The Knight's Temptress (Lairds of the Loch)

by Amanda Scott

  “He is, aye,” Ian said. “Recall that he is my sire. Do you expect me to believe that he treated with James Mòr and gave him leave to cross our land?”

  Dougal smiled. “I do not give away royal secrets. Think what ye will, but ye might just ask yourself what purpose James Mòr had in agreeing to yon daft hunt.”

  “ ’Tis plain enough to me that he agreed so he could flee before Jamie put Dumbarton under siege and starved him out,” Ian said. “You can ponder the fact that the castle is now in Jamie’s hands again. Or, you might better use your time by deciding how to use any persuasive skills you possess on Sir Magnus Galbraith.”

  Dougal opened his mouth and shut it tightly. Looking away, he lengthened his stride so that he nearly tripped on the rope that shackled his ankles. Hearing a snarl from the man, Ian smiled, certain that he had ignited true fear of Mag in him.

  Lina willingly led Ian’s horse and was glad that Ian set as fast a pace as he could with Dougal hobbled as he was. She and Lady Aubrey kept close behind the two men, so there was little conversation between them.

  When they reached the burn and Ian suggested that the two women take turns riding across, both of them just kilted up their skirts and waded. The cold water felt good to Lina. If some of the pebbles were sharp and the water swift, it was also shallow at the ford and Highland-bred women had leather-tough feet.

  From there, the rest of the journey passed quickly. Approaching Bannachra Tower from above, as they did, they could see the tower long before they saw any activity there. As they were cresting the last rise, Ian stopped just above them to scan the view below, then turned back to them and nodded.

  Lina and Lady Aubrey went to stand beside him and the still silent Dougal.

  Ian said, “Look yonder.”

  Lina’s initial impression was that she viewed a sea of moving men, nearly all of whom were afoot. Since Ian had mentioned his father’s hunting party, her first thought was that most of the hunters must have followed Ian and his men to Bannachra. Then she saw a familiar banner waving in the midst of the milling throng, its device of three black arrows stark against a yellow background.

  “Faith, that is my father’s banner, is it not?”

  “May the Fates preserve us,” she heard her mother murmur faintly.

  “That is Andrew Dubh’s, aye,” Ian said, smiling. “Mag has his own banner from the King—a Galbraith bear’s head backed by MacFarlan arrows.”

  Lina knew that. “But my father never leaves Tùr Meiloach, so something dreadful must have happened,” she said. “What else would bring him here?”

  “Let’s ask him. He and Mag can decide who will look after Dougal.”

  Dougal grimaced, as well he should, Lina thought.

  Andrew came beaming to meet them. Passing Ian and Lina, he hugged his lady first. When Lina demanded to know what was amiss, he said it was nowt.

  “I saw Pharlain setting out this morning with all three of the galleys he has now at Arrochar. So I gathered men and followed them. Sithee, thanks to all the rumors we’ve heard of mischief against Tùr Meiloach, I thought he meant such. But he passed us by. Then he passed the place where Magnus came ashore to us.”

  “Where was he going?” Ian asked. Lina noted that he watched Dougal and that Dougal was looking discouraged. In fact, he seemed more interested in scanning the sea of men in the yard than in paying heed to anything else.

  Andrew shrugged. “I thought Pharlain might be going to Craggan or even to Dumbarton to help James Mòr seize control of the firth. But since ye’re here, and since Magnus, Rob MacAulay, and these others are likewise here—no tae mention this fool, Dougal MacPharlain—I’m thinking now that that canna be how it is at all. Sithee, one of my lads shouted that a sizeable force of men was riding toward Loch Lomond, so I hied me this way in time to see them heading up Glen Fruin.”

  Dougal was still watching the sea of men, and just then he stiffened. Looking for the reason, Lina saw Mag wending his way toward them through the crowd. He stood head and shoulders above the others.

  He strode up to them, smiling. Ignoring Dougal, he said to Ian, “You found them both safe, then.”

  “Aye, for the nonce,” Ian said evenly. “As you see, I also found Dougal.”

  Greeting Lady Aubrey, Mag said, “I trust that our Lizzie is safe, too, madam.”

  “Aye, sir,” her ladyship said. “She and Muriella stayed at Tùr Meiloach.”

