The Highlander's Temptation (13 page)

She’d stand before Jamie Montgomery, no matter how shameful it would seem to some, and declare her—

What? Her intentions to marry him? Her…feelings for him?

Was it love? Or desperation?

Lorna dare not say it was love. Not at all. She wiped the rest of the water from her face, then opened her door to find that the tray of food had been left for her outside. Cold chicken, bread and an apple. She brought the tray inside and set it at her table, taking a bite of chicken, and chewing on it thoughtfully.

Nay, she couldn’t be in love with Jamie, but she was most definitely attracted to him.
Relished his kisses, his touch. And she liked him a great deal, even cared for him. He made her laugh, smile, feel safe. He was a man she could and wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

Right now, that was all that mattered to her, because MacKinnon was a stranger, and Jamie her best choice—even if he didn’t know it yet.

The tranquil breeze and misty rain were interrupted by the pounding of horse hooves and a call beyond the wall.

Oh, God!
Had Magnus arranged for MacKinnon to come to Dunrobin so soon? Had he kept the knowledge to himself until this morning only because he knew he couldn’t hold back any longer? Zounds, but she’d not even asked her brother when he planned to marry her off.

The hunk of bread she’d just
swallowed into became lodged in her throat. She took a hearty gulp of ale, forcing the solid mass of dough down her throat. With arms that felt as heavy as tree trunks, she pushed from the table and made her way to the window, dreading all the while what she’d see below.

Clan warriors gathered around a trio of newcomers. Tall and broad, their backs were to the castle as they conversed with the Sutherlands and dismounted.

But it mattered naught that their backs were to her, for the man in the middle with thick dark hair and wide shoulders that begged to be stroked, she’d recognize anywhere.

Jamie had returned.

Hope soared with her and she gasped, clutching her hands to her heart. Though it had only been a few weeks since last she’d seen him, it felt like a lifetime. Her heart sped up, spiraling tingles of anticipation and fear through her. Why had he returned? Was it possible he…

Lorna shook her head.
She could hardly form a thought. And she couldn’t possibly get her hopes up too much. Nothing ever came that easy. Except, in her dreams, in her heart of hearts, Jamie was always her savior. The same dark-haired warrior who saved her from death as a child, might also be the same man who saved her from a future of unhappiness.

Jamie turned then, his gaze flicking up the castle walls until resting on her.
Her ribs would surely burst, her heart pounded so fast. Lorna managed a smile, even though her teeth had started to chatter. Good God, what was wrong with her?

A second chance. When did one ever get that when it came to making choices about their future? Not many women did that she knew, and she would be forever grateful
for the gift of his return. She said a prayer of thanks up to the heavens, ecstatic that God had heard her pleas.

It didn’t matter that
Jamie might not have returned to seek her hand, all that mattered was that he was here and she had the opportunity to change her brother’s mind. And as stubborn as Magnus was, Lorna was by ten.

Her teeth ceased their chattering. Hands steadied at her sides. No more tears and wallowing for her.

“Oh, Jamie,” she whispered, and hurried from her room.

Chapter Twelve

Magnus eyed Jamie with skepticism, his brow raised as he studied him. “Montgomery, ye’ve returned.”

“Aye, my laird.” Jamie reached out his hand, gripping the other laird’s arm.

As soon as he’d arrived, Ronan Sutherland had led Jamie to Magnus’ library. But he couldn’t get the sight of Lorna from his mind. She’d looked a heavenly vision up in her window, and rather than go to meet with the laird of Dunrobin, he wished to traverse the stairs and find the object of his desire.

Sutherland looked rather agitated, as though Jamie had arrived on the wrong day. But Jamie tried to ignore that. The man held vast holdings and had probably come across some news that he found displeasing.

“Why’ve ye returned? What’s happened?” Magnus was abrupt and to the point.

Jamie completely understood Magnus’ concern, as he’d probably read Jamie’s warning of the English troops he’d met along the road
that he’d sent weeks ago.

“Ye received my missive?”

Magnus nodded. “Aye.”

“When I met with MacLeod, Mackenzie and MacKinnon, they all joined our forces. They’d seen and dealt with the English already. They are getting closer.
” Jamie ran a hand through his hair, ceasing himself from saying he’d come to be sure that Lorna was safe and well cared for. The man wouldn’t take too kindly to such an inquiry as it would suggest he did not know how to take care of his sister, and if anything, Magnus was a damn good provider for his family.

Magnus frowned. “Aye, I’d feared as much. We’ll prepare for it. Double up the scouts on our borders.
When I got your missive, we increased the guards on the wall, and warned the crofters to be keen on any strangers in the area.”

