The man appeared out of nowhere, his hands on his hips as he stared at Ruari. “Do I know you? The abbess said someone out here wished to speak with me.”
Ruari greeted him. “Nay, you do not. My brother is the chieftain of Clan Cameron. I met your daughter, Juliana, when she arrived here. We got to know each other when I escorted her to Stonecroft Abbey and back.” He paused to clear his throat. “I would like to request her hand in marriage.” He’d worn his best plaid and leine for the man, although he feared it would not make enough of an impression.
“Are you certain you’re speaking of Juliana? She just arrived here. That would be impossible.”
“Aye, I do speak of Juliana. I’m certain we would suit if…”
“Nay,” the man barked. He was a tall man, though his shoulders had rounded a touch. He had probably been a fit man at one time, but life had drained him of his stamina.
“I think it would be a good match. I’m an honorable man…”
“I said nay. Leave off.” He glared at Ruari as he said it, making his meaning quite clear.
“I think we would suit. We…”
“I said nay. She is betrothed to Ailbeart Munro. They’ll be married in a sennight. She’s taken.” He whirled around like a dancer full of too many ales and headed back inside.
Ruari wasn’t going to give up. “Did she agree to this?”
He turned around and said, “She doesn’t get a say. She’ll do as she’s told. I forbid you to see her again. Stay away.”
Forbid him?
The hell with Clavelle. He would see Juliana again.
He could wager on that fact.
Chapter Fifteen
Juliana turned her head to glance at her escort, the chief of Clan Munro, Ailbeart Munro. He’d offered to bring her to a nearby festival that took place once a moon in spring and summer no more than an hour’s ride from the abbey. She’d accepted the offer. Munro and her father had arrived at the abbey two days ago, but she’d barely spoken with the laird after their first meeting in the hall. This was her chance to get to know him better.
Although her heart still belonged to Ruari Cameron, she had to prepare herself for the possibility that her sire might force her to marry Munro. He’d proven quite stubborn on the subject over the past two days.
Her sister was equally adamant that she should not marry the laird.
The two had apparently reached an impasse because her sire and her sister were no longer speaking. Joan still hadn’t explained why she disapproved of Ailbeart Munro, other than his age. True, he had many gray hairs, but since his hair was so light, they didn’t show much. Neither did the fine lines on his face.
Juliana preferred Ruari Cameron’s rugged good looks, but no one had asked her. Nor were they likely to do so.
Munro leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, “Which side will win? The red plaids or the blue?”
She perused the mass of men tugging on opposite ends of a very long rope, trying to decide which team appeared stronger. She thought the blue group appeared much stronger, the seven men tugging on the rope so hard the red group had to fight to keep from crossing the mark on the ground between them. “I think the blue. They’re much stronger than the other group. I’ve never seen such an activity.”
She laughed, a nervous sound, and Ailbeart leaned down and whispered, “I love the sound of your laughter. I promise you’ll do it often as my wife.”
The red team suddenly collapsed, the rope flying out of their hands as many of them toppled to the ground cursing. Her eyes widened at some of the expressions she heard.
“Festivals can be quite raw. My apologies that those men have no sense of honor in their comportment around ladies. What else would you like to see? Mayhap I shall purchase a gift for you,” he said, his mouth stretching into a wide smile as he led her toward the colorful tents at the center of the festival.
Juliana had never witnessed such a spectacle, and she had to admit, it was magnificent. Her sire had been quite protective, only allowing her on occasion to fetch food from the vendors at the small festival occasionally held near their home. “What do they have?”
“You shall see.”
The clouds kept the sun away, so it was mostly gray, but it had not yet rained. She feared ruining her only pair of good slippers. She had a sturdy pair of boots but only one pair of slippers, and both showed wear. Fortunately, her skirts kept them mostly hidden.
Ailbeart led her to the first of the booths and she gasped at the wide array of colorful hair ribbons. “Oh, how lovely.”
“Naught is too good for you. Choose two of your favorites and I’ll have them wrapped in twine for you to take home.”
