Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal (8 page)

Duncan thought back on his last night before leaving. “Tavish stood beside you on our last night together.”

“But I was with you.”

Duncan said, “Before that. It is why I missed my footing and touched the sword during the dance. I was watching the two of you.”

Jenny said, “I’d forgotten. He said he had something to tell me, but insisted that we be alone. I told him I was watching the dancing, so he said he’d wait. I slipped away to meet you.”

“So he stayed a day later to do it, did he not? But by then, you were promised to me.”

“You should have stood up to your father and told him.”

“I told him about us and that we were promised. But he said that there were no witnesses, so there was no proof.”

“Just a vow before God.” Duncan’s gaze bore through her.

“I tried to argue with him, but he would not be moved. You were not there to help your parents, and Tavish was leaving.”

“So you were promised to two men, and both of us gone.”

Duncan took Jenny’s hand in his hands. “Our vow should not have been broken.”

“I was never going to marry Tavish. You know I could not. So I did what would keep your parents safe in their home. I thought that when you came home, we would sort it all out.”

“Sort it out? You were mine. I was yours. A handfast is as good as a marriage.”

“For a year and a day.”

Duncan looked as though the wind had been knocked out of him.

Jenny put words to Duncan’s reaction. In a soft voice, she said, “You were gone longer.”

“Hearts do not know the law.”

“Nor can they fight against it.” Jenny drew closer to Duncan.

He reached out his hand to stop her, but the touch of her hand on her shoulder softened his hardened expression. He let himself gaze at her. “For more than a year I believed that you wanted to wed that rogue.”

“What else could I do? Send a letter with Tavish?”

Duncan shook his head. She was right.

Jenny said, “There was nothing I could do but wait until you returned.”

“And what if I had not come home?”

Jenny lifted soft blue eyes to meet his. “Then I would have lost my true love.” She touched his face tenderly. “And your parents would still have had a home.”

“But when I came home, you did nothing. Why did you not tell me?”

“I was going to, but then I heard how far behind you were with the rent.”

Duncan fought back his resentment. “My da took the money I’d saved, and he lost it all gambling.”

“You needed some time before being forced to move out.”

“Could you nae have told me the truth while I saved up the money?”

“And what would you have done–come to steal me away?”

“Aye, it sounds like a very good plan.” Duncan fought a smile.

“Do you know how I’ve wished for just that? But it would not have helped you. Not then.” Her soft gaze found his dark eyes and the regret that was etched there. After more than a year, Jenny had thought through it all. She had done what was best for his family, but at what cost to them both?

“My darlin’.” Duncan held Jenny close. “I’d have gone to your father to plead for your hand.”

“I know.”

Overcome with anger toward Tavish, Jenny’s father, his own, and most of all, himself, Duncan stared at the castle. He had let Jenny down, forced her to carry a burden that he should have born, but could not.

“We must end it now. I must go to your father and ask for your hand.”

“He will say no, and you know it.”

“But I owe him that much. It’s a matter of honor.” Duncan grinned. “Stealing his daughter is not, but I’m willing to let go of that bit of honor, just once.”

“Duncan, I’ve seen his ledger. Your rent is over a year past due. How can you support us all now?”

He clenched his jaw. “Thanks to my father, not as well as before. But I’ve found a new source of income.”

“Have you taken to highway robbery now?”

“No, but I’ve found my father’s whisky. It brings a good price in the cities. But I’ll need a few more trips to sell it all.”

With a deep, hopeless sigh, Duncan said, “In the meantime, you’re still yoked to Tavish.” His eyes darkened.

“I will wait until you are ready,” she said.

“You cannae wait for long. They’re already calling the banns.”

“You’ll not let me marry him, will you?”

With a warm smile, Duncan said, “No, I promise you that.” For months, he had hidden his feelings behind dark, stormy eyes. With a guttural sigh, he pulled her to his chest. “You’re my Jenny, and I’ll not let him have you.”

Jenny said, “You fair broke my heart every time I saw the betrayal in your eyes.”

He took held her gentle face in his battle-scarred hands. “And what do you see now?”

“I see how you once looked at me.”

