The Highland Guard and His Lady

By Lori Ann Bailey

The Highland Guard and His Lady

In the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, danger lurks around every corner.

Leslee MacKinnon is a protector of the heart of Scotland. She can read the past of any object she touches. Translating ancient tomes for the monks of Holyrood Abbey is the perfect cover for a secret mission, until she discovers her predestined enemy is closing in.

Duncan Douglas is captain of the guards and protector of the prince. When a bonny secretive lass appears and catches the attention of the king consort, his only family, he must make an impossible choice.  

To protect Scotland, she must eliminate her greatest enemy. But when the challenge begins, will he forgive her for destroying his family?

***This novella was previously published in the Ladies of the Stone anthology***

Ladies of the Stone
From within the soul of a special stone, the embodiment of the heart of Scotland, a protector is selected. A woman with a pure heart and the ferocity of a warrior is called to the fairy pools on the Isle of Skye upon the death of the previous protector. However, nature has a way of balancing itself, and so with each call to a Protector comes the call of an evil force, set on using the stone for their own purpose. These are the stories of the Protectors of the Heart of Scotland, the stone they seek to keep safe and the love that strengthens and emboldens them.

Other Ladies of the Stone novellas: The Highlander's Quest, by Eliza Knight, Her Highland Destiny by Madeline Martin, and The Protector's Promise by Cecelia Mecca

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lori Ann Bailey
• Release date: Jan 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386207047

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Edinburgh, Scotland

Holyrood Palace – Royal Residence

January 25, 1567

Captain Duncan Douglas, distant cousin to the king consort, Lord Henry Darnley, and thus infant Prince James, paced outside the door to the babe’s room as Mary, Queen of Scots, spent time with her son. Movement down the hall caught his attention. A lass. One he’d never seen.

He’d been in his position long enough to know all the nursemaids and servants who were allowed in this portion of the castle and this red-headed stranger was not one of them. She wore a cream embroidered jacket over a green fitted corset that cinched in at the waist, accentuating her curves, not standard servants’ attire.

He took a breath to command her to halt, but the lass stopped, glancing down at a large tome she carried. Using her teeth, she removed a glove from one hand, then laid it across the book. Her slender, bare fingers traced the cover as she worked to balance the book on one arm, and her lips moved in a steady whisper that eluded him. She was lost in her own world and never looked at him.

Was she talking to it? And what the hell was she doing here? In the seven months he’d held this position, he’d never seen the lass. She did not belong.

Straightening his shoulders, he was about to call out to ask what business she had here, but before he could, her mouth fell wide in apparent shock and she spoke out loud as she shook her head. Nae. Ye shouldnae write things ye ken arenae true.

The lass didn’t look up as she started down the hall again, directly toward him and the prince’s chamber. Maybe she was addled. Such a shame considering the animation on her face and the slight blush on her cheeks, as if she’d just come in from the cold. She was bonny.

The stranger reached the prince’s door and pivoted, turning to open it with the hand that had been touching the top of the book. She meant to walk in without permission, completely ignoring him though he stood within an arm’s length.

He grabbed her ungloved hand and she shrieked, dropping the tome as he twisted her around and backed her into the solid wood door. The book fell to the floor, landing flat with a loud bang that rivaled the sound of a cannon blast as it reverberated through the stone hallway.

What is yer business here?

The lass’s jaw tightened. Her eyes, he could see now, were a shade of green that matched her corset and they focused on his lips a moment before lifting to his gaze, anger flaring in their dark depths. She attempted to pull free.

Catching her other hand, he pinned her to the solid frame. He held her firmly but gently, not wanting to hurt her delicate wrists while needing to keep her restrained. The position felt intimate, but he’d acted on instinct and years of training. Until he knew her purpose, she was a threat.

Unhand me, brute. She brought her knee up, skimming his manhood as he swiveled to block the blow. Despite the maneuver, he still felt the force of her impact and was just able to maintain a grip on her. Hell, the wee lass had courage to attack a man with a sword—or, then again, she could have something loose in her head.

