Page 53 of Claimed Highland Brides

8

EDINBURGH

T hey left in the middle of the night, with a guard of five led by Simon Campbell, the laird’s right-hand man. They rode horses rather than in a carriage, for greater discretion all the way to Drumacree before stopping at the inn, in the early hours of the morning.

“Ye and yer kin should stay hidden, in case yer step-uncle has people watching,” Simon said to Barclay. “I’ll reserve ye rooms. Cover yer heads with yer cloaks, and I’ll send someone oot to get ye once the rooms are booked.”

“What aboot us?” Aileen whispered, pointing to Sarah and herself.

“Ye’ll no’ be seen wi’ MacFarland. As far as the village will ken, ye’re here for yer own business.”

Aileen nodded. “Tha’s a guid notion. Nobody notices me anyway.” She grinned. “For once, tha’s an advantage.”

“I notice,” Barclay said quietly, his eyes steady on her. Aileen’s face burned, and she bit her bottom lip, ducking her head with shyness.

Simon snorted, pointing to Barclay and his cousins. “Ye stay here.” He pointed to Aileen and Sarah. “Ye come wi’ me.”

They followed him into the inn, nodding along in greeting at the various patrons who recognized them. The residents of Braenaird Castle were well known in Drumacree, and it was unremarkable for them to stay at the inn on their visits. People didn’t pay them any mind.

Aileen was exhausted from riding, and after the barest of pleasantries with the publican, she allowed his wife to escort them to their chambers, where she promptly undressed and went to sleep in her shift. It had been a long hard ride in the middle of the night and were the road not so well known, potentially disastrous.

* * *

As Aileen slept, Barclay lay unblinking, his mind churning with plans and counterplans.

What will I do if the governor won’t help me ?

He sat up with a sigh, staring out of the tiny window. Antonio and Diego were across the hall from him, probably asleep the way he should have been if only he could get his mind to quiet down.

His mind went to Aileen, heart swelling with admiration at her silent courage. They had ridden all night with hardly any breaks, and she hadn’t complained once. Barclay had felt compelled to call for a few stops, just to give her a rest, even though she had not asked for it. He was still mystified as to why she was so determined to help him. He’d seen the look in her eyes when they spoke yesterday morning. She had been planning to turn him down. It was why he had made a point of talking the whole time, so as not to give her a chance. Whatever she was thinking about them, it was born of her own fears and insecurities. The more he thought about it, the surer he was that they would make a very suitable couple.

She just had to realize that too.

The fact that she’d volunteered to come on this trip was both cause for hope and a confirmation of his belief that she was the right woman for him. He considered it a gift of serendipity that he’d had to call on Braenaird Castle and come into contact with her again.

He closed his eyes with a sigh, willing himself to sleep. They had a long ride ahead of them when they left during the night. His hand snaked downward, pushing aside his belted plaid and grabbing hold of his member. He thought back to Aileen’s words. That she was the least amongst her sisters.

“Ye’re wrong aboot tha’,” he said aloud. “Yer glow is more powerful than any twinkling green of the eyes or fiery red of hair. What ye have shines brighter than any diamond of the first water.” He grinned, making a note to say that to her one day when she would believe it and not think that he was mocking her. He heaved a sigh, playing with himself with his fingers.

There’s more to marriage than admiration. There’s passion too .

He remembered well his parents, holding hands beneath the dinner table and giving each other secret smiles. He wanted his own marriage to be just as happy. His hand closed around his member, gripping it tight as he wondered if he could feel passionate about Aileen.

He could feel himself hardening at the thought of undressing her, of laying her body out, kissing her everywhere. He wondered what kind of noises she would make. Would she be too shy to articulate what she was feeling, or would she surprise with boldness?

Barclay could not wait to find out even as he spilled onto his hand. He then went to the washbasin to clean before returning to bed.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.

* * *

They set out as soon as night fell at a fast pace. “At the rate we’re going, we might be in Edinburgh by tomorrow evening,” Simon told him.

“Aye, weel, we have some time. The ball is not for four days,” Barclay replied.

Simon nodded. “Dinnae fash. We’ll get ye there on time.”

“I thank ‘e.”

The rest of the journey passed in a blur of riding and sleeping, great exhaustion, and not much conversation. Barclay was glad to arrive in Edinburgh and settle down at an inn. He went to visit with his family solicitor, Euan McGregor, who promptly invited them all to stay at his house.

“Torquil MacDonald? Aye, I do ken him. He is retired the noo. Ornery genelman.” Euan grinned.

“Weel, ornery or no’, I need to speak t’him. He is the one who drew up my father’s will.”

“I shall write a letter and make an appointment. Meanwhile, ye have much to do to prepare for the ball. Leave this t’me.”

“Thank ‘e. Diego is already out in search of a tailor and I do believe Miss Douglass has commissioned a modiste to alter one of her dresses.”

Euan smiled and nodded. “Aye, ’tis important that you are presented in yer best light.”

