could see the sympathy in Mary’s eyes, and she hated it. She didn’t want the girl’s sympathy. She just wanted to finish her duties so she could eat and go to bed.
“I’ve already brought the food out for the laird and his men. Ye can help me with the rest, and then ye just need to make sure that everyone’s cup of ale stays full,” Mary instructed. She grabbed a few plates and headed out.
Cora carefully balanced a plate on her forearm and grasped two other plates before following the girl out. She didn’t know what to expect from the main hall, but when she walked in on the dozens of Scottish men, she felt her blood run cold.
Freezing under their curious gazes, she thought about fleeing. How far could she get before they caught her? Could she get to a horse? Did she really think that she could outride a highlander? That she could navigate the treacherous terrain?
Her eyes landed on Alec. He smiled gently at her, and she found the strength to start breathing again. Despite his threats the other night, she discovered that he was her anchor when her fear threatened to drown her. Focusing on one foot in front of the other, she finished serving the food. Hurrying back to the kitchens, she pressed her back against the wall and tried to slow her rapid heartbeat.
“What is wrong with ye?” Mary hissed when she came back. “Ye look positively mad out there!”
“It’s nothing,” Cora said as she swallowed hard. “Just getting used to everything. What did you say I was to do next?”
Mary muttered an oath under her breath and shoved a pitcher of ale in her hand. “Ye cannae make us look bad in front of the new laird.”
Struggling to get her fear under control, Cora bravely made her way back to the main hall. She tried not to let the open lustful stares bother her, and she did her best not to talk. She knew what kind of trouble she’d be inviting if she let them know she was English.
Silently refilling cups, she did her best to keep her distance. A few men tried to grab her, but she danced out of reach and kept moving. Once she got to the end of the table, she hurried back to find solace in the kitchen.
Just as she reached the last man, she turned to the kitchens but a scuffle caught her attention. Turning her head, she saw that two men had imprisoned a struggling Mary between them as they tried to kiss her.
“Stop!” she cried out.
Rage swept through her, and before she knew what she was doing, she climbed up on the table and raced to the servant’s side. Smacking the first guy upside the head with the pitcher, she dropped it and reached down to grab a knife from the table. “Unhand her immediately or discover how well you can train tomorrow after I’ve shoved a blade in your arm,” she threatened.
Immediately, the hall fell silent. The first man rubbed his head and glared at her. “Who the hell are ye?” he growled. “Mind yer own business, woman!”
He grabbed Mary again, and she whimpered. Cora didn’t hesitate. Gripping the hilt of the blade, she drove it into the man’s shoulder. He yelled in anger and swung around with his fist, hitting her hard in the stomach. Grunting in pain, she doubled over and tried to protect herself against the next blow.
It never came.
“Touch her again, and it will be the last thing ye ever do,” Alec said coldly. He and three men stormed the table. “And ye’ll unhand the servant as well.”
“We were just having a spot of fun,” the other man complained. “We weren’t going to hurt her. We just wanted a kiss.”
Alec ignored him. “What’s yer name?” he asked Mary quietly.
“Mary,” she answered in a trembling voice.
“It would seem that Mary did not want to gift ye with a kiss. Let me make one thing verra clear. I doonae know how yer previous laird ran things, but I’ll not have the women mistreated. Ye may have yer fun, but only if the women are willing. That goes for everyone. Do ye understand me?”
There was nothing but silence in answer, and Alec scowled. “Do ye understand me?” he shouted louder. His voice echoed off the walls, and there was a soft grumbling of agreement. “Good. Mary, I doonae think we have need of ye until after dinner. Go enjoy yer own food.”
The servant scampered off, and Alec reached up to Cora. With trepidation, she took his hand and allowed him to help her off the table. She could feel rage emanating off the two men around her, but they didn’t touch her.
“Are ye okay?” Alec whispered in her ear. She was too afraid to answer without her voice shaking, so she just nodded.
