Page 37 of Wild Highland Rose
Dougall and Allen laughed heartily. The whole group headed for the stairs. Cameron swallowed convulsively. Oh God, what had he gotten himself into? Worse still, what had he gotten Marjory into?
The stairs were narrow and circular, connecting only with the family's private rooms. Even with torches, the passageway was dark. It was a difficult trek in the daylight, sober, but in the dark, reeling from all the beer, it was close to impossible. Dougall made it about ten steps before he started retching.
"Leave him then. He can follow when he's able." Allen led the way, obviously looking forward to the coming voyeurism.
Cameron tried to still the spinning in his head long enough to come up with a way out, but his brain was on cruise control and nothing seemed to be working. The only consolation he had was that he'd bet a fortune that his 'equipment' was also on cruise control and, therefore, beyond what was expected.
They reached the top of the stairs and entered the passageway. Cameron half hoped to find Fingal sleeping outside Marjory's door, but the hall was empty. Allen moved back with an exaggerated bow.
"After you,mo bhràthair."
Cameron stepped forward. His heart pounded in his chest, a combination of the climb and nerves. He forced himself to calm down. Now was not the time to panic. He could handle this. All he had to do was convince Marjory to go along with him and give Torcall and company a show. Maybe if it was good enough, his pseudo-father would head back for Tyndrum and leave Cameron in peace to find the doorway out of this hellhole.
"Where is everyone?" Dougall boomed from the top of the stairs. Evidently, he'd regained control of his stomach.
"Quiet. We dinna want to wake the lass. So much better if it's a surprise," Allen whispered loudly enough to wake the dead. "Don't ye agree, Father?" They reached Marjory's door, and Allen moved to open it.
"Nay, Allen, I told ye, we'll wait out here. I'd wager, we'll be able to hear most o' it."
Allen sullenly stepped aside, and Cameron moved forward, carefully turning the heavy iron handle on the door. Nothing happened.
"The bitch has locked us out." Allen looked crestfallen. Cameron fought the urge to punch him. "Wait, all is no' lost,lads, there's a connecting door in Ewen's room." Allen smiled triumphantly.
The three of them were acting like little boys, but they werebiglittle boys and Cameron didn't want to rile them. He moved down the hallway with a sigh, pulling open his door when he came to it.
The others pushed past into the room. Cameron entered slowly, wishing himself anywhere but here. He prayed that the connecting door would be locked, too, but before he could finish the thought, Allen had swung the door open on its heavy hinges.
Torcall gave Ewen a little push. "Remember, the sooner ye get her with child, the sooner ye'll be free o' her."
Cameron paused at the doorway, looking into the black room.
"Have no fear, son, 'twill be o'er afore ye ken it. I canna blame ye fer no' wanting to bed a Macpherson, but ye've done it afore, and 'tis fer the good o' yer clan. Think o' it as yer duty." He placed a heavy hand in the middle of Cameron's back and shoved him into the room.
The firelight was dim, but he could make out the shape of Marjory's body curled up on the bed. He reached behind him to close the door.
"Trying to rob us o' our fun, brother?" Allen's beefy hand closed around the edge of the door, preventing it from fully closing.
Cameron sighed and moved to the bed on silent feet. He stood for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom. He could barely make out Marjory's features. She slept soundly, one hand tucked under her head, the other sprawled out across the bed. She was so tiny, she barely covered one half of the massive bed.
He felt like a letch. Or worse. But the idea of facing the gang outside the door, drove him onward. It wasn't as if he was going to go through with it, just convince Marjory to give them a show.
Easily said. Not so easily done. And even if he could convince her, she'd probably never forgive him. Still, anything less, and Torcall would see him as a traitor. Far better to endure the sharpness of Marjory's tongue, than to feel a blade between his shoulders. Not exactly his finest moment. He reached for the pin at his shoulder. In the past few days, he had actually become fairly adept at removing his strange garments, and in less than a minute he stood by the bed in his woolen underwear.
The key was to keep her quiet long enough to explain things, while at the same time convincing Torcall and crew that he was ravishing her. Drawing a deep breath, he placed a hand across Marjory's mouth and straddled her, using his body to pin her to the bed. She came awake in an instant, her eyes wide with fear.
At that moment, he'd have gladly traded his life to erase the look on her face, but it was too late, the damage was done. She struggled beneath him, trying to free her hands, but he kept them pinned, one with his knee and the other with his free hand.
"Hold still," he whispered. "I'm not here to hurt you. Torcall and crew are outside." He tilted his head in the direction of the other room. At the sound of Torcall's name, she stopped struggling, her eyes still wary. "They're waiting for a show. I think, if we give it to them, they'll go away, maybe even leave here altogether, but I need your cooperation. Nod if you understand."
She stared up at him, eyes narrowed in anger, her doubt evident even in the shadows.
"Look, Marjory, I know how this seems, but I haven't got time for long explanations. Just go along with me. Please? I promise I'll keep you safe. Okay?"
Again their eyes met and held, hers full of questions, but after what seemed an eternity, she nodded. Slowly, he removed his hand. She sucked in a breath, but made no other noise.
He rolled onto his side, his body shielding hers from the door, keeping one arm locked around her. A noise, that sounded suspiciously like a snicker rang out from behind the partially closed door.
Damned if his sex life was going to be a side show for a bunch of drunken Scottish yahoos. With defiance singing through his veins, he left the bed and slammed the door. A muffled curse rang out from the other side. With a little luck, Allen's nose had been smashed. He reached for the bar only to realize there wasn't one.
