Emilia and Adam gazed at each other for a moment and something passed between them, as if each was reading the other’s thoughts. Then Adam stood up and they walked out after saying goodbye to the priest.
“I need a moment alone with Emmy,” he called over his shoulder. Father Gordon sighed. Sometimes celibacy was very hard indeed!
As soon as they were alone, Adam’s lips met Emilia’s in a searing kiss that made her tremble to the core. Pressed closely to him, feeling every plane and curve of his body, the hardness of every muscle, the softness of his lips, and the caress of his hands on her back, Emilia knew that this was right. She was just where she was meant to be.
Adam, holding her tightly in his arms, knew that God had made them especially to fit around her body. He could not imagine holding any other woman now.
When they drew apart, he said, “It was a terrible day till I kissed you, Emmy.”
She laughed softly. “I have had better ones.”
“You complete me,” he whispered, sighing, then became brisk. “But now, I must go and play at being a laird again.”
He backed away from her, and she felt bereft. She could hardly wait to be married!
20
The man was almost as tall as Adam, with strong muscled legs and an aggressive jut to his jaw. His eyes were steely gray, and his hair a sandy blond; he looked like a Norseman...and the chief bandit on the day of the attack on the village! His whole posture was menacing, feet planted widely apart, fists clenched. This was a man not to be trifled with. Adam took one look at him and his hackles began to rise. Hostility crackled in the air like lightning.
There was an instant primal dislike between the two men which was in no way forced. It was a sheer animal reaction of one dominant male to another, and Emilia would not have been surprised had they challenged each other to a fight to the death right there and then like two stags battling over their harem of females.
“What is your name?” Adam asked.
“You first,” the man replied insolently. It was the spark Adam needed. He reached out and hooked him on the point of the jaw. His head jerked backwards, and he staggered, but did not fall.
Adam pushed his face into the soldier’s till they were almost touching noses. “What is your name?” he growled, drawing back his clenched fist to strike him again.
“Neil McElwee,” the man replied, rubbing his injured jaw.
“We got there eventually.” Adam’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “I am Adam Cameron, soon to be Laird of Inverinch.”
Neil McElwee said nothing, but a barely visible smirk passed over his face, then it was gone. However, Adam had noticed it.
“Something else to say?” he asked smoothly. “Feel free to say it. You don’t look like a coward to me.”
Neil narrowed his eyes to slits and looked daggers at Adam. “My Laird’s soldiers will burn this whole village to the ground!” he shouted. “And we will make sure that no one is left alive! You do not know what hell you have unleashed. You will feel the wrath of my Laird! My Laird will—”
“Your Laird will not be doing anything,” Adam replied mildly, smiling at Neil with smug satisfaction. “Because at this very moment he is being led away to new and very comfortable quarters in my dungeon.” He moved close to Neil again and said, “If you do not wish to meet the same fate then listen to me very closely. I wish you to take a message to the McElwee clan chief and tell him that we do not want war, but we will fight him if he forces us to. Imprisoning the Laird and his men was righteous. It was our revenge for their attacks on our village and the McKay farm, and they were very fortunate that we did not execute them. We showed them more mercy than they showed us.”
Neil McElwee nodded. “I will take your message,” he said grimly. “But on your own head be it. When you and your village are utterly destroyed, do not say you were not warned, and I tell you now that there will never be peace between our people. We will be enemies forever.”
Then he mounted his horse and rode away. Adam watched him till he was out of sight, then turned to go inside.
Father Gordon was standing just inside the door. “When do the French arrive?” he asked.
Adam sighed. “In two days’ time,” he replied, anxiously. “If they come at all, and if the McElwees do not arrive early.”
“You must have faith,” Father Gordon said earnestly. “The clan seat of the McElwees is in Strathewing, a morning’s ride from here. It will take them a while to prepare and travel. Keep praying, and I will too. I will dedicate tonight’s Mass to it.”
“I almost killed someone today, Father,” Adam reminded him. “For a moment I thought I might actually do it.”
Father Gordon made the sign of the cross in front of him. “Ego te absolvo,” he said softly. “I absolve you, and may God give you pardon and peace, Adam. What you did was merciful and good.”
Adam crossed himself and nodded. “Thank you Father.”
Emilia came in just after he had left, smiling.
“Where is Mara?” Adam asked.
