Page 79 of Taken By the Savage Highlander

When he got to the council room, the contract he and Margo had signed on her first night in the castle was spread on a table. A few of the elders had sour looks on their faces, but overall, they seemed to be in good spirits. Cameron supposed that having the funds to settle critical issues the clan was facing was quite satisfying.

“I’d like to keep this discussion short,” Cameron said, commanding everyone’s attention with a single sentence.

The quiet discussions taking place stopped. All but two of the eldest clan members took their seats. His shoulders held back, Cameron crossed the room and stopped in front of the contract.

“As we are all well aware,” he began, fixing his gaze on the loudest voices of dissent against him, “nearly every single contract that Lord Abbott executed has been dissolved due to his fraudulent representation. I ken all of ye have been arguin’ over whether or nae this one will still stand.”

“We are the ones that drew it up,” one of the men in the back said.

“Aye, but Lord Abbott agreed to it,” Cameron said, unsure of why any of them felt that they needed to have any control over his marriage. They had gotten what they had wanted without the need for any stipulations. “And it was drafted under fraudulent information. Had it nae been for his schemes, there would have never been a reason for an heir to be demanded so quickly.”

“But we would like to ensure that there will be an heir,” one of the men standing in the back said. “This contract would ensure that ye are makin’ efforts to provide the clan with one.”

“Everythin’ within the current contract has already been released to Margo,” Cameron pointed out. “And neither of us will be signin’ anythin’ else that puts any sort of restraint on our relationship.”

There was a moment of silence. The younger men, the ones that Cameron had appointed himself, nodded in agreement. One of them cleared his throat when the silence became untenable.

“I believe that we are just concerned with ensurin’ all the work we’re doin’ now will have an heir to carry on the legacy,” the man in the back said by way of explanation. He did not sound as though he were trying to argue; his values were simply traditional.

“I can assure ye that there is nae delay in tryin’ to give ye yer heir,” Cameron said, stopping short of telling them that he could not seem to keep his hands off his wife now that he had accepted that he could protect her without controlling her. “But I amnae signin’ anything to promise ye that we will give ye one. This contract is void, and it should have been the first that we tore apart.”

Then, before any of his dissenters could prolong the discussion, Cameron picked it up and ripped it to pieces. Without looking at any of them, he walked over to the hearth and dropped it in. Turning around, he crossed his arms over his chest in a challenge to them all.

“Is there anythin’ else that ye’d like to discuss?” Cameron asked, though his tone made it clear he would not be entertaining anything else.

“Nay, I believe that covers everythin’,” the elder said, understanding that this was a battle he was never going to win. “I suppose that we will be seein’ ye and Margo tomorrow afternoon to discuss plans for the property closest to the MacLeod lands.”

“Aye, we have been discussin’ whether or nae we will have the funds to support an orphanage,” Cameron confirmed. Two nights ago, Margo had gotten to asking after the children on his lands and if each of them would be adequately cared for. “I believe we do, and I am expectin’ ye to confirm it with the new budgets ye have been given.”

“We will get to work,” one of the younger members said, sensing that the meeting was stretching out much longer than Cameron had the patience for.

“Excellent,” Cameron replied as he gave them all one final glance.

Without offering any parting words, he marched out of the room and made his way to the kitchens. Margo would be waking up soon, and he had told her he would be taking her on a trip if the weather permitted. The day looked as if it would be beautiful until nightfall.

Just before he turned the last corner on his way to his destination, Treasure came darting forward. A second later, Spirit and Blossom tumbled after him. He paused, taking a step back as he waited for Eleanor’s inevitable arrival.

“Could you please give everyone a break for an hour at least?” she asked the wee creatures, not noticing Cameron immediately. “You are tiny terrors and I’m exhausted.”

“They will only get more bothersome before they mellow out,” he said, unable to hide his smile. He was growing quite fond of the girl, particularly in the way her gestures were so clearly learned from her older sister. “At least that is what Mrs. Campbell told me when I was scoldin’ them for knockin’ me ink well to the floor.”

“I am not sure the castle will survive,” Eleanor said, sounding truly distressed. “They’ve begun climbing the curtains.”

“The curtains have needed replacin’ for years,” he said easily. “We will wait until they realize it is much more fun to scale the trees to do so.”

Eleanor looked away from where the kittens were wrestling in the corner. She seemed to be assessing Cameron. Or, perhaps, she was reassessing him. On the journey to the MacLeod lands, she had been quiet, staring at him as she had tried to understand him.

“I have never wanted a brother before,” she said finally, her eyes narrowing. There was something playful in her gaze, though. It was a look he had seen her fix on Margo when they were antagonizing one another. “But I suppose that you are not so bad, if I must have one.”

He snorted, resisting the urge to ruffle her hair as if she were a much younger child. Schooling his features back into seriousness, he said, “I am glad to hear that I have yer approval, Eleanor.” At that moment, Spirit jumped at the laces of Cameron’s boot. He bent down, picking up the quickly-growing black kitten. Offering the creature to Eleanor, he said, “I will let ye get back to yer duties. It seems ye have yer hands full.”

“My hands are overflowing,” she sighed as Spirit wriggled free. Glancing back at Cameron, she said, “I will see you at dinner?”

“Aye,” he confirmed, stepping around her. “If ye’ll excuse me, I must retrieve yer sister’s lunch.”

“Where are we going?” Margo asked as Cameron’s arms tightened around her. “The village?”

“Nay,” he said, his voice dangerously close to her ear. An involuntary shudder of excitement ran up her spine at the sound. “Five more minutes.”