The Highlander's Accidental Marriage (Marriage Mart Mayhem)

by Callie Hutton

  Braeden closed his eyes. “Thank God for that.”

  “Do you feel up to some tea?” Sybil asked.

  “Yes.” Sarah tried to ease her body up, then dropped back with a wince. “That would be nice.”

  “Stay still, lass. ’Twill not help yer head any to be moving about.”

  “The healer left a tisane for you to take that will ease the pain in your head.” Sybil headed to the door. “I’ll bring it when I return with the tea.”

  As soon as Sybil left the room, Braeden took Sarah’s hands in his. It seemed that was all the lass needed to turn into a watering pot. Tears slowly dripped down her cheeks. “I was so frightened when the horse reared up. All I could think about was my father breaking his neck.”

  “Aye. I’m sure you did.” He reached out and touched her damp cheek. ’Twas time to let the lass know her stay here at Bedlay had come to an end. For whatever reason, it was obvious Sarah did not accept their marriage, would not accept him, and was playing some type of childish game. Well, it would all end now. Even if their marriage had been unplanned and perhaps not to her liking, the fact remained: they were married and it was time for her to acknowledge that.

  Sarah wiped her face and gave him a hint of a smile. “I probably shouldn’t cry. It only makes my head hurt more.”

  “Once yer feeling up to it, ye will travel with me to Dundas.” He failed to make the statement come out softer than it did.

  “What do you mean?”

  “’Tis simple, lass. This hiding with yer sister, pretending yer still a single lass, must come to an end. Ye’ve had a visit with Sybil, ye’ve enjoyed her bairns, but now ’tis time to acknowledge that yer a married woman, and yer place is with yer husband.”

  He could have bitten his tongue when her face paled even further. He’d promised himself he would give her time to recover, and here he was ordering her about and making things worse barely ten minutes after the lass had woken up. “Ach, lass. I’m sorry to upset ye.”

  Before Sarah could respond, Sybil returned to the room carrying a tray with a teapot, several cups, and a plate of baked goods. “Mrs. MacDougal sent some fresh cakes and bread for you.”

  Braeden helped Sarah sit up, and Sybil placed the tray across her lap.

  “I brought the tisane to ease the ache in your head.” Sybil snapped open a napkin and handed it to her sister. “Mrs. MacDougal sent enough for the three of us, so why don’t we all have a bit of breakfast?”

  Sybil made quick work of pouring and fixing everyone’s tea and passing the plate of bread and cakes. Perhaps sensing the tension in the room, she made small talk about her bairns and how Liam was becoming adept at changing nappies.

  Once they’d all had their fill, Sybil removed the tray. “I’ll send Alice in to help you wash. I think you should get as much sleep as you can today. It will help the healing.”

  Braeden stood and kissed Sarah lightly on the forehead. “There are a few matters I need to see to today, lass, to prepare for your arrival tomorrow.” He turned to Sybil. “Please have Alice pack Sarah’s belongings. She’s moving to Dundas with me.”

  Sybil nodded. “Of course.” She darted a glance at Sarah. “I think that is best. I’ll take care of all that while you recover.”

  Sarah wanted to scream with frustration. She hated everyone planning things for her and talking over her as if she weren’t even present. And since when did Braeden become so overbearing? In one breath he told her she was moving to his room at Dundas, and before they even had a chance to discuss it, he ordered Sybil to have Alice pack her belongings.

  All the goings-on only increased the pain in her head. What she wanted more than anything right now was the tisane Sybil had given her to take effect and more sleep. She didn’t want to think about her interfering husband or her obliging sister.

  Sybil and Braeden walked to the door, their heads together as they spoke. Most likely arranging the rest of her life. Sarah shifted on the bed and faced the window so she wouldn’t have to watch them. Soon the tisane would help her sleep—her last thought before she drifted into darkness.

  Sarah awoke to bright sunlight streaming through the window facing the foot of her bed. Alice hummed as she folded gowns and placed them into her trunks.

  She rose up on her elbows. “What are you doing?”