“How I loved you?”

“And how you let me love you.”

He leaned down and kissed her. The full lips she had longed for were hers. She was in his embrace. His body against hers was home. Together at last, they found peace from the yearning that had haunted them for so long.

Duncan lifted and carried her to the base of the tree, where he set her down gently on a blanket of leaves. There he slowly undressed her. He touched her with his hands and his lips, and his fingers stroked the soft places he had once tried to forget. Her sighs in his ears fueled the need to be part of her. Jenny wanted him, too. Her hands sought him through the thick woolen trews to the point of near torture. With fevered impatience, he freed himself of them, kicking them free of his ankles as he lowered himself to her. He could not let her know how helpless he was in her arms. At the same time, he felt fiercely protective. Jenny MacRuer was his for as long as she would have him, and no other man would get near enough to hurt the woman he loved. And Duncan was hers, as he always had been. Woe to any who dared try to part them again.

*

Dusk settled about them as Duncan lay beside Jenny and watched as she sighed, eyes closed and content. A gentle smile formed on his lips as he stroked away soft strands of hair from her brow. She tilted her head until her lips found his.

“We will have to leave soon,” she said, laying her cheek on his shoulder.

“Aye, and I will let you go–for today.”

“And tomorrow?” asked Jenny.

“I will find a way. I cannot live without you.”

“What if there is no way?”

“You are mine, and I am yours. I will not let you go.”

It was nearly dark when Jenny crept inside through the kitchen door. “Where have you been?” said her father in a stern, but hushed voice.

Jenny flinched. “Walking.”

His eyes narrowed. “Walking? So your headache is better.”

Jenny had nearly forgotten. “My headache? Oh yes, the fresh air–”

“Come with me.” They would not talk in the kitchen, where the household staff might overhear. With a firm grip on her elbow, Andrew led his daughter to his study. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Andrew’s face reddened. “Dinnae lie to me, lass, for I know where you’ve been and with whom!”

Jenny flinched. Even fiercer than his words was the condemnation. As Jenny took in a breath, bracing herself to deny it, Tavish rose from a chair in the corner. She had not noticed him there, as had no doubt been his intention. Jenny turned to her father, but found no quarter there. She exhaled and cast her eyes downward. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Andrew yelled, “Dinnae lower yourself even more by denying it!”

Her cheeks flushed as her father proceeded.

“You were seen with that cotter.”

Jenny lifted her chin, wanting to seem bold, but soon withered. She hated herself for it.

Tavish rescued her from the tense silence. “Sir, might I speak with your daughter alone?”

Andrew MacRuer cast a questioning look at Tavish, who appeared the most calm of the three. As the wronged party, he clearly had the advantage, which he now gently pressed. He was all grace and forgiveness, which Jenny found hard to believe. With a gruff nod, her father retreated, closing the door firmly behind him. Tavish offered his arm. “Will you come to the window, Jenny? Look at the sunset. It’s very pretty.” Tavish laid his hand upon hers, still linked in his arm. He gazed down at their hands as he stroked hers. “When I look to the sky in the evening, I expect some show of beauty. It does not disappoint.”

Jenny wanted to run toward that sunset.

Still stroking her hand, Tavish spoke in soothing tones. “When I asked for this hand, I expected certain things.”

Jenny braced herself, but with no warning, her guilt and her shame seemed to dissolve, as relief took its place. For she realized that after this, he would want to break off the betrothal. A scandal would follow, and yet all she could think of was how she would be free. She and Duncan could marry. Nothing else mattered. No matter what happened, she and Duncan would follow their hearts.

Tavish said, “The world is a very small place, and we are such a small part of it, really.”

“Tavish, I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”

“Hurt? No. But I was disappointed. I must say, though, you surprised me. You’ve got passion within that cold breast.”

Now uneasy, her heart pounded as Tavish continued. “Aye, I saw your wee roll in the hay. Or should I say, in the leaves?”

Jenny could not form the right words to say.

Tavish watched her, amused. “I grew bored with your father’s company, so I thought I’d go for a walk. When I reached the lane, I saw my sweet betrothed rushing into the woods with a man. So I followed you–for your protection.” With a knowing gaze, Tavish smiled.

