“Ye will have to get through me, her brothers, and an army!” Hamish yelled.
Beth gestured to the group around her. “As ye can see, I intend to make quick work of ye and her brothers soon enough, and it will be easy enough to gain access. After all, she will need a shoulder to cry on after such a devastating loss.”
Hamish tried to piece it all together as he calculated their odds. “Ye supported Brodie Armstrong’s bid for laird. Ye ordered Kendrew and Braden to assist him. Why? Ye were already married to a laird.”
Fury blazed in her eyes. “I didnae want Brodie, although lucky for me, he certainly wanted me. No, all that I needed was a man to do my dirty work. I cared not for his ambitions, but if promising to spread my legs for him meant that he’d do away with a certain tart, then I was happy to.”
“Maggie,” he whispered. “Ye wanted Maggie dead.”
“Aye.” Beth’s eyes flashed with rage. “Do ye have any idea what ‘tis like to be married to a man like Fletcher MacSeaver? He is so desperate for an heir, he will sleep with anything that moves. When Maggie told him she was with child, he was so happy. He told me that it was his, a by-blow from the last time he was here. I was not going to let that happen. I amnae putting myself through the humiliation of his bed only to let some other tart carry the heir to the MacSeaver clan!”
“Ye are mad,” Theo breathed. “Ye ordered the death of the Armstrong guards!”
“They followed my men and discovered Brodie hiding out on Hamilton lands. ‘Twas easy enough to dispose of them, plus I was finished with Brodie. I didnae care if the blood trail led straight to him. I should thank ye for taking care of him because ‘tis one less thing for me to do, but when they reported that Grace Sinclair was the witness we’d left behind, I was impressed. Not enough to let her live, even if she doesn’t regain her memory, but I was there when Maggie was murdered, and I cannae allow her to tell my husband.”
“And ye think to murder four lairds and get away with it?” Hamish demanded as he calculated the odds. They were all strong fighters, but their odds were low. He refused to die without knowing what it would be like to have Grace as his wife.
She shrugged, as the thought was no concern of hers. “Aye, as ye will be killed on Armstrong lands, I imagine that Creighton will be blamed, his grief driving him to murder and all that.” She waved her hands dismissively. “Enough of this. Attack!”
Hamish roared and raised his sword, but before he could swing, arrows flew through the air. Beth shrieked, but there was nothing she could do as one by one, her men fell. Lowering, his sword, Hamish and the others looked around in disbelief. Within seconds, there wasn’t a single armed man left for them to fight.
Beth screamed in rage and reached for the sword of the nearest fallen soldier. She staggered under the weight but still lifted it up.
“Nay,” Grace said coldly as she, Creighton, and the small army she commanded neared. “I think not, Lady MacSeaver.”
Astride her horse, she looked magnificent as she led half of his soldiers and dozens of more Armstrongs behind her. Her quiver was in her hand, and she had an arrow aimed straight at Beth. “My aim is true, so unless ye want to die today, I suggest ye disarm and fall to yer knees.”
Hamish couldn’t help but look shocked at Connor and Alec’s grins. “So she throws knives and is an excellent marksman with an arrow?”
Connor shrugged. “There was no point in teaching her if we werenae going to teach her well. She could still use some work with a sword though.”
“I will be sure to help her with that.” Sheathing his weapon, he left Beth to the others while he strode to Grace. With a relieved gasp, she flowed into his arms, and he kissed her hard while others whistled around them.
“Are ye here to save me?” he murmured as he brushed her hair from her face.
She grinned. “I thought perhaps the Hamilton Hero could use a little assistance from the Sinclair Hellion!”
Still amazed that this wonderful woman was his, he touched her cheek. “How did ye know?”
“Twas her bracelet. The sapphire one. I kept seeing it in my dreams, the glint of gold sunshine, along with a silk cloak. I thought perhaps the cloak belonged to Brodie because he could certainly afford it, but I sent Lorna to ask Heather about the clan most likely to have silk.”