  Alice turned to her, a huge smile on her face. “I’m packing your clothes. Did you have a nice nap?”

  “Hardly a nap, I’m just trying to avoid pain,” she mumbled. At least her head didn’t hurt as much as it had when she’d awoken before. She eased her body back onto the pillow and sulked like an obstinate child. Her husband had ordered her to move to Dundas, and it seemed everyone was rather jolly with the idea except her. No one cared what she thought, what she wanted. Exactly why she’d decided to have an independent life. A life she chose, not one forced on her.

  “Alice, can you ask Sybil to join me?”

  The maid patted the gown she’d just put into the trunk. “Yes, my lady. I saw her a few moments ago, and she was going down to ask Mrs. MacDougal for a bit of soup for you.”

  Sarah closed her eyes and tried her best to block out the sounds of Alice succumbing to Braeden’s edict. Was there no one on her side? Did she not have a say on where she would lay her head at night? Her eyes opened with a snap. Would Braeden expect her to sleep with him? And do other things that happened in a bed?

  He’d mentioned he had a “room” at Dundas, so there was most likely no chance of her having a separate bed to sleep in. If only she could be sure she could stay strong and not succumb to his attentions. His kisses and caresses would most assuredly wear down her resistance. If she allowed Braeden to make love to her, there was a chance she could conceive a child, and there would go her dreams.

  She must teach her traitorous body to behave itself. It was all so confusing, and her persistent headache didn’t help sort out all the problems that lined up in her brain like soldiers on parade.

  “Here we are. Mrs. MacDougal prepared wonderful cock-a-leekie soup for you.” Sybil bustled into the room, once again carrying a heavily laden tray. One glance at Sarah’s mulish expression and Sybil addressed Alice. “You can take time for your luncheon now. I’ll sit with Sarah.”

  “Thank you, my lady.” Alice finished laying a bright yellow scarf on top of the gowns in the trunk and left the room.

  “What’s the matter?” Sybil didn’t wait long to go on the attack. She placed the tray on Sarah’s lap and pulled up a chair alongside the bed.

  “Why do you think there is anything the matter?”

  “Has it slipped your mind that, as your twin, no one knows you better than I do? In fact, I know you so well, I can tell you what the matter is.” Before Sarah had a chance to answer, Sybil continued, “You are annoyed that Braeden ordered you to pack up and go to his home.”

  “How dare he just come in here, command my maid to pack my belongings, and then stroll out of here without so much as a bye-your-leave? Who does he think he is?”

  “Your husband.” Sybil raised her hand as Sarah opened her mouth to speak. “And it is time. He’s been very patient, you know.”

  Sarah raised her chin, wincing as her head throbbed at the movement. “I can assure you I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you do. Stop being silly. You’ve been married for more than a month, and you have yet to share a residence with your husband. How long did you think he would allow that?”

  “Need I remind you, I was coming here and endured that blasted journey for the sole purpose of visiting you, not to marry some man on the road?”

  “Oh, Sarah,” Sybil said, smiling and shaking her head. “Aside from the fact that it was your mistake that married the two of you, it is very obvious to me that you care for Braeden, as he does for you.”

  “No.” Sarah struggled to sit up. “I do not care for him. At least, not the way one cares for a husband. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.”

  �
�Who are you?” Sybil strung the words out. “You’re giving me the impression you purposely don’t want to have feelings for your husband. I know you remember our late night conversations about how we all wanted love in our marriages, not the typical ton alliances. Isn’t that what we all planned to hold out for? You, me, Abigail, Marion, Mary?”

  Sybil snapped open the napkin and tucked it under Sarah’s chin. “I’m quite sure you still haven’t told Braeden about your book.” She picked up the spoon, dipped it into the soup, and pointed it at Sarah’s face.

  Frowning, Sarah took the spoon from her sister’s hand. “I can certainly feed myself.”

  “Well?” Sybil said. “Have you told him?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  Sarah sighed and wiped her mouth. “I truly don’t think he would understand, and what difference would it make anyway? He is planning on going to Rome, and I have to be in London. That means we cannot be together, anyway.”

