Highland Master

chapter 14



Catriona had heard her father’s threat, but distantly, because from the moment she put a hand to her fiery cheek, she had been gazing in shock at the others in the chamber. She realized with dismay that her anger had blinded her to the fact that Alex and Rothesay were there.

She had seen only Fin at first and had expressed herself as if they had been alone until Shaw’s command had diverted her anger to him.

She did hear what Fin had said, though, and the ice in his voice sent shivers up her spine. Waiting for Shaw’s response, she did not even breathe.

He’d flicked a glance at Fin and still glared at her, but he did not speak.

An ache filled her throat, and the silence lengthened until Fin said, “My lord Rothesay, I would take it kindly if you would allow her ladyship and me to be privy with her family… for a short time, at least, sir.”

Another silence fell, but it was brief, because Alex Stewart got up, saying, “Come along, Davy. We’ll find someone to wake up that friar of Donald’s.”

Hearing Rothesay’s chuckle, Catriona watched as he got to his feet, made her a slight bow, and left. Turning back to her father, she knew she ought to feel some relief with Rothesay and Alex gone. But, eyeing the still angry Shaw, she felt none.

When she heard her grandmother’s voice in the background, bidding the two great lords goodnight, she felt worse. Lady Annis was only too likely to share her granddaughter’s earlier defiance of her with the others.

However, everyone’s attention shifted back to Fin when he said, “Pray, madam, be sure that that door is shut fast.”

Catriona was astonished when her grandmother said quietly, “It is, sir.”

“Good,” Fin said. “By your leave now, Shaw MacGillivray, I would speak privily with your daughter. Before I do, though, I will make my position clear to you all. Davy Stewart has tried to make a farce out of this business simply to amuse himself. I will not allow that to continue.”

“How d’ye propose to stop him, lad?” the Mackintosh asked curiously.

“You may leave that to me, sir. In return, I will endeavor to persuade the lady Catriona… again… that her best course is to accept this marriage, as I do. I will also insist, however, that we marry tomorrow instead of tonight. But,” he added when Catriona stiffened, “I will not employ threats or allow anyone else to do so to achieve that course. I sincerely apologize for my curtness to you just now, sir,” he said to Shaw. “But I will not accept a bride who must be beaten into marrying me. Nor do I think you want a good-son who would allow that. Would you, sir?”

“Nay, lad. In troth, I’m fast coming to hope that I’ll have ye in his stead.” Shaw put out his hand, and when Fin gripped it, Catriona relaxed at last.

The Mackintosh said, “If ye’re sure about tomorrow, Fin, I’ll tell Rothesay m’self. Ye can smooth over aught that ye need to smooth with him afterward.”

“He has likely realized already that something has gone awry,” Fin said.

“Aye, well, I’ll draw on his vast knowledge of women, then,” Mackintosh said with a twinkle. “I can say it be more seemly to wed by daylight and will thus make the lass happier. I’ve other things to suggest, too, and I’ll want Shaw with me. Annis and Ealga will retire to the ladies’ solar, so that ye two may bide here.”

“Thank you, sir,” Fin said. In a blink, Catriona was alone with him, but if she expected her trial to be over, she soon learned her error.

“I have something to say before we discuss any marriage,” he said with the same chilly edge to his voice as when he had spoken to Shaw.

Swallowing hard, she said, “What is it?”

“Simply, that if I ever again hear you talk that way, to me or to anyone else in authority over you, I’ll react much as your father did. I hope I would never slap you in the midst of such a company, but be sure that I would soon put you over my knee. So keep that in mind as we continue, for as much as I would dislike taking a bride whose father had to beat her into marrying me would I dislike marrying one who believed that I would not react as sternly to such rudeness.”

“You do frequently stir my temper, though,” she reminded him.

“And when I do, you may tell me so,” he said, putting a warm hand to her sore cheek. His voice gentled as he said, “I’ll expect you to tell me civilly, lass, although I will allow for temper, as I hope you will for me. Also, I’ll have much more tolerance in private than if you hurl my faults at me before an audience.”

