The Hellion and The Heartbreaker

by McNare, Jennifer

  “Scarlett…”

  “It’s true. He never lied to me and he never made me any false promises. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I knew the risk I was taking.” Colin looked like he wanted to argue that point, but Conner spoke first.

  “Did you?” Conner asked doubtfully, his expression sympathetic.

  “I loved him,” she said simply. “I still love him.”

  “If you love him, then why…?”

  “He doesn’t want to marry me. If I tell him about the baby, he will feel honor bound to do the right thing.”

  “As he damn well should!” Colin stated emphatically.

  “No,” Scarlett stated firmly. “I could never force him into something he doesn’t want. I won’t. Please, try to understand.” Her expression was pleading.

  “Jesus,” Colin sighed, raising his hands to his head, pressing his fingers against his temples.

  “I know how disappointed you must be, and I’m so sorry,” Scarlett said, her voice cracking.

  “So what are we going to do now?” Colin asked, more to himself than anyone else.

  “You needn’t worry,” she said, wiping away the last trace of her tears. “I know exactly what we’re going to do.”

  Fortunately, after a great deal of discussion, some of it heated, her had brothers ultimately agreed with her course of action. And the following morning they set the initial phase into motion. They had confided in Tess the night before, and it had been decided that she would accompany Colin and Scarlett to one of their other properties, a small estate in Northern Scotland on the pretext of visiting relatives. Tess had been shocked and dismayed by Scarlett’s condition of course, but like Colin and Conner, she was also determined to do whatever was necessary to protect Scarlett and the family from a devastating scandal.

  Now, as she and Tess set about packing her trucks for the trip, Scarlett thought through the plan once again. They would be leaving for Scotland in two days for a supposed week long stay. Once they were safely settled, Colin would return to England with the news that Scarlett and Tess had decided to extend their visit and remain in Scotland for a while longer. Tess would later send word that Scarlett had met and subsequently fallen in love with an untitled Scotsman from a neighboring village.

  Then, fearing that her brothers would promptly arrive to put an end to the relationship and take her back to England, she would make a rash decision and elope with her new love. It was a bit farfetched, but time was of the essence. They needed a reason for Scarlett to be married as soon as possible, in addition to providing her with a plausible reason for an elopement.

  In the meantime, Rory and Gavin would be summoned home to learn the truth of the situation. Colin and Conner would then travel to Scotland to confront her and her new husband, determined to get the marriage annulled and bring her home. However, they would later return and inform everyone that she was deeply in love and had been adamant about remaining in Scotland with her new husband. Despite their misgivings, they would accept that she was happy, and begrudgingly agree not to contest the marriage.

  With sufficient financial incentives, they should be able to secure both a valid marriage certificate, and later a postdated birth certificate. Scarlett’s new husband would unfortunately have to die several months after the marriage in a tragic accident at sea, his body never to be recovered. Within a year, she would return to Grey Oaks as a widow and a mother. Of course her reputation would be irreparably damaged from the scandal of the elopement and her marriage to a commoner, but at least her child wouldn’t be labeled a bastard and her brothers wouldn’t be completely disgraced. It might not be the perfect solution, but it was the best she had come up with. Though questions would surely arise, if they were careful, they might just be able to pull it off.

  Sighing, she turned her attention back to the open trunks. All she could do now was play her part and hope for the best.

  Hearing her heavy sigh, Tess looked up and met her gaze. Tossing a handful of undergarments onto the bed, she stepped toward Scarlett and pulled her into her arms. “Everything is going to be alright dear,” she said, lightly patting her back.

  “I hope you’re right Tess.” She hugged her tightly, incredibly thankful for her loving acceptance. “I truly do.”

