How to Marry a Highlander

by Michele Sinclair

  When he was done, Dugan looked at Loman and rose out of his chair. “Find the men to make this happen, Fearan. Determine what needs to be done and then run the operation with Loman’s support. Oh, and find a couple of apprentices and start teaching them everything you already know.”

  Fearan stood up as well. “So am I still your port master?”

  Dugan arched a single brow. “You talked, I listened. I talked, you listened. We both learned a lot. I know you are smart and are willing to take a stand for something you believe in, even if it is a foolish one. You learned that I am not nearly as naive as you thought me to be, and that maybe, just maybe, I might be worthy of your support. And because Adanel loves your wife, I have no desire to uproot her. So aye, you are going to remain port master and help me make Bàgh Fìon the finest port along Scotland’s northwestern shores.”

  At that, Loman and Faden, who had not said a single word, also rose to their feet and the three men left the small room, giving Fearan much to think about.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Adanel waved to Kara and then waited patiently for her friend to weave through the throngs of people and tables to cross the room. “Quite the crowd!” she said with a large smile after arriving.

  The corner Adanel had staked out was at the far end of the giant great hall where the main hearth was. The rectangular room had been built to be intentionally massive to allow for various spectator events to take place and be seen by visitors and preferred clansmen. Outside of being large, there was little else to boast about the boxlike hall. It had three hearths—one large one at the end where the laird and dignitaries sat and two on the southern wall. In the center of the northern wall was the main entrance and on each side of the double doors were three large square windows. The kitchens were connected to the doors situated opposite to that of the main hearth. The room’s decor was scant compared to the massive, intricate tapestries that hung in the McTiernay great hall. Instead of wall hangings, weapons hung between the two smaller hearths. But the room was at least now clean and the new rushes on the floor gave off a pleasant scent.

  Adanel smiled at Kara, but it did not reach her eyes. If she had not been so busy for the past three weeks, she would have probably retreated back into her room and shut out the world. “Aye, there are a lot of people,” she agreed. “A month ago, I would not have thought tonight ever possible. Tybalt and I are far from getting this castle truly where it ought to be, but thankfully we made enough progress in time to celebrate.”

  Kara grinned and linked elbows with Adanel. “Amazing what a little motivation can do.”

  She had sat with Adanel as her friend had brought in and spoke with each staff member individually before deciding whether they would continue working in the castle, and if so, in what capacity. Adanel’s frustration finally had gotten to the point where she could make the hard decisions, and once there, she had proved herself to be a very capable lady of the castle. If Adanel determined a person needed to look elsewhere for a living, she did not even let them retrieve their things. Instead, she had one of the guards bring their items outside for them to collect. Anyone hostile to her cause was not going to be given another opportunity to deface her home.

  Kara tore a piece of the warm bread she had snatched from one of the tables. She popped it into her mouth and grinned. “The cooks I suggested are even better than I thought,” she said in between chews. “I stopped by the kitchens and took a peek, and I must admit, part of me wondered what it would be like to prepare a feast.”

  “You want it, the job is still yours,” Adanel said, glancing around the room.

  Kara shook her head definitively, glad she was not going to be pressed anymore on the subject. Seeing Adanel’s shifting eyes, she tried to follow her friend’s gaze. “I love celebrating Midsummer, and I cannot remember when the clan was welcomed to enjoy St. John’s Eve at the castle. Even the dockworkers and harbor men have come,” she said, pointing at a group of men openly gawking at the large room.

  Adanel glanced their way. “MacLeod still has his ships in place but at least they are letting Cole’s ships in and out. It gives them work, but it’s minimal.”

  Fearan as an enemy had made life difficult, but the man as an ally had been unbelievable. It was as if he had a new lease on life as every dream he had ever had and suppressed was finally possible. “The dockworkers may not be very busy, but now that my husband is not grousing about, he is working the harbor men almost nonstop. I keep telling him to relax at least for one night, but he refuses.”

