Courting the Scot

by Jane Charles

  “More importantly, has there been more kissin’?” Sheena asked anxiously.

  Davina then told them how he’d showed up in the stables and then meeting him a second time, and how she’d kept him from coming to the manor to speak with Aiden because she was afraid he’d see Rose, and how they’d gone off into the darkness last night. And yes, there had been kisses, sweet heavenly kisses.

  “Ye are blushin’.” Sheena giggled

  “Well, I do enjoy kissin’ Ian Grant.” Unfortunately, he would probably never kiss her again.

  Arabella straightened. “So, why did ye panic when Uncle Aiden said he’d find us husbands when ye already had one picked out?”

  “I was afraid Ian wouldna be back from England in time.”

  “So, ye are courtin’ now,” Sheena said with excitement. “Uncle Aiden surely wouldn’t reject Ian’s suit.”

  “Nay,” Davina grumbled. “Last night was not the time to talk to Uncle Aiden, and I asked Ian to wait.”

  “At least ye have a potential groom.” Arabella pushed her plate away. “Uncle Aiden said he’d see us married by Friday.”

  The very notion was still ridiculous. Their uncle had been threatening for two years to find them grooms. At least he’d made the threat to Davina and Arabella since Sheena was still only sixteen. However, with the kidnapping of Lady Bentley, he had renewed his threats with a more serious intent. He didn’t seriously expect them to all find grooms on such short notice and after only one ball, did he?

  Then again, Uncle Aiden had been behaving very peculiarly, so he might have it in his head to do just that.

  Sheena also pushed her plate away. “Nobody can pick a husband after one night of dancin’.” Then she looked up. “Do ye think he still plans to see us wed?”

  Davina’s stomach tightened again “Aye.”

  “I doona ken why he is so obstinate about this all of a sudden. He’s threatened before but never acted upon it,” Arabella complained.

  “He wants us settled before he’s arrested.”

  “Arrested?” Sheena asked in surprise.

  How could the two of them not realize how much trouble Uncle Aiden was in. “Kidnappin’ is a hangin’ offense. If Rose’s family wants Uncle Aiden’s head, they shall have it. He wanted us to be settled before he went to the gallows.”

  “Aye, I realized that,” Arabella said. “I just hoped that with him being in love with Rose, and her with him, that Uncle Aiden would be safe.”

  “Well, in case Uncle Aiden hasna changed his mind, ye had better have yer list of five gentleman ready for when he asks so he can arrange the matches before it is too late.”

  And, they may have had more time if Sheena hadn’t invited the Grants to the ball. Brachton didn’t need to wait for Lord Bentley to send for the magistrate and may be doing so this very moment. “Hopefully Uncle Aiden can see it done before the authorities arrive or nobody will ever want us.”

  The three stood just as someone slammed the front door. Alarmed, Davina rushed to the foyer, expecting to find the Earl of Bentley. Instead, it was empty. She opened the front door and stepped out. Sheena and Arabella followed.

  Alistair and Donovan were striding out toward the stables.

  “I wonder what they’re about.” Sheena mussed.

  Davina shrugged. She had too much on her mind to worry about her brother and cousin at the moment.

  Ian could not believe Madeline was so calm. Last night and today. Her mother had been kidnapped, but Maddie had still enjoyed the ball and left without a care in the world, or for her mother.

  If his mother had been kidnapped and held for ransom, he’d get her back and then make the assailant pay. It would not matter whether his mother had fallen in love with her captor or not.

  Except, in this case it wasn’t one kidnapper, but many. Aiden MacGregor and his five nephews and three nieces had helped. Including Davina.

  Had Davina lost her bleeding mind? Why hadn’t she helped Rose escape, or at least try to talk sense into her uncle? The Davina that Ian knew would never have gone along with a kidnapping, which made him question how well he really he knew her.

  Aye, he still wanted her, but he wanted the lass he thought he knew, not the one who helped her uncle commit a crime, planned a blasted ball, and lied to him the entire time. That was not the lass he had left behind when she had sent him off to London to prove himself.

