“No, I hail from London, but I enjoy Scotland very much.”
“But ye wish tae leave the beautiful countryside?”
Ruth nodded slowly. “Yes. I know it might not make sense to a mobile man such as yourself, but while I love this place, I hate the feeling of being trapped. I want to be free to do anything and everything.”
Everything, eh? Dougal tucked that thought away for another time, a useful time. “That’s just what being out on the sea feels like. ‘Tis as if ye are yer own man, and no one else can say anythin’ tae ye or tell ye how tae live. The breeze is in yer hair, the sun is out ahead of ye, and when there’s no wind, the sea is as calm as glass. ‘Tis like a fairyland where ye can be whatever ye want tae be.”
Ruth watched in wonder, her eyes stuck to Dougal’s face as he told the story. With each word, he grew in passion, and she knew that he truly loved the sea. His face was brightened by the expression of his feelings, and he was made even more handsome by it. This was a man that Ruth should be interested in. This was a man who would be by her side, supporting her dreams. He had not scoffed at her ideas, but simply accepted them. And he could probably kiss just as well as Troy, if not better.
Ruth came up with an idea. What if I could take revenge upon Troy and his stupid reasons for rejecting my advances by inviting both him and Dougal for dinner? Then he will see that there won’t be any more wall-kissing from me. She brushed aside the tingle of pleasure that the image of wall-kissing put in her mind.
“Mr. Menzies, I want to experience that. It sounds just as I imagined it, a beautiful fairyland of freedom.”
Dougal squinted in the sun over at her, a playful smile on his lips. “Perhaps maybe one day ye will, lass. ‘Tis not unknown for a woman tae be upon the seas. Legend has it there are a few pirate women about, putting fear intae the hearts of the men they come across.”
Ruth laughed. “I hope that is true, Mr. Menzies. For that would mean that there is a world outside of London society.”
Dougal laughed at this interesting woman’s spirit. “That there is, Miss Browne.”
They fell into a companionable silence for a few moments as Ruth daydreamed about the possibilities. Her, a female pirate, becoming a fearsome pirate upon the sea, learning to sword fight, and answering to no one except the direction of the currents.
“There was this one pirate we met upon the seas. One ye would have heard tales about, except that he disappeared a few years ago, and no one knows where he went.”
Ruth was tickled by such an exciting mystery. “Who? What was this pirate’s name?”
Dougal paused, savoring the interest of his young and attractive audience. “‘Twas Captain Bloody Ferguson, who reigned from the coast of Scotland on the Isle of Skye all the way to the Americas.”
“Ferguson?” Ruth was intrigued. She laughed to herself. No, it could not be Troy. The man was a minister after all. But...he was an excellent swordsman, had tanned skin, and kept a hidden cross in his rooms. She paused, then shook her head once again. No, it definitely could not be him. “What was he like?”
“Well, he was a fearsome lad tae be sure. Not much older than meself. His father had been a pirate afore him. He took up the ship as captain once his father died. He was the best swordsmen there was, and he fought against British ships, plundering their wares and killing the men. He would stop at coastal towns and take his pleasures there. There was nae a redcoat on a ship who could hear his name without fear.”
Ruth smiled. She loved stories such as this, and Dougal had proved himself to be an excellent storyteller. They soon arrived outside of the church. Ruth put her hands on her hips. “Mr. Menzies, I would love to hear more about this bloody Ferguson of yours. Please come to our house for a hot meal if you are not otherwise engaged this evening.”
Before Dougal could answer, Marianne came out of the church, holding a basket, her pregnant belly beginning to look more pronounced. When she saw Ruth, she waved, but then her expression changed to one of concern when she saw the stranger next to her.
“Marianne! Please meet Mr. Menzies, a visitor from a far-off land come to see Mr. Ferguson.”
Marianne nodded in understanding. A stranger would certainly be interesting to her wild sister. “Hello, Sir, welcome to Brechin.” She bowed, and he took her hand and kissed it.
“Hello, me Lady. I take it ye both are sisters, hearing yer foreign accents that match one another.”
Marianne chuckled. “You are correct. And I suppose we are foreigners to this land, although it feels quite like home to me now. But, if you are looking for Mr. Troy Ferguson, I’m sorry to say that he’s left the church to assist the widows in the village. He will be coming to our house for dinner this evening, if you would be willing to join us. Then you can be introduced to him there.”
Ruth was amazed. Her plan was working out even better than she’d hoped. Yes, Troy would be there, and she would be mesmerized by Dougal Menzies and his tales. It wouldn’t be hard to play the besotted female as he was increasingly attractive, and interesting and kind. She hoped Troy would be stone-faced all evening.
Dougal bowed low, “I would be honored, madam. Yer sister has already extended the invitation, and I would be happy tae accept.”
Marianne nodded. “Excellent. Well we are the house just there.” Marianne pointed to a home on the next hill, farther away but still visible from the church. We would be happy to receive you whenever you are finished conducting your business in the village.
Dougal bowed again. He certainly had nice manners. “Thank ye, me Lady.”
Marianne placed a hand on Ruth’s arm. While the stranger was friendly, she did not want to leave her sister alone with him any longer than was necessary. “Let’s go Ruth and prepare the evening meal for our guests.”
