The MacAulay Bride

by Nancy Pirri

  As he shrugged into his coat he heard muttered voices from the front of the clinic, then the sound of the outer door closing. He picked up his medical bag and moved to the doorway. Paul stood in the anteroom, holding a letter in his hands.

  "What is it?"

  The younger man looked up. "The constable said it's a summons."

  Harrison took the letter and sat down behind his desk.

  "He said ye should open it right away and that ye must respond within a week's time," his assistant said. "Have ye further need of me?"

  "No, thank you, Paul," Harrison muttered. He carefully pealed the sealing wax off the envelope and slid out the document. Then he read it from beginning to end.

  "Well, Raleigh?" asked Harrison the next morning, after his solicitor had read the summons through.

  "I won't deny you have problems, my friend, but they aren't insurmountable." Raleigh McKenna sat behind Harrison's desk and leaned back in his chair.

  "Good." Harrison took the chair across from him. "Now, if you could be more specific, I'd appreciate it. How shall I respond? This summons is requesting my appearance before a magistrate for a meeting with Brianna and her solicitor, one Jasper Hawkins."

  "First off, I'd like you to tell me why in God's name you haven't opened a bank account for your handfasted wife, as I suggested months ago?"

  Harrison's face heated under his solicitor's accusation. "I meant to, but in the end decided against it."

  "Why?"

  "I believed at the time she would have taken the money to purchase tickets to return to America."

  Raleigh growled, "You are treating your wife like another of your possessions, which is unfortunate. Setting up an allowance for her would have been a sign of good faith and trust on your part. I've also heard rumor that you have been holding her prisoner on Skye for the past four months. Is it true?"

  "What! Who told that bald-faced lie? Brianna traveled with my grandmother to her home on the Isle of Skye. It was purely her choice, and she only stayed a short while."

  "You call a month a short while?"

  "It was three weeks. I admit I rather firmly insisted Brianna stay longer to visit with Grandmother. But after another week passed I couldn't hold such a tight rein on her any longer so I fetched her home. But I've worried ever since that she would try and return to America."

  "I understand. But did it never occur to you to look into the laws? If you had you would have learned you have Scots law on your side with regards to your unborn heir. I advise you to rid yourself of your autocratic attitude. It won't do you a bit of good when we appear before the magistrate."

  "So, then, how do you advise me to respond to this summons?"

  "Forgive me, Harry, but before I give you my reply I must first ask you some rather private questions. It's important I know where we stand before we continue."

  "Ask away," Harrison said, folding his arms across his chest. "I've nothing to hide."

  Raleigh nodded. "Good." He leaned forward, elbows on the desk and frowned at the paper. Finally, he looked at Harrison. "First things first. She's demanding dissolution of your handfast due to the fact you've been untruthful with her from the moment you met her at the train station in America."

  "I wasn't aware telling falsehoods to one's wife was a crime," Harrison retorted.

  "I'm not denying you had good cause to be less than honorable, to lie, because of your father's will, but I encourage you not to add another one on top of it by denying it, or making excuses about the fact you had indeed lied."

  Harrison sighed. "All right, I admit it. But will I have the opportunity to defend my position?"

  "Certainly." Raleigh pierced Harrison with a level look. "Have you ever beaten your wife?"

  "Damn it, man, don't be ridiculous!"

  Raleigh raised his brow. "Think again. Think hard about events over the past several months before you reply."

  "Does...does she say I did?"

  "There is brief mention of an incident. Did you or did you not strike your wife with that damned, infernal paddle hanging on your kitchen wall?"

  Harrison scowled at his feet. "Two swats on the derriere, that's all."

  "Did you believe you had good cause?"

  "Yes!" Harrison leaned forward. "And she'd better not have lied about the fact."

  Raleigh went on to read aloud the events of that memorable day as Brianna had recited them. Harrison agreed with her telling, even as a small smile appeared on his lips.

  Raleigh scowled. "I can't see one humorous thing about the event, Harrison."

