Highland Vengeance (28 page)

Liam was the first to notice her
distress and was immediately by her side, followed by the other
Sinclair warriors.

“
What is it m’lady? Is
something wrong?” Liam asked.

“
It is nothing, I just have
a nervous feeling about something,” she whispered.

“
You look as if you have
seen a ghost m’lady, are you sure everything is alright?” Keith
asked.

When Camden and Garrison came into the
keep and saw the soldiers surrounding Olivia, the Highland laird
raced to her side and began questioning everyone.

“
What is going here?” He
demanded.

“
We do not know m’laird,”
Travis tried to explain.

“
I am fine my laird, it just
felt as though what I had seen in my dream was coming to life.
Everything was pleasant at first but then Malcolm
appeared.”

“
Who is Malcolm,” Ella
asked.

“
It is a long a story my
love and I will fill you in tonight,” Garrison said calmly to his
wife.

Camden pulled Olivia to her feet and
held her tightly. “He is not here and you do not need to
worry.”

“
I am not worried my laird
truly, I am fine. I could handle the bastard myself if I needed to
so why would I be worried with the finest Highland warriors
circling around me?” His wife said with a smile.

“
Well I see your language
has not improved Livy?” Garrison laughed.

“
I learned every damn word
from you big brother.”

The duke squeezed Olivia’s hand and
then nodded to Camden. He was certainly grateful that his sister
had learned the survival skills of his soldiers and Garrison was
more than indebted to the Highland laird who saved her life. The
duke planned to meet with Camden and his warriors in library later
that night to discuss Olivia’s protection. Garrison also wanted to
introduce his commanding soldiers, Aaron and Paul to the
Highlanders and let them know what was happening. After enjoying a
fine meal together, Olivia said goodnight to her family and then
the duke’s butler, Weathersby showed Laird and Lady Sinclair to the
large guest chamber where the royal family stayed during their
visits. Weathersby then took the five other men to rooms close by
as instructed by the duke.

Camden explained to his wife that he
wanted to speak with his warriors and Olivia agreed to wait
patiently in her chamber for her husband to come back. Within
moments of leaving her there in the chamber, Camden knew his wife
had never agreed to anything before so he was sure she would not
sit idly by and wait. The Highland laird stood just outside the
door and watched it slowly open before Olivia tried to sneak
out.

“
If you are not going to
wait in the chamber then I want you with me,” Camden
ordered.

“
I was just…”

“
Come with me wife, I am
meeting with your brother.”

“
Whatever for?”

“
Your security,” Camden
admitted.

“
Oh hell, I guess I am back
to being treated like a child. Follow me and let us get this over
with,” Olivia muttered.

Camden smiled behind her and then
grinned ever bigger when his wife ran into the five Sinclair
warriors waiting for him down the corridor.

“
Well I should not be
surprised that you five are in on this midnight rendezvous with my
brother. I should whip you all for keeping a secret from me,”
Olivia complained.

“
Aye, m’lady,” the soldiers
replied in unison while trying to hide their grins.

The giant men followed their laird and
his wife through the maze of hallways and down a giant curved
staircase to the main entry of the castle. Camden noticed how the
massive home was covered in art and tapestries on every wall. The
wooden furniture was ornately carved and the entire holding had a
rich and elegant feel about it. Garrison was certainly not
surprised when his sister entered the library followed by the
bronzed Highland men, she always wanted to be in on the action. The
duke smiled at his sister and then nodded to his new
brother-in-law.

“
Aaron, Paul, it is so good
to see you both. It has been so long,” Olivia said kindly as she
entered the room and saw the two soldiers that she had known for
years.

Garrison introduced his first and
second in command to the Sinclair men and Camden could not help but
notice the smile on his wife’s face. The way she stared at the
handsome English soldiers irritated the laird.

“
I trained with these men
for several years my laird, they are some of the finest opponents I
have ever had, besides you of course,” Olivia added.

Camden relaxed a bit and pictured his
wife at battle with the English soldiers. He was sure the men had
not stood a chance against Olivia. The duke began to inform his men
on what had happened in the Highlands to his sister. Camden noticed
his wife seemed embarrassed when she heard herself described as
brave and courageous. She was a modest woman and humble
warrior.

The late night gathering did not last
too long and soon the Scottish and English men all vowed to protect
Olivia once again before they departed. Garrison grabbed his sister
and hugged her tightly before she left the library.

“
Livy, I thought you might
want to know that Brent is in France on a secret assignment for the
king. He heard you had married and gone to Scotland but he wanted
me to wish you well for him,” the duke said quietly to his
sister.

“
When you see Brent, will
you please tell him that he was right all along? I did find someone
that matches my fire and I do know what love is. I have done great
things and will continue to do so,” Olivia smiled.

“
Of course little sister, I
will tell him that I have never seen you happier.”

Olivia left the library and took
Camden’s hand before going up the stone staircase. She thought for
a moment of her childhood love Brenton and then glanced at her
perfect husband by her side. Olivia was more than happy with her
life and the love she shared with Camden. Laird Sinclair heard
every word that was said between the brother and sister and he
wondered just who Brent was. It was obvious the man was someone
special in Olivia’s past but from the passionate words she spoke
about her marriage, Camden knew he had nothing to worry about.
Looking at Olivia, there was pure love sparkling in her emerald
eyes only for him.

They panted for breath after their
heated lovemaking and Olivia could not help but begin to laugh out
loud. Camden wondered if his wife had lost her mind because their
passionate display was anything but humorous and he barely could
think, let alone laugh.

“
Olivia, would you mind
telling me what you find so amusing?”

