Highland Rake

by Terry Spear

  Dougald frowned at her. "She fainted when you told her we would wed. How does that show adoration?"

  His mother clucked her tongue. "She couldna keep her eyes off you at the meal."

  "She worried about what James would do concerning her and wanted to know if I knew."

  "She wanted to sit beside you at the meal, to speak with you."

  "Aye." Dougald folded his arms. "To learn what James told me he intended to do with her."

  His mother tsked and took his arm and led him from the chamber. "I will tend to her, but tomorrow morn, you and the lass will wed, and you will show her just how good you will be for her." His mother gave him a look as if to remind him of his obligation to the clan and to the lady.

  Dougald let out his breath, cast one last look at Alana who was coming to, and shook his head. He could just see them on their wedding night, he ready to bed the lass, and she swooning with distress in his arms before he could even get her to the bed.

  ***

  Alana couldn't sleep. Again. Even though the bed was soft, unlike the hard ground when they were camping on the way here, or the lumpy bed in the tavern. But she worried too much about the coming marriage to Dougald on the morrow for her to sleep. She couldn't believe she'd fainted at the high table at the evening meal! What a sight that must have been!

  She heard rustling in the bedchamber and pulled aside the bed curtain. Her brother was looking at the léine she'd worn that was now hanging on a peg on the wall, leaned against the door, turned to observe her, his arms folded, and his mouth curved down as he studied her.

  She groaned. "What, Connell?" she whispered. "Why are you here? I am safe."

  "I told you, lass. I canna help it. I was off feeding Spirit—"

  "Spirit?"

  "Aye. My horse. And the next thing I know, you needed me."

  "I dinna need you!"

  He raised a skeptical brow.

  "Why do you believe I need you?"

  "You dinna want to wed Dougald. He is a rake."

  She shook her head. "I have no' choice it seems."

  "Did you know there is a wench who is haunting the place?"

  "Lady Seana?"

  "I have no' been introduced. Have you met her? She is a terror. As soon as she saw me, she shrieked! Scared a maid witless. Then the ghost got angry at me! Just because I scared her. She threw a brass pot at me. The woman is mad."

  Alana frowned. "A brass pot? Like your horse?"

  "Since when is a brass pot like a horse?" He narrowed his eyes at her. "You didna drink overmuch this eve, did you?"

  "I mean, Connell Cameron, that the pot was like you, a ghost."

  "How can an object be ghostly?"

  "I dinna know. How can a ghost throw a solid object?"

  "Here you are, you beast." Seana glanced at Alana. "Dinna tell me you see him, too."

  "Meet my brother, Lady Seana," Alana said with apology. "Connell Cameron. Connell, meet Lady Seana MacNeill, sister of Laird James MacNeill of Craigly Castle." She frowned at Seana. "Did you really throw a brass pot at my brother?" She was almost wishing the pot hadn't missed as many times as she had wanted to do the same when he was living!

  The lady snorted. "Aye. But it did no good. Went right through him and all he did was laugh. No' that he didna jump a little." Her mouth curved up in an evil smile. Then her smile faded. "Then he grinned. The brigand. After he got over the shock that I could throw something at him."

  "You were the one who made the poor serving girl faint dead away," Connell accused, waving his hand at her.

  "Why are you still here?" Alana asked the lady. "It has been years since you…uhm, should have gone away, has it no'?"

  Looking suddenly very sad, Lady Seana sat down on a bench. "I wished to wed Laird Dunbarton's nephew. His father and my brother, James, wouldna permit it. We ran off together and…" She gave a dejected little shrug. "We died. Caught a fever."

  Alana felt terrible for her. She glanced at Connell to see his reaction. His brow was deeply furrowed as he watched the lass, his expression bothered as though he felt badly that she had run off with the man she had loved and died without finding the happiness she deserved; whereas, he was caught fooling around with another man's wife and had wasted his life without thought of finding the right woman to settle down with. He saw Alana looking at him and crossed his arms again and stood taller as if he was not affected by Seana's tale, but she knew her brother well enough to recognize he was.

