The Highlander's Christmas Bride

by Vanessa Kelly

  Donella could feel the pain gathering in her heart. “What happened, Victoria?”

  “Angus would say Jeannie MacArthur happened. Or, as she was known back then, Jeannie Campbell.”

  She remembered the look on Logan’s face when he’d first spotted the woman. “I take that she and Logan were close?”

  “Logan was mad for the girl. That wasn’t particularly unusual for him. He was a terrible flirt when he was younger and fell in and out of love quite easily.”

  “Naturally, I’m shocked to hear that.”

  Victoria flashed her a brief smile. “I know. But he’s nothing like he used to be, that I can tell you.”

  Until tonight, if his reaction at the ball was any indication. “But things were different with Jeannie Campbell, I take it?”

  “Apparently he was going to propose to her.”

  Something nasty and mean-spirited twisted Donella’s stomach into a knot. She forced herself to ignore it. “Obviously, he didn’t.”

  “Nicholas and Angus didn’t approve of her, which in itself is quite surprising. Angus rarely objected to anything Logan did and spoiled him terribly. But this time, he and Nicholas were in agreement that Jeannie was not a suitable candidate for a wife.”

  Donella tried to be fair about it. “I wonder why. She seems lovely and elegant, and very much a lady.”

  Victoria looked disapproving. “Elegant? More like flashy, if you ask me. In any case, Angus and Nicholas thought her flighty, spoiled, and very vain. But Logan wouldn’t listen, and her family background was excellent. Her father is closely related to the Campbell clan chief. Since the Campbells were in favor of the match, that also made it tricky.”

  To Donella, nothing was more important than character. Sadly, clan relations often trumped other considerations. “If there was no true impediment, what happened?”

  “Tragedy,” Victoria said with an unhappy sigh.

  “Lord Arnprior’s son?”

  “It happened in late spring, up at Kinglas. Logan got Cam fishing gear for his fourth birthday—a miniature pole and tackle. As a special treat, he and his brothers wanted to take the boy fishing in the river that runs down to the loch.” She paused for a moment, as if gathering herself. “Nicholas was busy that day and couldn’t go with them. At first he wouldn’t give his permission, since the river runs high at that time of year.”

  Because of the snowmelt, Highland streams that were slow and gentle in the fall ran fast and high—and often deadly—in springtime. Already she could guess the outlines of the tragedy, and it made her sick.

  “Logan talked him into letting Cam go,” Victoria continued. “In fact, he promised Nicholas that he would never let Cam out of his sight.”

  “Oh, no,” Donella whispered.

  “At first, everything was fine. Logan was very good with Cam, and the boy adored him. He looked up to Logan almost as much as he did to his father. So even though Cam was quite rambunctious that day, Logan had kept him under firm control. Until . . . he was distracted.”

  “By Miss Campbell?”

  Victoria’s mouth briefly thinned. “Yes. She happened to come riding by on the trail that goes along the river. She stopped to speak to Logan. That led to his . . .”

  “Distraction.” Donella had to struggle with a flare of rage that made her want to strike something. Strike Logan. “But he gave Lord Arnprior his word. He should have told her that he had to keep a close watch on the child.”

  “According to Angus, he did try. But Miss Campbell was not someone to take no for an answer. She was used to Logan’s attention and wasn’t best pleased when he put her off.”

  “Still—”

  Victoria leaned forward in her chair, looking earnest. “You mustn’t think that Logan neglected Cam. He didn’t. And the others were all there too, and not far from the boy. But Logan did turn his back for a few moments, and that was enough. It all happened so fast.”

  Donella hated to even ask. “How did it happen?”

  “Cam tried to stand on a wet rock and fell into the river. Kade, who was only nine at the time, was the closest and immediately jumped in. Unfortunately, he was swept away, too.”

  If Donella hadn’t been holding the baby, she would have covered her mouth in horror. Victoria looked sick, too.

