The Campbell Trilogy Read online

  Her brows knit together across her tiny nose. “Didn’t I mention it?”

  Patrick held his impatience in check. “Nay, you didn’t. What happened?”

  “I don’t know all the details, but Jamie found the MacGregor and his men on the Isle of Bute and negotiated their surrender to my cousin. My cousin has agreed to take the MacGregor to England to have his case heard by the king. Jamie’s marriage will seal the bargain.”

  Patrick rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what this could all mean.

  “There will be peace,” Lizzie said.

  Peace. Was such a thing possible? Dared he hope … If this was true, it could change everything. Alasdair had talked his way out of trouble with the king before; could he do it again? It was obviously what his cousin was counting on.

  If the MacGregors were pardoned, he would be able to tell Lizzie the truth. He would be able to explain to her what the land meant to his clan and why it had been necessary to hide his identity. It might make it easier for her to forgive him.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked. “Why are you interested in the MacGregors?”

  He saw the aversion in her gaze. “You’ve just surprised me, that’s all.” And had given him much to think on. He glanced down at her upturned face, seeing that she was still studying him with far too much curiosity in those expressive blue eyes.

  His body stirred. The heat of their last kiss still lingered on his lips. He knew just the way to distract her.

  In one smooth move, he flipped her onto her back and rolled on top of her.

  “What are you doing?” she gasped.

  He kissed her and rubbed his throbbing erection between her legs, letting her feel his arousal. “I thought that would be obvious to a woman of your perception?”

  She giggled to hear her words repeated back to her. “I thought you said we didn’t have much time?”

  “We don’t,” he agreed, sliding his hand between her legs and groaning. So warm and deliciously wet. He slid one finger inside her, watching as her eyes grew hazy with passion. “But this shouldn’t take too long.”

  Chapter 15

  Lizzie settled onto the stool before the smoldering peat fire and wrapped her plaid a little tighter around her shoulders. Though comfortable and cheerful, Alys and Donnan’s cottage was a bit drafty. Next week the villagers would be lighting the bonfires for Oidhche Shamhna, the night of Samhain. The days had shortened considerably, and the air had taken on a distinct wintry chill. Sometime next month the first snow would blanket the hills and glens, making travel much more difficult.

  The missive that she’d sent to her cousin would not delay him for long; they needed to leave soon. She’d told Patrick as much this morning when she’d woken up snug and warm, cradled in his powerful arms.

  Her heart pinched, thinking of the conversation that had followed. She hated arguing with him. But in the week and a half since Colin and Robert had left, it seemed when he wasn’t sneaking into her room late at night to catch a few stolen moments of pleasure, they were disagreeing about their impending nuptials.

  She’d thought finding a husband would be the difficult part. Never had she imagined how hard it would be to agree on how the wedding would take place.

  Alys finished stirring the pungent, mouthwatering beef porridge in the fire and took a seat opposite her. After plucking some yarn from the basket at her feet, she went to work on a pair of wool hose with a large tear.

  “So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, my lady?” Alys said, peering at her out of the corner of her eye. Even with that small glance, the older woman conveyed so much. She was not fooled by Lizzie’s bright smiles and false cheer.

  “I thought you might be lonely with Donnan away and wanted to see if you needed anything,” Lizzie replied airily.

  “Hmm,” said Alys, not believing a moment of it. “Where is your fierce protector? I’m surprised that he let you go to the village alone.”

  Lizzie blushed. “With the MacGregor’s surrender, there can be little danger. I’ve walked to the village thousands of times by myself. A great many of those visits to see you and the little ones.” She looked around. “Where are they, by the way? They usually rush to greet me to see what I’ve got hidden in my basket.”

  “That’s because you spoil them with sweets. They are fishing down at the burn, but I’m sure they’ll smell those tarts you brought and be on their way soon enough.” Alys gave her a hard stare. “But don’t think to distract me.” She made a short sniffing sound. “So you snuck away without telling him, did you?”

  Lizzie lifted her chin. “I’m the lady of the keep, I don’t sneak.”

  “Bah! Don’t take that tone with me, little one. I know you too well. Here,” she said as if to make her point, handing her a needle and some wool thread, “you might as well do something if you are just going to sit there with a long look on your face. Or do you want to tell me what is really bothering you?”

  Lizzie picked up a pair of small trews that must have belonged to one of the boys and began to sew, finding the monotony of the work oddly calming. After a short silence, she said, “We had a disagreement.”

  Alys chuckled. “Is that all? Ah, child, there will be plenty more of those. What you need to learn is how to make up afterwards.” Her eyes twinkled. “It can be worth every minute of the distress that leads up to it.”

  Lizzie blushed, and Alys raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe you’ve already discovered what I’m talking about? That braw lad of yours doesn’t seem like the sort to wait for a minister to stake his claim.”

  Lizzie’s face was on fire. “How do you know what I decided?”

  “Anyone around here with two eyes in their head can see that.” Lizzie’s face fell. Was she really so transparent? “You wear your heart on your sleeve, my love. It’s one of your most endearing qualities. So if you’ve made your decision, what is the problem?”

  “We can’t agree on the wedding.” She took a deep breath. “Patrick doesn’t think my family will approve the match.”

  Alys eyed her sharply. “He wants to marry without their consent?”

  Lizzie nodded. “I’ve told him he’s wrong, that my cousin and brothers will accept my wishes, but he doesn’t want to risk their forbidding the match.”

  “He doesn’t seem like the kind of man to run from a fight.” Alys tapped her chin thoughtfully and then frowned.

  “What is it?” Lizzie asked.

  “I don’t know,” Alys said. “Something that Finlay said before he and Donnan left with your brother. I thought nothing of it, but he mentioned that he was looking forward to paying a visit to the Laird of Tullibardine and learning more about Patrick Murray. Do you think your Highlander is hiding something?”

  Lizzie shook her head. “Nay, I think he truly fears that we will not be allowed to wed. But he doesn’t know my family like I do.” Tears filled her eyes. “He doesn’t understand how important they are to me. How it wouldn’t feel right marrying without my family around me sharing my happiness. Missing Jamie’s wedding was disappointing enough, but unlike him, we’ve no need to rush.”

  “You’ve told him how you feel?”

  Lizzie nodded.

  “Be patient, lass. The man loves you. He’ll want to make you happy.”

  Loves me? She wanted to hope so. Why was he being so stubborn?

  The sound of laughter outside drew her away from her maudlin thoughts. A few moments later, Alys’s five children came bursting through the door and Lizzie found herself enfolded in a multitude of excited embraces, from her tiny Sari at her knees to not so wee Robin around her neck. Bombarded by questions and laughter, she found it impossible not to feel her spirits lifting.

  This was why she’d come. Not only for Alys’s counsel, but to immerse herself in Alys’s crowded and noisy home, which teemed with the life and happiness she yearned for—and hoped one day soon would be hers.

  Rather than barge in as he w