Page 21 of Keepers of the Highland Crown
An inner smile appeared as she looked over her shoulder at him. “Callum, all is well. I…”
“Benefactor is the key. You cannot simply bed a lady, she must adore you, same as a benefactor who cares for her every whim.”
Her inner smile vanished.Benefactor.“Callum,” she said, her eyes still locked on his, “a guest is speaking, with a heavy accent born from the Kingdom of Norway. He just stated, ‘Benefactor is the key. You cannot simply bed a lady, she mustadore you, same as a benefactor who cares for her every whim’.” Callum looked over the whole hall given his massive height granted the advantage while she tilted her skull a breath more.
“I say, Lord Kolson, if you seek to present wealth as bait to snare a lady, your dark blue doublet with silver trim is more than ample.”
“Callum, the nobleman is called Lord Kolson and is wearing a dark blue doublet with silver trim, and he’s speaking privately with a Scottish lord.”
“Nella, I have him, directly across the hall from where we have gathered.”
“Ack, the ladies this eve are all a tired lot from the feast last.”What an arse.“Fresh is what I seek. The beauty there, a more striking creature one shall not find. Who is that lady?”
“I am not certain from this angle, Lord Kolson, but she seems quite a bloom.”
“One to be plucked.”What a complete arse!
“Callum,” she gushed frantically, “he is admiring a lady in the hall of great beauty he seeks to bed. Whom is he gazing upon? I shall approach her for when he appears.”
Grind.Callum’s jaw clenched then he murmured, “He is staring directly upon you, Nella.”
She gave a chuckle on her reply. “Nae, he could not possibly…”
“Oh, ’tis Lady Fawnella MacHearin, a guest of Lady Alaina’s. A rich widows’ dowry that one.”
She turned, finding the crowd parting as a flaxen-haired Northman strode her way as if confidence infused his tailbone.
The Benefactor. Who dared endanger the abbot and abbess and the king. Nella hid her fisted hands in the gown’s folds as Callum sounded anothergrindfrom his teeth.Commencement!
***
The Northman who would shame the looks of Baldur, a Viking god, approached same as a northern Golden Eagle who was looking at Nella like she was about to be served on a trencher for his pleasure. It caused Callum’s jaw to almost crack from the pressure he clenched.
When the bedchamber door was thrown open earlier as the lady’s maid took her leave, the vision which was Nella caused his breath to catch then halt completely. Her delicate features coupled with a gown matching her beauty was not something he had been prepared for. The plan at having her be bait for the Benefactor made his blood run fierce in a blink. Now the very plan was walking this way with a bold smile at Nella. What had he been thinking?
“Good eve, my lady.” The Golden Eagle flashed her a grin. “All was a dark night till a star such as yourself graced the hall. I am Lord Holger Kolson.” This wasn’t happening.
“Lady Fawnella MacHearin.”
Callum shot forward, grabbing the flatterer’s hand for a shake. “Callum Scott of Clan Scott.”
The Northman tightened his talons’ grip. “Good eve, Callum Scott of Clan Scott. Must you declare which clan if the fact is already stated in your surname or is it simply to remind yourself of the territory you hailed from? There are so very many ‘wee’ clans upon these shores.”Down, this guy was going down.
“The western isles were recently reclaimed from centuries in your countrymen’s grasp. So, pray tell, where do you now hail from?”Pompous northern windbag.“It must be a challenge with Viking blood determining your shore, since they were all stolen.”
Holger’s gray gaze narrowed before he snatched back his hand then returned his attention toward Nella. “Forgive me ifmy manner is lacking to approach you so boldly my lady, I was under the impression you were not betrothed or married.”
Nella looked up at him. It was the same look she had when she gave an apology on her lips, but this time was only written clear in her gaze.Why?“’Tis I who bears the folly in manners, I should have declared from the start. Callum is simply my guardsman. Another travels with me as well, Brayden Scott. A wealthy widow cannot be too careful when traveling; alas, Callum forgets himself at times in his eagerness to keep watch.”That was why.
“Oh, lovely.” Holger’s grin re-appeared. “Then you must allow me a dance which” – the northern eagle looked toward the table’s center where the jester had just finished his juggling act to a rousing applause – “shall commence directly with the minstrel taking his place. Truly, I must have this dance, or I shall simply perish at your feet, Lady Fawnella.” The Golden Eagle had prowess with flattery and words.
“Well,” Nella said, her tone dry, “we cannot have that.”
Lord Kolson raised his hand for her. If a sight could ever rip his guts out, it was when Nella set her fingers gently on the stranger’s who led her away from him while a strum by the minstrel’s lyre and beat from a drum called to all dancers for a carol. At least they would be in a circle, yet why was that not comforting?
If he didn’t move hewasgoing to rip out Holger’s entrails. Slowly walking the stretch along the table’s side filled by guests still feasting, he observed the fluid grace his lady swept across the floor. The same befitting a doe skipping a meadow before stepping left in the grand circle of dancers over and over.
Placing his hand over his mouth as if he were smoothing his stubble-covered jaw, he murmured, “My lady.” She gazed his way and found him at once.She heard me. “Are you wellthere? If so, please smile or if you need me to come snap the Northman’s neck simply frown.” She looked right at him and beamed a smile. He chuckled. “Hell, I was hoping for the latter.” The smile turned into a laugh before her attention went back toward the dancers. “If you need me simply smooth your palm over the veil. I shall be at your side in a breath.” She met his eyes again, smiled, and gave a tiny incline from her brow.
