When You Love a Scotsman

by Hannah Howell

  * * *

  “The lieutenant is here again.”

  Abbie gave a start and looked up from the book she was reading. “Where is he?”

  “In the parlor. Waiting. Looks like Julia is resting so you do not have to keep watch for a while.”

  Glancing at her friend, Abbie had to agree. Julia was finally having a good rest. She’d given her a tiny drop of the medicine and it was doing the job. Abbie hoped it was not going to hurt the child in any way. She checked her hair, tightened the ribbon on it, then brushed her skirts down and followed Mrs. Beaton down the stairs.

  Matthew stood up as she came into the room and smiled at her. Abbie sighed quietly because that was always a fine thing to see. “Afternoon, Matthew.”

  He stepped close and kissed her hand. “I was wondering if ye would care to go for a walk.”

  Glancing at the sun beaming through the window, Abbie nodded. “Yes, I think that would suit me very well.”

  He took her by the arm and led her out into the hall, idly wondering why Mrs. Beaton was lurking around. After helping Abbie into her coat, he smiled at Mrs. Beaton and led Abbie out the door. He heard the door shut behind them with a sharp click and wondered why the woman was in such a sour mood.

  “Is something wrong with Mrs. Beaton?” he asked.

  “No. She is just in a bit of a snit about Julia having a child.”

  “Weel, not much can be done to change that.”

  “I know. I am just hoping she gets over it. After all, Julia is married.”

  Enjoying the quiet of the day, Abbie barely noticed when he abruptly turned into an alley between two deserted houses. “Why are we in here again?”

  “Privacy,” he said as he walked her back until she was pinned between him and a wall. “We so rarely have any.”

  Before she could respond to that truth, he was kissing her. It was not long before her tongue joined his in the play and she tightened her hold on him, loving the feel of his warm, hard body against hers. The way he rubbed his hands up and down her back, skimming her sides, fired her blood. When he ended the kiss even she recognized the sound she made as one of protest.

  He took her hand while she was still reeling from his kiss and led her into the house she had just leaned against. “I should have recognized that move, sir.”

  “I shall have to come up with a new one. Cannae tolerate being predictable.”

  She bit back a laugh. “They are lucky this house has not been burnt down.”

  “It is empty. Fire is usually set to drive people out.”

  “Ah, of course. There probably will not be much left in the area to come back to, however.”

  “No, and that is a shame, but I suspect it will return in some form before too long. “Now”—he led her into what she suspected had been the parlor—“I have set up a small feast for us in here. A picnic ye might call it.”

  “You are getting a lot of use out of this house.”

  “Aye.” He moved to light a lantern he brought in from the hall where it had sat on the table near the door.

  Abigail saw the same table they’d had their picnic on before. There was the bread and cheese and this time it was with thinly sliced ham. Yet again there was wine and glasses to sip it in.

  “Did you play cards with the major again?” she finally asked.

  “I did. He did say he suspects I put the drink to better use than he does and I already opened it to pour him a glass. Used my share of the rations to get the bread made and paid a woman for the bread, cheese, and butter.”

  “Oh yes, I heard you had gotten a recent hearty delivery of supplies.”

  “It was, but the supplies are already going down. A lot of the people in town either sneak or beg some. It is not attacks by Rebs weakening our supplies now but the need of the people in town. The prize still being sought is food. It is in short supply in too many places.”

  “Probably has always been the same where armies are.”

  “Aye. It is why my brother keeps having troubles, from the gray and the blue. We have lost a number of our sheep, which angers the Jones brothers. They are our shepherds. David and Owen.”

  “Sheep? You sell mutton?”

  “And wool, which brings us more actually.” He placed a piece of ham on a slice of the bread. “I never thought I would say this, but I miss the shearing.”

  She laughed as she added a bit of ham to her meal, placing it carefully on the bread. “You miss the companionship of your family I suspect, so anything you did together shines brighter in your mind.”

  “That is probably true.”

