The Highlander’s Tempting Touch

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

A listair strode toward the two women, his gut churning with sullen embers of anger. He’d no idea what the English lass wanted, but the fact that Niamh would befriend such a person – such conduct was perilously close to a betrayal of all the warriors who had fought and died at Bannockburn and afterward.

She should know better, especially when her father was a laird, and one of those who guarded the border between the clans and their English foes.

Niamh appeared too startled to say anything, after her utterance of his name, but the English wench recovered quickly enough to dip a curtsy as he came near. “I do not know what I’ve done to affront you, good sir, but…”

“Ye’re English.” Alistair snarled the words out, gratified to see her flinch, even as Niamh’s expression tightened with anger at his behavior. “And nae a common English lass, at that. Ye’re a lady.”

“My family is of minor nobility, if that is what you are asking. However, if you are concerned about my allegiance…”

“Save yer words. I’ve heard enough English words in me life, and I dinnae need tae hear more, nae even from a pretty lass.” Alistair snapped at her. He rounded on Niamh with a glare that had sent many a man running for the hills. “And ye, ye should ken better than tae be befriending someone like this, when so many Highlanders and Lowlanders alike have spilled blood tae keep them away from the clans.”

Niamh flushed, but she stood her ground and raised her chin in defiance. “That’s naething tae dae with Grace. She’s nae part o’ the fighting, and never has been. She grew up nay more than a half-day’s ride from me home, and I from hers. We’ve met here fer years. Why should we nae be friends?”

“Because her faither, braithers, uncles and cousins stand on the field across from ours, and bein’ friends with an English noble, be they lad or lass, is akin tae inviting a viper intae yer home.” Alistair’s lip curled. “Yer faither should have taught ye better.”

“And what’s that tae dae with our bein’ friends? She could surely say the same about me kinfolk fighting hers.” Niamh’s jaw clenched. “And that aside, I dinnae ken what business it is o’ yers. I’m fair certain I told ye I didnae want yer company taeday, and ye said ye wouldnae pursue the matter. Yet here ye are.”

Alistair scowled back. “I happened tae be passing and saw ye entering these woods. I was concerned fer what ye might encounter, and ‘tis clear I was right tae be.” He reached out to take Niamh’s arm.

She wrenched away from him. “Keep yer hands off me! Ye’ve nay right tae decide who I befriend, or spy on who I choose tae meet.” Her glare could have set fire to wet wood.

Alistair could feel his own temper fraying. The argument was bad enough, but through it all, the English wench, Grace, kept attempting to step between them. He took a grip on Niamh’s arm once again, and Grace stepped forward. “Don’t touch her. I do not care who you are, you don’t have a right to treat a lass so rudely.”

Alistair jerked away from her hand, dragging Niamh with him. “Dinnae touch me, wench! I dinnae care what ye think but touch me again and ye’ll regret it.” His jaw clenched. “As it is, ye’re fair lucky I havenae called fer the guard and reported yer presence here afore now.”

“Dinnae dare threaten Grace! Ye brute!” Niamh hammered an ineffectual fist against his shoulder. “Ye’ll unhand me now, or I’ll have me faither horsewhip ye!”

“I’ll nae dae aught o’ the sort, and nor will he. Nae when I tell him...” Alistair bit his tongue. He’d almost revealed more than he meant to. He could feel himself perilously close to lashing out, and it was clear that if the argument proceeded much longer, he’d say more than he meant to. He set his jaw and began to walk away, dragging Niamh with him.

Niamh couldn’t believe what was happening. Only a candle-mark ago, she’d been having a wonderful day. She’d met a handsome, charming man, and been on her way to spend the day with her best friend. Now, somehow, everything had gone wrong.

The handsome man had turned out to have a dark side. Worse, he was trying to take her away from Grace.

Grace stepped in front of him. “Sir, if you think I’ll let you treat Niamh so roughly…”

“And what dae ye think tae dae? Call the guards if ye will.” Alistair’s voice was harsh, and Niamh could hear the contempt in it. “But if ye think they’ll heed the word o’ an English lass over a clansman, then ye’re a fool as well as a viper.”

Grace flinched, and Niamh hissed in fury and kicked Alistair hard in the shin. The man grunted, and his grip loosened just enough for her to pull free and dart back to Grace’s side. “Grace may nae be able tae call the guards, but I can, and I will if ye dinnae leave now. Aye, and have ye sent on yer way with a cudgel, if I see ye again.”

Alistair’s lip curled. “I’d like tae see ye try, and what Laird Cameron would say, tae see ye tryin’ tae drive away yer…”

Alistair’s words paused for a moment, but before Niamh could respond, he continued. “And he’d be likely tae reward me, if he kent what company ye keep, and the source o’ yer ire.” He stepped closer, and Niamh flinched back. “Ye say yer faither is the laird Cameron o’ these parts. How many o’ yer clansmen has he sent tae defend the borders against people like yer ‘friend’?” The last word was hissed with enough venom to make a snake jealous.

Niamh snarled back; her temper hotter than she’d ever felt it before. “That’s a matter fer me faither tae think on. ‘Tis certainly nae concern o’ yers, and it daesnae give ye a right tae accost me like this!”

“Ye think nae?” Alistair caught her arm again, his eyes burning with a fury that nearly matched her own. “’Tis clear ye need tae be kept an eye on, if this is the sort o’ company ye keep when ye’re nae watched over. Since yer faither isnae here tae dae the job, I will.”

“And who are ye tae have a say in who I can be friends with?”

Alistair’s jaw clenched. “I have a say because I’m yer betrothed, and I’ll nae have any future wife o’ mine consorting with the enemy.”

“Just because ye happened tae bump intae me…” Her words faltered to a stop. “What did ye say?” Alistair’s expression changed, chagrin sweeping across his rugged features as Niamh stared at him. “What dae ye mean, ye’re me betrothed?”