by Carmen Caine
“I believe so,” Kate murmured thoughtfully. “I believe I saw the yarrow last week, whilst searching for herbs in the forest, my lady.” She had been seeking herbs to aid her father’s recovery.
“Then, go. I trust you will be as quick as you can.” Lady Elsa drew her lips in a worried line.
“Yes, my lady.” Kate bowed and turned to leave but then a thought crossed her mind. “My lady, may I have permission to see my father? He has only just recently recovered from an illness that took his sight, and still lies abed most of the day. I would see that he has enough food for the evening and hire someone to see to his needs, afore I return here to sleep at the foot of your bed.”
Lady Elsa’s face softened. “I am a charitable woman, Kate. You may tend your father, but be quick. I would see you back here afore the sun falls and with the herbs in your hand.”
“Yes, my lady, you are most generous!” Kate smiled brightly, and with another curtsey, bolted out the door.
Descending the spiral stairs of the castle to the courtyard below, she thought her heart would burst from her good fortune.
Aye, the thief’s shilling must have been a blessed coin. From the moment she had held it in her hand, her fortune had brightened.
The afternoon sun was bright as she hurried across the cobbled courtyard of the outer close of the castle. She had nearly reached the main gate when she heard Maura call, “Kate!”
With an excited smile, Kate whirled to greet her, holding out her hands. “Ach, Maura! I’ve been blessed with the most unexpected luck! I’m to be Lady Elsa’s maid!”
Maura tripped and stumbled to a halt. A look of pure outrage flitted across her face before her expression went stony all at once. “What nonsense are ye speaking?” she asked at last.
Hesitating, Kate replied, “Lady Elsa … I’m to be her maid.”
“Her maid?” Maura repeated, walking slowly to join her. Her blue eyes were cold. “How can ye be a lady’s maid? Ye know naught of it!”
“Aye, she knows that well!” Kate shrugged, wishing in vain that she had kept her lips sealed. “’Tis luck, Maura. That is all.”
“A lady’s maid?” Maura was plainly angry. “How can ye expect me to believe there is no witchery here, Kate? Ye have uncommon luck!”
“Aye but only after uncommon mischance, Maura.” Kate frowned. She and her father had struggled for months, nearly starving in the process.
“And how much is she paying ye?” Maura demanded, crossing her arms and scowling.
“Not much more than a chamberlain.” Kate evaded. “She’s not a rich lady, Maura.”
Maura tossed her hair and rolled her eyes. “Still!”
Not wanting to anger the woman further, Kate stepped back and dropped a friendly curtsey. “I must be going! I’ve errands to run, and the lady has kindly permitted me to check upon father and—”
Maura’s eyes narrowed and took on a dark gleam. “Your father? Aye, well, now that ye’ll be sleeping next to your lady, I’ll be tending to him, is that it?”
“No! Not at all, Maura.” Kate shook her head. “I would never do that to ye! I’ll have Fiona come stay in my stead, to tend to him and—”
“Then, that ‘twill be another shilling for the rent. Nay, let’s make it three shillings.” Maura lifted her chin in challenge.
Kate stared at her, open-mouthed. The entire cottage would only cost five shillings a year to rent! She knew that well. “But that is more than half the rent for the entire cottage, and we only ask for one tiny room of it! ‘Tis not honest, Maura!”
Maura gave a derisive snort. “Ye be the strange one to speak of honesty! I’ve only politely asked ye to share a love potion, and ye have refused, time and again, keeping your secrets to benefit only yourself! Well, pay the three shillings or ye’ll see your father in the street. I doubt any other will rent ye a room after I’m done telling them that he has a catching illness and they’ll go blind if they help the man!”
Kate caught her breath, astounded at the vindictive change sweeping through the woman. Aye, already she was regretting that they had moved in with her, but ‘twas too late now. Fearing for her father, she replied quickly, “I’ll pay ye the shillings, and I’ll find ye a love potion. There is no cause to spread rumors.”
A satisfied gleam entered Maura’s blue eyes, and she gave a nod of satisfaction. “’Tis a good thing ye have finally come to your senses, Kate. Well, be off with ye then. Ye canna have the lady upset with ye! Go!”