  “I wish I knew where my brother was so I could return to him. Together we should fare well enough.”

  “If he had gone with the Blues, maybe I could have helped more.”

  “The Union had its draft. It is a way of roping in someone who doesn’t really want to be a soldier.”

  “True.” He stood up, walked over to where she sat, took her by the hand, and pulled her to her feet. “When the leaders decide they are going to fight they will get the men they need any way they can.” He sat down and pulled her down beside him. “But”—he pulled her into his arms—“I dinnae want to talk on war or leaders.”

  She leaned into him. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “This.”

  He kissed her, and as he stroked the inside of her mouth with his tongue he pushed her down onto the settee so that he could sprawl on top of her. Abbie loved the feel of his body on hers. She knew he held up most of his weight on his forearms but the weight he did allow to rest on her felt as warm as a caress. Abbie wrapped her arms around his body and held him close, savoring the hardness of him between her thighs.

  He began to stroke her, his hands going up and down her sides, brushing against the sides of her breasts. That felt good, but then he undid the buttons on the bodice of her gown. She was enjoying the seductive play with his tongue, the hot kisses followed by the kisses on her throat and neck, when she suddenly became aware of the fact that he had finished opening the bodice of her gown and was covering the swells of her breasts with the damp heat of his kiss.

  He returned his kisses to her mouth as he slipped his hand beneath her skirts. Abigail tensed as he touched her where no man had ever touched her, but with one stroke of his fingers she lost the unease that had gripped her. She clutched at his shoulders as he teased her body to a blaze. Then she felt him tug at her drawers and lifted her hips a little. When he tugged them off her, she blushed even as she kissed the hollow of his throat.

  It was not until he tugged her bodice down, exposing her breasts that she got nervous. Or embarrassed. She was not sure which it was that had her hastily trying to cover her breasts with her hands. He smiled then caught her hands in his and pulled them away. Then he licked her nipple and she shuddered with the strength of the feeling that went through her.

  As he kissed and licked at her breasts, Matthew released himself from his breeches. This was not the way he planned things, but he would take his chance now and try to make the whole matter more romantic for her later. Kissing her mouth even as he kneaded her breasts he eased himself inside her. He heard her squeak in surprise, maybe even pain, and tried to move slowly but his body had different ideas. He grabbed the back of her legs and lifted them until she curled them around his waist. Kissing her mouth, he moved and this time she moaned in a way that fired his blood.

  Abbie gasped from the pinch of pain as he entered her then felt the fullness of him inside of her. She was still savoring the sensation when he began to move and kissed her. When he lifted her legs, she wrapped them tightly around his body and the sensation of him moving inside of her grew stronger. She clung to him as he moved faster and her body grew tighter. Then the heat that had been building inside of her swept over her and she cried out against his mouth. She was still shuddering from the waves of feeling as he moved faster, drove himself as deep as he could, and tensed, a low growling noise escaping him.

  When he
slowly left her Abbie became all too aware of what they had just done. She hastily pulled and tugged at her clothes to make sure everything was covered when he moved to the side. Her first clear thought was: What did someone say afterward? Should she politely thank him or yell at him and leave? Then he brushed a kiss over her mouth. Moving her hands, he carefully redid the buttons on her bodice.

  “Abbie?” he said softly.

  “What?” she asked as she searched out her drawers and tried desperately to put them on again without exposing herself.

  He put his arm around her and gently kissed her on the forehead. “I cannae tell if ye are just embarrassed or upset with me.”

  She rested her head against his shoulder. “Neither can I.” She smiled faintly when he laughed. “I just didn’t know what one says afterward or if one says anything.”

  “I have no idea. Interesting thought. Compliments?”

  “About what? None of the things that happened are things I can speak about.”

  “Of course.”

  “And how could I give compliments? You must have guessed I have never done this before.”

  “Um, yes, I noticed.”

  “Lieutenant? Miss Jenson?”

