Page 1 of How to Woo a Highlander

Chapter One

Jane Baxendale relaxed into the comfort of her carriage seat, choosing to disregard the glares of her governess. Mary Barton scoffed her displeasure, hands folded in her lap and back perfectly straight, as she shook her blonde head.

"You are off to be married, and yet you still disregard the simplest of my teachings. A lady never slouches!" Mary said, the displeasure evident in her voice.

Jane had seen the scolding coming but deserved to relax as her mind was swimming with questions and doubt.

"It is but the two of us in this carriage, Mary; besides, I fear I might be sick if I do not find myself some form of respite," she responded, causing Mary to press her lips together but say nothing in retort.

As Mary had mentioned, she was off to be married, being sent by her father to her betrothed in the Highlands: Laird William of Clan Mackenzie. She was nervous and worried, despite her innate curiosity. She wanted to see the Highlands. She wasn't going to see the sights, however, but marry a man she had never met.

She knew that he was not old, her father had been considerate enough about that, but she knew nothing of his character and wondered if he would be of calm countenance or if he would turn his face in anger to her. She worried her lip as she thought. Would she find him attractive? It was essential if there was to be an atom of romance between them. She couldn't face a life devoid of romance.

Her father, Captain John Baxendale, had left his station in Inveraray to meet at their manor, giving the news of her impending marriage. Her first emotion had been surprise. Her father was a very ambitious man, and she had known that the chances of a political marriage were rather high, but had not expected to be sent to the Highlands.

Scotland! – a foreign place, with different customs and people leading a different way of life. She felt as if she had been thrown into the deep sea, given that she knew nothing of what to expect. Slouching further in her seat, she glanced at Mary by force of habit but looked away when the woman stayed quiet. Mary seemed to understand her fears and was allowing her the slight indulgence to do as she pleased before being thrust unprepared into her duties.

Marriage to the Laird of the Mackenzie clan would help her father strengthen his position with the crown. Or at least, that was what he hoped to achieve with the union. She wanted to help her father, of course, and she had known for a long time that it would happen by marriage. It was not that she was attracted to any of the noblemen in England anyway, so perhaps a Highlander was best.

She had just finished reassuring herself when the carriage lurched to a stop, and in the absence of the noise from her party's movement, she could hear the sound of steel clanging against steel. She sat up immediately, even as Mary's face registered concern, and she met her gaze.

People are fighting outside, is it my men?

Her question was answered when Adam, the leader of her entourage, rode back to her carriage window. She moved the curtains aside so that she could see him properly.

"I am sorry for the disturbance, Miss, but there is a skirmish ahead with what appears to be bandits attacking three Scotsmen," he explained, swaying slightly as his horse marched on the spot as though excited by the conflict.

Jane's eyes widened at the news, even as the concern drained from Mary's expression, and she went back to sitting stoically. She worried her lip, wondering if they should get involved. Bandits were a menace everywhere, and if it were her party in trouble, she would wish for help. However, it was unwise to get involved without thought.

Although I want to help, it could also be a ruse, and all the parties involved might be bandits waiting to attack a good Samaritan.

"The Scots are outnumbered, and I believe they bear the colors of the Mackenzie clan," Adam added, causing her to raise her head to look at him again.

'Mackenzie' was the clan she was to be married into! Although she might have chosen to help out of the goodness of her heart, Adam's words decided it.

"Do we try to go around them, or should we step in, Miss?" Adam asked, although her face probably gave her answer.

"Help them, Adam," she ordered.

Immediately he gave a small bow and turning to the guards behind, gave a signal. Four guards rode past from behind them, but she knew that two would remain behind to protect the carriage. Adam gave another bow before leaving to join in the fray of the battle.

Her guards were some of the best, having been trained by her father for their purpose. They were loyal and treated well in her father's household. She knew they would protect her and ably perform the task. Mary said nothing, and Jane wondered if the governess approved of her orders or not. It did not matter, as Mary held no sway in that respect, but she was sure that helping those with the colors of her soon-to-be husband's clan was the right choice.

As she expected, it was not long before the sounds of battle died down, and Jane smiled to herself. Her party had subdued the enemy, and as the future Lady of the Mackenzie clan, she was already helping her people. The carriage moved forward a little before stopping again, and she was just in time to hear Adam yelling at the Scots.

"You ungrateful bastards! Is this how you speak to people who help you?!" she heard Adam's angry voice. Her smile fell and contorted into a frown of confusion. Adam was a calm person, so he would not be incensed without good reason. What could have gone wrong?

"I dinnae remember askin' fer help from ye English shites! What should I be grateful fer when ye stepped into our fight uninvited? Now ye want to make me lick yer feet in thanks? We would have been fine on our own if ye had gone on yer way." An unfamiliar voice responded in the harsh accent of the Highlanders. Her expression frosted over as rage sparked in her chest from the stranger's rudeness.

"We should have just left you to face your lot on your own! I only acted on the magnanimous order I was given, but if I knew what a waste it would be, we would have saved our energy." Adam spat, causing the rude Scot to laugh derisively.

"Magnanimous, ye say? Och, ye English love to make yerselves feel righteous! As though yer Lord or whoever's in that carriage cared about me truly. Let him come out here and tell me that he didnae simply dae it out o' self-righteousness with the expectancy of some thankful bootlickin'," the Scot retorted.

Furious, Jane stepped down from the carriage, surprising Adam, who had been standing beside his horse right in front of the carriage doors.

"Miss!" Adam exclaimed in surprise as she stepped around him, turning her furious gaze to the antagonists. The first man her eyes met did not seem to be the speaker as he looked sheepish and avoided her gaze. Out of the three men, it was the one in the middle who was the culprit. Despite her rage, her heart staggered at the sight of him. Being so used to the clean-cut handsomeness of English noblemen, she was unprepared for the wild ruggedness of the man that stood before her.

He was handsome enough to steal the breath from her lungs, standing a few inches taller than Adam, his frame large and full of brute strength. His long brown hair was flying untamed around his chiseled face, and his dark eyes were so deep that she would gladly lose herself in them, if not for the disdain in his gaze. She glared at him as her rage returned.