Now that was all being put in jeopardy by Clyde Munro and Cora Henderson. Munro’s garrison had been decimated by the English, but it would not take long to build it up again; the work was already in progress. Cora had come off even worse. Her castle was still occupied, if only by a bunch of worthless thugs from the Lowlands, but with a decent band of soldiers, it could be taken back, and the baron had seen for himself that the young woman could inspire loyalty. Perhaps he should have asked for her hand instead!
However, it was too late for that now. Once Munro had replenished his garrison and given Cora her castle and lands back, they would be a force to be reckoned with, and he could not endure a threat to his dominance. Now was the time to act. He poured himself a full tumbler of whiskey and sat back to think.
He perused the wedding invitation again. The marriage was set to take place in ten days’ time, which gave him plenty of time to act. He sent for Loraine.
Loraine received the summons with a dreadful premonition of doom in her heart. She had no idea why, but her instincts were rarely wrong. She had her maid smarten her up so that she looked as delectable as she could, then pinched her cheeks to redden them, and licked her lips to make them shine. When she left her suite of rooms, she was so full of dread that she could hardly drag her feet along the corridor to Andrew’s study, and she had to pause and take a deep, calming breath before she squared her shoulders and entered. Andrew looked up from his account books and smiled at her, but something in his eyes told her that her suspicions had been confirmed.
She was smiling and looking lovelier as ever, if that were possible. In fact, she looked so desirable that the baron could have dragged her into his arms right there and then and kissed her senseless, but he had other things to think about at the moment.
“You look delicious, my dear,” he observed, smiling as he stood up to kiss her cheek and embrace her.
Loraine smiled back archly. “You make me feel that way, Andrew. Sometimes I think you are undressing me with your eyes.”
“I wish I could!” he laughed. “Come and sit down. I have a few important matters that I have to discuss with you.” He poured some wine, satisfied that he had softened her up with enough flattery that she would be amenable to his suggestions.
“Now, I have a scheme that I need you to help me carry out,” he told her. “It involves many subtle stratagems, and that is where you come in. Now listen.” He looked straight into her eyes and began to speak.
The audience did not last long, but Loraine needed two more glasses of wine to help her through it. She listened to the steady drone of his voice unfolding a plan that was so cunning and cruel she could hardly believe what she was hearing. However, after he had finished, she smiled. “Very clever, Andrew,” she said, raising her glass to him. She emptied it and then stood up. “Now, if you do not mind, I must go and dress.”
Andrew stood up and held the door open for her, then kissed her lips and gave her a playful slap on the bottom, smiling at her.
Loraine hurried to her bedroom, threw herself on the bed, and burst into tears.
“Has Clyde kissed you yet?” Minetta asked curiously as they rode down the valley towards the village of Kenmuir, where the local market was taking place. They were accompanied by three sturdy guards, each one almost the same size as Clyde, so there was more than enough manpower to keep any threats at bay.
“Only once so far,” Cora replied, blushing.
“Was it pleasant?” Minetta saw her friend’s cheeks reddening. “You might as well tell me, Cora. You know I will find out in the end!”
Cora avoided her eyes, but smiled. “It was wonderful,” she confessed as she remembered the soft caress of those firm male lips on hers. A delicious shiver ran through her.
“You are smitten,” Minetta giggled.
“I should hope so!” Cora replied indignantly, laughing. “I am going to marry him, after all!” A stab of doubt pricked her. She was still unsure of whether or not she should be doing this thing that would make such a massive impact on her life. Once at the altar with his ring on her finger, it would be too late to turn back, and if she did, Minetta would be cruelly disappointed too.
Just then, the object of their conversation came riding up the hill towards them and drew up beside his future bride. As usual, he looked windblown and filthy, as though he had just come from digging a hole or plowing a field, which, in fact, he had. His light brown hair had little clods of earth in it, and his hands were crusted with mud. Even the laugh lines on his face stood out in white stripes against the brown dirt. Cora reflected that he would have to scrub for hours before the wedding. She laughed at the thought, and then he grinned at her.
“What is so funny?” he asked, looking puzzled.
Cora reached out to brush the dirt out of his hair, but he unexpectedly caught her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, still with the wicked smile on his face.
“You are so dirty!” she answered.
“Not as dirty as I hope to be!” he promised, with a wicked leer and a wink.
Cora was both shocked and amused at the double entendre, but to her relief, Minetta had not noticed it, or was too tactful to say so. Cora, however, blushed bright red and changed the subject at once. “We are going to the market to find some cloth,” she told him. “The silk merchant only comes once every few months, so we thought we might buy some silk and velvet today.”
“It sounds like something that ladies might enjoy,” he remarked. “However, I, and I suspect every other gentleman of my acquaintance, would find it tedious, but may I meet you for some ale in the tavern in a short while?”
Minetta and Cora looked at each other, then at Clyde.
“Is he fit to be seen, do you think?” Cora asked, giving him a thorough top-to-toe inspection.
“Not really,” Minetta replied, “but we can take pity on him. I say yes.”
“Thank you, ladies,” Clyde said, trying not to laugh. “You are most gracious.” He turned his horse so that he was in front of them, and Cora could see his broad shoulders, muscled arms, and the long, curved shape of his thighs as he sat in the saddle. She felt the now-familiar flicker of arousal.
Cora kept her eyes fixed on him all the way down the hill to the village, recalling the feel of his arms around her the previous evening. Even the brush of his lips on her skin had made her tingle, sending a stab of sheer delight to her core. Despite or perhaps because of his grubby appearance, he looked big and magnificent. But as she thought ahead to their wedding night, she wondered, with a shiver of fear, if every part of his body was the same!
