Calum was silent so long that Christy feared he intended to ignore her challenge. She was all but ready to give up and try reasoning with Calum on another level when he finally deigned to answer.
“Go back to yer homes. I have what I want. Ye’ve nothing more to fear from the Camerons as long as ye recognize me as yer leader. Old Angus was wrong to think a weak woman could lead the clan. I was the natural choice but he passed me by in favor of his granddaughter. The time is right now for me to claim leadership.”
An anguished cry rose up from the Macdonalds and Ranalds as they grasped their weapons and started forward, prepared to do battle to protect their rightful laird.
“No! No fighting,” Christy cried. “Everyone, go home. Let me settle this in my own way. There will be no bloodshed today on my account.”
An ominous silence fell as the Highlanders digested Christy’s words. Some of the clansmen still held out for a battle, but the voice of reason finally prevailed as Murdoch took matters into his own hands.
“Verra well, we’ll honor our laird’s wishes and leave, Cameron, but ye havena heard the last from us. Lord Derby will be notified immediately. He willna forgive yer insult to his wife. Wife stealing may be a tradition in the Highlands, but ‘tis a crime in England. As much as I dislike the English, they still rule our land.”
“No one rules Camerons,” Calum shouted. “I’m warning ye. Keep Lord Derby away from Glenmoor if ye value his life.”
“I agree,” Christy called down to her kinsmen. “Bringing Lord Derby to the Highlands would be a mistake. Go back to your homes and let me handle this.”
Amid much grumbling and no little amount of disappointment, the Highlanders dispersed, each clan returning to its own stronghold. Calum glared up at Christy; she met his furious gaze with cool disdain. He might think he had the upper hand now, but he wasn’t going to get away with this. Somehow she’d find a way to foil his plans and return to her husband and son.
Moments later Christy heard footsteps pounding up the stairs and braced herself for Calum’s anger. She heard the metallic scrape of the key turning in the lock, and then the door burst open. Calum strode inside, his face as dark as a thundercloud.
“Ye made a fool of me!”
“You are a fool, Calum Cameron. Neither the Macdonalds nor the Ranalds will submit to your leadership. If you continue this folly you’ll bring more trouble upon yourself than you can handle. The Highlanders haven’t forgotten their defeat at Culloden. Perhaps you are more anxious than I to bring English soldiers to Glenmoor and let them impose their will upon us.”
“I thought ye hated the English bastards who killed our parents as much as I do. Now look at ye. Yer an Englishman’s whore.”
“I’ve been Lord Derby’s wife since I was seven years old,” Christy claimed. “You know I had no choice in the matter.”
“Aye, wife in name only until ye sought him out in England and played the whore with him. Did ye think I dinna know what ye did and why? Ye wanted his child to preserve yer precious Glenmoor. Yer no longer one of us, Christy Macdonald.”
“Then let me return to England, to my husband and bairn. You cannot force yourself on me, Calum, for I will not let you.”
Calum gave a bark of laughter. “How do ye propose to stop me?”
Grasping her waist, he pulled her against him and jammed his mouth down on hers. His kiss was angry, punishing, without a hint of tenderness. When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, Christy gagged and shoved him away, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You’re disgusting!”
His expression turned ugly as he thrust a fist into her face. “Yer a woman. Do ye think ye can stop me if I wanted to take ye?” He took a menacing step forward. “Once I put my bairn inside ye ye’ll soon settle down to being my woman.”
Christy gave him a smug smile. “’Tis a little late for that. I’m already carrying my husband’s bairn.”
Calum unclenched his fist and backhanded her across the face. Stars burst inside her head as she spun around and crashed to the floor.
“Yer lying!” Calum stalked her, his face mottled with rage. Christy scooted out of his way.
He grasped her shoulders and dragged her to her feet. “Don’t touch me!”
The blanket she’d clutched to her neck fell away. Her fine lawn nightgown left her all but nude and vulnerable to his piercing gaze. He stared at her a long time, then ripped the nightgown from neck to hemline. Long, draining minutes passed while he stared at her.
“Ye dinna look like yer carrying a bairn.”