“The MacSeavers.”
“Aye, apparently Heather had heard that Beth MacSeaver was obsessed with the material. Last night, I had another dream, and I realized that what I was forgetting was that there were two there when Maggie was killed, and I was seeing Beth’s bracelet in my dreams. Ye had already sent word to the MacSeavers about Brodie’s death, and I worried that Beth would retaliate. I came here to warn ye.”
“Ye saved our lives.”
“I agreed to marry ye, Hamish. It will take more than facing death for ye to back out it.” With a shudder, she embraced him. “’Tis over now.”
“Aye.”
“Why, Hamish? Why would she kill Maggie? Why would she align herself with a man like Brodie?”
“Power, Grace. Some people let it twist them until there is nothing but greed and blood left.”
Creighton surveyed the bodies with a frown. Hamish had to hand it to him. Less than an hour ago, he’d learned that one of his brothers had killed the other, but when a woman had ridden to him for assistance, he had followed. The man had the makings of a laird, even if it was under the worst circumstances. “My men abandoned their post,” Creighton growled. “Ye are right, Hamish. I have much work to do to repair my clan. I am sorry that ye were attacked on my soil. I wish to accompany ye to court. Will one of ye look after my people while I am gone? It appears there are none that I can trust.”
Alec, who had some experience with leading stubborn clans, agreed to stay while Creighton was gone, and he looked at Grace with a twinkle in his eye. “Well, Sister? Will ye be going to court as well?”
She paled and her eyes widened. “Do ye suppose the king will remember what I did?”
Alec nodded, and he and his brother roared with laughter.
King Edward met them graciously at court the next morning. Hamish, Creighton, Theo, and Connor met with him behind closed doors while Beth was hauled down to the prisons. Grace was shown to guest chambers as soon as she arrived, and Hamish noted that she was still pale.
What’s more, she didn’t insist on joining them but yawned widely and claimed she needed more sleep.
What, he wondered, could she have done last time to make her so meek? After all, he’d been told that Grace hadn’t been to court since she was a child.
Edward listened to them gravely all morning while they spoke of how to deal with the aftermath of Brodie and Beth’s treachery. Finally, after they had shared a meal, Edward sent a summons to MacSeaver and asked Hamish to walk with him.
“I am getting to be an old man,” Edward remarked with a sigh as they walked out to the courtyard. “I find that I cannae travel as much as I used to, and I worry that my people are falling into chaos. Still, I cling to my seat of power because I fear my heir is an idiot.”
Since Edward’s heir was his nephew, Hamish wisely kept silent on the matter. “Yer people arenae falling into chaos, sire,” he said loyally. “There will always be dissension. We Scots are a stubborn bunch.”
“Aye, ‘tis true. First Laird and Lady Sinclair were killed on the orders of a young lass, and then Duncan MacKay was murdered by his own son. I thought then that perhaps it was time to gain more control over the highlands, but today I have seen something I thought would never happen.”
“What is that?”
“The Hamiltons bringing together several powerful clans in an alliance.” Edward smiled. “Tyree chose well in ye.”
Hamish bowed his head. “We have only signed a peace treaty.”
“Aye, but clans bound by blood and friendship are far stronger than signatures on parchment. I had no idea of yer connection to MacDougal, but I am pleased. Theo is a good man, and he has the making
of a fine laird.” Edward paused. “I wonder if ye wish retribution on yer father?”
When Hamish didn’t say anything, Edward grumbled. “I understand yer need for revenge, but the man has already lost everything important to him. ‘Tis shameful to admit, but I believe watching his son be more powerful and beloved than he was is punishment enough.”
“‘Tis true that I did want vengeance,” Hamish conceded. “But ye may be right.”
There were more important things than revenge, and he had something to look forward to now.
“An alliance between brothers might send him over the edge,” the king said with a chuckle. “I hope ye mean to invite me to yer wedding.”
