To Vex a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle ~ Book 4
TO VEX A HIGHLANDER
THE SUTHERLANDS OF DORNOCH CASTLE ~ BOOK 4
CALLIE HUTTON
CONTENTS
About the Book
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
About the Author
ABOUT THE BOOK
First impressions are not always real. . .
Malcolm Sutherland, cousin to Laird Haydon Sutherland has been offered the chance to marry the daughter of Laird Bryce Ross. To entice The Ross into allowing his daughter to marry his cousin, Haydon has agreed to give Malcolm a piece of Sutherland land.
Lady Christine Ross is Laird Bryce Ross's youngest daughter and her da is anxious get her out of the castle. Especially since Christine's brother recently married and the two young lasses do not get along.
Looking forward to marriage and a new life, Christine is shocked to discover upon her arrival at Dornoch Castle that her betrothed is a man she met at the Highland Games the year before. She remembered him as judgmental, cold, and arrogant. Malcolm cannot believe his bride-to-be is the flighty, irresponsible lass from the Highland Games.
Is this a match made in heaven? Or in hell?
* * *
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PROLOGUE
June 1658
Highland War Games
The Kingdom of Fife
Malcolm Sutherland, cousin to Laird Haydon Sutherland, viewed the scores of tents that had been set up, and studied the warriors practicing their skills awaiting their turn to show off their prowess to all and sundry when the games began the next morn.
His laird had missed the event for the first time in years, but an urgent matter with the clan had arisen, so Haydon felt it best to stay home at Dornoch Castle. Malcolm grinned, thinking his cousin had used that as an excuse to stay near his wife who was close to birthing another bairn.
However, Haydon’s brother, Conall had joined them since his twin lads were toddling around and his wife, Maura, a verra capable mam, had all but pushed him out of the Sutherland keep. “I love ye dearly, Conall, but I need a break now and again,” she’d said as she kissed him goodbye.
‘Twas a lively, ready-to-compete group. The Sutherland Clan had set up five tents in a circle with a welcoming fire in the center. They sat around the blaze, boasting, drinking, and occasionally strolling around to eye their competition.
Malcolm downed his ale and decided ‘twas time to take a piss and possibly flirt with some of the lasses. Many of them were there for the sole purpose of earning some coin with the men, who kenned a good tup released some of the stress from the games.
The other type of lasses was with clans who held them and their virtue in high esteem, and they were always accompanied by a chaperone. These protected lasses were to be used to form alliances through marriage. Since he had no intention of taking a wife anytime soon, he steered clear of them.
After relieving himself, he hiked up a small hill, away from the general area where the tents were, looking for some quiet time. The games would start the next morning. He was far enough away to only hear mumbling from the crowd but could easily see the more than hundred campfires and tents.
He leaned against a tree and studied the sky. ‘Twas a cool night, summer slowly leaving the Highlands, but the thousands of stars in the sky gave him a sense of peace.
“Here now, Pompeii, I’m tired of chasing ye. Come back. Now.”
Malcolm turned to see a young lass running toward him, obviously chasing a dog. The animal raced directly up to him, almost as if he’d been called. The dog jumped up and down, planting his front muddy paws on his thighs, covering his trews and léine with mud.
“Ach. See now, look what ye’ve done,” he said to the lass. “’Tis yer dog?”
She was panting from the run. “Aye. I’ve been trying to catch him.” She offered him a bright smile.
“’Tis no’ funny. Ye should have better control of yer animal if ye are bringing it with ye to a place like this.”
Her smile faded, and she reached for the dog, holding him against her chest. “’Tis sorry I am to have disturbed ye. I can see ye are in the middle of something grand.”
Ignoring her comment, he said, “Do ye no’ see what the animal is doing to yer dress, lass?” He gestured with his head at the mess on her arisaidh.
She held the dog away from her and looked down at herself. And then the fool lass laughed. “Aye. ‘Tis quite a mess, is it no’?”
The lass was no’ only silly, but irresponsible. “Why are ye walking around by yerself, anyway?” he snapped.
Her jaw dropped, and her chin rose. “I doona see that what I do is any of yer concern, sir.”
She was a bonny lass. Blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and lips made for kissing. By her demeanor and speech, he kenned her to be someone whose menfolk would no’ like seeing her out and about by herself.
“Were I yer husband, or da or brother, I would take ye in hand, for sure.” He pointed his finger at her.
She stamped her small foot. “’Tis a good thing ye aren’t my da or brother, then, is it no’? As for a husband, I hope to ne’er marry anyone as surly as yerself. I am blessedly pleased to be no relation to ye. Now if ye will excuse me, I must find my way back to my tent before someone assaults me, as ye suggested.”
“I shall escort ye back to yer tent.” He reached for her arm, and she tugged it way, sliding in the mud and landing on her delectable bottom.
