Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel

by Maddie MacKenna

  “He’ll give before he strikes ye,” Hugh said unconvinced. “Ye’re the Laird after all.”

  “Perhaps, but what if I was nae the Laird and he nae a solider? What if we were mere strangers passin’ on the moors. Then what?”

  Hugh shrugged as he glanced to Aiden before returning his attention back to Jude.

  “If he struck me,” Jude said with such menace in his voice it made Hugh recoil. “I’d strike back harder and win. Nae because of me size, but because I ken I could. If ye think ye can, ye can. If ye have any doubts at all, ye’ve already lost.”

  Hugh nodded as he sucked in a deep breath. The confidence and determination returned to Hugh’s eyes as Jude stared at him. “Ready to go again?”

  Sucking in a deep breath, Jude watched as Hugh planted his feet firmly to the ground. He gripped the hilt of the sword as tightly as he could muster, and with full determination pushed the blade through the air, making the blade whistle.

  “See? Well done. That is how ye do it. Now do ye think ye can take me on?” Jude asked with a bit of a mischievous smile as he patted Hugh on the shoulder. “Or would ye prefer to take it out on a target?” Jude pointed to the hay figure spiked in the center of the courtyard. Hugh turned his head and glanced at the dummy on the stick.

  “See if ye can run yer blade through it,” Jude said is a shimmer of light caught his attention.

  The sun peeked through the clouds and bounced off the second-story window. Instantly, Jude’s head whipped around. Sitting near the window, he spied Cleo and sighed.

  She is a sight to see.

  Her soft features made him forget all about the training. For a moment he thought she had glanced down to them.

  She wouldnae pay any mind to us. I must be seein’ things. But what if she was watchin’?

  A smile played at the corner of his lips. It had only been three days since they had come to the castle, but he couldn’t help smiling every time he saw her. There was something about the way the light caught her hair that gave the impression of an angel.

  A sharp pain stabbed at him. She had been stuck inside her room the whole time due to the healer’s suggestion. After all, her leg was still mending, but Jude couldn’t help wondering if she’d like to take a stroll and get out for a bit.

  “She is quite pretty, daenae ye think, faither?” Jude turned quickly to his son, realizing Hugh had been watching him stare at Cleo. Straightening himself, Jude shook off the thoughts he had of Cleo as he returned his attention back to his son.

  “Aye, she’s pretty. What of it?”

  “And kind too,” Hugh said.

  “Is she now? And what makes ye think such things?” Jude asked as he walked over to his son. The boy dropped the blade into the grass, allowing his arms to relax a bit.

  “She has been helpin’ me learn to read.”

  “Has she?” Jude said stealing another glance to the window. Although Jude had heard her conversation with Hugh about teaching him how to read, he never thought she would go through with it. A lazy smile pulled at his lips as Jude admired her more than ever.

  “And how is her leg? Has it been mended?” Jude asked moving to his sword still spiked into the ground. Mud clumped at the tip of it and Jude quickly wiped it off with his boot.

  “Ye should go and ask her yerself,” Hugh said. “I’m sure she’d enjoy the company. After all, she’s been stuck in her room for the past three days.”

  “Are ye sayin’ that just to be gettin’ out of more lessons?” Jude asked as he smiled at his son.

  Hugh shrugged. “Perhaps, but I also think that her being stuck inside all the time with very few friends here is makin’ her unhappy. She might enjoy seein’ a new face. I’m sure she gets tired of just seein’ me all the time,” Hugh said as he snatched his sword from the ground and shook his arms out.

  “Tell ye what,” Jude said as he stared his son. “I’ll go and see her and we can call it quits for the day. If…ye disarm me.”

  Hugh’s eyes widened as he stared his father. He swallowed hard and nodded once. “All right, then, but I want biscuits for dinner as well.”

  Jude couldn’t help but laugh. “Are ye negotiatin’ with me?”

  “Aye,” Hugh said taking his battle stance.

  “All right then, on the count of three,” Jude said as he took his stance and rolled his shoulders back. Jude flexed his muscles as he glared at Hugh waiting for his son to strike first.

  “One.” Hugh’s lips curled up at the corners as he glared at his father, clearly readying himself for whatever may come to him.

  “Two.” Jude could feel the tension in his shoulders. Although he already knew what he was going to do, he couldn’t help wondering how Hugh would disarm him.

  What do ye have up yer sleeve?

  “Three,” Hugh yelled as he lunged forward with his blade just as his father had shown him. The sound of their steel blades crashing bounced off the trees and rang in Jude’s ears.

  With each attack there came a counter. Their blades crashed and rammed against one another’s. Although Jude wasn’t using his full strength, he could see Hugh’s improvement. His son jabbed and sliced with precision, strength and speed.

  “Givin’ up yet?” Jude asked as he stepped back. Hugh pulled in quick shallow breaths as he shook his head.