  Two days later, as their coach pulled away from Grey Oaks and started down the drive, Scarlett once again had tears in her eyes. It was a profound moment, for her life was about to change forever. Her youthful innocence was gone and life as she knew it would never be the same again. When next she saw her childhood home, it would be as a mother. Despite the momentary sadness she felt at leaving, thinking of the child she was carrying brought a faint smile to her lips. Though she would love to have a little girl, in her heart of hearts, she longed to bring a boy home to Grey Oaks, a boy who would always remind her of Alec.

  After traveling for several long hours, their coach finally pulled to a stop outside of a respectable looking inn shortly before dusk. They could have made it to the estate before nightfall, but had decided to spend the night at the inn instead. Colin planned to go on ahead the following morning to make sure the house was in a habitable state, before returning for Scarlett and Tess. Though an older couple lived on the premises and maintained the property, none of the McPhearsons had been there in years, and received only periodic updates from the caretakers.

  Weary from the long coach ride, Colin, Scarlett and Tess dined in the inn’s small dining room along with the coachmen and outriders, and then promptly retired for the evening. The food had been surprisingly good, and Scarlett and Tess were pleased to find that their room was clean and adequately appointed. The inn had only a handful of guests at present, and Colin had been given the room directly across from their own, while the rest of the men in their party were roomed further down the hall. After locking their door, they quickly prepared for bed, and despite the unfamiliar surroundings were both asleep in a matter of minutes.

  When they arrived at their small Scottish estate the following afternoon, Scarlett was delighted by what she saw. Though not grandiose by any means, the house was lovely and clearly well-kept, as Colin had discovered when he had gone ahead earlier that morning to check on its condition before returning to the inn. Although he had written ahead, informing Mr. & Mrs. Harris, the caretakers he’d hired years ago, of their immanent arrival, he had wanted to make certain everything was in order before Scarlett took up residence. He had been pleased to find the house in excellent condition, inside and out and though much of the furniture had still been draped in dust covers, the rooms had smelled fresh and clean he’d told her, and she was now anxious to see the interior for herself.

  Stepping through the front door, Scarlett’s gaze swept the foyer and surrounding rooms. Colin was right, it was obvious that the Harris’ took pride in their position as caretakers and were doing an admirable job of maintaining the property.

  “Welcome, My Lady. I am Mr. Harris and this is my wife, Mrs. Harris,” said the older gentlemen who stood at attention near the foot of the staircase, motioning to a middle-aged woman with a kind face and a head of salt and pepper curls that bobbed up and down as she nodded toward Scarlett.

  “Thank you, Mr. Harris, Mrs. Harris. It’s lovely to meet you both.” She turned and motioned to Tess, who followed behind. “Please allow me to introduce my companion, Miss Tess O’Rilley.”

  Once the introductions had been made, Mrs. Harris offered to show Scarlett and Tess to their rooms so that they could refresh themselves from their journey.

  “That would be lovely, Mrs. Harris, thank you.”

  They left Colin in the foyer with Mr. Harris to discuss the hiring of additional servants for the remainder of Scarlett’s stay.

  As to the reason for her stay in Scotland, Colin had told the couple earlier that morning that Scarlett had been recently married and was presently expecting her first child, and that he had given the newlyweds the estate as a wedding gift. He had also informed them that Scarlett’s husband, a Mr
. Ian McKinnon, was currently traveling abroad and therefore he or one of his brother’s would be staying with Scarlett until his return, not wishing to leave her without family due to her delicate condition.

  Of course, unbeknownst to the Harris’, in a few weeks’ time Scarlett would be receiving word that her husband had perished at sea during his return voyage. She would immediately go into mourning and would remain in Scotland until the birth of her child. They could only hope that the scenario was plausible enough to be believed and hope for the best. Within the week, Colin would have the falsified documents, and Scarlett McPhearson would legally become Mrs. Scarlett McKinnon. It would cost a small fortune in bribes, but if it worked, the price, as well as the deception would be worth every penny.