She groaned. “Now see what ye’ve done. Why doona ye leave me alone? I was having a verra nice walk before I had the bad luck to meet ye.” She attempted to shake off his hand to help her up, but when she kept sliding in the mud, she growled and finally accepted his assistance.
She rested a verra small, soft hand in his. As she came to her feet, he processed her last words. “Ye had bad luck? To meet me?” His eyebrows rose. “’Twas yer muddy, poorly controlled dog who attacked me.”
She dropped the dog to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “Pompeii dinna attack ye. If that’s what ye think an attack is, then I expect to see ye lose whatever games ye’ve placed yerself in.”
Malcolm crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the fool animal still hopping up and down. “Pompeii? What sort of a ridiculous name is that for a dog? It seems ye have no more sense in naming a dog than ye do in controlling it.”
The lass shrieked and turned away, her dog finally following her as she made her way to the tent area. He watched the gentle sway of her hips and immediately looked away.
He took a deep breath and considered the meet-up with the lass. Mayhaps he’d been too harsh with her, but the dog made a mess of him, and she dinna seem to even take the entire thing seriously enough. And walking around with no escort in a place where she could be easily taken and dragged off by men excited by the games and indulging in too much whisky.
Her menfolk deserved a talking to.
* * *
Lady Christine Ross stomped to her tent, mumbling to herself, her face flushed from her encounter with that horrible mon. How dare he question her taking a walk with Pompeii? An
d furthermore, there was nothing wrong with his name.
“My dear, what happened to you?” Jennie, her companion and chaperone since her ma was long gone, put her knitting down and eyed her.
“Nothing. Oh, everything.” She started to remove her dress. Jennie stepped up and helped her remove the mud-soaked garment.
“I doona like ye wandering around by yerself, Christine. Ye promised me ye wouldn’t do that, and the minute I turn my back ye are off somewhere.”
“Ach. That opinion is becoming tiresome. I was perfectly fine by myself.”
Jennie shook her head. “Nay. There are many men here, most of them drinking and looking for a way to relieve their restlessness. ‘Tis dangerous for a young lass to be out by herself, and furthermore ye ken it.
“If yer da or brother kenned of yer carelessness, they would confine ye to yer tent.”
Christine walked over to the jug of water with the small square of linen next to it. She used it to wipe herself down and then removed the muddy arisaidh for cleaning on the morrow. “I ken. I guess I thought since I had Pompeii with me ‘twoud be all right.” She nodded at her friend. “Ye are right. I willna do it again.”
She stifled a yawn and then pulled her chemise over her head. “I’m ready to sleep.” She crawled into the furs on the ground and laid there while Jennie readied herself for bed.
Her thoughts drifted to the impossible mon. He was certainly fine looking. A mixture of red and light brown hair, tied back with a strap of leather, the shorter locks falling around his face in waves. He stared at her with disapproving hazel eyes and from what she could see, his body was quite muscular. Of course, he would be much better looking if he smiled. He might be a handsome mon, but he certainly dinna ken how to be charming. Hopefully, she could avoid him for the rest of their stay at the games. With the vast amount of people here, ‘twas unlikely she’d encounter him again.
Unfortunately, she had no such luck. For days, she’d eyed him before and after he entered various contests. He glared at her. She glared back, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him like a bairn.
The entire situation with the stranger ‘twas quite unusual in fact. She ne’er argued with others, and most would describe her as friendly and caring. For some reason, that grouchy mon made her skin itch and her heart thump.
What was worse was how much she thought about him during the day and found herself quite flushed when he entered—and won—most of the contests. She brought her fan to cool herself, but it dinna help all that much.
The minute he walked off the field after a match, he was surrounded by lasses. Pfft. She wouldn’t give him another minute of her time. Let all those silly lasses make fools of themselves over the stiff, cold mon. Except he seemed to smile quite a lot when the lasses flitted around him. Mayhaps it was only her he was grumpy with.
That stung.
The women from the various clans spent five days cheering their men on. Her clan did quite well, and one of them even beat the horrid mon. She cheered quite loudly for that one. ‘Twas a grand moment until the beast turned to her and made a bow despite his loss.
Eventually, the games ended, the camp was broken down, and the tents packed up and placed in the wagons. They mounted their horses to leave for home. Christine stood next to her horse, Star, as she waited for all the packing to be completed.
The mon who’d invaded her dreams walked about thirty feet from her, leading his horse. He turned and looked directly at her, their eyes meeting over crowds of folk. With a smirk, he gave her a ridiculously courtly bow.
Not to be outdone, she stepped away from her horse, Athena, and with a smirk she hoped matched his, she raised her chin and dipped a curtsey fine enough to impress the king. Then she turned her back, climbed onto her horse and they were on their way.
