Highland Defender

by Kathryn Le Veque

  “Not if it doesna concern her, m’lady.”

  “The safety of Meadowbank concerns me, Bane.” When he didn’t respond, she tried another tactic. “We shall share a morning meal together, and you may tell me of your great plans for the manse.”

  “I would prefer ye show me where I am tae sleep,” he said. “I have some organizing tae do before I assume my duties.”

  Lady Currie liked that idea even better. She could take him straight to his bedchamber, which happened to be next to hers, and surely she could loosen his harsh stance from there.

  It was time to show the man who was in command.

  “Of course,” she said. “Come with me.”

  She led him into the manse itself, the big gray-stoned edifice with three floors. She completely bypassed Laird Currie’s solar, even though they walked right past it, and headed up the spiral stairs to the next level.

  This was where her chamber took up one entire side of the manse. There were four other chambers on this level, and she took Bane to the chamber next to hers, throwing open the old oak doors to reveal a sparsely furnished room. There was a messy bed, a table, and little more. It was where Colly slept, but she was going to relocate the old woman starting today.

  “I will have this cleaned immediately,” she told him. “I will have fresh straw brought in for your bed and a fire started in the hearth. Is there anything else you require?”

  Bane walked into the chamber, looking around and realizing that someone else already lived here, but clearly, Lady Currie didn’t see that as a problem. He turned to her.

  “I would rather sleep with the men,” he said. “Sleeping in the house isna a good location for the man in charge of the safety of Meadowbank. I will sleep with the soldiers. It is where I belong.”

  He started to walk out but she quickly shut the doors, preventing him from leaving. “You will sleep where I tell you to sleep,” she said in a low voice, standing in front of the doors to block him. “I am in command now, Bane, and you will do what I tell you to do. You will sleep here.”

  Bane had a feeling this entire morning had been coming to this.

  After a tormented ride to Meadowbank, trying not to look at Lucia as she sat across the carriage from him, he’d been forced to keep company with Lady Currie since his arrival. The woman had gripped him tightly through every move they made, from their arrival into the bailey until this very moment. She was clingy and possessive, and Bane was losing patience by the second.

  But he had something he had to do before he told the woman off.

  Those sixty pounds sterling were in a trunk that Clegg had provided him, a trunk that also contained his skimpy belongings and was now sitting in the foyer of the manse. Sixty pounds sterling that he fully intended to deliver back to Laird Currie this very day.

  He wasn’t going to spend one more moment here than necessary.

  “M’lady, do other soldiers sleep in the house?” he asked.

  She frowned. “Of course not.”

  “Then why me?” he said. “Ye purchased my contract from Clegg and told him it was because ye wanted a seasoned warrior tae protect Meadowbank. If ye want me tae do my job, then I must be near the gatehouse. I must be where my duties are focused.”

  Lady Currie’s smile was gone. “I want you in the house with me,” she said. “Is that so hard to understand?”

  “I understand,” Bane said. “But just because I chose not tae bring my wife tae this place doesna mean I’m ripe for the picking. I am here tae assume control of yer soldiers and nothing more. Nothing more.”

  Lady Currie’s pleasant demeanor snapped. “It was wise of you to leave your wife back at the Cal,” she said. “It would not have been enjoyable for her here, Bane. She would not have been able to sleep in the same chamber with you, in any case.”

  “I left her behind for that very reason. I suspected ye would view her as yer competition when, in truth, there is no competition.”

  Lady Currie’s jaw hardened. “You are sworn to me now,” she growled. “You must do as I say, and I say I want you in this chamber. Is that clear?”

  “Who paid for my contract?”

  “I did, you fool!”

  “Where did ye get the money?”

  “From my husband!”

  “Then he is the one who bought my contract. Not ye. ’Tis Laird Currie who will have the final say in where I sleep. Let us ask him.”

  Lady Currie was so angry by this time that she was grinding her teeth. “You serve the laird and lady of Meadowbank,” she said through clenched teeth. “I am the lady of Meadowbank and I demand you serve me.”

