His Highland Pledge (The Clan Sinclair Book 4)

by Celeste Barclay

  “Off,” she said.

  Magnus unpinned the extra length of plaid and then removed his leine.

  This was the first time that Deirdre saw the entirety of Magnus in the full light of day. Her breath caught as she took in every rippling sinew of muscle that spread across and down his front. She walked around him and trailed her fingers over his back and then his good arm. She swallowed several times, and Magnus watched as her throat constricted. When she looked up at Magnus, there were tears in her eyes.

  Magnus took the cloth from her and pulled her into his embrace.

  “Why are ye crying, eun beag? I amnae that hurt.”

  “That isnae it though I ken if I’m going to cry for any reason that should be it.”

  “Then why?”

  “Ye are even more braw than I realized, mo fhuamhaire. Women must have thrown themselves at ye over and over. I can see ye now, and I see now what plenty of other women have. I was suspicious a moment ago, and now I am thoroughly jealous of women I havenae even seen or ken.”

  “Do ye nay longer believe I’ve been true to ye?” Magnus whispered as his heart squeezed in his chest.

  “I do believe ye. I just dinna ken how ye could have been. Ye must have had so many chances, so many options.”

  “There werenae any choices or any options because that would mean I even considered for a moment being unfaithful to ye. I told ye in the alcove the first night, I may have used women for information or used ma looks as a distraction, but never once did I stray from ma vows to ye. I never wanted to, and I never will.”

  “Then why did ye say straight away ye didna want me here?”

  Magnus’s squeeze tightened.

  “I never said I didna want ye here. I’ve wanted ye here and in that bed since the moment I spotted ye. I said ye shouldnae be here because I fear what yer parents or Hay will do when they find out, which I’m certain they will.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers for the one beat of their hearts. “I also didna want ye to see what someone left on ma bed. But ye are here, and ye should ken. I willna start keeping secrets from ye. There have been far too many around us for us to do the same.”

  He turned and allowed Deirdre to see past him to the bed. She gasped and covered her mouth with his arm. She peered around him and felt sick when she saw the dead bird.

  “Hay did that. I’m sure, Magnus. It’s his style, brutal and vindictive.”

  “I ken. That is all the more reason I dinna feel it’s safe for ye here.”

  “Magnus, the safest place for me is wherever ye are. I ken ye willna let harm come to me.”

  She turned and reached back to pick up the lathered cloth. As Magnus continued to embrace her, she cleaned his arm and placed a tender kiss just below the shallow gash.

  “Ye are fortunate that the arrow didna pierce yer skin nor did the fall do ye any real harm.”

  “I ken. It made me think again of yer accident.”

  “I dinna ever want to think of that again. Nae so much the accident, but how horrid ma parents were in nae letting me see ye. I wouldnae have lasted the two days confined in that chamber if ye hadnae visited me. I should have realized then that they never would have let us be together, but I was too naïve. I look back now and see it all written on the wall so clearly. Ma father may have loved me, but he loves his position more. I dinna ken if ma mother ever loved me. It matters vera little now. Either they are responsible for this or Hay, but they are one and the same as far as I am concerned.”

  “Deir, I dinna wish this for ye. Yer father does love ye, I believe, but he is trying to achieve his own goals, and I do think some of them are for yer clan’s prosperity. I hate that ye are the sacrificial lamb to them. We will sort this out soon enough.”

  “It canna be soon enough. Magnus, ma mother told me that the negotiations are almost complete. Ma parents have already agreed to the bride price, and ma dowry is on its way from Fraser land. Canna we please go? Tonight? I dinna want to wait any longer. It scares me that we will miss our chance.”

  “Deir, if we run off before I have the writs from the king granting ma clan absolution of all claims, the king may change his mind. I made progress today, and the king agreed to side with the Sinclairs in all matters, but he hasnae signed any official decrees. Until that happens, ma clan and ye are at risk if I leave too early.”

