Highland Defender

by Kathryn Le Veque

  In truth, Clegg wasn’t looking forward to it.

  * * *

  “I what?”

  “Ye must apologize,” Lor said steadily. “Bane, I know it seems ridiculous, but part of being a warrior with the Cal is also being an ambassador between the Cal and the patrons. Without the patrons, there is no fight guild. It is imperative that ye never show anger or irritation toward one of them. Ye must always be polite, even if ye dunna want tae be. Lady Currie is furious because she believes ye slighted her.”

  “I did.”

  Lor sighed heavily. They were standing in the staging area below Clegg’s viewing box, and Bane was only now coming down off of his battle high. Lor could see from the look in Bane’s eyes that he was quite serious about insulting Lady Currie.

  That made little sense to Lor.

  “But why?” he asked. “What do ye have against the woman? Do ye know her?”

  Bane eyed him, debating how much to tell him, but he opted for all of it. He liked Lor; he was coming to trust the man. He knew that whatever he told him would remain in confidence. For Lucia’s sake, it had to.

  He forced himself to calm.

  “There’s a woman with Lady Currie,” he said quietly. “Did ye see her?”

  Lor thought back. “I think so,” he said. “Briefly. My attention was mostly on Lady Currie. Why do ye ask?”

  “Because that is my Lucia. That’s the lady whose freedom I intend tae buy.”

  Lor’s eyes widened in surprise. “She serves Lady Currie?”

  Bane nodded. Then he started to look miserable. “It was Lucia who first told me about the Cal and how the fighters earn money,” he said. “She’s the entire reason I came here. I knew even before I came here that Lady Currie uses this place like her own personal stable of men, and it did occur tae me that she might take a fancy tae me. Now I’m faced with a problem. I will refuse anything she offers, Lor. I willna service the woman like a whore.”

  Lor stared at him a moment before puffing out his cheeks. “God’s bones, lad,” he said. “I’d say ye have a problem. She wants ye badly from what I can see.”

  “Clegg said I could refuse her.”

  “Ye can. But what about yer lass?”

  “Lady Currie doesna know about me and Lucia,” Bane said. “For Lucia’s sake, we need tae keep that secret at all costs. She says that Lady Currie can be jealous, and if the woman knows Lucia and I are fond of one another, it could go badly for Lucia.”

  “True enough. But I canna imagine how she must feel, watching her lady lust after the man she loves.”

  “Nor I,” Bane said, sighing heavily. “Lucia is a decent woman with a good heart, yet she’s forced tae serve a woman with the morals of a bitch in heat. Do ye know she’s been coming tae the Ludus Caledonia for as long as she’s been serving the House of Currie? She tells me how much she hates this place, but Lady Currie forces her tae come. And Lady Currie’s old husband… He remains at home. Surely the man must wonder what goes on with his wife nightly.”

  Lor shook his head in a sorrowful motion. “What man would let his wife wander and not care?”

  “A man who has lost his direction in life, I would think,” Bane said. “A man who doesna realize the shame his wife brings upon him. We’re fortunate, ye and I, Lor. Fortunate that the women we love are true and good. I’ve come tae see that those are rare qualities in a woman.”

  “’Tis a pity yer Lucia is forced tae associate with a woman like Lady Currie.”

  “Which is why it is important I make as much money as I can, as quickly as I can.”

  Lor understood. “’Tis a bind ye’re in,” he said. “Clegg should know, however. He is the only one who can truly discourage Lady Currie if she’s on yer scent.”

  “He willna tell her?”

  “He willna if ye ask him not tae.”

  Bane hesitated a moment before nodding his head. “Very well,” he said. “If I dunna have the opportunity tae tell him, ye have my permission to do it.”

  Lor didn’t envy Bane his situation. “Can I make a suggestion, then?”

  “I wish ye would.”