“
It is just that, when I was
a little girl, I always wondered what our royal visitors were doing
in this room. I, of course, would sneak around to spy on them but I
never understood why they were making so much noise if they were
sleeping. Now, I know exactly what they were doing,” she
smiled.

Camden pulled his wife close and
wrapped his arms tightly around her. He doubted any of the scrawny
English royals had ever made love in a wild and intense frenzy as
they had just done. With Olivia and Camden’s muscular bodies and
great endurance, the couple certainly did not share the average
marriage bed. The exhausted lovers had just fallen into a deep and
relaxing sleep when someone started banging on their chamber
door.

“
M’laird, come quickly,”
Liam yelled through the thick wooden door.

The Highland laird was up with his
plaid on before Olivia even knew what was happening. Camden opened
the door with his sword drawn and prepared for anything.

“
What is it?’

“
A message m’laird, the duke
waits for you downstairs,” Liam explained.

“
Stay outside this door and
do not let my wife leave this room under any circumstances. Do you
understand?”

“
Yes, m’laird.”

“
Camden wait,” Olivia cried
out.

“
Do not move,” the laird
ordered his wife.

Travis stayed with Liam to guard
Olivia’s door and she decided to obey her husband out of sheer fear
from his wrath. He was frazzled, she could tell and whatever was
happening must have been serious. Calum, Keith and Stephan followed
their laird down the stairs and into the library to find Garrison
with his first in command, Aaron. Camden could see by the look on
the duke’s face that something was wrong.

“
What has
happened?”

“
A messenger delivered this
letter,” Garrison said as he handed the rolled parchment to
Camden.

Laird Sinclair,

It is greatly arrogant of you to think
that a man of my ability would not be three steps ahead of you. I
have certain acquaintances everywhere and word travels fast when a
group of Highland giants comes through England. You destroyed all
that belonged to me, did you not think that I would do the same to
you? Yes, I am nearby and being overconfident in your strength and
skill will be your downfall. There are others with your superior
abilities and I am one of them. I am ready for this bloody
war.

Laird MacKay

Camden stood there emotionless as he
read the message and the others in the room were silent. It only
took the laird a few seconds to comprehend the words that Malcolm
had written but time seemed to stand still as Camden contemplated
on his next move. Every action he took had a consequence and the
Highland laird would not risk the life of his wife
again.

“
Where is the man that
delivered this message?” Camden said with a controlled
voice.

Aaron took a step forward. “He has left
already but he must still be on the Lansington property for he
could not have reached the border yet.”

Laird Sinclair did not say another word
before he raced out of the library and out the main door of the
castle. His guards followed him, along with the duke and his men.
He went into the stables that were newly built, after a fire had
destroyed the old stalls and prepared his horse to
leave.

“
My men come with me,
Garrison please stay with Olivia and protect her with your life,”
Camden ordered.

“
You do not need to ask, be
safe,” the duke replied.

The Highland men left with urgency
across the stone bridge and followed the trail that Aaron showed
them. It did not take the warriors long to find the lone messenger
as he came into sight on the path. When the small English man heard
the thunderous sound of horses pounding, the poor man cowered with
fear as he saw the massive Scottish men coming towards him. The
scrawny man jumped from his horse and tried to hide in the forest
from the brute men but Camden had the man by his shoulders within
moments.

“
Who gave you that message
and where the hell is he?” Laird Sinclair yelled with
outrage.

“
Please do not hurt me
m’lord, I did not see the man,” he whimpered.

“
How did you get
it?”

“
The tavern owner paid me to
take it to the Duke of Lansington. That is all I know, I
swear.”

“
What tavern? Where?” The
laird asked impatiently.

“
In Newcastle m’lord,” the
messenger said in fear.

Laird Sinclair did not know his way
around England but he remembered they had come through Newcastle on
their way to Lansington. Camden tried to contain his fury but the
faster he rode, the more upset he became. He knew he had to control
his temper or Malcolm would have an edge on the laird. Camden’s
weakness was Olivia and he could not afford to go into this battle
being vulnerable. After two hours of riding frantically through
England, the Sinclair laird reached the small town of Newcastle and
burst through the wooden door of the tavern. Camden ducked to fit
through the frame and then looked around the empty room. Within
moments of his arrival, a small portly man who was balding on top,
came down from his room above the pub.

“
Are you the
owner?”

“
I am,” the frightened man
replied with a shaky voice.

“
Where’s the bastard that
gave you the message for the Duke of Lansington?” Camden asked
calmly.

“
I do not know m’lord, I
never saw the man. The letter was brought to me by a messenger and
I was to send it on.”

Camden moved toward the man and then
towered over the quaking owner who had turned pale white. The laird
was sure the fear in the cowering man below him had caused the man
to tell the truth. Lying to the giant Scottish warrior would have
been completely foolish. Laird Sinclair retreated back to the door
and wondered why Malcolm had gone to so much trouble to have the
letter delivered from place to place. Camden wished he knew what
the blackheart was planning. The Highland men found a secluded area
to rest for what was left of the night. Sleep eluded the laird as
he tried to decipher Malcolm’s plans.

The sun began to rise slowly and the
morning light started moving through the sky, warming everything it
touched. Camden and his men watered their horses and prepared to
track the MacKay man from the little knowledge they had. As he
listened to his each of his men stating their own theory about
Malcolm, fear raced through Camden’s body as he realized what
Malcolm’s sinister motive was. The laird was enraged with himself
for falling for the lunatic’s game. All of this worthless time
trying to track Malcolm through his letter was a ploy to get Camden
and his men away from Olivia.