The Thistle and the Rose Read online

  For two years now Colin had been virtual chieftain of the Campbell clan, relieving his father of the grueling responsibilities that the position entailed. Hugh Campbell would retain the title of laird for as long as he lived, and that was just as Colin wanted it to be. Lord Hugh still sat at the head of the council, and his advice was actively sought and given, but Colin now made the decisions for the clan's future.

  Not that his father was not capable or unwilling to make his presence felt. Colin smiled, thinking about the day's meeting when several of the members of the council had expressed their concerns over the potential vulnerability of the Campbell clan in standing alone against the other Highland clans. Their arguments had scarcely concluded when Lord Hugh stood up from the long table with a face that made no attempt to hide the wrath that was boiling up within him. Colin's ears still rang with the words of the angry chief.

  “If it were up to some of you,” Lord Hugh had begun, his voice rising in volume as he gave vent to his fury, “the Campbell clan would still be sailing in dugout canoes and living in stone huts with our oxen and our sheep! Where were you with this spineless counsel when Colin set off to Dunvegan. We all knew the risks of taking this position. But the risks of going along with the fools that Colin met with have greater consequences.

  “Do you want your families dragged off or slaughtered by the English? Do you want to give up all the comforts and advances that we have achieved over the last forty years? Are you prepared to give up the freedom and independence that Scottish blood has bought?

  “Have you forgotten what ten thousand of our brothers died for at Flodden, only seven months ago? Are you ready to trade their sacrifice for a future of fear and slavery?”

  The silence of shamefaced assent that followed Lord Hugh's speech was now replaced in that hall by the carnival uproar of the dinner horde, and Colin knew that the councilors were convinced.

  The younger Campbell looked around the room with pride. There, in front of the dais, his father stood with Alec, Edmund, and some of those same councilors, their conversation animated with gestures, as they tried to communicate over the ruckus that surrounded them. Colin could tell that his father was trying to convey some new idea that he'd had to the others.

  The Campbell lairds had always been people of great vision, with far-reaching projects that changed and improved the lives of those around them.

  Colin Campbell was no different.

  As a child, Colin had been naturally drawn to the life of the warrior. Almost instinctively, he knew that his chief responsibility would be to protect the people who lived in the shadow of the Campbell name. And that suited the boy.

  When Lord Hugh had taken Colin to St. Andrew's to complete his education, Colin's horizons as a leader had been broadened. All along the way the boy had seen people, ragged and thin, living in windowless turf huts, seemingly unable to help themselves to a better way of life. In the villages he had seen peasants who had been driven off their small farms by the lairds who were enclosing the land for sheep. All beggars now, joining the hungry fringe of war cripples and lepers. Colin was only fourteen years old, but mature enough to recognize widespread deprivation when he saw it. It seemed to him that the entire lower class folk of Scotland were suffering.

  Colin's eyes were opened to the realization that mere protection was not enough. The future Campbell laird had promised himself then that the people who depended on him would never know this kind of poverty and suffering. So he had set his mind to change things, to try new ways. If need be, he'd break the yoke of tradition and encourage the innovative, the untried ideas. Colin knew that for his people to thrive, it was change that was needed.

  This was the source of Colin's vision.

  Lost in his thoughts, Colin was the last person in the room to be aware of her presence. But when he looked up, he felt his chest tighten with a suddenness that shocked him.

  Last night, in her room, his first reaction had been to a vision, a dream. He'd thought to himself, beauty such as this cannot exist in real flesh and blood. She stirred human desires in him, true. But she...she looked like a goddess.

  But that was last night. Thinking more about her in the clear light of day, Colin had decided that it was the situation, the context, his fatigue, the surprise that had made her appear to be more than what she really is. It was his weary mind playing tricks on his wearier body that had created the illusion.

  But tonight...

  This vision before his eyes was indeed very much of this earth. Lady Caithness was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.

  He watched as her eyes roamed the room, resting momentarily on those who stood in hushed awe. And then her gaze embraced his own.

