His Highland Pledge (The Clan Sinclair Book 4)

by Celeste Barclay

“The matter of ma betrothal.” Tavish crossed his arms and returned his brother’s stare.

  “Betrothal?”

  “Aye, and ma bonnie bride has just disappeared from me, again, after giving me a good ear chewing.”

  Magnus took in his usually charming brother’s expression that was a mixture of disgust, longing, pride, and confusion. He could not contain his laughter. He wrapped his arm around Deirdre and led her to their chamber as his brother stalked away.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The pink hues of dawn were stretching across the horizon as Magnus kissed his wife awake. Their first full night together in a chamber of their own was spent making love off and on until they were both too spent to do more than cuddle against each other.

  “Bhean, ye canna be a slugabed this morn. We must be on our way. We have a long journey ahead of us.” He kissed her bare shoulder as he held her tucked against his front. She shifted her hips back and pressed her bottom against his prodding cock.

  “I believe we are both up, an duine aice,” Deirdre chuckled as she glanced over her shoulder. “I do like hearing you call me wife. I dinna think I will ever tire of that.”

  Magnus leaned in to nip her earlobe.

  “And ye can call me husband all that ye want for I shall always answer.”

  Magnus pressed his hips forward again and was about to begin another round of lovemaking when a knock came at their door. Magnus groaned.

  “What now,” he muttered before calling out, “Go away.”

  Deirdre giggled as she climbed from the bed. Magnus reached for her but she danced away. His hand hit her now vacant spot then he rolled onto his stomach before pounding his pillow.

  “So aggrieved, mo fhuamhaire,” she laughed as she pulled her chemise on and threw Magnus’s leine over it, “spoiled is more like it.”

  “Well I should be, mo eun beag,” he grumbled playfully. She looked back and saw him propped up on one elbow.

  Will I ever grow tired of looking at him? Will he ever seem less braw? I dinna think so. I will wake to that face, that body for the rest of ma life, and I canna think of aught I want more.

  Magnus watched as his wife padded barefoot to the door and opened it a crack. Her hair was a golden riot of curls that fell down her back. He could see the shape of her backside through the fabric of his shirt.

  There is something incredibly arousing aboot seeing her in ma leine. She doesnae even ken how beautiful she is. I am far luckier than I should be. I will wake to this sight for the rest of ma life.

  Magnus rose from the bed and wrapped the sheet he pulled from the bed around his trim waist. A troop of servants brought in trays of food. An older woman oversaw the delivery before announcing that Deirdre’s chests would be loaded onto a wagon that would follow behind once they departed.

  Magnus sighed. It would seem that the feast he intended to indulge in would not happen. They ate and stuffed the extra packages of food into their saddlebags.

  Deirdre squeaked when she saw Freya waiting for her in the stable yard. She turned to Magnus and threw her arms around his waist.

  “Did ye do this?”

  He nodded.

  “I love ye!” She tugged his leine until he bent over far enough for her to kiss him.

  He lifted her into the saddle.

  “Aye, before ye even ask. I did have that bluidy sidesaddle thrown out. This is yer saddle, and ye shall ride properly from now on.”

  This time it was Deirdre who leaned over for a kiss. Magnus mounted Sealgair, and they rode out without looking back.

  The journey lasted ten long days, but this time there was no fear of pursuit or discovery. They spent some nights under the stars, but they spent most tucked away warmly and safely in an inn. They stopped when they felt like it, often taking a dip in a stream or small loch. These rest stops stretched longer than necessary for their horses to eat and drink. The couple made the most of their time alone together. They knew privacy would be at a premium once they arrived at Dunbeath with a large clan and a full keep now with three of the four brothers married, and Mairghread and her family often visited.

  “This was a much better journey than the last one. I dinna worry that ye will keel over and die on me either from a wound or breaking yer neck falling from yer wee beastie.”

  “Dinna speak that way aboot him. Ye will embarrass him in front of Freya. I dinna think he ever forgot her either.”

  “Keep yer randy stallion away from ma innocent mare.” Deirdre’s coy smile had Magnus chuckling.