1
May 1659
Dornoch Castle
“Here is the final agreement that we settled on,” Laird Haydon Sutherland said as he pushed the piece of parchment across the desk to his cousin, Malcolm. “’Tis sorry I am it took so long to finish it up.”
“This is verra generous of you, my laird.” Malcolm looked over the information briefly and smiled at his cousin. “How did ye find Lady Christine Ross when ye visited with The Ross to make these arrangements?”
“A bonny lass. Quiet. She dinna spend a lot of time with us. When we did see her, she was sweet and cheerful. ‘Tis certain I am that she will make ye a fine wife. She was one of five, so her fecundity is assured.”
“Was?”
“Aye. She has an older brother, but two of her three sisters died of a lung fever as bairns.”
Malcolm nodded and looked back at the parchment in his hands. “Aye, and with this agreement, I will have something to pass down to my sons. ‘Tis a great thing ye are doing for me, cousin.”
“Is the house ye and the men have been working on finished?”
“Aye. ‘Tis a fine house. I think my bride will be pleased.”
Haydon nodded. “I still expect ye to train with us and go into battle if we need ye. And as my second-in-command, I will still depend on yer counsel.”
“I will always be there for ye, Haydon.”
Malcolm left Haydon’s solar and headed to the stable. According to what the laird had told him, The Ross, his daughter, his son, and his wife would be arriving in about another week. The wedding would be soon after that.
He strode to the stable and tacked his horse. He felt the need to look over his land once more and see that all was ready with the house. He smiled as he rode his horse over the ground. A new wife. A new house, a new life.
For a couple years, he’d had a fancy for Haydon’s sister-in-law, Lady Elsbeth. But she dinna feel what he did and decided to enter a convent. However, due to a case of mistaken identity, she’d been kidnapped from her escort group and ended up marrying the laird who stole her away.
That was more than three years ago. The last time Lady Elsbeth and her husband, Laird Duncan Grant, visited Dornoch back in September, they were still a happy couple. From what Ainslee told them all, her twin sister was expecting to deliver her third in the spring. He was happy for Elsbeth, who seemed more than content with her marriage.
Now ‘twas his turn. At two and thirty years, he was ready. He dinna expect any great love like Haydon and Conall had found. All he wanted was a pleasant wife, easy to talk to, a partner in life as well as in bed. Hopefully, Lady Christine wasna one of those lasses who dreaded the idea of the marriage bed due to being frightened by some female family member. If she was, he would have to change her mind.
He sat on his horse and looked over his land. ‘Twas a beautiful spot with plenty of trees and an open area where the house had been built. His wife would have plenty of room for a garden. With the hills that came with the property, he might do some sheep farming. Scottish wool was becoming very well-known and favored.
With a contented smile, he rode the entire property, waving at a few of the farmers and crofters who resided on his land, and then headed back to the castle.
His life was about to change.
* * *
Christine Ross sat on the edge of her bed and contemplated her upcoming marriage. Malcolm Sutherland, cousin to Laird Haydon Sutherland.
A slight tap on the door to her bedchamber drew her attention. “Come.”
Her brother’s wife, Sophie opened the door and glided in as if she were a queen, her familiar, fake smile in place. “Good morn, sister. Do ye have a moment to speak with me?”
Unless she wanted to spar with Sophie, since the woman was between her and the door, she had no choice. “Aye.”
The woman was no’ one of Christine’s favorite people. Aside from being happy that she was to be married and have her own home, Christine was verra glad to not be subjected to Sophie’s comments ev’ry time she saw her. Most times they were criticism veiled by ‘helpful’ advice, accompanied by a pat on the hand as if she were a bairn.
Sophie sat next to her o
n her bed and smoothed out her dress. She reached over and placed her cold hand on Christine’s, resting in her lap.
With a deep sigh, her sister by marriage said, “Since ye doona have a mam to talk to ye about this, I feel ‘tis my duty to make things a little bit easier for ye on yer wedding night by explaining what will happen so ye are not scared.”
Christine jumped up. The only scary thing for her would be Sophie telling her about the marriage bed. She’d rather be ignorant than suffer through that. “There is no need, Sophie. As much as I appreciate yer offer, my sister has already explained it all to me.”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “When?”
Christine’s sister, Hilda, had been to visit a while back with her husband, Laird MacDonald, and their three bairns. Hilda and Christine had a lovely visit, and dinna speak of the marriage bed since no arrangements for her marriage had yet been made. Christine felt the next time she confessed her sins to Father David, most likely before she left to be married, she would mention this sin.
“Hilda and I had a lovely talk.”
Her sister-in-law sniffed. “’Twas improper for her to do so. If I remember correctly, she visited over two months ago, and ye were no’ formally betrothed at the time. That is no’ information a lass should have until she must put up with it.”
Christine shrugged. “We kenned da was working out a contract with The Sutherland. ‘Twas only a matter of time before the betrothal became final.”