Page 15 of Highlander’s Fruit of Eden

The Laird Returns

V incent Nelson rode back toward the castle with his troop of advisors and soldiers.

It had been a fruitful trip down to the border, and he felt invigorated with what had happened there.

If everything went to plan, he would safeguard the future of the Clan for a long time to come.

He may have been forty-five years of age, but he felt half that, energized for the first time in a long time.

The castle loomed up ahead, and he smiled at the sight. It had forever been his home, and he knew that he would die there. Before that, though, he would do all that he could to ensure that the Clan was taken care of.

The Laird kicked at the horse, spurring it on so that he could lead his men back into the castle.

He liked to put on a show for his people, and her knew that they would be glad to have him back.

He only hoped that his nephew, as much as he loved the man, had not run the place into the ground in his absence.

Vincent rode his horse through the front entrance of the castle, heading straight for the stables. There, he was met by Ruben. He dismounted the horse, handing the reins to the stable master.

“What happened to yer face, man?” asked Vincent.

“A misunderstanding,” said Ruben.

“Well, I hope that the other guy ended up looking worse.”

Ruben opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it. Vincent shook his head slightly with a smile and moved out of the way as the rest of the men caught up. Ruben moved off quickly. There would be plenty to do now that so many horses were back.

Vincent strode through the courtyard before any of his men could catch him up. He had to speak to someone, and it had to be in private. When he reached the courtyard, Angus Strome was lurking in the shadows, and he soon fell in line with the Laird.

Angus was thin and wiry, and his face was constantly shadowed, even when he was in direct sunlight.

He was considered one of the Laird’s advisors, though not one person in the castle knew what he did.

Well, one did—the Laird. He was the man you went to when you had something that needed to be dealt with.

Angus was the man who took care of things that could not be trusted to anyone else—and the Laird paid him handsomely for it.

“So, did ye watch him while I was away?”

“I did,” said Angus.

“And anything that I can use?”

“He busied himself with many of yer duties while ye were away, and he performed them adequately, but he did not have much more time for anything else. Except….”

“Oh, out with it and stop buildin’ the drama.”

“There was one incident,” said Angus.

“We will be inside soon, so please hurry it up.”

“Yer nephew attacked Ruben, the stable master.”

“Aye, I ken him, and I just came from there. Jon did that?”

“Aye, he did. There was some pushin’ and shovin’, but Jon threw the first punch, and he did nae stop at just the one. He might nae have stopped if he was nae pulled off.”

“There were people there?”

“Aye, he drew quite the crowd.”

“Good, good,” said Vincent. “Do ye ken what started it?”

“I dinnae ken, I was nae close enough, but when I spoke with some people after, they said that Jon was rude to the stable master and shouted orders at him. Ruben, ye have to love him, was heard sayin’ that the Laird never treated him like this and that ye were always very polite to him.”

“The stable master might be deservin’ of a wee bit more coin,” said the Laird.

“And yer trip down south was fruitful.”

“Aye, it was. I think that we might have more coin comin’ in soon.

On that matter, I need to see William immediately.

I ken that he is stressed about the treasury, and I want to put his mind at ease.

And that has me thinkin’ about the future too.

Now that funds are going to be comin’ back in, I need to think about me future.

I cannae be Laird forever, and I ken that Jon is next in line when I do retire at a fine old age, but the Clan deserves better.

It might be time to think about a proper heir.

When ye get done schedulin’ a meet with William, I would like to see that new English lass in me room.

Amelia, I think her name is. See to it that the maids bring up some tea and the like too, and plenty of whisky for me. Now, off with ye.”

“Aye, me Laird,” said Angus, slinking off to do his bidding.

“Ye wanted to see me, me Laird,” said William, meeting the Laird in the same room as he had met with Jon.

“Aye, come in and sit down,” said Vincent. “Yer shakin’, man. Is everyhtin’ fine?”

“Aye, aye,” said William.

“Look, I ken why ye are so nervous, and I want to out yer mind at ease.”

“Ye do, me Laird.”

“Aye, ye are worried about the coin in the treasury.”

“I dinnae care to—”

“Nay, nay, it’s fine, William, I ken that ye like to keep track of it all, and I might nae be the easiest man to work with, so let’s have this talk.

Yer worried that there is much more going out than comin’ in, and ye recommended that we increase taxes on the people, but that’s nae the right thing to do right now, it wouldnae be fair to the people, my people, our people. ”

"It was only a suggestion, me Laird.”

“And a very good one, and I would have approved it if needed, but we dinnae need to resort to that just yet. The truth is that me foray down to the border was to check on the safety of the trade routes and speak with the other Lairds, but it was also to speak with the lords in England too. I was able to broker more trade deals, and we will be doubling our exports south of the border, and that is before we take into account any extra deals that can be had with the Clans up north. Now, would that satisfy the needs of the treasury?”

