"Tiring of the demimonde?"
He gave a slight smile. "'Tis not the same."
Cameron grinned. "I thought you would want the lass, but I hadn't realized how badly."
Marcus exhaled. "No one is more surprised than I."
Marcus and his men dismounted in the outer bailey of the MacLaren holding. He tossed his horse's reins to a MacLaren guard and waited. A few moments later, Declan entered the bailey.
Marcus stepped forward and caught Declan's hand in a firm grip. "Good of you to allow us entrance."
Declan's eyes twinkled. "Aye, considering your treatment of me when last I visited Brahan Seer."
"I recall your night ended well."
Declan grinned. "Aye, a fine night it was. What brings you here? Have I ruined the MacGregor lasses for you? Kristine cried when I left."
"I heard she got rather feisty," Marcus remarked.
Declan laughed. "Aye, she's a sassy one, but nothing like your Ceasg."
Marcus gave a rueful grimace. "Elise's temper is much like the Highland mermaid's."
"A resemblance? If the lass were a Highlander, she could grant the mythical three wishes." He gave Marcus a shrewd look. "Perhaps she has already granted yours, eh?'
Marcus snorted. "I suspect granting any wish I have is the furthest thing from her mind."
"Ahh," Declan intoned. "You haven't exactly endeared yourself to her?"
"Not quite."
"Mayhap, you should have let me teach her a lesson after all." His brows lifted. "Break her in, so to speak."
"I would have had no sympathy for you when she broke you."
Declan grimaced. "Aye, well, 'tis best, then, that I leave you with the taming."
"God help me," Marcus said under his breath, then gave him a serious look. "I hear you have had Campbells on your land."
"Aye." Declan led Marcus toward the great hall.
"Elise was kidnapped by the Campbells six days ago," Marcus said.
"Kidnapped?" Declan gave Marcus an appraising look. "You don't look broken up like you were with Katie. Is the lass…?"
"She is well, though only by the grace of God. We need to talk."
Marcus shook his head at the serving girl who offered to refill his dinner plate, and she moved to the man sitting to his right.
"They never touched her?" Declan asked.
"Nay."
"Can you be sure?"
"Bruised a bit, but nothing like Katie."
"Aye, well," Declan said, "I suppose if she wasn't in the same shape as Katie…"
"She wasn't," Marcus replied. "Which is damned lucky for the entire Campbell clan."
Declan leaned back in his chair. "Too close for comfort."
"They were within half a mile of Brahan Seer."
"Jesus, they've grown bollocks of late. I am surprised they didn't do the deed right there." His mouth twitched. "You don't suppose they suddenly got religion?" He laughed, giving the table such a slap it rattled the plates.
"Nay," Marcus replied, his mouth twisting into a grim frown. "But they did meet their maker."
"Good. You have been too soft with them in the past. Aye," he went on when Marcus started to interrupt, "ye made them pay for Katie, but there have been other times."
Declan reached for his mug and took a long draught. He set the mug on the table while watching the serving woman who approached from the far end of the table. She looked up and Declan winked. His gaze remained on her as she passed. He took another drink of ale, then turned back to Marcus.
"They've been spending an unusual amount of time on MacGregor land of late."
"So I have noticed." A pause followed, and Marcus said. "You have something on your mind?"
"'Tis interesting they made off with her. One would expect them to take care of business and be done with it."
"I'm not one to question good fortune," Marcus said.
"But you are." Declan's expression sobered. "What do you know of the lass?"
"She's American, as you know. The ship she and her husband sailed on went down in a fire. Shannon and Joshua found her washed ashore at Solway Firth."
"She is no serving wench," Declan commented.
"Nay."
"Have you any idea why she is acting the part?"
Marcus gave a single shake of his head. "Nay, but I will find out."
Hooves pounded on moist ground, the roll of their thunder cutting in heavier strikes as they neared the castle. Swirls of thick fog whipped upwards and into the night as the gates of Brahan Seer swung open by an unseen hand. One after another, men forced their way in until the keep overflowed with the blue and green of Campbell plaide.
Fear lodged in Marcus's throat at sight of his enemies' raised swords.
"Buadhaich!" came the battle cry.
A shudder shook Marcus.