  “I shall serve ye loyally, m’lady. But only as a warrior and nothing more.”

  “Ye’ll do as I say!”

  “Or what?”

  Her mouth popped open in outrage. “I’ll have you whipped!”

  “By whom?”

  “I have ten soldiers that will do my bidding!”

  “There are ten soldiers tae do yer husband’s bidding and mine. Ye’re not in the chain of command, Lady Currie.”

  Lady Currie was positively enraged. She growled angrily, balling her fists. “We shall see what my husband has to say about this!”

  Bane nodded readily. “I agree,” he said. “Let’s see what yer husband has tae say about ye commanding a warrior tae do anything more than his duties as a warrior. I’m not a whore, m’lady. If ye paid for my contract with that on yer mind, then ye wasted yer money.”

  Lady Currie wasn’t finished. She was wearing the pale-blue satin with the ermine robe over it against the cold and she immediately tossed off the ermine, exposing a dress that was far better suited for warm temperatures. Dramatically, she grabbed her full breasts.

  “You will never see anything better than what I have to offer, Bane,” she said, fondling herself in the hopes of arousing him. “My skin is soft and sweet, far better than anything you have ever tasted. All you need to do is take what you wish. I will not resist.”

  Bane sighed heavily, clearly unimpressed. He walked up to her, gazing down at her impassively as she clutched herself. She had such hope, such expectation on her face, that when he reached out and grasped her by the arms she believed that she’d finally broken through to him. For just a split second, her joy was obvious.

  But it was not to be.

  Bane grasped her by the arms, lifted her up, and moved her away from the door. As Lady Currie stood there with her hands still on her breasts, Bane opened the door and quit the chamber. He could hear Lady Currie screaming in anger as he walked down the corridor toward the stairs.

  But the noise had brought out the servants, wondering why Lady Currie was yelling. Bane could see heads popping out from open doorways, including Lucia’s. He saw her just beyond the stairwell, looking at him with shock and fear on her face. He was so glad to see her that it was all he could do not to run to her.

  Instead, he pointed in the direction of the stable yard.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Later that night, with Tynan on the lookout for Lady Currie, Lucia slipped out of the manse and ran into the stable yard. Moving swiftly, she ran straight for the stables, rushing inside only to find Bane and Angus talking quietly in one of the stalls. When Bane looked up and saw her, he came out to greet her.

  “My angel,” he murmured, sweeping her into his powerful embrace. “God, it’s good tae finally see ye alone.”

  Lucia’s arms were around his neck. “It is,” she agreed. “We’ve not had a moment alone since the Cal. Bane, why did ye agree tae come here? I canna believe ye would agree tae come with Lady Currie when ye know—”

  He cut her off gently, kissing her to silence her. “I have a plan,” he said quietly. “Ye dunna think I’d come here blindly, do ye?”

  She eyed him curiously. “A plan? What plan?”

  Bane knew
she wasn’t privy to his reasons for coming, the plans he’d made with Lor and Isabail and Magnus and Clegg. She didn’t know any of it, so surely she thought he must have lost his mind. Quickly, he pulled her into the stall as Angus, grass in his teeth as usual, wandered out.

  “Where is Angus going?” she asked. “He’s not going tae tell anyone we’re here, is he?”

  Bane pulled her down onto the hay. “He’s going tae watch for any sign of Lady Currie or anyone else,” he said. “I told him tae pretend he doesna know me. Did ye tell Tynan not tae know me?”

  “Aye. But others saw ye the first time I brought ye here. They might give ye away.”

  He shook his head quickly. “Angus has told them not tae. Seems no one likes Lady Currie, so they’re willing tae keep the secret.”

  Lucia felt a little better. “I hope so,” she said. “I know Lady Currie never saw ye so we dunna want her tae know ye’re the man that Colly said I was fornicating with.”

  “What about Colly? Did she recognize me?”

  Lucia shook her head. “I dinna know,” she said. “I’m not entirely sure she ever got a good look at ye, so ye may be safe.”