Christy made a grab for the blanket and pulled it around her nakedness. He didn’t stop her. “’Tis too early to show.” In truth, Christy had no idea if she was carrying Sinjun’s bairn. She hadn’t conceived up until the day before she left London, but their last time together could have changed that.
“The bastard! I willna be cheated, Christy Macdonald. I think yer lying. I can wait. But if I find ye’ve lied to me, I’ll plow ye until I’m sure there’s a bairn in yer belly.”
“Over my dead body,” Christy said venomously. “You’ll never touch me, I swear it.”
Calum regarded her through narrowed lids. “Yer death might gain me everything I want with less trouble.”
“It will also precipitate a full-scale war and bring English soldiers to the Highlands.”
“A rebellion is inevitable. The time is ripe.”
“Culloden happened a long time ago. ‘Tis time to let it rest. Return me to Glenmoor and all will be forgiven.”
“I dinna need yer forgiveness,” Calum spat. “Nor do I want ye while yer carrying an Englishman’s bairn. Doesna it bother ye that yer husband has more mistresses than I have kinsmen?”
Christy flushed and looked away. “Leave Sinjun out of this.”
“He will come to no harm as long as he remains where he is.”
“You don’t want me, Calum, admit it. You’re jealous of my authority.”
“I willna deny it. I wanted to marry ye, to help ye lead our clansmen, but now I must settle for having ye as my mistress.”
Christy’s shoulders stiffened. “Haven’t you forgotten something? Once Sinjun learns what you have done he’ll come for me.” Though she preferred that he remain in London where it was safe, her heart told her that Sinjun would fight for what he considered his.
“I hope he does,” Calum said. “We’ll be waiting.”
“What if he brings soldiers from the garrison at Inverness?”
“All the better.” Calum turned to leave.
“Wait! I need something to wear.”
“In good time, Christy Macdonald, in good time.”
To Christy’s delight, Margot arrived the following morning with a bundle of clothing. Calum had gone off to tend to his herd and Margot had raised such a fuss that Donald Cameron, who had been left behind to mind the stronghold, had let her see Christy rather than put up with her haranguing.
Margot rushed inside the room and hugged Christy fiercely. “I brought ye something to wear.”
“Thank you. This blanket leaves much to be desired.”
Margot’s concerned gaze slid over Christy. “Did the bastard hurt ye?”
“No, and I won’t let him. I’m just a means to an end to Calum.”
Margot looked unconvinced. “Calum said he intends to put his bairn in yer belly so yer husband willna want ye.”
Christy gave her a conspiratorial smile. “I told him I was already carrying Sinjun’s bairn.”
“Are ye?”
Christy shrugged. “No, but it has bought me time. Calum is serious about giving me his bairn, but he can’t do it if I’m already pregnant.”
“Be careful, lass,” Margot warned. “Calum Cameron is an ambitious man. Ambitious men are dangerous. Are ye sure ye dinna want us to send word to his lordship?”
Christy bit her lip in consternation. She’d like nothing better than to have Sinjun help her out of this mess. Perhaps she’d been wrong all along not to inform
Sinjun of Calum’s threat against his life. Had he listened to her explanation when she’d tried to give it, she wouldn’t be in this situation now.
“Perhaps you’re right, Margot, but I’ve wronged Sinjun in so many ways that I seriously doubt he cares what happens to me.”
“Why dinna ye let him decide for himself?”
Christy heaved a despondent sigh. “Very well, Margot, have it your way. Send word to Sinjun. But as long as he has Niall, I can’t see him caring one way or another about my fate.”
“Ye might be surprised,” Margot said cryptically.
Their conversation ended abruptly when a glowering Calum barged into the room and ordered Margot out.
Chapter 19
Clan Macdonald and Clan Ranald were crowded in Glenmoor’s main hall when Sinjun entered the following day. His gaze sought out Christy, and when he failed to find her, a shiver of apprehension slid down his spine. Rory was speaking, and everyone appeared to be listening as his voice rose on a note of anger. Sinjun paused at the edge of the crowd to listen.
