He marched over, but the men did not spot him. Her worried gaze met his. “I have no coin,” she protested.
“We heard you were rich.” The first man shifted closer to her, backing her up toward the wall. “You came with horses.”
“But —”
Lachlan did not need to hear any more. These men were not offering friendship or assistance. He stepped in between Minerva and the men, bringing himself up to full height. “As the lady said, she has no coin.”
The man who had been closest ran his gaze up and down Lachlan. A sneer started on his lips until he met Lachlan’s unwavering, granite-like gaze. No doubt he had thought Lachlan might be some nobleman who was ill used to dealing with such people. He had thought wrong. He saw the man’s gaze latch onto the scars on his face, then down to his curled knuckles. Maybe the man even spotted the thin white slices upon his knuckles—evidence of many a fight.
The man swung a look to his companion then nodded slowly. “As you say, she has no coin.“
Both men turned away, hastening out of view. Lachlan took Minerva’s arm and ran his gaze over her. “Are you well? Forgive me, I shouldn’t have left you.”
“You were only close by.” She sighed “I should have been able to cope.”
He shook his head. “They were trying to intimidate you.” He made a disgusted noise. “Unfortunately, men like that are all too common in such areas. They are desperate.”
“We have beggars in London, but I will admit I do not have to worry about them myself.”
“We have a room for the night. The woman promises good food too.” He gestured to the stables that dominated the small village. “We can feed and water the horses and stable them for the night there.”
“Oh good. But will we not be losing time by stopping now?”
“We need rest first. Besides, we are but two days away now. A mere afternoon will not hurt our progress.” And he’d be damned if Minerva continued on without food and sleep.
She nodded and helped guide the horses to the long stable. The building looked as though it had been standing for many years with signs of repair in one corner and moss clinging to the gray stones. It might well have belonged to a castle once, but there was no sign of it anymore. Likely any stones that had been used to build the original keep had been taken long ago for the cottages around it. However, the locals would have found the stables useful for their animals, so it had been saved, and now, it appeared it was used as a communal space.
They fed and watered the horses and headed back to the cottage. Raised voices rattled the delicate windows of the one-story building. Minerva swung him an amused look. “Are you certain they are happy to have guests?”
He gave a tilted smile. “According to the wife, aye. I’m no’ so sure about the husband. But it seems the wife will keep him in line.”
The woman let them into a room fit only for smaller people. Lachlan had to duck to avoid the wooden beams. The fragrance of food made his stomach growl. Over the hearth, dinner was being prepared, and a generous warmth seeped into the kitchen. Though simply furnished, the house appeared comfortable and well looked after.
The old woman beamed at Minerva. “What a pretty wee lass you are. I’m Mrs. Campbell.” She thrust a thumb toward her husband, who was chopping up vegetables at the dining table. “That bag o’ bones is my husband. He is happy to have guests, are you not, my dear?”
“Indeed,” he grumbled, giving a carrot an aggressive slice.
She leaned toward Minerva. “He is only grumpy because he is hungry. Once he has eaten, he is sweet as honey. You will see.”
“Oh, of course.” Minerva shared an amused look with Lachlan.
“We do not get many visitors here, so it is exciting indeed to have folks such as yourself in our wee village.” Mrs. Campbell gestured for them to follow her, and she shuffled through an adjoining room and then into another at the rear of the house. “I am certain you know what it’s like, lass. Your husband no doubt has quite an appetite given his size.”“
“Oh, well…” Her cheeks tinged red.
“And here you have a sweet little English lass.” She grinned at Lachlan. “I could listen to you speak all day.” She nudged Lachlan’s stomach with her elbow. “Englishwomen do not normally know quality. You must have a fine one here.”
Lachlan rubbed his torso. He was beginning to understand why Mr. Campbell was so annoyed with his wife. The woman’s elbows were a lethal weapon.
He nodded. “She is a fine one indeed.” He met Minerva’s gaze, and she glanced away.
“Well, here’s your room. ‘Tis wee, but it stays warm. I shall have Mr. Campbell set a fire, but I’m sure you wish to take a moment to get clean.”
Minerva busied herself with her ablutions, and Lachlan had to force himself not to watch. A woman splashing water on her face should not have been so appealing, but she closed her eyes as she rubbed a hand across the back of her neck, catching the curls there and making them wet. He bit back a groan. Sharing a room with her was not going to be easy.
Raised voices came from outside. He shared a look with Minerva, who smiled. “They are…interesting.”
“Looks like we are in for a noisy night,” he murmured.
“I do not mind too much. It reminds me of my siblings.”
“I imagine with four of you, you had a noisy childhood.” He took his turn at the washbowl, throwing frigid water over his face. It did little to dampen the desire that was running rampant through his veins, unfortunately.
Minerva threw herself onto the springy bed, flinging herself back and closing her eyes with a sigh. “My body hurts.”
“Aye, I’m not surprised.”
She opened her eyes and pushed herself up onto her elbows. “Angel and Seth were the noisiest. Though, believe it or not, I was quite a noisy child too. At least before…”
He nodded.
