by Jane Charles
If anything, the wedding of Genviève Mirabelle Trent and Jonathan Bridges had been an interesting one.
“I wish ye would have settled on someone while we were in London. Ye arena gettin’ any younger,” his mother stated, changing the conversation.
Ian glanced at his mother out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing.
“Oh, doona give me that look. I’ve only yer best interest at heart. Ye need to find a bride, Ian.”
It was what she’d been telling him for three years, and while he agreed with her, Ian wasn’t about to tell her that he just may have already done so. Her interference was something he did not need while he was courting Davina.
With that, she turned her attention to Fanella and Jesse, who were seated across from them.
“This Season may not have gone as planned, but I can assure ye that either this fall or next spring, we will return to London and I will find ye both husbands.”
“There is no one we like,” Fanella argued. “They are all so, well…borin’.”
“Ye never gave them a chance and if ye doona try harder next time, I will have Lachlan arrange a match. Is that what ye want?”
His sisters sat up, their eyes going wide.
“Ye wouldna,” Jesse cried.
“Aye, I would,” their mother said with determination. “So, ye had best remember that the next time we attend a ball.”
The girls relaxed as it was unlikely they’d be attending anything for at least five months and only if their mother returned to London in the fall.
Chapter 7
Blowing out a breath, Davina stomped to the stables. What the blazes was wrong with her uncle? It was as if he’d lost his mind, and it all started when he had decided to keep Rose after Fergus had kidnapped her. Nothing had been right since Rose arrived at Annagburn. Not only was Uncle Aiden being unreasonable, but he was issuing orders and making plans that were completely out of character. Rose hadn’t even been with them a sennight. Davina feared what else her uncle may decide to do before the ransom was paid and Rose returned home.
At least Uncle Aiden had let Rose send for her trunks and send correspondence to Lady Acker, whom she’d been visiting Edinburgh with. Not only did Rose now have more than the gown she’d been wearing when Fergus kidnapped her, but her friend was not left to needlessly worry. Of course, Davina wasn’t so certain she wouldn’t still worry if Arabella or Sheena had been kidnapped and all she received were a few letters. After all, it was one of Uncle Aiden’s footmen who delivered the letter and returned with all of Rose’s belongings so that Lady Acker did not know where her friend was being held.
Perhaps she should consider options in helping Rose escape, except Davina could think of no way of doing so that wouldn’t see her uncle arrested. Rose knew their names, if she didn’t know the location of their home, and the authorities would have no difficulty finding and arresting Uncle Aiden.
No. There must be some way to help Rose and somehow return sanity to her uncle that wouldn’t see their family destroyed.
As she drew near the stables, Alistair was stepping from them. “What is amiss?”
“Uncle Aiden.”
“Aye, he’s been more unpleasant than normal, but Fiona is ill. Ye ken how unreasonable he can be when someone has a fever,” her brother reminded her.
Fiona had become ill last night, but nobody had told their uncle because he usually overreacted as he had the previous evening. Davina suspected that Uncle Aiden only behaved this way because he was not present when his wife had died of a fever after childbirth. It wasn’t as if he could have saved Aunt Meg, but ever since, Uncle Aiden had become diligent, calling the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle. They’d all come to hide illnesses from their uncle, when they could, unless it was serious. They’d managed to hide Fiona’s illness yesterday, until she didn’t appear at supper, and then he’d been angry with Davina because she’d known and had not alerted him. “Aye, if that was all, I’d ken he’ll be back to himself as soon as Fiona is out of her sickbed.”
“What else is there, besides the kidnappin’?”
Davina blew out a breath. “He just called Arabella, Sheena and myself into the library and ordered us to stop wearing breeches, playing golf, fishing, falconry and target practice or he’d marry us off.”
Alistair grinned. “He’s been making those same demands for nearly two years. Ye girls go along for a short time, then revert back to yer ways when his mood improves.”
“This is worse.”
“How?” he chuckled.
Oh, she wished her brother would take this seriously. “He wants a list of gentlemen whom we’d like to marry.”
The smile slipped from Alistair’s face.
“And, he plans on holding a ball in five days so we can meet more potential grooms.”
“Uncle Aiden does not entertain. And why the blazes would he hold a ball when in all likelihood Lady Bentley will still be at Annagburn?”
“That is what I’m wonderin’. He says he plans to see us wed a week from Friday. If we doona settle on a groom after the ball, then he will pick one for us.”
Alistair’s brow creased as his concern deepened. “He’s really holdin’ a ball?”
“Aye, but I’m more concerned with his plans of marryin’ us off.” Especially since Ian wasn’t due home for weeks and by then, it would be too late. She wasn’t exactly ready to be married immediately, but if it was going to be forced upon her, there was only one man she wanted for her husband and he was currently enjoying the Season in London.
Her brother scrubbed a hand over his face. She could tell he was tryin’ to manage through their uncle’s decision and find reason behind it.
“Why is it so important now when, as ye pointed out, he’s been makin’ the same threats for nearly two years? Doesna he realize the danger of having so many people at Annagburn while he also still has Rose and is waitin’ for the ransom?”