  “If you talk to him, maybe the two of you can come to a compromise.”

  “You well know any compromise will be on my part. Men don’t concede, they make their wives adhere to their wishes.”

  Sybil studied her, and Sarah looked away. She couldn’t explain how very much this meant to her. How could she tell her beloved twin sister that always being one half of a pair had sometimes left her frustrated? Years of sharing everything from birthdays, to identical gifts, to friends, to their come-out balls. Her writing was something that belonged to her, alone. It wasn’t something she had to share with Sybil.

  Now because of the rash words she had spouted out in some unknown inn in Scotland, she was married to Braeden. She was going to be part of a pair again—just when she’d worked so hard to be independent.

  “This is the cottage you’ve been living in?” Sarah stared out the carriage window at the impressive stone building about a mile down the pathway from Dundas Castle. The vehicle carrying them to her new residence had just rolled to a stop.

  “Nay. I keep a room at Dundas for when I’m not at my house in Edinburgh, but when Duncan learned ye were finally joining me, he offered the use of the cottage while we’re still in Scotland. I had yer things delivered this morning, and I believe ye will be comfortable for as long as we need to stay here.”

  She pushed away his last comment. Right now, her head ached and she was much too tired to begin the conversation about her book, and what that meant.

  “Where do your parents live?”

  Braeden pointed west of where the stone cottage sat. “Mum and Da live over that hill, in a smaller place, since they work at the castle and are there all day. All my brothers and sisters have cottages scattered around them. My brothers and brothers-in-law breed sheep, and each have a small garden for their own use. They are fortunate to have kept their land. ’Tis a good life for them.”

  “But not the life for you.”

  “Nay.”

  It was three days after she’d been thrown from the horse. Her head pain had lessened to a mild throb. Despite her initial grumbling about Braeden dragging her from Bedlay, she was not unhappy about leaving Liam’s home.

  They’d all been very gracious to her, but she had begun to feel out of place. Lady MacBride and her daughters kept themselves busy with the running of the castle while Sybil and the nanny concerned themselves with the babes. They’d enjoyed having Sarah join them in the nursery, but she was certainly not needed there.

  Liam spent hours each day dealing with estate matters. Last evening he and Sybil had made a visit to her bedchamber. Liam thanked her for visiting and made a point of telling her it was proper for her to take her place alongside her husband. And she would always be welcome at Bedlay.

  For a visit, he’d added.

  Braeden hopped down and strode to her side of the carriage. She held out her hand for him to assist her, but instead he gathered her into his arms and headed to the door. A servant opened the portal, and they sailed through.

  Being this close to Braeden for the first time in weeks did something to her insides. The familiar warmth of his body, the scent of his soap, the strength of his arms holding her, enveloped her with a sense of safety and protection. She must learn to control those feelings. It wasn’t something she wanted to get comfortable with. They would soon be parting ways, he to his work, she to hers.

  She glanced at his strong features, his determined jaw, high cheekbones, and deep blue eyes behind rounded spectacles. Her lady parts fluttered, reminding her that allowing Braeden to make love to her could end with a babe on the way. Perhaps she could use her head injury as an excuse to avoid his attentions, but eventually that would end, and Braeden would be very persistent in his desire for her.

  “Do ye want to rest in bed for a while?”

  “No. Please, I’m tired of bed. Is there a sitting room? And can you please put me down? I can certainly walk.” She had to set some distance between them, even though all she wanted to do was burrow into his warm safe body and never face another day with the questions and confusion she’d been dealing with for weeks.

  “Ye will walk once I get ye settled. I won’t have ye falling because you’re weak.”

  She gasped. “I am not weak!”

  Ignoring her protest, he continued down the corridor and made a turn into a brightly lit room.

  She gasped. “Oh, this is lovely.” The pale rose and green room had obviously been decorated by a woman. One with very good taste. An Aubusson carpet of a Renaissance floral print covered the entire area. Three comfortable chairs surrounded a small table in the center of the room with a bowl of fresh flowers.

