Page 19 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

“So, what happens now?”

“Connor has apologized and admitted he was driven by jealousy. He wanted you. He wanted to be the Laird, really. He is driven by the need to have the power but has asked for a little time to prepare some plans and he will go. I have granted him a little time to do this. Mother will then be able to visit him.”

The sun moved out from behind a cloud, still pale, yet strong enough to warm the area around them. Heather turned her face upwards, the air warm against her skin. “So it will all turn out okay?”

“Aye my love. It will indeed.”

Two weeks had passed, and Heather had forgotten about Connor and his threats. He had spent much of his time in his room or had been away. He had spoken to Hiram and explained he would be coming and going for a while until he could sort out a place to stay and had been making enquiries about going to England. If he could find a suitable place then he would be moving out as soon as he could.

Hiram had merely nodded. He preferred this slightly subdued side to Connor and hoped that it was genuine. It seemed to be. He made no effort to contact Heather, not even to apologize, but Hiram was glad of that. He knew she was too. He’d seen her at her most terrified and now he was watching her relax again. It was as if much of the strain had dissipated from her and she was blossoming before his eyes. Although he spent a lot of time out visiting some of the workers and checking out their cottages, Heather had refused to stay at the castle, this time not through fear, but because she wanted to take on her duties seriously. In time, she would oversee the castle when he was away and so she wanted to get to know all the tenants.

Heather, although not a natural horsewoman, could ride adequately enough to accompany him over the moors. She’d had no idea the boundaries of their land were so extensive and most days they galloped across the open areas, trying to compete. Her balance was good, but her technique wasn’t. Hiram knew she would benefit from lessons but it was enough that she was enjoying the outdoor life with him. He gained such a sense of pleasure from spending time with her and realized how lucky he was. Not many women would take to this lifestyle in such a way. He remembered with a smile just how painful she found the saddle when sitting on it for long periods of time. Her discomfort had been obvious when they had returned to their room to get changed. She had winced as she had bent forward. Hiram smiled with barely concealed joy; he had offered to distract her and to help her forget her bruises, and he had. They’d made love for hours and her cries of pleasure must have rippled around the castle walls.

She was coming over to meet him at one of the cottages later that day. It would be the first time out on her own, but she was ready for the challenge. He had a lot to do on the land and if things had been different, it would have really helped to have had Connor by his side. He shrugged, while Connor might have realized his ways, he wouldn’t have drastically changed, and it was best for him to go. It did mean a lot more work and responsibility lay at his door though but in some ways, he relished the challenge. He made his way to the stables and mounted the horse the stable boy had made ready for him. Unaware that he was being watched, he cantered out across the open expanse of lawn, his horse snorting in anticipation as he held him back, until they were beyond the castle grounds.

It had been the loneliest few weeks of his life. Even though he had made every effort to be polite and to change his ways, not once had Hiram suggested that he stay. How much longer did he have to wait? The truth hit him. Hiram had lost respect for him. He didn’t trust him. Worse, it was possible that he could see through the ruse. Connor frowned, staring out the window as Hiram galloped across the moors. She was alone then. Probably languishing in their quarters after yet another torrid lovemaking session. He’d been lurking in the corridor hoping that Hiram would have left early but he’d heard her giggle and then shriek, and knew that Hiram was there. Temptation to listen at the door had been too much to resist, although it was not the first time he had heard her scream in pleasure. He’d felt a wave of jealousy because deep down, he still wanted her for himself. He knew it was wrong. He had tried to fight it. But it existed like a tight knot within him. He desperately wanted to take her and make her his own. When she’d cried out Hiram’s name at the end of the frenzied session, Connor had crept away, gritting his teeth and tightening his hands into fists.

He didn’t love Heather. But he couldn’t deny a sexual attraction. If she was his wife, she would know her place. He would give her plenty of attention in the bedroom though, and he felt that was what she needed. Deep within, she had the sexual appetite of a whore. She was lucky that she was a laird’s daughter otherwise she may have needed to use that aspect of herself to satisfy others. He would make her produce child after child for him and he would give her as much attention as she needed, but he would keep another supply of women for those more brutal acts. At least until Heather had given him all he needed. Once childbearing was over, it would be easy enough to get rid of her if need be.

Hiram gave her far too much control. He’d heard she had been teaching one of the servant brats to read. Now she wanted some land of her own for growing flowers and she was joining his brother on trips to see the tenants regularly. Connor sneered. She thought she was acting in the right way, but she should know her place. If she’d been given to him, she would have barely left the castle. Because of his desire to possess her, it fitted into his plan that he would keep her busy being pregnant. She would provide him with the children he wanted, although there was no desire to be involved in the “bringing up the children” chores, but he yearned to be a father. To have that status, to know he had created them. It was like being God. He had the power of creation. He wanted five children at the very least. He’d noticed Heather had childbearing hips. She would conceive his children and when she was too pregnant to succumb to his desires, he would find a lover on the side. He had a plan of sorts which meant his dear brother would have to die.