  Lor was clearly hesitant, but he forged on. “The lady has already had quite a bit tae drink,” he said. “She’ll pay a good deal of money for ye, and ye said ye needed tae make money quickly, so consider taking her money and plying her with drink until she falls unconscious. That way, ye’ll have yer money without having tae touch the woman. Clegg doesna much like her, but she pays well for what she requires.”

  Bane considered that, but only for a moment. He shook his head. “I canna do it,” he said. “I canna give her hope that I’ll accept her money in exchange for my company. She might expect it nightly, and I can only get her ragingly drunk so many times before she’ll want something more. But more than anything, I canna do that tae Lucia. Money or no money, it would be cruel tae her.”

  “I understand,” Lor said. “’Twas only a thought, given the circumstances.”

  “It wasna a bad thought, but I canna bring myself tae do it. Not even for the money.”

  Lor shrugged. “Then come along. Ye might as well face this now and get it over with.”

  There was nothing more to say on the subject and Bane simply nodded, letting Lor take him by the shoulder and guide him toward the staircase that led up to Clegg’s private box.

  The closer he came to Lady Currie, the angrier he became. He desperately didn’t want to do anything to create havoc for Lucia, but he was furious that Lady Currie had her eyes on him. He wasn’t about to become the woman’s stallion. Even if Lucia had never existed, he still wouldn’t have been interested.

  Calm, lad, calm!

  The door opened into Clegg’s private domain, and the heat from the blazing hearth was like a slap in the face after the chill conditions outside. Lor entered first, followed by Bane. The moment Bane entered, his attention went straight to the couch where Lady Currie was sitting and Lucia was standing. For a split second, his gaze fell on Lucia and all he could see was fear in her expression.

  That only fed his rage.

  Lady Currie was on her feet.

  “Do you know who I am?” she demanded. “If you do not, then you should.”

  “Bane, this is Lady Currie,” Clegg said, gaining control of the conversation over the irate lady. “She passed you her favor after your bout, and she says you threw it to the dirt. I have assured her that you did not do it intentionally, that you simply didn’t realize whose it was.”

  The way he was looking at him made Bane realize that Clegg was trying to defuse the situation. The lady was angry, and Bane was angry, and the woman’s spoiled manner wasn’t helping things.

  But Bane knew he had no standing in this situation. He knew he couldn’t do or say anything that might provoke the woman. His was a position of submission. Not only did he want to protect Lucia, but he would not shame Clegg or Lor, who had gone out of their way to accommodate him in all ways.

  He had no choice.

  “I…I dinna know,” he said, his gaze moving from Clegg to the irate Lady Currie. “I dunna even remember what happened, m’lady. I was still in the heat of battle.”

  Surprisingly, Lady Currie folded immediately. No argument, no demands for an apology that she’d made earlier. She simply smiled and made her way over to him, inspecting him from head to toe.

  “No harm done,” she said, looking at him rather flirtatiously. “Your name is Bane?”

  “Aye, m’lady.”

  “Where are you from?”

  “The Highlands, m’lady.”

  “You’re new here.”

  “New enough, m’lady.”

  As he stood there, Lady Currie walked a circle around him, inspecting him from every angle. Bane kept his gaze straight ahead, staring at a wall in the distance, though he could see Lucia in his peripheral vision.
It took everything he had not to look at her, fearful that her expression might weaken his composure. He knew this must be upsetting her greatly. He could only imagine how he would feel were the roles reversed and it was she standing here, being looked over by another man.

  He would kill the man.

  Therefore, he simply stared straight ahead as Lady Currie finished her inspection.

  “Clegg,” she finally said, “I would like to speak with Bane alone, if you please.”

  That wasn’t the usual process when it came to Lady Currie and her lovers. Usually, she bargained with Clegg and he sent the man to her. Therefore, Clegg wasn’t certain why she wanted to speak to Bane alone.

  “My lady, all business is conducted through me, as you know,” he said. “If you have something to say, then you will say it to me, as usual.”

  Lady Currie’s gaze was on Bane. “I simply want to speak to him, not conduct business,” she said. “I will bargain with you when the time comes, but I wish to speak to him first. May I?”

