Page 3 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

Clyde looked at him sharply. "What do ye mean?" His patience was just about wearing thin. But inside, Clyde told himself to fight the desire to get out of there and tell the old man what he thought of him. He had the clan to think of now.

It was a year since his father's passing, and the estate finances were not, it was true, in a good way. His clan had a right to protection, and that meant coin...and then some.

"I mean, maybe I can help ye," said the laird pleasantly. Now the pair had walked up to the edges of the coppice, where both their horses were tethered.

"Well, that would be braw," said Clyde diplomatically. But inside, his head was turning. Of course, the laird's patronage was a good thing; the Andersons were vast and powerful.

However, despite his inexperience, Clyde was no fool. The glint in Anderson's eye told him everything. There were conditions. Glancing at the steely-eyed laird, Clyde nodded swiftly.

"So, what is it ye'd want in return? Sharing power? A say in the clan?" he said bluntly. Almost immediately, he kicked himself.

This was hardly subtle, but sometimes, Clyde could not handle all the subterfuge that went with politicking.

Anderson looked as if he had been slapped. "Och," he said, tilting his head to one side and wearing a mock expression of hurt. "What makes ye think that I want a bite o' yer wee clan?"

Clyde bit down an urge to punch him. Getting his face in line, he smiled.

"Nay, lad," said the Anderson laird, extending his arm fully around Clyde's shoulders and grinning rapaciously.

His eyes reminded Clyde of a snake about to bite.

"Nay, I just want ye tae do a wee thing for me..." The laird grinned.

Here it comes, thought Clyde.

"I just want ye tae take a wee trip tae the Duncan clan."

"Duncan?" repeated Clyde in confusion.

Anderson just laughed. "Aye," he said, his smile still plastered to his face, but when Clyde looked closely, he saw the twinkle in his eye had gone.

"There's a wee thing I want ye tae do wi' the lady o' the clan..."