“One of us must go to London for his lordship immediately,” Rory asserted. “No matter how much we canna abide Englishmen, Lord Derby has proven he’s not our enemy. He’s our laird’s husband and lord of Glenmoor. He deserves to know what is going on.”
Rory’s words set Sinjun’s heart to pounding. Had something happened to Christy? His expression darkened, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. If Calum had hurt her, he would pay dearly.
“There’s no need for anyone to go to London,” Sinjun said, advancing into the room. Immediately a path opened up for him. “As you can see, I am here. Someone had better tell me what’s going on. Where is my wife?”
“Sinjun!” Rory cried. “Praise be, ye’ve come. How did ye know?”
“What am I supposed to know, Rory?”
“I canna soften the blow for ye so I’ll put it bluntly. Calum Cameron has Christy.”
Sinjun’s eyes went as cold as death, and his expression revealed a ruthlessness few had ever seen. “How?” That one word conveyed a wealth of emotion.
“No one seems to know exactly how Camerons got inside the fortress. No men were present. They were in the village, protecting their homes and livestock. When Christy turned up missing the next day, everyone knew Calum was responsible.”
“When did all this happen?”
“Three nights ago.”
“And you’ve done nothing but talk about it?” Sinjun roared. “Bloody hell! Are you all cowards?”
Murdoch stepped forward, his face tense with rage. “The Macdonalds are no cowards. We armed ourselves and went to confront the Camerons the next day, prepared to fight for our laird.”
“Calm down, Murdoch,” Rory cajoled. “His lordship doesna know what happened. Let me explain. We were ready to use force to rescue Christy but she pleaded for caution. She said she hadna been harmed and wanted to handle the situation without bloodshed.”
“And you believed her? Bloody hell. Christy is a woman. What can she do that an entire clan of armed men cannot?”
Murdoch drew himself up to his full six feet six. “She is our laird. Old Angus trusted her and so do we. We couldna go against her wishes.”
“What are Calum’s intentions? He must have taken Christy for a reason.”
There was much shuffling of feet and clearing of throats before Rory took it upon himself to inform Sinjun of Calum’s plans for Christy.
“Scotland, particularly the Highlands, is a country of traditions. One of those traditions continues to thrive despite laws against it.”
A coldness seeped into Sinjun’s bones. “Get to the point, Rory.”
“Wife stealing. To this day feuds that began with one chieftain stealing another chieftain’s wife still exist.”
“I care nothing about feuds and clan wars. Christy is my wife. No one has a right to steal her. What does he hope to gain?”
“He believes that making Christy his mistress will gain him the authority he needs to start a rebellion against the English. Power is all he’s ever wanted. He intends to—”
His words stumbled to a halt. “Say it, man!” Sinjun bellowed. “Tell me everything.”
“Calum intends to put his bairn in Christy’s belly. He knows yer too proud to take her back after the deed is done.”
“Bastard! Bastard, bastard, bastard!” Sinjun ranted. ‘I’ll kill him.”
“‘Tis good ye’re here,” Rory observed. “We’ve been discussing different ways in which to handle the situation. Christy doesna want bloodshed, but we can see no peaceful solution.”
The thought that Christy had spent three days and nights as Calum’s captive made Sinjun’s blood curdle. While the clan wasted time here debating methods of retaliation, Calum could have already forced himself on Christy.
“I could send to Inverness for soldiers,” Sinjun offered as a possible solution. “But it might result in innocent bloodshed,” he added, discarding that idea as quickly as it was born.
“Aye. Christy agrees that bringing English soldiers will do more harm than good,” Rory returned.
“Then we must do this on our own,” Sinjun said grimly. “Each minute Christy remains Calum Cameron’s captive is one minute too long.”
“What do ye propose?” Murdoch asked. “Ye can count on us, yer lordship.”
“And the Ranalds,” the Ranald chieftain added, stepping forward.
“First, we’ll call a meeting of the clans. Macdonalds, Ranalds, Mackenzies and Camerons,” Sinjun explained, “and demand Christy’s release.”
“Ha! We already tried that,” Murdoch scoffed.
“Aye, but I might be able to change their minds. Listen closely, here’s what I intend to do.”