“Jamie, will ye escort Claire to her room,” he instructed. Letting her go, he nodded to his friend. Jamie went to grab her, and she couldn’t help but flinch. He stopped suddenly but rather than questioning it, he just stepped aside and let her walk in front of her.
As she made her way to her room, she couldn’t help but worry about what tomorrow would bring. She’d just publicly humiliated two MacKay men. No doubt they and all of their friends would be seeking vengeance on her.
So much for keeping her head down.
“I know what yer thinking,” Jamie said. “And ye don’t have to worry about those two men. We’ll protect ye.”
“Why?” she asked suddenly as she whirled around. “I’m just a servant. I’ve been accused of stealing, and I’m English. Just why would you protect me?”
He flashed her a charming smile. “Alec is a good man. He protected ye back there, and we’ll protect ye now.”
“He thinks I’m lying to him.”
“Aye, he does. And if ye do him wrong, then ye have something to worry about. Are ye planning on doing him wrong, Miss Claire?”
She opened her mouth to deny it. Of course she didn’t want to hurt Alec. In the short time that she’d known him, he’d done nothing but be kind to her, but his very position as a laird meant that her lying to him was a great disservice. If he discovered the truth of her origins, he would no doubt be hurt by her.
The lies were already piling up. “Thank you, Jamie, for your escort. I bid you goodnight,” she said softly as she slipped into her chambers and quietly closed the door.
Alec showed up less than an hour later. Cora opened the door and felt her heart skip a beat when she gazed up at him. She tried to tell herself it was glee from seeing the plate of food in his hand, but she was too tired to believe her own lies.
“I wanted to check up on ye,” he said as he cleared his throat. “And feed ye. It was not my intention to banish ye without food.”
“I’m fine. Thank you for your assistance earlier and for the dinner.” She took the plate from his hand and went to close the door, but he put his arm out to stop her.
Instead of feeling afraid, she just felt annoyed. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him, and he chuckled.
“I’ve been waiting to see fire in yer eyes. I want to talk with ye while ye eat.”
“Do I have a choice?” she asked, but she stepped back and let him in. With his large frame, he took up much of the space in her small room, and he looked around awkwardly. She was suddenly struck with the memory of her father looking uncomfortable in the carriage.
Before Seth murdered him.
“I realize that I may have scared ye last night when we spoke. ’Twas not my intention. I am feeling verra protective of this clan, but I doonae think ye pose a threat. If ye’d just tell me the truth, ye would be able to go free.”
Cora picked at the biscuit and avoided his gaze. “I already told you the truth. I am not a criminal.”
“Yes, and I believe that’s the only honest thing ye’ve told me. What is yer name?”
“Claire.”
“How did ye come to be in Scotland?”
“I got lost.” She looked up to meet his gaze. “Any other questions?”
Alec smirked and sat on the bed next to her. She immediately stiffened, but it had nothing to do wi
th fear. His sudden close presence did something to her body that she’d never experienced before. Cora suddenly found it hard to breathe, and her fingers trembled with desire.
Desire. Who would have thought it was possible?
He reached out and brushed his fingers along her cheek. “I hate that ye lie to me, but there is something about ye. I have half a mind to kiss ye until ye tell me the truth.”
God, yes. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel his arms around her. “What about your rule that your men cannot kiss a woman without her consent? Does that not extend to you?”
“Would ye deny me?” His voice had dropped to a whisper and wrapped around her seductively. She shivered it, and he knew it. A slow smile spread across his face, and he leaned in closer.
“I think that if you want someone to warm your bed tonight, Sinclair, you’d best look to Mary. She’s quite charmed by you. I find that I am not.”
Alec shook his head. “Another lie. How many will ye tell me, Claire? How will ye keep them straight?”
She held her breath, partly hoping that he’d steal the kiss anyway. Instead, he stood and shook his head. “I cannae imagine that punch felt good. Feel free to take tomorrow off.”
