“A maid has already packed your satchels for you and the two men that were with me yesterday brought the bags with them to meet my guard last night. Hurry and get dressed. This journey will be long and we need to move quickly.”
Olivia tried hard to get out of the bed and put her shift on without him seeing her. He would not take his eyes off her, of course. Camden had a difficult time not reacting when he saw her gorgeous body leave the bed. She hurried and dressed in a plain gown she brought with her.
“Laird Sinclair, how long did it take you to travel on your way here? You keep saying it will be such a long journey. Is there a reason?” She asked while she brushed her hair.
“We will ride slowly for you and once we get to the Highlands I am afraid we will have to leave your horse behind. You will ride with me after that until we reach our land and get you a new horse,” he explained.
So many thoughts were flying through her head at the same moment that Olivia was not sure which of his statements to address first.
“How could you have already deemed me so weak that you must ride slowly for me? You do not even know me or my abilities to ride a horse. And also, why the hell would I have to leave my horse behind? I will not go anywhere on anyone else’s horse,” she said with her outrage clearly evident.
“Women in the Highlands do not speak back to their husbands and especially not to their laird,” Camden said seriously.
“Lucky for me then, I am not a woman from the Highlands so you will have to get used to me talking back. That should be a fair price to pay for the land, don’t you agree?” She taunted.
“I thought I paid you well enough last night,” he said with a wicked grin remembering all that they did.
“I am not weak,” Olivia blurted out.
She was worried that he found her to be feeble because she had no self-control when they were together the night before.
“Wife, I do not think you are weak. We will ride at whatever pace you set. Is that fair?”
“Yes.”
“And your horse will not survive in the Highlands. You will need a large stallion to make it through the mountains and harsh weather. Does that explain my reasons?” He replied.
“It only explains to me that you think I am a typical English woman and I can see now that you are in for a surprise,” she said as she left the room and headed outside to retrieve her horse.
Camden took a deep breath as he followed her out the door. Olivia was already not anything as he expected her to be and nothing like what he knew of a normal English woman. The laird had a feeling that his men were going to be pleased as well. He would much rather have a feisty temptress riding with him than a whiny bore.
Olivia waited in the enclosed courtyard for the stableman to bring her horse. She was grateful she had come to the king’s castle with her favorite steed. Garrison had given her several horses over the years as gifts and she had trained each one the same. This one horse in particular, was a large stallion that was as fearless as she was. Olivia was anxious to see the look on Camden’s face when he saw her mount.
The laird found his new bride waiting for him with a curious expression on her face. He was not sure why but she seemed a bit arrogant as she stood there and watched him coming towards her. Olivia was still stunned at the sight of how large he was compared to the other men around. Lord, he was a handsome man she thought, and from the way he walked, she could tell he was a powerful laird. Everyone looked at him as if he was a ferocious savage but she knew a gentle side to the man.
It was still slightly dark outside and the morning air was extremely cold. Camden wore his plaid and he carried another one in his arms. When he came up to Olivia, the laird began draping the muted colored plaid around her while carefully making the pleats. She did not move while he finished what seemed like a small ceremony, of placing the important symbol on her. Olivia knew how respected the plaid was and she thought the soft blue and gold colors were beautiful.
She looked into his eyes and then images of the night they had spent together made her blush. The new bride felt physically close to him last night but now she felt bonded as her husband shared his sacred plaid with her. Olivia felt a warmth move over her body and she was not sure if it was from the plaid or from the look he gave her but either way she was grateful. The countess saw her horse being brought out from behind where Camden stood and then he turned to see what she was looking at. He wondered whose beautiful black stallion that was as the stableman brought it closer.
Olivia stepped away from her husband and then took the reins of her horse. She looked at Camden just before she gracefully threw herself into the saddle without any effort. She always used a man’s saddle and found a woman’s sidesaddle to be a huge hindrance. Olivia looked at Camden’s stunned face and she broke into a large grin.
He stared with his mouth open at the woman on the giant horse because he had never seen such a sight. Camden wasn’t sure what amazed him more, Olivia being that woman on the horse or the way her face lit up when she smiled. The stable master brought the laird’s horse out right behind Olivia’s. Camden was shocked to see that his mount was about the same size as hers and then he grinned at his new wife.
“You have won this round wife and you were right, I am surprised,” he said mounting his own horse. “You may keep your horse in the Highlands. In fact, I am quite jealous of the beast.”
“What are you jealous of? Your stallion is just as wonderful,” she said curiously.
He moved his mount close to her and said softly. “I am jealous that he gets to have you straddle him like that all day.”
Olivia was speechless and she blushed while the Highland laird nudged his horse forward. She followed quickly behind trying to get the thoughts she was having out of her mind. Olivia was shocked, of course, by what he said but she was more interested in the way he said it. She assumed he must have been pleased with her last night and God knows he certainly pleased her.
