Page 1 of Abducted By the Highlander
Prologue
Isle of Eigg, December 1565
“Is it anotherwalk ye want, my darling lad?” Roisin MacDonald smiled indulgently at her beloved terrier, who panted excitedly at the prospect of a third escape from the castle today. In truth, she was as eager as her sweet Ecne to take advantage of the break in the weather. The storms that had buffeted the Isle of Eigg over the last few days had finally blown themselves out over the sea, leaving the air bright and crisp.
No wonder her eldest sister, Isolde, hadn’t wasted any time in taking her mysterious stranger from the sea, Njord, up to the peak of An Sgurr, the magnificent ridge that defined Eigg, in the shadow of which Sgur Castle nestled.
Their young maid, Grear, handed her gloves to her. Roisin smiled in gratitude as they left the castle and entered the courtyard. Isolde had discovered an unconscious Njord on their beach a week ago. Although the poor man had no memory of who he was, Roisin knew in her heart that it didn’t matter, for anyone could see he and her sister belonged together.
Ecne raced towards the stables, barking madly at his freedom. After a glance at Grear, Roisin laughed, picked up her skirts, and they both chased after him. It wasn’t until she’d caught up with him and had scooped him into her arms that she realized she and Grear were no longer alone in the courtyard.
A dozen unknown men, leading their horses, were followingSgur’s formidable warrior, Patric, as he led them to the stables. Toher.
Frozen to the spot, Roisin clutched Ecne to her breast as the humiliating realization hit her that these strangers had just witnessed her unseemly behavior. And worse than that, she had nowhere to hide.
As he approached, Patric gave her a kindly smile but for once his familiar fatherly presence didn’t ease her disquiet. How could it, when she was the focus of twelve strange men who eyed her with varying degrees of interest?
“Lady Roisin, may I present Hugh Campbell. Hugh Campbell, ye have the honor of greeting Lady Roisin MacDonald, youngest granddaughter of Lady Helga of Sgur Castle. Lady Roisin, Hugh is searching for his missing cousin, William Campbell.”
Roisin barely heard Patric’s explanation over the thunder of her heart that echoed in her ears and made her feel faint with nerves. How could he put her in this situation? She never welcomed anyone to the castle. If her grandmother wasn’t available, either Isolde or her other sister, Freyja, did the honors. No one ever noticed her, let alone expected her to assume any responsibility for greeting visitors.
Ecne wriggled in her arms and with deep reluctance she placed him on the ground. To her consternation, he instantly trotted up to the man who stood next to Patric and gave a welcoming bark. Before she could find her voice to admonish him, the man crouched and gave her dog a good scratch behind his ears before he stood and his gaze caught hers.
Eyes so blue they reminded her of a perfect summer sky ensnared her senses, and a delightful shimmer of warmth danced through her blood. Her breath stalled in her throat and her heart slammed against her ribs, but for a reason she couldn’t fathom, she no longer wanted to sink through the ground and disappear.
Hugh Campbell gave an enchanting bow, before once again his gaze meshed with hers. “My lady, it’s an honor indeed to meet ye. May I apologize for disturbing ye at this late hour.”
There was no need for her to answer him. A polite smile would suffice and already Patric was moving forward with the clear intention of saving her from any awkward exchange. And yet, before she quite realized her intention, she spoke.
“There’s no need to apologize, Hugh Campbell. May I welcome ye to Sgur Castle, on behalf of Lady Helga.”
Patric shot her a startled glance, but she ignored him. The truth was, she could not seem to drag her bedazzled gaze from Hugh’s compelling blue eyes and when he smiled at her, she entirely forgot how to breathe.
“Thank ye, Lady Roisin. Yer kindness is much appreciated.”
It was a novel experience to be thanked for her kindness in welcoming a stranger to her home. Those words were always addressed to her grandmother or one of her sisters, but she had to confess it felt immeasurably wonderful to hear them directed her way from Hugh Campbell.
Ecne was still standing by Hugh’s side which was extraordinary, since although her sweet lad was a friendly soul, he wasn’t in the habit of taking such a sudden liking to a complete stranger. But if Ecne put such faith in Hugh, it had to be a sign that this Campbell was a trustworthy man.
She should really return to the castle. It wasn’t her place to question Hugh and yet she couldn’t help herself. “Ye are searching for yer cousin, William Campbell?”
“Aye. He went missing in the storm as we were returning from Skye to Oban, and we fear the worst, yet hope for a miracle that we shall find him safe and well.”
Was it possible that Njord was Hugh’s missing cousin? Certainly, the poor man had been half drowned when Isolde had found him upon the beach, and they all believed he had fallen overboard during the storm. And then the significance of the name occurred to her, and she gave a soft gasp.
“William Campbell, the man who is betrothed to my sister, Lady Isolde?”
“Indeed, my lady. Patric tells me there is a man with no memory of who he is staying at the castle. It is perhaps too much to hope he is my cousin, but it’s possible.”
“Oh, I do hope he is.” She clasped her hands together at how perfect that would be. Isolde cared deeply for Njord, and she had never wanted to wed the unknown William Campbell. But if they were the one and the same man, then surely Isolde would be thrilled by how destiny had delivered her intended husband to her very feet.
“I hope so too.” Hugh smiled again, and her insides melted at the sight.
“Ye and yer men must certainly stay for supper,” she said before she could think better of it. What on earth had come over her, inviting strangers to stay for supper in the castle? And yet it was only something her grandmother would say, for whether or not Hugh found his cousin at Sgur, he and his men would still require hospitality.
It was simply that she had never said such a thing to anyone before.
“We should be most gratified, my lady.”