Taking a few steps back from the woman, Kate whirled and almost ran through the main gates of the castle.
Aye, Maura was proving to be more spiteful than she had first thought.
She would have to find someone who knew something of love potions.
Perhaps, then, the woman would leave her and her father alone.
Chapter Five - The Passionate Blood of the Stewarts
Pacing the wind-ravaged castle ramparts, Cameron lifted his eyes to the highlands spreading across the horizon. Above his head, great hawks soared lazily in the bright blue sky.
Resting his chin on the palm of his hand, he leaned against the cold, stone walls and wished he were on the back of his favorite charger, racing across the heath with the scent of damp heather in the air. And if Kate were with him, her arms clasping him firmly from behind, laughing, and wrinkling her nose in that delightful manner he found captivating … ‘twould be paradise.
Thoughts of Kate summoned memories of her fiery kisses that made him ache with longing, but the usual twinge of conscience quickly followed. He was growing far too fond of her company. He should walk away before his touch robbed her of life.
Wincing, his gaze dropped to the gardens below, and his stomach turned sour all at once.
The king strolled along the gravel paths on his customary afternoon walk. Thomas staunchly trailed him like a dog.
Cameron shook his head in disgust.
How had the commoner gained such control over the king?
As he watched, the king bent over to whisper in Thomas’ ear. After a moment, both men laughed and continued down the garden path with the king’s arm circling Thomas’ shoulders in an intimate gesture.
Cameron expelled a pent breath.
By failing to understand the complex webs of loyalty among the nobles of the court, both Thomas and the king were inviting disaster. A shadow was falling over Scotland. The king had never been popular, but his behavior of late only threatened to make matters worse, for himself and for Scotland as a whole.
In a rare break of the wind, the sound of hooves clattering in the courtyard below caught Cameron’s attention. Turning, he spied Julian dismounting a red roan. Raising his arm in greeting, the young Lord Gray sprinted toward the nearest tower with the obvious intent to join him.
Julian clearly had discovered something of value. The man truly was a spy unmatched. With a nod of satisfaction, Cameron folded his hands behind his back and resumed walking the ramparts.
After a moment, Julian’s deep voice hailed, “’Tis as ye thought. The man does indeed have backing of nobles.” He fell into step beside him.
Cameron thinned his lips. Years of habit kept the rest of his facial expressions in check as he waited patiently for Julian to continue.
“The golden chain he sports on his neck is not the king’s gift, and he will not tell from whose hands he received it,” Julian informed him with a disgusted shake of the head. “The king was sore angry upon discovering it, just a fortnight ago. From what I’ve been told, I’m fair sorry to have missed witnessing the event. Some say ‘twas a lover’s quarrel.”
A gust of wind tore through the battlements, ripping further words from his lips and rendering conversation impossible.
They walked in silence for a time.
From what Cameron could recall of the chain, the artistry had been notable. It was clearly worth a substantial sum. These unknown supporters were wealthy. What had they desired from Thomas in return?
The wind died down a
t last, and Cameron said, “Then we must find from where this golden chain comes.”
At his side, Julian paused and stared off into the distance, absently fingering his dirk.
Cameron followed his gaze to where Thomas still walked the gardens with the king.
“I would welcome better days for Scotland.” Julian growled. “And for a king who is a warrior, not a perfumed courtier. Scotland needs a king, not a woman skulking in the garden, reading books, and consulting the black arts for clues to the future! Aye, and any fool can see ‘tis not a long walk afore Thomas is granted a title. Take a look at how the man simpers and fawns over your cousin!” He pointed to where Thomas was bowing over the king’s hand, covering it with kisses.
Both Cameron and Julian arched a brow and exchanged a long look.
“Aye, but Thomas is a rash, overbold fellow, and prone to error.” Cameron’s lips formed a scathing smile. “He will undo himself in the end.”
“Aye,” Julian agreed. A concerned glint entered his gray eyes. “I grant that is true, but we both know he can wreak havoc along the way.”
“There is that,” Cameron conceded.
