A Rogue at the Highland Court: An Arranged Marriage Highlander Romance

by Barclay, Celeste

  Another night, Allyson posed Ewan as she drew him with a charcoal pencil and a piece of parchment. Ewan hummed to them as Allyson sketched. When she twisted away to find a quill and ink in a nearby chest, Ewan pulled the bow loose from her laces. Allyson pretended not to notice as he loosened the ribbons that held her kirtle closed. When she returned to her seat, she pretended the loose bodice frustrated her and resolved the problem by stripping her arms and pushing it down around her waist. Ewan toyed with her breasts and nipples as she worked while Allyson studiously ignored him, or at least pretended to. When she could no longer withstand the torment, she tossed her art aside and launched herself into Ewan’s arms.

  It was only a matter of moments before they were both undressed. Ewan lifted her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He backed them against a wall, slipping inside Allyson as she rocked her hips forward to accept him. Ewan had feared their second night together that Allyson would be too sore to make love again, but she’d demonstrated each night that she was both willing and able to join with him. As he took her against the wall, she scored her nails along his back, inciting an urgency within him that she gladly met. His fingers bit into her hips as he lost control.

  “More, more,” Allyson encouraged him. “You won’t break me. Harder, Ew.”

  He was more than happy to accommodate her requests, slamming into her over and over. When she cried out her release, he lowered her to the floor and guided her to bend over a chair covered in a dust cloth. He entered her as she arched and threw back her head. He grasped her hair in a ponytail and held it as he kissed her back and shoulders. She met each thrust as she pushed her hips back against him. Ewan had never seen anything more erotic than the picture Allyson made as she turned her head to the side, but her eyes drifted closed. He pistoned his cock into her until she once more shattered, the muscles of her core milking him as he exploded within her. He supported Allyson’s body against his as they stood, panting and still fused together.

  “I love you, Allyson Gordon. More than life itself.” Ewan confessed, unready to let go.

  “I love you, Ewan Gordon, and heaven help the person who tries to get between us.”

  * * *

  Allyson and Ewan knew Kenneth and her brothers would return soon, despite the delay the weather caused. They laid together on Ewan’s bed, having retreated to the privacy of the tower while Eoin visited the tavern in the village. Allyson floated in a state of half-wakefulness as Ewan sang. She learned that his rich baritone wasn’t just suited for humming. He sang hymns his mother taught him as a child, and his voice soothed the anxiety and dread that filled Allyson each day as her father’s return approached.

  “Part of me wishes Father would stay away longer, then we could continue as we have. But another part of me wants him to hurry, so we can be done with it all and be on our way to court. I hate skulking around. I just want everything out in the open.”

  “I know, lass. I wish the same. I’m not ashamed of the choices we made, but it feels as though I should be when we’re hiding.”

  “When Father returns, we’ll request an audience and explain what we’ve done. He wanted this marriage in the first place, so he can hardly be upset that we decided not to wait for Lent to end.”

  Ewan opened his mouth, but the tinkling of bells announcing the laird’s return interrupted him. Allyson and Ewan moved to the arrow slit, his superior height allowing them to look out the window together. Their moment of reckoning was about to happen.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Allyson left to change for the evening meal, which would be held earlier with the arrival of men who’d been cold and wet for several days. Ewan moved to the other bed and pulled the paintings from beneath it. He and Eoin agreed that it was best to hide them, not wanting any of the servants to report that they had them. He waited for his brother to return for dry clothes.

  “The laird has returned, and the family is reunited once more. That’s why I’m taking a stand this eve. I’ll be sure everyone sees these paintings. There can be nay doubt that Ally is part of the laird’s family once they see them. And all the better that the laird is finally home.” Ewan laid the art on the bed and examined the three pieces. He’d been impatient to confront Margaret, but he’d forced himself to wait until Kenneth returned. He had no reason to wait any longer. When Allyson wore Mary’s gown and his plaid, it hadn’t been the vindication he’d wished for Allyson’s sake. “Let’s be on our way. I want to have these ready before everyone enters the Great Hall.”

  “Does Allyson ken ye have them?”