“Particularly such an audience as I chose tonight,” she said ruefully. “That was not well done of me. By my troth, though, I saw no one but you. I was furious to learn that after you’d said you would persuade them, they were going to force you to marry me at once. I… I don’t remember ever being as angry with anyone as I was then with you, even though they were doing it. Why do you suppose that is?”



Instead of trying to answer the unanswerable question, Fin gently stroked her reddened cheek and said, “Art still angry with me now, little wildcat?”

“Nay,” she murmured, and he was glad to see a tiny smile as she did. “I’m still unsure about all this, though. It happened so suddenly, and it seems so unfair to you, especially when it was my own unruly tongue that caused all the trouble.”

“Davy caused it,” Fin said. “He has complained of boredom, and when he is bored—or frustrated, as he also is—he makes mischief, with females or otherwise. In this case, it was both. But, see here, lass, you are wrong if you think they have forced me into a wedding. You heard how easily I can stop it, and I will do it if you are still reluctant to marry me. But if you are willing to risk it, I am more so.”

“Do not try to cajole me, sir. You did not come here seeking a wife.”

“Nay, but I did find someone who will suit me if she will just agree to it.”

“I am not unwilling. I am terrified.” To his surprise, tears welled into her eyes. “I don’t want to live amidst strangers who have so long been our enemies.”

“But you would live with me,” he said.

“Only when you were at home. Men are forever going off—to battle, to St. Andrews, to all manner of places. And they always leave their womenfolk behind. I don’t want to live as miserably in Lochaber as Morag lives here.”

“I doubt that you would,” he said. “You are too warm, too competent, and too wise to live so. You also dwell less on your feelings than your good-sister does. I believe that you will make fast friends easily, wherever we live.”

“But I like solitude, too,” she reminded him. “Would I be as free to roam the mountains in Lochaber as I usually am here?”

Knowing that any discussion of that subject would undo the progress he had made, he said mildly, “We can talk about that sort of thing anon. For now, I just want to know if you will marry me, Catriona. I hope that you will say aye.”

“Aye, then, I will. But you don’t fool me, Fin of the Battles. God-a-mercy, but we are going to battle mightily if you forbid me to do the things I most enjoy.”

“All married people battle, sweetheart.” Seeing her eyes widen at the endearment, he wanted to kiss her. But he needed to be sure they understood each other first. “Art truly willing, Cat—even if we must marry tomorrow?”

“Will you have to go away soon?”

“I mean to talk to Davy about that, to request leave so I can take you to meet my family. I promise you won’t have to stay with them if I have to rejoin him soon, though. I’ll bring you back here before I do. I should have other options, too, but it will take time to sort them out.”

“That is what you meant about this complicating your life, is it not?”

“It is, aye. Answer my question now. Art sure?”

“Do you think that anyone is ever sure about such things?”

“I know that I am.”

“Are you?” She searched his eyes. “Then I am, too.”

He kissed her then, and she responded at once, melting against him as she had before, her lips warm and soft beneath his. He kissed her many times, lightly and then more possessively. The thought that she would be his wife on the morrow stimulated every part of him and one in particular.

She felt his cock move, too, because her eyes widened again. When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she moaned softly, and that moan was nearly his undoing. He wanted to sweep her up and carry her straight to her bed.

Reminding himself that Ailvie would be there, he went on kissing Catriona, stroking her slender body, achingly aware that it would soon be his to possess.

As he eased a hand gently over one soft breast, a double rap sounded on the door. The door opened on the sound, and the Mackintosh walked in.

Fin’s wandering hand moved quickly back to her waist. She had stiffened and would have pulled away, but he held her where she was.

“Forgive the intrusion, lad,” Mackintosh said. “I’ve talked with Rothesay and Alex, and I thought ye should hear what we have decided.”

Again, Catriona stirred as if to step away, and this time, Fin allowed it. As he did, he said pointedly, “I do want to hear what you would suggest, sir.”

“Aye, well, ’tis more of a consensus, as ye might say. Sithee, Rothesay has agreed that a morning wedding will suit him. He also reminded me that Donald will be impatient to get on with our discussions. He’s proving right difficult, is Donald. So I said we should dispense with everyone save the four of us until we sort out what exactly, if anything, Donald and Alex can agree to do for their cousin Davy.”