Hamish looked over, startled. “I had not thought ye would travel for a wedding, but of course ye are welcome to come. I had hoped to be married right away, but it can wait.”
“I could wed ye right here and now if ye wish.”
“I had considered it. Lord knows I need to marry the woman before she gets herself into more trouble, but the Hamiltons have been looking forward to the ceremony, and I have no wish to deprive them.”
Edward nodded. “Then I will return with ye. The nights are not so cold now for an old man, and I think seeing the wedding would bring me joy. Ye know, I have often wondered what happened to little Grace. The last time I saw her, she was just a wee thing of eight.”
Hamish hated to ask. “What did she do?”
“Ye doonae know?” Edward grinned. “She challenged me to a sword fight for my crown!”
27
One week later...
* * *
The sword hit hers forcefully, pushing Grace back. He tried to ignore the sweat on her skin as she readjusted the slick grip on the hilt of her blade. Hamish had it specially made for her, and the green jewels on the hilt glimmered in the sun. It was her wedding present, and it felt good and balanced in her hand.
Unfortunately, it didn’t help her balance, and when the opposing sword came down again, she stumbled to the ground. Rolling, she avoided the blow that came down and sprang to her feet, but she wasn’t quick enough to avoid the light tap on her bottom.
“Hey!” Outraged, she whirled around and glared. “What kind of move was that?”
Grinning, Hamish swung his sword behind him and winked. “‘Twas a reminder that ye doonae turn yer back on yer opponent unless ye can be quick.”
“‘Tis this stupid dress,” she complained. They had been at it for nearly half an hour, and her arms were tired. Ever since she’d gotten her hands on the sword that morning, she’d been itching to play with it, and Hamish was only too happy to accommodate her.
Because their hero had come back victorious, the clan had been celebrating all week, but this time, it wasn’t just Hamish they were calling a hero, but Grace as well. News of her feats had spread far and wide, and now Reed and Tavin were reporting that other women were demanding to be trained as well. Surprisingly, it was Mary who was shouting the loudest. Apparently Grace had earned even her respect.
Edina and Tyree were married just a few days ago, and there was nothing but love shining in their eyes. Grace was happy to see that the two of them were no longer lost, having resurrected the love that had once burned so long ago. Still, she was happy to know that she and Hamish were not waiting that long.
Theo had returned to his clan for a short period of time, although he was back for the wedding. He had asked Hamish if he wanted to see Patrick, and Hamish had simply said that he wanted to spend time with his new wife without any more darkness hanging about them. Grace knew that there would be one day when he finally saw Patrick MacDougal again, but for right now, his relationship with his brother and with her was more important.
Reports had trickled in that Creighton was merciless as he inspected his men, and traitors were exiled. He had a lot of work to do, but he seemed determined, and Grace hoped that he would be successful. When she had ridden to him in fear for Hamish’s life, he hadn’t blinked an eye but followed with his own men to provide support. That had earned her respect.
MacSeaver, in his grief and humiliation at not being able to control his own wife, had stepped down and allowed Graeme MacSeaver to take over. The last report stated that MacSeaver’s health was rapidly deteriorating.
“I have no problems if ye take the dress off,” Hamish commented with a wide grin.
Knowing that he didn’t mean for her to change, she glared and stepped forward, swinging the blade. He met it easily enough, but then, they weren’t really training. Not today, of all days.
“Grace Sinclair!”
The outraged bellow shook the blades of grass beneath her, and even Hamish winced. “I gather we have been discovered,” he said wryly as he looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, there was a troop of women marching after them.
“Oh, hell,” she muttered as she tried to brush off her skirts. “How bad do I look?”
“Ye look beautiful,” he said quickly as he leaned down to steal a quick kiss. “But ye have dirt all over ye. I will try to distract them, but ye must be quick.”
As she valiantly tried to straighten her flowers in her braid, she noticed that there was a small tear at the bottom hem. Panic hit her. What if they noticed it? Then what would she do?
