Chapter 16
16
More Trouble Brewing
" E nter," stated William. He looked up from the large oak desk as Cameron entered. "Yer face looks like a storm, Cameron. What's the bad news?"
"It would nae be a storm if it were someone else, but—"
"Conall," finished William. "What has the rotter been up to this time?"
"Ye ken the lands ye took from him?"
"Took fairly."
Cameron smiled and sat down on the opposite side of the desk. "Aye, I still chuckle when I think of it. Ye did the whole country a service when ye assumed his plots. Anyway, it's the tenants of the lands that are actin' up; some of the clan members too."
William frowned and took a breath. Even just hearing the Englishman's name brought a chill to his heart. "I thought he and I had talked this out, but he just doesnae listen, does he?"
"It might be time to teach him another lesson, a proper one?"
"Are ye suggestin' that we go to war with him? And for what? I havenae even heard what the man has done to me yet."
"He's been offerin' higher prices than us for the crops grown on those lands, and same for the livestock too," said Cameron.
"And the fools have taken the money. Well, I'll send someone down there to collect the coin they've gathered, and the money will be put to good use for all the clans under me watch."
"Aye, that would be a fair plan, but Conall is nae as daff as some think. He overpaid the first few times, but now, he's nae paid at all. He's kickin' up a fuss about missin' shipments over the border, and he kens the ones who sold to him are nae goin' to come runnin' to ye as they ken they've done ye wrong. Now, the farmers and tenants are out some coin, and they have nowhere to turn."
William rubbed his chin. "That was his game all along. Start high, and then withhold the rest. He gets cut-price crops and animals, leaving the clans out of pocket. And nae one is goin' to cross the border to demand it back. They ken that would start a war, and nae one is goin' to war for such a lost sum. Aye, that changes things."
"What do ye want to do?" asked Cameron.
"I'll have to go down there meself. I daenae like it, but I have to talk with the fools. They made their choice, and I need to remind them that I'm tryin' to do the best for this clan. If they have lost some coin, they can suffer for it for a while. What business do they think they have dealin' with the enemy? Perhaps that'll whip them into shape."
"And of Conall?"
"He wants to stir up trouble. He would like nothin' better than for me to march down there and fight over some ears of corn and a few lambs. I'd look like the eejit and nae him. I hate to say it, but I'll leave him be. He might be up in coin, but he'll hate that I daenae retaliate. I will talk to the men, but I want ye to coordinate a stricter watch close to the border."
"Consider it done. Ye might look weak to the clan. And when Conall realizes yer nae takin' the bait, he's goin' to try again."
William placed both hands flat on the table. "If I catch him in the act again, he's nae goin' to get to run back to England without the slap of me sword against his arse."
"That, I would like to see," smiled Cameron.
Cameron tapped his fingers on the wooden desktop.
"Speak yer mind, Cameron. I can see more of a storm brewing behind yer dark eyes."
"Conall is still a problem, but I daenae think it would have happened if it were nae for the weddin' mess."
William glared at his second-in-command and wanted to pound his fist on the table. "I cannae go back in time, can I? Delilah ran off, and there was nae way to stop that. Would ye rather I canceled the whole thin' and made other plans?"
"Nay, that's nae what I'm sayin'. I just think some members of the clan are watchin' what is happenin' and might think ye are nae in control of affairs."
That caused William to beat his fist against the desk, and Cameron jerked back an inch. "Am I nae stern enough as me faither? Is that it? Should I rule with more of an iron fist?"
"Nay, that's nae it either. Ye rule over everyone just fine, and nae one wants to go back to the days of yer faither. Ye are stern but fair, and nae one ever said yer faither was fair."
"Aye," mused William, thinking back to how he ruled not only the clan with an iron fist but his family too.
"If ye could put the weddin' stuff in the past, the clans wouldnae be thinkin' yer head was elsewhere."
William knew exactly what Cameron was getting at. "Daenae worry. Dakota will be with child soon."
"Aye, and how do ye think that will happen? Is she to have a virgin birth?"
"Watch yer tongue, Cameron." William might not have been so harsh if his feelings toward Dakota had not changed of late.
"I'm only tellin' what people are sayin'. Ye ken that gossip runs rife in the clans, and that's the only reason I ken about the trouble down by the border. Ye have dozens of staff in the castle. Ye daenae think they ken what's goin' on around here? And ye daenae think they talk about it? If Dakota is not with child soon, the clan members are goin' to start to thinking' there willnae be an heir to carry on yer name, and ye ken how restless people can get."
"Aye, aye, I ken," stated William. "I dinnae mean to lose me temper with ye; I'm just…."
"Look, if ye need me to explain exactly what it is ye do on yer weddin' night, even though it is long passed, ye only need to ask."