  Clegg shook his head. “Not alone,” he said. “If you wish, you may go to the other end of the chamber, but you will not go out of my sight. Everything stays right here until a bargain is struck.”

  That wasn’t what Lady Currie wanted to hear but she didn’t argue. With a grimace of displeasure, she moved to the other end of the chamber, crooking a finger at Bane for him to follow. Bane did, but he kept a distance from her. With Clegg and Lor and Lucia on the other end of the large chamber, Lady Currie and Bane came to a halt at the far end and faced one another.

  Lady Currie smiled coyly at him.

  “I wanted to speak to you first since you are new and since you seem to have a certain something that most others here do not,” she said. “You have not been here very long, have you?”

  Bane shook his head. He also spoke loudly enough that the others could hear him. “A little over a month, m’lady.”

  “Have you had many encounters with rich women?”

  “I dunna know what ye mean, m’lady.”

  Lady Currie’s gaze moved over him in a most unnerving fashion. “In ancient times, rich women paid handsomely to be serviced by the best gladiators,” she said. “I know that because Clegg has told me and so has my husband. It was a way for the gladiators to make money and it was also viewed as a sign of prestige. You have not been aware of this?”

  Bane was looking over her head, staring at the wall again because he didn’t want to look her in the face. “I am aware, m’lady.”

  “Good. Because I shall make Clegg an offer for your company tonight.”

  He did look at her then. “I must respectfully decline, m’lady.”

  Her smile vanished. “Why?”

  “Because I have a wife.”

  Her mouth popped open in outrage. “That means nothing to me, novicius. I am offering a good deal of money for you.”

  “And I respectfully decline, m’lady.”

  Lady Currie was more outraged by the second response. She abruptly turned away from him, marching straight to Clegg.

  “You should tell this fool what his duties are, de Lave,” she snarled. “He has a duty to keep your well-paying patrons happy, or is he too stupid to know that?”

  Clegg had seen this coming. He knew what Lady Currie was going to offer and he knew what Bane was going to say because when he’d first come to the Ludus Caledonia, he’d made a point of asking if he could refuse to be bought by rich customers.

  Therefore, he had been prepared for this moment.

  “Lady Currie, our warriors are given a choice in matters such as this,” he said patiently. “I believe there have been one or two men who have refused you, so this is nothing new. If Bane does not choose to accept your money, then there are many others who will. You need not go away disappointed.”

  Lady Currie was gearing up for a fight. “I do not want any others,” she said. “May I speak with you privately, Clegg?”

  Clegg was already exhausted just looking at her. But he was a businessman and, above all, he had to be gracious. Even to spoiled tarts like Lady Currie. He nodded patiently.

  “Of course,” he said, looking to Lor, who was still standing over by the door that led down into the staging area. “You and Bane will leave. Lady Currie and I have business to attend to.”

  Lor nodded, motioning to Bane, who gladly followed him from the chamber. Lucia, still standing over by the couch, also fled. She didn’t even ask permission. In fact, she was close to tears and didn’t want Lady Currie to see her state, so leaving the situation was the best thing she could do. She knew Lady Currie wouldn’t miss her.

  She had to find Bane.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When Bane returned to his cottage, Lucia was waiting for him.

  She was sitting in the dark on his bed, and when he entered and closed the door, bolting it, she startled the hell out of him. In fact, he was about to grab her by the throat when he realized it was her, and then all he could do was pull her into a crushing embrace.

  He’d never been so glad to see anyone in his entire life.

  “I’m sorry, my angel,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry ye had tae see that. I would have spared ye if I could have.”

  Lucia clung to him. “It wasna yer fault,” she said. “I knew what Lady Currie would do. It dinna make it any easier tae watch.”

  Bane lifted her off the ground and took her over to the bed, setting her down upon it. He stood there a moment, looking down at her, feeling emotions roll through him like the surge of the sea. He was feeling so much that it was difficult to decide what, exactly, he was feeling at all. Everything was muddled.