“Does he intend on her bein’ there?” Alistair asked disbelievingly.
“I believe so. I canna imagine he’d lock her away somewhere, as he hasna yet.” Davina shook her head.
“At least the Grants are in London so we willna need to worry about them. They are the only neighbors who would recognize Rose.”
“Gara and Magnus are still in Falkirk,” she reminded him. Gara was Ian’s older sister and Magnus was her husband.
“Well, doona send them an invitation,” he yelled.
“Do you think I’m so daft to do so,” Davina yelled back. “What I’d like to ken is why findin’ husbands is so important now? We wouldna be holdin’ a ball otherwise.”
Alistair blew out a breath, closed his eyes, and then rubbed his temples as if a headache was coming on. He wasn’t the only one feeling pain at the moment.
“I think I ken,” he finally said in a somewhat defeated voice.
“Care to enlighten me so I understand?”
“He needs to see ye settled.”
Davina rolled her eyes. “Aye, he’s said so many times. But why now?”
Alistair looked her in the eye. “For yer protection. Kidnappin’ is a hangin’ offense. I think Uncle Aiden fears that once Rose is returned to her family, he won’t live much longer. By marryin’ ye off, ye’ll have the protection of yer husbands, and nobody will think to put blame on lasses.”
It was as if the air had been sucked from her lungs and she stumbled back. “Hangin’ offense?”
“Aye. He’d see ye married before it was too late and the family ruined because ye may not find a husband once everyone finds out what Uncle Aiden has done.”
That didn’t matter to Davina because there was only one man she wanted. However, she’d hate to see Arabella’s and Sheena’s chances ruined because of scandal attached to the family.
“Donovan, Cameron and I have already discussed what is likely to happen to Uncle Aiden once this is over and have been tryin to work out a plan. At the very least, he’ll need to leave Annagburn and go where no o
ne will ever find him.”
“Why the blazes dinna ye tell me?”
“We dinna want to worry ye.”
“He could really die?” she asked quietly.
“Aye.”
“We’ve got to think of a way to save him!” she yelled.
“What do ye think we’ve been tryin’ to do?” Alistair yelled back.
“Well, think harder.” Davina stomped away from her brother.
Her uncle could die because Fergus had taken Rose and Uncle Aiden had kept her. At least she now understood his irrational behavior, but somehow Davina must make sure he did not marry her off to someone else.
Blast, why had she sent Ian off to London to prove himself? If he were here, she’d happily name her groom.
Dread settled into her stomach. If Ian were here, he’d see her uncle hang.
Ian had never been so happy to see Grant Manor in his entire life. And never again would he travel the length of Scotland with an expectant woman in tow. Did they all need to rest and relieve themselves so often? Ian always believed that ladies remained at home after a certain point because it wasn’t proper to be seen in public in the family way. Now he believed it was because they simply wished to be near a chamber pot.
As he stepped out of the carriage, Ian stretched out the tight muscles in his back as his sister-in-law ran for the entry. Lachlan shook his head and followed his wife at a much slower pace.
After assisting his mother and sisters from the carriage, Ian made his way into the manor and to the library where he knew some nice Grant whisky waited. If ever he needed to taste the water of life it was now. Six days of travel. Slow, excruciating, often stopping, travel. He filled a glass, took a drink and welcomed the burn down the back of his throat before making his way to the desk. All the correspondence that had been received since he’d left was stacked in the middle. Two and a half months’ worth of correspondence.
Beside that stack were reports from Magnus, as well as the accounts. His brother-in-law had seen to the business while Ian was away, but now it was time to make sure nothing was amiss and that all had gone well in his absence.
Except, he didn’t want to go through correspondence, reports or accounts. He wanted to see Davina and as much as he didn’t wish to travel again, for a very long time, it was what he would do for her. But this time, he’d take a horse. It was quicker and far more comfortable.
Pushing away from the desk, he stood and tossed back the rest of his whisky. As soon as he bathed and donned fresh clothing, he’d ride to her and demand that she allow him to court her. He’d proven himself, and Davina couldn’t possibly have any further objections. And if there were kisses involved, all the better.
Chapter 8
A hanging offense. That was all Davina could think about as she wandered in to the last stall in the stable. She now understood Uncle Aiden’s motivation with complete clarity, and the underlying panic she’d suffered after he’d issued his dictate only escalated.
While a ball would be nice since she’d never attended one and neither had Arabella nor Sheena, the reasons and timing were all wrong. If he was waiting to be arrested, and fearing that it would happen soon, Uncle Aiden may just up and marry them to the first bachelor who asked.
Somehow she must make this work to their advantage. Suppose they had the ball, and Rose attended, there would be a number of neighbors present who could testify on Uncle Aiden’s behalf that Rose was not a captive but a guest. Maybe that would help save him. Perhaps, they could convince the authorities that Uncle Aiden had only suffered a moment of madness and that when it had passed, they were simply waiting for Rose to be collected by her family.