  “Nay. Ma mind wasna on them earlier, but when the bells rang to announce the laird’s arrival, I remembered.”

  “Do ye think she’d want ye to do this? I dinna ken if this is such a good idea as ye think. Ye may want to warn her first.”

  “She kens of them,” Ewan shrugged. “She intends to ask her parents aboot them.”

  “There is a vast difference between planning to ask and displaying them for all and sundry. I’m telling ye, brother, I dinna think this is wise. I dinna think Allyson will appreciate the surprise.”

  “Eoin, we’re leaving in the morn. I’m nae staying a day longer now that I can tell Kenneth we made the betrothal a marriage. I’m getting Ally away from here, even if it means going to court.”

  “I canna say this comes too soon, but did ye discuss that with her?”

  “Nay. Ye must have seen her come down the tower stairs just after Kenneth, Angus, and Graeme arrived. There wasna time to discuss our departure being tomorrow. But she and I already agreed we’d leave as soon as possible. She kens of Father’s missive, and we’ve discussed changes to the agreement that would make her more comfortable before marrying.”

  “And ye agree with them all?”

  “Aye. Her concern is the same as mine. She wants to be sure she has a roof over her head that isnae a convent’s if I should die first. She isnae willing to accept the Gordons will welcome her to stay on, so I’m adding a provision for a croft either in our village at Huntley or one on our land. She also wants her father to provide more in the case we have daughters, and I die before they wed. She fears she’d be presuming too much to rely on ye, if ye become laird. She doesnae ever want to feel like a burden again.” Ewan walked to the door and waited for Eoin to open it before they headed to the Great Hall. “If these changes will make her happy and ease her constant worry, then they are a wee act that will make a big difference. I love her, Eoin. I’ll do aught to make her life better than it has been.”

  “I ken ye do. How others dinna see it is beyond me. I will stand beside ye in this just as I do everything. But I still think ye should have discussed the paintings with her first. And I wouldnae hold yer breath that Kenneth will agree to the amendments.”

  “All will be well, little brother.”

  “And pride goeth before the fall, big brother. Dinna assume ye ken it all.”

  Their conversation ended when they arrived at the Great Hall. They’d skirted the crowd in the bailey that milled about, welcoming Kenneth and his sons. He’d glimpsed Margaret and her daughters, but Allyson wasn’t present. Ewan and Eoin approached the dais as the servants finished laying the table. Ewan waited for Eoin to pull out the seat Allyson now claimed each evening. Ewan propped the largest image on the chair, then placed a smaller one on his seat and the other on Eoin’s. Voices floated from the entrance as people entered the gathering hall.

  They left the dais and waited for the others to arrive. Allyson joined them, wearing her Gordon plaid instead of her Elliot. For the sake of keeping the peace, she’d reverted to wearing her Elliot plaid while her father was gone. Conversations halted when, one after another, people noticed Allyson standing with Ewan’s plaid wrapped around her. She noticed that many people pointed behind her, so she turned to look at the dais. She felt her temper rise as she took in the sight of the three images of her family resting on chairs for all of her clan to stare at. She clenched her jaw as she looked u
p at Ewan, and she was certain he read her murderous intent. She was livid. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she hissed.

  Allyson’s family gathered near the dais, but Alice’s face turned a shade of fuchsia when she saw Allyson in Ewan’s plaid. She pointed an accusatory finger and stepped up to Allyson’s face.

  “You slattern,” Alice hissed. “He was supposed to be mine.”

  “She may wear his plaid, but that’s only because he has to marry her. She isn’t who he wants,” Mary purred. She smiled coyly as Ewan, and it made his stomach turn.

  “I’ve been no one’s but Ally’s. You may continue to throw yourself at me and my brother, but neither of us will accept you,” Ewan glared at Alice.

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, brother. I don’t want either of them near me.” Eoin shook his head and threw up his hands. He looked at Kenneth. “I’ll tell you now, Laird Elliot, I won’t marry any of your daughters. I need to know my wife isn’t the type to bed any mon who looks in her direction.”

  “Enough!” Kenneth roared. “You will not speak of my daughters in such a degrading manner.”