  “Logan immediately went in after Cam, while Royal swam for Kade. Royal was a very strong swimmer, but he was barely able to keep himself and Kade from drowning. Cam was swept farther downstream toward the loch, and it took Logan quite some time to reach him, in the most punishing of conditions. Angus said he never gave up, even when they all knew it was too late to save the boy. But Logan was going to get his nephew or die in the attempt.” She breathed out a wavering sigh. “Even now, I think the poor man sometimes wishes he’d died with Cam.”

  Carefully, Donella adjusted the now-sleeping baby before wiping away her tears. “What a horrific, senseless tragedy.”

  “Royal told me once that what Logan did was nothing less than heroic. But it was too late. All they had left to bring home was that sweet boy’s lifeless body.”

  “I cannot imagine Lord Arnprior’s pain.”

  “Nicholas blamed Logan, and . . . and they fought. Only Royal’s intervention prevented them from killing each other.” Victoria grimaced and shook her head. “Correction. From Nicholas trying to kill Logan. Logan only defended himself. I’m sure he could have throttled Nicholas with his bare hands had he wanted to, even though my husband is a very strong man.”

  Logan topped his brother by a few inches, and outweighed him, too. It must have been a nightmarish scene.

  “Then we must all be grateful for Royal,” Donella said stoutly. “From everything I’ve heard, he sounds like a perfectly splendid man and a blessing to his family.”

  Victoria managed a smile. “Royal is, well, splendid doesn’t even begin to describe it. He has saved this family—and my husband—countless times.”

  “I take it he was able to convince your husband not to kill Logan?”

  “Yes, and he also convinced Logan that he needed to leave Kinglas. It was the only way to keep Nicholas from falling completely apart. So, for the sake of the family, Logan sailed for Canada and didn’t return for six years.”

  Donella grieved for Lord Arnprior’s terrible loss, and for the sorrow and guilt that Logan must have suffered. Most men would have completely buckled under the strain.

  She was discovering, however, that the Kendricks were not most men.

  Logan’s behavior now made more sense. Despite his brash, confident exterior, he was a guarded man who instinctively protected himself. So many grievous losses were bound to have an effect on one’s heart. While she’d not suffered one particle of the grief Logan had, she understood how it had affected him. That kind of pain made it hard to trust—and without trust, there could never truly be love.

  “But your husband obviously forgave him,” she finally said.

  “He rather had to after Logan rescued me from a murderer.”

  Donella gaped at her. “Someone tried to murder you?”

  Victoria looked amused. “Yes, but that’s a story for another time.”

  “And I thought my family was dramatic.”

  “Your family is quite lively, dear. Don’t forget they’re my family, too.”

  “I do tend to forget that. Which means you know where all the bodies are buried.”

  “And will remain safely buried,” Victoria said firmly. “I am not one to tell tales. You deserve your privacy after everything you’ve gone through.”

  You don’t know the half of it.

  “Thank you. It’s just that—”

  The muffled chime of a clock in the hall interrupted her.

  Victoria stood. “It’s late. Let me put this wee one in her cradle, and then I’ll finish the story. It won’t take long to tell.”

  She obviously meant what had happened tonight. “It’s fine. It’s really none of my business, anyway.”

  “We consider yo
u one of the family,” Victoria said as she came over to retrieve her daughter. “Of course it’s your business.”

  Donella didn’t know how to respond to that. She simply handed Rowena over.

  “Well done,” Victoria murmured, as she smiled at her sleeping child. “Angus could come in and play his bagpipes, and she’d sleep through it.”

  As she watched the countess place the baby in her cradle, Donella was again filled with a sharp sense of longing. For years, she’d yearned for a life of quiet contemplation, sheltered from the world by high convent walls. After all, the world was so messy, and often more uncomfortable than not. But with a rapidity that stunned her, Donella now wanted more of the world, with all the messiness—and love—that entailed.

  Victoria resumed her seat by the fire. “Where was I?”

  “At Mr. Kendrick’s exile from Kinglas.”

  “Ah, yes. Logan set sail for Canada almost immediately, and without ever seeing Miss Campbell.”

  Donella found that surprising. “That must have been difficult for both of them.”