  Deirdre bit back her tears and nodded her head but could not look at Magnus. His touch was soothing as he raised her chin and kissed her forehead, each cheek, the tip of her nose, and at last her mouth. She melted into him, and he held her close for what seemed like forever and only a moment at the same time. He stroked her hair as her hands ran over the muscles of his lower back.

  A knock on the door had them separate. Magnus placed his finger over her lips, and he pointed towards the screen in the chamber's corner. She slipped out of sight, and Magnus waited until he was sure it completely hid her. He walked to the door and pulled a dirk before opening it.

  “Uncle Hamish.”

  “Magnus, let me in. We need to talk.”

  “Can ye wait a moment, and I will join ye for a walk.”

  “Nay. This needs to be discussed in private.” Magnus tried to block his uncle’s entrance, but when the older man raised his eyebrow, Magnus had no choice but to let him in.

  “For fuck’s sake! What the bluidy hell is that mess on yer bed?” Hamish’s bellow was loud enough that Magnus looked into the passageway before pushing the door closed and locking it.

  “Someone left it as a gift but didna leave his name.”

  “Aye, the message is plenty clear though.”

  Magnus grimaced as he looked at the bed again. He walked over and pulled the cover back. The blood had already soaked through, and when he pulled back the sheet as well, he saw that the stain went all the way to the mattress.

  “Ye canna sleep on that.”

  Magnus only nodded his head. He was not about to admit, even to his uncle, that he never planned to sleep in the bed. He only unmade it and creased the sheets to keep the chambermaids from gossiping. Otherwise, he was yet to sleep in his own bed. He was in Deirdre’s instead. Hamish shot his nephew a speculative look.

  “Ye ken, that I ken when ye and yer brothers are trying to hide something. Only yer sister has success bluffing. Ye and yer brothers all have a little something that gives ye away to those who ken ye. Yer mother, bless her soul, was the one who pointed it out to me and yer da. Did ye ken that? Och aye, yer mother kenned the lot of ye better than ye kenned yerselves.”

  Hamish wiped a hand over his misty eyes. Life had not been easy for him or for his sister when they were growing up. He regretted, even two score years later, that he had not better cared for his wee sister. He looked at his nephew and thanked God for at least the thousandth time that his sister married Liam Sinclair, but he cursed God in the same breath for taking her away too soon.

  “Yer mother told me that ye will always wiggle the toes of yer left foot when ye are hiding something.” Hamish pointed as Magnus stilled his foot from tapping. “Callum will look at yer ear rather than in the eye. Alex hooks his thumbs into his belt, and Tavish, well Tavish, has the most. He will laugh to distract or try to tell a joke, but mostly, he will turn his head a wee to the left. Only yer sister can completely school her features, but dinna tell her yer mother kenned her too. Kyla told me that Mairghread bites the inside of her cheek, so if one side looks thinner, then ye ken she isnae telling the entire truth.”

  “I hadnae kenned that aboot all of us. That is a fine piece of information to hold over ma brothers. Thank ye for sharing.”

  “Nice try, lad. I didna forget what we were talking aboot before that little family detour. Ye can also tell the lass she can come out.”

  Magnus went rigid.

  “Dinna fash. I amnae judging nor am I going to tell anyone, but this involves her too.”

  Magnus walked to the screen and reached out his hand. Deirdre took it and stepped out in front of h
im. He guided her over to his uncle whom she curtsied before.

  “Dinna bother with that, lass. We are family already,” he pulled her into a warm hug that was more like being smothered by a bear than a cordial greeting. She could not help giving in and hugged the large warrior. It reminded her of the hugs her father gave her as a child but had long since withheld. She wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to enjoy the moment of affection and kindness. She realized that before Magnus arrived, her parents starved her of affection and any signs of love. Elizabeth was full of smiles and quick embraces, but they were not the same. Stepping back, Deirdre experienced an immediate loss of security the older man’s fatherly hug provided her. An arm snaked around her waist and pulled her back against the solid planes of Magnus’s chest. He wrapped the other arm around her, and his broad shoulders wrapped around her, providing the security she craved as she prepared for whatever Hamish was about to share. She was sure she would not like what she heard.

