Page 55 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
“Of course,” Lord Lovell said with a chuckle and then held up his glass. “My god, your people are nearly heathens, but you do distill God’s ambrosia.”
Before Damien could react to that, or think of how his mother would throw this man into the sea for doubting her faith, the man continued.
“I’ve been speaking with your folk, and I understand that you’re determined to eradicate the vermin.”
“And have nearly succeeded,” Orrick cut in. “Barely any are left.”
“Exactly,” the man said with approval, as though he’d been part of the business, and it was a credit to him.
Orrick and Damien shared a look of hilarity, and Damien wondered if Orrick was imagining their fathers roaring with laughter at the English bastard’s presumption.
“But now you are needed here, Laird MacCabe. So, let me offer my help.”
Damien found that he could not wait to hear this. “How?”
“Well, through your marriage,” Lord Lovell said with a chuckle, and Damien felt his heart begin racing, his hand now on the pommel of his sword. “I have friends in the Navy, have interests in the Navy, and may have helped pay for a few warships.” He tapped a fingernail on his glass. “We can spin your marriage toHelena as a tactical alliance between your merchants and my own.”
Damien stared at him, blood roaring in his ears.
Lord Lovell frowned. “You do not seem to take my meaning. I want to send out a story to my friends that you sought Helena’s hand not because of her foolhardy behavior and her trapping you into a marriage of convenience, but because of our mutual interest on the sea.” He smiled—a pitiless, cold thing. “It saves me quite a bit of face, and it’s a clever, clever ploy. Think what those pirates will think when they find out that you have ties to the English navy. They will not even dare come within one hundred miles of your shore!”
“Ye would use yer daughter—me Helena—as apawnto secure yer trade interests?” Damien asked through numb lips.
“She is a woman,” Lord Lovell said with a snort. “She was born a pawn. And you are forgetting the most important part—she can be useful to you. Deter pirates.”
“Never.”
Damien surged to his feet and glared at the startled Lord Lovell, who cursed as he spilled whisky on his sleeve.
“Ye willnae involve me wife-to-be in this mess, d’ye understand me?” Damien said, barely keeping his tone civil, even though he knew he looked terrifying, from the way Lord Lovell paled. “Ifye want to discuss trade interests, tell that foolish story to yer friends, fine. But ye willnae suggest that she align the MacCabes with the Navy.” His chest rose and fell. “Christ, man, that doesnae make Helena a deterrent. That makes her aprize.”
Lord Lovell went red. “You—you give those vermin too much credit, Laird MacCabe. They are simple folk—they fear our Navy.”
“Not enough,” Damien said. “Ye are too confident of yer reputation, havin’ never tested it against steel tested in seawater. These men are opportunists. They could—they could use such an alliance to try and blackmail us. To…”
To hurt Helena. To strike at both MacCabe and her ties to England.
“Swear to me that ye will put this out of yer mind.”
Lord Lovell scoffed and shoved upright, his tall and thin frame bristling like an offended cat. “I can see it was foolhardy to try and reason with a Scotsman. I will not make such a mistake again. And if you could marry my daughter sooner rather than later, I shall be glad to take my leave of yourhospitality.”
With that, the man strode out of the room, and Orrick shut the door, barring it as Damien stepped out from behind his desk.
“Again, I must remind ye that ye cannae murder yer bride’s faither.”
“Are ye sure?” Damien snarled.
“Aye,” Orrick said and grasped Damien’s shoulders. “Proud of ye for nae doin’ so—because I was about to do it meself.”
Damien blew out a breath and offered Orrick a smile. “How about I pour ye a drink?”
Orrick laughed, and then they sat and had a drink. Damien tried to join in while Orrick jibed about the Englishman, but his insides would not stop churning. Would Lord Lovell listen to him? What if he did write to his allies and used Helena in such a way? It was too much—she was not to be wielded against his enemies.
“The old bastard is cunning,” Orrick said, breaking the silence. “Heartless, though. Even for an Englishman.”
“It wouldnae work.”
Orrick pursed his lips and gave Damien a look. “Here’s the trouble. I think it would.” He held up a hand. “Lachlan’s pirate allies? They have nay interest in attractin’ the attention of the Navy.” He sat back and closed his eyes. “But Lachlan? Aye, that sends fear into me heart. He would find some way to wield it against us—against ye.”