Davina blew out a breath and sank into the straw beside the kittens. She moved bits and pieces out of the way to reveal the tiny babies, so adorable and trying to move about. Morag must have buried them in the straw to keep them safe from predators. She was lucky that no horse was kept in here at this time or the wee things may have been crushed.
Another one of their barn cats came sniffing and crawled into Davina’s lap. She held the feline close and petted its calico fur. The purrs reverberated against Davina’s breast, and her body relaxed almost immediately.
“Oh what am I to do?” she asked the cat, not expecting an answer. If Ian were here, she’d ask him. But, if Ian were here, he’d recognize Rose and have Uncle Aiden arrested. If Ian were here, he would offer for her as soon as he learned that Uncle Aiden intended to see them all wed, at least she hoped that would be his response. But, if he knew the reason, Ian might turn his back on the entire family, Davina included, and she’d be forced to marry someone she did not care for. At least, not the way she cared for Ian.
Morag, the mother cat, jumped from a beam and stretched, then sauntered toward her kittens before laying down so they could nurse. When Morag had gone into season, five of their male barn cats had come sniffing but Davina had no way of knowing which one had done the deed. “If ye were human, ye’d have the same reputation of a certain Ian Grant,” Davina whispered to Morag. “And ye’d be quite ruined.”
Except, the cat’s reputation was actually worse than Ian’s now. He’d gone off to prove himself two and a half months ago and in all that time he hadn’t danced, except with his sisters or mother, and hadn’t kissed a single lass. At least nobody had seen him doing any kissing. Fanella and Jesse had both written and promised that they were keeping a close eye on their brother, so much so they were more bothersome than ever, but he’d not tried to sneak away once. Of course, they believed it was because Davina issued a challenge. They knew nothing of the real reason behind it, other than she’d called his honor into question and Ian had set out to prove Davina wrong.
“Have ye missed me so much ye’ve taken to talkin’ to the cat about me?”
Davina jerked her head up and stared into the warm green eyes of Ian Grant. Immediately, her breath hitched and her skin heated. Emotions warred within. Excitement and happiness to see him, mixed with panic that he was here, now, while Lady Bentley was being held for ransom.
“What are ye doin’ here?” she finally asked, wishing her heart didn’t feel as if it was going to pound right out of her chest, and she clutched the calico cat close to her breast.
Ian frowned. “We returned early.”
“Why?”
Ian settled down into the hay beside her. “Does it matter? I thought ye’d be glad to see me.”
“Aye. I mean nay.”
“Davina, is anythin’ wrong?”
Not wrong—disastrous, but she couldn’t tell him anything. “I’m just surprised to see ye.” The cat she’d been holding jumped away from her and raced out of the stables.
“Ye missed me, didn’t ye?” He slowly grinned.
More than she’d ever admit, at least right now. “Perhaps.” She needed to send him away, but how?
“Ye were talkin’ to the cat about me. I call that missin’ me.”
“Nay. I was warnin’ her no’ to turn out like ye.”
“A fine, upstandin’ and honorable gentleman?” He winked at her.
“Being a gentleman would be difficult for a female cat,” Davina retorted as she grasped her skirt in hopes it would absorb the sudden moisture on her palms.
“Have I no’ proven myself? I dinna even have a thought that ye wouldna approve of while in London.”
Davina narrowed her eyes on him. “There is no way to prove what ye were thinkin’.”
“True, but I dinna dance or kiss anyone.”
“According to Jesse and Fanella,” she reminded him. She needed to put him off, somehow, and make him go away. Oh, she had missed Ian, but his returning now was the absolute worst timing.
Ian placed a hand over his heart. “Ye wound me, Davina. I was perfectly behaved.”
She knew he had been and even only two months in London with no female companionship must have seemed like an eternity for him.
“When did ye return?”
“Three hours ago”
Her eyebrows rose. “Did ye come here right away?” Did he miss her so much? As much as she’d missed him.
“Aye.” He leaned in. “I’ve got a number of kisses stored up that I need to share.”
Davina pulled back. “And who might ye be wantin’ to share them with?”
“Who do ye think, lass?”
If she moved any further away, she’d be lying down.
Davina rested back on her elbows and Ian leaned over her until their noses were nearly touching.
“I’ve missed ye, lass.”
Her heart melted. “And I missed ye.”
Ian’s green eyes darkened right before he tilted his head and placed his lips against hers. She ought to have kissed him back, but she couldn’t stop the grin that came to her mouth. So happy that he had returned, so happy that he had come to kiss her again, so happy he had not changed his mind.
Ian pulled back and looked down at her. “Why are ye no’ kissin’ me back?”
He might have sounded angry, but he was smiling, too.
“I’m happy to see ye.” Heat blanketed her cheeks.
“No’ nearly as happy as I am to see ye.”
She bit her lips and studied him, wishing this was July and not May and that Rose was back safely with her family and that the Grants would never learn what Uncle Aiden had done. But even as the thoughts crossed her mind, Davina knew that one day soon they would all learn the truth and what she and Ian shared would be gone.
Impulsively, she sat up and threw her arms around Ian, determined to hold him close while she could.