Page 3 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

"She's a strong one, like her mother," said the midwife softly. She placed the bawling baby in the laird's arms.

In disbelief, Marcus looked up at Agatha's still-warm body beside him. None of this made any sense.

But the screaming bundle in his arms was very much alive.

"I..." began the laird, choked. Words did not normally fail him, but right then, they had disappeared.

"A beautiful, healthy, wee lassie," said the midwife, as Marcus stared down at the dark-haired infant. Already, he could see Aggie in her, despite her thicket of jet-black hair.

Wiping away a tear, Marcus leaned down and pressed the baby to Aggie's breast.

"Here," he murmured, struggling to keep the emotion out of his voice. "Meet yer daughter..."

He could sense the midwife's eyes upon him. Even without looking, he knew they were full of pity. Suddenly, Marcus could not bear it. Inside, something stirred. He was determined to bring Aggie round.

"Look," he said patiently. His eyes scanned Aggie's still features. For a while, they seemed to twitch. Just for half a second, her eyes flickered, slanting open.

"Aggie!" he cried, excited. But it didn't last. Immediately, her eyes were sealed shut. Then she fell still. Very still. In terror, Marcus turned to the midwife.

Feeling Agatha's brow, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, sir. She's gone."

Marcus looked at her wildly. He was just about to speak when a knock at the door interrupted him. Without waiting, Paton came in.

"Sir," he said urgently, looking down at the child and its deceased mother, "the unrest wi' the clans grows further. Ye just cannae have this child in the castle—it's too dangerous for the clan!"

There were far too many competing emotions rushing through Marcus's head for him to keep cool. He turned on the counselor.

"An' so what would ye have me do?" he snapped. The look on his face was enough to make Paton back off, but despite his pain, Marcus knew he was right. However, he could not stop his emotions from taking over.

"An' nay, it's up tae me, nae ye, tae decide what tae do wi' the bairn!" he hissed, as the midwife covered up Agatha with his best muslin sheet. "Who are ye tae tell me that I cannae keep her here!"

A silence descended on the room. Even the bairn had stopped crying.

Marcus's blue eyes flared angrily at Paton. Right then, he hated him. But a bit later, he saw his point.

"Sir—" Paton cleared his throat. "Marcus," he said, in a different voice, "it's yer wee bairn I'm thinking o'," he said, indicating the sleeping child. "That's the whole point. Once it gets out in the clan that the wee lass is nae only a bastard—excuse me..." He cast his eyes apologetically to the midwife, who pretended not to hear. "Once it gets out she's also a Kennedy, then all hell will break loose. The place is already like a tinderbox waiting tae go up! What do ye think will happen tae her, the innocent wee lassie!"

Paton looked imploringly at the bairn, fast asleep in the cradle in the center of the room. Bleakly, Marcus cast his eyes about the room. His usually plush bedchamber had been utterly transformed. Now, it more resembled a nursery. Seeing the sleeping baby there, Marcus felt his heart shudder.

This wasn't meant to happen. Not all of it. Not the affair with the unmarried Kennedy lass, not the child, and definitely not this—the poor lassie laid out cold in his four-poster bed.

He had not known what he'd expected might happen. Perhaps her going away somewhere and raising the bairn in secret? But whatever he'd imagined, it certainly wasn't this.

It was a mess, and his beloved had paid with her life.

"Sir," said Paton again. His voice was hesitating, but Marcus already knew what he was going to say.

"I ken," Marcus sighed. He went to the cradle and placed his hand on the sleeping bairn. Then, lifting her out, he wrapped the swaddling around her tightly. Already, she had begun to open her tiny eyes. Marcus was fascinated to see them staring so intently at him. It was as if she knew what he was going to do.

Awkwardly, he handed Paton the precious bundle.

"As ye say, it's too dangerous tae keep the bairn here. Take her away, anywhere...just far away from the Duncan clan." Laird Marcus's eyes shone with tears. "An' make sure she doesnae come back here again!"