  “Does Dugan need to know? Just tell one of the guards and—”

  “Nay, it’s not like that,” Kara reassured her. “Fearan loves what he is doing. You should see him. He practically bubbles with excitement whenever he tries to explain what is going on. Aye, the man is overworked, but it is by choice and I cannot be the one to dampen his enthusiasm. Soon he will slow down, but until then, you’ll have to put up with me grumbling.”

  Adanel’s face warmed and she gave Kara’s arm a squeeze before freeing it. She was happy for her friend and hoped Fearan realized how lucky he was to have a spouse who believed in him and supported him unreservedly. “Well, any time you feel the need for company, you are welcome to join Tybalt and me. We may not bubble with excitement, but not a day passes that something unexpected does not happen.”

  Once the castle had been emptied of staff, she and Tybalt had toured the castle. Everything had needed to be cleaned, but more than that, few rooms had been regularly maintained, so most were in disrepair. The great hall, the keep, and the rooms guests frequented were the only ones that needed minor work. In the rooms that had not been used for years, she and Tybalt were constantly finding a wide assortment of items. A few were valuable, and many were alarming. Just today she had thrown a phallic-shaped wooden statue of the pagan god of fertility into the fire.

  “How is your steward liking his new position?” Kara asked, unfazed that Adanel was still scanning the room.

  Adanel wrinkled her nose but then gave Kara a brief, but genuine smile. “He grumbles a lot,” she said, resuming her search. “He is always finding something else we missed during our initial assessment of the castle’s state, but deep down I think Tybalt loves every aspect of being a steward. He loves planning what needs to be done, overseeing the work, paying the salaries, and especially ordering people around.” Adanel leaned over and whispered, “I’d worry about him liking it too much, but he is good at it! The man is a genius at getting people to listen and do what he says.”

  Kara gave Adanel a look of disbelief remembering the interviews. Not a soul had been happy, even the ones Adanel had rehired. “After everything that happened? I would have thought there would be constant acts of retaliation based on the looks some of them gave you.”

  Adanel did not say anything. There had been some resistance at first. When the staff realized they could and would be replaced, most had said what they needed to in order to keep their positions. However, some believed incorrectly that being rehired meant they could return to their shoddy ways. The blacksmith was the first to learn that would not be tolerated and had been sent to look elsewhere for work. The candle maker made splendid candles, but he had not been able to hide his seething hatred of the McTiernays. As a result, the junior candle maker and the apprentice got promoted and the candle maker was now working on the docks, learning the hard way that everyone was replaceable. He was still fortunate for he at least got to remain with the clan.

  The baker was another one who was very capable at his job, able to reliably produce decent breads and pastries, but Adanel had seen him cheering in the crowd when her father had forced her to be present during some of his more horrific shows. The man had enjoyed watching animals rip at each other almost as much as her father had. He was not only removed from the castle, but Dugan had agreed to permanently banish him from all McTiernay lands.

  Adanel had worked with the remaining castle staff finding in many circumstances poor work quality had be
en due to lack of instruction, lack of equipment, or just plain fear. Some she hired back though they made it clear they were very angry about becoming McTiernays, but Adanel felt that given time they would grow to appreciate just what it meant to be part of a clan that others respected.

  “If all is going well, then why are you so nervous?”

  Adanel continued to scan the room but spared a second to glower at her friend. “You know why.”

  Kara winced and joined Adanel in looking for Dugan. Tables filled the great hall to allow for as many people as possible to join the feast. Earlier she had signaled for the servants to begin bringing out the food, when she had spotted Kara come in. People were beginning to take their seats along the benches but until Dugan decided to appear, the celebration would not go forward.

  “You both are still not talking?”

  Adanel answered with a shrug. “It was his choice to shut me out.”

  “Aye, but now it is you who refuses to say anything.”

  Adanel straightened her back at the light rebuke. “And what should I have done, Kara? Continued to stand by and do nothing when someone so cruelly continues to inflict pain? If someone hit me, the next time they raised their fist I would duck. Well, that is what I am doing—ducking.”