  A huge grin split Harrison's face, but slipped when Raleigh added, "I'll inform you now old Magistrate Phillips Rothaway won't find any of this amusing."

  Harrison groaned. "With the way my luck's running, it doesn't surprise me that Rothaway is the justice."

  "Which may be to your advantage." Raleigh arched one eyebrow and smiled. "Since he happened to be your father's best friend, and your godfather, I believe you haven't much to worry about. And we certainly know how Rothaway hounded you to marry over the past several years, completely supporting your father's wishes. I also believe Rothaway will agree that you were within your rights to physically chastise your wife on that particular occasion. Did I hear it occurred in some forest just down the road from Winterhaven?"

  Harrison narrowed his gaze on Raleigh's mocking expression and nodded curtly.

  Raleigh continued, "You had been concerned for her safety and had acted accordingly, as you would have with any one of your dependents. That you would not tolerate impetuous behavior, with the possibility of disastrous consequences, was your right. Would you say that about sums up things?"

  "Precisely." Harrison sighed. "So, she doesn't want to be married to me."

  "No, she doesn't, and she has every intention of returning to America with her children.."

  "Damn it, Raleigh! She cannot leave me. Would she take monetary compensation, and agree to stay?"

  "She hasn't asked for so much as a farthing, which frankly amazes me."

  Harrison smiled. "Not surprising at all. Even before my brother all but abandoned her, Brianna's been working to support herself and her sons by taking boarders into her home."

  "Damn, but the woman does put up a good case for her independence. And, if her story is true regarding Payton's desertion, that could go against you, but I doubt it."

  "And why is that?"

  "Two MacAulay men taking advantage of her could very well hurt your chances of keeping her here in Scotland, which don't appear good in the first place, with one exception."

  "And that is?" Harrison inquired.

  "Luckily she is carrying your heir. Until the child is born she must remain on Scotland's soil. After she gives birth, you won't be able to prevent her from leaving with her elder sons, but she won't be able to take your heir."

  "Look, Raleigh, I love her, damn it. And what about Payton's will? He wanted his sons raised in Scotland."

  Raleigh shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Brianna and her sons are American citizens and are entitled to the protection of their home country, as you are well aware. They have the right to return whenever they like." He arched one eyebrow. "Have you told her you love her?"

  "No, but she knows I do," Harrison muttered.

  "So, when were you planning on revealing this rather vital piece of information?"

  Harrison swore under his breath. "I will, eventually. You know how difficult it is for me to express myself about something like this. As I said, Brianna knows I love her. Hell, I can barely keep my hands off her."

  "Not good enough," said Raleigh. "Women count on words, not mere actions where love is concerned. Unfortunately, it's too late to tell her now. She won't believe you. Your heir is your lucky charm. In the end you know she won't leave her babe behind, no matter how much she dislikes you."

  ***

  Two weeks after receiving the summons, Harrison and Brianna sat in Magistrate Rothaway's chambers and listened to the elderly man cl
arify things.

  "Mrs. MacAulay, ye have the right to leave Scotland with yer sons, Harry and Jamie, but only after you've given birth to the MacAulay heir. Then, the child will remain here in Scotland, with his father."

  "Please, your honor," Brianna's attorney protested.

  "Not another word will I hear from ye, Jasper Hawkins," Rothaway warned, glaring at the man from beneath gray, bushy eyebrows. "How dare ye try and fleece this woman! I'm informing ye now that ye will not receive so much as a pound from her in payment."

  "But--"

  "Not another word!"

  The magistrate turned to Brianna. "Now then, Hawkins was unjustified in leading ye on to believe yer case was a strong one, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies and apologies. Nevertheless, the law is the law." He glanced at Harrison. "I believe we've all agreed and have established that the one domestic corporal incident that occurred some months ago was deemed necessary. Is that correct?"

  Harrison nodded and leaned forward, relieved to see Brianna give a slight nod. He sank back in his chair, but shot forward when Brianna asked, "May I speak, your honor?"

  "Of course, my dear."

  Harrison groaned inside at Rothaway's benign response.