  "But you were together. In death. Aye?" Alana thought that the two should have been together for all eternity. But what did she know of such matters? "So why have you no' gone with him? Why have you returned here to Craigly Castle?" To her family, Alana thought. To be with those who loved her no matter what even if they hadn't approved.

  Seana twisted her mouth as if considering what had occurred before she spoke. "Henwas said he loved me more than life itself. I believed him. At the first hint of trouble, he got scared and abandoned me. Every man for himself. He died, too, anyway. But he had left me to die to save himself, afraid he would become ill as I had done. I was so angry with him, I stomped all the way home, not realizing for a long time why some could see me and others couldna. Henwas never followed me home. Mayhap he passed over. I dinna care."

  "The man was an idiot," Connell said, his tone angry.

  Seana twisted a length of hair around her fingers and studied Connell, then furrowed her brows. "How would you know that? You, sir, were a notorious rake, by all accounts. Henwas may have feared dying and left me to die alone, but you would have never offered to settle down with a woman in the first place. That takes courage, you know."

  "I wouldna have left you to your fate alone, lass," Connell said so sincerely, his comment brought tears to both Alana and Seana's eyes.

  And the woman vanished.

  "What did I say?" Connell asked, as if he couldn't believe his words would have or should have upset the lass. Before Alana could come up with a reasonable explanation, her brother vanished, too.

  Chapter 15

  As tired as Alana was, she didn't believe she could stay awake through most of the night. All she could think of was her impending marriage to Dougald MacNeill, lover of lasses, and what being married to him would entail. The way he had looked at her in the hall over supper, he had not been happy about having to wed her.

  She tried to tell herself he'd be a good lover as much experience as he had and that he had been protective and kind to her, not too bad a husband as men went. But she was certain he didn't wish a wife.

  She didn't know the first thing about making love. Except for what she'd overheard other women speak of.

  Still, hearing about what would happen and actually doing it… She shuddered. She would be a paltry example of womanhood. Trying to will herself to sleep, she closed her eyes, intending to make the best of the situation.

  She was certain her uncle intended to marry her off to Hoel MacDonald, and he had a reputation with the lasses as well. She'd also heard he loved to drink with his men—a lot.

  When she had watched Dougald, she hadn't seen him drink overmuch. Certainly not as if he was drowning the annoyance that he might feel with having to wed her in the morn against his will. So mayhap he would suit better than Hoel. Her own uncle was not a heavy drinker, and he did not allow his own men to imbibe too much, except for in celebration.

  She sighed. She could refuse the marriage before she said her vows. Then she'd have to say them before Hoel instead. Especially after she had disappeared from the Cameron keep. Her uncle would have her wed just as quickly as James was trying to do. She did have to consider that Dougald's explanation about his sister made it seem as though he wasn't concerned that Alana saw ghosts and spoke to them. What would Hoel think should he ever catch her behaving so strangely? He might think her a witch or truly mad.

  She closed her eyes. Tomorrow eve if she wed Dougald, she would be just as wide awake. Only for a much different reason than this eve. He would be bedding
her as his wife, if she went through with it.

  ***

  Dougald sat by the fire in the great hall, staring into the orange-red flames. His last night to be free to enjoy the loving of a willing lass, and three had offered themselves to him already, but he could only think of Alana. The fragrant way she smelled, of mint and nutmeg. The softness of her body pressed against his when they had ridden together. Her whispered breath against his cheek. Her expression so passionate—her cheeks full of color, her golden brows raised—even when she was calling him names, or looking for his support when she looked so weary.

  Then her face turning ashen right before she fainted at the news she would have to wed him. He feared the lass would not hold up well during the ceremony, and he could just imagine what would happen on their wedding night.

  ***

  Before dawn, Alana heard someone thump at the guest chamber door, and she groggily tried to stir herself fully awake. She had slept hardly at all, waking at every unfamiliar sound, worried that someone would come for her before she was ready to face the day. Like now.