  “That isnae what ye’ve been saying this last sennight and a half. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard ye ask to be closer and for more.” He grabbed her horse’s bridle as he slowed them for a kiss.

  “Losh! Is that ye Magnus?” Magnus pulled away to see his brothers riding towards him. Callum raised his arm and waved.

  “Welcome home, Deir,” Magnus grumbled. He was not ready to share his wife.

  “Crivvens! Is that Deirdre Fraser?” Alex asked as they pulled their horses to a stop in front of Magnus and Deirdre.

  “Deirdre Sinclair,” Deirdre smiled.

  Callum and Alex exchanged a look before grinning wildly at their brother.

  “I think there is a tale here, and Siùsan will skelp me if I hear it before her.”

  “Ye think Brighde would be any more forgiving?”

  “Hello?” Magnus grumbled again.

  “Och aye, a hello to ye too, Magnus,” Callum tossed over his shoulder. “Tell us, lass, did ye really shackle yerself to this giant?”

  Deirdre looked at Magnus with a grin. She winked as she mouthed, “mo fhuamhaire.”

  They rode into the bailey with a clatter of hooves. Two women both round with child, one appearing ready to deliver at any moment, stepped from the garden. Alexander and Callum dismounted and walked to the women. Callum pulled the one with the larger belly in for a kiss as he rubbed it. Alex embraced the other woman and kissed her as he rubbed the small of her back.

  “Ma braw brothers and their wee wives,” Magnus said sarcastically. He dismounted and walked around to Deirdre. He plucked her from the saddle and held her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Ye ken ye arenae any better.”

  “I amnae anywhere as bad as they are.”

  Deirdre looked over her shoulder at the two happy couples.

  “We shall see what jig ye are dancing in aboot seven and a half moons.”

  Magnus stared at her as she wiggled. He was so stunned that he let her slither to the ground. She took his hand and tugged him after her.

  “Magnus,” boomed a loud voice that had Deirdre stopping midstep.

  She had not seen Laird Sinclair in as many years as she had not seen Magnus. She looked at the three brothers and then their father. The resemblance was remarkable. She noted that Tavish truly did mirror their father the most with the same build, but the Sinclair men were clearly hewn from the same tree.

  “Deirdre Fraser? Is that ye, lass?”

  This time Magnus made the correction.

  “Deirdre Sinclair.”

  Liam Sinclair stared at his son before smiling warmly at his newest daughter by marriage.

  “I think there is much to be shared. Come inside.”

  The family gathered around one of the large fires as Hagatha, the housekeeper, bustled about bringing food and drinks from the kitchens.

  Each husband sat and pulled his wife into his lap. Deirdre welcomed the comfort of being able to claim her husband and the sense of belonging that came from the other couples’ displays of affection.

  “Ye finally got yer wife back?” Alex asked.

  “Finally?” Laird Sinclair asked. He had an uneasy feeling that there was something his children all knew and that he might not like discovering.

  “Thank ye, Alex. If ye dinna mind, I’ll tell ma own tale.” Magnus thumped his brother on the shoulder but yanked his hand back when Alex scowled and held his wife tighter.

  “Da, there is much to tell ye
, but for now, I will tell ye the history that the others ken, but ye dinna.” Magnus waited for his father. When the older man nodded, he continued. “I dinna ken if ye remember ma friendship with Deirdre. We corresponded for three summers, and I courted her during that time. The year the MacLeods hosted the games, Deirdre and I handfasted.”

  Laird Sinclair sat forward in his chair and looked between Magnus and Deirdre. She had retreated and looked nervously at the renowned warrior.

  “Magnus, a moment,” he held his hand out and looked at Deirdre, “lass, I believe I already ken where this story is going. Yer parents havenae been fond of us for some time, and I believe I understand why now. Ken this, ye arenae yer parents. Whatever has transpired to bring ye here doesnae matter to me as long as ye came by choice and both ye and Magnus are happy.”

  Deirdre caught herself staring open-mouthed at her father by marriage. She snapped her mouth shut and nodded.

