Page 72 of Conquer the Highlander

“I’ll keep her with me, Titus,” Isadora said. “Ye needna worry. I can handle a sword. If he wants her, he’ll have tae go through me tae get her.”

Titus looked at Isadora. Pregnant Isadora, still willing to fight for her friend. Reaching out, he touched her sweetly on the cheek.

“Ye’re a bold and foolish wench,” he said softly. “But ye’re the best kind of woman. Ye dunna even know why we’re so frightened, but instead of asking questions, ye’re making offers. If ye’d keep her here, out of sight, I’d be grateful.”

Isadora nodded, fighting off a grin because he was. Titus had never been the kind or sweet type, but the introduction of Esme had seen that aspect of his personality change considerably. He was still arrogant, still a peacock, but now he was more… human. Warm, humorous, delightful at times.

Isadora liked the new Titus.

As she went to check on Niko to make sure he hadn’t awakened with all of the commotion, Titus returned his attention to Esme, who was wiping away the last of her tears. Their eyes met and she forced a smile, assuring him that she was composed.

“I will wait here for you,” she said softly. “Fight well, querido. Do not let the presence of Ambrose and Conan distract you. They are not worthy of your attention. They have come to gawk, so let them. But ignore them.”

He smiled, appreciating her words of encouragement and support. He had to admit that he was concerned about being distracted. And in his business, distraction equaled failure.

He didn’t want to fail.

“I willna be distracted so long as ye remain here and safe,” he said. “But please… dunna come tae the field for any reason.”

“I will not. I promise.”

He took a deep breath. “Good,” he said. “Now, I must return tae Clegg. I ran out of his private chambers so quickly that I’m sure he thinks I’ve lost my mind, but I…”

There was a knock on the door, cutting him off. Immediately, he went into defensive mode.

“Get intae the back chamber with Niko,” he told her. “Get there and stay there until I tell ye tae come out.”

As Esme dashed into the rear chamber, Isadora emerged. She shut the door behind Esme and calmly walked to the front door.

“Who comes?” she asked evenly.

There was a pause. “Issie, have ye seen Titus?”

It was Cam. Isadora looked at Titus, who nodded his head, and she opened the door to find her husband, Brody, Axel, and Clegg standing outside. Before Isadora could answer, Titus showed himself.

“I’m here,” he said, looking to Clegg. “Forgive me for running out on ye, m’laird. I… I had tae tend tae something.”

Clegg held up a hand. “Titus,” he said quietly. “We are all your friends and we love you. Clearly, this duke has something over you from your reaction to the news that he has come to The Cal. I have told you that I do not care about a man’s past so long as he performs, but in this case, I must ask. Will you tell me what your issue is with the Duke of Ayr?”

Titus looked to Cam and Brody. They already knew of his royal connections. But until tonight, Clegg and Axel had not. Clearing his throat softly, he prepared to tell them. It was less difficult this time around because he had already told Esme, and he had told Cam and Brody. No one judged him, no one ridiculed him. It made it easier for him to reveal himself to those who loved him.

It was only fair that Clegg knew, considering it was now on his doorstep.

“My father is the Duke of Kintyre and Lorne,” he said. “I am his bastard. He is the youngest brother of the king, and Ambrose Stewart is a distant cousin. His great-grandsire and my father’s great-grandsire were brothers, so it is a hundred years ago with bloodlines that have been watered down through the generations. But Ambrose wants everyone tae believe we are closer than that and that he is more important than he is.”

He paused to let the information sink in, but Clegg nodded his encouragement. “Go on.”

Titus did. “When I was a small child, Ambrose took me away from my mother’s family and held me hostage against the good behavior of my father,” he said. “My father isna allied with his brother, the king. He has sided against him, but seven years ago, the situation was such that I was no longer needed as a hostage, so I was released. Knowing my father wanted nothing tae do with me, I went tae Glasgow tae seek my fortune. Axel, that’s why ye found me fighting in the streets. I was angry and I was directionless.”

Axel, as well as Clegg, was listening intently. He nodded his head faintly as if coming to understand the motivation behind an angry and violent young man who had weaponized that rage.

“Then Ayr was your captor,” Clegg said.

Titus nodded. “Aye,” he said. “And a cruel one at that. His son, who is the same age as me, was my tormentor. A rotten, vile excuse for a man if there ever was one, and his father never stopped him. It was a terrible way tae grow up, beaten by a bully time and time again, unable tae fight back because when I did, I was punished for it.”

So much of Titus’ manner and behavior was coming clear in that brief statement. “But what of your mother?” Clegg wanted to know. “Was there no one to help you?”

Titus shook his head. “There was nothing she could do,” he said. “My mother was a lady-in-waiting tae the Duchess of Ayr, and we were sent away as soon as I was born, back tae her family. I’ve not seen her since I was very young. I dunna blame her for not helping me. In fact, I’m glad she dinna because it probably would have made things worse. I had tae learn tae stand up for myself. It has made me who I am.”