The Campbell Trilogy (65 page)

From the first he’d singled her out, making her feel special, desirable. He’d never made her feel self-conscious about her stammer or lacking in any way. And no one had ever worried about her before. His protectiveness was nice—not smothering, but nice. She could get used to it.

Maybe … it was possible.

As she reached the hall, the sounds of a disturbance outside caught her attention. She intercepted the bailiff as he was making his way toward the kitchens below.

“What is it, Donald?”

“Ah, there you are, my lady. The Laird of Auchinbreck has arrived with some men.”

Colin? What could he be doing here? She started toward the door, but the heavy footsteps treading up the forestairs from the
barmkin
below told her that it was unnecessary. A moment later, Colin and half a dozen men came bursting into the hall, and Lizzie came face-to-face with the explanation for her brother’s unexpected arrival.

The blood drained from her face as she met the friendly blue-eyed gaze of the handsome blond giant standing before her.

It seemed she would not be able to ignore her duty; it had just arrived. For standing next to her brother was none other than Robert Campbell.

“Ah, there you are, Lizzie,” Colin said, moving forward to enfold her in an awkward embrace. Physical affection had never come easily to her brother—actually, affection in general didn’t seem to come easily to him. “I was surprised you did not come out to greet us.”

Lizzie didn’t miss the subtle admonition so typical of her brother. “I was in the east range and didn’t hear you arrive.” Remembering what Patrick had said, she added, “Overseeing the construction project that our cousin left under my supervision.” Figuring that Colin could use a little
admonition himself, she said, “If I’d known you were coming, of course, I would have been here to greet you and your guests myself.”

Colin frowned, looking at her as if she’d just grown a second head.

But Robert Campbell chuckled. “She’s got you there, Auchinbreck.” He took her hand and gave her a short bow. “We apologize for descending on you unannounced, my lady, but there wasn’t time to send a messenger.”

“Aye,” Colin said, recovering from his shock at her rebuke. “I met up with Campbell here a few days ago near the Lomond Hills. We decided to join forces, but the damn outlaws have vanished.”

Lizzie swallowed hard. It seemed that the prospect of an alliance between the two warring branches of clan Campbell was already bearing fruit. The noose hanging around her neck tightened. Realizing that the men were staring at her, she asked, “So you’ve given up your search?”

“Nay, little sister, I’ll never give up.” Colin’s eyes hardened. “After what they dared try to do to you, the MacGregors will pay. I’ll see their heads on pikes—every last one of them.”

Something in his voice made her skin crawl with fear. Colin was a hard man, occasionally even a cruel one. He was a difficult man to love, but as he was her brother, she tried to do so.

Though Lizzie had no wish to encounter the MacGregor brigands again, neither did she want any more bloodshed on her account. But she knew her brother well enough to know that nothing she said would change his mind. He cared for her in his own way. But of all her brothers, Colin valued her opinion the least.

“We decided to retrench for a few days and lull them out of hiding,” Robert Campbell explained. “Your brother was kind enough to invite me and my men to enjoy the hospitality of Castle Campbell while we wait.”

“I thought it was a good opportunity for you to get to know each other better,” Colin said meaningfully.

Lizzie felt the heat rise to her cheeks. So much for subtlety. How like a brother to say something to embarrass her. “You and your men are most welcome, my laird,” she said with a smile directed at Robert Campbell.

He returned her smile, and at that moment Patrick Murray walked through the door from the kitchens, holding an apple in his hand.

He stopped midstep, shock and something else crossing his face before he quickly covered it.

“Excuse me,” he said with a short nod, heading immediately for the door.

Colin was studying him with a queer look on his face. “Who is that man? I don’t recognize him, but he seems familiar.”

“Patrick, wait,” Lizzie said, stopping him just as he’d reached the door. He turned and looked at her, his face devoid of expression. “My brother the Laird of Auchinbreck has arrived.”

“So I see, my lady.” His gaze turned to Robert Campbell.

“And this is Robert Campbell,” she said softly, the hint of an apology in her voice. His gaze chilled, as hard and black as coal. Something painful squeezed in her chest, and she had to look away. “This is Patrick Murray,” she explained to Colin, “the man who rescued us from the attack. He and his men agreed to stay on for a while.”

“Is that so?” Colin said, stroking his chin. “It seems we owe you a debt of gratitude, Murray.”

“You owe me nothing, my laird. I was honored to offer the lady assistance.” Patrick’s voice was polite but empty. His gaze when he looked at her was that of a stranger, giving no hint of what had passed between them only moments ago. “If you’ll excuse me, I must return to my
duties
.”

She didn’t miss his emphasis on the last word. A gauntlet indeed.

To Patrick’s mind there was no cause to celebrate, but the hall was filled to bursting with the sounds of the pipes and merrymaking as the
ceilidh
got under way. Highlanders welcomed any excuse to feast, and Campbells—Highlanders when it proved expedient—were no exception.

He kept his gaze fixed on the steaming pile of beef and vegetables in front of him and not on the laughing couple seated at the dais, but every inch of his body teemed with barely restrained fury. After a long week of being forced to stand in the shadows and watch his enemy woo the woman he wanted—and not being able to do a damn thing about it—Patrick was perilously close to losing control.

Every instinct clamored to storm over there and smash his fist through the too-damn-charming smile of his erstwhile cousin Robert Campbell, though to do so could be a disaster of deadly proportions. Patrick dared not do anything to draw any more attention to him and his men. They were treading on dangerous ground already.