  Andrew looked at his lady and then at Lina, as if something had occurred to him. He said to Ian, “Did ye find Dougal all alone then wi’ my lady and our Lina?”

  “As well as two other men of his, sir, who lie dead where we fought.”

  “MacFarlan men, belike?”

  “I should think so, aye. But they served Pharlain.”

  “Nonetheless, they’ll be men of my clan. I’ll have my lads see that they get proper burial.”

  Lina caught Mag’s gaze. “They lie in that small clearing Lizzie likes to visit, sir. She took Mam and me there, and somehow, Dougal must have learned of it.”

  “Ye can tell us all about that later, lass,” Andrew said. “Ian, Rob MacAulay, and Mag will escort the prisoners we took back to Dumbarton with them.”

  “We’ll take Dougal, too,” Ian said. “Unless you mean to hang him, sir.”

  Andrew looked Dougal over as if he were examining a sorry specimen. Then he said dourly, “I’d like fine to hang him for taking our Lina captive and making his vile threats against her, let alone for what mischief he’s conjured up today, as I can see he has. However, I ken just as fine that Jamie would no thank me for stirring more trouble with Pharlain just when his grace is trying to settle this country down. If we were on me own land, I’d say different. In times past, where I stood didna matter, but Jamie’s changed the times, and I have nae legal jurisdiction here.”

  “I do,” Mag said grimly.

  Chapter 19

  Andrew looked from Dougal to Mag with a twinkle in his eyes. “ ’Tis true,” he said to Mag. “As son of the Laird of Galbraith, ye do wield power here.”

  Lina held her breath—and her tongue—looking from one man to another.

  Dougal said, “Galbraith won’t want trouble any more than ye do, Andrew.”

  “That be true, too,” Andrew said, nodding. “Ye ken fine that Arthur wouldna like it, Magnus. Still and all, mayhap ye could just make the man disappear.”

  Ian said firmly, “With respect, sir, I’d liefer have both Mag and Rob see our prisoners safely to Dumbarton.”

  Andrew sighed. “I thought ye might,” he said. “But Jamie won’t want to hang this villain either, not whilst he’s trying to persuade the Highland chiefs to meet with him, and whilst Pharlain can block Arrochar’s pass to the Highlands.”

  “Then what do you suggest we do with him,” Ian asked.

  “I’ll have some of me own lads deal with him,” Andrew said, signing to two men hovering nearby. “Get him out of me sight and see him well on his way, with my compliments,” he said to them, emphasizing the last three words. “We’ll keep his weapons, his plaid, and his boots here, so when ye turn him loose in nobbut his tunic, he’ll be harmless to others. Then, if the Fates allow him to get home, mayhap his father will return the boon someday when he catches one of our lot.”

  Ian nodded but said, “Then I’ll leave Mag and Rob to see to our prisoners, sir. They’ll have enough men to get them to Dumbarton without trouble. His grace will have his own men there by now, as well as those of the Douglas, Buccleuch, and Sir Alex Buchanan. The castle, harbor, and burgh should all be secure.”

  “Art sure, lad?” When Ian nodded, he added, “Then your da and Galbraith must have settled their minds about that venture since last I saw ye.”

  “They both played their parts, aye,” Ian said with a smile.

  Andrew’s eyebrows shot upward. “Did they now? Ye did fine then, and I’m proud to have ye for me good-son. Sithee, I’d suspected that the armed force I followed up the glen might belong to James
Mòr. But he wasna with them.”

  “I saw him,” Lina said then, avoiding Ian’s eye. “When I was on the glen path earlier, I heard riders behind me and hid. They were in such haste that they did not see me. Nor did they see Mam hurrying up the other side of Fruin Wat—”

  She broke off, eyeing her father warily, knowing that she had said too much.

  Andrew looked at his lady. “I’m a wee bit curious about that stroll, m’self.”

  Lina held her breath, but Lady Aubrey met Andrew’s stern look easily.

  He shifted his gaze to Lina. “I didna ken ye’d ever seen James Mòr, lass.”

  “I had not seen him before,” she admitted. Deciding to get it all over at once, she looked at Mag and added, “But it must have been James Mòr and some of his closest followers, sir, because your brother Patrick rode with them.”