  “Never,” Hugh said as he started to charge but quickly dropped his blade. Jude paused a moment, wondering why Hugh had given up so quickly. Hugh’s face went stark white as the boy pointed to some unseen foe behind Jude. Quickly, Jude whipped around to scan for the immediate threat and readied himself to take out the threat.

  Scanning the area, Jude saw nothing out of the ordinary. He looked to the windows and the corners of the castle before settling his eyes on Cleo’s window. There was no doubt now whether Cleo was watching. She had her book in her lap and her eyes locked on his for a moment.

  Suddenly, tiny fingers were on Jude’s ribs. Unable to resist the tickling riding up his sides, Jude dropped his sword.

  “Ha! I win,” Hugh said triumphantly as he dropped his hands from his father’s side and stepped back. “Biscuits for dinner tonight. And ye have to go talk to Cleo.”

  Jude’s mouth dropped as he turned his attention back to his son. Hugh crossed his arms over his chest and giggled, lifting one hand he tapped his head.

  “Mind over matter, right faither?”

  “Well, I’ll be,” Jude said.

  “Go on then. She’s been askin’ about ye.”

  Jude’s heart fluttered in his chest and he felt a strange squeezing sensation in his throat. It was as if Hugh’s words were choking him. He could face down battalions of men without sweating and yet the thought of going to see Cleo made him more nervous than he had been in a long time.

  Swallowing the lump that was forming in his throat, Jude rolled his shoulders back and pulled in a deep breath.

  “Daenae forget, biscuits for dinner,” Hugh shouted as Jude made his way to the castle.

  11

  Ouch.

  Pain shot through Cleopatra’s leg as she shifted her weight and she sat on the plush chair next to the window.

  Will I ever be able to squish my toes between the soft soil again?

  Dropping her shoulders, she scanned the room. Everything about her new home, caused her heart to sink. It was as if she was trapped back in her father’s home yet again, with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

  Her only delight that she found these past three days in Jude’s castle was watching him play with his son outdoors. She couldn’t wait to be on the mend so that she could join them. She missed the sounds of the birds chirping and watching the grasshoppers jump from blade to blade in the tall grass that surrounded the castle grounds.

  Turning her head, she glanced out of the window to find Hugh and Jude scrimmaging with blunt blades in the courtyard below her. She smiled at the sight of them playing together and couldn’t help feeling a bit of admiration for Jude, for he was showing his son more love and
affection than her father ever did her.

  Glancing down at the book in her hand, she pursed her lips, forcing the thoughts of her childhood out of her mind. Suddenly, a loud rapping at the door caused Cleopatra to jump.

  Whipping her head to the door, she gasped as her hand flew to her chest. In the depths of her soul, she wished it were Jude at the door for she had not spent much time with him since they had arrived at the castle.

  It couldn’t possibly be…

  “Yes?”

  “May I enter?”

  Her heart fluttered as she heard his muffled voice through the door. Glancing around she knew there was nothing she could do about the mess in the room. She slowly pulled her leg off of the footstool and heat from the wound screamed up her calf to her thigh, as she tried to put her weight on it.

  The door opened and she realized that it was who she had hoped. Jude stood in the doorway, his eyes gaping as she slowly bowed to acknowledge his station.

  “Of course,” Cleopatra answered as the door slowly drifted open further. “And what brings you here at this hour?” For a moment Cleopatra didn’t know whether or not to stare at Jude or to just let him take a gander at her.

  The silence stretched on as she kept her eyes locked on the grains in the wood on the floor. With each passing moment her leg seared and she wished to sit to ease it.

  I must not show I am hurt. He will never let me leave this room. Stay strong.

  “I have come to check on ye,” he said as she felt his gaze linger on her longer than expected. “I must admit, I’m pleased to see ye’re doin’ better.”

  “As well as can be expected. All thanks to your kindness,” she answered slowly, drawing her eyes to him as she chewed on her lower lip. She wondered what it was he was doing here. It been three days since the last time she spoke to him in private.

  “T’was nothin’,” he said. “Pleased to see ye’re standin’.” Jude’s voice was rough, almost strained as he spoke to her. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why he seemed so rigid. Coming from her father’s lands, Jude seemed like a different person.

  Of course, he would change now, he is the Laird of this castle. Certainly, that comes with obligations. But he seemed much more open and softly spoken. Far from the man I see before me now.

  “Well,” Jude said clearing his throat. “If there’s anythin’ I can do to help ye, let me ken.”

  “Actually, there is one small thing I would like,” Cleopatra said as she stepped closer to him.

  “Aye, name it,” Jude answered and seemed to gravitate closer to her.

  “I’d love it if we could take a stroll outside,” she said, batting her eyes. “It’s been days since I’ve been able to do that. And I thought perhaps if you were with me, you’d see I’m capable of walking on my own.”

  “Ye can do whatever ye like.” Cleopatra thought she heard Jude mumble under his breath, but she wasn’t sure. “Of course,” he said straightening his shoulders as he curled his arm out and bowed to her. “If it pleases ye.”

