But, she did not know what he would be like. He obviously had money if he was the one to save the family from financial ruin. She wondered if he knew of all that. Had her father told him? She was not sure that many Lords would marry, knowing that they were going to lose some of their money. That restricted the number of available Lords.
Oh, bother. These thoughts are going to drive me insane. My father has arranged for me to be married, and I trust his judgment more than anyone I know. Though, he has made some questionable decisions with money. No, I cannot think like that. It must not have been his fault. Get a hold of yourself, and just go and find out who you are to wed.
Juliana made her way to her father’s study, and found him, once again, poring over documents. When he noticed her, he fished out the letter that had come that morning and gave it a quick glance. Juliana wondered if he had forgotten what the answer had been.
“Please sit down, my dear,” said her father.
“Are you well?” asked Juliana. “You do not look very good. Was it bad news? It is, is it not? The Lord does not want to marry me. Oh, Father, what are we to do?”
“Much you get from me, but there is a lot of your mother in you too.” There was a nervousness playing across her father’s face. “There is nothing to worry about. Just sit down, please.”
“You are worrying me, Father. I was sure that it was bad news. So, we are all going to be fine?”
“The letter has returned, and the marriage will go ahead.” He sat back in his chair with a relieved air, and let out a long sigh, but there was still some tension in his face. He was holding something back.
Juliana almost did not want to ask. If the marriage was to go ahead, then that was surely good news, but her father was acting as if there had been a rejection.
“Who is the Lord that I am to marry?” asked Juliana.
“I should never have let the business spiral out of control,” admitted her father. “This is all my fault, yet you have to deal with the sins of the father.”
“Who is the Lord, Father?” The response worried her, and images of English Lords flashed through her mind. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
“I could not approach the Lords from around here. God knows that bad news spreads fast, and there is almost no one who does not know of our situation, our lack of current funds. Oh, they rejoice over it, I can just feel it, but we will be back where we belong soon.” He hesitated again.
“Please, Father. Will you just tell me which Lord I am to marry,” said Juliana with exasperation.
“Not a Lord…a Laird.”
“What?” She was too stunned to say anything else.
“It would never have been my first choice,” admitted her father. “I scoured the country for an English Lord who would make a fine match, but the news of our disappearing wealth has spread far and wide. Not one of the well-respected Lords would so much as think about it. It was the only choice, you have to believe me. If we were not in this financial situation, there is no amount of money that could be given for me to allow this. But, if it is not to happen, then we will be steeped in poverty. All of this will be gone. I know that it is a lot to ask of you, but I do not have anything else.”
Her father slumped in his chair, looking like half the man that he had been only twenty-four hours previously. He would not even look Juliana in the eye.
A Scotsman! I hoped to marry a great warrior, but I get a barbarian instead. Oh, father, why have you done this to me? I do not want to, yet I cannot say no. If this is my destiny, then so be it. I will sacrifice all that I am to make this family what it once was.
“Father,” started Juliana. She got off of her seat and walked to her father. She took his hand in hers. “Father, I will do it. I will do it for you, and mother, and this house, and everything that we deserve. I can see that it pains you, and it pains me too, but when times are bad, great sacrifices must be made. I will do whatever needs to be done.”
Her father straightened and wrapped his arms around Juliana; she could feel the warmth in the embrace.
“Thank you,” he said. “The wedding will be soon. We only need to hope that he does not find out the truth about our situation until you two are wed.”
2
A Sight So Breathtaking
Lochenbrew, Scotland
A group of children sat on the brown dirt within the walls of Lochenbrew Castle, so captivated by the story, that Andrew was not sure when any of them last blinked. He loved the attention of the children and had been charged with training them to fight, though his stories often got in the way.
“Tell us more, please!” shouted one of the children.
“More, more, more.” The chants continued as each of the children joined in.
“All right, all right, If ye’ll promise that ye’ll dae everythin’ that I tell ye tae.” Andrew threw his hands up in defeat.
“We promise,” came the response.
“Listen closely, for I’ll only tell ye this story once.” He deepened his voice and spoke a little quieter. He had them right there. The children leaned in to hear better what was about to be said.
“Laird Lochenbrew has many enemies,” started Andrew.
“But he strikes them down, right,” said a small boy at the front.
“I think that someone else wants tae tell the story.” Andrew pretended to get up and leave.
“No, no, ye can tell it. Ye are much better at tellin’ stories,” said the boy.
“I’m just jokin’ with ye,” said Andrew, sitting back down on the dirt. “Did I ever tell ye about the time that we were attacked by bandits?”
“No,” came the collective response.
“Laird Lochenbrew was travelin’ from the city tae the south, back tae the Castle, when our carriages were attacked. As ye know, the Laird is a smart man, and never travels without protection. I was one of the young men charged with his protection that day. When the bandits attacked, we were ready.