“Theo always tended to be more serious, though he was never quite as bad as he is now. The death of his wife left him horribly dour. I still have hope that he might find some loving woman who can make him happy, but he will not even entertain the idea of marrying again—despite not having any children.”
“I imagine your mother is not happy about that.”
She laughed. “Not at all.”
Lachlan snatched one of the blankets from the bed and found another on a nearby chair. He laid them out on the floor, bundling one up for a pillow.
“What are you doing?”
“I imagine after a meal, I will not feel much like doing this.”
Her brow creased. “But what are you doing?”
“Making a bed.”
“This bed is big enough for the two of us.” She lowered her voice. “And we are meant to be married.”
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“But we…we slept together last night.”
And he’d be damned if he ever forgot that. But it could not happen again. Not when he did not trust himself to be so close to her. It had taken all his willpower not to draw her against him, kiss her until she was delirious, and strip her of her clothes. Poor lass probably had no idea how close to danger she was.
The voices outside grew louder. He grimaced. “What do you say to us waiting here a wee while longer until supper?”
She pressed a hand to her lips and giggled. “I think that is an excellent idea.”
At least they could avoid the arguing couple. It did not help him with his matter of being in far too close confines with her, however.
Chapter Ten
Though Minerva could not claim the wagon could match the family carriage for comfort, travelling on a simple wagon was preferable to spending more days riding horseback. Thank goodness he had managed to borrow one from one of the villagers. She suspected his reputation as a wealthy man had a lot to do with that generosity, not that he would admit it.
Mrs. Campbell waved vigorously from her doorway, and while her husband tried to turn away, Minerva saw her grab him by his arm a
nd force him to wave too. Pressing her lips together, Minerva shook her head. “I think Mrs. Campbell shall miss us.”
“I do not think Mr. Campbell will.”
“I am not certain.” She gave the couple one last wave. “It means he is all alone with his wife though.”
“If that is what it is like to be married, I am glad I’m not.”
Minerva didn’t know how to respond to that. She had never really thought of marriage much at all until…well…she couldn’t really admit to that now, could she? That she had been thinking what it might be like to be a farmer’s wife? Or a rich Scotsman’s wife? She shook her head and focused on the passing scenery.
Seated next to Lachlan, the hard, wooden seat did little to protect her from every lump and ridge they encountered. However, being a passenger gave her the time to marvel at the landscape. The farther away from the village they travelled, the more dramatic the scenery became.
Mountains seemed to surround them like giants watching over the land. To the right, a loch spread almost as far as she could see, its deep blue color reflecting the mountains and fields behind it and creating a vista that made her feel practically invisible. They followed a vague path that showed the indents of horse hooves from whenever it last rained. It was the only way she knew they were still on a path at all, but Lachlan seemed to understand exactly where he was going.
“How is it you seem to know every part of Scotland?”
He chuckled. “Not every part. But I travelled these lands a lot as a lad. My father sold produce from his farm all over. There were many a day that I had to make this journey to the next village.”
“How does your family feel about your very different life now?”
“With a little bemusement, I think. Ma spends much time in England these days, taking the air by the sea.” He shrugged. “She deserves it.”
She eyed him, taking in his strong profile and firm jaw—the stubble on it a little thicker now and flecked with grey. There had been men in her life who had been richer and more well educated than Lachlan and who even spoke of honor and read about it and philosophized about it, but she suspected none could know the true meaning of it. Not like Lachlan. He had worked his whole life to better himself and to ensure that his family was looked after. New money or not, he was more gentleman than almost anyone she knew.
“You do not talk much of your home. Is it very grand?”
“Aye, I suppose it is. I bought it from a landowner who had significant debt. It came ready furnished, and I’ve done little to it.” He smirked. “It is hard to know what to do with a house like that.”
“Especially when you are used to living on a farm,” she commented. “But those sorts of houses can be homely, if you try. For example, my brother’s house has a wonderful library in which I used to escape. It was cozy and homely, despite its size. With grand houses, I find you must carve out your own space within them.”
“I forgot I was riding next to a lady who has no doubt experienced many of these houses.” He smiled. “I should have you visit and tell me what to do with the blasted place.”
“I would like that very much.” She gave a soft smile and glanced away at the scenery. She would like that very much, but would it even happen? After she had completed her task, she would have to return to London with haste to ensure her part was done. And with any luck, she would find out about her siblings’ progress.
She supposed she might never see Lachlan again. The mere thought made her heart ache. How odd it was that she could only know this man a few days and yet feel more comfortable, more content, and more confident in his presence than in anyone else’s.
A tiny droplet of water tickled the side of her nose. For a moment, Minerva feared she was crying at the thought of leaving Lachlan. The tightness in her throat refused to budge, but it was not tears. She glanced up at the darkening skies, the leaden clouds heavy and threatening. Another droplet followed then several more, slipping past her hat and clinging to her cheeks.
“Damn,” Lachlan muttered. “I had hoped the weather would hold out for a while.”
