Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3)

by Kenna Kendrick

  Lord Browne grinned. “Yes, yes, business indeed. He told me a great deal about the business he had with your minister. Mr. Ferguson, is it?”

  Ruth’s attention was grasped. She slowly turned to her father whose expression now looked suspicious.

  “Yes, well, he sounds to me like an interesting character. Young, handsome. Mr. Menzies told me that Mr. Ferguson is the interest of all the young ladies in the area, and they are all pining for him.”

  The three of them now looked embarrassed and were trying to figure out how to get out of the situation.

  William cleared his throat. “Och, yes. The lad has been known tae be victim tae village flirtations, nothing more.”

  Marianne continued. “Yes, he is a very nice man, and he and I have had many theological discussions, Father.”

  Ruth burned inside at Marianne’s attempt to placate. Why must she try to smooth things over? Why couldn’t they simply break their relationship, get rid of him, and be done with it?

  Lord Browne turned to Ruth. “Ruth, and what is your opinion of your Mr. Ferguson?”

  Ruth could have screamed.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Dougal Menzies sat in the meadow, having just bought another pastry from the fawning Robyn, who fluttered her eyelashes whenever he arrived. He grinned to himself. It was the way with all women, and it made things oh so much easier when trying to...convince a woman of something or pull them into his schemes. The fact that Ruth had fallen for Troy was only a slight hindrance to his plans, but he was certain he could still use his powers to convince her to come with him.

  He licked his fingers and sighed, leaning his head back on his hands and laying on the ground. It was a lovely morning. He had spent part of the evening in frustration, but now his problem was solved, and he wanted just a few moments to enjoy it. Troy Ferguson, his blasted captain, would be left bereft of his mission and his love. It felt so sweet. Dougal could then return to the sea, build his own crew, and leave the shores of Scotland, having completed his goal.

  It all came in the form of a bumbling old English Lord. Normally, Dougal would have desired to run the man through who burst upon him in the night while he was trying to complete his secret mission of searching for the cross, but this Lord Browne had been so eager to regain his dignity and decorum in the face of a Scotsman, that it had been entertaining. It was entertaining to watch him sputtering and muttering, yelling vulgarities. When he had mentioned his purpose in the area, Dougal took it upon himself to let him in on a few secrets of what had been going on.

  He chuckled, remembering the sight of the lord’s face as he told him about Troy and his daughter. He knew then that he could use this idiot as part of his plan, dangling his daughter in front of him. Plus, it gave him even more pleasure to misuse an Englishman, especially an English lord.

  The plan they had decided upon was for Dougal to help convince Ruth to go with her father to London in return for Lord Browne collecting the cross. But since they did not yet know the cross’ location, Dougal would need to threaten Troy with the removal of Ruth. Once they knew the location, Lord Browne would get the cross while Troy was distracted on some mission, and then Dougal would tell Lord Browne to collect Ruth at a certain area. In the end, Dougal, would leave bearing both the cross and Ruth to the coast, having double-crossed two men at once.

  It was like a dream. Even the devil could not have planned better than this. The only way to get Ruth to go with him would be to tell her about Troy’s past. Dougal scrunched up his face as he searched for something to tell Ruth that would make her want to leave him behind.

  He had been a good captain, until his betrayal. He fought with patriotism in his heart. But she would perhaps not be happy to know the number of Englishmen he had killed in battle. Then he smiled. No, the real way to get a woman jealous is to tell her about the other women. He would tell her about the women they would have aboard the ship, the ones they would meet on the coast, the ones they would pay. He would tell Ruth about the very many women Troy had been with, and what his reputation had been amongst the whores of the Scottish coastline. Yes, he would tell her this. There was truth to it, but Dougal would be certain to embellish at the appropriate moments in order to add to her distress and convince her that she wanted to leave with him.

  Dougal could give her adventure. She was a beautiful, intriguing woman and would be welcome aboard his ship, in his bed. He had wanted her from the first moment. Troy Ferguson would not be taking this chance from him. He would show her what a real man fucked like. As soon as he could convince her to leave with him.

  * * *

  Ruth left as soon as she could when breakfast was over. Her father’s antagonizing had become overbearing. Just as he’d hoped, she had sputtered through her reply, ending with something like, “I find him to be a good minister,” and she watched as her father grinned knowingly at her.

  But how could he know? She walked up the hill nearest her house, waving her arms in the air as she spoke to herself enthusiastically. “Who could have told him? He hasn’t met Troy, and William and Marianne certainly wouldn’t say anything. The servants don’t know. Amelia and Jamie are gone.…” Then she realized. “Dougal,” she whispered his name. But why? Why would he tell her father? What purpose could that have possibly achieved? Was he jealous of her and Troy? But how did he know about them?

  Everything was a puzzle. She would need to speak to Dougal as soon as possible. As she continued to walk, allowing the beauty of the countryside and the freshness of the air to slowly cool down her temper, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see William rushing after her.