  “Lady Deirdre, I am rather glad ye are here because it will make relaying this information easier.”

  “Deirdre, please, ma laird.”

  “Uncle to ye, lass,” Hamish smiled, and Deirdre could not resist smiling back. Magnus squeezed her, and she looked over her shoulder at him. He pecked her forehead.

  “Now, I have just come from the Great Hall. There is a whirlwind of gossip going around aboot more than one thing, but it all involves the two of ye. Magnus, there is the obvious talk aboot the attempt on yer life, but many are putting two and two together. They are turning to Hay and Fraser, and both men claim the king as their alibi since they rode with him. Chatter aboot Deirdre is rather nasty. Women arenae kind, and until something more scandalous happens, she’s the en dite on every woman’s lips. There is nae doubt it will get back to the queen, and I doubt the gossip will please her—neither the content or the fact it’s being spoken.

  “What’s worse is the king is threatening to withhold his writs until the matter of the threat is reconciled. He wants no one believing they have gotten away with aught with nae blame. He isnae conducting business with any of the Highlanders who came at his request. He also has his Privy Council sitting on tenterhooks awaiting his attention on matters that seem to be pressing. Essentially, he has the court in a tiswad over this, and it’s only making ye both more conspicuous. Magnus, ye both must stay through the end of the hunt. Assuming nay more threats are made against ye, his majesty will scribble his mark across the writs, and we can all be gone from this dung pile.”

  Hamish looked into Deirdre’s eyes, his smile sad and tired.

  “I do believe they will announce yer betrothal within the sennight. Even if it is, they willnae plan the wedding for less than a month after Magnus leaves. There is plenty of speculation whether he is bedding ye again. Hay willna stand for questions aboot who sired yer progeny. It will be at least three days before ye will can leave. But, lass, ken that every Highlander within shouting distance is on yer side. We will see ye away safely.”

  Deirdre nodded before spinning in Magnus’s arms and burying her face into his chest. Magnus could do little more than hold her and look at his uncle over the top of her head.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next three days moved at a snail’s pace for both Deirdre and Magnus. The expectation of riding out again with the king forced Magnus to leave Deirdre’s warm arms each morning. However, the weather kept everyone indoors as buckets of rain poured from the heavens as thunder rattled the windows and lightning cracked across the grey sky. There was little for people to do besides gossip, and that is what most of the ladies-in-waiting did. Deirdre was growing more uncomfortable being in their presence, and she feared what might happen if the queen discovered the salacious talk that surrounded her. After Magnus left her chamber in the early morning, stepping onto the slick ledge, Deirdre wandered into the royal library to spend hours among the books. They had always been her refuge, and they continued to offer her solace when she and Magnus could not be together. Magnus spent most of his time with his uncle as the man was the only distraction that did not grate on his nerves but reminiscing about family and catching up on old news did not make the days pass any faster.

  The morning of the fourth day shone brightly as Magnus made his way down to the royal stables. He borrowed a saddle from one of the Sutherland guardsmen who was staying behind. Magnus went over his horse from Sealgair’s muzzle to whithers, along his flanks, and all the way down his fetlocks. He checked all four hooves and shoes to be sure they were in good condition. Magnus had been in two minds whether he should ride his warhorse after he took the arrow to his flank, but the stallion was stomping and neighing a greeting when Magnus walked into the stables. Magnus greeted his horse but moved on to look at another possible mount. Sealgair kicked the sides of his stall in jealousy, so Mangus brought him an apple, and with a chuckle, reassured his steed he would take him on the hunt. Magnus went over the borrowed saddle with a fine-toothed comb as well. He was not willing to take any chances of being thrown again. His body still ached, and his head throbbed on occasion from the abuse it took four days earlier, but nights spent in Deirdre’s arms did much to restore him.

