Grant Clan 06 - My Desperate Highlander (3 page)

“Edinburgh is a huge burgh. Why, there must be festivities going on there all the time. All I have to do is flaunt my wares—” her arms swung down her side, “—and I’ll find someone who will make a better husband than the baron.” She just couldn’t admit that her motivation was a dream, her mother’s dream from years ago. Her mother had said she would fall in love with her knight in Edinburgh. She must find a way there.

“And just anyone that likes the looks of you will be acceptable? It is a poor plan. You cannot just take anyone who offers himself to you. You could meet a reiver, a murderer. You need to be a wee bit more careful when selecting a mate, don’t you agree?”

Her hands flew up to grab her head and she flounced onto the bed. “What else can I do? I have no other alternative. Besides, I am sure I will be able to locate my knight. He is there. I am certain of it.” She could not explain how many times her mother’s dreams had come true. Perhaps she had possessed the gift of sight. But her mother had warned her against such tales, since they often brought suspicions of witchery.

Micheil gave her a puzzled look. “And who is this knight to whom you keep referring?”

She tossed her curls over her shoulder, pursing her lips. “My knight is the knight my mother told me about many times before she passed. He is the one I want, and I am certain I can find him in Edinburgh.” The excitement and possibilities in the city were endless, at least to one kept as sheltered as she had been. Could he not see the potential in such a large place? It must be teeming with handsome knights and young barons, unlike her betrothed.

He strolled over and grabbed her hands, tugging her back onto her feet. “Trust your cousins. Ask Robbie about his wife sometime or about his brother Brodie’s wife. She was betrothed to a Norseman and they got her away from him, though it took some time. They are happily married now, and I believe she is carrying their first-born. Come.” He held his hand out to her. “I’ll escort you below stairs to see about dinner. You must be hungry.”

“Nay.” She shoved his hands away. “What good will it do me to eat near the disgusting man?”

Micheil reached for her again, but she stepped back, wary. “Can you not see?” he said. “You must inflame the baron with your confidence. The more rudeness your cousins witness from him, the better your chances of being removed from the situation. Incite the baron’s temper, raise his ire while you still have protection. Let the man try to touch you again, encourage him to order you about or even grab you. This would only help your case. Your cousins need as much against the man as they can find.” He held his hand out to her.

She hesitated but eventually placed her hand in his—her silent agreement to go to dinner. As they moved down the passageway, she took a deep breath. “Mayhap he will be kinder to me when there are more witnesses.”

As they descended the staircase, a booming voice caught their ears. “How dare you walk with another man in my own home!”

Diana glanced up to meet Micheil’s eyes as she clung to him. “Or mayhap not.”

Baron Gow reached Diana’s side in three long strides and immediately grabbed her arm and yanked her to him. “You will not embarrass me in my own home. Do you hear me?”

She attempted to pull away, momentarily stunned, but he would not release her. “But he was…”

“Silence! How dare you speak without permission. You are a woman, and you must remember it. Women do not speak unless asked.”

Diana blushed, glancing around at the room full of guards and servants, embarrassed to be ridiculed in front of the entire great hall. But his servants continued on with their tasks, apparently not surprised at all to see him treat a woman so. No one acted shocked except the Grants. Robbie and Alex were seated at a table, and she could feel Robbie’s fury from across the room. Alex showed naught.

Micheil spoke up, each word threaded with a masked threat. “Remove your hand from the lady, Baron.”

Baron Gow’s eyes narrowed as he turned to look at Micheil. “How dare you attempt to tell me what to do in my own home?”

Although Diana was so overwhelmed she had not even noticed him draw his sword, Alex Grant was suddenly holding the point of his weapon against the baron’s side. “I think he told you to remove your hand from the lady.”

The baron dropped his hand, swiveling around to glare at Alex. “And what will you do when you are gone, Laird Grant? Who will stop me then? She will be my wife. It was an agreement between her sire and me. Try as you may, you will not stop the marriage. She is mine.”

“She is not yours yet, and you would do well to remember that. I am not just here as her protector, Baron. I have been charged by her sire to approve the match,” Alex said between clenched teeth. “And I have
not
approved it yet. Leave her be or bear the consequences.”

The baron released Diana and stamped his feet all the way over to the dais, acting like a bairn who had been refused a sweet.

Diana and Micheil both glanced at Alex to see his response.

“Alex,” Micheil whispered. “Take her home now.”

Though she wanted—and even expected—to see Alex nod his head, he did not. Instead he took her arm and led her toward the table. What was he waiting for?

As they passed Micheil, Alex whispered, “Proof. We need proof.”