  “But for how long?”

  “Until I no longer feel I need to.” Adanel craned her head to see in the back. More people were coming in, but Dugan was still not in sight. Would the man really not show just to avoid sitting next to her? Tybalt affirmed that Dugan knew what she had been planning, but they had not actually spoken. She just assumed Dugan would know to come. But then, she had also just assumed after making love for hours that they were both ready to move forward and not hold on to the mistakes of the past. She had been wrong then, and she could be wrong now.

  “And what about the laird? Has he tried reaching out to you?”

  “Don’t be coy. You already know Dugan did. I’m sure Faden told Fearan who told you. I think it worked better in my favor when those two men did not like each other.”

  Kara looked sheepish and guilty, but not apologetic. “Oh, Fearan still wonders about Faden, but he did admit to a growing respect for him and his abilities to run the docks and manage the men around him. Don’t tell either of them I said this, but they do work well together,” she whispered. “Both have similar gruff personalities and prefer direct talk over vagaries. But enough about them and Dugan. I want to know what was in the box Faden gave you.”

  Adanel kept her eyes on the crowd. “I have no idea. I didn’t open it.”

  Kara’s jaw dropped. “Fearan said that Dugan had ordered Faden to bring it to you. I’ve been itching with curiosity ever since he told me, and you haven’t opened it?”

  “I don’t want to know.”

  “Whatever it is, it might be Dugan’s way of apologizing, or at the least making an attempt to try and get you to talk to him again. You need to open it.”

  Adanel shook her head, her face set in implacable lines. “Dugan thinks he did nothing wrong, so it is definitely not an apology. And I have no doubt that its contents are something to encourage me to be more accommodating to the whiplash of the emotional blows he likes to throw my way. Dugan can try to bribe me, but I am simply uninterested in what he has to offer any longer.”

  Kara let go a soft snort. “The two of you really need to just admit that you love each other and let the past go.”

  “I tried, and I don’t intend to do so again.”

  “So that’s it then? You will just finish out the year and then what?”

  Adanel pressed her lips together and frowned. “I don’t know, Kara. I have not thought that far ahead. All I know is that at this time I have nothing to say to the man and am uninterested in anything he has to say to me.”

  “I hope you aren’t talking about me.”

  Adanel and Kara spun around at the interruption, knowing instantly the owner of the friendly, upbeat voice. Seeing the handsome McTiernay commander, Adanel reached out and gave him a hug. “Loman! Thank you so much for helping with the bonfires outside. Everyone is eager to light them for it has been years since we have had anything like this around here.”

  Loman grinned and tossed his sand-colored hair back behind his shoulder. It was longer than most men’s and he almost always had it tied back, but tonight it was free of its constraints and the change looked well on him. “It was my pleasure, and I thank you for your patience. When I agreed to come to Bàgh Fìon and help Dugan, I honestly had no idea how much work there would be. It’s a nice change from being an elite guard, but there are never enough hours in the day it seems. I must say I have been looking forward to tonight and just taking time to relax and enjoy the festivities. Midsummer’s Eve has always been one of my favorite holidays.”

  Adanel nodded in agreement, her smiling brown eyes reflecting the flames from the fireplace. “Mine too. I love it when the old ones retell the legends of St. George and the dragons.”

  “Aye, the stories are good, but I love the dancing. Please tell me you ladies intend to participate.”

  Kara clapped her hands enthusiastically. “I love the quadrille and the Scottish reel. But Adanel here,” she said with a nudge of her elbow, “is a master at the jig. No one is better.”

  Loman threw his head back and laughed at Kara, who was practically jumping with excitement. “Well, Lady Adanel, if you are good at the jig, then you will be a contender to win the sword dance.”

  Puzzled by what he meant, Adanel asked, “Did you say contender?”