  Her large, dark eyes were direct, captivating. For a moment Colin felt himself getting lost in that gaze, falling in some airy space of unfathomable depth.

  She stood there waiting and her eyes never left his. It was as though she were asking him something that he could not define. This questioning look was meant for him; he knew that.

  Suddenly he realized that she had not yet entered the hall. Could it be that she was waiting for a sign from him? An invitation from him? This, Colin had not expected.

  Slowly, imperceptibly to all but Lady Caithness, Colin straightened from the mantel and nodded once to the woman before him.

  Celia had needed to find Colin first.

  Oh, yes, she was certain that by now he would have heard of Lady Caithness's reputation. Celia was sorry that she’d agreed to assume her identity. Of all people, Lady Caithness, the free-spirited Lady Caithness. Although she had never met his friend, Alec Macpherson, Celia knew of the Macpherson brothers. Alec was sure to have heard the stories from them. He was sure to have told Colin.

  Stepping down the great staircase, wearing his mother's dress, Celia knew that she could not avoid seeing him, speaking with him, probably even sitting beside him. And something inside her wanted to make a separate peace with Colin Campbell.

  Celia wanted to make sure that Colin did not mistake her intentions. She was certainly not in search of a husband. Not him. Not his father.

  And Colin could easily come to that conclusion, she was certain of that. It was only logical. And the future Campbell lord was probably being chased by every available woman in Scotland...and then some.

  As she'd reached the foot of the great staircase, she asked herself why she cared at all what Colin Campbell thought of her personally. She'd be leaving soon enough.

  But stopping at the doorway of the South Hall, Celia's eyes found his immediately in that crowded hall. He might have been the only man standing there, because he was the only thing she could see.

  Colin Campbell was a beautiful sight, and Celia was having difficulty remembering how to breathe. Her reaction to this warrior was inexplicable. She couldn't stop staring at him.

  All she knew at this moment was that she did care.

  As if they were the only two people in the room, Celia understood when Colin nodded to her. She stepped into the hall.

  Lord Hugh was hardly gentle as he bulled his way through the guests to reach her. She'd made her appearance; he was not going to let her get away.

  Suddenly, as he broke through the crowd, the full effect of this woman hit him. Like a hot iron spike in his heart, something about Lady Caithness reminded him of the woman he had lost twenty-five years earlier. The woman he had never stopped loving. The woman he would never replace.

  The kind of woman he had been hoping his son would also find.

  “Lady Caithness! Come in, come in, my dear,” Hugh boomed, taking her by the hand and leading her into the hall. “I am so happy that you’ve joined us tonight. And Runt tells me that last night I completely ruined any chance of introducing you properly to my son and his friend. Please give an ignorant old boor a chance to do it properly.”

  “Lord Hugh, the only thing that happened last night was that you rescued us all—especially me—from a very awkward moment,” Celia
responded, smiling. She was genuinely touched by this gentle man's show of affection. “But I would certainly like to meet your family properly.”

  “That's just fine,” the laird said, scanning the room in search of Colin.

  Colin slowly worked his way through the crowd that surrounded Lady Caithness. Like the queen bee, he thought with annoyance. Her buzzing drones are already falling into formation.

  By the time Colin was able to get through the throng, Alec Macpherson was speaking with Lord Hugh and Lady Caithness. Edmund hovered nearby, finishing an argument with one of Hugh's men.

  As Colin approached, he noticed his huge black dog had reached the group before him. Disgusted, he watched as the dog pushed his massive head up under her hand. As the woman continued to converse, she began to scratch his ears. Colin scowled at his dog, and Bear eyed his master with what almost looked like a grin on his face. Traitor.

  “Lord Hugh,” Alec was saying with a wink at Celia, “Lady Caithness has a unique way of driving home her points.”

  Colin noticed her color rise at the comment.

  “I didn't know you two had a chance to even speak to one another last night,” Hugh said, looking perplexed.