They watched as the king left the garden to hurry across the courtyard and into his apartments with Thomas still in tow.
Folding his arms, Julian said, “I’ve word out amongst the goldsmiths. We’ll find who paid for the thing to be wrought and have our answer soon.”
Cameron nodded.
Then Julian’s countenance shifted and his tone turned light and teasing. “I spied a bonny, brown-haired lass quitting the castle as I entered. She was quite fetching, with the most astonishing brown eyes. Aye, a high-spirited beauty that I just might have to know better, if she’s not yet entangled with another man …”
Cameron eyed him in amusement. Even the thought of seeing Kate brought an unbidden smile to his lips.
“Be gone with ye, man!” Julian laughed, rolling his eyes. “I’ve often wondered if ye were meant to be a monk, but for the first time I can see that ye aren’t!”
Cameron’s face clouded, and he looked away. “I care for the lass too much to see her again,” he said grimly.
Julian snorted. “The hordes of other lasses ye’ve kissed still walk this fine Earth.” With a chuckle, he strode away.
For a time, Cameron resumed his stroll on the wall, but Kate’s dancing eyes and sweet, promising lips grew more distracting by the moment until he finally followed Julian’s suggestion and, against his better judgment, strode through the castle gate and into the town of Stirling.
Turning down the lane to her tiny cottage, he hesitated briefly upon the step before knocking purposefully on the red door.
Dimly, he heard her father’s voice calling from the back, “Pray enter!”
Stepping into the cottage, Cameron made his way to the back room.
“Cameron? Is that your step I hear, lad?” The man sounded stronger. He sat on a three-legged stool before the hearth, appearing younger than Cameron had first thought him to be. Though streaked with gray at the temples, his hair was dark. Lines still creased his face, but more had been from the illness than Cameron had known. With closed eyes, Kate’s father tilted his head to the door, straining to hear, as a warm, welcoming smile graced his lips. “Well met, lad.”
Cameron bowed. “Well met, my good sir.”
“Have ye come for Kate?” The man chuckled. “Ach, of course ye have, lad. She’s nae here.”
Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Cameron opened his mouth to ask after the man’s health when the cottage door banged open, and Kate’s cheerful voice sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine.
“Father! I’ve the most splendid news!” Kate sailed into the room, panting. She pulled up short to see Cameron, but her face lit with joy. “Cameron, I’ve the most wonderful news!”
“Catch your breath, Kate.” Her father laughed.
Grabbing her father’s hands, she danced with him as he sat. “I’m a lady’s maid, father! Eight shillings a year! Eight!”
Her father’s jaw dropped open as Cameron raised a curious brow.
“’Tis the most fortunate day!” Kate laughed. Dropping her father’s hands, she grabbed Cameron’s and squeezed them in excitement. “I met the most gracious lady, and she asked me to be her own maid!”
“And who might this lady be?” Cameron lips crooked into a smile as he looked down into her sparkling eyes. Her joy was catching. Slipping an arm about her tiny waist, he lifted her up and twirled her around.
Laughing, she replied, “Lady Elsa! She’s just come from the Borderlands!”
Cameron stumbled and nearly dropped her. With a sharp breath, he quickly regained his control and set her lightly back upon her feet.
“Are ye ill, Cameron?” Kate gripped his arm and shook it. “Ye suddenly look pale!”
“Lady Elsa?” He cleared his throat. Surely, it couldn’t be his ward, Lady Elsa MacRae? Couldn’t there be more than one Lady Elsa in Stirling?
Kate watched him closely. With furrowed brows, she eyed him up and down a bit suspiciously. “At the castle this morning, I swear I saw a man that looked just like ye, Cameron.”
“Oh?” he asked guardedly. There was no doubt now. It had to be the same Lady Elsa. As always, fortune played cruel games with him.
“Surely, ‘twasn’t ye now, was it?” Kate folded her arms, her brown eyes locked on his.
“And why would I be at the castle?” he evaded.
Casting a glance at her father, Kate shook her head and placed a finger upon her lip. Moving to her father once more, she said, “The wee Donald will bring Fiona here to stay with ye now that I must sleep at the castle with my mistress. He’ll bring her within the hour, but I must run errands now for the lady. I’ll be by as often as I can, to check on ye both, and the wee Donald will come here three times a day to fetch whatever ye need!”
