Page 34 of Scot of Deception
“Aye,” the laird called from inside the study. “Thank ye, ye can let him in.”
The guard bowed to Blaine—a gesture that he still found strange. He was usually the one to bow; not the other way around; something he did when he entered the room and saw the laird sitting there, behind his desk.
Just like the rest of the castle, the laird’s study was constructed with functionality in mind but lacked some of its warmth. There was large, heavy furniture, there were countless books, a large fireplace that was enough to warm the entire room, and a window to let in natural light and allow the laird to overlook the courtyard and the training grounds. The only decoration in the room seemed to be a rich tapestry with a hunting motif in deep reds and gold, and a portrait of a man Blaine didn’t recognize, but who greatly resembled the laird with his gray eyes and chestnut hair.
And there, behind the desk, sat Laird Stewart. Even seated, he looked like a tower of a man, tall and broad-shouldered. Blaine was a big man himself, and yet he was certain that ifLaird Stewart stood next to him, he would look small in comparison.
“Laird Stewart,” Blaine said in greeting as he approached the desk. “Me name’s Blaine Farquharson. I was sent here by?—”
“Och aye,” said Laird Stewart, sitting a little straighter in his seat. “I ken who ye are. Laird Mackintosh just wrote and informed me that ye would be visitin’ us with his niece. Please, take a seat.”
As the man spoke, he gestured at one of the chairs that stood at the other side of the desk, across from him. Blaine took a seat and it was at that exact point that all his exhaustion decided to make itself known, settling deep into his bones. It was as though his body had been waiting for that moment.
“So ye ken I am here tae keep her safe,” Blaine said, forcing himself to sit upright instead of sinking into the chair’s embrace. “I must be where she is at all times.”
“I understand,” said Laird Stewart. “I have already arranged fer yer rooms tae be next tae hers. I assume ye will be attendin’ the weddin’ an’ festivities, as well?”
“If that’s alright with ye,” said Blaine, but what he truly meant was that he would certainly be attending every event Kathleen was supposed to attend. He wouldn’t let her out ofhis sight. He had clear orders from her father to keep an eye on her at all times, since she was known to do whatever she pleased, whenever she pleased—consequences be damned.
“Well, since it is required,” said the laird, giving Blaine a small shrug. He seemed like a reasonable man, and Blaine was glad about that. The last thing he needed was to have to deal with someone who was hellbent on making his mission even harder for him. As long as Laird Stewart stayed out of his way—and kept his men out of his way, too—then Blaine wasn’t too concerned. “That lassie has always been a handful. Every time she is with me Fenella, I fear she’ll go down the same path.”
Though Laird Stewart’s words seemed harsh to Blaine, his tone betrayed no animosity towards Kathleen—only concern for her and his daughter. He could understand that; that was precisely why he had been hired by her father and her uncle in the first place, after all. And the two men had made sure he knew just how difficult Kathleen could be.
“Watch out fer them both, will ye?” Laird Stewart requested with a sigh. “An’ dinnae fash, ye’ll be rewarded handsomely fer it.”
If there was one thing Blaine never did, that was refuse to be paid extra for his efforts. Still, his main concern was Kathleen, not Fenella.
“I believe it is better if ye have some o’ yer own men watch over yer daughter, me laird,” he said. “I fear that if it comes down tae Kathleen or yer daughter, it will be Kathleen I will save. I have a contract with her family. I cannae ignore that.”
An’ I would never let anythin’ happen tae Kathleen.
But Laird Stewart didn’t need to know that. He didn’t need to know just how close the two of them had gotten or what they had been up to on their way to the castle.
“I understand, o’ course,” said the other man. “An’ rest assured that naethin’ will happen tae wee Kathleen here. The castle is perfectly safe.”
“Perhaps,” said Blaine. “But we were attacked on the way here. Campbell men have reached yer lands, me laird, an’ I think it would be wise if ye sent some o’ yer scouts out tae find them,” he said, but then felt out of place telling the man how to rule his own clan, so he added, “If ye dinnae mind me intrusion an’ the unsolicited advice. I dinnae ken how many there are. We were attacked by six an’ I killed three o’ them. The rest escaped.”
Laird Stewart’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Blaine, and it seemed to him as though those gray eyes were staring right through him.
“Ye killed three Campbell men on yer own?”
“Aye,” said Blaine. “Well, Kathleen helped me with one o’ them.”
“She did?” asked the laird, sounding entirely surprised by that for a moment. But then, he laughed softly, shaking his head. “O’ course she did. If anyone would dae such a thing, it would be her.”
“She is tenacious,” Blaine said, for lack of a better term.
“That she is. Sometimes I wish me daughter was a little more like her, but Fenella’s a sweet bairn. She never had that… tenacity o’ which ye speak. I think if she did, she would have long since fled the castle fer havin’ tae wed.”
Regret tinted the laird’s words and for a moment, Blaine watched him as he blinked in surprise, as if he hadn’t meant to say that at all. And why would he? Blaine was a stranger. Not only that, but he was a hired sword, a commoner, far beneath him. It was hardly appropriate for either of them to engage in this discussion, but the laird’s remorse must have been overwhelming.
“Well, thank ye, Farquharson,” said Laird Stewart, quickly composing himself as he stood. “If there is anythin’ ye need, ye may ask the servants or the guards.”
Blaine stood as well, bowing to the laird before heading to the door. When he reached it, though, he paused and turned to look at the man one more time, not able to stop himself.
“I humbly suggest ye make sure yer men check every single person who walks in through the gates,” he said. “Campbell men could try tae infiltrate the castle by disguisin’ themselves or slippin’ inside with them. Fergive me insistence.”
“Dinnae fash,” said the other man not offended. “Me soldiers are the best in these parts.”
