“Prove you’re from the future.”
“What?”
“If you’re from the future, prove it. What happens to Clan MacGregor? What happens tae me?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t got that far in the book yet.”
“You’re lying to me, trying tae bewitch me.”
“I’m not. Look if I’m lying, why would I have this?” She reached into her pocket to pull out the cellphone when a voice reached them from the next room. “My Laird, are you in here?”
“Hold,” Cam shouted before turning to Rachel. “Dinnae make a sound.”
He crossed to the door and left. Rachel listened as he spoke to someone in the next room.
“The guards saw someone at the garret window, my Laird. Is all well?”
“I’m fine.”
“I should check for intruders. Recall Remigius?”
“There’s no need tae bother, I am alone.”
“And I’m your Master-at-Arms, sworn to protect you. There could be an assassin in there at this very moment.”
The door scraped back and then another Highlander was looking in at her. He was thinner than Cam, his skin wan like a candle. On his right cheek was a one inch scar that curled toward his eye as he smiled at Rachel. “Good day, lass.”
“Hello,” she said, returning his nod. “Erm, how are you?”
The man was already gone. She peered out to find him confronting Cam. “You said there was naebody there. Are you up to the same tricks as your father? You ken how that ended.”
“Och, no,” Cam replied. “This is my…betrothed.”
“Really?” the other man said, his eyes narrowing. “And when did your bride-to-be arrive?”
“Since when do I have to explain my actions to my Master-at-Arms?”
His expression changed at once. The suspicion was gone. He looked as happy as could be. “Of course, my Laird. Apologies. I will tell the clan. What wondrous news.” He clapped his hands together. “This calls for a celebration.”
He was gone a moment later. Rachel stepped into the main bed chamber, scratching her forehead as she did so. “I might be wrong, and I probably am, but did you just tell that man I was your betrothed?”
“The truth would have you burned within an hour. What else could I call you?”
“A new servant?”
“He vets all the household staff. He’d have known I was lying.”
“A cousin then.”
Cam shook his head.
“Would that be so bad?”
“Aye, it would end with you getting killed when the truth came out.”
“I thought a big tough Laird like you would be all alpha about such things. My way or the highway. Why not just run him through with your sword for his insolence?”
“You ever tried running a clan?”