“Aye, I believe that it would,” said Willian. “Yer an astute man, me Laird. I never doubted ye. I only want the best for the Clan, as I ken that ye do too.”

“Aye, ye are a good man, William, and a loyal advisor. With all of us workin’ together, we are going to ensure that the Clan is prosperous for a very long time. Ye have me word on that.”

“I like the sound of that, me Laird. Was there anythin’ else that ye needed me for?”

“Nae, ye can get back to work. Thank ye, William.”

Vincent sat in his room, the small table covered with plates of sandwiches and cakes, along with a pot of tea and a small decanter of whiskey.

The Laird stood at the window, looking down at the fields below, sipping at the glass of amber nectar in his hand.

He was in a fine mood. The money problems had been more than taken care of, and the future was looking bright—not just for the Clan but for him too.

He took another sip, the rich liquids trickling down his throat and warming his chest.

There came a knock at the open door, and when he turned, Amelia was standing in the doorway.

He beckoned her in and gestured with his hand for her to sit at the table.

She looked surprised and nervous as she was invited in, and behind that, there was an immaculate beauty that he would not wait to get his hands on.

“Please, my dear, help yerself to some food.” He stood staring at her expectantly, and she finally obliged, taking a small sandwich and putting it on the plate in front of her.

Vincent placed his glass down on the table and walked over to the door to close it before returning to the table and sitting down.

“I thought that you might want me to come in and change your bedding or clean for you,” said Amelia, nervously taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Nay, nay,” said the Laird. He gave her a toothy smile. “Dinnae worry, I’m nae going to bite ye.”

“Did Jon speak with you?” asked Amelia, holding the sandwich halfway to her lips.

“Me nephew, nay, he didn’t. What did he want to speak to me about?”

“No, nothing,” said Amelia quickly. “I only know that you were away from the castle for a time, and I’m sure that you would want to see him on your return.”

“Aye, and I will. He’s a fine lad is Jon, and I’m proud to have him as me nephew, but let’s not talk about him or anyone else. I want to talk about ye.”

“About me?” asked Amelia.

“Aye, I wanted to check that ye were settlin’ into yer role in the castle.”

“Oh, yes, it has been great so far. The people are all very welcoming, and I feel very much at home.”

“That is braw to hear, Amelia. I hope that ye think me welcomin’ too.”

“Of course, my Laird. You have been very fair with me, and I must thank you again for allowing me to hire more staff. It not only makes my job easier but all of the staff in the castle too. They frequently talk about how good you have been to them over the years.”

“Ye can come and speak to me any time,” said the Laird. “Me door is always open, and I want ye to be able to do yer job here without any problems. Let me ask ye this, though, Amelia. Do ye ever want more than what ye have?”

“More?” asked Amelia.

“Aye, more than just being a housekeeper. Ye are a bonny lass, and ye’re smart too. Ye are destined for things more than what ye have.”

“Well, thank you, my Laird. That is very kind of you to say so.”

“Do ye ever think about startin’ a family? Do ye want bairns, Amelia?”

“Yes, I do, my Laird. That is something that I think about a lot. I would love nothing more than to have a large family.”

“That’s good to hear, Amelia. Ye mentioned me nephew earlier. I’ve had such a hard time findin’ him a wife that I sometimes think that I’ll be married before he is. I’ve been thinkin’ meself about lookin’ for a wife, ye ken.”

“Well, any lady would be lucky to have you, my Laird, and I would not worry about your nephew, I am sure that he will find someone to marry.”

“I hope that ye are right,” said the Laird with a wink.

That put Amelia more at ease, and she dug into the sandwich, taking one of the small lemon tarts too.

“Allow me,” said Vincent. He lifted the teapot and poured her a cup of tea. He took another sip of his whisky. “I am glad that we are on the same page, Amelia.”

“I am too,” she said. “I was so worried when I was called up here to your chambers. I have never been called to a Laird’s chambers before, and I thought that I had done something wrong, but you have been most welcoming.”

“That is me only intention,” he said. “I’m nae gettin’ any younger, so I have to do what I can while I still can.”

“Nonsense,” said Amelia. “Ye look like a man much younger than your years.”

“I can see why the people in the castle like ye so much,” said Vincent. “Please, take some more food. Take as much as ye want. I believe that we are going to do great things together.”

“With the two of us in the castle, how can we not?” asked Amelia.

Vincent sat back in his chair. He poured some more whiskey from the decanter—this meet called for a celebration.

The Clan was secured, and he had found himself a young wife.

They would soon be married, and then they would have lots of children.

Hopefully, the first would one a boy, but it did not matter if she bore him a girl, they would continue on until they had plenty of each.

And that would mean he could run his fingers all over that body of hers.

He watched her as she ate, the luscious lips, the dainty hands, and the curve of her body beneath her gown. She had told him that he looked like a man younger than his years, and he would prove to her that he was when the time came.