The shock of walking into the great hall and seeing the Laird of Auchinbreck and Robert Campbell had yet to fade. Patrick knew he was damn lucky that neither of the men recognized him. He’d crossed paths with Elizabeth’s brother a few times and Robert Campbell once or twice, but never close enough for careful study. Nonetheless, not even the knowledge of how close he’d come to discovery for the second time could temper the dangerous mix of emotions coiling inside him—anger, resentment, and what
could only be described as jealousy—leaving him ready to strike at the barest provocation.

Indifferent? Hardly. No longer could he lay claim to that state, if he ever could. Discovery was not the only danger he faced; he was also in danger of becoming too attached. Something he’d carefully avoided.

Until now.

He glanced over at her again, but the picture hadn’t changed.

As regal as any princess on a throne, she’d never looked more beautiful—or beyond his reach. She glittered like a diamond in the sun, her sky blue eyes sparkling and pale skin flushed pink in the candlelight. She wore an entrancing concoction of blue satin and some white gauzy material that floated around her like angel’s wings. Her hair was arranged in a Grecian circle at the top of her head, secured by a wreath of diamonds and pearls. Long, silky strands of white blond curls cascaded around the creamy pale skin of her neck and shoulders.

She appeared as exactly what she was: the quintessential lady of the castle. A woman to be admired from afar.

Once again she’d worked her magic, turning the gloomy old hall into a glittering panorama of light and color that seemed to blaze with life—though he suspected that she would make a warm, comfortable home out of a hovel. He’d never seen so many candles—or so much silver to hold them. Evidence of the Campbell wealth was everywhere—from the colorful satin cloths dressing the tables to the precious metals and gemstones encrusting the tableware to the platters piled high with food and the overflowing casks of fine wine.

While his people were starving.

He should resent her, but it wasn’t resentment that he felt when he looked at her laughing and smiling at Robert Campbell. It was something far more dangerous.

If only she didn’t look so damn happy.

There was no denying that she had bloomed under the dueling attentions of two men. The new womanly confidence that mixed with her sweet vulnerability was irresistible—and he hadn’t been the only one to notice. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t fault Robert Campbell for falling under her spell.

The other man leaned over and whispered something in her ear that caused her to toss her head back and laugh. The sweet, throaty sound drove like nails into his chest.

“Have a wee bit of pity on the utensils, Captain.”

“What?” he replied sharply, turning his anger from the laughing couple to the man who’d disturbed his self-inflicted torture.

As befitted their station, Patrick and his men had been seated at a table well removed from the dais, and with the music and loud voices they were in little danger of being overheard. Still, they spoke in low tones—out of habit more than anything else.

“Your knife,” Robbie said, indicating it with a gesture.

Patrick looked down at the piece of twisted metal in his hand, bent without him realizing it while he’d been watching the dais. He tossed it down in disgust and exchanged it for his goblet, downing the contents in one long swig.

He needed to relax, but he doubted there was enough wine in the castle stores to take the edge off what ailed him. But it wasn’t just sexual frustration tying him in knots. His plan had also been frustrated by the arrival of Auchinbreck and Robert Campbell; the opportunity for private conversation—let alone seduction—had been virtually nonexistent. The very real possibility of failure loomed.

He looked back to the dais, knowing he was glowering but unable to do a damn thing about it.

“Have care, Captain. Glenorchy’s son has taken note of your interest in the lass.”

Patrick muttered a curse and shifted his gaze. Robbie was right. He and Campbell had been circling each other
for days. But Robert Campbell had the advantage of position, and they both knew it. “Patience is not one of my stronger virtues.”

Robbie lifted a brow as if to question the others, but he refrained at Patrick’s black look. Instead he asked, “How much longer do you think they will stay?”

Patrick shook his head. “Who can say? They were only supposed to be here a few days and it’s been a week. But for our people’s sake, the longer the better.”

“You’ve sent word?” To Gregor, Robbie meant, warning him of the danger.

“Aye.” His brother would see to it that the women and children were moved to safety, hidden deep in the wild, forbidding hills where only MacGregors dared to tread.

They ate in brooding silence for a few moments before Robbie added, “She won’t accept him.”

A wry smile turned his mouth. “I wish I shared your confidence.” Though Lizzie might care for him, she was not as susceptible as he’d assumed. The deeply ingrained sense of duty that he’d come to admire just might prove insurmountable.

Nor had he anticipated competition.

His face darkened as his gaze flickered back to the dais. “She certainly looks to be enjoying herself.”

“Aye,” Robbie agreed. “She looks as bonny as a bluebell in spring. But Campbell’s not the one her eyes follow.”

Patrick’s jaw flexed. “But she likes him.”

Robbie frowned, not disagreeing. “He’s not like his father.”

“Nay, nothing like his father,” he admitted with all the ease of having a tooth pulled. Black Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy was one of the cruelest, most ruthless men in the Highlands—ruthless enough to attack the castle of his own sister. And as much as Patrick would like to say the same of his son, he could not. Robert Campbell was witty, light-hearted, and from all appearances sincere in his attentions
to Lizzie. And after watching him practice for a week, Patrick could also find no fault in his warrior’s skills. Robert Campbell was a worthy opponent both on and off the battlefield.

She could do far worse.

Like marrying an outlaw—a man with nothing but pride and justice on his side. Marriage to him would be nothing like marriage to Robert Campbell, and the knowledge festered in his gut like a rotten piece of beef.

It was getting harder and harder to ignore the real cost his plan would exact on Lizzie.

It shouldn’t be that way.
By rights, he should be sitting in Robert Campbell’s seat. Never had he so longed for the life denied him. The full force of everything that had been stolen from him hit him hard.

But not Lizzie. He’d be damned if he’d lose her, too.

Lizzie laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. The room spun around her as she danced and twirled to the point of collapse.