Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel by Maddie MacKenna (red novels TXT) 📗

knew that he was battling something that she couldn’t help with as she walked to her room.

Her heart dropped as her blood ran cold at the sound of footsteps behind her. Panic shot through her as she stopped, knowing fully well that there was now a murderer in the castle. She felt suddenly uneasy, being so alone in the hallways.

Turning back, she glanced down the hallway and noticed Jude’s mentor standing before her. His face was white as his eyes were narrowed and almost black. He looked troubled as his lips trembled. Cleopatra cleared her throat and rolled her shoulders back as the mentor moved closer to her.

“Forgive me if I startled ye,” the man said, “that was nae me intention.”

“What can I do for you?” Cleopatra asked.

“I’ve come to beg yer forgiveness, me lady,” he said. “After today’s events it has become clear to me that ye’re nae me enemy. Nor are ye Jude’s as I first thought.”

“I did not know that I was seen in such a way,” Cleopatra said.

The man’s head dropped as did his shoulders and he pulled in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. “I placed blame on ye for me son’s death, and I shouldnae have done that. I have been suspicious of ye since ye came to the castle and I kept me distance. But today ye showed yer willingness to help the Laird.”

“Of course, I will help Jude,” Cleopatra said as the old man’s eyes twitched as he spoke. “Believe it or not, I care for Hugh and his Father.”

“Aye, I saw that today,” the man said.

Cleopatra stared at the old man as she tried to understand him. There was a look of pity about him and for the moment, Cleopatra recognized remorse. Moving to him, she laid her hand on his shoulder and stared deeply into his eyes.

“Sir, you have every right to put blame on me and I am truly sorry for your loss, but we must put our differences aside and stand as united against whatever evil has entered this castle. Jude and Hugh are in danger and I am not entirely sure if I am, but for now rest easy knowing that my heart goes out to both the Laird of this castle and that my fealty and loyalty to him should never be in question. Jude has done more for me than my father ever has. And there is no way I will ever be able to repay him for his kindness.”

“Then we will work together,” the man said as he bowed low and stepped away from her. “I shall send Paige to yer room. The last thing we need is for yer life to be in danger as well. Until we get to the bottom of this, I fear nay one is safe within these walls.”

16

You do not know my father. He will never relent. He doesn’t just let people go without cause.

Cleo’s words played back Jude’s head as he paced the study. His mind shifted to the day he received word Hugh was stolen from him by a group of men near the river. Yet, he couldn’t deny the evidence that was stacking up against the Earl. After all, it was the Earl who kept his son captive for so long, and didn’t send word that Hugh was there, but Jude could not understand why Cleo’s Father would want them dead.

What if Cleo was right? What if her faither doesnae let things go, but holds a grudge against those who have bested him? Yet, why wait so long before makin’ a play for revenge?

Unless…this isnae the first attempt.

Jude’s mind raced back to the last night they were on the moors. How it was Adam who had been shot with an arrow and killed before they even reached the Castle. Jude’s heart sank like a bag of stones in a loch as his breath quickened.

The Earl isnae about to let the girl off the hook so easily, is he?

Anger turned to rage as Jude clamped his hand into tight balls of fury. After all, from what he knew of Cleo’s father, he was cruel, not only to his servants but to his daughter as well. Even Hugh told him stories of being in the manor under the Earl’s protection and how cruel he treated those around him.

As Jude contemplated on what to do next, he couldn’t help his mind from drifting to Cleo. She was so much stronger and braver than he had given her credit for. The anger that swelled within him ceased at the thought of her beauty and grace.

She is a gem, that one. Surely, I would be a fool to think I’d find another like her in all the land.

To his surprise he knew that his heart belonged to her. From the very first moment that she had fought back against his men trying to take her, she was something special. He saw that spark in her and knew immediately that she was not one to roll over and let life beat her down. She would take a stance for things that she believed in.

What am I to do? She needs to ken the truth and if her faither is behind these attacks…it would make sense for her to ken.

But what if I’m accusin’ the wrong person? What if it is just mere coincidences that these things happen to taken place while she was here?

Jude shook his head as his fingers twisted in between one another as he thought of what to do next. He needed a plan but felt as if he were floundering in the open water without a direction to go. Never in his whole life had he felt so vulnerable. He had always been the one who made the swift and decisive decisions. Yet who was he to strike at? That was the problem.

“M’Laird?”

Jude stopped dead in his tracks and glanced to Aidan. His soldier stood in the doorway with his hands at his side.

“What is