  “Lass, ye are family now. Ken that ye are welcome here.” Laird Sinclair leaned back in his chair and nodded for Magnus to continue.

  Magnus and Deirdre shared their story from start to finish as the afternoon rolled into evening and supper was served.

  “Magnus, tell me, lad, do yer brothers and sister already ken this tale?”

  Magnus looked sheepishly at his father and nodded.

  “Why did ye nae tell me sooner? Why nae come to me while we were still at the MacLeods?”

  “I wasna sure ye would support me,” Magnus could barely speak louder than a whisper. He felt foolish now as an adult, but at the time, when he was only just becoming a man, he had not been so confident.

  “Ah son, I will always support ye. I wish I made that clearer when ye were younger. I wish I could have saved ye both the heartache.” Laird Sinclair shook his head.

  Deirdre reached past Magnus and covered the Sinclair’s hand with hers.

  “We ken now. That is what matters. I ken I am home now.”

  The meal progressed with more cheerful conversation and laughter.

  “Da, what’s this aboot Tavish and a betrothal?”

  Laird Sinclair smiled enigmatically. Deirdre liked the way that the lines creased around his eyes and mouth when he laughed. She felt more at home and a greater sense of belonging than she ever had at court or with the Frasers. She sat back and listened to the conversation flow around her. When she could no longer hide her yawns, Magnus excused them from the table. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to their chamber.

  He pressed the door open and then kicked it shut.

  “Welcome home, mo eun beag.”

  “Aboot bluidy time, mo fhuamhaire.”

  They looked at one another and then burst into laughter. They were in silent agreement that laughter was better than tears.

  Epilogue

  Seven months later

  Deirdre was going to commit bloody murder if her husband did not stop hovering. She swatted at him as she tried to hang the dried herbs over the large table in the croft’s center. She nearly had it when enormous hands wrapped around her expanded midsection and lifted her from the table upon which she stood.

  “Magnus put me down.”

  “Down is exactly where I am planning to put ye. And it ye werenae carrying our bairn, I would turn ye over ma knee for giving me such a fright.”

  “If I wasna carrying a bairn, ye wouldnae be carrying on like a bodach.”

  “I amnae a cantankerous auld mon!”

  “And I amnae a wean in need of a scolding.”

  Husband and wife squared off against each other as they both stood like Odin. Except Magnus could not stay angry with his bonnie little wife whose arms rested on the crest of her rounded belly. He dropped his arms and pulled her to stand between his legs.

  “Ye worry me, Deir. I dinna want aught to happen to ye. I dinna ken what I would do without ye or our bairn.”

  He reached between them to place his hand on her belly. When it jumped beneath his hand, his smile practically melted Deirdre into a puddle on the floor of their croft. She unfolded her arms and placed her hands over his heart.

  “I ken, but Magnus, women have been having bairns since time began and life hasnae come to a screeching halt each time.”

  “Other women may have, but ye havenae. And I dinna give a fig aboot anyone else’s wife or bairns. I care aboot ye and our bairn.”

  Deirdre sighed. Her husband’s overbearing concern was suffocating at times, but she knew it came from love and not control. She leaned into his embrace and rested her head over his heart. He rubbed his hands over the small of her back and eased the knots from between her shoulder blades. He drew her into the small bedroom of the croft they shared. They only stayed in the keep for three moons after they arrived home. It rapidly began to feel too snug with some many people and a constantly expanding family. The newlyweds requested their own croft and had enjoyed their privacy for nearly four moons. They knew one day it would come to an end, but they were in no rush for that.

  Magnus slowly undressed his wife, marveling in the constant new discoveries of how her body changed with pregnancy. Deirdre unpinned his plaid and helped him draw his leine over his head. Magnus led her to the bed and helped her onto it. She turned and kneeled waiting for him to join her after shucking off his boots and stockings.

  They kneeled facing one another, just as they had so many years before in what they considered their cave, and their hands roamed over one another’s body. This time, it was not discovery and exploration as they came together. It was familiarity and belonging. It was the fulfillment of pledges made and kept.

  “I love ye, eun beag.”

