Her Highlander's Heartl (Highlanders 0f Cadney Book 2)

by Fiona Faris

  “What type of conditions?”

  “Violet said ye are supposedly one of the best at findin’ people. I want that tae be true.”

  “It is.”

  “Good, then I’ll marry ye Nathan Mackenzie, but I want ye tae be a kind husband. Can ye dae that?” Nathan was confused. He wasn’t sure he understood where the conversation was going or why his past as a bounty hunter pleased her.

  “Aye, I’ll dae my best by ye, Milly. I promise. I ken this isn’t ideal for either of us, but I appreciate yer help. I dae.” All hint of teasing from earlier was gone. Milly was all business as she moved from the window and sat next to him on the settee. She took his hand in her own, turning it over and tracing the rough skin.

  “These are hands that have seen work.”

  “Aye, travel isnae easy. I had tae earn my passage on more than one ship tae get tae the Continent.”

  “Ye’ve been lots of places then, have ye?”

  “Aye, but Milly, why are we talkin’ about my hands? What are ye other conditions?” He loved the feel of her soft, satin hand in his own, but this wasn’t a love match. This was a business arrangement, and he couldn’t afford to get lost in the woman’s touch without knowing the full cost of what she was offering.

  “The only other condition I have is for before we are tae wed…I want ye tae help me find my brother, Gavin, and bring him home.”

  Nathan let out the long breath he was holding. Gavin? Gavin MacGille was dead. His uncle told him he had perished with his own father and Angus MacGille in the Battle of Dunkeld.

  “Lass…” he whispered.

  “No!” She said getting up. “Dinnae, lass… me, with yer soft tone, and pity! I ken he is alive. I never doubted it, not for a second and now I ken for sure. He is being held in an English prison. South in Perth. I need your help to get him back, Nathan. And in return, I’ll marry ye, like ye want.”

  Nathan’s head was spinning, and he had quickly lost control of the conversation. He had been foolish to think she would give herself up to him for a simple favor, like releasing the Graham lad. No, Millicent MacGille could not be bought cheaply. She wanted the impossible.

  “And where did ye get this information? Why now? Why did ye not say something last night about it?”

  “I dinnae ken last night. I just learned about it.”

  “From who?”

  “Does it matter? If yer gonna reject my offer, just do it already—” Hurt and anger flashed behind her eyes. So, she hadn’t forgotten about his rejection of her all those years ago. He watched as she braced herself to hear him say no to her again. Only this time he wouldn’t reject her. He needed a bride and Milly MacGille was his only option. He only wanted to know if what he suspected was true.

  “It does matter, lass. It matters a great deal tae me!”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “I ken that prison in Perth, tis not a pleasant place. If Gavin is there, he’ll likely be ill or worse. Are ye sure ye can trust whoever told ye?”

  “Nay, I couldn’t trust him as far as I could toss him, but what choice do I have? I have tae bring Gavin home. Would ye leave your kin to rot in some hell prison if ye ken ye could save them?”

  “Och, lass. Of course, I wouldnae. Just tell me, who told ye Gavin is alive!” His tone was harsh, but he hoped she realized his harshness was not meant for her, but rather because of what she had just revealed about his cousin, whether she’d used his name or not. Who else would be privy to such information? He stood and rounded on her, taking her shoulders in his hands. Gavin was his friend, too. He wanted him to be alive as much as Milly did. But he knew it was Elias that told her. And he couldn’t afford to walk into a trap. He wanted her to tell him. Tell him it was Elias and tell him why.

  “It was yer cousin. Elias said it! Are ye happy then?” She tried to pull out of his grasp as tears began to fall down her cheeks. He pulled her tightly against his chest with his heart aching at her pain, and his part in bringing it to the surface. He wished he didn’t force the issue. “He said if I married him, he would help me tae get Gavin back, but I…I can’t…” she sobbed into his chest. “He said if I refused he had ways of making me change my mind. I thought…I thought…” Unable to complete what she thought, Nathan rubbed her back. Of all the wretched, deceitful, treacherous things…the bastard! If he wasn’t so filled with rage, he would be relishing the feel of the woman in his arms. How long had it been since he held a woman? Any woman? He would kill Elias. Using her brother as a tool in their fight for the Lairdship, keeping an ally and a friend from his family, and a fellow Scot. This was low, even for him.

