A Protector in the Highlands

by Heather McCollum

  “Uh, aye,” Molly said from behind Cici. “Titus, the cook. He was gone when I went to fetch the tarts this morn.”

  Hamish stepped forward. “He was seen pushing a handcart out the gate near dawn. The man on duty opened the gate, as he is your cook and said he was fetching more game from the butcher. There were tarps on the cart, bunched up. Two small lasses might have been hidden under it.”

  “How did you enter just now?” the king asked, his gaze sliding toward the entryway.

  “Through the small doorway in the wall,” Aiden said. “There are no other ways to enter Finlarig.”

  “Are you certain?” the king asked Aiden.

  “Aye,” Aiden said. “I can go through the door when we search for your queen and my sister. No need to raise the gate.”

  The king shook his head. “You aren’t going anywhere,” he said, his dark eyes trained on Aiden. “You will be my personal guard, as you are the best warrior here.” Aiden’s stomach tightened.

  “I can protect you, your majesty,” Covington said, and Aiden felt the hatred for the man well up through him, flowing through his limbs until his hands fisted at his sides.

  Charles waved off Covington’s comment. “We have no idea where to look for the queen, and I would have all of your warriors stationed here in case of a siege.” The coward wasn’t even going to let anyone look for his wife.

  Aiden inhaled, forcing his thoughts away from the craven prig who was in charge of his country. “It would be safer for ye to wait for news in the school library on the second floor.”

  “Yes, yes,” Charles said.

  “I’m back out to guard the wall,” Hamish said, giving an awkward bow before striding from the hall.

  Scarlet glanced Aiden’s way before looking back at the king. “I can show you above, where we can work out a plan for rescue,” she said, indicating the steps.

  “I said, there will be no rescue,” the king said. “I will not fall into covenantor hands.”

  A man in fear of losing something dear to him would do anything to protect it. In this case, the cowardly bastard put his life above everyone else. The courtiers and students followed Charles and Scarlet to the steps, and Aiden followed Covington into the alcove, Kerrick at his side. Hatred churned like a hot spice in Aiden’s middle, and only his promise to Scarlet was keeping him from burying his sword through the raping bastard’s gut.

  Kerrick glanced Aiden’s way and snorted before taking a quicker step to catch Covington. “Two words, milord,” Kerrick said.

  Covington snorted. “Two words? How about asinine fool?” The man’s gaze narrowed on Aiden.

  Kerrick smiled wryly. “Nay.” He nodded to Aiden. “The words I’d intended were good and luck,” he said, drawing out the words. He jogged up the steps, leaving the two men alone.

  “Step away,” Covington yelled, but Aiden grabbed the front of his ruffled shirt, shoving him hard up against the back wall under the stone stairs. The bastard had held Scarlet against a wall, pressing into her, holding her against her will. Aiden’s muscles contracted. It wouldn’t take much to slide his hands up to Covington’s neck. Scarlet had made him promise not to cut the man, but she’d said nothing about breaking him.

  Covington’s eyes shifted upward like he might cry out.

  “Hold your tongue, else I cut it out,” Aiden said, his voice rough in a deep hush. He could pull any number of daggers from his person to make good on the threat. He leaned into the man’s face. If one could die from hateful thoughts and a piercing stare, Covington’s heart would be shredded. “The only thing, Covington, that is stopping me from slicing ye end to end is Scarlet Worthington and a promise I made to her.”

  Covington opened his mouth and began to shake his head, but Aiden slammed his hand over the man’s mouth and brought his face up to the man’s ear. “If ye speak so much as one word to her or my sisters unless they’ve asked ye a direct question, I will slice off your tongue. If ye touch them against their wills, I will chop through your wrists until your twitching hands dangle from the bloody stumps.”

  The man swallowed under the pressure of his hand, struggling to step away, but Aiden’s fury added to his strength, keeping him pinned. “And if your wee cock stiffens anywhere near my lady or sisters, I’ll cut it off and feed it to the wolves that roam these hills. Neither Scarlet nor Jacqueline will be returning to England with ye.”