Barclay nodded and bowed. “Then I shall go and acquire suitable attire.”

* * *

Aileen was a little flustered about her dress. The modiste had convinced her to go with a lower necked gown in dark mossy-green that matched her eyes. Sarah had brushed her hair until it shone before fixing it under her hat. She blinked at herself in the mirror.

“Weel, I think I look as bonny as I am going to.”

“Aye, ma’am.” Sarah smiled, clapping her hands together with excitement. “Yer young lad wilnae ken wha’ hit him.”

“My young lad? He isnae?—”

“Och! Dinnae try to deny it. I see th’ way ye look at each other.”

Aileen looked away, cheeks heating in embarrassment. “Ye’re mistaken,” she whispered.

Sarah just snorted, turning to put away the brushes, combs, and creams they’d been using.

There was a soft knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The knob turned and Barclay poked his head in, smiling. “Are ye ready to go?”

Aileen’s flush deepened even as she nodded jerkily. “Aye.”

He stretched out a hand to her, and she took it, her own trembling slightly. She took a deep breath and smiled. “Dinnae be ascairt. It shall be well.”

She nodded again, throat too dry for a reply. His hand felt big and warm, surrounding hers like a guardian. She realized that it was the first time she’d ever had her hand in a man’s. He kept her hand in his as he led her to the carriage, and she focused on putting one foot in front of the other without stumbling in confusion.

Diego and Antonio were waiting by the carriage and turned to smile at her. They both gave her an elegant leg and showered her with compliments. “You look very lovely, Miss Douglass. How lucky we are to be escorting you this evening.” Antonio said with a smile.

“ Si, èl èsta bueno. ” Diego’s smile was admiring.

Cheeks burning, Aileen gave an elegant curtsy before allowing Barclay to hand her into the carriage. They were joined by Diego, Antonio, and the solicitor.

“Now ye mun’ remember, we arenae going to the ball simply to enjoy ourselves. We mun’ do our best to charm the governor.” He looked to Aileen. “Yer family is very prominent in the region, and the governor will be looking to curry favor. Ye mun’ give him hope wi’out making any promises.”

Aileen nodded, feeling even more nervous. Barclay reached out and squeezed her hand, giving her an encouraging smile.

“Barclay, ye will speak o’ yer father’s valor in defense of his home and his family. That he died as a result o’ that. Mr. MacDonald will help wi’ that. He wrote me this afternoon to say he would be at the ball. Two birds wi’ one stone.” The lawyer grinned, showing all his slightly browned teeth.

Barclay nodded and smiled.

“And what about us? What shall we do?” Diego asked.

“Ye and yer brother will stay in the background. Charm the ladies but no’ too much. We dinnae want the governor thinking aboot Mr. MacFarland as an outlander, so we mun’ minimize the Spanish connection. But if ye are charming to his wife and his three daughters, they will speak well o’ ye and perhaps sway him.”

All of them listened intently, nodding along to this plan.

The enormity of the stakes hit Aileen as the lawyer gazed intently at them all, his face somber. Her hands began to shake a little, and Barclay tightened his hold on them. Their fingers were hidden beneath the folds of her arisaid, but she could see that everyone was unfazed by their closeness. She wondered if Barclay had told his cousins about his proposal and her lack of an answer. She wondered why Barclay hadn’t pressed her for an answer.

She sneaked a peek at him from beneath her lashes, but his face was impassive, his eyes far away as he stared out the window. It was her turn to squeeze his hand in reassurance. He turned to look at her, a distracted smile on his face.

“It will be well, I promise. Ye shall get yer birthright back.”

He nodded. “Thank ‘e. I ken it.”

They arrived at the governor’s brightly lit mansion and joined a line of carriages waiting to drop off their occupants at the door.

“Are ye all ready?” Euan asked.

Barclay nodded resolutely.

“Si,” the Spanish brothers said.

Aileen nodded. “I think so.”

“If we all play our parts, we should leave here a lot better off than we are now.”

The door opened and they all alighted, ascending the stairs to where the butler was waiting to announce them.

* * *

Barclay could feel the spirit of his parents close to him as he moved around the room with Aileen. She was very good at introducing him to various people that had known his family when he was a child. He talked and laughed with them as they reminisced about his parents.

He realized that Aileen was essentially ensuring that when he did declare to the governor that he was the rightful heir of Inchcree, several of his guests would be able to attest to the likelihood that he spoke the truth.

His heart swelled with gratitude, and he smiled down at her. Her eyes smiled back at him even as they questioned his look. He put his hand out to her. “Will ye dance wi’ me?”

She nodded a bit jerkily, eyes wide, as she followed him to the ballroom floor. He snaked an arm slowly around her waist, light enough to propel her around the floor without being scandalous. His eyes never left her face, and it was all she could do not to duck her head and blush as red as a beetroot.

“Ye’re a very graceful dancer,” he murmured with a smile.

“Thank ‘e,” she whispered back, eyes fluttering.

What is happening to me? she wondered.