Wicked Laird: Brethren of Stone Book 2 Read online

  She wound it back around his neck. “But I am worried for you.”

  “It’s you we need to worry about, not me.” He removed her arms again. “You help Will start the work. The men I hired yesterday trust you. Make them feel as safe as you can.” He stepped away and handed her a satchel of coins. “Pay them at the end of the day as I promised.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Listen to me, Elle. If I don’t return, you are to sail south with Will. He knows we are married and he’ll make sure Stone cares for you. You and Ailean will never want again.” Then he grabbed his shirt, his coat, and his boots and he was gone.

  She stood staring at the door. Never want? She wanted him. Fiercely.

  Blair sat on his horse with two men flanking him. He wasn’t a complete fool. He’d taken two of the fiercest men Stone had sent with him into the village. It likely didn’t win him a great many friends but it was a necessary precaution. Tomorrow, he’d begin his search in other nearby villages but the more he could hire from this one, the better off they’d be.

  His first stop, however, was the constable’s office.

  Not that he didn’t know how the visit would go. The man was either being paid by McKenzie or just scared near to death. But, Blair would use legal channels none the less.

  His office was in the center of the village. As Blair entered, he saw the man lounging behind his desk. He ruled out frightened.

  “You,” Constable McCleary sat in his chair.

  “Me,” Blair answered.

  The constable stood. “What is it this time? Another fire?”

  “You could call it that.” Blair stepped up to the other side of the desk. “Someone shot a cannon at my ship this morning.”

  “A cannon?” The constable had the decency to take a half step back. “Good God.”

  “My thoughts exactly. I’ve hired twenty men from the village to begin the construction of piers. It’s my assumption someone is attempting to halt my progress.”

  “Twenty men, you say?” The constable scratched at the back of his neck. “Are those temporary jobs or more permanent like?”

  “Permanent. Though I am not sure what that has to do with the cannon.” He knew exactly what the constable wanted to know. The man had dismissed him when he’d been the poor laird living in the caretaker’s cottage. Now, he was reassessing his options. The arse.

  McCleary turned around and grabbed his coat. “I suppose I’d better go have a look.”

  “Excellent. I’ll back here at the end of day to see what you’ve found.” Blair turned to go.

  The constable was around the desk in a flash. “Ye’ll not come with me?”

  “I’ve more men to hire.” Blair crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Ye intend to sail ships. And there will be jobs?” The constable rocked on his feet.

  “Aye,” he replied. “There will be jobs. I am but one line in a much larger operation.”

  “What of McKenzie?” The constable dropped his voice low.

  “What of him?” Another lie. “He’s a farmer and I am shipper. In theory our businesses would work quite well together.”

  The constable licked his lips, glancing toward the ground. “He’s not a man who likes to share. He rules this town…without exception.”

  Blair crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Your Lord Alban’s brother?” Constable McCleary asked, his hands tugging at his vest.

  Blair stretched to his full height, towering over the man. “Aye.”

  “He’s a hard man I hear, your brother. You two close? Will he come to your aid?”

  The other man was choosing his side. Finding out how much of a threat Blair and his family posed. “As you said, my brother is a hard man.” He’d allow the constable to make up his own mind.

  “I’ll see to it, right away, my lord.”

  Blair gave a curt nod. If he wasn’t mistaken, the tide was shifting. “I’ll meet you here at four?”

  “No need, I’ll come by first thing in the mornin’.”

  “Excellent.” Then he turned and left.

  Over the course of the day, he hired three more men. He didn’t have the same luck without Elle. Everything in his life was better when she was at his side. Her kisses this morning had held a promise that he was anxious to see filled. More than that, he just wanted to hold her close.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Elle stood on the beach and surveyed what they had accomplished in a day. One post stood in the sand of the beach. This would take forever.

  At least the men had been elated with their pay. She promised them more tomorrow. Some had decided to lodge in one of Blair’s other ships while others returned to the village. While the house had burned, the stables had remained intact. Gratitude filled her heart. It gave the men a place to shelter their animals and their belongings. The men would guard it and the boats in two-hour shifts because there would be little help from the law.

  The constable had come earlier in the day. He’d walked around the cannon, declared it stolen from the fort, and had left. Elle wasn’t sure what that meant exactly. She’d like to think that he was going off to inquire as to who might have stolen it but she doubted it. He likely knew. She’d lived here all her life and the constable and McKenzie were lifelong friends. One more reason she’d had little hope.

  Sighing to herself, she was about to climb in a rowboat with Will to return to the ship when three riders appeared above the beach. She recognized Blair immediately. How could that man be her husband?

  He sat on his horse, so strong and proud up above the dune. He took her breath away.

  Handing the reins to one of the men who accompanied him, he made his way down the sand. Once he’d reached them, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Everything go all right, today?”

  “Fine,” she answered. She had so much she wanted to tell him, but now didn’t seem the time.

  He gave her shoulder a squeeze then turned to his brother. “I need to feed and water my horse,” he said to Will. “Why don’t ye drop Elle off and come back fer me?”