  Ian said, “Then those boats of Pharlain’s that you saw this morning heading south, sir, were most likely headed for a meeting place on our south shore.”

  “On Colquhoun land?”

  “Aye, or MacAulay’s.”

  Andrew’s eyes glinted but with humor or anger even Lina could not tell.

  Ian said, “Will you be returning at once to Tùr Meiloach, sir?”

  “We will,” Andrew said, shifting his gaze back to meet Lady Aubrey’s.

  Ian said, “Then, with Mag’s agreement and that of the lady Margaret, I mean to stay here tonight with my lady. We have matters to discuss.”

  Mag said, “You are welcome to stay, Ian. You don’t need Aunt Margaret’s permission. If she thinks you do, just leave her to Lina to bring round.”

  “Lina is going to be busy explaining a few things to her husband,” Ian said, giving her a stern look.

  Emotion surged through her then, a mixture of delight that he would stay, wonder at how he expected her to get home if her parents both left, and a touch of trepidation. She could sense his anger again. But even that filled her with delight one moment and made her wonder the next if she was mad to welcome it.

  Ian wanted to get his hands on Lina, on all of her. His cock stirred at just the thought of touching her and teaching her more of what it meant to be married.

  But first, he had a duty to see his prisoners on their way to Dumbarton in Mag’s charge and Rob’s.

  “I suppose you remember that I, too, have a bonnie wife, my lad,” Mag said dryly. “Forbye, she is with child and awaits me at Tùr Meiloach.”

  “I do know that, but Dree will wait. I would remind you that I am but newly wed. Even so, I will grant you a choice. How many prisoners did you take?”

  “Fifteen, mayhap two or three more. Andrew’s men slew several, coming round from Glen Finlas and trapping them between our two forces, as he did.”

  Ian nodded. “If you start at once, you should reach Dumbarton before dark. Even if you don’t start immediately, it will take you only three or four hours, and there will be a moon tonight. It will take Andrew longer to reach his tower from here. But, since he takes his lady with him, he won’t mind the journey.”

  “What is my other choice?” Mag asked.

  “Camp here in the yard with them overnight and leave in the morning. You have Rob and his men to aid you. I’ll lend you mine, as well, to keep watch.”

  “And thus hand my head to my aunt for washing,” Mag said with a chuckle. “I thank you for letting me make the choice, but I’m in as much of a hurry to return to my lady as you are to be with yours. I’ll get this lot moving as soon as we eat.”

  “The hunters planned to roast venison,” Ian reminded him.

  “I know they do. But since I do not mean to inflict our prisoners on them, I’ll raid the larder here. I ken fine that we’ll find ale and bread enough for all. I expect we’ll have enough cheese and dried meat to dole out, as well. If I see Jamie or Colquhoun, when should I tell them to expect you?”

  “Sometime tomorrow,” Ian said. “I don’t mean to linger here.”

  “What about Lina?”

  Ian glanced toward his beautiful wife, still standing with her parents.

  “That is my choice to make,” he said with a wry smile. “It will depend on the explanation she offers for her actions today.”

  Mag’s eyes twinkled. “Whatever you do, don’t treat any explanation lightly. I had a similar experience with Andrena, and I cannot say that I behaved wisely.”

  “Aye, well, we’ll see,” Ian said. “I can’t have Lina taking her own road as she has been doing of late. Only see where it led her this time and the last.”

  “In troth, I’m gey thankful that she was with Lizzie,” Mag said, sobering.

  “And I’m glad that Lina was not alone. Even so…”

  “Their capture was Lizzie’s fault, you know.”

  “I do. But Lina should never have agreed to ride down the glen with her.”

  “Do as you will then, my lad, but if you would be wiser than I was, tread with great care.”

  Ian noted then that the twinkle had returned to the big man’s eyes.

  Lina listened to her father with half an ear while keeping track of Ian and Mag in her peripheral vision. Andrew chatted casually, inquiring about their journey to Bannachra and Lady Margaret’s well-being. But Lina knew he wanted an explanation of her mother’s meeting with Dougal, and one for her own presence there, as much as Ian did. And Andrew’s temper was even more volatile than Ian’s was.

  Nevertheless, Lady Aubrey’s tone remained calmly conversational.

