Page 149 of Claimed Highland Brides

EDINBURGH

They left in the middle of the night, with a guard of five led by Simon Campbell, the laird’s right-hand man. They rode horses rather than in a carriage, for greater discretion all the way to Drumacree before stopping at the inn, in the early hours of the morning.

“Ye and yer kin should stay hidden, in case yer step-uncle has people watching,” Simon said to Barclay. “I’ll reserve ye rooms. Cover yer heads with yer cloaks, and I’ll send someone oot to get ye once the rooms are booked.”

“What aboot us?” Aileen whispered, pointing to Sarah and herself.

“Ye’ll no’ be seen wi’ MacFarland. As far as the village will ken, ye’re here for yer own business.”

Aileen nodded. “Tha’s a guid notion. Nobody notices me anyway.” She grinned. “For once, tha’s an advantage.”

“I notice,” Barclay said quietly, his eyes steady on her. Aileen’s face burned, and she bit her bottom lip, ducking her head with shyness.

Simon snorted, pointing to Barclay and his cousins. “Ye stay here.” He pointed to Aileen and Sarah. “Ye come wi’ me.”

They followed him into the inn, nodding along in greeting at the various patrons who recognized them. The residents of Braenaird Castle were well known in Drumacree, and it was unremarkable for them to stay at the inn on their visits. People didn’t pay them any mind.

Aileen was exhausted from riding, and after the barest of pleasantries with the publican, she allowed his wife to escort them to their chambers, where she promptly undressed and went to sleep in her shift. It had been a long hard ride in the middle of the night and were the road not so well known, potentially disastrous.

* * *

As Aileen slept, Barclay lay unblinking, his mind churning with plans and counterplans.

What will I do if the governor won’t help me?

He sat up with a sigh, staring out of the tiny window. Antonio and Diego were across the hall from him, probably asleep the way he should have been if only he could get his mind to quiet down.

His mind went to Aileen, heart swelling with admiration at her silent courage. They had ridden all night with hardly any breaks, and she hadn’t complained once. Barclay had felt compelled to call for a few stops, just to give her a rest, even though she had not asked for it. He was still mystified as to why she was so determined to help him. He’d seen the look in her eyes when they spoke yesterday morning. She had been planning to turn him down. It was why he had made a point of talking the whole time, so as not to give her a chance. Whatever she was thinking about them, it was born of her own fears and insecurities. The more he thought about it, the surer he was that they would make a very suitable couple.

She just had to realize that too.

The fact that she’d volunteered to come on this trip was both cause for hope and a confirmation of his belief that she was the right woman for him. He considered it a gift of serendipity that he’d had to call on Braenaird Castle and come into contact with her again.

He closed his eyes with a sigh, willing himself to sleep. They had a long ride ahead of them when they left during the night. His hand snaked downward, pushing aside his belted plaid and grabbing hold of his member. He thought back to Aileen’s words. That she was the least amongst her sisters.

“Ye’re wrong aboot tha’,” he said aloud. “Yer glow is more powerful than any twinkling green of the eyes or fiery red of hair. What ye have shines brighter than any diamond of the first water.” He grinned, making a note to say that to her one day when she would believe it and not think that he was mocking her. He heaved a sigh, playing with himself with his fingers.

There’s more to marriage than admiration. There’s passion too.

He remembered well his parents, holding hands beneath the dinner table and giving each other secret smiles. He wanted his own marriage to be just as happy. His hand closed around his member, gripping it tight as he wondered if he could feel passionate about Aileen.

He could feel himself hardening at the thought of undressing her, of laying her body out, kissing her everywhere. He wondered what kind of noises she would make. Would she be too shy to articulate what she was feeling, or would she surprise with boldness?

Barclay could not wait to find out even as he spilled onto his hand. He then went to the washbasin to clean before returning to bed.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.

* * *

They set out as soon as night fell at a fast pace. “At the rate we’re going, we might be in Edinburgh by tomorrow evening,” Simon told him.

“Aye, weel, we have some time. The ball is not for four days,” Barclay replied.

Simon nodded. “Dinnae fash. We’ll get ye there on time.”

“I thank ‘e.”

The rest of the journey passed in a blur of riding and sleeping, great exhaustion, and not much conversation. Barclay was glad to arrive in Edinburgh and settle down at an inn. He went to visit with his family solicitor, Euan McGregor, who promptly invited them all to stay at his house.