The clansmen crowded close as Sinjun laid out his plan. He had no idea if it would work, but there were too few options that didn’t call for bloodshed. If all else failed, he would have no choice but to bring English soldiers to Glenmoor.
Messengers were sent out immediately, inviting the Camerons and Mackenzies to a meeting with the Macdonalds and Ranalds. Before the men left, Sinjun cautioned everyone to keep his arrival at Glenmoor secret in order to make their plan succeed.
The messengers returned several hours later. The Mackenzies had agreed readily enough to a meeting of clans, but the Camerons had balked at first. But once they realized they had to either agree to the meeting or risk censure by the Mackenzies, they gave grudging approval, stipulating that the meeting should convene at the Cameron stronghold.
Sinjun approved of the meeting place and sent Rory back with their terms. Christy was to be present at the meeting. It took all of Rory’s considerable persuasive powers to convince Calum to agree.
“Why should I agree to yer terms when I hold the power?” Calum argued. “As long as the laird remains in my custody ye can demand nothing.”
“Ye might lose yer Mackenzie allies if ye dinna let the laird attend the gathering of clans. She is yer overlord.”
“She is my mistress,” Calum stated baldly.
“She is yer laird,” Rory persisted.
“Verra well,” Calum spat. “Have it yer way. We’ll meet right here, in the courtyard, at noon tomorrow.”
“So be it,” Rory said curtly.
“Dinna think to change my mind,” Calum warned as he turned his back on Rory.
Calum barged into Christy’s chamber minutes after Rory left. She shot to her feet, her eyes wary as she watched him approach. “I heard voices outside. What’s going on?”
“Yer kinsmen are demanding a gathering of clans.”
“Did you agree?” She tried not to show her excitement lest Calum turn contrary and refuse the request.
“The Mackenzies agreed so I had no choice. But it willna change anything. Ye were promised to me by yer father at birth. Ye should have never wed that English bastard.”
“I was promised to you before Culloden. Both our fathers died that day, and with it the plans they made for u
s. The king seized Glenmoor and gave both me and my lands to Lord Derby. Accept it and let it go.”
“Never!” Calum vowed. “If I canna wed ye, I’ll have ye as my whore.”
“Sinjun will—”
Calum made a chopping motion with his hand. “Think ye yer husband will bestir himself to come to yer defense? ‘Tis likely he’ll find himself another woman to bed and forget all about ye.”
Christy feared Calum was right but refused to give in to despair. “When is this gathering to be held?”
“At noon tomorrow. They want ye to be present at the meeting, though I’m against it. ‘Tis likely they want to see ye’ve not been harmed. If ye give them any other impression, woman, ye’ll suffer for it.”
“You haven’t harmed me, Calum, just deprived me of my freedom.”
“Once I have proof yer not carrying a bairn, I’ll make ye my mistress.” He turned to leave. “Sleep well, Christy Macdonald.”
I’ll never be your mistress, Christy vowed as she made ready for bed. She’d been an optimistic fool to think she could talk sense into Calum. She knew now what she had to do and steeled herself for the coming confrontation. With all the clans gathered in one place, she would find no better time to give Calum what he wanted. She had no choice but to abdicate her position as laird in Calum’s favor. Once she did that he’d have no reason to keep her.
Feeling better than she had in days, Christy climbed into bed and drifted off immediately. Sometime during the night she was awakened by a ravaging pain so deep that it felt as if she were being ripped apart She missed Niall. Missed him with every fiber of her being. Though her milk had long since dried up, she felt his loss in the aching emptiness of her breasts, in the hollow void of her barren arms. A sob caught in her throat as she pictured his wee face. Did he still remember her?
Christy’s thoughts turned to Sinjun. She’d had long hours during her captivity to consider the things she would have done differently were she given a second chance, and she wondered if she could ever make tilings right between her husband and herself. She had erred in so many ways. When she’d first arrived in London she’d had no intention of falling in love with her immoral husband. Everything she’d heard about him had indicated that he was devoid of character, thoroughly decadent, a rake, a man who changed his mistresses with his linens. But at the time none of that mattered. All she’d wanted was an heir for Glenmoor.
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