  Chapter 12

  The following month, the news of Scarlett McPhearson’s elopement reached London and quickly spread throughout the ranks of the ton, the stunning revelation meeting with a combination of incredulity and disbelief. The Scarlett Angel, the incomparable of the Season, if not the entire century, the woman who could have snared virtually any man in England had eloped with an untitled Scotsman. The scandalous development was the talk of the town.

  Sitting in a high-backed leather armchair in the gathering room at White’s, Alec Weston appeared to be studying the financial section of the paper he held before him. Unfortunately though, the conversation of the three gentlemen seated a few feet away was affecting his ability to concentrate. As it had been for the past several days, the topic of conversation was Scarlett McPhearson’s shocking elopement and the ton’s surprising reaction to the news. He listened with half an ear as the men debated the latest developments.

  “The Duchess of Devonshire called it a love story for the ages. I overheard her myself.”

  “Kenston must be vastly relieved.”

  “Of course he is. A scandal like that could tarnish even the best of family names.”

  “Lucky bastard.”

  ‘Who, Kenston or the Scot?”

  There was a moment’s pause. “Both,” all three then said simultaneously, laughing aloud.

  Tossing the paper onto the small side table, Alec gave up the pretext of reading. They were right of course, Colin was indeed fortunate, as Scarlett’s new husband surely was as well. For Colin, he was vastly relieved, for what could have been the scandal of the decade, had surprisingly taken an entirely different turn. The beautiful Scarlett Angel, the woman who could have had it all had sacrificed everything for love, and the women who might have cast assignations against her, shredded her reputation to bits with their malicious gossip and laughed behind their fans at her foolishness and inevitable fall from grace, instead, turned her into a heroine. They lauded her for the courage, daring and self-sacrifice that it took for her to follow her heart, and extoled her as a true romantic icon. And of course, the fact that she was no longer vying for the attention of England’s most eligible bachelors was an added boon for the remaining crop of debutantes. In turn, the men simply mourned the loss of the opportunity to win the hand of the Scarlett Angel for themselves. It was an extraordinary and previously inconceivable turn of events.

  No one could have been more astonished than Alec, not by society’s benevolence, though it was a rare occurrence, but by the situation itself, and by how effectively Scarlett had proven him correct. Plagued by lingering doubts after he’d ended their affair, he now knew that he had been absolutely right to do so. Christ, just a few months past she had said that she loved him, and now, now she was married, married to a man she had apparently fallen so madly in love with that she’d done the unthinkable, risking not only her reputation but the support of her family, and eloped to Gretna Green. That her affection would eventually be directed elsewhere, he had anticipated, what he hadn’t expected was the speed at which it had occurred.

  He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had always known that love was a fickle emotion, a mere novelty that lost its allure with time. He knew now, with absolute certainty, that he had done the right thing by ending it. If he’d lost his heart, if he and Scarlett’s relationship had continued, if they had made the foolish decision to wed, it would have been so much worse when reality eventually disabused them of their romantic, idealistic notions; when they realized that happy endings only occurred in storybooks, at least in their world.

  For Scarlett’s sake, he hoped that the man she had married would provide her with the lasting love she obviously believed in and so eagerly sought. Perhaps living their lives outside of the jaded and oft times immoral sphere of the ton’s influence might actually give them a chance at lasting happiness. It was possible he supposed. It’s what he wanted for her, what she deserved. He sighed, resting his head against the back of the chair. Why then, did he feel such an overwhelming sense of regret? He wanted Scarlett to be happy, didn’t he?

  “Weston,” called out Viscount Pickering, one of the three lords seated to his right, interrupting his thoughts. “Brundell here thinks Kitty Purnell is the Season’s best catch, now that the Scarlett Angel is no longer available. Blakely and I,” he said, motioning toward the rotund gentleman seated next to him, “are leaning toward Elizabeth Marchmont. What are your thoughts?”