  “Aye,” Loman answered with a nod. “The dance turned into something of a unique rivalry for us McTiernays when Lady McTiernay decided to join the men one year.”

  Adanel’s jaw dropped for a second and she slowly closed it as she could just see Laurel being bold enough to do such a thing. “She actually did the sword dance with the men?”

  “Not only did she dance, she won. For we never stop until only one man—”

  “—or woman,” Kara piped in.

  “Or woman,” Loman added with a smile, “remains standing.”

  Adanel could just imagine Laurel smiling and jumping around with her blond curls bouncing everywhere. Sword dance music was infectious as soldiers pounded the floor, deftly hopping between the quarters made by crossed broadswords to the quick beat of the music. “And you say other McTiernay women now do this dance? Not just the soldiers?”

  “Aye, and not just soldiers either. A McTiernay farmer won at Conan’s wedding. Though I suspect he had been practicing for weeks.” He could see the twinkle in her eye. “So can I lay a set of swords next to mine? I could use the encouragement in front of your clansmen.”

  Adanel rolled her eyes, but laughed, feeling once again excited about the night. “I absolutely would love to join, but I’ve never done the sword dance before, and it has been years since I’ve seen it done. I’m afraid I don’t know how.”

  “It’s simple.” Loman took her hand in his and showed her the first move. “Now just hop out and then back, make the cross, and now back again. You can make any pattern you like but you just cannot touch the blade or stop moving.”

  “Like this?” Adanel asked, using his arm for support with one hand as she pulled up her bliaut with her other hand to practice the steps.

  “Aye, now faster.”

  Adanel repeated the steps but inadvertently caught the hem of her chemise with her toe causing her to fall into Loman’s arms. He easily caught her and was about to help Adanel back to her feet when he froze.

  Adanel turned her head to see what had caused him to suddenly tense up and then froze herself. Sometime during her conversation with Loman, Dugan had arrived and made his way to their corner.

  After all the arguments she had had with the man, Adanel honestly believed she knew what her husband looked like when he was mad. She could not have been more wrong. Nothing she had ever seen compared to the fury staring at her and Loman. His blue eyes had darkened dangerously and the pent-up an
ger that had been building for weeks looked like it was about to explode.

  With carefully controlled self-discipline, Dugan put out his hand and said, “I believe, my lady, it is time we address the clan.”

  Adanel raised her chin with a cool stare in his direction, righted herself, and then deliberately placed only her fingertips in his palm. “Whatever you wish, my lord. I am yours to command.”

  * * *

  His to command, Dugan huffed to himself as he led her to the main table. If only that were true, he would order her back to her chambers to wait for his arrival, which would not be anytime soon. He had a lot to say and it would take more than a few hours for him to calm down enough to say it. Damn woman was a nightmare and while he knew a lot of the hell he’d been in the past few weeks was of his making, it was not all his doing.

  What had Adanel expected from him with her impulsive declaration of love? Had she wanted him to return the sentiment even if he had not been sure he meant it just to spare her feelings? Why had she not spared his and let things continue as they were?

  That night had been the best he had had in almost a year, and with three heavy words, it had changed. And because he had not responded quick enough with his own affirmation of love, she had declared he did not feel the same. He had not said that, she had. Dugan was not sure what he felt and that had not been acceptable. He could still see the critical look in her eye as if he had physically slapped her. He had had no choice but to leave, think, and figure it all out without questions, accusations, and most of all judgments. He had to know that what they had was real. For if it was not, pretending otherwise would hurt her far more than anything he could have said. So he had left.

  Maybe he should have expected Adanel to block him out after leaving her the way he did, but he had not expected her reaction to be so final or so complete. According to the maids, the locked box Faden had brought to her had yet to be opened.

  Garrett had been right. One could only endure so much pain, and Adanel had reached her limit. She was through trying and had made it abundantly clear the past few weeks. That was when he had decided Adanel was right. There would never be another for him, but that did not mean he and Adanel were meant to be. They caused each other too much pain to try and make it work.