  "Doesn't it matter that Laird MacAulay deceived me from the beginning? That he tricked me into handfasting with him? That he'd planned from the very start, from the moment he'd heard about my husband's death to coerce me into giving him his heir?"

  As Harrison listened to her sobbing, guilt prompted him to want to promise her anything if she'd only stop crying. Raleigh nudged Harrison, a warning to keep silent.

  "Mrs. MacAulay, I intend addressing that very issue with yer husband momentarily."

  "Oh, but we're not married," she said quickly.

  Rothaway scowled. "Ye're handfasted aren't you?" At her slight nod he continued, "Good. Then I encourage ye now to go home and think on how the lives of yer sons will change if ye returned to America. Think how ye will be denying them the love of family. I also extend my condolences to ye fer yer first husband's deplorable behavior, and this one's deceit." He nodded toward Harrison. "Think long and hard before ye come to a decision, but know this; ye will not be leaving Scotland with the MacAulay heir, not without his father's consent. Do ye understand?"

  Brianna nodded tearfully. As she came to her feet, she wobbled. Harrison quickly reached out a hand to steady her, but she stumbled away from him.

  He swore then and there to do everything in his power to make her stay, to make things right between them. To do everything he could do to make her happy. Hopefully she would learn to love him. His gaze followed her as she moved to the door. Raleigh stepped around Harrison and opened the door for her. Harrison scowled when Raleigh leaned down and whispered in her ear. Brianna met Raleigh's eyes, nodded, and left the chambers.

  After first reprimanding, then dismissing Brianna's solicitor, Magistrate Rothaway turned a jaundiced eye on Harrison. Never before had he been subjected to such a look from anyone. No one would have dared. But he deemed it wise to hold his tongue and take his punishment.

  "My God, what was going through yer head when you planned this?" Rothaway barked. Before Harrison could think of a reply the man turned to Raleigh. "And I'd better not find out ye had a hand in this!"

  "He knew nothing of my plans, sir," Harrison said.

  Raleigh had, in fact, been stunned when Harrison explained how he planned on fetching his sister-in-law himself, knowing well his inability to cope with sea travel. Besides, in this day and age, that sort of job would have been turned over to servants. But Harrison had known he couldn't afford to have one of his retainers ruin his chances in gaining Brianna's cooperation. He'd had no choice but to fetch her himself.

  "There isn't a single, viable excuse for the foul manner in which ye treated that poor woman. None! Ye should have found another way of handling the affair. An honorable way."

  Harrison flinched at that last remark. "I plan on working hard to make things right between us. If it takes me the rest of my life, I will."

  The chair creaked when Rothaway sank back in his chair. "Yes, well, it very well may take ye that long, but meanwhile I intend to mete out justice. I do not enjoy doing this, ye being my godson and all, but I cannot allow ye to leave unscathed."

  Harrison remained silent and braced himself for his sentence.

  "I'm ordering ye to pay yer wife a sum of eight-hundred pounds per month, in an account in her name only, and two-hundred pounds a month to each of her sons. Ye will also perform one year of medical service to the Edinburgh community, free of charge, not a pound will ye receive until then. Ye will also make good on yer promise to provide her with her own home, and..." He glanced down at a document on his desk. "Oh, yes, a carriage for her use and ponies for the boys." He looked up at Harrison. "Do ye remember agreeing to these items?"

  Harrison sighed and nodded. "Yes, but the stipulation was that she birth my heir first."

  "That's all changed now," the magistrate said briskly. "Ye'll give them to her immediately. Do ye understand?"

  "Yes," Harrison replied as anger burned inside him. She was his handfasted wife and should remain with him at Winterhaven. A house of her own? Ridiculous! He wanted nothing better than to argue with Rothaway but knew it was unwise. He also knew the man wasn't finished with him yet.

  Harrison braced himself for what he believed would be the cruelest punishment, since he didn't feel the aforementioned discipline to be too terrible a hardship.

  "Ye will now return to yer home and convince the woman that ye love her, and that ye desire to stay handfasted and that ye'll marry her."