  “Will do,” Will replied. Blair handed her into the boat and she settled herself on a bench. She wanted to be by his side but as she turned to call to him, Blair was already heading back toward his horse.

  “Elle,” Will called to her.

  Reluctantly, she turned her gaze from Blair. “Yes?”

  His face tightened. “I was trying to help ye.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple, visible bobbing. “With Blair.”

  She gave a tight nod. “I ken.” She wasn’t angry with Will. But she wasn’t happy with him either. One hand rested on her hip as she narrowed her gaze. “I appreciate yer heart was in the right place though I wished ye’d left well enough alone.”

  “Ye don’t want to be married to Blair?” His voice cracked on the last word, as though he were pained.

  “Truth be told, I didn’t want to marry at all. It’s easier, sometimes, to think that ye’re better off not getting entangled. Now that I am, I can’t think of a man I’d rather be entangled with.”

  Will cocked his head. “Then why do ye both seem so tense?”

  The words had been bubbling inside her for some time. “What do I have to offer a man like Blair? What do I have to offer any man? A dark past, no money, a dependent to care for. I’m nothing but a burden to Blair. He deserved a woman who…” She couldn’t finish.

  “Elle.” Will’s oars slowed. “Listen good. That man loves ye. Make no mistake about it. What ye give him is a chance at happiness.”

  Elle’s mouth fell open before she snapped it closed. That couldn’t be true. Could it?

  He’d said he’d do his best to make her happy but he considered that a duty. Just like he rescued her out of obligation and cared for her because of an overactive sense of right and wrong.

  But the words stayed with her long after Will had dropped her on the deck. She stood on the rail, despite the biting wind and waited for Will to return
with her husband.

  Blair watched the ship grow larger. He had a great deal to do this evening but all he wanted was to sweep his wife in his arms and hold her close. As if he conjured her, he saw her standing on the deck, her gaze following their approach.

  His insides tightened. She was waiting for him. Somehow, that mattered. It was important that she wanted to see him, missed him.

  Will had barely come along side of the boat before he was scaling the ladder that brought him on deck. He hauled himself on the deck, to find her wide, unwavering eyes on him.

  “I missed ye today,” she said by way of greeting.

  He crossed over to her. “I missed ye too.”

  “Ye did?” she asked.

  He ran his fingers through his hair. She sounded as though she doubted his words. “Of course I did. I can only hope it was for a good cause. I hired a few more men and I had a good talk with the constable.”

  Annoyance flickered over her features. “Watch out for that one. He’s McKenzie’s boyhood friend. There is a reason he’s the law.”

  He sucked in his breath. Damn it all to hell. Had they been setting a trap for him after all? If not for Elle, he might have fallen directly into it. “Thank ye fer telling me, lass.” Then he leaned down and kissed her. “I have to speak with the foreman, my brother, and the Captain this evening. If the constable won’t help us, we have to figure out who will and how to keep from being under constant attack.”

  “I understand.” She frowned.

  He pulled her close. “I’ll be back to our room as soon as I can.”

  A lovely shade of pink spread across her face. “See you tonight.”

  Blair gave her one last quick kiss before he heard Will step up onto the deck. Then he let Elle go and turned back to his brother.

  “Elle tells me that the constable and McKenzie are the best of friends.” His brother fell in step with him.

  Will snapped his teeth together. “No wonder he’s been able to create such a monopoly in the town. The law is always on his side.”

  “I should have known already.” Blair’s fingers fisted. “If McKenzie can’t be arrested what are we to do?”

  Will gave his head a shake as he let out a long breath.

  “Blair.”

  Turning, he saw Elle behind him. He wanted to curse. He was trying to protect her from some of the worst of this but he hadn’t been successful at any of it.

  “Elle, go below deck where ye’ll be warm and safe.” He took two steps toward her to stop her from following.

  She waved her hand, dismissing his words. “The constable made a mistake today. He told me that the cannon had been stolen from the fort.”

  “Aye?”

  “So,” she said, raising her hands as though the answer were obvious. “That’s a military theft and out of the jurisdiction of the local constable. Report it to the fort, that the entire boat saw McKenzie not only with their property but actively using it.”

  “Damnation woman,” Blair roared sweeping her up into a hug. “Ye’re brilliant.” He spun her around and then lightly set her back down. “I’m going tonight. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Elle’s momentary victory deflated as her husband climbed over the side once again. She needed to be in his arms. Tell him how she felt. Not that she blamed him for travelling to the fort tonight. Involving the army seemed the best way to rid themselves of that menace once and for all.

  But the evening passed with agonizing slowness while Elle paced their room waiting for Blair’s return. Finally, she couldn’t stand her confinement any longer and headed out onto the deck.

  At least there she could gaze at the stars and watch the water lap at the side of the boat. The evening was cold to be sure, but her insides relaxed once she got outside. Fifteen minutes later, she heard the soft lap of oars slicing into the water.

  Squinting into the night, she could see it was a lone oarsmen and soon she recognized Blair’s broad shoulders.