Ruth acquiesced and bowed quickly to Dougal. “I look forward to your tales, Mr. Menzies!” she cried out and waved, and then she was off.
Dougal pondered the evening ahead. His plan was working better than he’d expected, and he’d met just the woman he would need to make everything possible.
* * *
Ruth sat in front of her looking glass, making small adjustments to her hair. She wanted to keep it down, but she had Margrete braid the top part of it and interlace a few lavender sprigs. She felt that it was a nice touch for such an evening. Troy would be there, along with Dougal, and she would have to play the flirtatious vixen as much as possible. Perhaps Dougal could be a potential partner? She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought. A man who has had adventures was certainly titillating, indeed.
With the lavender in her hair, Ruth looked like the goddess Diana, ready to enter the forest. She wore a light brown dress with green ribbons, and she felt that her complexion looked good this evening. She was about to hear of adventures in far-off lands. She had not felt this happy in so long. She wanted to look her best for this new handsome stranger, and perhaps maybe, just maybe, for another man who made her angrier than she had ever been before.
She stood and, with a smile to herself as a reminder of her plan, left the room. She hummed to herself as she sauntered to the main hall.
Inside the hall, Troy had already arrived and was speaking to William by the fire while Marianne spoke to the servants about the meal. Troy had eaten there before, but this invitation seemed almost premeditated, as if Marianne had some plan in mind. She said it was to discuss the final preparations of the May Day festival, and he had reluctantly agreed. He didn’t want to divulge to Marianne what had happened between Ruth and himself, but he knew that Ruth would not be happy to see him. This was his duty as a minister though, to accept the kindness of his congregation. He agreed and had spent too long in front of his looking glass in preparation, frustratingly worried about what Ruth might think about or comment on his appearance.
William had equipped him with a glass of ale, and so he felt at ease as they spoke of the sword fights and the sheep farming that he and Jamie were working on. In the past, when they woul
d speak together, they had even occasionally touched on their battle stories when Jamie was present. They had become quite a trio of friends.
Both Jamie and Troy had been present at the Battle of Culloden Moor, a brutish affair which ended in the near genocide of the Highlanders involved. William had lain unconscious from a previous skirmish and so missed the battle, but his father and brother had perished, and so William was the only member left of his family. Jamie was more apt to speak about those days, but William was a bit more reticent. Either way, they did not speak of battles and wars tonight, only what was mundane or could give them entertainment.
“Have ye thought any more about what Jamie and I have said tae ye, lad? About the...lass?”
Troy shook his head. “Nae, I’ve told ye both ‘tis not true, and ye shall see.”
Troy’s eyes were suddenly turned in the direction of Ruth as she entered the hall quietly. He hadn’t seen her since the night of the kiss two days before, and to his dismay, she was even more brilliant and beautiful tonight. Her hair was braided at the top with lavender stuck in the sides. He should not get close to her, or else her scent would overwhelm him, and he would lose his sense. But why would he get close to her? There was no reason to. Not anymore.
William laughed, looking at Troy’s surprised and enchanted face. “Aye, I see it has not crossed yer mind one minute.” He rolled his eyes. “Ye’d do better tae acknowledge it now, lad, afore someone else comes and takes yer place.”
Troy’s eyes snapped to William, and his brow was furrowed, “Someone else?” William burst into a new fit of laughter when a servant announced a Dougal Menzies had arrived.
Marianne and Ruth rushed over, and Troy’s blood ran cold.
Chapter Eleven
No, Dougal could not possibly have found him. He had hidden too well, changed too much, covered up everything. But like an idiot, he had kept his name. It was the only thing he couldn’t bear to change. And now Dougal had come. But maybe it was someone else.
He slowly turned around to see that it was the very same Dougal Menzies, his former first mate, that entered into the Fraser household and kissed both Marianne and Ruth on the hand. What business did he have kissing the women of his acquaintance? What in the bloody hell did he want? But Troy knew. He knew, and it made his stomach turn just thinking about how close Dougal was to getting what he wanted. The Frasers and Ruth could not know. He would not give away his secret.
He stood and approached. Ruth was beaming and looking at Dougal out of the corner of her eye. Blast, this man had a way with women, Troy knew that, and Ruth was enchanted. He knew that look, for she had often thrown it towards him over the past months.
Ruth said, “William, Minister Ferguson, meet Dougal Menzies. He has traveled a long way to speak with you, minister, and so I invited him to the house this evening.”
Ruth grinned, watching Troy’s face as he put a hand out in greeting to Dougal. She had emphasized minister as much as possible, hoping Troy would notice. He was a minister after all. He had told her so, and that’s why he couldn’t kiss her any longer, even though she was sure he wanted to. He had clung to her as if he could not breathe without her, and she would make him regret his decision.
Troy stared into the eyes of Dougal, his expression placid. Dougal was grinning from ear to ear, satisfied in the end goal of his journey. “Minister Ferguson, a pleasure tae make yer acquaintance.” He shook Troy’s hand. “I have traveled long and far in order tae make my confessions tae ye. I have heard of yer skills as a minister.”
