A Laird and a Gentleman (All the King's Men #4) - Gerri Russell Page 0,47

way you’re scouring the countryside, I’d say you’re expecting trouble.”

“You saw the villagers when they came to us. They wanted Swinton’s blood. Mariam’s maid has no doubt informed them of Swinton’s escape.” Cameron changed their course to the west, moving them to a more open, exposed area closer to the shoreline.

“So, you hear them behind us as well?” Keith asked.

“Aye,” Cameron replied. “I picked up the sound of someone following us shortly after we departed.”

Keith brought his gaze to Cameron’s. “Should we send the caravan on, while you and I loop back and see who is following?”

“I’m all but certain it is the villagers again, and I do not wish them harm. Swinton needs us here to protect him.”

Keith frowned. “You’ll protect that man after all he’s done?”

“It is up to the king, not us, to determine what to do with him.”

Keith’s brows pulled together. “If we are attacked, will you defend him with your life?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

Keith sighed and shook his head. “You are a good man, Sinclair. I’m not sure I would risk as much.”

“Then let us hope it doesn’t come to that.” Cameron pushed his horse into a faster gait, forcing the others to do the same. The sooner he returned to Mariam, the better. He still had to help her figure out her past, and possibly her future.

He had tried his damnedest to ignore the power she had over him—and he’d been successful for the better part of a year. But lately, no matter how hard he tried to remove himself from his feelings, she pulled him back. There was no other woman like her in all of Scotland. Cameron smiled wistfully at the memory of how she’d been able to put out the fire that had threatened the castle. Truly she was one of a kind.

He cared for her. Probably more than a guardian should care about his ward. Her guardianship was another topic he intended to discuss with the king. He could keep Mariam safe from attackers, but how much longer could he keep her safe from himself? He and Alexander had talked not too long ago about how Quinn, Reid, and Lachlan Douglas had married and were still able to serve the king as members of his special guard. The seven of them took turns attending the king personally, and all lived within several hours of Falkland Palace. They could form a battalion with their own guardsmen within a few hours, if needed to support the king and queen.

That was their call to service, but could they also have a life apart from protecting the royals? Could they have more of a life outside of what the king demanded?

In that moment, Cameron had never wanted anything more. He had never seen Mariam as an “evil” Swinton as many of his own people did. For all of last year, he had only ever looked upon her as a woman in need of guidance and protection. But now he wanted something more—something far more intimate. He wanted a relationship with her not as a guardian and a ward, but as a husband and wife.

Cameron clenched the reins in his hands. At Bucephalus’s irritated whicker, Cameron relaxed his grip. He didn’t know when or how it had happened, but over the past few days he had let his defenses down and had let Mariam fill the emptiness he never realized was inside him.

The sudden sound of hoofbeats broke him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see four riders and eight men on foot coming toward them. Cameron pulled his horse to a stop. They carried no swords, only scythes and axes. They were still worthy weapons if this came to a battle.

Beside him, Keith drew his sword, followed by the others in the caravan.

“Surround the wagon,” Cameron ordered. From behind he could also hear the thundering of hoofbeats. He turned to see six more horsemen, equipped with similar weapons. He did not pull his sword. He would listen to them first, and try to reason with them before this ever became a battle, which the villagers could not win.

Cameron had faced worse odds in battles past, and had spilled his share of blood. Those battles had been against enemies of the crown, and of Scotland, not his own people. Diplomacy was the only answer here.

The challengers stopped both ahead of and behind the caravan. As soon as they did, another horseman appeared from the group to the south. This man’s clothing was