The Laird's Kidnapped Bride (15 page)

The huge door swung open and several people entered, all wearing smug, conspiratorial smiles.

“Laird McKenzie and Sir Henley, at what date did ye state ye heard about the betrothal of Laird McCloud and the McDowell lass?” The king asked.

Lark glanced over her shoulder and saw both men glance frantically at each other before her father answered.

“I…um…I canna recall the exact date, Sire.” McKenzie shuffled his feet and couldn’t quite meet the king’s steady gaze.

“I see. Lady McDowell, what date did Laird McCloud offer for yer hand?” the king requested.

“It was…it was two months ago, yer Majesty.” Janice stumbled over her reply.

Anger swelled through the king. “Yer accusations are all lies. There was no betrothal between the McDowell lass or the McCloud. Lady, I suggest ye leave my court and dinna return. Laird McKenzie, ye will pay double the dowry to McCloud and send yer daughter’s possessions to her. Ye and Sir Henley are also banned from court. Now leave.”

Lark glanced at her husband and saw the grim smile on his face. She sighed quietly in relief that at least half of it was over.

“McCloud’s step-mother and brother, come forward.” The kind demanded. “How did ye come by those deep gouges on yer face, man?”

Keith raised one of his hands and covered his cheek. “That witch there gave them to me, Sire, when I refused her offer to rut with her.”

Rage soared through her and she whipped around. “Ye filthy, low life swine. Ye were going to rape me and probably intended to kill me afterwards so no one would ken of yer foul deed. Ye sniveling, flea-bitten dog, ye attacked me from behind.”

“Silence.” The king roared. “McCloud, see to yer wife.”

Cameron quickly placed an arm around her waist and turned her to face the king. Quietly, he said, “Hush, dearling. Let the king handle it.”

“Lady Gwen. Are ye standing by yer allegations against the McCloud?” The king asked harshly. Tense silence hung in the air for a dozen heartbeats before she answered.

“Aye, Sire, I stand by them. He forced himself on me and made me his mistress when I didna want him without marriage. When he kidnapped his betrothed, he tossed me aside and ruined me for any decent man searching for a wife.” Gwen’s voice trembled and she couldn’t meet the king’s tense gaze.

‘Be verra sure, woman, ye’re telling me the truth,” the king warned.

Overcome with fear, Gwen burst into tears. “Nay, Sire. T’was a lie. I was approached by Lady Janice and that woman’s father. They forced me to do it.”

“Nay, t’was done in the name of spitefulness, revenge and greed. However, I find the two of ye are the worst of the lot. Guards, take them to the dungeons. Ye, Lady Gwen will spend the next sennight locked up for yer false denunciations. Young McCloud, yer banishment will stand. Ye will also spend time in the dungeon, and for yer heinous crime against a lady wife, t’will be two years. Take them away.” The king winced over the shrill cries and the sobbing pleas. When silence again reigned, he let out a heavy sigh. “Take yer wife home, McCloud, and for God’s sake, dinna ye make any more enemies. Now begone. I have spent enough of my time over this foolishness.”

After bowing, Cameron didn’t waste any time getting his wife away from court and back to their room at the Cock Inn. He bent down, wrapped his arms around her knees and lifted her off her feet. He spun her around and her sweet laughter filled the chamber. After half a dozen spins, he fell on the bed, her small frame sprawled on top of his much larger one. His hands clasped her face and his humor disappeared. “I love ye, my wee, tart-tongued imp.” The admission tumbled out of him before he could stop it, and he watched the guarded expression cross her face. His heart stopped and despair made his chest ache when she rolled off him. He turned on his side to face her and saw her confused frown.

His breath was locked in his throat as he waited to see what she would either do or say next. He could cut out his tongue for admitting his feelings. Nervously he watched her roll on her side and glare at him with irritation. His gut hollowed out and hopelessness filled him. When she opened her mouth to speak, he covered her lips with a finger, stopping her. “Ye need nae say anything, dear heart. I can understand if ye dinna return my feelings.”

Lark jerked her head back. “Och, ye muckle-headed dolt. Ye dinna understand I wasna meant to fall in love with ye. I planned for ye to love me, of course.” She let out a heavy sigh of acceptance. “I canna say when or how it happened, but I love ye as well.”

Cameron gave a jubilant shout and gathered her up in his arms. “Ye’re my wife, my heart and my world, dearling.” He kissed her deeply until he ran out of breath, and raising his head, he smiled tenderly down at her.

“Do ye feel like rutting, husband?” She asked in a husky, teasing tone.

He brushed his thumb across her swollen bottom lip. “We dinna rut, wife. We
make love
. We always have and always will,” Before he bent his head, he saw her eyes light up with happiness and knew his words had pleased her. His mouth claimed hers, and kissing her with unrelenting passion, went about proving it to her with eagerness. With all the emotion in his heart, he showed her just how much she meant to him and always would.  

About the Author:

I became interested in writing quite some time ago, and have been playing around with stories over the years. Trying to be a published author took some time, but I never stopped trying or gave up hope, and now I’m lucky to have several books published.

I love reading, and the first author I ever read was Wilbur Smith (When the Lion Feeds). Since then, I have never stopped. I still read him and others like James Patterson and Karen Slaughter. However, I love my romance novels and such authors as Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsey, Leigh Greenwood, Rosemary Rogers, Connie Mason, and too many more to name.

My husband, children, family, and friends have all been very supportive and are very proud of my accomplishments. I am about to start a new chapter in my life, which will be very exciting and, hopefully, inspiring. For the next year or two, my husband and I will be leaving our property just out of Perth, Western Australia, and living in Penang, Malaysia. I hope that the exotic surroundings will inspire me even more.

 
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