  One thing was certain, he was not waiting until tomorrow to get any answers. As soon as he was finished breaking his fast, he was paying a visit on Davina, in the sitting room or parlor of Annagburn, and no more sneaking around. If her answers sufficed, then he’d seek an audience with Aiden.

  “We should leave for Edinburgh after breakfast,” Maddie said to Lachlan.

  “Nay, we arena going to Edinburgh.”

  Why and how could they leave at a time like this? Her mother was being held prisoner.

  “I promised Mother that we’d assure Lady Acker of her health.”

  “Ye’ve traveled enough and willna be leavin’ this manor until the babe arrives,” Lachlan insisted.

  Maddie picked up her cup of tea. “If you think I’m going to be sitting around here for three months…”

  “I doona thin’. I ken,” Lachlan warned.

  Maddie rolled her eyes, but didn’t argue with her husband, even though Ian read the defiance and determination in her blue depths. Davina would probably do the same to him. Except Ian wasn’t so confident they’d ever be married or be anticipating a child at any time in the future.

  What would become of his relationship with Davina? What of the friendship between the Grants and the MacGregors? What about their shared business interests? For years, they’d been partners in shipping whisky and helping each other evade the excisemen. That was an honest crime, not like kidnapping.

  “I’m assumin’ Lady Acker doesna ken what happened to her friend.” Not only had Aiden kidnapped Lady Bentley, but he’d left the dowager viscountess to worry for the past weeks. What the blazes was wrong with the MacGregors?

  “Mother has written to Lady Acker daily assuring her of her health, but when she hears from me that my mother is well, I’m certain she will cease worrying.”

  Lady Bentley did look well last night. Happy even. Nobody would suspect that she was being held against her will.

  Actually, she wasn’t any longer because she could have left last night and chose to stay. At least, according to Maddie, it had been Lady Bentley’s choice.

  “She’ll hear it from ye when she arrives.” Lachlan was not going to give in to his wife’s plans to travel to Edinburgh. “I’ve sent a note to Lady Acker and told her that we had news of Rose and that she should remove herself from Edinburgh and come stay here.”

  “You didn’t tell them that we’d found her and that we saw for our own eyes?” Maddie asked in alarm.

  “Nay. If someone else read it, I dinna want them to ken where Rose was until Bentley arrives. But, I assured her that your mother was well.”

  Maddie groaned. “Clayton is going to be unreasonable. He always is.”

  “Unreasonable?” Ian yelled in disbelief over that being Maddie’s concern. “His stepmother was kidnapped. No gentleman would be reasonable. Aiden is likely to hang for this.”

  With that, his stomach tightened. It might not be just Aiden, but all of the family, save his small children. No wonder Davina had been on edge last night. She knew of the danger. Not only was she probably afraid for Aiden, but herself as well.

  Ian had to save her. He might be angry with her, and some trust had disappeared, but he hadn’t waited all this time to make her his, only to see her swing from the gallows.

  This entire situation was bizarre, even for a MacGregor. Who in their right mind holds a ball when they have a hostage in their home? Had the MacGregors completely lost all sense of decency and self-preservation?

  Then he remembered Cameron’s words. He suddenly decided that it was time for his nieces to marry. And, ye ken U
ncle Aiden, once he makes up his mind about somethin’, he sees that it is done immediately.

  Of course. Aiden wanted them married so they were protected! Aiden didn’t know that Ian fully intended on marrying Davina.

  However, there was still no explanation as to why his family had received an invitation, as they were the last family Aiden should wish to have in his home given the circumstances. Furthermore, the MacGregors were loyal to a fault, and Ian couldn’t imagine one of them going against Aiden’s wishes or putting him in danger. So, who had sent them the invitation?

  Unless it was Ewan, Davina’s younger brother. Sometimes he had less sense than the sheep they raised. Though, Ewan wouldn’t have actually written out and addressed the invitations. He’d only be in charge of delivering them, which had Ian back to wondering about who had invited them in the first place.

  It wasn’t Davina—that was a certainty, because she was too intelligent and understood the consequences of the Grants’ attendance at the ball.

