The Highlander's Bride

Excerpt from Galley

He banged on the door.

Laurel had been preparing herself for Conor's arrival. She knew that, once he discovered her defiance, he would come. She told herself that he really didn't care whether or not she stayed at the keep. It was only pride that brought him here. If she could find a way to salvage his self-respect, surely he would let her stay in the cottage.

Suddenly the door caved in and he was standing in front of her in the small main room. He was huge and radiated a primitive masculine vitality. He had bathed and changed into new clothes and his plaid was secured around his waist. His sword was missing, but his saffron shirt with long, flowing sleeves hid none of his strength. The long tunic and decorated jacket he had worn in the morning were gone.

Seeing him towering just inside the door, arrogant but powerful, was almost her undoing. She had to remain firm, she told herself. She had to stay strong. If she surrendered now, she would not be able to maintain her distance in the future. She had to get him to leave before she threw herself into his arms, damning rules of propriety and discarding all of her dreams of love and matrimony.

She cleared her throat. "Why, Conor, what brings you here so late in the evening? I was just preparing for sleep myself," she said, trying to sound nonchalant as if they were just having a normal conversation.

Conor took a step closer. "Were you, Laurel? But you are so far away from your chambers," he countered, his expression ominous.

She retreated as he advanced. "You mean the chambers you had prepared for me in your keep?"

"The same."

"Well, Conor. I appreciate the offer. I really do, but I cannot accept. I will feel more comfortable here in this cottage. My staying here will help stop fueling everyone's overactive imagination that I am something other than a maiden you rescued on your return home."

"You know you are much more than that."

Laurel shivered at the dangerous softness in his voice. "I do? Conor, I am afraid that I do not. We discussed this, and you know how I feel."

"Nothing has changed, but I gave my word that I would protect you. I cannot do so with you sleeping outside of the castle walls."

She straightened her shoulders, her lips thinning with anger. "But what of your other clansmen? They are outside of the castle walls."

"They are highlanders," Conor replied as if that explained everything. He then picked her up and began carrying her back to the castle.

"Conor McTiernay! You put me down right now. You have no right! Just because you are bigger and stronger does not mean that you can just have your way."

"Looks like it does, Laurel," Conor retorted feeling somewhat mollified by the feel of her in his arms.

When he first opened the cottage door and saw her in the firelight, he could hardly breathe. Her hair, clean and unbraided, flowed down beyond her waist in waves of curls. No longer hidden by dirt and grime, her skin was flawless.

As she half-heartedly struggled in his arms, he was reminded how soft she was. Her scent washed over him, and he felt his desire grow. He had no idea how he was going to uphold his promise to stay away from her. She had an essence about her that attracted him on all levels, not just the physical.

Once in the courtyard, he let her go and put space between them. It did not help.

"Laurel, you will stay within these castle walls."

"I will not. You can drag me here, Conor, but I will just leave again. I promise you, you will not win this war of wills. You may be a highlander, but I assure you, I can match your Scottish stubbornness!" she shouted at him, not holding any of her frustration back.

The commotion in the courtyard caught the attention of many in the keep, and they came to investigate the noise. The visual shock of finding their laird arguing with an arresting, unknown lady was intriguing.

"Love, if I have to drag you here one more time, it will be you, not I, regretting it."

"Oh, save your bluster for your soldiers. You would not strike a lady, child, or a horse for that matter. And don't bother denying it."

Conor closed his eyes in brief, savage annoyance. "Don't tempt me, Laurel. I meant what I said, do not leave the keep again or you will be regretting the deed."

"Are you saying I am a prisoner? I cannot ride in the meadows? I cannot bathe in the stream?"

"Not alone, no. At least not while I am away from the castle. I can only be assured of your safety if you are behind these walls."

Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Laurel scrambled for an escape. "But your people! They are safe, are they not? Most of them live not here, but there!" She pointed outside the gate they just entered.

"You are new here, Laurel, and I cannot be assured of your safety unless you remain in here. Within these walls, someone will be on hand to help and see to your needs. You will stay here, you will sleep in my mother's chambers, and I will not be saying so again."

Laurel saw the cold anger in his eyes and knew she was defeated. She also realized that there was quite a large crowd gathering listening to them argue. She had never been so embarrassed. Her pride had been battered these past few days, and each time it had been due to an argument with this hulking man. Whether she continued her unladylike behavior or gave in to his demands, her pride was going to take another blow. It surely did not matter if she stayed here now. No one would believe she was a lady after this display.

"Fine," she murmured with undertones of frustration, "but Conor, I promised you then, and I will promise you again right now, you will rue this."

Conor laughed aloud. The woman did have spirit and courage. No one could deny that. And as she stood in the moonlight with her eyes dark as a North Sea storm, he could not imagine anything more lovely.

"I imagine I will, love. But it will have to be when I return. I leave on the morrow to ride with Cole and Laird Schellden."

The news startled Laurel and her anger was instantly, if only temporarily, forgotten. "Cole? Why is he going with you?"

"He is to train as one of Schellden's guardsmen." Conor was surprised at his response. He rarely explained himself to anyone. He was feeling guilty about leaving her so soon and not easing her stay at the keep. And so he found himself trying to calm Laurel and defend his immediate departure. If he hadn't been caught so off-guard, he probably would have questioned Laurel's change in attitude and the mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Conor," Laurel said in an altogether different, almost sweet tone. "The keep is not habitable in its current conditions. Do you not agree?" She did not wait for a response. "If I am to stay here, surely it would not be too much to ask if I could make this place livable. Just a few changes. I assure you-they would only improve the living conditions here." She then smiled at him beseechingly. Let's see if grandfather was correct, Laurel thought. Will I catch more bees with honey?

"Do not make any changes that cannot be undone."

"Of course, my laird. And how long will you be gone?"

"About a fortnight I expect. And, Laurel, do not call me laird."

"I wish you a good journey, Conor," she said and then followed it with a curtsy, looking completely submissive. He would realize later that her demeanor alone should have been ample warning.