The two rode briskly through the frigid air across the drawbridge and far from the city walls. They had been riding at an even pace for almost an hour when she saw a group of men ahead of her. From the size of all them, Olivia knew these men had to be Camden’s warriors. She also recognized the two that had been there when she and their laird were married.
As they came closer to the men, Camden jumped from his horse and then Olivia followed. Each one of them had a shocked look on their face and she assumed it was because of her beautiful stallion. Camden knew the truth though and he glared at his men for taking too much liberty in looking at his new wife. He thought she looked even more radiant this morning wearing his plaid and her beautiful long hair falling across her shoulders.
“This is my wife Olivia, the Countess of Lansington. Olivia, these are the men in my elite and trusted guard. They are the finest warriors in the Highlands,” Camden praised.
Broderick came to her first and he knelt on one knee, placing his hand over his heart.
“I am Broderick, first in command. I will honor and protect my laird’s wife, in life and in death.”
He stood and moved so Liam could kneel before Olivia and he too placed his hand over his heart.
“I am Liam, second in command. I will honor and protect my laird’s wife, in life and in death.
Calum, Keith and Travis all took their turn swearing their fidelity to their laird’s wife. She was both honored and bewildered at the respect she was given. Olivia had just met these men and yet they were pledging their lives for her. She was not quite sure what to do but she felt they deserved equal respect.
Olivia smiled and then knelt before the men placing her hand over her heart.
“I am grateful for your loyalty and I shall honor and protect my laird and his elite guard, in life and in death.”
The men were taken aback by the woman’s oath and also by her beautiful smile. How could a woman make such a statement of valor? And how could a woman protect her laird and his guard? If the look on Camden’s face had
not been so serious, his men would have thought this was a jest but their laird looked just as puzzled by Olivia and her remarks. Camden took his wife’s hand and helped her to stand. He was not sure what to say and all he could do was continue to stare into her eyes.
“We have received word from Stephan, my laird. He has secured your sister’s safety and will meet us as directed,” Broderick said to distract Camden from his stare.
Camden nodded to Broderick. “We will ride at the pace my wife wishes.”
He would have to remember to ask her later why she gave such a bold promise to him and his men. For now, he was grateful that his sister was out of harm’s way and they needed to begin their journey. The group mounted their horses and Olivia rode to the right of her husband, where Broderick had always been before. The first in command immediately worried about his laird’s protection with Olivia by his side. They now had the added responsibility of watching out for a woman.
The group rode hard and fast as Olivia pushed their horses to their limits. They would stop only when necessary to water the beasts and rub them down. The men and Olivia had reached Scotland safely by nightfall and tomorrow they would meet the lawless men of Camden’s new land. Each one of the warriors including Camden, were extremely amazed at how Olivia handled her massive stallion. Not very many men could have controlled a horse like that. She had ridden with ease and elegance while looking exceptionally beautiful in doing so.
As the men prepared to sleep for the night on the cold hard ground, Camden worried about his new wife would endure through the frigid weather. He had no tent for her and he immediately felt a tinge of guilt for not preparing for her comfort. Olivia was after all, a royal countess and surely she was used to sleeping in luxurious silks.
Before he realized it, Camden watched Olivia unroll a blanket and place it on the ground. She took her plaid off and then wrapped the soft material around her as she lay down on the blanket. He was amazed that this woman had not complained once on their journey, especially now about sleeping on the frozen earth. He saw his new wife start to shiver and Camden knew she needed his body’s heat to warm her. The laird also realized that he needed to be touching her for his own sake.
“I am sorry I do not have a tent for you. I should have planned better for this journey,” Camden said softly as he lay down next to her.
He pulled the plaid from her and then held her close to his body and wrapped them tightly together. Olivia almost stopped shivering instantly with her face pressed against his bare chest. She loved the masculine way he smelled of leather and pine. He began to run his fingers through her hair and Olivia had chills run through her body. She suddenly wanted him to touch her everywhere but she knew that was not possible.
She moved to face him and Olivia could not help herself with their mouths so close. She pressed her lips softly to his and kissed him gently. Camden smiled against her mouth remembering how timid she had been at first but now he was pleased with her boldness.
“You must be careful when you kiss me this way,” he whispered between their lips touching.
“Why?” She worried thinking she had done something wrong.
“If you continue to tease me with your lips I will have no other choice than to strip you bare and please you thoroughly.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Aye, wife I would. Now go to sleep.”
Olivia obeyed her husband for fear he would be true to his word. His men were sleeping not more than five feet away and she was sure they had just heard the conversation she had with her husband. By early morning, the temperature had dropped even lower but Olivia woke up sweating from the heat of the large warrior that had her pinned in his arms. It did not take long for the group to prepare their horses and be on their way again.
As they reached the Highlands and rode into Camden’s newly claimed land, the beauty that surrounded them stunned Olivia. Being almost wintertime, there was stillness in the air as the animals prepared to hibernate through the cold. She slowly and carefully guided her steed behind Camden’s up the rocky terrain as they climbed higher into the land.
