Page 49 of Sinful Scottish Laird
“Pardon, sir...have we perhaps met?” he asked Cailean. “You are somewhat familiar to me.”
“Aye, I suspect I am. I am Cailean Mackenzie of Arrandale.”
The color drained from the captain’s face. He jerked his hand free of Cailean’s and put it on the hilt of his sword. “What are you doing here?” he demanded sharply. He looked all around them, as if he expected more Mackenzies to appear.
“I live here,” Cailean said calmly. “I am a Highlander, aye?”
“What youare, sir, is a smuggler!” Spivey said and abruptly pulled his sword. But Cailean had been trained by his father and had trained Highland guards. He moved quickly, knocking the sword from the man’s arm and at the same moment drawing his dirk. He twirled him around, putting the knife under the man’s throat.
Miss Hainsworth screamed.
“Arrandale!” Mr. Kimberly shouted. “The captain is our guest! Put down your knife!”
Cailean kicked the sword and heard it scud across the terrace. When he was certain it was out of reach, he pushed Spivey out of his grip, but held on to his dirk. “Have a care, Captain,” he said, pointing the dirk at him. “You are in Scotland now, and unless you’ve brought an army with you, keep your sword in its sheath, aye?”
Spivey’s hat had been knocked from his head. He bent down and swiped it up, then yanked at his waistcoat. He looked at Mr. Kimberly, who held his sword and nodded curtly. “I do not understand how you have welcomed this smuggler into your home,” he said coolly.
“Smuggler,” Mr. Kimberly said angrily. “He is not—”
“Aye, I am, Mr. Kimberly,” Cailean said. “I am indeed a free trader.”
Mr. Kimberly swung his gaze to Cailean. “You’rewhat?”
“A free trader.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning the tax the Crown has imposed on goods we need to survive here has exacted a toll on our clan. We’ve had to seek relief—we bring in the goods our people need without paying tax.”
“In other words, a thief,” Spivey said. “I’ve chased him and his ilk for years,” he said, his voice full of disgust.
“Some would argue the Crown is the thief,” Cailean said with a shrug. “But you didna come here to debate with me, aye?” He glanced at Daisy, but she was not looking at him. She was looking down, her expression calm and slightly distant. She had adopted the demeanor of a proper English viscountess. Detached. Polite. Emotionless. Was she shocked? He’d told her the truth, just as he’d promised. Always the truth.
“Smuggling is punishable by death, Mackenzie,” Spivey said. “You could very well hang for your crimes. These good people could be charged with offenses for harboring you in their home.”
“No one is harboring me,” Cailean said sharply. “And I willna hang here in the Highlands, so again, sir, unless you’ve brought a bloody army with you, donna make trouble.”
Spivey clenched his jaw and exchanged a look with Mr. Kimberly. “I may not be able to bring you to justice today, but if you ever step foot in England, there is no one who will protect you. I will personally see to it.”
Cailean smiled wryly. “I know that, man. Just as you know there is no one to protect you here. It is perilous in these hills for any Englishman, much less a captain of the navy.”
“Please,” Daisy interjected, holding up her hands. “Please let us have no more talk of hanging and...this.” She looked at Cailean, her eyes pleading. “Mr. Spivey—beg your pardon,CaptainSpivey—has heard of my husband’s death and has come to me straightaway after all these years. He didn’t come to root out smugglers. And the laird,” she said to Spivey, “has been our friend. I don’t know what he has done, but he has been our friend. Please... I should not like to ruin your welcome here.”
Straightaway?Did Daisy realize thatstraightawaywould have been upon the occasion of her husband’s death? Cailean didn’t believe that for a moment—the word of this widow’s fortune had spread like a plague in the Highlands, and he’d wager there wasn’t a man in all of bloody England who hadn’t heard it. Including this man.
Spivey lifted his chin, as if he knew what Cailean was thinking.
“He’s come all this way,” Daisy said, her eyes still pleading.
“What a comfort he must be to you now, madam,” Cailean said. “After more than two years since your husband’s death.”
Miss Hainsworth gasped softly and gripped Daisy’s hand, while Daisy stared with disbelief at him.
Spivey actually looked surprised by Cailean’s lack of decorum. “I hope to be of some comfort, of course, as any decent gentleman would do. I am well aware that Lady Chatwick is without family.”
“Without family? Her uncle and cousin are with her now.”
“Look here,” Mr. Kimberly said curtly. “Enough of this.”
