Lord Crestshire’s mouth twitched at both corners and his eyes narrowed the slightest bit. Recognition flashed across his expression then disappeared just as quick as it came. He returned Alexander’s greeting with a graceful dip of his squared chin. “Chieftain MacCoinnich.”
Aye. Ye canny lad. Ye remember well enough.Alexander waved the men toward the table laden with food. “By all means, have a seat and enjoy the fine repast Cook has prepared for us.”
Campbell glared at him, his face growing redder by the minute. “I didna come here to eat. I come to claim what is mine.” He jabbed a finger toward Alexander. “The woman can go where she will. I’ve no use for a whore what will bed another man while promised to another. But I’ll be taking all the horses and the land promised t’me.”
Rage flaring hot and fast, Alexander shot forward and grabbed Campbell by his thick throat. Campbell struggled and spit to be free, drawing his dagger and raising it. Without easing his crushing grip on Campbell’s windpipe, Alexander clamped his other hand around Campbell’s raised fist and shoved his face within inches of the man’s nose. “Insult my wife again and I’ll send ye back to your clan in a box.”
“I think not,” Campbell hissed, arching his back and jerking against Alexander’s hold. “Ye shall be too busy dancing at the end of the king’s rope!”
“Release him,” Lord Crestshire ordered but in a civil tone that in no way sounded like a command. “Aye?” he added in an almost perfect Scottish accent coupled with a lopsided grin.
“Aye,” Alexander agreed as he gave Campbell a hard shove that sent him tumbling across the floor onto his arse. As Graham and Ian rushed to guard Campbell with pistols drawn, Alexander turned to Lord Crestshire and held out his hand. “So ye remember?”
Lord Crestshire took hold of Alexander’s forearm, squeezing it with heartfelt greeting as he clapped a hand to Alexander’s shoulder. “Forget the man who saved my life then took the beating I deserved?” He gripped Alexander’s arm tighter and shook his head. “I think not. I shall never forget you, old friend.”
“Ye canna take him!” Catriona swept down the gallery stairs, holding a pistol cocked and aimed at Lord Crestshire’s chest. “I shall kill ye, I will. Ye’ll no' take my husband to be hanged.”
“The wily wench slipped past us, Alexander!” Duncan shouted from the gallery where he and Sutherland stood hanging over the banister as though about to jump. “Damned if she’s no' as fast as a canny wee fox.”
“Stand down, woman!” Alexander shouted as he stepped between Lord Crestshire and the gun. “God Almighty, dinna shoot!”
“And the lovely lady’s name?” Lord Crestshire asked, looking as though he was having to hold his breath to keep from laughing.
Brows drawn and lips twitching in the sudden realization that perhaps she had not quite interpreted the scene with accuracy, Catriona lowered the pistol and eased the hammer forward to disarm it. She raised her chin to a defensive tilt and motioned toward Campbell still on the floor, pinned in place by Graham and Ian’s pistols. “What was I supposed to think? Already attacked by a Scot? How was I to know the Sassenach would be a friend rather than a foe?”
Lord Crestshire stepped around Alexander and made a gallant bow. “Edward John Cunningham, Earl of Crestshire, at your service, m’lady.”
Catriona eyed Lord Crestshire as though he were a dog that had just rolled in fresh manure. With a twitch of her shoulders and a defiant upward jerk of her chin, she belatedly remembered her manners and graced him with a half-hearted curtsy. “Catriona MacCoinnich, your lordship.”
When her glare shifted and settled on him, Alexander could’ve sworn that his flesh burned. Lore a’mighty, the woman's protective fierceness flared hot and damned if he didna love her for it.
“'Tis all right, m’love. He remembers me,” he said as he stepped forward and removed the pistol from her hand then passed it over to Graham.
“Obviously,” Catriona said with a low warning hiss that greatly resembled the sound made by a wounded animal about to attack. She jabbed a finger at Jameson Campbell who’d risen to his feet with the rough-handling help of Graham and Ian. “But he still arrived with him.”
“Let me assure you, dear lady, that I travel with my regiment. I am in no way partnered with Jameson Campbell.” Lord Crestshire spared a glance in Campbell’s direction. “The king’s business is my only concern.”
“He’s a feckin' traitor!” Campbell shouted, backing them all up with his disgusting habit of spitting as he spoke. “He and his men. Every last one of’m was at Glencoe. Killing for the MacDonalds. Ask him if ye refuse to take my word for it.”
Alexander clenched his teeth, biting back the words he wished to say. Edward might remember him but that didna mean the man wouldna complete the mission for which they had sent him. He squeezed Catriona’s arm, willing her to do the same.
“I propose we sit and have a bit of food,” Alasdair interrupted from his post beside the table. “Accusations are best handled on a full stomach. Do ye no' agree?”
“Absolutely,” Lord Crestshire said. He gave Campbell a stern scowl. “All weapons. On the floor. Now.”
“Here in the thief’s den? Are ye daft?” Campbell glared at him. “How the hell did the king ever come to pick such a coward to lead his regiment?”
Alexander didn’t attempt to hide the knowing smirk determined to creep across his face. If Edward was the same as he had been as a lad, then Campbell had just made a grievous error.
Lord Crestshire turned to Alexander, jaw working with the grinding of his teeth. His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath then released it with a long, slow hiss. “I assume your fine keep has a dungeon or someplace suitable for prisoners?”
“Most certainly,” Alexander replied with a smile he couldn’t contain. Aye, Edward had no' changed a damned bit. Call him a coward and rue the day ye were born.
“Good.” Lord Crestshire made a dismissive wave of a hand toward Jameson Campbell. “Since I didn’t bring my guards, would you be so good as to secure this man until I return to my regiment and send for him?”
"Aye. 'Twould be my honor." Alexander gave Graham and Ian a single dip of his chin. "Ye heard the man."
“Gladly,” Graham said, taking hold of Campbell’s left arm just as Ian took hold of his right.
