The Bedeviled Heart (The Highland Heather and Hearts Scottish Romance Series) (23 page)

Dramatically tearing his lips away, Julian stepped back, panting in a masterful touch.

Thomas Cochrane’s already narrow eyes turned into slits.

“Ye’ll excuse me if I steal this fair rose away from ye.” Julian’s words were polite, but his tone was imposing. “Come, Kate.” He grabbed her arm.

“My lord!” Thomas raised his voice, extending his hand to catch Julian’s sleeve.

Julian paused. With deliberate slowness, he dropped a chill gaze upon Thomas’ fingers and absently allowed his fingers to stroke the hilt of his dirk.

Thomas quickly removed his hand, viewing him in alarm.

“Yes?” Julian’s deep voice queried.

“I … wish ye both a good day.” Thomas cleared his throat. Stiffly, he turned on his heel and resumed his walk of the gardens.

Chuckling under his breath, Julian pulled her up the stone stairs and back to the courtyard.

Once there, she curtsied deeply. “When I named ye an onion-eyed varlet, I thought ye were an outlaw, my lord.” She found it necessary to explain.

Julian threw back his head and laughed. “I find the title most endearing, lass,” he admitted with a merry glint in his eye.

A door slammed shut, and several finely dressed ladies scurried across the courtyard.

As they passed by, Julian tilted his head, allowing his eyes to rove over them with an overt flicker of interest.

Kate found herself smiling. “If ye truly wish to convince others that I’ve ensnared ye, my lord, ‘tis best not to find your attention so easily distracted,” she couldn’t resist murmuring.

Julian shot her a mischievous look, and looping her arm through his, patted her hand in a brotherly gesture. “There is naught that I wouldn’t do for Cameron,” he said. “Though kissing ye is hardly a nuisance.”

At Cameron’s name, she flinched and looked away.

“Ach, Kate.” Julian squeezed her hand. “Ye are a wee fool if ye think that Cameron will truly let ye go. Already, his faith in his own curse is shaken. Ye have an unholy grip on the man, and there’s naught he wouldn’t do for ye, lass. And, regardless what ye hear, he’ll never wed that one, I assure ye. He only said it to convince Thomas his interest in ye had waned.”

Following his gaze, she spied Lady Elsa watching her from a doorway across the courtyard. Their eyes met, and the woman crooked a beckoning finger.

“Only speak to her if ye wish it,” Julian rumbled softly.

“I must, my lord.” Kate pressed her lips firmly together. “She was kind to me.”

He raised a skeptical brow but leaned down to kiss her cheek, murmuring, “Then I bid ye farewell. Send for me, whenever the need arises and I will be there.”

Flashing a grin, he sauntered through the same door the ladies had disappeared into just moments before.

She smiled and watched him go. Then suppressing a sigh, approached Lady Elsa.

“Join me,” the woman ordered tightly. Fluttering a hand over her breast, she pursed her lips and led the way to her chambers.

Kate followed in silence, a wealth of emotions racing through her heart. Regardless if the rumors of Lady Elsa wedding Cameron were true or not, it mattered little. She must accept the harsh reality that the man would wed as suited his position. She had no real place in his life.

Standing just inside the door, Kate watched as Lady Elsa moved with stately and serene grace to sit unhurriedly in her chair before the fire. With equal slowness, she picked up her needlework and leisurely pulled the threads.

“I’m sure you must have heard that I am to wed the earl,” she said at length and without preamble, looking up to search Kate’s face.

Kate nodded uncertainly, willing her heart to slow its frantic beating.

With narrowed eyes, Lady Elsa abruptly asked, “Does the earl still bed you, Kate?”

“No, my lady!” Kate gasped and averted her gaze. Her cheeks flamed red.

“And what would ye do, should he approach ye with the intent once again?” Lady Elsa pressed with an uncharacteristic callousness, but her hands were shaking. “Would ye deny him?”

“Aye, I must,” Kate whispered. “I canna let his enemies use me as a weapon against him, my lady.”

A series of expressions crossed Lady Elsa’s face and among them, Kate recognized sorrow and displeasure.

“Go, Kate,” the woman ordered tersely, waving her needlework in the direction of the door. “Please go.”

With a respectful curtsey, Kate slipped outside the chamber, strangely wanting to weep.

“Ach, ye fool!” She pinched her cheeks, stubbornly refusing to let the tears fall. “Ye canna be so weak! He was never yours to have!”

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, intending to return to the princess’ chambers at once when a flash of red caught her eye. Instinctively, she pulled back and peered cautiously out from the doorway.

It was Maura, wearing her red silk dress as she hurried down the passageway, head bowed.

Kate felt a wave of aggravation, but something about Maura’s movements caught her attention.

The woman halted, hovering in front of a door, nervously glancing from side to side and behind her back several times before finally pushing it open to disappear quickly inside.

Kate frowned.

The Maura she knew pranced about with an air of superiority, wearing a permanently smug expression upon her face and speaking every word as loudly as she could, so that she might draw as much attention to herself as possible. She wasn’t one to scurry and hide.