  “Aye, that we did,” Alec responded, rubbing his throat and smiling slyly in Celia's direction. “Lady Caithness's arguments are short, but extremely pointed.”

  “You should know,” Colin teased, coming up behind Celia. The woman in front of him did not turn immediately, and Colin could smell the fresh feminine scent emanating from her uncovered auburn tresses. The top of her head barely reached his chin, and her hair hung in loose ringlets to her shoulders. He had to restrain a sudden urge to slip his hands around the beauty's waist, to pull her into him, to feel her body contours against his own. This is ridiculous, Colin thought, I have to get control of myself.

  “Colin,” his father said, his grave and formal tone undercut by the twinkle in his eye. “Let me introduce you to Lady Caithness.”

  “Welcome to...” Colin stumbled in his attempt to finish the sentence, for as she turned and their eyes met, Colin's world stood still. Her look was so steady, so open, so incredibly beautiful. Colin felt that he was looking directly into her soul—pure, strong, gorgeous. What had been so powerfully attractive at a distance just moments before was literally stunning face-to-face.

  But he was quick to recover when she lowered her gaze.

  “Welcome to Kildalton Castle, Lady Caithness,” he continued with as much smoothness as he could muster. Focusing on her full lips, Colin wondered whether she knew what was going through his mind. “I hope your stay has been pleasant and comfortable so far.”

  “It's been quite pleasant, thank you, m'lord,” Celia said, not trusting herself to look him in the face. She had recognized the look of desire in his piercing gray eyes—she didn't want him to see the same in hers. Not now.

  How could this be the woman who led a life of such scandal? Colin thought, wanting to look into her eyes again. Something in Colin wanted this woman to be that wild creature of impulse. He had seen something of the wildness the night before, but there was no hint now of that decadence he had expected.

  “Colin,” Hugh said, attempting to sound sincere. “If you'll keep Lady Caithness's company a bit, I have to show something to Alec and Edmund right now.”

  All Colin could do was nod his head before his father practically dragged Alec away by the elbow. Colin was quite amused by the pained look in Alec's eyes. Colin also noticed the affectionate squeeze that Edmund gave Celia's elbow before following Hugh and Alec.

  Honestly, Colin was thankful for his father's action. And he didn't really care why his father wanted to leave them alone like that. Colin just knew that he wanted her to himself for a few minutes. If you could call being left in a room with dozens of people `alone.'

  But Colin wanted to know more of this woman. Maybe even provoke her into revealing something of the truth about herself. Eyeing the silky skin above the dress's round furred neckline, he thought about maybe getting her to show him...well...more than what meets the eye. Colin definitely had two things on his mind, and he unconsciously shook his head to clear it.

  No, what he was really looking forward to was getting her riled up, getting under her skin, though the thought didn't escape him that he wouldn't mind getting on her skin, as well.

  How did her witty peacocks at court do it? he thought, growing angry at the idea. After all, that's the kind of men she's accustomed to.

  “Lady Caithness, we have beautiful summers in the Western Isles. From what Edmund has told us of your journey, you would have done well to wait until warmer weather before coming to Kildalton,” Colin said, trying to keep the sarcasm from creeping into his voice.

  “I'll be sure to tell Lord Danvers your opinion the next time I run into him,” Celia said, flashing angry eyes at him. She knew full well that Edmund had explained Danvers's burning of the Caithness holding. If this is the game we are going to play, she thought to herself, then two can play it.

  “Oh, do you run into him often?” Colin asked with an air of amused superiority. He saw the flush of emotion cross her face. How easy it was to get to her.

  “More than I care to remember,” Celia responded directly. “How about you? or do you go out of your way to avoid him?”

  Colin flushed red with irritation, taken aback by her remark. He knew what she was implying. No, he hadn't been with the king at Flodden, but he wasn't running around at court, either. He had been doing his duty, as his king had commanded. He...

  “Did I say something to displease you, Lord Colin? Your frown hints at some displeasure.”

