Page 19 of Taming the Highland Beauty

Chapter Eight

When Gille was safely out of harm’s way, Callum drew his sword. The two of them had avoided capture yesterday. He would not sacrifice Gille now just because the villagers had sought help from the English.

“There is no need for aggression here.” Always trying to avoid conflict at all costs, and weighing the situation as dangerous to both parties, Alastair turned to his men. “Stand down.”

The guardsmen did as the laird ordered, but it took his brothers another long moment before they complied. At a signal from one of the Englishmen near the front, the soldiers put away their weapons. The villagers, however, did not.

Alastair stepped forward. “What is the matter?” Alastair might have sheathed his weapon, but Callum knew his brother well enough to know he was searching for strategies to keep the MacLeods safe should the English or the villagers press their slight advantage.

“Good day, Laird MacLeod. I am Thaddius Gilbert.” The English officer gave Alastair a stiff nod. “We were out patrolling when these men came to us, accusing you of harbouring a woman who has committed crimes against Dunvegan village.” The man’s gaze moved to Gille.

“Give us the girl,” one of the villagers shouted.

“She has committed no crimes,” Alastair said despite the interruption. “And even if she had, any punishment for those crimes would fall under my jurisdiction and that of the local magistrate. The villagers have no authority here.”

Lieutenant Gilbert’s gaze shifted back to Alastair. “I was sent here to investigate just what kind of authority you have over the Isle of Skye, Laird MacLeod, and why one of our lieutenants was miraculously promoted despite his past blunders. And several of our men appear to be missing.” He narrowed his gaze. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, MacLeod?”

“The Scottish Highlands are wild and untamed. It is not unheard of for men to lose their way while trying to navigate the territory.”

The lieutenant studied Alastair for a long moment before he visibly relaxed. “As you say, but I’ll tell you this, MacLeod, not everyone in England is pleased with the way things are right now in the Highlands. The threat to the English crown grows stronger each day. I suggest you and your men try to bring as little attention to yourselves as possible, or you might not care for what happens.”

Alastair’s back went rigid. “Is that a threat?”

Lieutenant Gilbert cocked his head. “You and I both know troubling times are brewing. I offer my advice as a suggestion so that you and your clan can maintain your way of life as is.”

Alastair relaxed. “Aye. Troubling times, indeed.” The words had no sooner left his lips than a commotion sounded behind the wall facing the loch. Callum made certain Gille was behind him.

“What the devil?” Lieutenant Gilbert exclaimed as his hands moved to his sword. Six armed men dressed in black sprang over the wall and into the once-peaceful garden. Six more men followed, then a dozen more. “An attack!”

Callum exchanged a glance with Alastair as the latter drew his sword, but before advancing, the laird paused. An odd expression came over his face. “Cease!” Alastair exclaimed. “’Tis Marcus MacDonald and his men. Marcus is family.”

The returned seafaring family froze, their weapons sagged, and their aggression faltered. “What is the meaning of this?” Marcus asked from the front of the group. “Are the English attacking the castle, or has much changed since Rowena and I left?”

Alastair could not stop the smile that pulled up his lips at the confusion etched on Marcus’s face. The situation was serious, but Alastair was pleased to know Marcus and his sister had returned to Dunvegan. “Lieutenant Gilbert and his men are here on a diplomatic mission, I assure you,” Alastair said with an emphasis on “diplomatic.” At the lieutenant’s nod, Alastair added, “Have your men stand down.”

At a signal from Marcus, the seafarers sheathed their swords, encouraging the English soldiers to do the same.

Callum remained with Gille as Alastair strode towards Marcus and clapped him on the shoulder. “What are you doing here? We did not expect you until the year’s end.”

Marcus’s features softened. “We completed our mission compensating all the families I had wronged.” A soft smile came to his lips. “And Rowena wanted to come home.”

The tension in the garden slowly dissipated as Alastair led Marcus back to where Lieutenant Gilbert stood. The English leader was visibly shaken but maintained his composure, planting a seed of hope in Callum that future conflicts with the English might be avoidable. He and Gille had much to accomplish in the next six days. They did not need the English complicating their search for a way to break the curse and find Lottie’s sealskin.

Turning back to Marcus, Alastair said, “We are pleased that you have returned, even if your entrance was a bit dramatic.”

Concern reflected in Marcus’s eyes as his gaze shifted from the English to the villagers. “I truly thought you were in trouble. After last time . . .”

“Much has changed. And much has stayed the same,” Alastair said ambiguously, most likely not wanting to provide the lieutenant with personal information about the MacLeods.

Callum watched the Englishman closely. He was different, not as aggressive as other English soldiers who had come to Dunvegan over the years, but that did not mean the man should be trusted.

“If you will excuse us,” Alastair said to Lieutenant Gilbert, “we have family business to attend to.”

“And the villagers?” the lieutenant asked, returning to the original reason for his and his men’s presence in the gardens.

The threat the villagers posed to Gille was still very real. If he and Gille were going to begin their search for Lottie’s pelt, they did not need the villagers dogging their every move.

As though reading Callum’s thoughts, Alastair moved past the Englishmen to stand before the villagers. “I should place you in shackles and throw you in my dungeon for what you have done to the forestlands. Both the villagers and the MacLeods depend on those woodlands for many valuable resources. And you cannot think I would allow you to essentially kidnap my kin and use her for your own nefarious purposes without repercussions?”