  “We won’t?” Ewan pushed Allyson behind him and took a step forward. His temper was just as heated at Kenneth. “How aboot the way your family speaks aboot Allyson? You didn’t stop Alice from lobbing disparaging names at Allyson. You’d do well to pay more attention to how you run your family and your clan. There’ll be no more whispers about Allyson’s parentage. She’s the only Elliot offspring who looks like both sides of the family. If aught, it’s suspicious that none of the others bare more than a passing resemblance to you and only look like Lady Elliot’s side of the family.”

  As one, the laird’s family turned to stare at the paintings Ewan pointed toward.

  “How did you get in the attic?” Margaret demanded. She pushed Ewan’s shoulder as though she could make him move aside, so she could reach Allyson. The younger woman refused to hide behind Ewan and stepped forward. But Ewan’s hand flew up to catch Margaret’s wrist as she made to slap Allyson.

  “She’s mine now. Touch her, and you will pay.” Ewan’s hushed tones were more menacing than if he’d bellowed like Kenneth had moments ago.

  “She’s not yours,” Margaret argued as she tugged her hand free.

  “She spent the entire afternoon alone with me in my chamber.” Ewan cocked an eyebrow. “Why don’t you explain your reason for allowing your clan to gossip that Allyson’s a bastard when proof has existed her entire life?”

  “Because I didn’t want her,” Margaret blurted. She drew back, surprised by her own vehemence. She cast her glare on her husband, who looked surprised at the admission. “When she came out looking like Kenneth’s mother, I knew she was his.”

  “Who else’s child would I have been, Mother?” Allyson’s lower lip trembled.

  Margaret didn’t shift her gaze from Kenneth as the dirty family secret spilled forth. “I never wanted to marry your father, but we made do for many years. That was until he discovered I had a lover.”

  “My bluidy brother,” Kenneth seethed.

  “Your stepbrother,” Margaret corrected. “That any of the first five bear a resemblance to the Elliots is a coincidence. You couldn’t be rid of him, so you kept sending him on one patrol after another. Too many mugs of mead on Hogmanay and too many nights alone, I made the mistake of letting you back into my bed. I’ve been regretting it for two-and-twenty years. The man I love died before she was born, and all I was left with was a brat I didn’t want reminding me of you.”

  “I’m not my father’s son?” Angus pushed forward. “You mean to tell me that not only am I illegitimate and not my father’s true heir, the only one who is his heir is the sister we’ve ostracized her entire life.”

  “You were the ones I wanted,” Margaret justified.

  “That doesn’t matter, Mother,” Graeme stood next to his brother. “This changes everything.”

  “It changes naught.” Margaret refused to accept that the earth-shattering news should alter anything about their lives.

  “It does!” Graeme protested. “Allyson is Laird Elliot’s heir, and we are naught but bastards. How could you do this to us, Mother?”

  “I didn’t do aught. It’s his fault.” Margaret pointed toward Ewan. “What business did he have in the attic? Only one person could have taken him there. She did this on purpose to tear apart our family.”

  “Family, Mother?” Laurel squawked. She stepped toward Margaret, so no one outside their group could hear. She scanned the crowd, but did not see her husband. “What family? If my husband discovers I’m a bastard, he could have our marriage annulled. Then where will I be with three weans and a bairn on the way?”

  “None of you are bastards,” Kenneth intervened. “You were all born while I’ve been married to your mother. You are legitimate because of that, even if I didn’t sire you. Angus is still my heir.”

  Allyson never suspected her mother would spill such a horrible secret when she and Ewan discovered the paintings. She was angry at Ewan for threatening the secret that she spent time in the attic, but this turn of events shocked her. She’d hoped to be accepted into the family, not destroy it. Her hand fumbled against Ewan’s as she tried to hold his. He entwined their fingers and squeezed her hand. Margaret ignored Laurel, keeping her attention on Allyson and Ewan.

  “You still haven’t answered my question. What were you doing in the attic?”