  Although Andrew fairly radiated determination, neither he nor his lady seemed distressed or angry, so Lina’s own earlier torrent of emotions began to settle into a semblance of her usual calm… until peripheral movement diverted her.

  Ian had parted with Mag and was striding toward her through the crowd.

  Tentacles of tension slid around and through her, stirred by a mixture of emotions. Her body reacted strongly, sensually, to the look of purpose on his face. Too-delightful images and feelings from their wedding night and afterward filled her mind and body until she could scarcely think of anything else.

  As he strode nearer, the expression on his face was enough to make the men between them stand aside to make way for him. She recalled then his saying that her decision to follow her mother was more reckless than anything he had ever done.

  Her calm shattered. Her tension grew. She could not claim that following her own mother ought to have been safe, not without lying to him. Nor could she honestly claim ignorance of any danger in what she had done. The danger threatening her mother had been the very thing that had forced her to act, and she had already declared as much to him.

  She tried to think of something to say, anything that might disarm his temper. But her imagination failed her.

  Striding up to them, Ian nodded to Andrew, then to Lady Aubrey, saying crisply, “I would ask you both to excuse us now. Lina will stay here with me tonight, and I must return to Dumbarton tomorrow.”

  His tone tightened the tentacles gripping her and sent heat and apprehension through her in equal, if wholly disparate, measures. The heat she welcomed. She yearned for him to make her feel it strongly again all over. The apprehension.…

  Without looking at her, Andrew said lightly, “What will ye do with our Lina, lad, if I may ask ye?”

  Lina swallowed hard at her father’s choice of words.

  “You may ask me any questions you like, sir,” Ian said. “In troth, I do not know the answer to that one yet. I would like to take her with me to Dumbarton—nay, to Dunglass and from there to Craggan. But you will agree that I’d be leaving her in good hands if I decided to leave her here for a time with Lady Margaret.”

  To Lina’s shock, Andrew nodded. Her mother kept silent.

  Then Andrew said, “I’d ask only that ye visit us soon at Tùr Meiloach, lad. I ken fine that ye’ll likely take ship from Dunglass tae Craggan when ye go there. But we’ll want to see ye as soon as the pair of ye settle in at Craggan.”

  Lina opened her mouth to r
emind them that most of her belongings were at Tùr Meiloach, which would make settling in anywhere else difficult, to say the least. But a glance at Ian’s harsh countenance stopped the words on her tongue.

  He nodded as if her silence pleased him. Then, to Andrew, he said, “We will see you anon, sir, I promise.”

  “Then take yourselves off, although ye might want a bite of supper first.”

  “Perhaps,” Ian said. Offering his arm to Lina, he added, “We’ll see.”

  Without hesitation, she accepted his arm. Her own temper had begun to spark.

  Having noted the set of her delicate jaw and the thinning of her so-kissable lips, Ian urged her across the yard. Again, men saw them coming and made way.

  “I must speak with Lady Margaret,” Lina said. “She will need help if she is to provide supper for this crowd.”

  “We won’t trouble her,” Ian said. “Where is your bedchamber?”

  “Good sakes, sir, would you send me to bed without supper? I’m not a bairn.”

  “Mag and Rob will see to the men’s supper with the aid of the Galbraith people here. Lady Margaret’s own people will look after her and will perhaps provide us with supper, too, later. Meantime, I want to talk to you, and I do not want anyone to interrupt us. Now, where is your bedchamber?”

  “This way,” she said, moving away from him toward the main entrance. Following her inside, to an entry that was no more than a broad landing on a spiral stone stairway, he saw a smaller landing and an archway into the great hall a few steps above them. Steps to his left led downward. Despite apparently being the tower’s main stairway, it was as narrow as the service stairs at Tùr Meiloach.

  “Defending this place would be nigh as difficult as attacking it,” he said. “I wonder if James Mòr knew aught but that this tower stands in Glen Fruin.”

  “Why do you say that?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder as she crossed the great hall landing to the next flight.

  “Because your lad Pluff said that one of those six men pointed to Lady Margaret’s banner on the ramparts and said they would ride on. They had got well ahead of their other men by then, so I’m thinking that James Mòr expected those following them to delay pursuit if any presented itself. Or mayhap, he planned to bide here for a time to take a meal or even to seize the tower.”