  “We can pray for small mercies,” he said. His gaze drifted over her, drinking in the sight of her. He felt whole again when she was in his arms. “But it willna matter if she did or not. We’re leaving tonight, for good.”

  Her eyes widened. “We are?”

  He nodded, kissing her hands. “Aye,” he said. “Lady Currie paid sixty pounds sterling for me, but Clegg gave it all back tae me with specific instructions—I’m tae return it tae Laird Currie and leave this place with ye.”

  Lucia was bewildered. “Return it tae Laird Currie? I dunna understand. Why?”

  He could see that she wasn’t following him. “Listen tae me,” he said with quiet urgency. “It seems that Clegg and Laird Currie are old friends. Clegg doesna like Lady Currie. He feels that she brings shame upon her husband with her behavior, which she does. Clegg has given me the money Lady Currie paid for me tae return it tae her husband, but he wants us tae flee Meadowbank after I do. That way, Laird Currie has his money returned tae him and Lady Currie is left with nothing. Ye’re safe, I’ll be safe, and Lady Currie will be sorely disappointed.”

  Lucia’s hand was over her mouth in surprise. “Sir Clegg has done this for ye?”

  “For us,” he said softly. “Better still, when this situation is over, Clegg has asked me tae return tae the Cal as a trainer of men. A doctores. Lucia, he’s offered me a position there. A position of honor with people I respect.”

  Lucia was starting to understand. She smiled at him, thrilled to hear what had transpired. “Is it true?” she gasped. “Bane, that’s wonderful news. I’m so very proud of ye.”

  His smile faded as he looked at her. “Are ye?” he asked. “It’s been so long since someone has been proud of me. Ye canna imagine how long, my angel. ’Tis good tae hear it.”

  Her smile broadened. “Of course I’m proud of ye,” she said. “It seems that a good deal has happened since the last time I saw ye.”

  That was an understatement. “Very true,” he said. “But good things. Except for Lady Currie and her lewd intentions, all good things. But in the end…mayhap everything happened the way it should. Had Lady Currie not set her cap for me, I would still be at the Cal, still trying tae earn money for yer freedom. Who knows how long it would have taken?”

  Lucia could see his point. “I suppose,” she said. “I simply canna believe that so much good has come from this. What do ye intend tae do now?”

  Bane released her from his embrace. “Now I intend tae seek Laird Currie and return his money and pay off yer debt, so I want ye tae pack whatever ye need and be ready tae leave right away. Will ye do that?”

  Lucia could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Aye,” she murmured. “Oh, Bane…I can hardly believe it. I’ll finally be leaving this terrible place.”

  He kissed her gently. “I intend tae take ye out of here before the evening meal, so we must hurry. We’ll leave as soon as I give Laird Currie his money back.”

  “But what about the two pounds for my da’s debt?”

  Bane grinned. “Lor loaned it tae me,” he said. “He and his wife. I’ll pay back every pence and then some, so Laird Currie will receive exactly sixty-two pounds for my freedom and for yers. I have all of the money with me in the trunk I brought.”

  Lucia was so anxious that she took him by the hand and began dragging him toward the stable entry. “Laird Currie’s solar is by the manse entry,” she told him. “He’s always there. There is no other place he’ll be. Go in through the front of the house, and it’ll be the first doors ye see. Great, carved doors.”

  Bane nodded. “Give me an hour and meet me back here. We’ll leave from the postern gate where no one is watching.”

  They had just reached the doors and Lucia turned to him, throwing her arms around his neck forcefully enough to knock him off-balance.

  “I canna believe this is happening,” she said. “I’ll be here in an hour. But be kind to Laird Currie… He’s a nice man. What his wife does tae him is cruel beyond measure.”

  Bane cocked an eyebrow. “Then mayhap he’ll easily take his money back and wish us well.”

  “Without his wife finding out before we’ve left.”

  That was the unknown factor in all of this and Bane knew it. All of this had to be done without Lady Currie becoming wise to it. That’s why he wanted to get it over with so quickly. The sooner they were out of Meadowbank, the better for them both.