  Ian bit back a groan. If she hadn’t led him on a merry chase, they might be married now, and she’d have the protection of his name. She wouldn’t have even been living at Annagburn and wouldn’t be guilty of their crimes.

  Ian wanted to throttle her. Perhaps turn her over his knee or at the very least, give her a good tongue-lashing.

  “Mr. Alistair MacGregor and Mr. Donovan MacGregor are here to see Mr. Grant,” the footman announced.

  Ian frowned and rose from his seat at the breakfast table. “Send them in.”

  Before the footman could move, Alistair and Donovan stormed into the room. Donovan grabbed his arms. “I’ve got him.”

  In a blink, Alistair raised his fist and slammed it into Ian’s cheek. Instant pain shot through his head as the room darkened for a moment and stars blinked around his peripheral vision.

  “What the hell are ye doin’?” Lachlan yelled.

  “It’s a matter of honor,” Alistair said as he raised his fist again.

  “Honor?” Lachlan choked. “This comin’ from the men who help their uncle hold my mother-in-law for ransom?”

  Alistair, his fist raised and ready to strike, paused. “This is different.” Then he slammed it again into Ian’s face, near his left eye.

  Even if Donovan wasn’t holding his arms, Ian wouldn’t fight Alistair. Davina’s brother had every right to call his honor into question and apparently had learned about their secret courting. Just how much, he was afraid to ask.

  “Stop!” Maddie cried. “I will not allow you to beat Ian in the middle of our breakfast room.”

  Alistair stepped back. “I apologize. Ye are correct.” Then he nodded to Donovan. “Let’s take him outside.”

  Lachlan reached the entrance to the breakfast room before Donovan could haul him out. “I demand more of an explanation than honor.”

  “He dishonored Davina,” Alistair accused.

  Lachlan’s eyes grew round and focused on Ian. “What the blazes did ye do?”

  “Not what ye’re thinkin’.”

  Before Ian could explain further, Alistair’s fist slammed into Ian’s jaw with enough force to jerk his head back. Blast! Alistair may have loosened half of his teeth with that last punch.

  “Enough!” Maddie cried. “Let’s talk about this as reasonable gentlemen.” She turned to the footman. “Please bring a bowl of water and towels to the sitting room.” Then she frowned. “Nay, I don’t want tot risk getting blood on the pale yellow and white.” Then she brightened. “The library’s dark. Nobody will notice if there are stains.”

  Chapter 19

  At least making a list would keep her mind off what may or may not occur. With Sheena and Arabella, Davina settled into the morning room, a blank parchment before them.

  “We need to figure out which fifteen bachelors we’d take as a husband,” Sheena began with far more enthusiasm than Davina had ever been able to summon whenever her uncle threatened husbands in the past. Of course, Davina had always known they were empty threats of what would happen if they didn’t behave more like lasses than lads. At least, they’d been empty threats until a few weeks ago. But, even then she wasn’t concerned because she’d had Ian.

  Was it even possible to come up with the names of fifteen bachelors?

  “Davina only needs to list one,” Arabella reminded Sheena.

  “Aye, but what if Ian changes his mind? As for the rest, if they reject one of us they’ll most likely reject us all, which is why we need fifteen names.”

  While Sheena’s reasoning was sound, Davina did not like the idea of having to come up with the names of four other bachelors. However, there was a very good chance that Ian had already changed his mind, and if her uncle was still set on marrying them off, she’d need to come up with a few alternative options, no matter how much it went against every part of her being. If she couldn’t have Ian, she didn’t want anyone.

  “We’ll list out the fifteen that we like, includin’ those that may not have been here.” Sheena arranged the parchment before her and started writing. “Then we will divide them, with Davina getting’ Ian, of course.”

  “So kind of you to give him to me,” she said dryly.

  One after the other, they tossed names out until they had a list of potential husbands and then divided them up between the three. Five names each.

  “Mine are all handsome,” Sheena smiled as she looked at her list.

