“Scots,” they said simultaneously and then burst into a fit of giggles.
“What’s so funny in there?” Shamus called from up on the bench. “The conversation up here with our good captain isn’t nearly as entertaining.”
The women giggled again.
Rose amended to switch spots with Shamus in a few hours. Not only would she like to ride next to her husband, but Shamus might enjoy the company of Lily and Daisy. The three had bonded.
“Don’t listen to him,” Colin called. “He’s having a grand time up here. We’re discussing the possibilities of his future after all.”
Shamus grunted. “It’s all just ideas now. Gotta talk to me wife.”
Rose smiled. Shamus was a good soul. In fact, they’d met a great many good souls on their journey here. It was only a few bad ones that had derailed their lives.
The rest of the day passed in pleasant travel. They stopped and ate, Rose spent time with Colin as he drove the open carriage. And just as the sun began to set they arrived at the gates of their new home. “So this is Glenshire,” Rose said, peering down the drive, the house not visible. “It looks well-kept at least.”
He gave a single nod, wrapping his arm about her. “It does indeed.” Then he planted a kiss on her forehead. “Tomorrow, we’ll meet with the estate manager and begin going through the books. Hopefully, we’ll have enough to operate the place by combining our resources.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. For his sake and that of her sisters, she could only hope the estate sustained itself. But many of her fears washed away as the house came into view. It was a lovely stone home that was stately in size but not overly so. The exterior was meticulously maintained and even had English ivy decorating its façade. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
Colin sat back in his seat. “This is where we’re going to live?”
She smiled at her husband. “I’m afraid so.” Then she took his hand. “You haven’t changed your mind again have you?”
He narrowed his gaze. “I didn’t change me mind ever. I was attempting to protect ye.”
Her heart thrummed with satisfaction and love. “We’re going to have a glorious life here.”
He climbed down off the bench, and helped her down too, Shamus aiding her sisters.
“I agree,” he answered, pulling her close. “I’m the one who’s wish upon a Morningstar came true.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “So odd, usually Fiona’s favors come with a bucketload of trouble.”
Rose made to answer but the words died on her lips. The front door banged open and none other than her cousin, Michael Morningstar, Earl of Rothberg, stormed down the steps waving a pistol.
“Step away from my fiancé at once, you scoundrel,” he shrieked into the night and then levelled his pistol, firing. Rose froze. What had Michael just done?
* * *
Colin felt his blood boil with rage as the other man stormed toward them. The shot went well wide of hitting any of them, but Rothberg had just fired into a group of women. His fist clenched against Rose’s back. The man would pay.
Tucking Rose behind him, he pulled a pistol from his belt, holding the weapon in his left hand as he grabbed his short sword with the right. A sailor was always ready for pirates.
Colin had believed that he might be the villain in his situation, stealing Rose’s future, but seeing this man evaporated any such thoughts. Rothberg had always been the evil party and Colin’s role had never been more clear. He needed to protect his wife and sisters-in-law from men like this. It had always been his job and it would continue to be so.
Rothberg reloaded as he moved closer, clearly intent on firing again. That wasn’t going to happen.
“If ye are referring to Rose.” Colin pushed out between gritted teeth. “She is not yer fiancé, but my wife.” And then he fired. His shot wouldn’t miss, that he knew, but he didn’t aim for a kill shot, rather one that would wound.
The ball of lead hit the other man in the shoulder and he fell to the ground with a loud guttural cry.
“Shamus, hide them behind the carriage,” he gritted out as he stomped toward the other man.
He needn’t have worried. Rothberg writhed in pain, his pistol laying a few feet from his body. Colin kicked the weapon further away and began searching the man for a hidden weapon with one hand, his other holding his sword at Rothberg’s throat.
“You shot me,” the man gasped. “Do you know who I am? I’m an earl and—”
“No one cares,” he rumbled, turning him over to check for a hidden gun in the man’s waistband. Rothberg gave a pathetic cry. “Ye’re in Scotland now, and ye’re on our property, and ye fired first. The locals will likely throw a party in our honor fer having shot ye.”
“You can’t—” Rothberg started.
“I can and I did.” Colin began to understand. This man had a rather inflated sense of his own worth. “The question now is what I am going to do with ye next?”
Rothberg froze on the ground, his eyes growing large. “What do you mean?”
“Ye,” he pointed the sword in Rothberg’s face, “tried to hurt my wife.”
“I-I had every right. She was my fiancé.” He put his hands up.
“Is that why ye tossed her on the streets and left her to fend fer herself or die?” He pushed the sword into the man’s nose and watched with some satisfaction as a drop of blood oozed from the tiny wound.
“They can’t treat me like that. I’m the earl.”
