Claimed by a Scottish Lord (33 page)

Ruark hadn‘t shaved for today‘s meeting. He‘d clubbed back his hair, but little else about his appearance would pass for civilized. Hereford looked at him and chuckled. ―You look at home with every other cutthroat present.‖

Ruark lazily sipped his ale, noting the dozen men standing near the warden. Hereford was a leader at ease with his perception of power.

Hereford turned and looked out at the
Black Dragon
floating languidly on the calm surface of the sea. ―Aye, she‘s a beauty, Roxburghe.‖ His gaze went to the packet of papers lying next to Ruark‘s elbow and he smiled, an unsubtle gloat. ―You brought the papers, I see.‖

Hereford sat and snapped his fingers for the barmaid. She hurried to him with ale. He sent her off for vittles. ―Don‘t mind if I celebrate this occasion with supper and drink.‖ He tossed his gloves on the table and reached for the packet of papers.

Ruark dropped his hand over the bundle, preventing Hereford‘s taking possession of it.

―One question,‖ he said, disinclined to engage in small talk with the bastard. ―We both know Roxburghe Shipping has profited from certain illegal enterprise. What I do not understand is how my father could have been in league with you.‖

A minute change in Hereford‘s eyes betrayed his surprise and Ruark wondered if it was at the question asked or more so because of what Ruark had not asked: Had Hereford killed Ruark‘s father?

The chair creaked as Hereford sat back and relaxed his weight. ―Roxburghe was a man who understood politics,‖ he said with a bored air. ―Your
father
outwardly supported Scotland‘s independence whilst secretly supplying the king‘s armies with the weapons to fight against the Jacobites at Culloden. I know this because I supplied him with the firearms.‖

It was all Ruark could do not to stand and grab Hereford by the throat. Ruark‘s father was many things, but his loyalty to Scotland had never been in doubt. ―Is that right?‖

―The Roxburghe ships now carry a dominant share of Scotland‘s trade because of
my
help. In exchange, I would give him a tax-free cargo of which to dispose and he would give me the enormous profits. And in so doing, I kept my family name clean. A business arrangement that benefited us both. But not once in all those years did we meet. He had an emissary. Why would I kill your father? For all that he owed me, I should have
owned
the Roxburghe fleet of ships.‖

Ruark studied the mug of ale. ―Who was the emissary?‖

―Your village fiscal handled the monetary transactions and all the arrangements. He is now dead. Ask your uncle how that might have happened. No one was more adept at safeguarding your family honor, including committing a bit of murder, if he thought someone was robbing Stonehaven‘s coffers.‖

Even as Ruark knew the warden wanted to foment discord within the Kerr ranks, his comments were not easily dismissed.

Perhaps because Ruark recognized truth in Hereford‘s interpretation of Duncan‘s character. A loyal Kerr and a Scotsman, Duncan would not hesitate doling out clan justice to a traitor.

Hereford‘s supper arrived in a trencher, roasted chicken and potatoes, steaming in the cooler air outside the tavern. Hereford forewent the eating utensils and tore the breast in half with his hands, observing Ruark with interest as he ate.

―You and I are alike,‖ Hereford said over a mouthful. ―We‘ve done a bit of pirating.‖ He swallowed the ale and dabbed at his lips with the back of his sleeve as he observed Ruark. ―We can each share the
largesse
of what is fast becoming the wealthiest empire on earth. We can enjoy a profitable partnership or I can become Roxburghe Shipping‘s biggest rival.‖

―Your generosity overwhelms me, Hereford. But I would as soon lie with a warthog as partner with you.‖

Unaffected by the insult, Hereford shoved away the trencher and reached across the table for the papers. This time Ruark did not stop him as his greasy fingers snatched up the packet.

―All is in order then?‖ Hereford popped the wax wafer on the packet and unfolded one sheet after another of blank paper. ―What is this?‖

―You did not think I would just hand over the
Black Dragon
.‖

Hereford‘s face darkened a shade. Ruark leaned an elbow on the rickety table. ―The ship was not mine to sell.‖

―What do you mean? Not yours?‖

―I sold it to an associate a week before I wed Rose.‖ He opened his arm to encompass Colum, sitting comfortably behind him seemingly enjoying the cool breeze. ―If you want the
Black Dragon
, then you will have to negotiate with the new owner.‖

Hereford sputtered. ―That . that is
mad
. You signed—‖

―Mr. Colum is Cambridge educated. He is a lawyer. He informed me the documents I signed are worthless and took great issue that I attempted to sell you something that belonged to him. I only wish I held the same power to stop you from taking Kirkland Park.‖

―If you renege on our arrangement, I will consider all agreements voided.‖

―Do tell, Hereford. Rose is my wife and that is something you cannot undo.‖

―Except by your death.‖

Hereford sprang to his feet in a brash movement, his hand on the hilt of his cutlass. But before the weapon cleared its sheath, Ruark had the tip of his own blade at Hereford‘s throat. From every direction, a hundred men suddenly drew sword and pistol, the clatter of imminent warfare sounding in the street, sending innocent bystanders to ground and behind the safety of doors.