  She had turned the tables on him. He had the most remarkable urge to strangle this imp before him. She was not even trying to hide her amusement at his discomfort. She was smiling openly at him, and Colin could not help himself. Strangle? No. Seduce? Well, that's worth giving more thought to. She was so damned attractive. And his smile back was genuine. She was certainly more quick-witted than he'd given her credit for.

  “Displeasure? Nay, m'lady,” Colin answered, putting on his fiercest scowl. “I was just taking a moment to recover from your highly unwarranted attack. I do feel more sympathy for my friend Alec, however, now that I've been put in that position myself.”

  “I do hope that you are only jesting, m'lord,” Celia said, with real sincerity in her voice. “My response was only in self-defense. You were the one charging me with jeopardizing the life of a child simply to visit your holding during a bad time of the year.

  “In addition, sir,” Celia continued in a more conciliatory tone, “from what I'd heard of your courage and intelligence, I was fairly certain that you would not be skewered so easily by my admittedly cutting comment.”

  Colin looked at her with amusement. She had just scolded him for his sarcastic remarks, and then given him a compliment in the next breath. This was one remarkable woman. Colin could see that he had to start all over again, but this time more carefully...for his own sake!

  “Are you always so quick to draw?” Colin asked with smiling eyes. He clasped his hands behind his back, leaning slightly forward in a confidential attitude. “Do you always kill first, then try to ask questions later? Don't you sometimes find that difficult?”

  “Not at all,” Celia responded, smiling broadly. As he leaned toward her, she felt the power of his manly presence. His nearness was strangely exciting. She felt her heart pounding in her chest. “However, I do have to admit that I am finding myself responding strangely when you're about.”

  “Oh, do you, m'lady?” Colin said, lowering his voice seductively, leaning even closer to her.

  “You know I do not mean it that way, m'lord.” Celia couldn't stop her blush from spreading. His lips were so close to her ear now, that she could feel his warm breath on her skin. She lowered her head, making an attempt to rearrange the folds in her gown. As she did, Bear lifted his muzzle to her hand. Celia caressed the beast's huge head. He was deliberately misinte
rpreting her words.

  “I would still very much like to hear about this response of yours,” Colin continued in a low teasing tone. He was truly enjoying this flirtation. But to be completely truthful, he was quite pleasantly surprised—no, amazed—that he could actually make Lady Caithness blush. By God, she looked positively flustered.

  Celia continued to stroke the dog's head, and Colin reached down as well, and as he did, their fingers entwined for the briefest of moments. But in that split second, a crackling shock of passion radiated through their bodies.

  But it was only for a moment, though, for Celia withdrew her hand with the quickness of lightning.

  “W-what I mean is...” Celia faltered then stopped, bittersweet at the sight of Lord Hugh and the others approaching them.

  “There you are, my dear,” Hugh said, taking Celia's arm in his. “I will not have Colin hiding you away on me.”

  “But...but, m'lord, neither of us have moved an inch!” Celia stammered, unable to regain her balance with these two men.

  “Too bad,” boomed the laird. “Colin, I thought I brought you up better.”

  “Father,” Colin responded, thoroughly enjoying this, “the night is still young!”

  Celia's composure was now almost completely shattered. The apple has clearly not fallen too far from the tree in this family, she thought. And Edmund had thought she'd be safe here. Even he was enjoying this embarrassment.

  “Well, Lady Caithness, if you haven't been talking about anything interesting, then I assume my son has been boring you with talk of the changes he is making in the village.”

  Celia was delighted at the change in topic, even if she hadn't the slightest idea what Lord Hugh was talking about.

  “No, m'lord. Lord Colin hasn't had a chance to tell me about your village.”

  “I'll put you to sleep over it at dinner,” Colin interjected, smiling.

  “I'm not so easily put to sleep, sir,” Celia snapped, immediately sorry she'd said that, as she looked at Colin's one raised eyebrow.