"Be glad I daenae have me scabbard on me, ye rogue."
"See, when a man loves a woman, he takes his sword and inserts it into her sheath. "
William stood up quickly, rocking the desk, and Cameron flew from the room with a hearty laugh. The Laird wanted to laugh with his friend and give him a good shake by the collar.
When a man loves a woman? Aye, but there's the rub. I daenae love her, and she doesnae love me.
But there was something there. Ever since the kiss and the warmth around his fingers inside her, he had not stopped thinking of when they might get the chance to be together as man and wife. He wanted nothing more than to be inside her and make a child with her.
Except, it felt like they were starting again, and he needed to follow that path first. It would have been easier to impregnate her when he disliked her fiendish tongue and strong will, but now…
Now, there was something there—some feeling. He didn't like it.
William left the room and went off in search of Dakota. He found her in the sunroom, poring over some of his old ledgers.
"What are ye doin'?" he asked.
"Oh," Dakota replied, the Laird surprising her. "I found them in one of yer studies, and I swear I wasnae pryin'."
"I daenae care about that; I only want to ken what ye are doin' with the ledgers and nae a romance book or some other entertainment."
"Romance book?" asked Dakota. "Is that because ye daenae have any romance for me?" Dakota looked shocked at herself. "I dinnae mean it like that, I just… I daenae read those sorts of books. I wanted to look over some of yer numbers and make sense of them. When Delilah was here, ye were impressed with her business ideas."
"Och, I wasnae impressed by her. I was just bein' polite. Her ideas were good, but nothin' that someone hasnae told me a dozen times. She's nae goin' to reinvent anythin'."
"I just thought that I could impress ye if I—not that I wanted to impress ye, I just…."
The words hung in the air, and William found it amusing that she was lost for words for once in her life. Her pointed tongue impressed him most of the time now that he had gotten to know her a little, so it was even more amusing to see her try to hide her embarrassment at—
William stopped himself. If she were getting tongue-tied around him, then she was starting—
The Laird coughed to clear his throat. "Do ye understand the numbers?"
"Aye, of course I do! They are one of the only things that make sense in the world. I thought maybe I could find some place to save some coin or invest more, but yer clan is well run."
"It is," confirmed William. "Except for… well, I have to leave the castle for a few days."
"A few days? Where are ye goin'?"
"West. There are some problems to deal with."
"And ye cannae send Cameron or someone else down there to deal with it?"
"Nay, I need to deal with it meself. We need a show of strength."
"I could accompany ye down there."
"Nay!" William stated. "It's too close to the border, and there's always trouble brewin' down there. Ye remember what happened on the road from your faither's castle to mine. That was nothin' compared to what ye can find down there."
"And ye are headin' straight for that trouble?" asked Dakota.
"It almost sounds like ye are worried about me," replied the Laird with a smile.
"That is the last thing I am," claimed Dakota. "I only worry how it will look if I were to lose me husband on a fool's errand. What a waste this would all be!"
William looked at his wife and tried not to smile. A pinkish hue had come to her cheeks when she had claimed she was not worried about him. It was much more pleasant to be amused by the woman that to be constantly infuriated by her.
Ever since he had pleasured her, they had tiptoed around each other, not shooting barbs at the other, and even when they did, they were more playful than before.
"Ye daenae need to worry about me, Dakota. I'll be takin' down a small band of men with me, and most ken better than to attack me on the open road."
"They didnae ken better on the road here, did they?"
"Those men were desperate. That's what I'm tryin' to mend. If we can unite more and more clans, we can work together for the greater good. There shouldnae be a man, woman, or bairn in Scotland that goes hungry or thirsty. We need to make sure everyone is taken care of."
Dakota put the ledger she was reading back on the table and looked up at William. "That is truly a noble pursuit. Ye would make a fine king."
"I have nay such ambitions. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I only want to do me part. Now, if I didnae ken any better, that sounded like ye just gave me a compliment."
"Me?" asked Dakota with a devilish smile. "Nay, ye must be imaginin' it!"
"Aye, that must be it."
Dakota pushed a loose strand of wavy brown hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. For the first time since meeting the woman, William noticed the light smattering of freckles on her nose. There was a fire in her eyes, but the rusty freckles dampened her ferocity and made her look more innocent.
She was certainly not innocent if the occurrence only two days ago was anything to go by—he could still feel her wetness on his fingertips. The reminder caused a twinge in his trousers, and he thought again about what Cameron had said.
Their relationship had become more complicated, and it had started complicated enough, but that didn't negate the whole point of the union. He had to do what was best for the clan, especially when it meant some enjoyment along the way.
"I'll be gone three days, four at the most," said William. "When I get back, we need to talk about somethin' important."