Magnus offered him a dram of whisky. Jamie nodded
. Seemed whenever he was at Dunrobin, he indulged in the peaty liquor, though he tried to abstain wherever else he was. But he felt the fortification of liquid courage was necessary, for what he was about to ask the formidable northern laird may not be received well.

“Ye said ye’d met with MacKinnon?”

Momentarily distracted, Jamie nodded. “Aye, I nearly forgot. He gave me a missive for ye.” Reaching into his sporran, he pulled out the rolled scroll and handed it to Magnus.

Jamie expected Magnus to set the missive aside, and then he’d come right out and ask him for Lorna’s hand, but the man did not. In fact, he slipped his nail under the wax seal, but before opening it glanced back at Jamie.

“If ye’d excuse me, I’ve been awaiting MacKinnon’s reply. I’ll see ye at supper and we can continue.”

Jamie agreed, disappointed. Magnus looked rather disturbed however, so it was probably best not to broach the subject of marrying his sister while the man was not in his right mind.
That would only gain him a negative answer when what he wanted most desperately was an
Aye
, and a clap on the back.

“My thanks,” Jamie muttered.

Magnus glanced up at him, almost as though he were surprised to see him there. “Ye’re always welcome to Sutherland hospitality, my friend,” he seemed to add as an afterthought.

Jamie nodded and retreated from the room, closing the door behind him, and wondering if all was well at Dunrobin. He admitted to not knowing Magnus well, but the m
an did appear truly out of sorts.

“Jamie,” the hushed whisper came from around the corner and out of sight, but it sounded like Lorna.

His heart sped up.

“Lady Lorna?” he answered.

She peeked her head out from an alcove cut into the corridor, a wide smile on her plush lips. “Aye.”

Jamie couldn’t help but smile
in return. Just gazing on her made this entire trip worth it. “Were ye spying on me?” he teased.

“’Haps I was,” she answered.

Jamie took long strides to the alcove, slipping inside. “’Tis dangerous for us to be in here together. If your brother leaves his library—”

“Shh…” She pressed two fingers to his lips. “
He will nay hear us, for I dinna plan on speaking.”

Jamie kept his mouth from falling open by grounding his teeth together.
Every muscle tightened at the memory of her kiss. His blood stirred, firing through his veins. Could she…?

“Lass
…”

“Och, dinna scold me yet, Jamie.
” She wrapped her hands around his middle. “Kiss me first.”

Her fingers burned through the back of his
leine
shirt, and his groin leapt to life.
Calm down, man
, he scolded himself, but it did no good. Jamie wrapped his arms around Lorna and did just as she asked. He dipped his head, capturing her luscious lips with his own and savoring her sweet flavor as though he’d never be satisfied. And, in fact, he might not be. Her kiss was heaven, sweet sunshine on a rainy day, and only reinforced his reason for returning all the more. Lorna sighed against his lips and Jamie tucked her closer, groaning with his need to envelope her.

The door to Magnus’ library opened and closed with a click, forcing Jamie to yank away from Lorna, his body stiffening.

“Is someone there?” Magnus called.

Ballocks!

Lorna looked up at him in horror. What had he been thinking? What had she been thinking?

Lorna shook her head, f
ear filling her features. Jamie gritted his teeth. This was not the way he wanted to ask for Lorna’s hand.

“I can hear ye,” Magnus growled.

“Dammit,” Jamie whispered. He pushed Lorna into the corner of the alcove, deeper into the shadows. “Stay here.”

He
stepped into the hallway, facing Magnus and prepared to ask just what he’d come here for, though it wasn’t ideal.

“What are ye doing in there?” Magnus asked, looking over Jamie’s shoulder, and blessedly seeing nothing.

Think quick, man!
He lost his nerve to ask for Lorna’s hand, not like this. Proposing marriage now might get him kicked in the ballocks.

“I needed but a moment alone,” Jamie said evenly.

“Alone?” Magnus winged a brow.

“Aye.”

Magnus scowled. “Then why did ye not go to your chamber?”

Well, he couldn’t very well answer ’twas because he’d had his tongue deep in the mouth of the man’s little sister. “A sudden need to pray.”

“I didna take ye for an overly religious man.” Magnus folded his arms across his chest.

“Aye, well, I’m not normally, but I’ve seen much in the last two years, that every once in a while I am struck with the need to get down on my knees and thank God I’m still living and breathing. We’ve the very devil on our backs, my laird.”

Magnus’ scowl deepened. “Aye, I know it. I canna imagine what ’tis like to be in the Lowlands right now. And ye’ve much heaped on your back with your clan and the council. Protecting all from the English bastards.”