She was clearly up to nothing good.

Hesitating only a moment, Kate stole down the passageway and placed her ear against the door.

She heard nothing.

Cautiously, she pushed it open with one hand, waiting a moment before peeking carefully behind it and finally stepping inside.

She had entered a small antechamber. She had thought it empty, but as the door thudded behind her, she heard harsh voices rising in the adjoining room.

Suddenly losing her courage, Kate moved to leave when the latch jiggled underneath her fingers.

Panicking, she sought a place to hide and spied a desk with a chair placed near the window. She had barely managed to wedge herself behind it when the door opened again, and Thomas Cochrane strode purposefully into the room.

“Did ye find the chambermaid?” he bellowed as he approached the table.

Kate bit her lip as he placed a booted foot on the edge of the chair, inches away from her knees. Ach, surely the man could hear her pounding heart!

“Aye,” said the voice of a man she did not know. He came closer, pulling Maura along with him. “She’s the chambermaid I spoke of and will have no difficulties in doing what ye want. Ye can trust her.”

“Can I?” Thomas moved to circle Maura, lifting a lock of her blonde hair and twisting it around his finger. “Do ye know what happens to those who betray me?”

Tossing her head, Maura’s cheeks dimpled in a haughty smile. “No, my lord, nor will I ever learn.”

Thomas laughed and exchanged an amused glance with the man. “That is well, then.” Reaching into his velvet doublet, he pulled out two letters and placed them in her hands. “Put these in Albany’s writing desk within the hour. There can be no mistakes, do ye hear?”

“Aye, my lord,” Maura promised. “I’ll see to it straightway!”

“Then go.” Thomas ordered, pointing to the door and motioning for the man to remain.

In moments, Maura was gone.

When they were alone, Thomas lifted his lip in an arrogant sneer. “I’ll see the Earl of Lennox hang by Albany’s side before the week’s end. Once the king reads those letters, he’ll have no choice!”

Kate froze.

“Then, I’ll be off to keep Lord Hume informed,” the other man replied. “Ye’d best go. The king will soon join Albany in his chambers.”

“Aye, soon we’ll be rid of the thorn in our side.” Thomas laughed in anticipation, clapping the man on the shoulder as the door closed behind them both.

Kate jumped to her feet.

Ach, she’d not let Thomas endanger Cameron!

Gathering her skirts, she rushed to the door and peeked outside, relieved to discover the passageway empty.

She had to warn Cameron immediately.

Without hesitation, she made her way to the royal apartments, but once inside, realized she could not recognize the way to Cameron’s chambers. With rising panic, she fled down several corridors, searching in vain. Ach! Why could she not recall the way? Surely, there were not that many rooms. Why couldn’t she find it?

Her heart jumped to her throat in despair, and she had almost given up hope when she caught a flash of red from the corner of her eye.

Darting under an archway, she peered down the corridor to see Maura moving with swift purpose to open a large door at the far end, enter, and close it softly behind her.

Kate’s heart pounded loudly in her ears as she waited. Should she follow? What if she lost her?

Suddenly, the door opened again, and Maura sailed away with a smug smile.

Kate expelled a pent breath and willed herself to calm down.

The letters were in the chamber.

Should she seek Cameron out and warn him?

But she knew there was no time. She had wasted a good amount of time getting lost in the royal apartments. She had to retrieve the letters herself, before the king found them.

Making her mind up swiftly, she fled down the hall and burst into the chamber.

There was only one writing desk, an ornately carved one placed beneath the window. Flying across the chamber, she yanked the drawer open and, to her utter relief, found the letters at once. Tucking them into her bodice, she turned to flee when the chamber door opened, and Albany himself stepped inside.

The prince’s eyes immediately found hers, and his brows lifted in astonishment, even as his lips spread slowly in a lascivious smile. “What a delightful surprise, Kate.”

Chapter Ten
- A Foolish Vow

Cameron paused on the threshold to Albany’s chambers to witness Kate rising from a deep curtsey before the prince. Protected from view by the door, neither she nor Albany saw him, and he took advantage of the moment to let his eyes slide over Kate appreciatively.

The fine gray wool gown she wore suited her well, accentuating her slender figure in delightfully distracting ways. Aye, she was quite stunning. Standing slim and straight-backed with her mouth curved in a composed smile, she possessed a natural air of grace and power that made one pause and take note.

A wave of desire rippled through him.

Her presence was more intoxicating than the finest of Rhennish wines! Already his blood turned hot from simply looking at her.

Wrinkling her nose a little, Kate looked Albany directly in the eye. “Forgive me, your highness, but I seem to have lost my way to Princess Anabella’s chambers.”

The words shook Cameron from his lusty thoughts.

Ach, but she shouldn’t be in Albany’s rooms! What was she doing here? And though she appeared calm, he could see her cheeks were a shade too pink and her breath just a little too quick. Both hinted at another reason rather than being lost.