“I’m guessing that Donald will agree to do nowt for him,” Fin said.

“Mayhap that is so,” Mackintosh said. “But whilst their so-called advisors make more trouble than not, as they have, we cannot know. Now, our James will stay for the wedding, but he wants to leave for Inverness afterward with Morag. They’ll stay the night at Moigh, he said, and I thought that ye two might like to stay there, as well. Ye’d sleep in my chamber, for James has his own rooms above it.”

Fin glanced at Catriona, but her grandfather did not allow for discussion.

“Ye’ll have a few days to yourselves,” he said, “whilst we sort an agreement out here. Then, when Rothesay is ready to depart, you can return. Sithee, Moigh sits just fifteen miles away, and the coming back takes less time than the going.”

Fin said, “ ’Tis a generous offer, sir, that we will gladly accept. But I mean to talk to Rothesay about more generous leave. If he agrees, I’ll take Catriona to meet my family before we return.”

“Aye, well, ye’ll decide that for yourself, I expect, or Davy will. In the event, ye’re always welcome here and at Moigh, so there be nae more to say about that. As for ye, lassie,” he said, turning to Catriona. “What d’ye say to all this now?”

“I’m willing, sir,” she said, flushing deeply. “I… I must apologize to you, though, for my behavior earlier. I let my temper overcome me, sir.”

“Ye did, aye, but ye should be apologizing to your father as well, lass.”

When she nibbled her lower lip, Fin felt a strong protective urge to say that that might wait. But he knew the Mackintosh was right, so he held his peace.



Catriona wondered if she knew what she was doing. Her grandfather was acting as he always did with her, gruff and stern but kindly withal. Still, he would do nothing to make her apology to Shaw easier. Nor, by the look of Fin, would he.

For that matter, she had known all along what she would have to do.

“I will do it straightaway,” she said. “Did you and Rothesay decide exactly when this wedding is to take place, sir? Before we break our fast, or after?”

“Before,” her grandfather said. “That way, ye and the lad here can have a wedding feast and Rothesay and the others can meet after your party has gone.”

Fin said, “I’ve been wondering, sir, just what the situation is between Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron. I know our truce is still in effect, but I’ve heard—”

“Whatever ye’ve heard be nobbut mischief dreamed up by them who would keep us busy fighting each other, lad,” the Mackintosh said firmly. “If the truce betwixt our two clans should fail, it will not be Clan Chattan that breaks it. Nor do I believe that any Cameron leader wants aught at present save peace.”

“Thank you, sir. I had heard only whispers, but in such a case…”

“Aye, one’s imagination can feed all manner of bad cess into one’s mind. Let it rest, expect the best, and all will be well. I’ve a notion that a day or two at Moigh will ease your mind considerably. The place does have that effect.”

A strange sensation stirred in Catriona as her thoughts drifted. She would sleep with Fin at Moigh. The thought stirred her imagination, serving up images of what that might be like. The image of him walking naked on the shore lingered longer than most, so when she realized that he was watching her, heat flamed in her cheeks. It spread quickly then through the rest of her as well.

“Is Shaw still in the hall?” Fin asked, bringing her instantly back to earth.

“Aye, he must be,” Mackintosh said. “He said he would await my return.”

“Then I suggest that we see him and then send this lass upstairs to her maidservant. They have much to do before they sleep to prepare for the morrow.”

Catriona did not think it mattered how much she and Ailvie had to do. She would not sleep a wink.

Fin opened the door for her, and she saw Shaw standing just beyond it in the hall. He was clearly on the watch for them, because he came to meet her at once.

“Lassie,” he said.

“I’m sorry I was so rude to you, sir,” she said at the same time.

“Aye, me, too,” he said, pulling her close. “Ye deserved a good smack, lass, but ye didna deserve to bear it in front of yon rascally Rothesay and Alex Stewart.”