Diana did not know what more evidence of the man’s malfeasance he could possibly require, but she could not risk that conversation with him now. Moments later, they sat at the table directly in front of the dais, Diana not wishing to sit next to her intended, and he accepting that a woman’s place was not at the dais. Her hands trembled as the servants brought food, but she managed to make eye contact with Micheil and mouth the words, “Help me.”

Dinner turned out to be a peaceful affair. A few minstrels arrived to perform, and the baron disappeared, allowing Diana to relax. It had been impossible to feel at ease with that man staring at her, eyeing her as though he were imagining how much he would enjoy beating her into submission. Since he was gone, she made her way to the garderobe alone.

On her way back to the great hall, a hand reached out for her from the shadows of the corridor and someone pulled her into a dark alcove.

Baron Gow smiled at her. “I have been waiting for this moment.” His lips descended on hers in a wet kiss. He tasted of mutton and onions, and she pushed at his chest, struggling to get away from him. He grabbed her hands and swung her around until he held her from behind in a vise.

She could feel his hot breath in her ear. “Your cousins may be around to protect you at the moment, but they will not be here for long. I will teach you, my dear, to show me the respect I deserve. You have been spoiled way too much, just as I was warned, but you will kiss my feet before we are done.”

Diana struggled to escape, but could not move. He rubbed his hardness against her backside, and she fought to pull away from him. Frantic to escape, she kicked, clawed, and spit—using every maneuver imaginable in an attempt to escape. She brought her foot down hard on his instep and bit his hand.

“You bitch!” he yelled.

Oh, how she hoped he had shouted loud enough for someone to hear.

He let go of her with one arm, but managed to keep hold of her with the other. With his free hand, he swung and slapped her cheek hard enough to leave a mark.

Micheil rounded the corner just in time to see the assault, and he did not pause before slamming his fist into the baron’s face and knocking him to the ground.

Gasping for breath, she stared at the lout on the ground and flung herself into Micheil’s arms.

***

Diana paced her room, still distraught from the events of the evening. She had to get away, she just had to escape. Where she went did not matter, so long as it was far way from here. She had begged Alex and shared the whole sordid tale with him, but he had flatly refused her and retired to the baron’s solar with Robbie at his side. At least Micheil had helped her wash the smell and feel of the man from her by bringing her clean cloths and water. Everything about the baron made her want to retch—his saliva, the feeling of his sex against her, his breath.

She had to get out.

But it was the middle of the night, and she did not know what to do. The only way she could get out on her own was if everyone was asleep. But what if the fool caught her unawares again like he had in the passageway? She cringed at the thought of what he would do to her. Pacing again, she reviewed all the alternatives in her mind, coming up empty each time.

A soft knock echoed in her chamber. Her heartbeat sped up, afraid yet hopeful. It could be the baron, but she did not think he would bother to knock. She started to reach for the handle then stopped herself and leaned forward so she could press her ear to the worn wood, hoping for some clue that would tell her the identity of the interloper.

“Aye?” she whispered.

“Open up. It’s Micheil.”

She sighed in relief and swung the door open, wanting to throw herself into his arms again.

He shut the door behind him and tossed some things at the bed. “Here. Put these on.” She reached for them and fingered the worn cloth, a puzzled look on her face.

“Well? You wanted out, did you not? I plan to give you your chance. These clothes are from a young lad, so they should fit you. There is a set of corridors built beneath the keep for the protection of the ruling family. We will use them to sneak out. Hurry.”

Diana did not need to be told twice. She grabbed the clothes, but not before tearing off her own and tossing them under the bed. Not even bothering to turn in front of Micheil, whose eyes grew wide at her boldness the instant before he whirled away from her, she pulled on the new clothes. “I don’t care, Micheil. Just take me out of here. The man is mad.”

Micheil tossed a small saddlebag down. “Here, put whatever else you need in this. It will take us awhile to reach Edinburgh.”

Her eyes widened and she threw herself at him, hugging him and kissing his cheek. “Thank you, thank you, Micheil.”

He brushed her away. “Hurry, we do not have much time.”

She threw a wool gown and a few necessities inside the bag and handed it to Micheil. After looping the bag over his shoulder, he took her hand and paused before opening the door, holding his fingers to his lips. They sneaked down the stairs and into the kitchens without causing a stir. Micheil led her into a dark room at the back of the kitchens, grabbing a torch to light his way.

“Micheil, we must be lost. There is naught here.” Her gaze searched the room frantically for a door, but found nothing.

“Patience, my dear.” He handed her the torch and pushed at a large chest against one wall. He smiled at her over his shoulder when he pushed the chest, obviously intended to be able to move easily. Once he shoved the cupboard out of the way, they both stared at a rickety old door. Micheil yanked hard on it until it gave way. He stood aside, bowing at the waist to her. “After you, my lovely.”