  It surprised Cleopatra to find Jude so open to her suggestion. She had thought she’d have to negotiate or plead with him much like she had to do with her father on many occasions. Yet, here he was willingly allowing her an escape from her dreary gilded cage.

  “Where would ye like to go?” Jude asked as Cleopatra scooped his arm into hers. A smile played at the corner of her lips.

  “The courtyard to start. I’ve missed the sun on my face and the feel of mud underfoot.”

  “And ye romp around fields barefoot, do ye?” Jude asked as his eyebrow rose.

  “From time to time.”

  “What else do ye like to do?” he asked as they walked slowly down the hallway headed to the stairs.

  “Read, of course. And there is always the occasional bit of sewing, if I get an inkling to do so.”

  “I never took ye for a seamstress,” Jude said as they descended down the stairs.

  “Well, it’s not as if you know me.”

  “I’d like to,” he said without hesitation sending Cleopatra’s heart into a frenzy. She couldn’t contain the smile that stretched across her lips as she glanced down a moment before returning to his eyes. “Tell me somethin’ else about yerself.”

  “Well,” Cleopatra said. “I’ve read all the books in my room already.”

  Jude’s eyes widened as they paused at the bottom of the staircase. “There has to be at least twenty books in there.”

  “It helps when you have nothing else to do,” she said.

  “Suppose it does,” he said nodding.

  “Tell me something about yourself,” Cleopatra said squeezing his arm tighter as she refused to acknowledge the pain in her leg.

  “Nae much to say. I’ve lived here me whole life. Got married young as expected and had Hugh. She passed on some time ago and I’ve been carin’ for the boy alone ever since.”

  “You’ve done well,” Cleopatra said. “He admires you a great deal. Often when he comes for his lessons, he speaks of you.”

  “Odd, Hugh told me the same about ye.”

  She smiled as he led her through the main room and through the grand entrance of the castle. Cleopatra’s eyes widened as she looked around, noticing all the different tapestries and vases, even the carved tables were exquisitely crafted with flowery embellishments on the legs.

  It soon dawned on her that Jude was more well-endowed in his estate and finances than her father had ever been. Yet what really caught her eye was the windows that let the natural light to beam in. Her home had always been dark and gloomy with very few candlesticks. Yet everything here was so open and inviting. Even the servants that worked for the Laird were pleasant and seemed much happier with their lot in life.

  The great doors opened, exposing the outside courtyard where Cleopatra noticed the different merchants perched outside selling their goods from various carts that had traveled to the castle. She quickly tugged on Jude’s arm, causing him to stop.

  “Are ye all right?” he asked. Cleopatra smiled and nodded as she nudged her head towards the open door.

  “Very well,” she said feeling the cool midday breeze flow through the open doors. “My father never allowed the merchants inside his walls. Yet you do.”

  “Where else are they to sale their wares?” Jude asked scrunching his eyebrows to the bridge of his nose.

  Cleopatra’s heart fluttered as she

  “Shall we?” he asked glancing to the open doors. Cleopatra nodded as the smile stretched across her face. A cool breeze swirled about her face as they stepped over the threshold. The sunlight struck her and warmed her skin and she couldn’t help but let out a small moan of pleasure as she closed her eyes to savor the warmth of the sun.

  “Ye must forgive me,” Jude said, “I dinnae realize how much the outdoors means to ye.”

  “How could you have known? Besides, a man of your caliber has more things to do then dote on some silly girl.” Cleopatra slipped her hand out of Jude’s arm and began walking down the aisle of the merchants that had set up their wares for the Laird and his staff to view that day. Her eyes widened as she looked at the different trinkets and jewelry that lined the merchants’ carts.

  “How lovely,” she said as she pulled a long green scarf off the second cart. The fabric was smooth as she ran it through her fingers and bright green; it reminded her of Jude’s eyes.

  “Do ye like it?” Jude asked as Cleopatra spread the fabric out to let it catch the light from the sun. It shimmered in her hands like stars on a placid lake. She nodded as she hesitated to fold it and place it back on the cart. She wished that she could afford such fine things, but her father never gave her such trinkets.

  In the corner of her eye. Cleopatra noticed Jude pulling out coin from his pocket and handed it to the merchant.

  “It’s yers then,” he said, picking the scarf up and handing it to her.

  “I couldn’t possibly,” she answered. “I have no way of repaying you.”

>   “I insist,” Jude said, “after all, ye’re showin’ Hugh how to read and he is quite fond of ye.”

  She ran her fingertips over the folded fabric as her heart pounded in her chest. She drew her eyes to Jude and realized that it was more than just a thank you gift for teaching his son to read. It was clear to her that he was fond of her as much as she was fond of him.

  Jude slowly pulled the fabric from her hands and draped it around her small frame. Cleopatra stepped closer to him as the space between them grew smaller. He was but a breath away as they gazed into each other’s eyes and he stared into the depths of her being, she wished that he would proclaim himself and his intentions right then and there. Then doubt pricked her as she turned to watch the light shimmer off the fabric.