  A slow grin spread across Harrison's lips.

  "She is an extraordinary woman," Rothaway continued, "Convince her that ye are an equally extraordinary man."

  Rothaway rose and Harrison and Raleigh followed suit. Harrison caught the twinkling in his godfather's eyes and grinned.

  "Good day to ye both, and good luck." Rothaway stood behind his desk, his eyes leveled on Harrison. "Oh, and one more thing. Get rid of that damned paddle. There are other more civilized, and delightful ways, I might add, to handling an ornery woman."

  "I've already done so," Harrison assured him.

  ***

  Brianna entered Winterhaven through the double doors Stanton held open for her. She was sad and furious. It wasn't that she hated Scotland, or that she particularly missed America. What she did miss was her freedom to come and go as she pleased. If she could have that she would be quite content to stay in Scotland.

  Magistrate Rothaway had made a valid point with regards to her sons' welfare. She wouldn't feel right about taking them away from their only family of whom they'd grown attached. But she also knew she couldn't continue to live under the same roof with Harrison--no matter how much she loved the jackass! She sighed, deciding even after all his lies she loved him. At the same time, she detested her weakness for him.

  She handed her coat to the maid and entered the parlor. There she found Harrison's grandmothers having tea.

  "Ah, you're back!" Jean exclaimed. "So, what did Magistrate Rothaway have to say?"

  "Well, it went as I thought it would; Harrison has won this particular battle." She looked up when her sons ran into the parlor and came to a screeching halt in front of her.

  "Yes! Uncle Harry won!" Harry shouted.

  The women gasped.

  Brianna inquired sharply. "Where ever did you hear that kind of talk, Harry?"

  Harry blushed and muttered, "No one."

  "Don't you lie to me, Harry MacAulay! I won't stand for it."

  "Joel Culliver, MacPhearson's stable boy told us."

  Brianna's eyes widened. "And where the devil would he have heard the news so quickly when I just arrived home?"

  Harry shrugged. "Don't know. May we go for a ride? We're done with chores and homework."

  Brianna sighed. "All right, but be back in an hour for dinner."

  The boys ran from the parlor and Bria
nna looked at Jean. "How could news travel so quickly?"

  "You'd be amazed, my girl. Is it true?"

  "Yes." Brianna's lower lip quivered. "It's all true, I'm afraid. I've lost, and he's won. And tell me now, is that anything new?" She looked at Jean. "Your grandson is a very clever man."

  "I'm happy, dear," grandmother replied. "I've never wanted to see you leave, but I do not want you deprived of your own happiness, either. What will you do?"

  "I'm not certain. I do know that I can't stay here."

  Grandmother Mary chose that moment to enter the parlor and had overheard her words. "Well, of course you must stay here! Where else would you live?"

  "I don't know," Brianna said.

  "I must admit I've heard of rather modern couples living apart," Grandmother Mary said.

  Brianna gave Mary a thoughtful look. "In separate homes, you say?"

  Mary nodded. Her words reminded Brianna of Harrison's long ago made promises.

  "Do sit down," Mary said. "All that pacing reminds me too much of my grandson."

  Brianna plunked down on one end of the divan and bit her lip thoughtfully.

  "Look who's arrived," Jean said dryly.

  Brianna glanced up and gasped. Harrison stood in the doorway. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin, daring him to make so much as one gloating remark.

  He crossed the room and sank down beside her. He slipped an arm across the back and tweaked one of her curls that had loosened from her upswept hair.

  Brianna couldn't believe the audacity of the man, after all that had occurred this day. "Remove your hand," she snapped, stiffening her spine.

  He released her and said, "I'm not sorry you'll be staying, Brianna. I need you. You may not believe me, but it's the truth. I've never truly needed anyone before in my life. Until you."

  "What makes you think I'm staying?"

  "Because you've no choice, not until you've delivered my heir. Besides, I think you'll be thoroughly delighted with Magistrate Rothaway's words and punishment he issued me after your departure."