  At first, she hadn't even been sure how she came to be in bed last eve, only woke to see concerned faces peering at her. Once they had told her what had happened, then were assured she'd be all right, the chamber had emptied of onlookers, and she had been left to sleep. Which she had been unable to do.

  The heavy oak door opened, and four women hurried into the chamber, two carrying a lovely dark green léine.

  "This should fit you, my lady," a maid chirped, smiling brightly, looking much more alert than Alana felt.

  They hustled her into the léine trimmed with delicate silver embroidery. "'Tis lovely," she said, her eyes so scratchy from the lack of sleep, she had difficulty making out the intricate designs.

  "Lady Akira said 'tis yours," the maid said.

  A woman snorted.

  Alana glanced up from looking down at the léine and saw Seana watching her, looking perturbed, face scowling, arms crossed. Alana wanted to ask if the léine was Seana's and if it was all right with her to wear it to the wedding, but she dared not dismiss the maids again.

  Seana nodded. "'Tis fine that you wear it. 'Tis just that my mother should have asked me first."

  Alana didn't know whether to be saddened at the admission or amused. It was as if those who had died believed they truly had a say in the world of the living still.

  "Thank you," Alana mouthed to Seana as the maids hurried to comb her hair.

  "I told you that you shouldna wed that brother of mine. But I have a plan. If he intends to seek another bed for the night, I will make him wish he hadna."

  Alana couldn't help herself. She asked the maids very sweetly, "Can you leave me alone for a moment?"

  The maids all cast each other glances. The eldest said, "We are to have you to the kirk within the hour."

  "Aye, just for a moment." They looked concerned, but nodded and quickly vacated the chamber.

  Seana smiled at Alana. "Marry my brother with my blessings, and I will make sure he doesna stray. Although you will need to do your part as well."

  Alana blushed.

  Seana smiled again. "You will be fine."

  Connell was suddenly standing by the narrow window, glaring at Seana. "Mayhap I shall have to protect Dougald from your scornful mischief."

  Seana's brows arched and she shrieked, "Mischief?"

  Alana glanced at the door and hoped the maids who waited beyond it could not hear Seana.

  "I will give you mischief, you rogue, should you aid my brother in seeing another woman other than his bonnie bride, your sister."

  Connell scowled at Seana. "When did this happen?"

  "I told you I had no choice about this last night." Then Alana realized Seana was the one who'd stolen his attention last eve.

  Seana rolled her eyes. "Where were you last eve when your sister fainted dead away, eh?"

  Connells's eyes widened and he quickly looked at Alana to see her take on it.

  "Hearing James wants me to marry Dougald came as a bit of a shock. I have to finish getting ready for the wedding," Alana warned. Wanting to straighten out a misconception Seana had about her brother, Alana said to her, "Dougald canna see you as I do, but he said he does believe that I can see and speak with you."

  Seana let out her breath. "Good. 'Tis time he and the others quit dismissing that I exist."

  "He canna marry you," Connell said to Alana.

  "'Tis him or Hoel MacDonald, I fear. At least Dougald appears to believe 'tis all right that I speak with the two of you and others like you," Alana argued.

  Connell looked at Seana as if he was getting her final view on the matter. She folded her arms and raised her brows at him.

  Someone knocked on the door. "Lady Alana?" Lady Akira called out, sounding anxious.

  "My mother," Seana whispered, just as worried.

  "Aye." Alana hurried to get the door, her heart pounding. She hoped the maids had not told Dougald's mother she was having a ghostly session in the chamber, or that she was beset with a sudden case of nerves and didn't want to go through with this.

  She barely had opened the door, when Lady Akira took Alana's arm in a firm, persuasive, but motherly way and guided her back into the chamber, motioning to the maids to hurry up and accompany them.

  "We really must hurry, lass," Lady Akira said, stepping back to observe Alana and smiled. "You are beautiful. Dougald will be most impressed and his brother Angus and cousin Niall will wish they fought to have the right to wed you instead."