  The king arrived, and the hunting party rode out taking a different route this morning as the approached the woodlands from another direction. As the men clustered together in various groups, the Highlanders maneuvered themselves into the center forcing all the other riders to the outskirts of the group. The number of enormous men on sturdy warhorses swelled from the day before as the lairds present brought more of their guardsmen with them. With close to three score men representing the northern clans, it was a veritable wave of plaid surging towards the forest as the horses pounded over the ground. They resembled Moses parting the Red Sea of courtiers. The increased numbers did not go unnoticed by the courtiers and other royal guests. Highlanders stood out not just from their clothing, but their hair was longer, their beards bushy, the muscles of their bare arms and calves glistened a much darker hue than their compatriots who spent most of their days inside. The height and breadth of each Highlander made the contrast even starker as it appeared as they rode with a passel of children alongside them rather than other adult men.

  Magnus rode in the center surrounded by the lairds who offered their support the day before and encircled by the various clan members who served their lairds. Ostensibly, the Highlanders appeared to be guarding the king who rode in front of Magnus, but the men knew among themselves what the real purpose for the configuration was. The Sinclairs were an important clan in the far north, and Laird Liam Sinclair was well respected and admired by most. Magnus was well-liked, and there was no denying that he would be the best man to have on one’s side in a battle. The attack on Magnus felt like an attack on them all. Even men who were not part of the clans that offered their support the previous day knew of the events and were silently banding together. The politics of Highland independence and self-rule felt at stake for many, and so it made for strange bedfellows that day. They set aside dislike and past grudges temporarily to unite against the common threat. Everyone realized, Highlander and Lowlander, Magnus’s presence as a Highlander at least one person resented his presence, and the tale of his relationship with Deirdre Fraser, a Highlander herself, spread further each day. To allow his attack to go unnoticed without a unified front was an invitation for other attempts to subvert and manipulate the Highlanders. Their honor and freedom to continue their way of life felt in jeopardy, and they were responding in silent solidarity.

  Magnus looked to the king’s right, and the sight of Laird Fraser alongside him did not surprise him. Fraser tried to inconspicuously look back at the men who rode in tight formation, but his inability to disguise his actions made many of the men laugh out loud.

  “Donald, ye’ve been here too long,” called one man with a deep burr.

  “His prey sees him coming before he sees them,” rumbled another.

  “Aye, every cock crows boldly in his own yard. Tis
a shame, Donald, ye dinna remember where yers is,” Laird Grant called out. No one misunderstood the double meaning of the well-known idiom, and the men howled with laughter.

  The king rode further ahead to ignore the men’s teasing as he was not sure he could keep a straight face, and he would not let them draw him into their squabbles.

  Fraser cast them an angry glare before turning back to speak to Hay who now rode beside him.

  “He does like to run his gob these days. I kenned him as a lad, and he never spoke that much. Must be because his wife isnae around. It’s the only chance he has to get a word in edgewise,” the Graham said none too subtly. “Ye ken, though, talk doesnae wear the clothes.”

  All eyes shifted to Fraser as they waited to see whether he would acknowledge the last insult. The insinuation he could do little more than talk implied that he was but a puppet. Someone else must do the work he could not. Hay turned a blank stare at Fraser not understanding the strange quips.

  “And it’s many a time a mon’s mouth broke his nose,” came Fraser’s return jibe. The return of his burr made Hay gawk and the other men laugh. “I see what they say is true, everybody is good-natured until a cow goes in his garden.”

  “Och well, Donald, ye ken we, Highlanders, all like our gardens. The Highlands are like one vera large garden, ye ken.” Hamish’s warning was the last spoken as the men arrived at the wooded area. The silent reminder that the Highlanders would support one another rang in everyone’s ears.