Connor had never been a man who stuck with one woman. No one had ever made him feel that he needed to. His father had controlled his mother, but he knew that even so, there had been love between them. His mother was not like most women; there was an aloofness inside her and yet, somehow, she had developed feelings for his father. She’d been devastated when he had died. That was for sure. But Connor was equally sure that most of her love was for him.

So many women had flirted with him over the years. They thought he was charming and rich—of course, as the Laird’s son, they would never say no to him. But he would have liked it if they had, that was far more fun. So far, he’d played nicely with Heather. But he couldn’t control it for much longer. The desire within him was becoming more powerful. If she played it smart, he would make it feel good for her, at first. She would realize he could overpower her and would give in to her desires for him. If she fought him, he would be happy to see the fear in her eyes. Women, after all, were made just to be the vessels for men’s frustrations.

Over the years, he had lashed out at a few women. They had been frantic to get away from him, so he had to subdue them. If he needed to do the same to Heather, so be it. His mother had taught him that he could take anything he wanted in life. He had always been her favorite…well, he had until Patrick Jr., but that little problem had been taken care of.

“Oh, the memories!” He laughed.

If his mother ever found out the truth about Patrick’s death, she would hate him for his actions, but Connor knew that she loved him so much, she was almost addicted to him. Although he shouldn’t have done so, he wouldn’t change the outcome of Patrick’s death. It had been necessary. It was his secret to carry.

Heather filled his mind again. What was it about her? It had never happened to him in the past, and he didn’t like this deep attraction to her. Connor had always been drawn to the forbidden. He just didn’t know why. He wondered if she was still in her room, or if she was more relaxed because he had stayed away from her, she would have ventured out into the garden. As he glanced out of the window again, Connor saw Heather, her back upright, concentration on her face. She was riding one of the more docile of the mares, but Connor knew this one was still quite feisty. Heather didn’t look overly confident, but her form had improved. She moved with the horse now. He guessed she might be heading to see Hiram.

“Like hell,” he said out loud.

Changing his clothes quickly, Connor rushed down to the stables, saddled his own horse, and quickly mounted. The stable hands were occupied elsewhere and Connor was glad of this. It was probably best he wasn’t seen.

The sun was still a mellow ball hanging high in the sky and the breeze had settled as Connor rode out from the castle. The black stallion had been one of his favorite rides and he relished letting him off the reins and going for a gallop across the moors. There was no sign of Heather and he wished he had known which direction she had gone, but this was all part of the chase, of course, so it didn’t truly matter if he didn’t catch her today. The stallion accelerated and Connor felt a ripple of pleasure rush through him. He felt the horse’s power, its energy, and he urged the horse on, the hooves pounding over the grassy scrublands. Connor felt alive. There was a buzzing in his ears but his brain was so sharp that every thought and every desire intensified, and became crystal clear. More so when he saw Heather not far ahead of him. He urged the horse on, and they gave chase.

Ahead of him, Heather had turned her head and realizing it was him, she had spurred her horse into action. Adrenaline burst through him, his heart was beating and his anticipation of the chase grew. It seemed as if they rode like the wind chasing down mile after mile of open expanse until Heather’s horse faltered at the hedgerow and she slipped from the saddle, landing heavily on the hard ground beneath her. As Connor slowed his horse down and dismounted easily, he tied the tether to a nearby branch and walked towards her.

“Not the best ending to our little race.” He grinned impishly at her.

“I wasn’t racing. I was just trying to get away from you,” she told him crossly. “What the hell do you think you were doing?”

“I wanted to catch up with you,” Connor said in surprise. “It was obvious wasn’t it?”

“Why?” Heather demanded. She was still sitting on the ground, rubbing her arm.

Connor knelt by her side. “Are you hurt?” He reached out to touch her arm.

She pulled back immediately. “Don’t touch me.”

He recoiled at the venom in her voice. “I was just checking you were okay.” He stood up and offered her a hand so she could stand. Reluctantly, she reached up and he pulled her to her feet. She was shaken but not hurt, and released her hand from Connor’s immediately.

“Why are you following me?” she demanded, aware that he towered above her and was still standing so close to her. She could almost feel his breath on her skin.

He swallowed hard and resisted the urge to force her back down to the ground, he stepped back from her, afraid he would act out on his desires. “I saw you ahead of me and thought if I chased you down, it would give Shadow a good work out. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wanted to apologize. I should have known better than to do it this way.” He shrugged ruefully. “I sometimes don’t think.”