Page 42 of Heather and the Highlander
Ian, who was now armed with a dagger that Heather hadn’t even noticed he drew, stepped in between the combatants.
“Leave, both of you,” he instructed, pointing the blade meaningfully at the uninvited guests. “Walk out now, or you may not walk out at all.”
Her uncle was offended at the threat, but then judged the height of the assorted MacNair men (Robert was standing to one side holding a gun that he’d just happened to aim at Cyril) and their crowd of supporters, glanced at the array of additional weaponry on the walls, and took a step backward.
He glowered at them all, saying “I’m going, I’m going. Barbarians, the lot of you.” Then he turned to Heather and gave her a nasty leer. “But don’t think this is over, young lady.”
Then her uncle turned on his heel and left, Brom stalking behind. Several of the younger men followed, clearly with the aim to ensure that both men got off the property as soon as possible.
When he was finally gone, Heather took a shaky breath. “I never thought he’d keep after me like this! And Mr. Webb coming too? Why? Why can’t they leave me alone!”
Niall kept his arms around her, turning her to face him. “You’re safe at Carregness, Heather. I won’t let him lay a hand on you.”
His brother Rob had moved to the window, and was staring down at the road. “They’re riding off now. I recognize those horses. They belong to Brodie, the innkeeper.”
“Hayes must be renting a room at the Cat & Mouse,” Niall said. “Maybe we should have someone keep an eye on him while he’s there.”
“Good idea. I’ll do it,” Robert said. “I don’t like that man.”
“I’m sure it’s mutual,” Heather said. “As I may have mentioned, my uncle hates the Scots.”
“Let’s take a little stroll,” Niall said then. “You could use some fresh air, yes?”
He meant that she could use some privacy from all the curious or judging spectators, and he was right.
So Heather allowed him to walk her to the little walled garden that looked west to the sea. Niall took in several breaths once they got to the low wall. He sat on the wall and ran his hand through his hair. Heather realized how upset the incident made him.
“Well, as if you needed another reason to avoid shackling yourself to me for eternity!” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “You’ve finally met my uncle. Cyril is my father’s brother and the only example of my family I can point to. Depressing, isn’t it?”
“He seems hellbent on keeping hold of you,” Niall mused, keeping his gaze on the distant sea. “Why? Are you sure you’re not an heiress?”
Heather laughed at the thought. “Mercy, no. I once looked at some papers the bank sent over about my inheritance. It’s enough to bring in about a thousand pounds a year. Nothing to sneeze at, to be sure. But not an amount to dazzle, especially as they intended to split the amount — my uncle and Mr. Webb, that is. And I doubt any pin money was going to be allotted to me. No, I think this is all about pride on Uncle Cyril’s part. He wants to be in charge at all times. He wants to hand me off to his choice, not mine. Mr. Webb’s motivation, on the other hand….” She shuddered.
“He’ll never get near you, even after this…arrangement is over,” Niall promised.
“When it’s over, I won’t be here any longer,” she reminded him. “And I’m not your responsibility.”
Something in his gaze held her fast. Something she couldn’t name but her body reacted to, like a magnet to iron. She didn’twantto leave here, to leave Niall. And perhaps, just perhaps, he didn’t want her to leave either?
“Your birthday,” he said then, “will be quite an event.”
She wasn’t certain how he meant it. A triumph for her? A defeat for Uncle Cyril? A sad parting from Carregness? “I’m counting the days,” she told him.
“Aye, I expect you are.” He gave her a little smile, kissed her lightly, lingeringly on the mouth, and then stood up. “Well, let’s get back inside. There will be plenty to discuss. And I can’t even guess what my father will say when word of this incident gets to him.”
“I’m sorry to be such a nuisance.”
“Heather, my darling girl, you are many, many things, but a nuisance isn’t one.”
When they returned to the main hall, several men had already gathered. Robert was leading the discussion, and it sounded very much like he was planning an invasion of the village.
“Subtly, Rob, subtly,” Niall reminded him.
“Oh, I’ll be subtle. He won’t know I’m there till I stick a knife in his back. He called our house a barn.”
Niall squeezed Heather’s arm. “Why don’t you find Maeve and see what she’s up to? I’d like to speak to the men to ensure no one does anything stupid.”
“Aye,” Heather breathed. She walked to the table where she’d been sitting before, intending to gather her things. The sight of the paper and pen and ink startled her. It had been less than a half hour, but it felt like a day since she’d dropped the pen at the sound of her uncle’s arrival. She’d been writing to Mrs. Bloomfield…but where was the letter? Heather looked all around. She peered under the table, then lifted up the cushions on the benches, just in case.