  Panic pushed bile up the back of Allyson’s throat as she feared her family would discover her secret hideaway. Ewan refused to speak unless Allyson gave him a cue, so when she remained silent, he did the same. Ewan glanced at Kenneth and witnessed the devastation on his face. The man had known about his wife’s affair all along, but it appeared he had struggled with the secret that five of his six children weren’t actually his. Ewan had watched Kenneth’s expression when they discussed Allyson. The laird appeared completely mystified. A long silence ensued until Allyson turned toward Kenneth.

  “Father, you must have known I was yours. I look like your mother, even if I have blond hair from Mother’s family. Why didn’t you ever defend me? Why didn’t you ever set people straight and end the rumors?”

  “What rumors, Allyson? You’ve always been my child, just as your brothers and sisters have been.”

  “No.” Allyson shook her head. “You’ve claimed them as your own despite not siring them, but the one child you sired, you’ve never defended, never protected.”

  “What do you mean never defended, never protected? I bluidy well chased you all the way to England.”

  “Once, Laird Elliot. That doesn’t make up for Allyson’s entire life where you’ve turned a blind eye and deaf ear to how the clan’s treated her.” Ewan stated.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Kenneth demanded.

  “You’ve never noticed how we treated Allyson?” Angus looked incredulous. “We’ve been under the impression she was your bastard all these years. We pitied Mother, assuming you’d forced her to raise a child you got on some whore.” Angus spun around to glare once more at Margaret. “We followed your lead. We felt sorry for the burden we believed Allyson was to you. You didn’t want her, so none of the rest of us did either. My God, Mother, you tried to break up a betrothal the king decreed because you claimed Allyson didn’t deserve to marry before Mary and Alice, nor did she deserve a noble husband.”

  Allyson cowered when Angus stepped before her. Once again, Ewan pushed Allyson behind him. He didn’t carry his sword in the keep, but his hand went to the dirk sheathed at his waist. Angus nodded at Ewan, regret painting a deep frown on his face.

  “Allyson, I don’t know what to say. I have been horrible to you your entire life. I’ve spoken ill of you and to you. I doubt you will ever call Redheugh your home once you leave here, but if I become the next laird, you will always be welcome here as my sister, equal to all the rest.” Angus bowed before stepping back. Allyson watched him swallow several times as he looked toward the
dais. She noticed he blinked several times as he composed himself.

  “Allyson, I followed the lead of others, never considering I should think for myself,” Graeme made to step closer, but a glance at Ewan made him freeze. “It was easier, and it just seemed natural. When Angus is laird, I suppose I shall be his second.” Graeme paused and frowned. “Regardless, you will have the protection I’ve failed to offer you until now. I understand it’s little consolation, but it’s all I can offer.”

  Allyson nodded and looked at her father. “I still don’t understand why you never stopped all of this.”

  “You’re a lass. I figured you were your Mother’s responsibility. I didn’t want to interfere.”

  “Interfere? Bluidy bleeding hell, Father! This entire clan assumes you either raped my mother or fucked a whore!” The color leeched from Allyson’s face, and she turned so ghostly white Ewan feared she’d collapse. He pulled her into his arms, his expression daring anyone to speak against him.

  “No one has ever made such an accusation within my hearing. I thought you preferred to be alone and chose to do things on your own. You were always my most independent child. That’s why I agreed when the queen requested you serve her as a lady-in-waiting. I refused her requests for your sisters. I never trusted them as I did you, and the queen understood once you began your service. She realized the error it would have been to send Mary, Laurel, or Alice. Allyson, my neglect wasn’t intentional. Your sisters are close in age, so they always had one another and seemed fine without me being very present. I believed my duty was to raise my sons while your mother raised you lasses.”

  “I only believe parts of that, Father. You’ve seen and heard how Mother treats me. You never wondered why? You never considered it over the top? Beyond the pale?”

  “Your mother and I haven’t gotten on in years. We agreed long ago not to interfere in each other’s realms. I manage the clan business and warriors, along with training Angus and Graeme. Your mother oversaw all things in the keep, which included the four of you.” Kenneth gestured toward the four young women. “Allyson, I’m sorry I’ve failed you. I care about all my children, but I’ve known all along you were the only one I sired, and yet you are the one I’ve most disappointed and taken for granted.”