  “Oh no, not again,” Abbie groaned, and thumped her forehead against his chest.

  “That you, Mabel?”

  “Yes, miss. I was sent to tell you that Julia, well, it is time.”

  “Time for what?”

  “The baby, miss. She is having the baby.”

  “Oh no! I will be right there.” Abbie hastily checked her clothes and decided they were in relatively good shape, then began to dig around for the ribbon she had had tied in her hair.

  “Here,” Matthew said, and waved the ribbon in front of her face. “And may I suggest ye cease to act so guilty if ye dinnae want anyone asking questions.”

  “I was not acting guilty.” She quickly tied her hair back and reached for her coat.

  “Oh, aye, ye were.” He stood up when she did and yanked her into his arms to give her a hard kiss. “I will speak with ye later so think on some compliments.” He grinned at the sound of annoyance she made before hurrying off with Mabel.

  As he picked up things and put the wineglasses away, he decided to check and see if the family had left any children’s books behind. Walking up the stairs he looked around and approved of the woodwork even as he looked for a child’s room. Finding one at last he searched it and found three little books; in another he found a big book that had a collection of tales. Satisfied, he carried them back downstairs and put them in his bag before continuing to clean up.

  They would not come back to this place, he decided. Being found here twice was enough. If he got another chance to get Abbie alone he did not want to fear an interruption. He hoped all went well for Julia. Robert had been a good man. He deserved to have his child grow up straight and proud.

  He stepped outside and scowled up at the sky. A raindrop hit him in the face and he started to run. He hoped Abbie got home before this, and a quick glance at the Beaton house as he rushed by reassured him. If Abbie was still out the light would be on. All he had to do was get himself inside. When the skies opened and the rain began to pour down he ducked into the infirmary. Maybe he would visit with Boyd again.

  Chapter Nine

  “Julia has gone somewhere.”

  Abigail looked up at Maude and frowned. “Where? I thought she had started her labor and that was why I was fetched.”

  “None of us knows and she spoke to no one so we have no idea.”

  For a moment, Abbie thought about where Julia would go. The woman had been so sunk in her grief for the last three days it was hard to think she had anyone she wanted to visit or even that she may have gone for a walk. All Julia wanted to do at the moment was lie in bed and cry and her labor beginning had not lessened that at all. It was an effort to get her up and move or to eat for the sake of the child she carried. Then Abigail suddenly knew exactly where Julia had gone, despite the cold rain pouring from the sky.

  “I have an idea of where she is,” Abbie said as she tossed her needlework aside and jumped up. “I thought I was having a nice break from her labor. Should have known better. Foolish girl has gone to Robert’s grave.”

  “In this?” asked Mrs. Beaton as she stared out at the rain pouring down.

  “I fear so.” Abbie put on her coat and looked around. “Does anyone have a hat or an umbrella?”

  “I have a hat,” said Maude as she ran off.

  “You cannot go out in this. You will catch your death,” said Mrs. Beaton.

  “I will be fine but Julia has more than her own health and well-being to worry about, and she needs to start doing that.”

  When Maude brought the hat, Abbie put it on and strode out to go find Julia. She trudged through the rain, cursing as her feet got soaking wet, and prayed she was right. The moment she walked toward Robert’s grave she saw her. The foolish woman was draped over his grave soaking herself in the muddy water that covered it. Abbie told herself to have patience but suspected it was going to be a hard thing to grasp.

  “Julia!” she cried as she ran up to the woman. “What are you doing?”

  “I came to see Robert. To tell him the baby is coming.”

  “I can see that but it is raining and you are now covered in mud.”

  “I just needed to be with Robert for a moment.”

  “Then do it on a sunny, warm day. Julia,” she said in a softer tone as she pulled the woman to her feet, “you carry his child. If you were not lying . . .”

  “I just wanted them to go away so I could come here.”

  “If you keep doing foolish things like this, you will not only hurt yourself, you will harm the baby.”