  Aiden removed his hand. “Are ye clear on this?”

  Covington’s lips pulled back, showing white teeth. “One word from me to the king, and you’re a dead man, Campbell.”

  Aiden allowed a dark smile to turn up the corners of his mouth. “Ye’ve been spouting words to the king since last night, and he’s just assigned me to protect his life, Covington. If ye have a care for your foolish head, I’d keep that tongue still if ye want to return to England with it attached.”

  Aiden opened his hand abruptly, releasing the English bastard. Covington reached up to pet down his shirt ruffles. “Step aside,” Covington said. Aiden waited a full count of five before doing so. With one more cutting glance, the man hurried up the steps.

  Warning given. Moving forward would be beyond his promise to Scarlet. Let the man try anything again, and he’d lose more than his straight nose.

  …

  “But your majesty,” Scarlet said, her voice respectful despite the panic tightening her stomach. She watched Harry slide in through the library door, his face flushed. Aiden followed after him, but she couldn’t gather anything from his closed expression. She looked toward the king. “They could be killed if we don’t rescue them.”

  Charles waved off her comment, peering out the window into the bailey. “The covenantors want me off the throne, even though I am tolerant of all religions. But I am king and refuse to give in to their terror.”

  Scarlet walked over to him. “How do we know that this is the work of the Protestant radicals, sire? We have no information. They may want money.”

  “But there are radicals in the area,” Charles said and turned, his gaze going to Aiden. “Perhaps we did not kill all the traitors.”

  “No one was expecting you here at Finlarig, your majesty,” Scarlet said, looking between them. She couldn’t let the king’s suspicions turn against the Campbells. “Even your crests were covered on the carriages. You have only been here for two days, hardly time to make fresh plans for a strike against you.”

  “Aye,” Aiden said, his one eyebrow raising. “Who could know ye were coming here for Christmastide to make plans for an abduction? We had no foreknowledge of your arrival. Only those traveling with you, or making plans for you to come here, knew.”

  The king’s gaze cut to Harry. Harry cleared his throat. “I but wished to find a secure place for you and the queen to enjoy Christmastide, your majesty.”

  “Well, you did a damnably poor job at it, Covington,” Charles said, his frown heavy.

  “It could have been a last-minute plan concocted when word spread that you had arrived,” Covington said in defense.

  “No,” Scarlet said. “Someone had enough forethought to hire and convince your cook to help with the abduction.” Scarlet stole a glance at Harry. Was his motivation in coming to hide the king, convince her to return to England, or was there some darker motive?

  “I can rally twenty Campbell warriors to search the surrounding area,” Aiden said. “More by sending to Balloch Castle.”

  “No,” Charles replied without hesitation. “Those twenty men shall remain here, for I am the real target.”

  “Your majesty,” Covington said. “Think of the queen. We must send the Campbells to save her.”

  “And leave me unprotected?” the king asked.

  “Ten then,” Aiden said. “The rest will stay here—”

  “No,” the king said, turning to stare directly at Aiden. “The abduction is a lure.”

  “But your sire—” Covington began, his face hard and his eyes large.

  “No!” the king yelled. “I
require all the Campbells and English soldiers to be here, surrounding me. I am the king and therefore the crown of England, Scotland, and Ireland. I must be protected.”

  Covington yanked at his cuffs, his fingers clenching with ire. “Then,” Covington said, stepping closer to Charles. “Have the Campbells on the outside of the wall, a first line of defense against any attack. With them before the wall, and the strong portcullis closed, no one will be able to enter.”

  Footsteps running up the steps made them all turn to the door as Hamish barged in, a parchment in his hand. “A ransom letter,” he said. “Delivered by flying arrow from the woods. I sent Lawrence and William out to capture the messenger, but he fled on horseback before they could catch him.”

  The king strode over and snatched the letter from his hand. Scarlet drew close to peer over his shoulder, Louise on the other side, holding a handkerchief to her nose. They read silently.