  Alana didn't believe either of the men would fight over her, but she appreciated Lady Akira's words just the same. It made her miss her mother terribly though, and she fought back a shimmer of tears that threatened to spill.

  The maids began plaiting Alana's hair again as Connell and Seana watched.

  Thankfully, they did not attempt to engage her in conversation in front of Lady Akira and the maids.

  "The men are betting on whether you say no to marrying Dougald at the ceremony," one lass said, looking very serious, then a smile curved her lips.

  "Some are betting you will faint dead away," another maid said.

  "Will you say no to marrying Dougald?" the first said. "I do believe 'tis the first time I have seen him so anxious."

  Alana stifled a laugh. He was anxious because he would be tied down to a wife for the first time in his life.

  "If I tell you what I will do, it will spoil the betting, will it no'?" Alana asked.

  "Oh, aye, except we wouldna tell the others and we are no' betting."

  Alana could just imagine the maids telling the men they might lose if they bet one way or another if they knew the outcome. The truth was that even Alana did not know what she would say when the time came.

  "You look lovely, lass," his mother said. "I worried a wee bit about where Dougald was off to late last night, but one of my servants brought me news he had returned early this morn, so all is well."

  So Dougald had left the castle to see a woman in the village or a neighboring farm, had he?

  Seana cast Connell an evil glower. Connell looked as if to say what did I do?

  Once they had attached a veil, they quickly moved her out into the corridor, and then down the narrow winding stairs where they hurried her through the great hall. They hustled her to the kirk as if they were afraid she'd bolt if she was not rushed through this. Or mayhap they worried Dougald would run away. She could not see him doing such, though.

  As a duty to his brother and the clan, he would do what James asked of him, she was certain.

  She would not faint this time, although she didn't remember fainting the other time, not until one of the ladies told her what had happened. She'd been in the great hall, attempting to eat, learned Dougald was taking her to wife, and then…

  She collapsed. He must have really loved seeing her reaction to marrying him.

  Now she was feeling lightheaded, her stomach jumping about, her heart beating wildly in her br
east, and she barely remembered passing through the kirk to stand beside Dougald.

  When it came to the vows, she actually spoke them without hesitation, as if she was repeating the words by memory and had no ability to control her own tongue. Dougald did likewise, his gaze barely leaving her, and he didn't look as though he was going into battle, but that he was actually content…mayhap even pleased with the way things had turned out.

  She, on the other hand, having decided that the MacNeill clan had treated her with graciousness and even as family, believed the marriage to Dougald could not be all that bad. She had no idea what it would have been like in the MacDonald clan. Mayhap she would have been as well-received, but mayhap not. 'Twas her problem with seeing ghosts that could have given her difficulty with the MacDonalds.

  The difficulty would be that her uncles wished her heir to eventually lead the Cameron clan. Would her uncle wish to kill James for having married her off to his brother instead?

  Dougald's kiss brought her to full awareness that they were husband and wife, the way he took hold of her shoulders as if to keep her steady or ensure she didn't bolt away from him, the way he leaned down to press his lips to hers. In that instant, nothing else existed. The kirk. The MacNeill clan squeezed into the place, the rest of the clan members peering through the entryway, trying to catch sight of the wedding in progress. The silence. Not a murmur. Not a whisper.

  Only Dougald's warm mouth pressing against hers, gently at first, then seeking a response. She'd never even kissed a man, well except for a knight who had kissed her, but when her uncle had caught them, he'd had him severely whipped. The kiss had been hastily done, not slowly, not like this where she could feel Dougald's thumbs sliding over her shoulders, building a fire low in her belly. Not like this where his mouth parted and she too parted her lips to take a breath because she felt so breathless and fully aware of him. Of the smell of him, of heather and the woods, of summer heat and all man. Of the heat radiating from him, his warm touch, yet she could see the raw passion in his eyes. If she had hauled him off to his bedchambers, she would have been in bed beneath him before she could stop him, she was certain.