  He approached her side, breathing heavily. “Lass, I wanted tae catch up with ye. Are ye well?”

  Ruth burst into tears and wrapped her arms around her brother-in-law. She knew he would understand. She knew that he didn’t want her father in the house any more than she did. He knew her struggle.

  “William, what am I to do? Marianne wants me to stay and help her a bit longer, but I can’t. I need to leave. This is unbearable. And it looks like he knows...about me and Troy. What will he do?” She spoke the last words softly, knowing that this was her confession.

  William pulled her out of his embrace and looked down at her with a slight smirk. “Just what is going on between ye and our beloved minister?”

  She sighed, wiping tears from her cheek, and kept walking, William falling into step beside her. “I do not know exactly. But, I... I think I love him, William. I always have, since I first met him. I think he feels something for me, but I’m not sure. I don’t know what will happen. And now, it appears that Father has found out about it, and I know he will do something. Something terrible.”

  William chuckled. “I knew it! I knew it all along. Amelia and Marianne may be the matchmakers, but I could sense the feelings between ye from the beginning.”

  Ruth laughed weakly. “How could you know?”

  “The way Troy looked at ye and avoided ye ever since ye arrived with Marianne. He’s been lost ever since. I tried tae get him tae admit it a while back, but he was having none of it. But now, I’m certain of it, especially after seeing ye two last night in a lover’s embrace.”

  Ruth flushed and attempted to speak, but he lifted a hand. “‘Tis no matter tae me, lass. Lord knows I was in yer position once.” He chuckled. “But I’m certain he feels for ye. Do ye want tae marry him?”

  That was what Ruth loved about William. He had a rough manner, but his heart was gold, soft and kind when it came to his sister and his wife, and women in general. He wanted them to be free to make their own choices, and he had told Ruth so many times.

  “I don’t know. I want so many things. I don’t want to be tied down by children and housekeeping. I want to live a life of freedom.”

  William nodded. “Ye have always wanted such. Does marriage tae Troy sound like a cage?”

  “It doesn’t. I mean, I don’t know. I just fear that all marriage is. Especially the way my father thin
ks of it.”

  “Yer father is a right bastard.” William said angrily, and Ruth couldn’t help but laugh at his outburst.

  “I must agree with you, but his and my mother’s marriage is the example I have to go with. She was a constant victim, always giving in to his demands, never free to do anything that pleased her, just like us.”

  “And what about the marriage ye see here? Me and yer sister? Jamie and Amelia? Are we trapping our wives, keeping them from the lives they want? Amelia is a published author. Marianne has bested the archers with her skills.” He smiled. “Marriage may take many forms.”

  Ruth shrugged. “I suppose that could be true, but it feels hard to believe. Besides, why am I even thinking of this? He has not spoken to me of such things. I can’t simply live on a hope.”

  He nodded.

  “And what about my adventures? I have been dreaming of them for so long, and what, I just forget about them now? I leave them all behind...for a man? The woman I was before, before I was in love, would have scoffed at such an idea. She would have called me weak and ridiculous!” Ruth began to gesticulate feverishly again.

  William furrowed his brow as he thought. “Adventures are all well and good, lass. And I want ye tae follow yer heart and where it leads, but tae not follow the path of love when it pulls at yer heartstrings, will make ye miserable. Tae that I can swear. I thank God every day I stopped being an idiot and let myself fall for Marianne.”

  Ruth smiled. The two of them were so happy together, her sister and this wonderful man. Perhaps this was the example she should look at to guide her and leave all of this fear behind that her father had instilled in her.

  “Thank you, William. You have given me much to think of. But remember, it’s not as if Troy has given me an offer of marriage. And I wouldn’t want him to under force.” She gave William a warning look, and he laughed.

  “I know enough of ye, Ruth, to know that would not make ye happy. Dinnae fash. I have a feeling all will come right. Now, about how tae dispose of yer father…”

  Ruth laughed, feeling the weight lift from her shoulders and her heart, at least for a brief moment.

  * * *

  Soon after, William left Ruth to continue wandering the hills by herself, enjoying the view from her favorite hilltop. As she stared down at the gray sea, wrapping her arms about herself, she smiled to remember that this was where she and Troy had been properly introduced. This was where he had truly seen her, after he’d scared her horse and she had fallen to the ground in the rain.

  It was the beginning of everything and had, in turn, made her life endlessly more complicated. She tried to consider both Amelia’s and William’s words. To give up on love would mean only pain. But to give up on the dreams she had for herself...would that not also be painful? She remembered the hordes of women she saw in London, matched up every season with the appropriate man, spending a life of idleness afterward, bearing endless children and victim to societal rules in every way.

  That was never what she wanted. She couldn’t imagine Troy being a controlling husband, but still, it was the way society was. A woman was meant to live within her confines and not attempt to move outside of them. She was meant to be dutiful and submissive, bearing as many children as humanly possible. The idea disgusted her. It was like they were nothing more than cattle, never respected for all the other beautiful things they could offer.

