“Campbell,” Palmer said. “I understand that you are angry at Donaldson, and you have every right to be, but confronting him is not advisable.”
Iain nearly choked on his drink. “Not advisable? And pray tell me what you advise, Palmer? How do I rectify the fact that one of your soldiers has demanded that one of my clansmen become his mistress? Shall I just let him do it?”
“No, no. Of course not. But what do you hope to accomplish by facing him tonight?”
“Kill him?” Iain bared his teeth in a parody of a smile.
Palmer’s own smile looked a little sick. “That would surely bring the wrath of the English army down on your head.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I will go with you, because if I don’t, you will go anyway, and at least this way I can keep you from murdering someone.”
It took everything in Iain not to leave right then, but Palmer demanded they eat dinner first. Iain ate little and took a tray up to Cait. She was sleeping, and he wasn’t about to wake her, so he left it for her and hoped she wouldn’t wake up while he was gone.
When they arrived, the cottage had a strange, deserted feel that put Iain on edge. It appeared lonely without Cait’s vibrant presence, and while he liked that she was at his home, he had to admit that her true place was here.
He went inside, leaving Palmer outside with the horses. Immediately, Black Cat streaked out of the cottage and straight into the woods. There were no horses or men. Iain checked on the animals in the barn to make sure they had food and water. The chickens scattered at his presence, squawking angrily.
The sun was setting as he walked back through the house. Donaldson rode up alone. He hesitated when he saw Palmer outside and stiffened when Iain walked out of the cottage. Donaldson slid off his mount and saluted Palmer. “Sir.”
“Lieutenant,” Palmer said.
Iain took Donaldson’s measure. He was a supercilious bastard, and while he was standing at attention, Iain got the feeling that he resented having to do so. Iain guessed that the man did what he wanted when he wanted. He had the look of nobility; then again, so did Iain. And he used it to his advantage now.
Donaldson’s eyes flashed irritation, but he maintained his stance while seeming to look down on Iain.
“I hear you spoke to Cait Campbell,” Iain said.
Donaldson’s jaw worked. “I did.”
“I’m here to tell you that she is not to be disturbed or bothered by you again.”
Donaldson’s eyes narrowed. “How can I be bothering her when she invited me here?”
Fury propelled Iain forward. Palmer’s arm flew out to stop him. “She is a Campbell, under my protection. You are not welcome in her home or on my land.”
Donaldson smirked. “You have no authority over the English army, and you cannot tell me where or where not to go.”
“Enough, Donaldson,” Palmer said quietly. “Lord Kerr is a supporter of the English. An important supporter. You will do as he says, and if that’s not good enough for you, then I will make it a command. Cait Campbell is not to be disturbed by you or your men again. If you see her, you don’t speak to her.”
Palmer had used Iain’s English title, and Iain could tell that Donaldson recognized it. The tip of his nose and cheekbones were red with anger. Still, Iain worried that Palmer’s authority would not be enough to keep the man in line.
“The lady asked me to pay her a call,” Donaldson said. “But if you don’t want me here, I won’t come calling again.”
This time Palmer’s arm was not enough to keep Iain in line. He stepped close to Donaldson. They were of the same height, eye to eye, nose to nose, toe to toe. “We all know the truth, Donaldson. But hear me now. If I hear you have bothered her again, I will come after you.”
Cait was right. The man’s eyes were soulless, and Iain wanted to wipe the smug smirk off his face. But he restrained himself, heeding Palmer’s earlier warnings. There was something about the man that made Iain pause. He had come across a lot of English soldiers and a lot of English aristocrats. Donaldson was a dangerous combination of both. A man who bought his way through life and thought nothing of those he considered beneath him. No doubt Iain’s title was above Donaldson’s, but because Iain was Scottish, the lieutenant thought Iain beneath him.
Donaldson’s gaze slid to Palmer. “You will let a Scottish heathen speak to an English officer in this way?”
Instead of being angry, Iain was glad to see his speculation proved correct. The man was dangerously supercilious.
“Iain Campbell is the Marquess of Kerr and the Earl of Corrington. He possesses both an English title and a Scottish title that are older than your father’s. So if I were you, Donaldson, I’d walk away and forget this day ever happened.”
For a long moment Donaldson stood stiff and unyielding, his cold gaze locked on Iain. Iain’s muscles tensed in preparation for a fight, but Donaldson turned on his heel, mounted his horse, and rode off.
Chapter 26
Iain didn’t go to Cait’s bedchamber when he returned home. He couldn’t go to her in the mood he was in at the moment. He needed to calm down and think. So he paused in front of her door for a moment, then moved on.
As angry as he was at Donaldson, he was grateful that Palmer had been with him. He didn’t know what he would have done to the bloodyijitif they’d been alone. It was men like Donaldson who gave English soldiers and men in general a bad name. Even the usually loquacious Palmer had been subdued after the encounter. “I apologize for Donaldson’s behavior,” he had said once they reached the entryway to Iain’s home.