“They came on horses, out of the trees tae either side of us, whoopin’ and screamin’, tryin’ tae frighten us, but in battle, ye have no time tae be frightened. In battle, yer life is at stake. The bandits had us on the back foot, but not for long. I drew my sword and took down two before they even got close tae the carriages.
“They were probably after money, but I could not let the Laird be hurt. Of course, the Laird can take care of himself and has one of the finest swords ever made. I bet ye can guess what blacksmith made that sword.”
“You!” came the collective shout.
“Aye, that’s right. But, he had no need tae use it.”
The children did not say anything, they sat there wide-eyed, hoping that there were more bandits to come. No more did, but they did all stare up when they saw Laird Lochenbrew standing there.
“Is this how ye train the defenders of our castle, Andrew?” asked Laird Lochenbrew.
“We were just takin’ a break. I, uh, just wanted them tae know what a real battle was like.” Andrew jumped to his feet, annoyed with himself that he had not noticed the Laird arriving.
“And, dae ye think that the enemy takes breaks?” asked Laird Lochenbrew.
“No, Me Laird.”
“I chose ye for a reason, Andrew, but ye are easily replaced. Teach them tae fight, or get back tae work with the other blacksmiths, but don’t sit around having story time with the bairns.”
“Sorry, Me Laird. It won’t happen again.” He mentally kicked himself again.
“No, it won’t.” Laird Lochenbrew surveyed the scene before continuing. “Finish up yer work and pack yer stuff.”
“Please, Me Laird, I’ll work harder.”
“Aye, I should toss ye out, but not today. I need ye tae travel down tae England with a few of the men. Ye are tae bring the daughter of Baron Gordontrent back with ye.”
“The daughter of an English Baron,” said Andrew. “What for?”
“What for? What for, is not of yer business. We are tae be married, and that is all
that ye need tae know. Now, quit yer stories, worry about yer own business, and get back tae trainin’ these lads. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Me Laird.” Andrew turned back to the children as the Laird walked away. It had been twelve years since the Laird had taken him in, and his life had not developed as he had dreamed it would. He had been excited to come and live in the Castle, but now he was not so sure.
It was when he was away from the Castle that he felt the most joy. He had always been as good with a sword as he had with a hammer, and the Laird had soon discovered that. Andrew had started life as a blacksmith in the Castle, but his duties were soon added to when the Laird had seen him swing a sword.
Andrew had been sent out with other men, always changing as some came and went, to do battle with the other clans. It did not take long for him to be recognized as the best fighter in the Castle, not that Laird Lochenbrew cared.
In fact, Andrew was unsure why the Laird had taken him in at all. He was fifteen when he had come to live at the Castle and was thankful to the Laird for rescuing him after his father had passed, but he could not help but wonder why the Laird had done it. If there was an idea that the Laird wanted to take him on as a son, then that sentiment was soon forgotten. The longer that Andrew resided in the Castle, the more he got the impression that the Laird hated him.
Andrew kept his head down, did his work to the best of his abilities, and hoped that he did not succumb to death in his next battle.
“Stories are what keep us goin’,” Andrew said to the kids. “It separates us from the animals. But, a good story will not stop a sword from cuttin’ through ye, so back tae trainin’ we go.”
The children were disappointed that story time was over, but they had seen the Laird there too and knew that it was time to get back to work. They picked up their wooden swords and swung them like Andrew did, copying his movements as best they could.
Andrew knew that he was only a good teacher because of his father. His father had taught him the ways of the world from a very young age, and Andrew had to hold back the tears as he showed the children how to wield their swords. It did not seem like very long ago that his father had given him the same training that he was now giving the kids.
The Laird had furthered that training to make him the fighter that he was today, but it had always been the personal touches of his father that had made the most difference. His father had been the hammer that had shaped him, and the Laird was the cold water that had steeled and hardened him.
Andrew knew that he was invaluable to the Laird in what he did for him, but he also knew that the Laird could replace him in an instant with someone else. He was glad again to be leaving the Castle once more to do the Laird’s work.
* * *
“This is important.” Laird Lochenbrew was an imposing man, and stood close to Andrew as he spoke.
“I know, Me Laird,” said Andrew.
“I am trustin’ ye with this. Dinnae mess it up.”
Andrew wanted to appeal to the Laird. He had made a few mistakes over the years, but nothing damaging, and none were entirely his fault. “I won’t, Me Laird.”
“The lass gets here safely. I have plenty enemies on the roads up tae here.”
“Aye,” said Andrew, taking his orders from the Laird. He wanted to add that the Laird was not important enough for someone to try and kidnap her and that he would be fine babysitting this English lass for a few days on the road, but he knew that would only make things worse.
The comments the previous day when he had been teaching the kids had scalded him, and he was still angered by them. There were so many times that the Laird had made comments like that that he wondered why the Laird had not yet thrown him out of the Castle, not that he was worse than any of the other men. In fact, he was known as one of the fiercest warriors in the Castle and could make better weapons than anyone.