Glancing around to be sure that those gentlemen were not also still in the hall, Catriona said, “In troth, sir, had you not stopped me as you did, I fear that I might have said more than I should. Sithee, I was so angry that I was not thinking. I did not even see Rothesay or Alex Stewart until you silenced me. As it was, I am not sure but that Rothesay may have guessed I’d made the whole thing up. Do you truly believe it would not have been better just to admit it and apologize to him.”

“I am, lass. This all amuses him now, which renders him harmless. But he is a powerful man and gey reckless. To learn that ye’d lied to him would soon lead him to imagine that others were laughing at him, which would lead next to a sense of deep offense. To offend the powerful is unwise at any time, lassie, and best to avoid.”

“What did Granddad tell him?”

“Only that it never paid to rush a woman. He said he’d learned that lesson in his youth from your grandame, and he assured Rothesay that putting off the ceremony until morning would make ye gey happier and thus serve us all better.”

Glancing at Fin, she saw him frown and waited for him to explain why. He said nothing, however, and she accepted his lead by bidding her father and grandfather goodnight. Then she let Fin escort her to her chamber.

“Ailvie will be in there,” she said as they neared her door. “Grandame said that she would send her up, and I’m sure she must have done so by now.”

“Come here then,” he said, pulling her close and tilting her chin so that he could kiss her again.

She leaned into him as he did, savoring the warmth of his hard body against hers as well as his kisses. After a long and pleasant time, she said, “What made you frown so when Granddad told us what he had said to Rothesay?”

Without hesitation, he said, “Rothesay thinks only in terms of women making him happy, never in terms of considering any woman’s wishes. He may still ask me some pointed questions about all this. You are not to worry, though. I have managed to work with and for him these past years without incurring much of his wrath. I was just thinking about what he might ask and how I might answer him.”

“He can be gey charming,” Catriona said with a rueful smile.

“Aye, and he does trade on that charm, too. But your Ailvie will hear us if we keep talking out here, sweetheart, and this is no place for such a conversation. So, kiss me again, and then it’s bed for you.”

She obeyed, although there was much more that she would have liked to discuss with him. When he reached to open the door, she said, “I am glad that James and Morag are going to see her family, for she has missed them. But I do wish that they were not traveling with us. I want to know more about you, Fin of the Battles, and such a journey without them would give us more time to talk.”

“Aye, but we’ll find time for talking,” he said, lightly pinching her earlobe. Then, after one more kiss, he said, “Get thee in, sweetheart, and sleep.”

“I do not think you can command me yet,” she said. “I am not yet your wife.”

“True. Now go.”

She went.


Stirling Castle



The Duke of Albany was reviewing accounts with his steward when a minion announced Sir Martin Redmyre. Signing to the steward to leave and telling Redmyre to take a seat, he waited until the door had shut and said, “You have learned more.”

“Aye, my lord duke. My man heard two days ago that the Mackintosh was apparently in daily expectation of visitors at Rothiemurchus Castle. It lies—”

“I don’t care where it lies, Martin. Who are these visitors?”

“Comyn called them ‘grand lairds,’ sir. Three of them, his kinsman said.”

“Three?”

“Aye, and Davy did meet with your nephew Alex Stewart in Perth, and with Shaw MacGillivray, who is now Laird of Rothiemurchus and good-son to the Mackintosh. No one seems to know the third one, but I’d guess it must be Donald.”

“So would I if I could imagine how Donald could cross the entire western Highlands from the Isles to get to Clan Chattan country. But if Davy allies with Alex… I’ll want to think about that. How long do they mean to be there?”

“I don’t know, but my man promises that the Comyns have devised a plan to keep them where they are long enough for us to get there. However, if you are thinking of sending someone at once to catch them conspiring together, whoever you send may meet with difficulty. There are, as you must know, only two possible routes for a force of any size.”

“I know the one through Glen Garry. Is there another at this time of year?”

“Aye, sure, or so Comyn said. The other is through the Cairngorms to the east. Its snowy passes must be hazardous, but he swears that the route is feasible by now.”