“This is the land that I have received from our marriage,” he said plainly to his wife.
“All of this was my inheritance?”
“Yes.”
“It is so beautiful. If I had known I had all this incredible land I would have left the convent years ago to live here,” she said breathlessly.
Camden was curious about her statement and why she seemed so enchanted by the land. What English woman would want to leave the comforts of royalty to live in the mountains of the Highlands?
“This land is much more beautiful in the springtime. I am interested in knowing if you truly think you could have survived your life here in the Highlands. What about your castles and royal celebrations wife? I am sure you would have missed them,” he insisted.
“You do not know what I would have missed. You just assume I am silly little English girl that has everyone doting on her,” she said with heat. “Well Laird Camden Sinclair of the Sinclairs, you are a damn fool!” She spouted.
“A damn fool you say? You certainly have surprised me more than expected but if you think I could believe for one minute that you would have survived in the Highlands without my protection then you are the fool wife,” the laird said.
“Broderick?” She asked loudly to the warrior behind her.
“Yes m’lady?”
“Do all the Scotland lairds think their women are weak or is it just Laird Camden?” She said furiously.
“M’lady you have astonished all of us with your strength thus far but my laird is right. A woman could not survive in this land without a fierce man to battle for her,” Broderick answered.
“Aye m’lady, you are strong but you haven’t seen what the highland men are capable of,” Liam chimed in.
Camden was grateful he rode in front so that his wife could not see the large smile on his face. The fury that was clear in her voice was very amusing. Olivia certainly thought of herself as brave and she was far more so than he expected. He wondered how she would respond when she saw his men training. Their skills and power made most grown men tremble in fear.
Olivia was so mad she wanted to spit in anger. She tried hard to compose herself and not shout all the wicked things she was thinking in her mind.
“I have only seen that the Highland men seem to be pigheaded and dim-witted. You obviously have only weak women here and you have never seen what a woman like I can do,” she snapped.
Just as she had finished her ranting, they reached the valley where Camden had declared his rule to the ungoverned men and he watched as they all started gathering to receive him. It was apparent that they had spread the word throughout the land of the new laird because their numbers had greatly increased in size. By Camden’s estimate there were at least ten times the amount of men here than before. He was pleased and anxious to train these men. The laird would create a powerful army of warriors to defeat the McKay clan.
As Camden and Olivia dismounted their horses, a young boy of about twelve years came running up to them. He quickly fell to one knee and bowed his head.
“I pledge my loyalty to ye Laird Sinclair,” he said.
“What is your name boy?” Camden asked.
“Tristan, m’laird.”
“Stand and meet my wife, this is Lady Sinclair.”
Tristan immediately bowed again. “M’lady.”
“Take our horses and tie them up. See to their needs and you shall be rewarded,” Camden said firmly.
“Yes m’laird,” Tristan said with excitement.
Camden turned to the nomads that watched him and the boy interacting.
“I am pleased with this boy’s devotion for his laird. I have said this before and I will say this again. Everyone here shall swear their loyalty to me now as their laird or you will prepare to fight me to the death and I will not be the one that dies,” Camden ordered.
As the warriors in Camden’s
guard stood behind their laird, all of the lawless men took to one knee and bowed their heads.
“Do you vow to be loyal and learn to fight as true Highland warriors?” Camden yelled.
The crowd quickly screamed “aye” to their new laird.
“Do you swear to fight for me and my guard in life and in death?” He yelled.
More cheers and “ayes” came among the men.
“We shall unite as one and if any decide to cause grievance among us they shall answer to me,” Camden demanded.
Olivia watched in awe as her husband commanded respect and received it from the newly formed clan. How easy it must be, she thought, for a man to gain leadership. Not minutes earlier, Olivia was trying hard to make the men believe she was an equal and they clearly were not going to give in. Camden just rode in here with his guard and took power over these men. Of course, they looked as if they needed a fierce leader for not one of them had the size and strength that the Sinclair warriors had. The clan members barely reached their laird’s shoulders and Olivia noticed that even she was taller than some of the men.
The new clan began introducing themselves to their laird and his guard. Olivia stood to the side as she watched her husband interact with the people and she could not help but grin when he smiled. Some of the new men openly gaped at Olivia as her beaming smile captivated those who saw her.
“Stop drooling over your laird’s wife,” Liam snarled at the men.
Suddenly, a seven-foot wall of warriors surrounded Olivia as the Sinclair men blocked her from everyone’s view. Camden could immediately tell there was going to be a problem if he did not calm the matter quickly. Olivia thought they were being ridiculous for certainly nobody was drooling over her. She thought that was an absurd notion and she was going to tell them so after she pushed through the men to face the crowd.
“Excuse me, but I believe Liam has accused someone of drooling. Is there anyone here who has drooled?” She argued.
Highland Vengeance Page 6