  Victoria waggled a hand. “For Logan, yes. But from what I gather, he was half out of his mind with grief, and terribly guilt-stricken. He was in no condition to see the girl so soon after the accident.”

  “I can’t help but feel sorry for her. To be so cruelly separated from the man she loved.”

  “I wouldn’t feel too sorry,” Victoria dryly added. “Logan wrote to her before he left Scotland and asked her to go with him—as his wife, of course.”

  Donella blinked. “She refused?”

  “Quite readily. Oh, she blamed it on her family. The Campbells were no longer interested in the alliance, after Logan’s estrangement from his brother.”

  Donella couldn’t help starching up. “If she loved him, that shouldn’t have mattered. She would certainly want to be with him in his time of trial.”

  “Then I suppose she didn’t love him, did she?”

  “She seemed quite taken with him tonight.”

  “And he seemed just as eager in return?” Victoria gently prodded.

  Donella simply raised her eyebrows.

  “I think he was more stunned than anything else,” Victoria said.

  “He looked like Odysseus encountering one of the sirens.” She winced. “Sorry, that sounds awful. I don’t even know the woman.”

  “That’s exactly what Angus called her tonight. However, Logan claims he was simply being polite, paying his respects to an old friend who’d only recently put off her widow’s weeds.”

  Donella couldn’t hold back a snort. “Polite? That’s one way to put it.”

  “I agree. I was tempted to box his ears for abandoning you so precipitously. It was exceedingly rude. Nicholas was also quite put out, and he made sure Logan knew it.”

  Donella winced. “How embarrassing.”

  “That was only one part of the argument, dearest. Mostly, we’re worried that Logan will be susceptible to Jeannie’s wiles again. Logan, of course, denies any such thing and grew quite heated at the suggestion.”

  “They seemed quite happy to encounter each other, if you ask me.” Recalling the expression on Logan’s face made Donella’s heart hurt.

  “I would wager that’s true for Jeannie, because Logan is now a very rich man. He wasn’t an eligible match six years ago, but he definitely is now. Half the mothers in Glasgow have been chasing him for their daughters ever since he stepped foot off the boat.”

  Donella had seen evidence of that at various social functions in the city. It had never bothered her before, likely because he’d always seemed immune to any attempts to engage his interest.

  That, however, was no longer the case.

  She stood. “It’s certainly understandable that Miss Campbell—Mrs. MacArthur, I should say—would wish to renew her friendship. I’m sorry for Lord Arnprior’s sake, however, and for the upset it caused the family.”

  “And for the upset it caused you,” Victoria said with gentle emphasis as she rose.

  Donella forced a smile. “Mr. Kendrick owes me nothing except a minor apology for his precipitous exit this evening.”

  “I’d say he owes you a great deal more.”

  “He doesn’t,” Donella said firmly. “I’m grateful for your candor, and I understand why you wished to tell me. But there is nothing to worry about, Victoria, I assure you.”

  “But—”

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll bid you good night.” She turned and fled the room, ashamed of the tears that lurked so close to the surface.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  He’d made a cock-up, all right. Even Angus was riding up Logan’s backside, calling him everything from a jinglebrains to a turd-head. Grandda almost always defended him in any brangle he had with Nick, but not this time.

  Not when it came to Jeannie Campbell.

  Of course, she was now Mrs. MacArthur, a beautiful and experienced young widow.

  If Logan didn’t miss his guess, very experienced.

  “The turn’s comin’ up, sir,” his groom prompted from his perch behind.

  “Oh, right. Thank you, Sam.”

  Distracted by his gloomy thoughts, Logan had almost missed the turn into Breadie Manor, Lord Riddick’s small estate just outside the city. Although his lordship rarely visited, Alec and Edie were often in residence and had arrived yesterday for the holiday season. That unfortunate bit of timing had coincided with Logan’s momentary but appalling lapse with Donella.

  Nick had given him an earful about his behavior at the ball, and Logan couldn’t blame him. He’d been a first-class idiot, all but abandoning poor Donella at the worst possible moment. The sweet, generous-hearted lass had been primed to tumble, and he’d have been more than happy to tumble with her.