  “Be discreet when ye pack yer things, my angel,” he said quietly. “The last thing we want is Lady Currie becoming wise tae what is happening.”

  Lucia nodded solemnly. “I will be very cautious,” she said, moving for the stable door. “I’ll see ye soon.”

  He nodded, blowing her a kiss as she slipped from the stable and out into the cold winter’s day. He wisely waited a nominal amount of time before departing himself, taking an entirely different path and heading for the foyer of Meadowbank where his big trunk awaited. Locked and solid, so no one could steal the contents.

  Laird Currie was soon to be in for a surprise.

  * * *

  Colly could see that Lady Currie was in a snit.

  She’d known the woman her entire life, so when Lady Currie’s mood shifted, Colly was alert to it. Moreover, it hadn’t taken a genius to figure out that the woman was upset because she’d heard her screaming, like everyone else at Meadowbank, in a manner that suggested she’d been grossly displeased or insulted.

  Or both.

  Colly poked her head out of Lady Currie’s bower in time to catch a glimpse of the big warrior making his way down the stairs, leaving Lady Currie so angry that she was kicking the table in Colly’s chamber.

  Colly, of course, had no idea why Lady Currie was in her chamber, only that she was. Timidly, she entered, watching Lady Currie kick the table until the leg buckled. Even then, she kicked some more, growling and bellowing.

  Colly stood by the door in fear.

  “M’lady?” she said hesitantly. “Can I help with anything?”

  Lady Currie wasn’t finished with her tantrum. She kicked the buckled leg until it broke from the table, which fell forward and clipped her foot. Howling, she hobbled over to the bed and sat heavily, rubbing her injured toes.

  “I purchased his contract for Meadowbank,” she said angrily. “I am the lady of Meadowbank, am I not?”

  “Ye are, lamb.”

  “And everyone here must obey me.”

  “That is true.”

  “Even the soldiers.”

  “Aye, they must.” Colly came into the chamber and quietly shut the door so they’d have more privacy. “What happened with yer new warrior, lamb? What did he say tae make ye so angry?”

  Lady Currie lo
oked at her. “He did not say anything,” she said. “But he refused to… He refused everything I asked of him.”

  Colly frowned. “He canna do that,” she said. “Ye’re the lady of the house.”

  “He says he only answers to my husband because it was my husband’s money that purchased his contract. Have you ever heard anything so outrageous?”

  “Nay, lamb.”

  “He says he has a wife and he must be faithful to her. What rubbish!”

  She was shouting by the time she was finished. Colly had a feeling that was why Lady Currie was so angry, that this warrior she seemed to be obsessed with saw no attraction in her.

  But Colly was sly and conniving. That was something inherent to her. So was the desire to ease Lady Currie in any given situation. When the woman was hungry, she fed her. When she was angry, she soothed her. She had an idea of how to soothe her and force the new warrior to Lady Currie’s will all in the same breath.

  Grasping a stool, she pulled it up to the bed and sat down next to Lady Currie as the woman rubbed her foot.

  “I think I know why he willna bend tae yer will, lamb,” she said quietly.

  Lady Currie snorted. “That is no secret,” she said. “I already told you that it was because of his wife.”

  “I think I know who the wife is.”

  Lady Currie glanced at her in disbelief. “How would you know who his wife is? You’ve not been to the Ludus Caledonia with me.”

  Colly shook her head. “I dunna have tae go there tae know,” she said. “I believe his wife is here at Meadowbank.”

  “Here? You’ve gone mad.”

  “I believe his wife is none other than Lucia.”

  Lady Currie stopped rubbing her foot. “Lucia?” she repeated, perplexed. “Our Lucia?”

  Colly nodded firmly. “I’ll tell ye why I think so,” she said. “Do ye remember a couple of months ago when Lucia brought a man here tae Meadowbank, a man she said saved her from the assault when she lost yer sausages?”

  By this time, Lady Currie’s rage had cooled and she was looking at Colly warily. “I remember,” she said. “The same man you said she was fornicating with.”