“I’ve no intention of risking myself on such a route. This country needs me. But you will take my men and your own that way. If Glen Garry is the easier route, I’ll send the Earl of Douglas that way. He can gather his Border army quickly, and he has much the same reason as your own to interfere with any plan of Davy’s. After all, the Douglas’s sister is Davy’s unhappy wife. Also, Redmyre…”

“Aye,” the other man said, raising his eyebrows.

“If your men there can hold them for you, you know what will serve me best.”

“I do, my lord. I do, indeed.”

Satisfied, but not one to count a deed done until it was, Albany dismissed him.



Fin would have liked to go straight to his own bed, for although it was still relatively early, he had had his fill of emotion for the day. However, he knew that he would be wise to ask Rothesay straightaway for leave to take Catriona to Moigh and, if Davy would spare him longer, straight on to Tor Castle.

Finding the hall empty of everyone except those trying to sleep there, he went to Rothesay’s chamber.

The gillie who always slept on a pallet before the door was awake. Scrambling to his feet, the lad said, “My lord duke did say ye’d come, sir.”

“I want to see him if he is still awake,” Fin said.

“Aye, he said ye might wish it. But he said tae tell ye he’d be fast asleep by now.” Glancing toward the door when sounds came from within that included a feminine giggle, the lad said stoutly, “He’ll talk wi’ ye on the morrow, sir. Afore the wedding, he did say. Be there going tae be a wedding, Sir Fin?”

“Aye,” Fin said, wondering if the Mackintosh or Shaw knew that Rothesay had a woman in his bed. He hoped that she was as willing as she sounded and a maidservant rather than a noblewoman or a Mackintosh tenant’s wife.

On that thought, an image of the redoubtable Lady Annis rose in his mind, so he was chuckling when he added, “If you see him when he wakens, tell him that I do hope to speak with him privately before the ceremony. You may fetch me from my chamber as soon as he finds it convenient.”

Returning to his room, he woke the dozing Ian and informed him of the wedding and the journey to follow while Ian aided his preparations for bed. Having little to pack, he soon sent Ian to bed in the hall as usual, and put out his candle.

Lying in bed, he wondered if Catriona was asleep yet and how different things might have been—or if they would have ended up the same—had he insisted on continuing to Moigh the day they had met. If the arrow had killed him, he would never have met her. But what if the arrow had just missed him and he had returned to Rothiemurchus in a normal way after learning that the Mackintosh was there?

Would the Mackintosh ever have trusted him alone with her then? Or was it the fact that they had been alone in the woods that had made the man trust him?

As he tried to imagine how the order of things might have progressed, the images faded and dreams of Catriona in his arms replaced them.

When he awoke with the dawn, he was sweating, erect, and annoyed that a most satisfactory dream had ended moments too soon with the entrance into his chamber of gray, early-morning light.

The night before, the thought of marrying her had produced delightful, sensual anticipation. Now it produced a clearer, much more urgent desire for her.

Rising hastily, he dressed himself without waiting for Ian and waited impatiently for Rothesay’s lad to fetch him.



“Take off your shift for me, lass,” Fin said, smiling in much the same hungry way that Rory Comyn had always smiled at her. But Fin’s smile did not discomfit her… at least, not in the same way that Comyn’s had.

Feelings roared through her body much as the river Spey roared in full spate through Strathspey after a mighty rainstorm or when the high snows were melting fast and racing into it from every rill, rivulet, and burn.

She gazed up at Fin from under her lashes, wondering what he would do if she refused to obey his command. A husband, after all, had every right to command his wife, but if he thought that he was going to order her every breath and step from his wedding day forward, he was in for a fine surprise.

Faith, but she was flirting with him, with her own husband, whilst he stood naked before her, his eagerness plain… and she with only a thin shift to protect her.

“Take it off, Catriona,” he said, moving toward her. She felt his warm hand on her bare upper arm and heard a low, rumbling moan in his throat…

Catriona awoke with annoyance to discover that the low rumbling sound in her dream, as well as the warmth against her upper arm, was merely Boreas’s kitten curled up against her, purring loudly.

As she lay wondering if her interesting dream might otherwise have included what else would happen when she lay naked beside Fin, a memory flitted through her mind. Her grandmother had been talking to Ealga about Morag.