  How could she ever let herself be led into that kind of a relationship? Forever? But when she thought about life with Troy, it was a completely different thing. It didn’t look like the trap she knew that many women fell into. It looked like a wonderful dream, an enjoyment of each other’s company, a respect of each other’s intellect, and a passion for each other’s bodies. It seemed perfect, but she had no idea how Troy felt about her. And that thought calmed her excitement about their future. It made her see sense a bit more, rather than fully getting lost in daydreams.

  She kept walking along, down towards the village, wondering if perhaps Robyn could soothe her worries. She knew her friend would laugh heartily at the conundrum she was in, and she could comfort herself with a fresh pastry. But soon, she saw a figure walking up the hill towards her, a figure who she recognized. Dougal. He waved, and her stomach lurched briefly.

  She wanted to ask him why he told her father about her and Troy? What motive could he have had? Then she remembered the anger in which Dougal had fought Troy at the swordfight, and she didn’t want to bring any of his wrath upon herself, alone out here on the hilltop. Dougal approached, smiling.

  “Hello, lass. Or should I say May Queen? It seems an age since we met each other last.”

  He took her hand to his lips and kissed it. Ruth smiled. “Hello again, Dougal. And you know, it has only been a few days since then. Hardly an age.”

  He clasped his hand to his heart, attempting a dramatic air. “Well, it has felt like an age tae me, dear, sweet, Ruth!”

  She chuckled.

  He brought up a fresh subject. “So, Ruth, have ye thought any more of yer adventures abroad?”

  She nodded slowly, taken aback by his abrupt change of topic and his ability to discuss just the thing that had been on her mind. “Yes, I have. It has constantly been on my mind since I was a child.” She smirked. “I have no plans on giving up thinking about it now.”

  Dougal smirked in return. “Och, have ye not? Here I thought yer mind was full of something else, or someone else?”

  Ruth blushed and look down. Blast this recent and wretched shyness! He knew her secret. But how?

  “What do you mean?” she asked, attempting to appear calm.

  “‘Tis no secret, lass. Troy Ferguson has been blasting it all over the village.”

  “Blasting it? Blasting what?”

  He leaned in closer to her, to whisper. “Yer love affair, of course!”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ruth gasped and pulled back. Troy had been telling other people about what was going on between them? About their...lovemaking? But, that didn’t sound like him at all.

  “Are you certain you heard it from Troy’s lips?”

  Dougal winked. “Aye, when they were not attached tae yers. As well as yer friend Robyn’s, who I see often enough.”

  Ruth was beginning to tire of Dougal’s flirtatious attentions, but this news was more upsetting than she let show. “Excuse me, Sir, you would do well to maintain a bit of decorum.”

  “Ah, yes, of course, do forgive me.” Dougal looked down. “I had meant tae tell ye in a softer way. About Troy. What he has been saying. And more.”

  “There is more?” Ruth’s whole body ached with embarrassment. If Troy was telling everyone, then the whole village knew about her dalliance with him. In the woods, in the library. She thought of her friend Robyn, who would have laughed upon hearing it, and secretly approved. She thought of Colin whose disappointment would be great. But she was the most embarrassed for her sister to hear of it, as well as the young girls she had danced with at the May Day festival. What must everyone think of her? And to have given herself to such a man who would reveal what was done in private? It was so embarrassing and shameful; she was worried she wouldn’t be able to face anyone. But she must. She must find out what else he was saying to everyone.

  “Aye,” Dougal nodded.

  “And why are you telling me this?”

  Dougal placed a hand on the side of her arm, “Why, Ruth, because I care for yer well-being. We are kindred spirits in travel, and I must admit I have an affection for ye. I only want ye tae be happy and safe. And tae fulfill yer dreams. Troy has been against ye from the start. He is a mean, crude bastard.”

  Ruth looked confused. “I’m sorry, but I do not understand this. I thought you came to see Troy because he was a well-known minister, and you wished to make a confession? How do you know all about Troy’s personality and tendencies after only being here for a short while?”

  Dougal looked down again. “I must admit, Ruth, that I lied tae ye. But I’m
ready tae make a full confession, and I think ye’ll want tae hear my story.”

  Ruth’s lips were a tight line. Yet another problem to add to the ever-growing pile. Would there never be peace or happiness again in her life, or was she to be constantly plagued? She sighed, a new fatigue falling over her, draining her of the last bit of happiness she had left. “Yes, I would like to hear your story. But first, why did you tell my father about Troy and myself?”

  Dougal nodded knowingly, “Och, he told ye, has he? Yer father came upon me as I was on my evening walk as well.” Ruth looked confused once more. Dougal did not seem the type of person to take an evening walk. Neither did her father, for that matter, but never mind. Back to the matter at hand.

  “I heard he was yer father, and I felt he would be in the best position tae protect ye from such a fiend as Troy Ferguson. I wanted only tae help.” Dougal looked softly at Ruth, hoping his expression would convince her of his tender feelings.