  Return to London, Popish King. Either alone, as the coward you are. Or with your queen, having left two hundred pounds here in Scotland. Send the ransom into the woods north of the castle, else your queen and her woman will die.

  Calum Menzies—Chief of the Menzies Clan of Breadalbane

  “Who is Calum Menzies?” Louise de Kérouaille asked, her whisper rough, as if she’d been crying.

  “A traitor and a dead man, along with his clan,” the king said, handing the letter to Scarlet, who read it out loud.

  Aiden crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “That isn’t from Calum Menzies,” he said.

  “How so? He signed his name,” Harry said, his words snapping.

  “Calum Menzies isn’t idiot enough to sign his own name and label his whole clan as traitors to the crown,” Aiden said. “It is someone who wants to be rid of the Menzies’ new chief.”

  Scarlet glanced at Cici where she stood beside Alana. Cici clasped her hands before her chin, her skin pale and her often busy lips still and closed.

  “Finlay?” Scarlet said out loud, making Cici look toward her. Tears in her eyes caught the light from the windows, making her large eyes sparkle. Scarlet looked to Aiden. “Lieutenant Burdock would have signed a Campbell name.”

  “Who are these players?” Charles asked.

  Aiden took the letter, scanning it. “Burdock is a rogue English lieutenant who worked against ye with Captain Cross and Philip Sotheby. He escaped capture and is believed to still be in the area,” Aiden said. “And Finlay Menzies was recently ousted as chief of the Menzies, being replaced by Calum. He has also disappeared.”

  A small sob came from Cici, and she ran from the room, but the king didn’t seem to notice.

  “Send one man to the Menzies to see if this Calum Menzies knows anything of this letter,” the king said.

  Aiden nodded to Hamish, who hurried back out.

  Scarlet cleared her throat. “We could still send someone out to meet the abductor. Perhaps a woman—”

  “A woman will just be abducted,” Harry said without looking at her. “To save the queen and her lady, we must send men, as many as can be spared.”

  The king looked to him. “And leave me without protection? No men, save the one, shall leave this area.”

  “The walls of Finlarig are strong,” Harry said and bowed his head. “Your majesty.”

  “Did you even bring two hundred pounds?” Scarlet asked.

  The king flipped his hand toward Harry. “My advisor insists that we travel with ample funds, hidden within the coaches.” He turned to meet Scarlet’s gaze. “But again,” he said, his words clipped, “I have no intention of paying or sending men.”

  “But your queen,” Scarlet said, her voice low but pleading.

  “Has brought me no heirs and has confided in Louise that she is not with child but rather beyond her child-bearing youth,” the king said.

  Scarlet whipped her face around to Louise, who at least had the conscience to look down, her face flushing. How could she know that her comments to the king would possibly mean the death of her queen?

  Scarlet looked to Aiden, who stood with his fists squeezed tightly against his braced legs. His sister, whom he’d just met, had been tangled into this deadly web. Without rescue, how long would she last? The queen had her royal status to protect her, but a young, beautiful woman might find a fate worse than death at the hands of criminals. Would Aiden go against a direct order from the king and leave to rescue her?

  “Craig has armed the Campbell warriors,” Kerrick said, his face grim. “I will go down to advise them. Three are already upon the roofline keeping watch.”

  “Aye,” Aiden said, and Kerrick exited.

  “I will see to Cici and Izzy,” Alana whispered, her gaze on Scarlet before running out.

  “Your majesty is safe in here,” Scarlet said. “With Louise. I must see to my students.”

  The king waved his hand, dismissing her. As Scarlet walked past Aiden, she grasped his fingers, pulling him with her into the hallway. Once in the empty corridor, she grabbed both his arms.

  “I am so sorry, Aiden, that Jacey has been caught up in this,” she said, staring up into his closed features. “I know you want to go after her.”

  “I am,” he said.

  Scarlet shook her head, glancing at the library door where she could see Harry talking to the king and Louise through the crack. Panic made her words race. “No, you must do what Charles orders, or he will see you as a threat against him.”

  “What type of leader leaves his wife and an innocent woman to die at the hands of villains when his coin could save them?” he asked.