  But then he’d turned and seen Jeannie Campbell, the first girl he’d ever truly loved. Standing ten feet away, she glowed like a vision from a happier time, smiling that smile that had always and only been for him.

  He’d promptly forgotten everything, including his own bloody name, and gone to her without hesitation.

  It had taken only a few minutes for him to come out of his Jeannie-induced haze and realize what he’d done. Unfortunately, by then the family had decamped, and it had taken Logan some length of time to politely extract himself, even with an impatient Graeme hovering nearby.

  That Jeannie was eager to resume their relationship was obvious from her flirtatious manner and semi-scandalous hints. At one point in his life, he would have responded like a slavering, idiotic lapdog. Not anymore. Not after the turmoil and grief of that fateful day by the river, and all the heartache that had followed.

  For her part, Jeannie had made it immediately clear that she had no wish to rehash old tragedies. To her, apparently, they no longer mattered. Logan had been stunned by her terse dismissal of the past.

  Still, he’d turned the girl’s life upside down all those years ago, exposing her to gossip and humiliation. If nothing else, he owed her courtesy and respect, as well as an acknowledgment that they’d once meant a great deal to each other.

  Trying to explain that to Nick and the rest of his family, however, had all but sent Kendrick House crashing down on their heads.

  Things had gone from bad to worse at breakfast this morning, when Victoria informed him that Donella had already departed for Breadie Manor. At that point, Joseph had glared at him over a plate of ham, clearly blaming him for driving away his best friend. And that meant that Logan was now squarely in everyone’s black book.

  But worst of all was that he’d hurt and humiliated Donella. He could only hope the damage wasn’t permanent.

  When he pulled the curricle in front of the Palladian-style house, his groom jumped from his perch and came round to let down the step.

  Logan had barely gotten his boots on the ground before the manor’s front door flew open and Alec Gilbride stalked down the steps. Murder—or mayhem, at the very least—glinted in his steel-gray eyes.

  Lo
gan mentally sighed. “Take the horses around to the stables, Sam. I expect I’ll be here for some time.”

  Or perhaps not if Alec just decided to shoot him and have done with it.

  Sam flashed him a sympathetic grimace before climbing into the curricle.

  He strolled up to the marble porch where Alec impatiently waited, arms crossed and a scowl blackening his normally genial features.

  “You’re looking a wee bilious this morning,” Logan said. “Stomach troubles? Hope it’s not catching.”

  “Sleeping troubles, as in, getting roused out of bed at the crack of dawn by Donella’s arrival. What the hell did you do to the girl, you bastard?”

  “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even know she’d gone until Victoria told me at breakfast.”

  “That’s not what I heard.”

  Logan dropped the casual pretense and scowled back at his friend. “What the hell did she tell you, anyway?”

  Alec’s gaze narrowed to stone-colored slits. “I’ll thank you not to use such language when referring to my cousin.”

  “She’s not even here. Now, tell me what she said so I can fix it.”

  “Donella didn’t say a damn word about you. She just stalked in and barked at me before disappearing into her room. Even Edie can barely get a word out of her.”

  “Then if she didn’t say anything, why are you glaring at me like I’d just robbed the girl of her virtue?”

  That brought Alec barreling forward into Logan’s face. “Did you, in fact, rob her of her virtue?” he growled, jabbing a finger at his nose. “Because then I will kill you.”

  Logan gave him a shove. “Of course not, you moron. Is that really how you think I would treat her, or any woman for that matter?”

  Alec retracted his horns a bit. “You did something to upset her at that blasted ball, and it apparently involved another woman. You’d better set it to right, because if I don’t kill you, Edie surely will.”

  “How exactly do you know what happened? You weren’t even at that stupid party, and Donella’s not talking.”

  Alec flashed him a toothy grin that looked more like a snarl. “I used to be a spy. I do have my sources.”

  Logan shook his head in disgust. “Angus. He brought Joseph over this afternoon to visit. That old fool can never keep his bloody mouth shut.”