How did one properly thank a man for such a gift?
She chose a deep green velvet ribbon, plus a purple one the color of the lavender in her tapestry, both dark enough to show against her light brown hair. Thanking him graciously, she blushed when he said, “Mayhap I’ll steal a kiss later as proper thanks.”
She didn’t know how to respond to such a comment, so she kept quiet.
“Or mayhap right now,” he said, his lips meeting hers in a quick, crushing kiss that lasted only a second, but it had been long enough to tell her one thing.
She didn’t like it. It was nothing like Ruari Cameron’s kiss.
Her heart sunk in her chest. Part of her had hoped she’d fall in love with Ailbeart—it would have been so much easier that way. But she tried to ignore the sensation and enjoy herself. She could decide what to do later.
Ailbeart led her past the next booth, full of daggers and other small weaponry, and on to the one next to it. “This is my gift to you. Choose a pair to match each ribbon.”
Juliana gasped at the array of beautiful beaded slippers in front of her. They had every color of the rainbow! She fell in love with a golden pair, and even though they weren’t purple or green, she still chose that pair. After searching the others, her gaze fell on a dark purple pair with forest green beads on it. She pointed to that pair, and Ailbeart announced, “Only the best for my betrothed.”
He said it loudly, confidently, and his voice carried. Except Juliana hadn’t agreed to marry him yet.
Then again, he hadn’t asked. Her sire hadn’t said anything to her yet. Was her destiny to be decided so easily? Should she deny him here in front of others? Somehow, she knew that wouldn’t be a wise choice, so she kept it to herself. Surely they could discuss the issue later, at the abbey. Surely she still had a chance to wed Ruari if she so chose.
She gasped as someone familiar stepped up to her. Someone who seemed to have stepped right out of her thoughts.
Ruari wore a brown tunic with his red clan plaid slung over his shoulder. He towered over Ailbeart, but the Munro did not back down.
“Do you know this man?” he asked her.
She gave a slight nod, her gaze lifting to lock on Ruari’s brown eyes. Even though they were the same color as Ailbeart’s, they were so much warmer, gold flecks shining in them. She took a small, unconscious step toward him.
“What do you want?” Ailbeart demanded.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your declaration. My lady, have you accepted his proposal?” he asked, the warmth in his gaze disappearing in an instant.
“Nay, I…” she looked from one man to the other. Ailbeart’s fingers dug into her skin, silencing her. She nearly screamed at the painful assault, but she’d always been taught not to make a scene in public. She held her tongue, but the look on Ailbeart’s face filled her with terror.
“She has no say in the matter. The lady will be my wife in a sennight, and you are to leave us. Now!” His voice came out in a raw bellow and a crowd gathered around them.
Juliana wished to run and hide, but the man had an iron-grip on her arm.
“Let go,” Ruari said, grabbing Ailbeart’s other arm. “You’re hurting her.”
“I’ll touch her as I please since she is my betrothed. ’Tis no concern of yours.”
Ruar
i lowered his face until it nearly touched Ailbeart’s. “Let. Go. Of. Her.”
Ailbeart pinched harder, sending searing waves of pain down her arm.
A growl came from deep inside Ruari and he grabbed Ailbeart by the throat, lifting him in the air, which forced him to finally drop his punishing grip from Juliana’s arm. He tossed Ailbeart to the side as if he were naught but a bale of hay and, the man landed on his arse. His face lit up with a fury unlike anything she’d ever seen.
Juliana turned and ran.
“I’ll have you whipped for touching me,” Ailbeart shouted, but Ruari didn’t mind him. He followed her instead.
“Juliana, are you hale? Please allow me to escort you back to the abbey. I’ll get you safely away from that brute.” She stopped running for a moment, noticing the three Munro guards closing in around her, their swords drawn as if to protect her from Ruari…but Ruari was defending her. It was Ailbeart who’d harmed her.
Five Cameron guards came up behind Ruari, drawing their weapons as well.