  “I agree,” she whispered. “I think he’s acting on anger over Louise’s revelation. She must have told him last night.” She exhaled long. “But I have another plan.”

  His gaze met hers. “Ye have a plan?”

  “Yes,” she said, glancing around. Her heart thumped hard, making her fidget. Fingers wrapping around his arms, she stared up into Aiden’s pained face. “We will rescue the queen and your sister.”

  “We?” he asked.

  “Yes, me, with my Highland Roses.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Nay,” Aiden said, staring hard into Scarlet’s face.

  “I didn’t ask for your permission,” she said, the lovely shape of her eyes narrowing.

  She dropped her hands from his arms, but his came up to clamp around hers. “Ye could be hurt, killed, Scarlet.” Heaviness balled inside his stomach.

  “I could be killed here, too. And whoever this is, whether it’s Finlay or Burdock or some other conspirators, they won’t be expecting trained ladies with knives hidden all over them. We can get in there because we are women, and then we will save Jacey and the queen without you violating a direct order from the king.”

  “Ye don’t even know where they are being held,” he said, one hand rising to grip his skull. The thought of Scarlet out in the woods with desperate men who wanted money and the king… It sent his blood racing. They wouldn’t care who they killed. He shook his head. “Nay.” Aiden caught her face in his hands. “I can’t lose ye, Scarlet.”

  Her face softened, and she rose on tiptoe to brush a kiss across his lips. “And I can’t lose you,” she said, setting back on her feet. “If someone doesn’t go to save Jacey, I know that you will, and the king will be furious. Harry will make certain of it. But he’s made no orders against the women in the castle going. He wants men to protect him.”

  “Scarlet,” Aiden said, but she placed a finger over his lips. He fought to keep from grabbing her, throwing her over his shoulder to lock her away somewhere in the castle.

  “You said yourself this morning,” she said. “When I finally escaped your hold that I could protect myself, and I did. I am ready.”

  “Ready to live without being afraid,” he said, his words coming past her finger, and she lowered it. “Not to go to war.”

  She nodded. “I’m not afraid.” She smiled, breathing deeply. “For once in my life, I feel I have a real purpose.” She
glanced to the side and then back at him as if trying to find the right words. “Saving someone. This feeling of truly helping. I want to go.”

  The heaviness inside Aiden extended out to his arms, making them ache to pull his sword. All he wanted to do was protect the beautiful, brave woman before him. She stared at him, her gaze asking him to understand. “I will be good at this,” she whispered. “You’ve trained me, and they won’t expect me.”

  “The others?” he asked, his mind trying to latch on to a worthy reason for her not to go, but he couldn’t find an argument other than he would die if something happened to her.

  “I won’t order any of the Roses to go, but if they want to help, I will lead them and we will save Jacey and Queen Catherine,” Scarlet said. “You stay here and make sure the king knows that you are protecting him.” She squeezed his hand. “You can save the whole Campbell clan from English persecution if you win King Charles over with your defense.”

  “Bloody foking hell,” he cursed low.

  “Yes,” she said, a determined grin on her face. “War is hell, out there.” She lay her palm flat over his heart. “But more so inside here. Usually, as women, we must sit home and watch our loves ride into danger. This time we can do something to help.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “How do ye survive this?” he asked, kissing the top of her fragrant hair.

  “Embroidery, weaving,” she murmured against his chest. “Soapmaking.” She pulled back, giving him a teasing smile, though he noticed that her breathing had grown rapid. “Find something to keep your hands and mind busy.”

  He dropped his hold and exhaled long. She smiled, knowing that he would let her go. “First…” he said, catching her chin with his fingers. “Ye said we were betrothed.” His heart beat faster.

  “I did,” she whispered. “A ruse to explain my…”

  He kissed her, a warm press, slow and deep, his fingers stroking her curls. He pulled away, resting his forehead on hers. “Ye are going to war,” he said. “Perhaps ye should ask me to wed before ye go? It might give me something to keep my mind busy while ye battle.”