  She suppressed a yelp of excitement as she crossed the deck to meet him as he climbed aboard. He swallowed her into a hug the moment his foot had reached the planking. “It’s good tae see ye.”

  “How did it go?” she asked breathlessly.

  “They’ll be here first thing in the morning to see to the cannon and take statements from other people aboard the crew,” he said. “Apparently it isn’t their first run-in with McKenzie.”

  One corner of her mouth turned down. “I’m not surprised. McKenzie thinks he’s above the law,” she said. “Will they prosecute?”

  “Tough to say.” Blair brushed his hand down her arm. “But we’ll get out from under his influence one way or the other.”

  She reached for his hand. “Have you eaten?”

  “Aye, lass. Thanks.” He followed behind her, his hand coming to her waist.

  “Let’s go to bed then.” She turned her head to give him a long look. She wanted a great deal more than to fall asleep.

  Her heart hammered in her chest as several emotions clogged her throat. She was elated to be married to such a man, but worried that he’d grow to resent her sooner rather than later. Despite what Will had said, she didn’t think he cared enough for his affection to last. She was frightened of what McKenzie might do, and excited for what the future could hold without such a man in this province.

  Fortunately, as they made their way to their quarters, Blair’s lips found the shell of her ear. It would be so much easier to lose herself in her husband’s touch than to allow these thoughts to continue swirling about. Much as she wanted to talk, she wanted to forget more.

  “How did your day go?” he asked.

  “Fine,” she answered turning to place her arms about his neck. She wanted to be close to him.

  He placed pressure at her waist. He wasn’t pushing her away but he was holding her back. “Ye paid the men, they’ll return?”

  “They will,” she replied.

  He squinted down at her. “What’s wrong? Why are yer answers so short?”

  She gave a little sigh. “I just…I want to touch ye. Something about this morning. Watching you…” Heat filled her cheeks. “I really missed you today.”

  “I missed you too.” He stopped holding her back and instead pulled her to him.

  Their touch was heated, filled with their excitement over the day and the newness of their relationship. By the time they were done, Elle lay spent on Blair’s chest. Her new favorite place.

  “Elle,” he called, his fingers softly stroking her hair. “What did ye mean today when ye said that ye won’t regret marrying me?”

  Her eyes popped open as surprise rippled through her. “Just that I’ll do my best to be a good wife.” That was mostly true. It wasn’t the whole truth, of course.

  He gave nod. Then gathering her closer, he whispered, “I’m lucky to have ye.”

  She lifted her head then. “Blair,” her voice caught. “How can ye say that? Ye deserve a woman who is a real lady who understands the fine things in life. Not one like me. Broken and beat down.”

  He sat up, taking her with him so that she was perched in his lap, their faces close together. “Is that what ye think?”

  She turned her face to the wall. “I’m nothing but trouble and I’ll bring it right to yer door. I meant to be alone. Only rely on myself. It was only later I realized that by staying alone, I was sparing any suitors from harm. I didn’t mean tae do this tae ye, but I’ll try to make up fer it.”

  He dropped his forehead to hers. “It’s me who should be making up tae ye. That wedding was no woman’s dream.”

  Wrapping her arms about his neck, he shook her head. “It wasn’t yer fault, it was mine. I’m sorry yer stuck with me but I—”

  “What?” He tightened his grip about her waist. “Ye think that I am stuck with ye? Ye are the one who didn’t want to marry.” And then he was kissing her, madly, deeply.

  She might have been shocked or indignant but twined toget
her like this, all she could muster was confusion. “But…Blair…that other…woman,” she tried to explain herself but he kept kissing her. “Ye didn’t…want to get…involved.”

  “Things change, Elle. Ye didn’t want to marry either. Do ye want me now?” He pulled his head back to look into her eyes. There was the look again, pinched with worry, exactly like it had been at the wedding. Could it be that he had been worried she didn’t want him?

  “I want ye, Blair. But I don’t deserve ye.” She’d laid out the truth.

  His chest swelled with breath against her own. “That isn’t true. Yer strong and kind. Beautiful and ye’ll make the finest lairdess of any woman I ken.”

  “Do you…do you want me then? As yer wife?” She forgot to breathe as she waited for his answer.

  Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait for long. “More than anything.”

  “Then why was our wedding such a sad affair?”

  He held her face in both of his hands. “I was worried ye were trapped in a marriage ye didn’t want.”

  “So was I.” She leaned in to kiss him. “Worried about you, that is.”

  Blair shook his head. “Unbelievable.” Then he didn’t wait for her response as his lips captured hers again.

  Blair knew he should sleep. It had been a long, busy day and tomorrow would be just the same. What was more, making love to his wife should have sapped every last ounce of energy he had. But he couldn’t let himself close his eyes.

  She lay in his arms, her head resting on his chest. Her breathing was deep and even as her warmth and scent wrapped him in a soft cocoon.

  Gently, he brushed back her hair and stared at his wife, taking in every detail. He couldn’t get enough of her as his hand slid from her hair and traced the curve of her shoulder, then slid down her arm.

  As much as he needed rest, he required this more. It was as though his touch was forging a bond between them, one that would never be broken.