  “Shh, lass, I ken. I’m sorry I yelled at ye.”

  “I couldnae let Elias win, he’s evil, Nathan. Ye dinnae see his eyes. Even if I agreed, there’s no way tae ken if he is tellin’ the truth. Or if I reject him without protection there is no tellin’ what he would do to Gavin, or me? I need to find Gavin myself, I need protection from Elias, and you need a bride. Violet suggested coming tae ye for help. I thought… I thought if I offered myself tae ye, ye may help, and then we could be sure that Elias wouldn’t be Laird.” He pulled her back and looked into her eyes, stunned. The little minx had it all planned out. Sincerely, if he wasn’t so shocked, he would be almost proud of her for her cunning as well as her generosity.

  “Lass, ye’d give up yer whole life? Yer freedom for the Mackenzie people like that?” He asked. She held his gaze. Suddenly his desire to force her into any kind of arrangement faded from his mind. He felt his pulse quicken. The fire crackled in the hearth, and they stood together, silent. Looking into her eyes he saw his reflection, and he was a fool. Shame filled him. He was no better than his cousin. “How could ye ever forgive me for last night?” he finally asked, gently.

  “I may hate ye, Nathan Mackenzie,” she said, wiping her tears with the end of her plaid. “But yer not evil. And nay, I’m not willin’ tae give myself up in marriage for you, or for yer people, as much as I willnae be able tae live with myself if Elias became Laird. I am asking’ ye for Gavin and my people. The MacGille clan needs Gavin back. I need my brother.” Her conviction was infectious. Nathan had never known a stronger, more infuriating woman. A woman he already knew he wouldn’t be able to refuse.

  He needed her, for his clan, for his legacy, and it seemed she needed him as well. He just worried how he would be able to keep his wits about him. With all that she had just revealed, he couldn’t very well force her to marry him now. Her confession was jarring, and the need for him to solidify his position as Laird was more urgent than ever. He was beginning to understand her fear of Elias, but despite his earlier lapse in judgement, Nathan would not be the type of man who used a woman against her will. The night before in the library was a slip, he would not make again. He would help her, but he would have to think of another way to stop Elias. A way that didn’t involve taking advantage of the amazing, beautiful woman in his arms. At least not without her full and enthusiastic consent.

  “Aye, Millicent MacGille, I’ll help ye get yer brother back. The rest will keep. We should leave as soon as we can, while the weather holds.”

  Chapter Six

  “Yer goin’ where?” Violet asked as she helped Milly pack plaids and two day dresses into a bag. Along with pins, a hair brush and other personal effects.

  “I told ye, Violet! I’m goin’ with Nathan tae get Gavin.” Milly didn’t understand why Violet was questioning her. After all, the whole thing had been her idea. She was still confused about what happened between her and Nathan in the library. Her resolve had been so strong, but something about seeing Elias again in the main hall, and Nathan’s understanding gaze had made her fall apart. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to cry in front of the man, and she certainly shouldn’t have wept in his arms.

  Then there was the matter of his strange behavior. She had always thought of Nathan MacKenzie as a selfish cad, but in the library, he had been so agreeable. Understanding even. Had the years away changed
him that much? He had willingly agreed to help her get Gavin back, but he didn’t agree to marry her. In fact, when she tried to bring up the day and time of their wedding, he quickly changed the subject and said they would discuss things after they returned.

  It became obvious to Milly that Nathan didn’t really want to marry her at all. His first proposal must have been born out of a moment of weakness. She felt the old familiar hurt of Nathan’s rejection creep up again, but she pushed it down. Ye dinnae want tae marry him anyway, and he still agreed tae help ye, stop bein’ so daft, she thought to herself. It was all actually working out for her better than she could’ve hoped. But then why when she thought about Nathan avoiding the topic of marriage did she feel a pang of something in her stomach. Was is regret?