Ruark met Hereford‘s furious glare. ―Tsk. Tsk,‖ he said. ―Do we kill each other now or later? ‘Twould be a shame if you died, Rose being your heir and all.‖

―Fuck you, Roxburghe. There is naught a thing I will—‖

Ruark used the tip of his cutlass to trace a circle over Hereford‘s chest. ―I should kill you for what you put Jamie through. For putting my family in chains.‖

―I was within the law to hang the three of them.‖

―No profit in hanging,‖ Ruark said flatly. ―You are an opportunist. Know now, the only reason you are still alive is because I have no proof you killed my father. I have asked enough questions this week of people around Chesters to know you were nowhere near there the day someone shot him. I had no great love for the man, but his murder almost caused a bloody war between us. I have no want to watch other men die for a lie.‖

A tic was visible in Hereford‘s jaw. ―What is it you want?‖

―You already gave me what I want, Hereford.‖

Hereford let loose the hilt of his sword and the blade slid back into its sheath. His men followed suit. A man rarely bested, he took the loss mildly. ―You always did have the bollocks of an ox. I had heard grumblings that you had a
tendre
for the girl, that she had charmed Stonehaven‘s laird. Though I didn‘t expect that Elena‘s daughter would have half her mother‘s fire . ‖

―Do you like fire, Hereford?‖

Let him have the
Black Dragon,
Ruark thought. He was impatient to be gone from this place.

―Colum, would you be willing to trade your ship for another? Roxburghe Shipping has a few in need of a good captain.‖

Colum scratched at his whiskers as he contemplated the
Black Dragon
. ―I was hoping you wouldn‘t ask me that, Ruark.‖

―Colum—‖

―Aye, ‘tis a fair trade.‖

Ruark withdrew a packet from inside his waistcoat and tossed it onto the table. ―Consider all debts justly paid. The ship is yours, Hereford.‖

C
olum followed Ruark as he turned abruptly on his boot heel. The slight warmth of the day had fled quickly in the darkness. Ruark could not see the moon as he strode past the stable, the clang and jangle of sword and spurs at rhythm with his stride. At the edge of town, they met twenty of their men and mounted horses. The others had scattered. Some would be returning with Ruark to Stonehaven, perhaps to begin new lives. Others would go on to Workington, find new ships belonging to Roxburghe Shipping on which to serve. All of them reined in their horses three miles outside the village and turned to look toward the water.

He could already smell burning pitch on the breeze. Loki pranced in a circle as Ruark held tight to the reins. The ship was already full ablaze. The inferno lit up the sky. Flames climbed high, choking the heavens.

Aye, his heart and his life had once been there.

But no more.

―Bloody hell,‖ Colum murmured, his eyes narrowing on the slow-growing orange glow in the distance. ―He will kill you for what you have done this day. Hell, he will kill me. I owned the
Black Dragon
.‖

―You still do. The papers I gave him were worthless.‖

Without comment, Ruark reined his horse around. He had already said good-bye to his crew and no one wasted breath on sentimentality now. It was best they all got across the border.

His thoughts were already turning to the more pressing matter of the weather moving in. And home.

S
ix days later, Ruark and Colum crossed into Scotland, and two days after that he reached Stonehaven‘s border, weary, disheveled, and saddle worn. A full moon sat just above the tree line as they rode past the gatehouse and up the long, winding drive toward the cobbled courtyard at the back of the house. He‘d been gone almost three weeks.

Now as he slowed Loki to a lope, he felt his pulse accelerate. Until now, he hadn‘t let himself think. He‘d been driven by the powerful need to get home. The need to know Rose was safe. The thought sank in now and set its claws deep as he looked up at the ivy-encased stone house. Every window was alight and blazing. ―At least no one is abed,‖ Colum observed from beside him, his mind clearly set on a hot meal after Ruark had bypassed the last inn in favor of continuing onward. The men who had traveled on with him had veered off hours ago to the village.

