Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

T wo Years Earlier, 1651

A tall and muscular man bent over the letters. He was doing his best to write them in the most perfect handwriting, the calligraphy neat, the black ink shining in the fading light of the day. He hated doing such work. It was beneath him. He should have a scribe for doing such nonsense as this, but it was imperative he did this now. He had to.

He left the bottom of the letter blank, staring at it for a second.

A door sounded in the corner of the chamber.

He put the letter down on the bureau and turned around.

She was here. At last, she was here. She scurried forward, her long dark hair loose about her shoulders. She was happy, excited, as usual. She rushed to him and kissed him on the cheek. He held her back, his hand pressed to the lower part of her back. He liked it when she was near. It reminded him of the power that could be his.

"Is it done?" she whispered.

"It needs yer final mark. Tae forge the signature."

She bent over the writing bureau and picked up the quill he had discarded, dipping it in the ink and signing Laird Finnian MacNaughton's signature with ease.

"There, what dae ye think?" she whispered. He picked it up, waving the letter in the air and allowing the ink to dry, then he read the words again.

‘Inviting ye tae a weeding in the MacNaughton clan.'

"Aye, it's perfect," he said with satisfaction and released her, sitting back in his chair with confidence. Her small hand gripped his shoulder. She often did that. He supposed it was her way of keeping him close. He loved it. It reminded him just how much she had willingly put herself at his beck and call. "Laird and Lady Stuart will surely nae refuse such a fine invitation from Laird Finnian. They will come at once."

"Aye, they will." She nodded. She leaned over his desk, looking at the letter they had already completed. "The Lamonts' invitation is done too."

"Aye. Within a few weeks, all will be as it should." He reached out with his arm again, dropping the letter and encouraging her to come toward him. She stepped into the crook of his arm, smiling with excitement. He lowered his hand down past her hips and squeezed her rear, watching as she gasped in delight. He would take her shortly. They would celebrate enacting their plan on the bed, which was already ruffled from their last lovemaking. "Lairds Lamont and Stuart will be gone, along with their children. I have hired a mercenary. He will burn the inn where they will all rest fer the night tae the ground. There will be nothing left of any of them, and nay heir tae take their places."

"They have daughters," she reminded him.

"Nay council will place the power of their clans in lasses. They will seek a man." He squeezed her again as he spoke, aware that she didn't smile so much this time but bit her lip. "What is it?" he asked, deepening his voice.

"Dae we need so much murder?"

"We have talked about this." He released her and stood. Clearly disappointed to no longer have his touch, she reached out, taking hold of his arm, trying to entwine their fingers together. "It's necessary. Ye want that power, dinnae ye? Dinnae pretend ye dinnae. I've heard ye talk about it often enough."

"Aye, I dae." She managed a hungry smile this time. "I just want tae be certain there is nay other way."

"There is nay other way," he assured her. He turned the two of them around. Pressing his hand to her lower back again, he steered her with him toward the bed. "Dinnae fear. Within a few weeks it will all be sorted, and with very little inconvenience tae us. I'll give ye what ye want, love. What ye have always wanted."

He bent down and kissed her neck, listening to those little gasping moans that so often escaped her when he did this. He bit down, harshly, loving the way she now gripped him.

"Please," she begged him in the familiar voice. She wanted him, as he wanted her.

"Have ye stopped questioning our plans?" he said hoarsely against her neck.

"I have."

"Then lie down on the bed. If all goes according tae plan, we'll have power ye only ever dreamed of before."