Whatever charm Hamish was laying on was not enough, as Moira, Cora, Lorna, and Edina all blessed him up and down and charged after her. “Honestly, Grace,” Moira sighed. “Today of all days.”
Glumly, Grace raised her sword. “But ‘tis so pretty. I had to see it sparkle under the sun.”
Cora shot Hamish a cold look. “Ye did it on purpose, didn’t ye?”
“I just wanted to see her happy,” he said as he put his hands up in defense.
“Ye will not be happy unless ye are wedded in trousers,” Moira sighed. “All right, back with ye so we can assess the damage. Have ye forgotten that King Edward is here? Ye cannae keep him waiting!”
“‘Tis my wedding day. I can keep whoever I want waiting,” she grumbled but allowed Lorna to take the sword from her hands. The women marched on, and Grace snuck a quick look at the man who was to be her husband.
“Well?” She sighed. “‘Tis yer last day to back out. Are ye willing to be married to the Sinclair Hellion?”
“Nay.” Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her hard up against him. “From this day forth, ye shall be the Hamilton Hellion, and ye shall be mine.”
She did like the sound of that.
Epilogue
One year later...
* * *
There was a knock on Lorna’s door in the dead of night. As the healer of the Hamilton clan, the intrusion was always expected, and she had a cloak around her shoulders and her supply bag in hand when she opened the door.
The man standing on the other side did alarm her.
It wasn’t that she thought Tavin Hamilton would harm her. No, although he was a hulking man and could easily break her in half, he was also a loyal soldier and that meant he would protect all Hamiltons.
Even the ones he despised.
Tonight his glower was just as hard as usual as he looked down at her. “Healer!” he snapped. “We have need of ye.”
Healer. As if he doesnae know my name! As if, a year ago, he wasn’t on my table, bleeding from a leg wound and shivering from the infection that was setting in. As if I hadnae saved his life.
No, he would only think of her as the woman who had married a MacClare when the MacClares and Hamiltons were feuding. In his mind, she was a traitor.
She put all that aside now as she lifted her chin to him. “Aye? What is it?” she demanded.
He faltered. “’Tis my nephew, Broderick. I fear a fever has claimed him.”
Lorna saw the guard’s hands trembling and knew that his nephew must have meant a great deal to him because Tavin never wavered. Not once. Even when he was groggy from the sleeping potions she continued to pour down his throat, he was assured of himself, but now, she could see the grief in his eyes.
> He had reason to be afraid. Fevers often carried the wee ones to their grave.
“What are ye waiting for?” she snapped as she stepped out and let the door slam shut behind her. As she expected it would, it forced his focus. “Lead the way.”
The night was blustery. It was the season where the days were cold and the nights colder. A snow had already started to fall from the sky, and she shivered and pulled her cloak tighter around her. The nip could make it that much harder to treat the child. Often, she advised dunking wee ones in cold water to bring their body temperatures back down to normal, but now it would mean a different kind of death.
The path ahead forked, and Tavin didn’t slow as he turned left. His stride was long, and Lorna had to hurry to keep up. They didn’t say a word to each other despite the question nearly bursting inside of her.
Will ye never give me a chance?
For a year now, she found herself aching for a man who hated her, for a man who would never smile her way or touch her gently. She blamed Grace. Her new friend, and the mistress of the Hamilton clan, was always radiant because Hamish doted on her. They were forever stealing kisses, even when others were watching, and getting lost in each other. Edina, her grandmother, was hardly any better having wed Tyree Hamilton a little over a year ago. Their love and passion for each other had not dulled with age.
Even when she’d been married, she’d never experienced love like that. She had never ached for someone until Tavin, and now, he consumed her thoughts at night. It had been a thrill to see him at her door, but not once had she dared to entertain the thought that he was there because he wanted to be.
No, Tavin Hamilton, like the other Hamiltons, would never see her as one of their own.
Highlands’ Forbidden Deeds Page 54
