The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (32 page)

             
She gave a sad smile to her mother and father, and then let Lachlan help her back onto the saddle.

             
“Are ye sure ye can handle yer wife?” Roderick had sneered in a humorous manner to Mr. Croft, who nodded in return.

             
Neil had stayed with Mr. Croft, but promised his return later that evening, explaining that he had some unfinished business to attend to.

             
Lachlan and Kirstin led his men away after that, with Roderick loyally by their side. Kirstin spared one last glance to her mother, and Lachlan noticed by putting a hand on her thigh, and distracting her away from the sight.



              Neil entered the all too familiar hallways of the Ruskin manor. He found Graham Ruskin sitting miserably in the chair of his study. Neil approached him cautiously, and took a seat across from him, “Yer no’ giving up, are ye?”

             
It was as if Graham had not noticed Neil because he jerked and looked up instantly, “I donna ken.” Graham had said honestly.

             
“Well,” Neil leaned back, “I have come to confess.”

             
“Confess?” Graham questioned.

             
“Aye,” Neil replied slowly so that his next words would sink in, “I am loyal to the Bateson Clan, and have been since a child. Surely, ye must hate me for my defiance, but I can only hope ye will understand my devotion towards my sister.”

             
Graham laughed loudly, his booming voice reverberating throughout the room. He waved a hand in the air and answered, “I have known of yer disloyalty for a long time, Neil. Do ye really think me that naïve? For Bradan and Farrel have been working for me since the time I had figured ye out.”

             
“Is that so?” Neil quarried.

             
“’Tis so.” Graham responded, still chuckling.

             
Neil asked once more, “Then, there are no hard feelings between us?”

             
“Of course no’! Just take care of that sister of yers. Donna let Laird Bateson hurt her, or else I will have my way.”

             
Neil grinned widely, “I promise that much, and I swear that is a promise that will be kept.”

             
“Good,” Graham grunted, “Now off with ye! Go back to that sister of yers and tell her to visit me when she can.”

             
Neil got up from the chair and walked towards the door, but before he left he turned around and said, “Yer a good man, Laird Ruskin. Donna let one lass tear ye down, for there are more of them.” He shut the door behind him after that, but Graham was left with a saddened face and said to no one in particular, “But none like yer sister.”



              Kirstin had collapsed on the furs of Lachlan’s bed when they arrived. The sun had now set and she was exhausted from their traveling. Little did she notice Lachlan come in behind her and lay down next to her small form. He wrapped his arms around her body and only then did she know it was him because of the way he held her. Kirstin turned around in his embrace and looked up to his face, “I have missed this.”

             
“Aye,” He agreed, bringing his lips closer to her own, “I have, too.”

             
Lachlan kissed her then, taking his time as his lips gently pressed against hers. When he pulled away, he gazed into her sterling blue orbs and said calmly, “I want to marry ye in the morrow.”

             
Kirstin pulled back at that, but just enough for Lachlan to see that her eyes had gone wide and her mouth had fallen slightly agape, “What is the matter?” He had asked with concern laced in his tone.

             
“I donna have a large or fine dowry to give ye, and I fear that ye will only realize this after our matrimony.”

             
“Kirstin,” he said, bringing her closer to him once more and taking her lips into another kiss, “It doesna matter what ye have to offer, for ye have offered me yer heart and that is nearly enough to satisfy any man.”

             
She gave a small smile, “Yer much too kind to me.”

             
“Nay,” he argued, pressing his lips to hers for the third time and pulling back to say, “I am no’ kind enough. I have brought ye so much trouble and yet yer the kind one to forgive me.
              Her smile disappeared for an instant, “None of what has happened has been yer fault. Surely, ye must ken this.”

             
“But, I canna help but feel that ‘tis my fault anyhow.” He replied sadly.

             
Kirstin pressed her body closer to his and kissed him, “Then donna think about it, and just kiss me.”

             
He did not argue with her as he crashed his lips down onto hers.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

              Kirstin had more than willingly agreed to marry Lachlan in the morrow. That very next morning they awoke in one another’s arms, listening to the birds chirp. Kirstin was both, nervous and thrilled, for the day’s events. She was prepared for the wedding, as Alana had made her a fine gown only weeks before, and Lachlan had helped her prepare the day’s upbringings by picking out various flowers and the flavor of the cake.

             
Nevertheless, the morning of their wedding had come. Summer was ending; the green leaves turning colors of reds and orange, and the grass had become duller in vibrancy. Yet, everything about the day seemed beautiful with the blue skies and greenery that still remained.

             
“Are ye nervous?” Lachlan had asked Kirstin, with her still in his arms.

             
“A bit,” she replied honestly, “but my nerves willna prevent me from marrying ye.”

             
He grinned at that, “Donna be nervous, for in only a few hours I will be forevermore yers.”

             
“And I,” she whispered, turning her head up to look up at his, “will be yers.”

             
Lachlan chuckled lowly, “Ah, but yer already mine. I have made sure of that.”

             
She gave a wholehearted smile at his response.