Jenny cringed.

“You are lucky I did not tell your father all that I saw.”

Dread weighed on her chest at the thought of her father’s reaction.

“I told him a bit of a lie. I said you were out walking and holding your farmer boy’s hand.” He drew so close she could smell his warm breath. “I dinnae tell him what else you were holding.”

Nausea swept over her in a wave.

Tavish drew close until his lips nearly touched her earlobe. “My, my, Jenny. I find myself looking forward to our wedding night, and many nights after that.” With a glance toward the door that Andrew had closed behind him, Tavish circled part way around Jenny until he faced the door. Taking hold of her shoulders, he planted a kiss on her forehead as his palms slid from her shoulders to her breasts.

Jenny pulled away, and spun about. “Touch me again, and I’ll scream. Do you think we could marry after this?” She moved toward the door to put distance between them, but he grasped her hand firmly.

“But why not, my love?”

“I’m not your love, and you know it.”

“But we’re promised to one another.”

“It was a mistake.” She took a halting breath as she tried to steady her voice. “My father forced this upon me. It was not fair to you, and I’m sorry for that, but I cannot marry you.”

“But you will.” His confidence galled her.

“No, I will not. I do not love you.”

His eyes smoldered. “You are young and know little of men. These childish dreams of romance will wane. You will grow used to me. I dinnae care about love. But I expect you to make a good show of it.” He lifted both her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Now, there’s a good girl. Sit down while I go fetch your father to tell him we’ve patched up our wee misunderstanding.”

He strode halfway across the room as Jenny said, “Did you nae hear me? I cannae marry you.”

Tavish paused for a moment, teeth clenched, and then took his time walking back to her, being careful to maintain the appearance of propriety, lest anyone watch through the windows. He drew so close that Jenny reached her palms out to force distance between them, but he gripped her wrists drew them close to his chest. From afar, nothing would appear amiss. He spoke under his breath. “Unless you want me to tell your father what I saw in the woods, I would keep that mouth closed, my wee whore.”

Jenny pulled her arm back to slap him, but his grip was too tight. Her cheeks burned. “If that’s what you think of me, then release me.”

“But my sweet wife to be, I find that I want you even more, now that I know you’ve a fire in your hearth.”

His eyes swept down her body. “And besides, I’m a man of my word.”

Jenny met his lie with helpless contempt. She could not let this happen. But, for now, she saw no way out.

With the crooked smile of a victor, Tavish abruptly walked out of the room.

*

“He’s not here, lass.” Duncan’s mother stood in the cottage doorway, and smoothed back a stray curl. “Won’t you come in? I’ve some fine tea that Duncan brought home for me. I’ve been waiting for good company to share it with.”

Jenny forced a weak smile and went inside. She sat down as she had many times before, but this time without ease.

“Och, I’m out of water.”

Before Elspeth had a chance to ask, Jenny rose. “I’ll fetch some.” She scooped up the pail and was gone. Once outside, she saw him round the corner. “Duncan!” She ran after, but it was Charlie who turned around, grinning. “No, dearie. ‘Tis your lucky day. You’ve found me instead.”

“Charlie, what are you doing here?”

“That’s a fine greeting,” Charlie said with a glint in his eye.

“I’m sorry. I was looking for Duncan.”

“So I gathered,” Charlie said, with his most charming look of regret. “I’ll have to do.”

In no mood for his harmless flirtation, Jenny said, “Charlie. Where is he?”

“I’m afraid he’s not here.”

“I can see that. But where is he?”

A voice called out from the byre. “Charlie, you lout, will you come here to help me? I cannae wait all day.” Alex emerged from the byre with a pitchfork in hand.

“Jenny, hello! Come to visit us, have you?” he said, knowing full well she had not, but as cheerful as if he had expected her visit.

Their easy manner made Jenny impatient. “Alex, where is Duncan? I must see him.”

Alex reached for Jenny’s pail. “Here, let me help you with that.” The three walked toward the byre. “He left this morning for Inverlochy. He was in quite a hurry.”