  “I only thought Nathan would go, not have ye trapsin’ all over the countryside alone with him tae walk into who kens what kind of danger? Ye ken Thomas will have my hide once he learns. He’ll try tae go after ye!”

  “Violet, I canna let Nathan go alone, and Thomas is not yet well enough. He needs a few more hearty meals before he can travel. I’ve waited so long. And what if Gavin is ill? Nathan may need help tae get him back. I’m going and that’s that. I don’t expect there tae be any danger on the road. Most of the soldiers have moved south, and it is Scotland.”

  “Och, I still dinnae like it, Milly, and neither will Thomas. You will be careful?” Milly embraced Violet. She was so lucky to have such a good friend and clanswoman.

  “Yes, I will. And mind ye tae also be careful,” she said, pulling back and giving Violet a stern look. “With Nathan and I gone, keep out of Elias’ way. As should Thomas. Maybe ye should leave the MacKenzie castle. Head back tae Cadney Keep?”

  “And not be hear tae keep ears out for any treachery from Elias? Nae way. Thomas can gae back or send word tae Laird MacGille, but I’ll stay right here until ye return. After all, I’m just a maid. I terra much doubt Elias can tell one of us from another.”

  “Did Thomas say anything at all tae ye about Gavin?”

  “Aye. He said he was with him in th’ battle. Gavin saved his life. Laird MacKenzie was there tae, surrounded. All of a sudden, a shot rang out and before Thomas ken what’d hit him, ten or twelve English soldiers were charging toward them. Laird Mackenzie was nowhere tae be seen. It happened so fast. Gavin told him tae run, and he did, thinking Gavin was right behind him…” Violet dropped her gaze, wiping at a stray tear. Milly sat beside her, taking her hand, fighting back her own tears. The horrors of battle were something as women they would only ever experience through the stories of the men they loved, but it didn’t make it any less painful. She tried to imagine how much harder it must have been for Violet watching the pain in Thomas’ eyes as he told her the tale, and for Thomas, himself to relive it, thinking once again that Gavin was right beside him.

  “Go on…” she urged, filled with a sudden need to know more; to experience what her brother must have felt at the moment when all hope was lost.

  “Thomas said there was nae way a man could’ve survived that. No way Gavin, as good as he was, could’ve fought off all those men himself. Gavin died saving Thomas. And he carries the weight of that with him every day.” Milly let out a deep breath. Poor Thomas, but he was wrong. She knew Gavin was alive. Their bond was no ordinary bond between brother and sister. They were twins. For as long as she could remember, she could feel a tie to her brother. That tie was not broken. Thomas was alive, and Milly was grateful for it, but so indeed was Gavin. Violet’s telling of the moments of battle only renewed Milly’s resolve to find her brother.

  “Did Thomas say anything else?” Milly hated to press Violet on her private conversations with her betrothed, but anything that could potentially help her and Nathan would be most welcomed.

  “He did mention that Elias would come down tae th’ dungeon, maybe two to three times per week, and question him about that last battle.”

  “How odd,” Milly said.

  “Thomas thought so tae. Says he asked the same questions over an’ over, each time Thomas told him all he kent, but it never seemed tae satisfy him.”

  “I wonder what information he was looking for.” Milly wasn’t asking Violet specifically, more like thinking out loud. As far as she knew, Elias was also part of the Battle of Dunkeld. Why would he need to question Thomas repeatedly about it if he was there?

  A knock at the bed chamber door disrupted their conversation. Milly hurried to hide the packed bag for she was unsure who she could trust in the keep. Violet moved to answer the door as Milly jumped up to hide in the bed. It was better she feign illness. If word got out that she wasn’t feeling well, she wouldn’t be missed right away by Elias, giving her and Nathan more time to reach Perth before it was noticed she was gone. Sometimes she wished she were a man. When Nathan wants to leave, he simply tells his council he is taking his leave. He could say anything, going out to inspect the lands, or the clansmen who live outside the walls of the keep. He could be traveling to a neighboring clan to build or maintain alliances, but as a woman Milly did not have the same freedoms. If she were missing or found out to have left the keep without a chaperone, it could spell ruin at the least, or right now suspicion. Suspicion is what she wanted to avoid at all costs.