The Munro chieftain came up behind the group, brushing the dirt from his clothing. He spoke to his guards first. “Stand down unless he touches me again.” He moved in front of Ruari. “This marriage will take place, regardless of anything you say. She is mine and you’d better learn it now.”
Ten more Munro guards appeared, and their laird gripped Juliana’s elbow, although less cruelly this time, and led her away from the group. She glanced over her shoulder back at Ruari and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Say the word, Juliana, and I’ll kill him.”
But she said nothing, instead walking off with the man who’d hurt her.
Oh, how she wished she were in Ruari’s arms instead. But if she allowed Ruari to take her away, people would be hurt, and it would all be her fault. She’d seen enough men die.
***
Ruari couldn’t stop the pounding of his heart as he watched Juliana being pushed by the bastard Munro. It had seemed like fate when he’d first seen her at the stalls. She’d been on his mind, although this outing had been his attempt at a diversion. The whole family had come along, even Neil, and he hadn’t found it in himself to deny Brin’s joyful invitation.
Then he’d seen her walking arm in arm with that old man. As if that hadn’t been bad enough, Munro was clearly not a man who’d treat her well. He’d squeezed her hard enough to leave bruises on her soft flesh, an image that would haunt his dreams.
He’d offered to help, but she’d said nothing.
What was he to do when she didn’t seem to want his help? He couldn’t possibly let her marry such a brute, could he?
He stopped and looked at Padraig, a sheepish look on his face. Padraig said, “Just say the word and I’ll go with you. Challenge the bastard. I saw the way he touched and spoke to her. He’s no man.”
He stared after her, wishing more than anything that she’d chosen him, but she hadn’t. “She doesn’t seem to want anything to do with me.”
The crowd dissipated, and Neil came up from behind him. “When are you going to grow a pair of bollocks, Cameron? You should have taken him down.”
“Kill a laird here in front of a crowd? They’d have my head on a pike in the middle of the festival before the sun drops.” Why did Neil always know exactly how to goad him? The man seemed determined to make his life miserable.
He was damn sick of him.
Aedan and Jennie came up behind him with Tara, Riley, and Brin. “Nay, Neil. He did the right thing. This was not the place for a major battle. There are bairns here with their parents. Festivals are for everyone, not for swordfights.” He clasped his brother’s shoulder in encouragement.
“You’re much bigger than him, Uncle Ruari,” Brin said knowingly. “You could have beaten him easily.”
“But he didn’t wish to start a fight,” Aedan said. “’Tis the wrong place. Learn from that. True, the man was not treating her properly, and we were all witness to it. Ruari, I wouldn’t blame you for challenging him, but please wait until we are away from here. If you wish to fight for her hand, then you should approach him back at the abbey.”
“Why allow them to leave and have him think he’s won?” Neil asked.
Aedan said, “Because if you didn’t notice, a lass under twenty summers stood in the middle and would have surely been hurt. And I have my wife and two daughters with me.”
“I wouldn’t have wished to see a brawl in the middle of a festival,” Jennie added. “Neil, I have to question your motives. Are you trying to taunt Ruari into fighting?”
“Thank you, dear sister, but I can handle myself.” He appreciated the sentiment, he didn’t want to feel like he was hiding behind his sister-in-law’s skirts. “Neil is showing poor judgment again, something he’s done more often of late.” He cast him a sideways glare but said nothing because his nieces and nephew were present. “I’ll not forget how the man treated the lady. You can count on that.”
Tara asked, “Who would want to witness a brawl here? You did the right thing, Uncle Ruari. The man was a brute.”
Padraig grinned, his white teeth shining. “I would have. And I would have gladly assisted him.”
“Me, too,” Brin said.
Ruari shook off his anger to the best of his ability, then said, “I need to think. I’ll head back to Cameron land.”
“As you wish,” Aedan said, “Find something for Mama and bring it home for her, will you not? She could use one of those warmers for her hands. She’s worn the others thin.”