             
They lay in bed for a moment longer, until Kirstin could not sit still anymore and slipped out from beneath the covers, “Tonight,” she said once more, “We will lay together as husband and wife.”

             
She left after saying that, leaving Lachlan to beam upon hearing her words.

             
She had barely made it to the foyer when Alana showed up, giving her a once over and scolding her, “Where have ye been all morn’?”

             
Kirstin blushed, giving a wary look before replying, “In my room?” Unfortunately her statement came out more as a question than anything else, and Alana shook her head at her.

             
“So I shouldna believe that ye were with the Laird all night?”

             
Kirstin shrugged at that as Alana continued, “Dear child, he has only just notified us that the wedding will take place today and ye were lying in bed with him this morn’ instead of helping me with the preparations. Go,” she hissed mockingly, “Go and get dressed, for I have put yer gown on yer bed, and I donna mean Lachlan’s bed.”

             
Kirstin could not help but laugh as she walked away, exclaiming, “Oh, Alana! How you tickle me so!”

             
Alana only shook her head at Kirstin’s retreating form.

             
Servants smiled at Kirstin as she walked to her room, and she gratefully smiled back at them. Upon opening the door to her room, she was awestruck by the ivory colored silk that lay on her bed in a delicate fashion.

             
The gown itself was long, with sleeves, and lace embodying the bodice. It was soft to the touch, making Kirstin smile. Alana had obviously worked long and hard to create such a masterpiece.

             
Only a moment more, did Alana enter with two other servants who were beaming at Kirstin.

             
“Do ye like it?” Alana asked.

             
“Like it? Nay, I
love
it.” Kirstin said, grinning widely at the old woman. She took Alana into her arms, embracing her tightly around the waist and exclaiming, “Yer so good to me. Vanora and yer like the mother I never had.”

             
Alana perked at that last bit, “Speaking of who, Vanora came back with me the day we left.”

             
“What do ye mean?” Kirstin asked curiously.

             
“Why,” Alana smiled, “She has been in the kitchen all morning preparing the cake.”

             
Kirstin’s grin widened, “I must see to her at once!”

             
“Oh no ye donna!” Alana shouted, grabbing Kirstin around the arm and pulling her back, “I have brought these two servants here to prepare ye for yer big day! I donna want ye getting messy in the kitchens before ye put yer gown on. Now sit,” She pushed Kirstin down onto a chair, “For they are going to put yer hair up nicely, and help ye into yer gown. Ye hear?”

             
Kirstin frowned for the briefest of moments, “I hear, but Vanora will be at the wedding, correct?”

             
“Aye, that is correct.” Alana assured her, motioning for the two servants to start preparing Kirstin for her big day. Alana had left shortly after, leaving Kirstin with the two servant girls.



              Bradan and Farrel had returned to the Bateson Clan. Together, they walked down the long hallways and stopped upon Lachlan’s study. Knocking twice, before being granted entry, they entered the all too familiar room.

             
“Bradan.” Lachlan nodded, looking up from his desk, “Farrel.” He nodded in the direction of the other man, and then motioned for them to take a seat in the two chairs across from where he sat, “Neil has alerted me of yer disloyalty to my clan.”

             
The two of them warily took a seat, looking at one another before looking back at Lachlan, “Aye, ‘tis correct that we have no’ been entirely loyal. We donna belong to this clan, but instead the Ruskin Clan.”

             
They were fearful of Lachlan’s reaction, as he stared intently at them for a long moment before erupting into a fit of loud, booming laughter.

             
Lachlan’s voice reverberated throughout the room, and down the hall before he calmed down from the fit and looked at them in a joking way, “Well, it seems that Lord Ruskin had deceived me, but just this one time.”

             
Bradan gave him a wry smile, “So, yer no’ mad at us, then?”

             
“Mad?” Lachlan questioned, leaning forward, “Why would I be mad when I had done the same to my potential enemy?”

             
“What do ye mean?” Bradan asked. Farrel looked confused, but listened intently to Lachlan’s next words, “Neil was my spy, but it turned out that Graham knew that which is why he made ye both his spies.”

             
“Odd,” Farrel said, finally breaking his silence, “Lord Ruskin never alerted us of Neil’s disloyalty.”

             
“Mayhap,” Lachlan continued, “’Tis because we Lairds, have our own way of knowing things without telling others.”

             
“Aye,” Farrel said, “Mayhap.”

             
“Now if ye will both excuse me,” Lachlan smiled teasingly, “I must get ready for a wedding.”

             
They both nodded and made to leave, but Lachlan interrupted them, “Tell yer Laird that he is welcome to come if he feels to it.”

             
Bradan left, but Farrel stayed behind to answer Lachlan, “Will do.”

             
Then, the door shut behind them.



             
Hours passed, with Alana and Vanora in and out of the kitchen, and rushing around the manor. Servants were just as rushed, going from one room to another. A priest from the Church of Scotland had arrived, and servants had set out many chairs amongst the field, that Lachlan and Kirstin had come to endear as their own.