Ruark nudged Loki with his heels. They reached the cobbled courtyard and Ruark dismounted as Mary burst from the doorway to greet him. Two groomsmen rushed past her and down the stone stairs to take the horses.

―Heavens, Ruark,‖ Mary said, coming forward to greet him, her round face warmed by a smile. ―We did no‘ expect ye back so soon.‖

Amused, Ruark removed his gloves. ―So soon?‖ His gaze touched the windows. ―Is there a sound reason you are burning every candle at Stonehaven then, if ‘tis not a beacon to guide me home from England to your lovely self?‖

―Och, Ruark.‖ She giggled and turned in a crackle of petticoats, clearly expecting Ruark and Colum to follow. ―Today is Jamie‘s birthday. Or have ye forgotten ye used to send him a gift every year?‖

He
had
forgotten.

―Our Julia and Lady Roxburghe have been entertainin‘ the local gentry and their families for most of the day—‖

―
Julia
and Rose? Together?‖

Mary stood against the door to hold it open as Ruark and Colum passed ahead of her into the entry hall. ― ‘Twas silly that her ladyship was not allowed to see the boy.‖ Mary shut the door and waddled ahead of them. ―Duncan told Julia ‘twas time to accept the new lady Roxburghe as Stonehaven‘s mistress if she wanted to continue living beneath the same roof. Now, I dare say, they are at least speaking to one another. Julia helped her ladyship and Kathleen plan the celebration for Jamie.‖

She glanced sideways at Ruark. ―Ye remember Kathleen. The fiscal‘s wife. Rose saved her son‘s foot from rot. Though, he did lose part of a toe, poor lad . Last week, McBain had to remove—‖

Ruark set both his hands on Mary‘s shoulders and forced her to stop talking. ―What the bloody hell are ye talking about?‖

―Our own Lady Roxburghe labored the night to save Rufus and his foot. He had a wretched infection and McBain was not yet back from Hawick. Duncan took her to Kathleen. McBain said she saved the boy. ‘Tis simple as that.‖

―You allowed Duncan to take my wife from Stonehaven?‖

Mary jabbed a finger at his chest. ―Do no‘ use that tone with me, Ruark Kerr. You‘ve been away a long time. Things are different. Ye may be laird here, but
she
is Stonehaven‘s mistress.‖

He laughed. ―Hell, I have been gone all of twenty days.‖

Mary sniffed. ―She accompanies McBain every other morning when he visits the tenants. There is no‘ a person who would harm her. Ye can thank Duncan for that as well. He would skin alive the man who dared touch her.‖

She stepped past Ruark, leaving him to follow as she continued down the corridor. Colum brought Ruark out of his fog with a nudge.

―Kathleen came to live here last week,‖ Mary tossed over her shoulder as they turned a corner into another corridor dimly lit by sconce light. ―We were in need of a cook. Bessie can no‘ hardly walk anymore. Gout ye know. Always comes on when the weather starts to grow cold.‖ She hesitated mid-stride to allow Ruark to catch up to her.

―Now Kathleen lives at Stonehaven with her family, so her children can be properly schooled with the other local children. Duncan found an unused structure and everyone turned out this week to make the thing into a school. ‘Tis that old hunting lodge between here and the village. Ye remember the place. No one has used it in years.‖

Aye, Ruark knew the place. He and Rose had spent a blissful night in that lodge.

Mary continued walking. ―Everyone is there now. Our mistress wanted to include the tenants‘ families in the final hours of the celebration, and so Duncan and Angus and some of the other lads hunted a boar in the western woods and brought it back this morn. They‘ve set up a bonfire from the wood they cleared around the new school.‖

Mary turned at the bottom of the stairs and placed her hand on the newel post. Ruark stopped in front of her. ―Is there anything else I should know before I go in search of my wife?‖

―A week ago, Mrs. Simpson arrived toting with her a lad named Jack. She heard of our ladyship‘s marriage and wished personally to meet her Scot‘s husband.‖

Ruark turned on his heel but Mary snatched his sleeve. ―But no‘ lookin‘ like an heathen Pict from the North Country.‖

Colum‘s chuckle ended in a throaty cough as Mary turned her fierce look on him. ―Ye look worse, Bryce Colum. Now upstairs with ye both. You‘ve been gone three weeks. Another hour will no‘ matter.‖