“We’ll find it for her, Ruari,” Jennie said. “Go if you like.”
Riley asked, “Why not go to the log toss first, Uncle Ruari? You might feel better afterward.”
Ruari couldn’t help but be surprised at the insight of his young niece. He always felt better after exertion, and the log toss was just what he needed to exorcise his temper. The blood running through his veins felt particularly hot just now. But if he tossed some logs and perchance pretended he was tossing a certain laird instead… “Good idea. ‘Tis where I’ll go first, then I’m heading home.”
What an odd but accurate thought to have come from his niece.
***
Juliana had been tossed up onto her horse’s back so quickly that she’d needed to scramble for Winnie’s mane to keep from going over the other side. She settled and stared at her escort.
The face she’d thought so affable at first was twisted with rage. Ailbeart Munro was still furious with Ruari Cameron.
Or was he furious with her? She wasn’t sure.
Oh, how she wished she’d run with Ruari.
She waited for the guards to mount while Ailbeart gave them his instructions. Her gaze traveled the area, halting on the log toss. She’d seen the competition before, but she hadn’t been the least bit interested in the past. That changed in a moment.
Ruari strode over to a massive log, his back to her, and stripped his tunic off, tossing it aside. His bronzed skin shone like a beacon, calling for her attention, and she gave it to him. He bent over the log, lifting it with a roar, the muscles in his back rippling with his every movement. Her gaze locked on his now-glistening skin as he used all his strength to send the log off into the distance.
The crowd roared as the log flew well beyond that of any of the other contenders, his friends clapping his shoulders, congratulating him on his spectacular toss. He proceeded to toss another one and the crowd roared even louder.
All she could do was stare at the fine specimen of a man standing not far from her. She wanted to run her hands down his back, feel the hardness of his muscles, and taste the salt in his sweat. Her mouth went dry as he turned to face her. He didn’t notice her at first, and she took in his flat abdomen and his bulging chest muscles, a smattering of brown hair begging for her touch. She’d wondered what color it would be.
He laughed when they called his name as the winner, and he chugged on a skin, pouring some of the water over his head.
The water cascaded down his powerful,
sinewy muscles, the drops glistening in the sun that had just popped through the clouds, and she had the sudden urge to lick every one of those drops from his body as he swung his wet locks back and forth.
But then his gaze found hers and he froze.
In that moment, heat carried across the field, drenching her body in a sweat that seemed to come from him. She swallowed as his gaze bore through her, as if she sat her horse naked, the fur of the horse tickling her in places she’d never felt before, making her want to rub herself against the beast.
But the moment ended when the judge grabbed Ruari’s hand and held it up over his head to declare him the winner, pulling his gaze from hers and turning him toward the cheering crowd.
At that same exact moment, Ailbeart yanked her by her hair, his horse now next to hers, and said, “Do not ever embarrass me like that again.”
Chapter Sixteen
When they arrived back at the abbey, Juliana dismounted on her own just as Ailbeart made his way over to her. His demeanor had changed back to the way it had been prior to their run-in with Ruari, so she thanked him for his gifts and tried to make her way past him, but he stopped her.
“Lady Juliana, forgive me for my actions. I lost my temper when that man came near you. I fear I will never like another man looking at the woman who is mine. Could we have a brief repast so we can talk?”
“Nay, I need to lie down. It was a most exhausting day, though I do thank you for it and for my gifts.” It was almost time for the evening meal, but she had no desire to be around such a cruel man. She just wished to go to bed and speak with Joan.
She held her breath, but he finally agreed, taking her arm to help her inside. “Aye, festivals can be quite exhausting for gentle ladies.”
As soon as he released her, she dashed off to the room she shared with her sister. Once inside, she collapsed on the bed, tossing her gifts off to the side. She never wished to look at them again. Joan came in moments later and said, “I heard it did not go well.”
She nearly burst into tears, but instead stood up and said, “Please help me into my night rail. I don’t wish to step outside this chamber until the morrow.”
The Banished Highlander Page 10