Jamie nodded solemnly. ’Twas true, even if it wasn’t the reason for him being in the alcove.
Lorna was blessedly quiet. And he was riddled with guilt for lying.

“Take a walk with me.” Magnus didn’t ask, he demanded.

Jamie obliged, wanting his future brother-by-marriage to find him agreeable. He fell into step beside Magnus as he made his way down the stairs to the great hall, and away from Jamie’s quarters.

“I’ve receive
d word from MacKinnon that he is going to Glasgow at your behest,” Magnus said.

“Aye. He’s sending nearly a hundred men to Wallace’s army
, along with his own pledge to fight.”

They entered the great hall, which teemed with servants cleaning and mending.
Magnus swept his hand in the air dismissing the servants from the hall. He didn’t hesitate a moment in walking straight up to the hearth and hoisting a sword from the wall above the fireplace. He tossed it to Jamie, then pulled one down for himself.

“MacKinnon will marry Lady Lorna by proxy,” Magnus said. “
Instead of at Dunrobin in a fortnight as was planned.”

The full force of a gale wind knocked into Jamie and he found it hard to stay steady on his feet. He blinked a few times, trying to remain calm and keep his face from showing how deeply this news devastated
him. Marry another?

Jamie swallowed hard. Did Lorna know about this?

“A match well made,” Jamie said, nearly choking on the words.

“Do ye think?” Magnus said, twirling the sword in the air.

“Indeed.” Hell, no! It was not a good match at all. Not bloody at all. She belonged with him! “I spent several days with the man. He is honorable, wealthy and powerful. He’ll make any maid a good husband.”

“My sister,” Magnus drawled, his eyes studying Jamie carefully as he said it.

The man suspected Jamie had an interest in Lorna, that was evident. He was warning him away, and while Jamie got the message, he wasn’t in the least happy about it.

“Indeed,
” Jamie managed.

Magnus swung his sword, catching Jamie off-guard, but he quickly recovered, arcing up to block the blow.

Magnus put his face close to Jamie’s, whisky on his breath. “Who were ye kissing in the alcove?” he growled.

Hell and damnation… “A maid,” Jamie managed to say as he blocked another blow.

“A maid?”

“Aye. She invited me in
for a kiss and well… It’s been some time since I was with a lass.” He blocked another crushing blow. If he weren’t fighting the man over what he suspected was the man’s suspicions about his sister, he’d have told him how much Wallace could use his prowess. “I meant no disrespect.”

Magnus didn’t seem to care what Jamie said, he wielded his sword at him as though he’d cut him down.
’Haps bent on thinking he needed to protect his sister’s honor.

Arch after slicing arch, and Jamie blocked every damned one of them. But never did he lunge forward. This was a defensive fight for him, and Magnus was on the offensive, obviously needing to let off some steam.

“See that it doesn’t happen again.” With that, Magnus tossed his sword to the ground and walked out of the great hall.

A moment later, Lorna stepped into view,
her face red and blotchy from crying. “A maid?” Anger sliced her features.

Jamie swallowed, and lifted the swords he and Magnus had used, putting them back into place over the hearth.

“What would ye have me say, lass? I was protecting ye.”

“From my own brother?” Her snarl was nearly as vicious as her brothers
’.

Jamie shook his head and walked toward
her, wanting to pull her into his arms. “Nay, my lady. From ruin. Ye’re betrothed.” Jamie felt the truth like a punch to the gut. “Ye’re not mine to have been in that alcove with.”

“I’m not MacKinnon’s either,” she bit out.

But before he could respond, the lass had run from the room, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes.

Och, what had he done?
Dunrobin was not the same as he’d left it.

He’d returned to Sutherland with the inten
t of seeing Lorna once more. Having decided once and for all if he not only wanted to court her, but marry her as well. One look up at the castle and seeing her in her window as he’d stood in the courtyard had been enough for him to be certain his decision was sound. But damn Magnus! He’d had to ask for the blasted missive from MacKinnon. How was Jamie to know it detailed the arrangements of their betrothal?

And why did sweet Lorna have to lead him on? Why did she pretend as though her betrothal was nothing but a myth when he knew it to be a fact?

Jamie did not want to be the plaything of a liberal woman. Nor did he care to share. He wanted Lorna for himself and now that seemed an impossibility.

A few moments passed as he stared dejectedly at the arched doorway in which Lorna had run. Inside
, a war battled between running after her and letting her go. In the end, he stayed rooted in place until he was certain he’d not find her if he chose to change his mind.

Lorna Sutherland was betrothed
to another. A man that he himself had great respect for. A man who’d joined his ranks readily and offered a hundred warriors to the war for Scottish freedom. He could not betray that man.