“James should be more masterful with that lass,” Lady Annis had said tartly. “Faith, but he should give her a good hiding to cure her low spirits.”

Catriona’s mother had protested that James was rather more prone to lecture a woman than to behave masterfully. But Lady Annis had said, “Pish tush, he must learn to take a firmer hand if he would stop her complaints. All women prefer men who will stand up for themselves to those who will not.”

Catriona had a strong feeling that she would never complain of Fin’s failure to stand up for himself. She was not as sure as her grandmother seemed to be that she would prefer that he always be masterful.

Ailvie’s entrance put an end to her fantasies, so she got up to prepare for what promised to be a long day. When she descended to the great hall a half-hour later, she found everyone else gathered near the huge fireplace, waiting for her.

Swallowing, hoping she was not making a mistake that would end in misery as Morag’s had, she obeyed her father’s gesture and went to stand beside him.

As she did, she heard Rothesay say in a voice that carried to every corner of the hall, “But of course you cannot ride off with the lass before you consummate your marriage, Fin. Bless us, man, it will not be a real marriage until you do.”



Conscious of a strong desire to throttle Rothesay, and not for the first time, Fin said, “We are eager to consummate our union, sir. But I’d liefer reach Moigh at a good hour than linger here. James and his lady ride with us and are eager to be off.”

“Don’t be daft, man. Your bride is his sister, and his lady will do as he bids.”

Fin knew he had erred in mentioning Morag’s wishes. But he’d seen Catriona come in and knew she had overheard Davy’s comments. Even in the dim morning light, he saw her cheeks darken but could not tell if she was vexed or just embarrassed.

Hearing James clear his throat behind him, Fin hoped that his soon-to-be good-brother would support leaving as soon as possible.

James said, “Your company would be gey welcome, Fin. But I did promise Morag that we’ll take no more time than necessary here or at Moigh. Sithee, my lady would prefer to spend the night with our kinsmen at Daviot, five miles nearer to Inverness. That would shorten our journey tomorrow and likewise leave Castle Moigh to you and Cat for your wedding night.”

Looking again at Catriona, who stood by Shaw and gazed into the fire, Fin said, “I will talk with her, James. You and I can easily find time to discuss this more before you must leave.”

James nodded, but Rothesay said, “You are a fool, Fin, if you think these Mackintoshes will let you leave with their lass still a maiden. They’ll not risk your returning her in a like state and demanding annulment due to lack of consummation. Mayhap they should watch it, just to be sure,” he added with a mocking grin.

That grin made Fin nearly certain Davy had guessed that Catriona had either exaggerated their relationship or lied about it. That he was still enjoying himself was likely due to the evident intent to conceal the fact.

Fin glanced then at Mackintosh and got a curt nod, indicating that Rothesay was right about one thing. The family—the head of it, at least—would insist that he and Catriona consummate their marriage before departing.

Mackintosh came forward then to say lightly, “It takes little time, lad. The first coupling is a shock to any young bride, but if ye’ve a good appetite for her, it need take just a minute or two. James can wait that long. I’m thinking, too, that ye’ll have more energy for it if ye eat first, and will thereby enjoy yourself the more.”

Rothesay’s grin widened, making Fin wish fervently that one could horsewhip the young Governor of the Realm without hanging for it.

James, still behind him, said quietly, “A private word with you, Fin?”

Nodding, Fin moved away with him, and James added softly, “My lass says she wants time alone with me. She says such time has been sadly lacking in our marriage. It may seem a small thing—”

“Nay,” Fin told him. “Catriona and I have things to discuss, too. But we can all travel to Moigh together and still give ourselves distance enough to talk with our wives. Then, too, you will be alone with Morag from Moigh to Castle Daviot.”

James agreed, and they saw Morag approaching, so Fin moved to join Shaw and Catriona by the fire. Donald and Alex entered together shortly afterward, followed by their retainers and Donald’s mendicant friar.

Catriona turned to Fin when he neared the hearth, and as her gaze met his, a slight smile touched her lips, lingered there, and grew warmer.

Feeling himself stir in response, Fin smiled, too.