“I’ve had worse,” she said without thinking. Realizing her error, she waited for Alec to ask. He froze, his back to her, but he didn’t turn around. “I’ll be at work tomorrow.”
“Verra well. Sweet dreams, Claire.”
As he left her chambers, she exhaled loudly. Maybe, for tonight, she really would have sweet dreams.
It would be a nice holiday from her normal nightmares.
The woman vexed him. He’d done nothing to hurt her, and yet she still would not tell him the truth. The more she lied to him, the more he feared that she could prove dangerous.
That didn’t stop him from wanting her. His erection was painful as he made his way back to his chambers. If he knew what was good for him, he’d take advantage of Claire’s advice and seek out Mary. The girl was a beauty, but he knew that even if a night with her satisfied him physically, it would do nothing to assuage his desire for Claire.
Or whatever her name was.
Alec was still staying in one of the guest chambers. Until everything was removed and either torched or given away, he didn’t even want to touch the previous laird’s chamber. He shuddered to think of what Seth had done there.
When he reached his room, he had a guest waiting for him. “Kane,” he grunted. “I’m tired. What do ye want?”
“How dare you take that chit’s side tonight? She harmed a warrior. She should be punished,” he declared with anger raging in his eyes.
Alec stopped and stared at him coldly. “She protected a woman against two assailants and was punched in the stomach for her efforts.”
“They were just having some fun. ’Tis how we unwind!”
“Not under my watch.” Alec’s voice was low and even. “Find another way to unwind. Yer warriors should be better than a bunch of lowlifes who have to harass a servant for a good time.”
“How can ye expect to gain their respect if ye treat them to public humiliation?” Kane hissed.
“I doonae care if I have their respect. They should care if they have mine. I stand by my decision, and I will continue to do so. Ye are welcome to tell them that. Better yet, I’ll do it tomorrow on the field. Anyone who doesn’t like the way I handled things is welcome to challenge me,” Alec said evenly. “That includes you, Kane. Now, move. I no longer want to discuss this.”
“I’ll see ye tomorrow on the field, Laird Sinclair,” Kane said mockingly. “Ye best get yer rest.”
The man disappeared into the shadows, and Alec shook his head. It was true that his actions tonight would make things harder for him, but he didn’t want any man who held Seth’s values. And if this helped to eliminate them, then so be it.
4
The men surrounded him, and most were yelling against him. Briefly, he looked up to see a figure standing at the window, watching the scene unfold below. The English lass really was a beauty, and if he wasn’t careful, she’d get him hurt.
Or killed.
Kane’s sword came down hard, and Alec just barely ducked it. He couldn’t help but grin at the men. “Well done. I have to admit, I didn’t expect ye to give me such a good fight. Yer skills are impressive.”
The other man grunted, and Alec knew that his energy was waning. They both knew the fight wouldn’t last much longer, but to Kane’s credit, he didn’t look like he was going to give up.
Alec liked that about the man.
“Breathing hard, Kane. Do ye need a break?” he joked as he brought his sword up. The metal clanked, and Alec grunted under Kane’s strength.
“Yer always running yer mouth. Laird,” Kane said snidely. “Maybe for once, ye’d like to say something worthwhile.”
“As a matter of fact, I would.” Alec ended the fight quickly as he feinted a parry before tripping Kane and bringing the sword to the man’s neck. “I have every right to execute ye right here and now.” Gently pressing the tip of the blade against Kane’s skin, he thought of his options. To show his strength and create a healthy dose of fear in his clan, he ought to kill Kane. It would be the quickest way to squelch any more thoughts of rebellion against him.
The crowd grew quiet, and Alec sighed. Thrusting his sword into the ground, he reached down and offered the man his hand. “But I’ll not because ye have a right to yer opinion. I am not Seth MacKay, and I will not rule like him. I will not use fear to gain yer respect, but I will also not let ye do the same. What I did last night, I did because I am here to protect yer clan. Everyone in yer clan. From the warriors to the servants. I’ll not waiver on that, and if ye cannae accept that, then ye are welcome to leave. With yer head intact."