She tiptoed through the door as Micheil took the torch from her, holding it high in the air. As soon as they found the tunnel, he moved back to do his best to hide their escape before he took her hand in his with a grin. And then they ran. Micheil tugged her behind him, and she did her best to keep up. Cobwebs hit her in the face, but she did not care. She had to get away at any cost. The passageway was like a maze, but Micheil never hesitated at any of the corridors. It was as if he knew exactly where they were headed. Didn’t matter to her—she would ask him later how he’d come to discover the underground path.

Micheil finally stopped in front of a small staircase and beckoned her to follow him up the steps. He had to heave his shoulder into the door at the top multiple times before it gave way, but it finally opened. They stepped out into a cool evening, and the first thing Diana noticed was the blanket of shining stars in the sky. How had she failed to notice how beautiful they were before now? It was like staring up at a thousand different twinkles of hope. Her eyes misted at what Micheil had risked for her. Just for a moment, she lapsed into a grin at the thought of Baron Gow discovering that she was gone. Alex Grant could handle him, of that she had no doubt.

Diana jumped for joy when she found her beloved horse munching on grass. Micheil helped her mount before climbing into his own horse’s saddle, and they galloped off toward the horizon. The direction seemed unimportant compared with the urgency of her need to escape.

She would explain everything to her father later.

***

Several hours later, they stopped at a clearing near a creek, far off the regular path. Micheil had pushed his horse hard, wanting to ensure they were far away when Gow discovered their absence. He trusted the Grants would be able to delay the chase for a while, but he needed to get Diana to Edinburgh fast so they could disappear into the crowds of the local markets.

He helped her down and said, “See to your needs. I’ll keep watch.” She disappeared into a nearby group of bushes as he led the two horses over to water. Micheil had to admit he had never done anything this rash or dangerous before. Aye, he had fought during the battle with the Norse, but this was different.

This time, rather than fighting for his clan, he was fighting for the rights of a spoiled young woman. Still, she was beautiful and innocent, and did not deserve the treatment that cruel man had planned for her. Would there be repercussions for Clan Ramsay when his escapade was discovered? It was too late for such a concern, as he was not about to take her back, especially since it could be her death sentence. Sometimes, a man had to stand up for what he believed in, and Micheil believed Baron Gow was beyond reprehensible. Even a spoiled lass did not deserve to call him husband. He also hated to admit it, but the more time he spent with Diana Drummond, the less spoiled she seemed to him.

When she returned, her hopeful green eyes pierced his soul. “Do you think we got away? Are we safe?”

“Aye, I think we’re fine for now. Sit down. I have oatcakes and ale. We need to let the horses rest for a spell.” What he did not tell her was that he had a very good reason for not worrying. Ten guards were in their periphery keeping a watchful eye for Gow and his men. The Grant warriors would follow them all the way to Edinburgh, so they would definitely get away from the boorish man.

He had promised not to tell her that Alex Grant had agreed to this gambit. He had not asked for Alex’s reasons for subterfuge; he had been all too eager to get her away from the ugly situation. They sat on a log and ate, the silence deafening between them. While he did not want to speak for fear he would give his secrets away, she was probably in shock.

She played with the pieces of her oatcake. “How did you find out about the hidden passageway?”

He grinned and gave her a sidelong glance. “I have my ways.”

She scowled at him. “What does that mean?”

Slud, she really was an innocent. “It means if you sweet talk a saucy kitchen maid, she will tell you anything.”

Diana chuckled. “I have an inkling that you are quite experienced at talking sweetly to maids. ‘Tis true?”

“Aye.” He glanced up at the stars. “I have talked to more than a few maids, lassies, and women—all of the above. I like lasses. Guilty as charged.” He turned back to her and could not help but stare at her plump bottom lip. Her teeth chewed that desirable lip in between every bite of oatcake.

Hellfire, he would love to take her into the woods and throw her down on his soft furs and make sweet love to her. Imagining her soft hips, long legs, and how she would look right before he took her over the edge made him hard in an instant. Was not every night meant to be spent in the arms of a saucy wench?

And that thought brought him back to reality. This was no wench seated next to him, but the heir to her clan’s lands. An even greater reminder was the memory of her connection to Alexander Grant and the thought of how the Grant would react if he discovered Micheil took his cousin’s innocence.
Get control, Ramsay
.

She changed the subject. “What do you think Alex will do when he finds out?”

He sighed, wanting to avoid this entire topic. “Alex was looking for the proof he needed to put an end to the betrothal. He is verra good at getting what he wants and needs. I suspect he will push the baron into betraying his true nature and will then use it against him. That way, he can put an end this whole farce.”