“Ach, my sweet bairn, dinna forget to breathe!” Her father laughed and then added, “And dinna worry overly much of me, lass. I’ll be hale and hearty soon!”
A wistful expression entered Kate’s eyes as she bent to place a quick kiss on his forehead. “Mayhap I’ll have enough coin soon to get ye the water from the Pilgrim’s Well.”
“Ach, lass.” Her father shook his head but sent her an indulgent smile. “My sight is gone for good, and there’s naught to be done if it. Do ye not recall the good monk’s words? Dinna waste your coin on a fool’s dream!”
“Miracles, father, not dreams!” Kate frowned stubbornly in disagreement.
Squeezing her hands, her father ordered, “Be gone, Kate, afore ye try Lady Elsa’s patience! And take this young lad with ye. He can aid ye in the lady’s errands.”
Blushing, Kate waited as Cameron said his farewells before pulling him out of the cottage to stand on the step. Placing her hands upon her slim hips, she took him to task with a frown. “I’ll be stern with ye now, lad! I swear that was ye at the castle, and if it was then ye are a fool! If ye dinna care in keeping your own head, think of me! I care that ye keep it! There is honorable work to be had! And now that I’ve eight shillings a year, I can help ye—”
She continued berating him, but Cameron was no longer listening.
Had he just heard the wee lass correctly? Did she really just offer to lend him coin on eight shillings a year? The estate of Inchmurrin alone sent thousands of pounds into his pocket each year, and he had countless other holdings.
His dark eyes swept her from head to toe.
He had never met a more generous, sincere, or kind-hearted lass in his life.
Nor one as fetching.
It was then that he knew she wasn’t a passing fancy. If he stayed in her company he would genuinely fall in love. He didn’t want to think he already had. Surely, it took longer, but even as he wondered, he was certain it was already too late.
Inexplicably, he had fallen for the lass.
He had never been in love before. Aye, the women of the court pursued him incessantly, tempting him to th
eir beds in countless ways, but he was too wise to fall into court traps. And though he’d been wed seven times he hadn’t touched a one of his wives. If truth be told, even though he’d kissed many a lass, even an ungodly number, he had never bedded a one of them. His curse had overshadowed his life.
“Listen to me, ye lout!” Kate reached up, jiggling his chin to focus his attention. “There’s no cause for vengeance, if that is what drives ye! ‘Twill only eat your heart and leave ye dry and bitter in the end!”
He should run, disappear. He could not allow his curse to affect such a pure heart. But her sweet lips were beguiling, and her passionate, brown eyes took his breath away.
She had bespelled him. There could be no other answer.
Suddenly nothing else mattered.
Uttering an unintelligible oath, he caught her close and pulled her lips to his, plundering her mouth with his tongue. His kiss was a claiming one, a statement of intent. Aye, he wanted her in a way that he had never wanted any other.
Her warm lips hungrily sought his, driving him mad with desire for all too short a time before her palms slid up his chest, and she pushed him away.
She was speaking but he didn’t hear her words. He eyed her kiss-swollen lips possessively and with satisfaction. Aye, he’d make the lass his. He wanted her, all of her. A kiss was not enough.
“Are ye listening to me, ye oaf?” Kate’s dark eyes sparkled with mirth even as her brows furrowed deeper. “I said if ye expect kisses from the likes of me, ye’ll have to prove yourself worthy of them! I’ll not kiss an outlaw!”
And then his hot blood cooled.
He was a fool for blithely ignoring the facts and letting it go this far. What would the wee lass say if she discovered he truly was the Dreaded Earl of Death.
“Cameron?” Kate’s eyes filled with concern. “What is it?”
For a moment, he was tempted to tell her the truth, but only for a moment. Placing his hands over hers, he caressed her fingers and heaved a sigh. “I cannot tell ye the truth of it, lass, but when ye see me, run away as fast as your feet can carry ye. I’ve nothing but ill fortune to bring to ye, and I do not have the strength to stay away.”