Ye have no business here, he asserted between gritted teeth.

Aye, I do. She squared her shoulders, tilting her chin up.

The door swung in and the lass stumbled backward, but before she fell, he snaked his other arm around her and pulled her close. Och, it was a mistake. Her curves were welcoming and his defiant man parts stirred to life despite what she’d almost done to him. Fresh lavender filled his nostrils as his hand rested on the slope of her hip.

What was that noise? the queen asked as her regard narrowed on him then roved up and down the lass’s back. Her brow rose. Duncan?

We seem to have an intruder, Yer Majesty. The lass twisted to pull free, but he swung her around in the other direction to keep her away from the queen.

She’s no intruder. Lady MacKinnon is my translator. Mary smiled and pointed at the book on the floor as if its presence should make the lass’s appearance something normal. She pivoted to the woman still caged close to his body, her gaze lighting. I see you are already hard at work.

Stunned the queen knew her, he let the woman slip from his grasp as she dropped into a deep curtsy. Aye, Yer Majesty. A delightful flush stole onto her pale face, this one deeper than the one caused by the outside cold.

Footfalls sounded from the end of the hall and Duncan turned. His replacement had arrived for his shift, smirking as he studied the lass’s curves.

She rose and addressed the queen. I’m so sorry. I must have made a wrong turn. This place is so big and I havenae had time to learn my way around.

Holyrood Palace is quite large. Duncan, can ye show Lady MacKinnon to her room and make sure she has everything she needs? The queen’s lyrical tone held amusement at his mistake.

Aye, Yer Majesty. He stiffened and bowed.

And, Lady MacKinnon, please join us again for dinner. I’d love to hear about your work.

Aye, Yer Majesty. Lady MacKinnon curtsied once more, and his gaze caught on the curve of her long, elegant neck and the thick gold chain she wore. He’d obviously just accosted a woman of some influence. Thankfully, she and the queen seemed to have forgotten his display, although he could still feel her cool, smooth skin in the tingles on his fingertips.

It had been his duty to stop the lass. How was he to know the woman was a guest at the royal residence?

He’d been out with his cousin Henry last night, and they’d dined at an earl’s home nearby. Too bad the queen and her husband weren’t on the best of terms or he may have had the chance to meet Lady MacKinnon the previous evening…or at least know she was coming. Although he couldn’t blame Mary. He didn’t enjoy Henry’s company when the man was plied with whisky either.

If Henry and James weren’t the closest thing to family he had left in the world, he’d find other acquaintances, but he quite enjoyed keeping an eye on the queen and her bairn. He’d not been present the night his cousin had persuaded men to help kill the queen’s counselor, but he’d heard of the brutal incident and the threats Henry had made to Mary, so he felt it his duty to protect the young queen from his kin.

Kneeling, he picked up the large book, which was covered with unusual symbols on the front and writing in a language he had never seen. The volume probably weighed half a stone or more. He also scooped up the lass’s glove and held it out. She took the soft material and slipped it back on.

Duncan, will you be with my husband tonight?

Nae, Yer Majesty.

Then you may join us as well, she lilted with her slight French accent as soft cries erupted from the infant within the room. Now, please help Lady MacKinnon find her room. The queen turned, shutting the door, and the babe’s sounds softened before dying away altogether.

The lass glanced up at him, the light in her eyes darkening as she straightened her spine. Ignoring her disdain—though who could blame her, he’d practically assaulted her—he swung toward his replacement. Ye were late again.

Sorry, Duncan.

But he was already turning away. He would have to see the guard moved to another position, but he was not prepared to scold the man in front of the queen’s guest.

This way, Lady MacKinnon. He held out a hand to indicate the way toward the back stairs and waited for the lass to move before falling into step beside her.

Duncan, the very large Highland guard who had nearly attacked her, stirred her curiosity. His fierce, assessing gaze sent chills to the back of her neck while at the same time it intrigued her. Leslee MacKinnon, niece to the MacKinnon laird, wasn’t accustomed to men looking at her as if