The Maclean Groom by Kathleen Harrington

Author:Kathleen Harrington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 1999-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

“My brother has everything planned,” Godfrey told the solidly built man standing by the bartizan’s narrow window. “Andrew will leave with her tonight.”

Looking out across Kinlochleven’s upper bailey at the battlements, Archibald Campbell, second earl of Argyll, took another sip of chamomile tea. He occasionally suffered from gout and had left the festivities in the great hall to retire early. Usually fastidious to a fault, this evening he received his clandestine visitor attired in a blue velvet chamber robe and comfortable slippers.

The earl had been allotted the castle’s second-best suite of guest rooms—the best having naturally been awarded to the king. The spacious chamber boasted a thick carpet on the planked floor and several fine pieces of carved oak. A large court cupboard held an array of glassware and silver, along with decanters of expensive wine and brandy.

“You’ll never get the lass out of this castle,” Argyll said dispassionately. “MacLean, along with his two brothers and that behemoth kinsman of his, could slay every one of your men-at-arms without breaking a sweat. And from the gleam of lust in his eye today, I’d say The MacLean would gladly do all the killing himself, should any man try to steal his new bride.”

Godfrey held a glass beaker between his palms, warming the cognac it held. “We’ve no intention of fighting our way out,” he replied. “There’ll be no alarm raised. Just make certain your men are waiting near Rannoch Mill when the two young lovers and their escort ride by.”

“How many will there be?”

“Andrew and four men-at-arms, plus the girl. I’ve convinced my older brother that only a small party stands a chance of getting past the guards unchallenged. And don’t worry about MacLean. By the time they reach the mill, he’ll have already met his maker at the hands of his Macdonald bride.”

“Never,” Argyll scoffed. He turned away from the window and peered at Godfrey with open skepticism. “That tiny lass couldn’t kill any man, let alone her able-bodied bridegroom.”

Godfrey shrugged. “If she doesn’t, ’twill not matter overmuch, for I can make it look as though she did. The king will be enraged, of course, when he discovers his favorite Highlander slain. But he won’t hang Joanna. ’Twill look like a tragic accident. A panicked bride, frightened of being bedded by her ancient enemy, tries to protect her virtue and elope with her handsome cousin. Her attempt goes sadly awry, and the overeager bridegroom falls victim to virginal terror.”

Campbell sank into a chair and placed the cup and saucer on a small table beside him. He steepled his fingers in quiet contemplation.

“It’d be best not to kill MacLean,” he said at last. “If you can prevent the consummation of the marriage, ’twould be enough. There’s no point in risking the king’s retribution for the murder of his beloved friend. Not unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Now you sound like my faint-hearted brother,” Godfrey replied with a chortle. He breathed in the fumes of the fine French cognac and took a sip. As

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