  “Mine can support a wife,” Davina countered “If one must marry without love, ye want to be able to have yer own home and live with someone who you get along with. While bein’ handsome is a benefit, we canna be too picky. Kindness and friendship go further than appearance.”

  “That is easy for ye to say. Ye have Ian,” Sheena complained. “Even if he isna the most handsome man around, I suppose he is pleasant enough to look upon.”

  Davina sat forward. Not that she’d met every man in Scotland, but she doubted anyone was more handsome than Ian. “Who could you possibly think is more handsome?” Her tone was incredulous.

  A slow smile came to Sheena’s lips. “Quinn Lennox.” She ended his name with a sigh. It was also the very name that appeared at the top of Sheena’s list.

  Davina looked to Arabella who just shrugged.

  “Who do ye think is more handsome, Ian or Quinn?” Davina demanded, certain Arabella would name Ian.

  Arabella began to blush. “Camden Breckenridge.”

  Camden? Was her cousin’s eyesight failing her? “He is not nearly as handsome as Ian.”

  “Which is why there is someone for everyone,” Rose announced as she stepped into the room. “Did you enjoy the ball last evening?”

  “Yes.” Sheena practically gushed. “I wish we could have another.”

  “Hopefully, you will one day.” Even if they held a dozen balls this year, it would not be the same without Rose.

  Oh, why was Uncle Aiden so stubborn? Why didn’t he just marry her?

  “Girls,” Rose said as she took a seat. “I expect my stepsons to arrive today. Tomorrow at the latest.”

  Davina’s stomach tightened.

  “I’d like you to stay near the house.”

  “Do ye fear retaliation?” Arabella asked. “They would take one of us?”

  “No.” Rose laughed. “If Bentley determines anyone is to pay, it will be your Uncle Aiden.”

  The day of reckoning was near. Fear slid down Davina’s spine at what was to come.

  “Your brothers will be on watch to tell us when they are seen. When that happens, I’d like the entire family to gather in one room and act natural, such as reading, stitching, playing cards or chess.”

  Davina frowned. “To what purpose?”

  “If Bentley sees Aiden’s family, he won’t be so quick to beat him.” Rose smiled.

  “Ye want his children there as well?” Arabella asked in disbelief.

  “Especially the small children. My stepsons will not do anything harmful in front of them, and I want Bentley to know that ther
e are four little ones who rely on your Uncle Aiden when my stepsons decide Aiden’s fate.”

  Davina put her hand against her throat. It was almost as if she could feel a noose tightening around it.

  “Do not worry,” Rose assured them. “I promise that nothing will happen to your uncle, or anyone in this family. On that, you have my word.”

  Davina would like to believe Rose, but how much power could Rose hold over her own family. Bentley was an earl and this could quickly be out of her hands.

  Rose reached forward and picked up the discarded parchment in front of Davina. It was her list of bachelors. “I’m not surprised to see Ian Grant at the top of your list, Davina.”

  Her face began to burn. “Why do ye say that?”

  Rose laughed. “He barely left your side all night. I suspect he’s smitten.”

  Sheena straightened and grinned. Davina shot her a look that bespoke of holding her tongue.

  “Aiden will be pleased to see these, but don’t show them to him before he asks.”

  “Why?” Arabella asked.

  “Because he was only going to force you into marriage because he feared arrest. As that will not happen, I see no need to rush into something you may one day wish to escape.”

  With that she stood and walked out of the room.

  “As Rose said we arena to be concerned, so give me the quill,” Arabella insisted.

  Davina handed it over and Arabella drew a line through two names.

  “Why did ye list them if ye werena wantin’ them?” Sheena asked.

  “Because they were still better than any of the bachelors Uncle Aiden had listed.” She cringed and shivered. “I couldna stomach the idea of being a wife to any of them.”

  Suspicion settled into Davina’s gut. When they failed to produce lists when their uncle first demanded them, he’d drawn up his own. Each of the bachelors were completely unsuitable. Uncle Aiden had done it on purpose so that they’d be forced to pick their own husbands.

  He was far more devious than she’d given him credit, something Davina would need to remember in the future.

  “He’ll just have to settle for three,” Arabella decided.