  “Violet, who’s at the door? Be so kind as tae send them away. I’m not feeling myself.” She feigned a cough as she shouted out to Violet, hoping the woman would pick up on her story and the visitor would leave.

  “’Tis Fiona, my lady, one of the upstairs maids. She was sent by Laird Mackenzie, Elias, that is. He is askin’ if ye have interest in a horse ride with him through the meadow.” A small, slight blonde woman walked in meekly behind Violet, clearly uncomfortable with the tasked with which she’d been charged.

  “How kind of him, but please, Fiona, extend my apologies to Laird MacKenzie. I’m nae feelin’ well and the cold air may not be so good for me.” Fiona’s face fell. It was clear she didn’t like the idea of bringing bad news back to Elias, and Milly couldn’t blame her. She felt bad for the lass, and worse about lying to her.

  “Of course, my lady. I’ll let him ken. He’ll be disappointed, I think.” Violet came walking around the bed where Milly was laying and kicked at the packed satchel that had not stayed properly hidden; Milly forcing herself into a coughing fit to distract the maid from Violet’s actions. Hopefully, Milly thought, the lass dinnae notice.

  “I’m… sure… he will. Water… please.” Fiona rushed to the bedside table and poured Milly a glass from the pitcher.

  “My lady, should I send for th’ healer?” Her eyes large with worry.

  “Nay, Violet has some good awful tea for me,” she replied, sipping the water gingerly. “And I’m sure I only need a few days’ rest. Please give my excuses to Elias.”

  Fiona nodded, but made no move to leave the room. Her eyes snapped to Violet and the bag on the floor. She seemed frozen by the bed frame and Milly couldn’t for the life of herself figure what more the maid could’ve wanted but worried her secret would be exposed. She didn’t want to fake another coughing fit, lest she have no choice but to send for the healer, but the woman was like a statue and would not leave. After what seemed like an eternity, Violet spoke up.

  “Fiona, dae ye not have a message tae bring tae yer master?” Violet’s words were soft, but her tone snapped Fiona out of whatever held her back. The girl curtsied and hurriedly let the chamber.

  “She definitely saw th’ travel bag.”

  Milly stood tossing the covers off herself. “Aye, we can only hope she’s not a bright girl, and she doesnae think me a liar in my illness. Or that she, like so many others in the keep, doesnae care for Elias enough to speak of what she saw.”

  “Mayhap she dinnae see anything of note? We are, after all visitors here—a travel bag would not be unusual.”

  “Nay, but our behavior would be considered such.” Milly let out a small, tortured laugh and settled down on a nearby chair. Intrigue and secrets were not part o
f her usual behavior and she was starting to feel exhaustion taking over. “I can only hope we get to the prison and Gavin before Elias makes heads or tails that I’m gone. He is not a fool, he’ll ken immediately, and I fear for my brother.”

  “I’ll tell anyone who asks ye are ill, hopefully giving you a lead on travel time. As much as I hate the winter, maybe another snow will hit after ye leave, blocking anyone from getting out should ye be discovered. Are ye sure ye can handle bein’ on the road with Nathan MacKenzie, alone?”

  Milly thought about Violet’s question. She had been determined to hate Nathan for the rest of her life. Could she so easily cast aside his rejection and the pain he’d caused her? She had been a foolish girl then, she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. It was true she’d offered herself to him again, but this time it was different. She needed his help, that was all. And he had made a fool of himself by making the same offer not even a full day prior. As for her offer of marriage, if he took her up on it, they would simply lead separate lives. Plenty of people married for reasons other than love. She could easily travel with him to save her brother. No, this time was definitely different. She didn’t fancy herself in love with Nathan MacKenzie like she had before. She was a mature woman now, making a delicate decision for her family. His help was simply a means to an end. She looked at her friend with determination and defiance in her eyes. Yes, she could do this quite easily.