“It is getting heavier.” Minerva had to lift her voice as the clouds seemed to split and release a deluge of water upon them. The raindrops pounded the wagon, creating a cacophony, meaning she could hardly hear Lachlan.
He looped an arm around her and drew her into his body. There was no protecting her from the torrent, but she appreciated the warmth of him. The wheels began to slip on the sodden ground, and the horses looked miserable. He pulled the wagon up by a tumbled down old cottage.
“Go and take shelter, lass, I shall see to the horses.” He motioned to the cottage.
She shook her head vigorously. “It is not like I’ll get any wetter.”
She helped unshackle the horses and sheltered them as best as they could under the eaves of the house. The horse gave her a grateful look when she patted him down.
Once the animals were settled, they stepped into the darkened confines of the cottage. Only half the roof still existed, but it was enough to protect them from the rain. Minerva wrapped her arms about herself and shuddered. Trickles of rain had slipped under her hat and down the collar of her pelisse. She was certain not a single part of her was dry.
Lachlan reached for her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. She tried to smile, but her teeth rattled. He had fared no better. His shirt was almost see-through under his jacket, and his hair was sodden. With his lashes spiky, and droplets clinging to stubble on his jaw, he gave her a lopsided smile. Her heart practically ceased to beat. His dark gaze searched hers—what for, she could not say, but she hoped she gave him the right answer.
He drew her close with a groan and thrust a hand up under her hat, sending it tumbling to the floor. His lips claimed hers, seeking and fiery. Demanding and possessive. She gasped under the deluge of his kisses. He pulled back as quickly as he had started, leaving her breathless and wanting.
He grimaced. “I should not have done that.”
“But—”
“You’re the bonniest lass I have ever met. The kindest and sweetest too.” He turned away and thrust a hand through his hair. “Damn, I want to kiss you all the time.”
She wanted him to kiss her all the time too. She did not know how to say it. Or why he found kissing her so aggravating. She opened her mouth then closed it.
“We both know I should not be travelling with you alone.” He gave her a grim look. “Should word of this get out, you will be ruined. And I will be to blame.”
“This will not get out.”
“Regardless, I would act as a gentleman. I should not be taking advantage.”
Minerva scowled. As much as she appreciated his gentlemanly behavior, she was getting tired of this. “Am I not a woman who can think for herself?”
He sighed. “Minerva, you are new to all of this. The travelling to being with… well, with me. You said it yourself, you wish to try new things. Kissing is not something you should try with a man like me, however. It should be with someone who will court you in the right circumstances. With a damned chaperone.”
She bit down on her lip. He was not wrong. At least about the new experiences. Or about being with a chaperone. She wasn’t interested in someone who would court her properly. Goodness, she was in her mid-twenties now. If a man had not caught her interest by now, she could not see it happening anytime soon.
Of course, someone here had caught her interest.
Lachlan.
But he was so damned intent on playing the gentleman, that he did not seem to care what she actually wanted. Sometimes, she felt as though he was as trapped by his past as she was. She lifted her chin. “Why are you so scared that someone will believe you’re not a gentleman?”
He peered at her. “Scared? I have no reason to be scared. But you do, lass.”
“We are not in the middle of London society. Should something happen—a mere kiss, for goodness sakes—there are no gossips to tattle on us.” Despite the chill in the
air, she unwrapped her arms and placed her hands on her hips. “I have spent so long avoiding any experiences. Is it so wrong that I should wish to experience a kiss?”
“You have experienced a kiss.” He blew out a breath. “And another after that too. That is two too many.”
She shook her head at him. “You have nothing to prove to me, you know. Nor to anyone else, by the sounds of it. If someone knows you and does not respect you merely because of your past, that is their problem.”
“What does that mean?” His brows furrowed.
“All this talk of gentlemanly behavior, I know you insist on such because you fear how others will view you.”
Lachlan snorted. “I know how others view me. If I am not an amusement to them, I am the subject of their disdain.”
“Maybe you are. But it should not matter. You have achieved things that so few in your position will ever achieve. You have given your family a comfortable life. And should you have children, they shall have all the benefits of wealth.” She shifted closer to him, a hand to his arm. “You have done it, Lachlan. You need not let the opinions of others govern your behavior.”
He twisted slightly away from her. “Spoken like someone who will always have respect, regardless. I imagine your brothers may do whatever they please without fear of retribution.”
Minerva eyed him for several moments. Perhaps this was hopeless. She was not certain why a single kiss should bother her so anyway. As she had already told herself, she would be returning home before long, and Lachlan would be consigned to the memories of her past. But she’d be damned if she was consigned to such labels.
“My brothers certainly benefit from their wealth. That does not mean there are no consequences to their behavior. Goodness knows, Theo has been unable to escape the many damages his wife created.” She grasped his arm tighter and urged him to look at her. “Regardless, I know what it is like to be haunted by one’s past. You need to let go of it.”
Once a Wallflower, Always a Wallflower (The Inheritance Clause Book 3) Page 7