  Turning, he looked over at the men, his expression derisive. “Pickering, you of all people, should know that I do not concern myself with the Season’s latest crop of debutantes.” He and Pickering were old chums, and like himself, Pickering had a decided aversion to settling down before he was good and ready.

  “Always knew you were a smart man,” Pickering laughed. “Brundell here isn’t quite as intelligent though,” he said, poking fun at the young lord sitting across from him. “His family has been pressuring him to take a wife and he is thinking of paying court to Lady Catherine,” or Kitty, as she was more commonly known.

  Alec could well understand the pressure Brundell was facing. His own mother would be making a mad dash to the engravers to begin the selection of invitations if he showed even the slightest interest in marriage. “Let him be Pickering,” Alec admonished with a sardonic grin, “Our time will come soon enough, and then I wager, neither one of us will be laughing.”

  “So true,” Pickering acknowledged with a dramatic sigh. “But until then, I intend to enjoy every moment of my blessed freedom,” he stated emphatically.

  “Here here,” Alec and Lord Blakely concurred, while poor Brundell simply looked on in disgruntled silence.

  Chapter 13

  The hours dragged on for what seemed like an eternity as Scarlett struggled to give birth to the child she’d carried for the past nine months. Clenching her teeth, she tried to stifle her screams as the agonizing pain once again sliced through her like the cut of a knife. It was nearly unbearable, but with sheer strength of will, she fought through it. When the worst had passed, she dropped her head back onto the pillow, her entire body limp and exhausted.

  Tess was immediately at her side and placed a freshly dampened cloth upon her heated forehead. The baby was transverse Sarah the midwife had informed her earlier, lying in a crosswise position across her abdomen. While she had struggled against the ever-increasing pain of her labor, the other two women had been trying unsuccessfully to reposition the baby for birth.

  “There has been no change in the babe’s position. I fear that we cannot delay any longer. We need to send for the physician,” Sarah said as she rose from her position at Scarlett’s side and came around the bed to stand next to Tess, her expression grim.

  There was a medical doctor in residence in a village not far from the estate, but they had hoped not to have to call upon his services. She, Colin and Tess had agreed that the fewer people she came into contact with during her stay in Scotland, the better. Fortunately, the midwife was Tess’s cousin and had been the perfect person to call upon when her time drew near. However, they had never expected such a difficult birth.

  Tess nodded. “I will ask Lord Kenston to send for him at once.” Bending down, she brushed her hand against
Scarlett’s sweat-dampened cheek. “I’ll be right back, dearest,” she said, and then hurried from the room.

  A moment later, she heard Colin’s voice coming from below, calling loudly for Mr. Harris.

  Shortly after Tess reentered the room, there was a light knock upon the door.

  Tess walked over to open it and Scarlett turned her head to follow her with her eyes. When the door opened, she saw Colin standing on the other side, his face ashen, his expression frightened and full of concern. She tried to turn the corners of her lips upward into a reassuring smile, but just then another flash of pain ripped through her, and she quickly turned away. She moaned, her hands clutching tightly at the bed sheets as she tried not to scream.

  Tess immediately grasped Colin’s hand and pulled him into the room. “Propriety be dammed,” she muttered. “Come sit with her, talk to her. Try to calm her.”

  The midwife glanced up as he approached. “The doctor?”

  “Mr. Harris went to fetch him,” he said, his tone ragged as he looked at Scarlett.

  “Good.” She pulled the damp cloth from Scarlett’s brow, dipped it in the basin and then placed it once again on her forehead.

  Colin sat down on the side of the bed and grasped her hand. “Scarlett?” His voice was raw with emotion. She opened her eyes at the sound of his voice and tried to focus.

  “I’m here sweetheart. Everything is going to be fine, I promise,” he crooned softly.

  “Colin,” she murmured, her voice a mere wisp of sound. “Colin, it hurts so much,” she whispered breathlessly, clenching his hand with what little strength she had left, and then closed her eyes, grimacing as another wave of pain racked her body.