A Laird and a Gentleman (All the King's Men #4) - Gerri Russell Page 0,48
finer than the rest and he had a sword strapped to his side. The man removed his hat and offered Cameron the first sight of his face: he was none other than Peter Mason.
“What is the meaning of this, Mason?” Cameron asked, waiting calmly for the man to make his next move.
“These gentlemen have some unfinished business with the man you are transporting.”
Cameron narrowed his gaze. “Why are you here? It’s not as if you support their cause.”
“I’m an opportunist. Your men cannot guard Swinton and their leader at the same time,” Mason said, a taunting smile curving his lips. “A skirmish will be the perfect cover-up for what I intend to do to you.”
“Why?” Cameron asked.
“Because I find I want more compensation for the loss of Mariam than you were willing to provide.” His features tightened. “I saw the way you looked at her last night. You sent Sibbald and me away so that you could have the woman for yourself.”
“I sent you away because the woman in question decided she didn’t want to marry yet.”
Mason laughed. “Who said anything about marriage? I have other plans for the girl if what these men say is true. I do find it rather amusing that the witch pricker’s daughter turned out to be a witch.”
Cameron wasn’t going to argue with the man about Mariam’s abilities. He kept his expression neutral. “You think killing me will get you what you want?”
A flicker of anticipation lit Mason’s face. “Aye.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to bargain with me? I am on my way to see the king. Once I tell him what you attempted here against a ward of the crown, your life will alter, and not for the better.”
A cold, hard edge crept into Mason’s voice. “You’ll never get that chance to see the king.” He drew his sword and charged forward on his horse.
The moment Mason engaged, the others advanced on the men surrounding the wagon. Cameron wasn’t concerned about his men’s ability to protect their prisoner. They were highly trained, and he knew they would do their best to safeguard Swinton without harming those who attacked—those who were his own people. Cameron, however, had no idea of Mason’s skills. He’d learned many battles ago never to underestimate an opponent.
He drew his sword and focused all his attention on the man who charged. Cameron’s horse held steady though he could feel Bucephalus’s muscles flex and bunch beneath him. They’d been through many battles together.
As Mason’s blade came down, the clangor of steel rang in the air. Cameron easily blocked the strike and pushed his own blade forward, unseating his attacker from his horse. Cameron’s easy victory proved the man had very little skill with a blade.
A grunt followed by a howl of fury punctuated the air. Mason staggered to his feet.
Cameron slid from his horse and moved to Mason’s side. “We could end this now before you get hurt.”
Mason surged forward once more with an indecipherable curse. Cameron thrust forward, upward, sideways, easily blocking every blow.
His face red with fury, Mason heaved his weapon over his head and charged like a raging bull. But Cameron easily spun away as the force of the man’s blow came down to plow into the earth at his feet instead.
Cameron brought his boot down against the back of Mason’s leg and sent him falling face down in the dirt. His sword flew several feet away. While Mason struggled to right himself, Cameron retrieved the weapon. When they were face-to-face again, they stared at each other. Finally, Cameron spoke, “This ends now. I have no wish to kill you, but I will if you do not stand down.”
Mason’s chest heaved with repressed emotion. “I need a wife.”
“This is not the best way to go about obtaining one.” As the two men talked, the battle beyond died down as the villagers clutched their wounds and fled on foot and with their horses. Only his own warriors, and Cameron and Mason, remained. The battle must have awakened Swinton because he sat up in the wagon, eyes wide, cursing profoundly at his mistreatment.
Cameron pressed his lips together. What remained of the journey would not be as peaceful now that the man had regained his senses. Turning back to Mason he said, “Why did you do it?”
Mason heaved a ragged breath. “I had such high hopes for my own future when you invited me to woo Lady Mariam. My father’s passing has left me with a huge estate, one that I am