The Campbell Trilogy Read online

  “I think you’ll remember my response as well,” Jamie said evenly, noting the burst of angry color that appeared on her cheeks. “Listen to what your uncle has to say, lass,” he finished quietly.

  The Lamont cleared his throat. Jamie could tell he was uncomfortable. Hell, he didn’t blame him. “Campbell here and I have been in correspondence for the past couple of months.”

  He heard her sharp intake of breath and a look of such betrayal in her eyes that it cut him to the quick.

  Her aunt quickly clasped Caitrina’s hand and eyed her husband impatiently. “You misunderstand, dearest, your uncle did not betray you.”

  The Lamont’s eyes widened in alarm, realizing what she’d thought. “Your aunt is right. I told Campbell nothing of your whereabouts. He contacted me about another matter.”

  Caitrina seemed to relax, but only a little, and she waited for her uncle to continue. But the Lamont still seemed to be having trouble finding the right words.

  Taking pity on the man, Jamie interjected for him. “Your uncle has served as something of an intermediary.” He could see her confusion and explained. “While searching the forest near Ascog after the attack”—for you, he left unsaid—“I captured two of Alasdair MacGregor’s guardsmen—one of whom happened to be his cousin Iain.”

  Her eyes widened a little. “And so my father’s death was for nothing,” she said bitterly. “You found the MacGregors and turned them over to Argyll anyway, or maybe there was no need to turn them over?”

  Jamie’s mouth tightened. Killing them was what he should have done—and no more than Iain MacGregor deserved. That he hadn’t done exactly that was only because of her. If they were to have any chance, he knew that no more death could come from the attack on Ascog. His jaw clenched grimly. Iain MacGregor was one of the worst of the lot—a murderous scourge who’d burned and pillaged Jamie’s clansmen for years. What others might have been driven to, he did for pleasure.

  Alasdair MacGregor, on the other hand, had made a different impression on him. Though they’d crossed paths a number of times in the past few years, during the negotiations Jamie came to see him as a man bound by duty into becoming the unlikely leader of an uncontrollable group of brigands—as their chief, Alasdair would be held accountable. Jamie had come away almost feeling sorry for him.

  Unexpectedly, the Lamont rose to his defense. “No, he didn’t do either, Caitrina. As a matter of fact, Campbell has prevented Argyll from sending more soldiers into the area until an agreement for a peaceable surrender of Alasdair MacGregor could be worked out. As evidence of Campbell’s good faith, while brokering the deal, he has kept the location of the prisoners a secret.”

  Caitrina’s gaze fell on him. He saw her surprise. She realized the significance of what Jamie had done by withholding information from Argyll. Hell, it had surprised him. Never before had Jamie refused to follow an order from his chief. Proof alone of what she meant to him. Initially, his cousin had been furious. Only when Jamie had explained his purpose had Argyll been mollified.

  He knew she wanted to ask why he’d done so, but instead she turned back to her uncle. “And has a peaceable surrender been negotiated?”

  The Lamont nodded. “MacGregor and his men have agreed to turn themselves in to Argyll, and in return the earl has agreed to indemnify him for past crimes and to see him safely on English ground. Alasdair MacGregor believes that he will be treated fairly by King James in England.” Undoubtedly, Alasdair MacGregor would die for his clan’s crimes, but at least his blood would be on King James’s hands.

  She nodded but kept her gaze on her uncle. “It is more than I would have expected from Argyll. But I don’t understand what this has to do with me?”

  The Lamont cleared his throat again. “To seal the bargain, Campbell has asked for your hand in marriage.”

  Her entire body went rigid. Jamie could see her knuckles turn white as she gripped the folds of her skirts in her lap. Fury and outrage radiated from her, but she kept her voice surprisingly calm. “I’m afraid I’ve already refused the laird’s generous offer of marriage. In fact, I planned to discuss another match with you tonight.”

  Blood rushed through Jamie’s veins, his reaction instantaneous. “Who?” His fists clenched. I’ll kill him.

  Her lips pressed together. “It is none of your concern.”

  The Lamont appeared flustered. “This changes everything. I was not aware that your father had arranged another match. I thought you had refused every offer. Who is it, child?”

  Color crawled up her cheeks. “Nothing has been decided … exactly.”

  The Lamont gazed back and forth between the two of them, sensing the tension and probably guessing the cause for it. “You should hear his offer before you refuse him, niece.”

  “There is nothing he can say that will change my mind.”

  Don’t be so sure of that.

  “I think you will want to hear everything, Caitrina,” her aunt said quietly, echoing his thoughts.

  He sensed her rising panic. She turned to her cousin John, but he nodded as well—although he looked none too happy about it.

  “Very well. What is this offer, then?” she asked impatiently.

  Jamie saw the pity in her uncle’s eyes when he answered her. “If you wed Campbell, you can return to Ascog Castle with your remaining clansmen under his protection.”

  She flinched as if from a blow, and Jamie knew he’d guessed correctly. With the death of her family, her home and her clan were what were important to her. But how much would she be willing to sacrifice for them?

  She’d lost her composure; he could see her hands shaking in her lap. “I see. So he offers that which rightly belongs to the Lamonts.”

  No one spoke, but they all knew that Argyll had laid claim to her father’s lands. To encourage the capture of the MacGregors, the Privy Council had enacted laws giving a bounty for the head of any MacGregor, in addition to all the dead man’s possessions. By harboring the outlaws, arguably the Lamont himself was an outlaw. As such, his possessions would be forfeit. With no male survivors, Caitrina would face a long, uphill battle, with little guarantee of success in the end.

  “My cousin has agreed to give the land to me on our wedding.” An arrangement that had taken some negotiating and hadn’t pleased Colin, who felt it should be his. “Eventually, it will go to our second son.”

  At the mention of a child, she blanched. He could see the panic in her eyes and knew that she was close to losing her composure.

  “Leave us,” he said to the others.

  The Lamont frowned. “I’ll not have you force the lass.”

  Jamie checked him with a glare but forgave him for the insult, knowing that the chief spoke out of concern for his niece.

  “Caitrina?” Margaret Lamont asked.

  She nodded.

  The chief escorted his wife, with John following, but when her cousin reached the door, he turned. “You don’t have to wed him, lass. I’d not see you tied to a bloody Campbell.” His eyes narrowed menacingly on Jamie. “Say the word and he’ll feel the edge of my blade.”

  Jamie stood, his hand moving to the hilt of his dirk. “If you don’t feel mine first,” he said matter-of-factly. He was itching for a fight, and from the size and strength of him, John Lamont looked as though he might actually give him a good one.

  Jamie started at the gentle restraint of Caitrina’s hand on his arm. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. “Thank you, John, but I’m fine.”

  Her cousin shot one more venomous glance at Jamie and shut the door behind him.

  Caitrina dropped her hand and turned to face him in the candlelight. God, she was beautiful. Just standing so close to her was an exercise in restraint. His nose filled with the bouquet of her delicate perfume. He ached to plunge his fingers through the silky smooth locks of her hair, to touch the soft, velvety curve of her cheek, and to taste the honey sweetness of her lips. But she didn’t want comfort from him.

  Would the day