  Large windows with deep green floral drapes allowed the afternoon sun to cast dappled shadows from a large oak tree a few feet from the cottage. Along the mantelpiece, small carved wooden animals kept watch from their perch.

  Braeden deposited her on the settee near the brightly burning fireplace, which took some of the Scottish dampness from the air. Once she was settled, he drew up one of the chairs from the center of the room and sat, resting one booted foot over his knee.

  He crossed his arms over his chest, looking like the professor he was. “I dinna ken how long this will be our home, but I want ye to feel comfortable here. We will continue to take our meals at Dundas, which I think ye will enjoy since yer friend Lady Margaret is looking forward to seeing ye.”

  She studied Braeden as he described the layout of the cottage and his plans for them to visit with his parents when she felt up to it. “They want to ken their daughter-in-law a bit better.”

  While he was talking, her thoughts wandered to how she could possibly spend time with him without losing her heart. His familiar face, expressive as he spoke, his spectacles slipping slightly down his nose that he pushed back automatically, and his little boy smile when he said something that pleased him, scared her to death.

  She needed to continue to remind herself that her life was not with this man, but in London. Even though it startled her to realize the joyful notion of an independent life had faded a bit. Once he’d carried her in his arms, she knew he already owned a part of her heart.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Later that evening, Braeden and Sarah took the short ride back to the cottage after supping with Duncan and members of his clan in the great hall. Sarah would have preferred to walk, but in the end she was glad for Braeden’s insistence that they ride. On the way back, her head began to pound, bringing on a slight nausea.

  She entered the cottage on Braeden’s arm, a slight moan escaping from her lips as a sharp pain stabbed her head.

  “Are ye all right?” He eyed her with concern.

  “Actually, I believe I would like to retire. I’m having some pain and could use a bit of that tisane the healer sent home with me.”

  “Aye, I’ll summon Alice to help ye.” Again he scooped her into his arms, but instead of resenting the action, she snuggled closer and inhaled his comforting smell. The constant pain in her head was wearing her out. She
didn’t have the strength or desire to fight her feelings right now.

  Once he laid her gently on the bed, he left with a promise to send Alice in and to return to sit with her for a while before she slept. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths and tried to relax. When her mind was wrestling with her fears and concerns, the pain grew worse.

  It had been pleasant seeing Lady Margaret again. Actually, her friend was now Lady McKinnon since she’d married the laird. It had been her wedding that brought Sybil to the Highlands. Sarah had intended to come, as well, but ague had kept her from the trip.

  No one in their family had much to do with the Highlands, yet both she and her twin had ended up married to Scottish men. Sarah’s idea of Highlanders had been men who fought, swilled whiskey, and chased women. That notion had been disabused after she’d met Liam when he had arrived at their home in Manchester Manor to convince Sybil to marry him. True love. Something she was avoiding like the plague.

  Maybe it’s too late?

  Although Liam had changed Sarah’s opinion of the Highlanders, nothing had prepared her for a man such as Braeden McKinnon, Scottish or not. She continued to marvel at his intelligence and having secured a university position at such a young age. Unfortunately, there were too many things about this unintentional husband of hers that she admired.

  “My lady, are you feeling a bit of pain?” Alice bustled into the room.

  “Yes.” Sarah straightened and eased off the bed. “Please help me undress and prepare for sleep. And I would love a sip of the tisane to ease the pain somewhat.”

  “This is a lovely house that Mr. McKinnon has.” Alice folded the gown she’d removed from Sarah. “Will you be living here permanently?”

  “No. Laird McKinnon has let this house to Mr. McKinnon while he awaits his letter from the Royal Society of Edinburgh about the expedition he hopes to join. After he receives that…” She shrugged.

  Alice stripped her down to her underclothes and helped her wash and dress in a warm, soft nightgown. After she was settled into bed and sipping on the warm liquid, Braeden stuck his head in the partially open door. “Are ye up for visitors, lass?”