Andrew often wondered why he did not just get up and leave. It was a small mercy that he had these trips away from the Castle, and he could often clear his head when he was away for days at a time, but there would be work for him elsewhere. There must be other villages needing good, hardworking men, even a castle, perhaps.
He got into the carriage, a comfort that he did not want, and tried not to look at the glare from Laird Lochenbrew as the carriage pulled away. He would rather be on a horse than cooped up inside, but the English lass needed the carriage, and he would be in there with her, so a horse had not been allocated for him. He did not feel like the mighty fighter that he was.
Andrew wondered if those that they passed would mistake him for a nobleman. Perhaps if they saw his face through the opening, and only his face, but not if they were to see his ragged clothing. There would be no mistaking him for a man of importance.
He had been tasked with traveling down to Gordontrent and bringing back the Baron’s daughter. Andrew did not know how the titles ranked down in England, but he did know that a Baron was important. Laird Lochenbrew had done well to make a match with the daughter of a Baron, and it would be advantageous for the Castle, and the trade that came with it.
Andrew often wondered if he would marry. The time alone with his father, growing up just the two of them, had given him a solitary nature. His father had been without his mother for so long, that living by himself had become normal. Andrew often thought about taking a wife but did not know that he ever would. With running errands constantly for the Laird, and going into battle, he did not think that he could give a woman the life that she deserved.
He had had offers, of course. He was a handsome man, and many women had approached him in the Castle. The need for companionship was somewhere there inside of him, and he had lain with a woman many times, finding happiness in the fleeting moments, but always longed to be alone again shortly after.
The thick forearms of the fifteen-year-old had transformed into the muscular arms of a man. When he was in battle, he was seen as a mountain of a man, standing well over six-feet tall, with arms and legs as thick as cabers. His broad chest, combined with his broad shoulders, made him look like a giant when he went one-on-one with another man in the heat of war.
The smooth lines of his face had hardened like the steel of a sword, sharp and angular, cheekbones defined and eyes deep and dark blue. He was handsome in a raw, uncontrolled way, and he would have his pick of women if he wanted to. There were even some of the noblewomen who would choose to lay with him if they could do it in secret.
The thought of noblewomen brought him back to the lady that he was being sent to retrieve. Juliana was her name. If she were the daughter of a Baron, then this was not about money for her, thought Andrew. Laird Lochenbrew would not have as much money as her family did, even if he did own a castle.
Andrew felt sorry for the lass. He had lived in the same castle as the Laird and did not like the man. He had a respect for him, but he was not likable. Laird Lochenbrew had taken Andrew in, and he was eternally grateful for that; he had saved him, in a way, and given him purpose, but Andrew still wondered what his life would have been like if not for the selflessness of the Laird.
It tore at Andrew at times. It had been a selfless act, Andrew knew that but that selflessness stopped after the act. Andrew despaired to think of a new bride being treated the same way as he had been. He wondered if she knew what she was getting herself into.
If not money, then what?
He had not grown up with any money, and, now, as a man, he had little to his name. He lived in the Castle and had enough to pay for his food and drink, but he was far from being a rich man. Andrew tried not to think about it any further. This was a time to clear his head, not dwell on life in the Castle.
The journey passed quickly. It only took a few days to travel down to Gordontrent, and Andrew tried to enjoy the comfort of the carriage. They stopped to eat and sleep, but Andrew longed to be outside, on a horse of his own, feeling his way down the road, instead of experiencing every bump and jolt from a thinly cushioned bench. He was glad when
they finally arrived.
Lord Gordontrent was standing out front, waiting for the carriage as they arrived, and Andrew knew that his wife and daughter were the two ladies standing next to him. It was obvious that the younger of the two was Miss Petrey. Andrew did not get a proper look at her until he stepped from the carriage. When he did, he did not think that he had ever seen such beauty in his life.
Andrew’s heart skipped a beat. The young woman was like a mythical creature from another world, both heavenly and mysterious. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and lay gaily on her shoulders, showing off her gentle and dainty shape. She had a maturity in her eyes, a piercing blackness that drew Andrew in immediately.
She wore a dress that clung tightly to her shape, showing a figure that would be admired by people everywhere, not just men. She stood tall too, slightly taller than her mother, and the ruby-red lips were almost a dare. They whispered to him to be kissed. Andrew wanted to dash over there and take her in his arms.
His immediate thought was that the Laird did not deserve this woman, did not deserve her at all. He stepped down from the carriage and tried to compose himself. It was proving difficult. She was a sight so breathtaking that Andrew’s head swam with the possibilities.
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Thank you very much.
Also by Maddie MacKenna
Thank you for reading Awakening his Highland Soul!
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Some other best sellers of mine:
Consumed by the Lost Highlander
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