  “I love ye, mo fhuamhaire.”

  His Highland Lass

  The Clan Sinclair, Book 1

  An undeniable love... an unexpected match...

  Faced with a feud with the Sinclairs that is growing deadly, Laird Tristan Mackay is bound by duty to his clan to make peace with the enemy. Tristan arranges a marriage for his stepbrother, Sir Alan, but never imagines that he would meet the woman he longs to marry. When things sour quickly between Tristan's stepbrother and Lady Mairghread Sinclair, Tristan is determined to make her his. A choice that promises to change his life forever.

  Raised with four older warriors for brothers and as the only daughter of the Sinclair laird, Mairghread is independent resourceful, and loyal to her family. When her father arranges a marriage to a man she has never met for the sake and safety of her clan, Mairghread tries to accept her fate. Mairghread is betrothed to one man but it is the dark, handsome, and provocative laird who catches her eye. Arranged to marry Sir Alan, Mairghread finds herself drawn to Laird Tristan Mackay. After meeting her intended, Mairghread knows she cannot go through with the marriage, but she must find a way to end the feud that is tearing the two clans apart.

  When the wedding is called off by Mairghread's father, Tristan and Mairghread see an opportunity to be together. Neither of them imagined that they would find the passion that grows between them. However, a spurned mistress and a jilted suitor stand between Tristan and Mairghread's happiness. Tristan and Mairghread must fight for the love they have found with one another.

  Destined for another...

  Mairghread Sinclair is not prepared for the danger that awaits her while visiting the Mackay clan. She must use her wits to keep herself alive when danger pulls her away from the man she loves.

  Fated to be together...

  Laird Tristan Mackay was not looking for a wife, but could Lady Mairghread Sinclair be the one to open his heart and bring peace to their clans, or will their passion tear the two clans apart?

  Available purchase or download on Amazon

  His Bonnie Highland Temptation

  The Clan Sinclair Book 2

  Unwanted and unloved...

  Siùsan Mackenzie has spent a lifetime feeling unwanted and unloved after her mother dies in childbirth and her father abandons her for a new wife and new family. Forced to start her life in her clan's village and
then brought to the castle as no more than a servant, Siùsan longs for the chance to escape her clan and the hurt of being ignored. When her father, the Mackenzie chief, unexpectedly announces her betrothal, Siùsan is filled with fear that her father is sending her off to an ogre who will treat her no better or possibly even worse. When she discovers who her intended is, she seizes the chance to leave behind those who sought to punish her and manipulate her.

  Could Siùsan's father finally have done right by her? Will Siùsan find happiness in her new home, or is her future only to repeat her past?

  Unaware and unready...

  Callum Sinclair, the heir to Clan Sinclair, knows that he will one day have to marry to carry on his clan's legacy. He just did not know that his bride-to-be would arrive less than a week after his father announced the betrothal. Enjoying the company of women has never been a struggle for Callum, but as are all the men of Clan Sinclair, he is committed to being a faithful husband. When Siùsan arrives, Callum is unprepared for the gift his father has given him in his soon-to-be wife. Callum is eager to get to know his fiery haired bride who barely comes up to his chest, and Siùsan is tempted by Callum's whisky brown eyes and gentle nature.

  But if only it were that easy.

  A tangled web of jealousy and deceit is woven when members of Siùsan's clan join forces with outsiders to keep them apart.

  Will Callum be able to reach Siùsan to prove to her that she will never be unwanted or unloved again? Can Siùsan put her trust in a man she desires but barely knows?

  Available purchase and download on Amazon

  His Highland Prize

  The Clan Sinclair Book 3

  Lost and pursued, searching for protection...

  When Brighde Kerr collapses in his arms at Castle Dunbeath in the middle of the night during a Highland thunderstorm, Alexander Sinclair does not hesitate to bring her inside to receive medical care and shelter. Hiding secrets that she is sure will only bring danger to the Sinclairs if revealed, Brighde struggles against her growing attraction and affection for Alex. She attempts to keep her identity a secret, but it does not take long before Brighde realizes that Alex could be the one person to save her.