Kane narrowed his eyes. Rather than taking Alec’s peace offering, he struggled to his feet on his own. “We have a right to be respected,” Kane growled.
“Then do something worth respecting. Show is over. Back to practice,” Alec barked. With a grumble, the men broke back into their teams. Unable to help himself, he glanced back up. Claire was still watching him, but from this distance, he couldn’t see her face. Was she glad that Kane hadn’t delivered a fatal blow?
Was she disappointed?
She disappeared from view, and he turned his attention back to the practice field. They fought more aggressively, as if they’d found a new enemy to fight against.
Him.
Alec knew the job was dangerous, but for the first time, he wondered just how far the MacKay clan would go to remove him from power.
“Watch it!”
Alec whirled around just in time to see a man fall. His partner stumbled, and his sword sank into the fallen man’s body. Alec quickly rushed over and grimaced at the sight.
“Get him inside,” he growled. “Send for the healer.” The wound was in the shoulder, but if they didn’t act quickly, an infection could set in and kill the MacKay man. “What’s yer name?”
“Reid,” the man said through clenched teeth. “And I’m fine. ’Tis naught but a flesh wound.”
“Aye, but ’tis what could come next that bothers me.” He ducked under the man’s good arm and supported him as they made their way into the castle. To his surprise, the woman waiting by the bed wasn’t the healer.
It was Cora.
“Where’s the woman that I asked for?” Alec said tersely.
“Your healer is currently at one of the outlying villages,” she said briskly. “I have some experience with wounds. Place a pillow under his side to prop the wound up, please.”
“I’ll not have some Sassenach touching me!” Reid bellowed.
Alec was about to say something about the man’s rudeness, but Cora didn’t even miss a beat. “Clearly your wound isn’t all that painful. If you don’t watch your mouth, I can change that.”
Reid opened his mouth again, but Cora simply pressed a cloth to the wound, and the man grunted in pain. Nodding
his head, Alec dismissed the other men. “How do ye have experience with wounds?” he asked quietly.
Cora smirked. “If you’ll excuse me, Laird, I should really focus on the gentleman bleeding all over the bed. If you want to stay to help out, you’re welcome to put some pressure on the wound while I get some fresh water.”
She tried to walk past him, and he reached out and grabbed her arm. “This is one of the men who would have seen you punished for yer actions last night,” he said in a low voice. “Ye wouldn’t be wanting to take yer revenge, would ye, lass?”
“You are the one letting him bleed to death by detaining me, my Laird,” she said with a sweet smile.
Grimacing, he let her go and went to tend Reid’s wound. The bigger man grunted in pain and eyeballed him. “Ye could just let me die. One less man to worry about.”
“What fun would that be?”
The door opened, but rather than the lying English woman, it was Shane. “Sorry to interrupt, Laird. Innes Campbell is riding in.”
Didn’t the snake just leave his land? “Ride out and meet him. See what he wants. If he has more than half a dozen men with him, turn him away.”
“Aye.” Shane hesitated and nodded his head. “Reid.”
Reid nodded, and Alec watched the exchange with interest. There was some respect developing between his warriors and the MacKay men. That was good. As Shane opened the door, the auburn-haired beauty slipped back in with fresh cloths and steaming water. She pushed Alec’s hand lightly out of the way. “Let’s see what we have,” she said briskly.
Reid tried to pull away. “I said that I don’t want no—”
“Mr. Reid, you are most welcome to wait for the healer to return,” Cora said, cutting him off. “Chances are good that you’ll still be alive then, but if you wait to clean out the wound, an intense fever could set in by tomorrow. Have you ever seen someone get a fever after a wound, Mr. Reid?”
Wordlessly, the man nodded. Alec could see the fear and wariness in his eyes. Cora put a hand on her hip. “I suggest you put your stubbornness and hatred of the English aside and let me take care of you.”
Highlander's Beautiful Lia ( Historical Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 4