  “I will?” Julia asked in a dazed voice.

  “Yes, most assuredly. Now come with me and we will get you inside, dried off, and warm again.”

  Abbie fought to control her temper as she walked the woman back to the house. To her relief, all the other women took over Julia’s care and not one mentioned the absence of the labor Julia had claimed to be suffering. Taking off her coat and Maude’s hat and hanging them in the kitchen to dry, Abbie went and sat down in the front room and closed her eyes.

  “Are you ill?” asked Mrs. Beaton from across the room.

  “No, I am tired. I understand her sorrow but she was out there in this weather lying in the mud on Robert’s grave. I just need some time to make sure I have my temper under control as angry words will do no good right now.”

  Mrs. Beaton sat down in the chair opposite her and said, “I do not think the girl would even notice. She does not appear to be in her right mind at the moment.”

  “No, I do wonder at times if Robert’s death and the pregnancy have been enough to break her, in her mind. No sensible, rational person who is with child would go out in this with nothing extra on and hurl themselves on top of a muddy grave, especially one who thought she was in labor.”

  “I think not.”

  Abbie took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. “I am calmer now so I will go and tend to her.”

  “You need sleep, Abigail.”

  “I know. This cannot go on for much longer. If nothing else she will soon have a child to care for and perhaps that will pull her out of this nonsense. And my temper is still lurking or I would not call it nonsense. It is a deep grief. I will wrestle it down though and try to get her to see clearly.”

  “I hope you are successful.”

  So did Abigail if only so she could sleep through the night. Julia also needed to sleep. She was looking very worn down and Abbie worried about the child she carried.

  When she stepped into her room Julia was already tucked up in bed and almost asleep. Maude sat with her so Abbie took the time to wipe herself dry, dress for bed, and crawl under the covers. It was rude but she just wanted someone else to watch over Julia for a little while.

  “Sleep, Abbie,” Maude said. “I’ll keep a watch on her for a w
hile.”

  “Thank you, Maude,” Abbie muttered even as she fell asleep.

  * * *

  When Abbie next opened her eyes, she was startled to find the sun shining through her window. She sat up and looked over at Julia’s bed only to find it empty. Hopping out of bed, she cleaned up, dressed, and then hurried down the stairs. In the big front room she found all the women and Julia talking merrily and just stared. It was as if the rain had washed Julia’s madness away, but Abbie did not fully trust that. She was just having a moment of calm.

  “Ah, there you are, Abbie,” said Maude and walked over to her to say softly, “She is having a good morning.”

  “I can see that. The best one since Robert was killed.”

  “I am not sure how long it will last but take advantage of it. Do as you please today.”

  “That would be nice.”

  “Good. Then start with the man in the parlor who has patiently been waiting for you to wake.” Maude chuckled and walked back to rejoin the others.

  Abbie walked into the parlor and caught Matthew having a little nap on the settee. She softly hurried to his side and gave in to impulse, kissing him on the cheek. A squeak of surprise escaped her when he grabbed her and pulled her down onto his lap.

  “Done sleeping?”

  “There was no need of you lingering here until I woke up. There must be things you need to do.”

  “Not really. Thought to take ye for a walk. Ye need to get away from here for a while, I am thinking. Just as ye needed to rest this morning.”

  “A walk would be lovely.” She wriggled out of his hold and stood up. “And it would also be best if we don’t let Mrs. Beaton see us like this.”

  “Oh, I am beginning to think Mrs. Beaton is nay as . . .” He hesitated as he struggled to find the right word.

  “Prissy?”

  “Aye, that is good. Prissy as she was. Ye must be having some influence on her.”

  “I doubt that and, in fact, it makes me sound a bit like a catchable disease.”

  He laughed. “Get your coat.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Abbie found her coat in the kitchen. It was dry and still a little warm from the heat of the stove. Mabel gave her some coffee and she drank it as she put her coat on. The moment she was done, she took the cup of coffee and finished it.