Troy was sickened. The man had never confessed a day in his life, and he certainly had naught to confess here. “I see. I did not realize my popularity had spread across the breadth of Scotland. I am just a simple country minister after all.”
“Och, ye’re just being modest. I’m sure yer much more than that.” Dougal winked at Troy, and Troy prayed that Ruth did not notice.
Ruth had been watching the pair of them and their interaction, but her gaze more often fell upon the handsome Dougal. “Come, let us sit down for dinner.”
She pulled on Dougal’s arm, and he smiled at Troy, before moving towards the long table. Troy paused, his mind racing. It didn’t seem real. His past had chased him all the way to the tiny town of Brechin, the one place he thought he’d be safe.
And Dougal was acting like quite the besotted suitor, with Ruth hanging on his arm. Had they not just met?
Everyone sat down, and Troy cleared his throat, addressing Ruth and Dougal. “How did ye come tae meet each other?”
Ruth spoke up, her face brimming with excitement. Strangely enough to Troy, she seemed rather pleased to have them both at dinner. And she seemed very happy to be seated next to Dougal, her newest acquaintance. This fact did not sit well with Troy, as he thought about how quickly Ruth moved on to a new man after his rejection; but he ignored that thought and focused on what he was going to do about Dougal.
Ruth said, “I was sitting with Robyn in the village as she was selling her baked goods, and Mr. Menzies, Dougal,” she smiled in his direction, “bought a loaf of bread and asked for the location of the church. I offered to assist him in finding it, and as we walked along, I found out that he had been a sailor and had many stories to tell. I asked if he would come to dinner. We came upon Marianne who said she’d asked you, minister, about coming to dinner as well, and so that’s the end of that. Now we are all here, and I would love to hear your adventure stories, Mr. Menzies.”
She took a breath, as if she hadn’t breathed the whole time throughout her quick speech. And as she had said minister once again, her eyebrow almost imperceptibly lifted in Troy’s direction, taunting him with that word. Why, oh why, did he use that excuse to not kiss her? She was using it as ammunition against him.
It only embarrassed him and made him think about how much he would like to kiss her again, with her back against the wall this time, her sweet tongue in his mouth. But…. he shouldn’t, and it appeared that Ruth wanted someone else to kiss her. But that would not do. Dougal was handsome, to be sure, but he was a cad, a brute of a man, who, while being a good first mate in the piracy world, would not do well as a suitor to a young well-bred lady.
He thought briefly of Ruth’s embrace and decided maybe she was not completely well-bred, but she was far too good for the likes of Dougal Menzies, and he would not let that blaigeard steal her heart and break it.
Marianne and William encouraged Dougal in his tale, and Dougal smiled. “I would be happy tae.” He began to tell a tale of his time before the Battle of Culloden when he was just a simple sailor.
“It was me first time away from home, and like I’ve told ye before, Miss Browne, it was as if the whole world was open tae me. I had left everything behind, and all that was ahead was the open sea and a life full of adventure.” Troy watched as Ruth’s eyes brighten with happiness as she listened intently to his story. Dougal had always been a good storyteller. Troy was grateful that he hadn’t brought up any tales of their own times together. He found himself falling into thoughts about his past. Dougal had described the life of a seaman well. It was pure freedom, and Troy had given it up. Would he ever want to return?
He felt like he was dropping into his own thoughts, and his expression gave off a look of consternation. Across the table, Ruth peered at him gleefully, noting his sour face the whole time Dougal spoke. As soon as the two men had been introduced, something came over Troy that was like an anger or a distrust, and it gratified Ruth greatly. I have found my small way to take vengeance on this man, she congratulated herself. It was hard to play the flirtatious vixen to a new man who, although he was handsome, was nothing compared to the likes of a young, tall, muscular minister, but Ruth felt she played her part adequately well.
They spoke all through dinner, with Troy only participating every so often. Marianne and William watched happily as Troy seemed to get even more jealous as the night went on and Ruth and Dougal spoke together.
After dinner, they sat before t
he fire, and Troy stood to take his leave. A servant brought him his coat, and he bowed. “Thank ye Frasers, for yer kindness and generosity. But, I will need tae rest this evening.”
William chuckled. “That’s right, lad. Ye have a sword fight tae prepare for.”
Troy nodded and smiled, but then it disappeared once Dougal spoke up. “Swordfight? May I ask what ‘tis for?”
Marianne answered. “‘Tis for the May Day festival, which both Ruth and Mr. Ferguson are helping to prepare. You may join if you like. ‘Twill be fun if we have even more men. I assume you have skill with a sword?”
Dougal nodded and glanced at Troy briefly out of the corner of his eye. “Aye. I would enjoy participating.” Troy’s heart sank, and Ruth clapped.
“Wonderful! I shall add you to the list. Practice well, Mr. Ferguson, or else you will lose again.” She spoke her last words with a haughty expression, sending her final blow. Troy looked as if he was disappointed in some way, slightly deflated, and just as quickly Ruth’s heart went out to him. Was that entirely rude? Did she actually hurt his feelings? She had not intended to be so cruel sounding.
Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3) Page 9