  He was muddled.

  “Two pounds,” he muttered. “Laird Currie said it would take two pounds tae buy yer freedom?”

  Lucia looked up at him fearfully. “Aye,” she said. “That’s what he said. Why do ye ask?”

  Bane shook his head, exasperated. “Because that woman is going tae hound me, I know it,” he said. “I can see it in her eyes. She’s not used tae being denied. Mayhap I can borrow the two pounds tae buy yer freedom and then work it off. Somehow, I must get ye out of Meadowbank and do it quickly.”

  “Lady Currie isna used tae being denied,” she said miserably. “I warned ye.”

  He stopped pacing and looked at her. “Ye know her,” he said. “What will she do now? She’s speaking tae Clegg and I dunna like it. What’s she saying?”

  Lucia could only shrug. “I dunna know what she’s saying, but I can guess,” she said. “She’s trying tae force him tae command ye tae accept her offer. Will he?”

  Bane was cooling off a little. Now he was more fearful. “I dunna think so,” he said. “He told me I could deny her. I canna imagine he’d go back on his word.”

  “Then ye’re safe, at least for tonight,” she said. “But I suspect we’ll be back tomorrow night and she’ll try again.”

  “I’ll deny her again.”

  Lucia watched him, feeling greatly comforted by his staunch resistance. There had never been any doubt, but he was almost rabid in his opposition. It was a gesture that proved everything he’d said to her—his devotion, his love. She was deeply touched by it.

  They had a bond that no one, not even Lady Currie and her money, could break.

  “Bane,” she said softly. “Sit down. Sit down and be calm.”

  She was patting the bed next to her and Bane looked at it, looked at her, and realized just how agitated he was. His times with her were so few and far between that he didn’t want to ruin them with his anger. Smiling weakly, he ran his fingers through his dark hair and sat heavily beside her.

  For a moment, they simply looked at one another, drawing strength from the sight and presence of each other. For a brief and shining moment, things were calm between them. They were together.

  That was all that matte
red.

  “Ye let yer beard grow back,” Lucia said, reaching up to finger the bush that wasn’t particularly neat. “Have the rodents moved back in?”

  He laughed softly when he remembered one of the first conversations they’d ever had about him shaving off his beard and destroying a home for vermin.

  “If ye dunna like it, I’ll shave it off,” he said. “I havena given it much thought.”

  She smiled because he was, stroking the exposed skin on his face. “Beard or no beard, it doesna change who ye are,” she said. “This is how ye looked when I first met ye.”

  “I was a man in turmoil.”

  “I know. Ye still are, only now for different reasons.”

  He nodded, sighing heavily as he pulled her against him in a comforting embrace. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I know,” he muttered. “Ye canna imagine how I just want tae run away right now and take ye with me. We can go someplace and be free, together.”

  She had her hand on his chest, patting him gently. “We will be together and free, someday,” she said. “But not now. The time isna right. Ye’ve given yer oath tae the Cal, and even if we wanted tae leave, there’s something tae be said for honor. Ye canna break yer oath.”

  He sat back against the wall, drawing her with him. “Nay,” he said after a moment. “Sir Clegg and Lor have been good tae me. They’ve been more than fair. I wouldna betray them like that. But that doesna mean I canna dream of the day when all of this is behind us.”

  Lucia didn’t answer for a moment, thinking of that day as well. “I heard ye tell Lady Currie that ye had a wife.”

  “I do.”

  “Not officially.”

  “In my heart, mind, and body, it is official. I dunna need a priest tae make it so.”

  “Nor I.”

  “Do ye mean it?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “I’ve been waiting my whole life tae hear that, Lucia. But only from ye.”

  It was a sweet thing to say, a tender moment that touched Lucia deeply. When his head dipped down, his lips brushing against hers, she responded readily. He had eased her, made her feel loved and wanted, and she realized that she was ready to give herself over to him completely because, come what may, she had already given her mind and her heart over to him.