“And ye’re here now because?” Colin asked not that he needed the answer. In fact, he filled it in. “Ye’re here because ye realized Rose had an inheritance and ye thought ye’d take that off her hands as well. Would ye have tossed her out again once ye’d sold everything?”
“She’s my fiancé. I had every right—”
He pressed the sword deeper and Rothberg stopped talking. “Ye speak a great deal of yer rights. When ye tossed her out, ye dissolved any rights ye had over her. Ye’ve no more. I can’t do anything about yer inheritance in England. But I can turn ye over to authorities here in Scotland. If yer wound heals, ye’ll spend a good amount of time in a Scottish prison fer having attacked a laird and lairdess on their property.”
From somewhere on the steps, cheering broke out. Colin looked up to see the staff assembled on the steps clapping wildly.
But he needed to focus on Rothberg now. “Get me three stablemen to escort Lord Rothberg to the proper authorities.”
And then he smiled down at the man. He ought to thank him. Colin’s usefulness to his wife had never been clearer.
Chapter Sixteen
Rose paced below a portrait of her aunt, hanging in the sitting room just off the main entrance. It must have been close to midnight and Colin still hadn’t returned.
“My God, you look like her,” Daisy said. She’d been staring at the picture for hours. “At least no one here will question your claim to the inheritance.”
Rose stopped pacing. “I don’t care about that now. I just want to know my husband is all right.”
Daisy waved her hand. “He’s fine. In fact, he’s most assuredly got every detail under complete control. The man oozes competence.”
“He does at that,” Shamus answered, kicking up his feet. “I wonder how the wife is going to handle me being a mainlander.”
“I thought you had to discuss it with her?” Lily asked, nibbling her lip.
Shamus shrugged. “I do. But she’s wanted me to retire fer some time. At least Glasgow is near the water. And I’d like to see my children more. They’re gonna start havin’ babies of their own soon. Captain MacFarland says he’ll likely have jobs fer all of ‘em.”
Rose smiled. “I’m sure he will.”
Just then the door swung open and Colin strode in the main hall. She rushed to his side, holding out her arms to him. Without a word, he swept her into his embrace.
“Are you all right?” she murmured into his shoulder. “I was so worried.”
“It’s nice to be worried after but I’m fine.” He grimaced against her cheek. “I’m not so certain about Lord Rothberg.”
“Good riddance,” Daisy said as she stood. “If he dies we won’t have to worry about him coming here again.”
Privately, Rose agreed. “We don’t wish anyone dead, Daisy.”
“Speak for yourself,” Daisy answered. “I’ve been wishing I killed him with that pot for months.”
Colin silently chuckled, his body moving against hers. “That is an act I would have liked to witness.”
Lily stood too, her skirts rustling as she clutched her hands into them. “Does anyone want to discuss the fact that we’ve landed in a beautiful home that is all ours?” She sniffed. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to properly meet Aunt Agnes and I wish I could have asked her why she and Papa never talked, but whatever happened, we’re here now and it’s a far cry from where we’ve spent the last six months.”
Colin gently set her down on the floor and she looked up into his eyes, hoping her happiness shone through her gaze. “Lily is right. We’re terribly lucky.”
His eyes flicked to the portrait under which she’d just been standing. “Is that ye?”
She shook her head. “No. That’s Aunt Agnes as far as we can tell.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Have we found any whisky in this place? I think this calls fer a toast.”
Daisy lifted her skirts. “I saw a snifter in the other room and that is a grand idea.” She raced off and came back with a snifter and a set of glasses. The butler appeared, looking mildly appalled at Daisy as she balanced the items in her arms. “I can help ye with that, miss.”
“It’s Lady Daisy and thank you,” her sister answered, handing over the goods. When they all had a glass in hand. Daisy raised hers up. “To wishing on stars.”
Colin chuckled, his hand wrapping about Rose’s waist. “Indeed.”
Rose leaned her head against his arm. “To finding love.”
“To finding love,” he repeated.
Their glasses clinked and then Rose took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat with a satisfying burn. She was home.
Epilogue
One year later…
Rose held her belly as she lounged in a chair, staring out at the blooming flowers the late spring provided. She sighed with contentment.
Colin had been gone for a few hours as he’d needed to help with the last of the late foals.
He’d taken to running the estate like a fish to water. The metaphor made her chuckle. He had natural leadership skills, an organized mind, and a true love for the work. Rose, it turned out, had a good head for business and their already profitable estate became more so, month over month. Having their own shipping company had its advantages.
She’d also been able to collect wonderful dowries for both her sisters, not that either of them seemed in a rush to marry.
Secretly, she thought both of them were recovering from the trauma of the past few years and she didn’t blame them one bit. Besides, she loved having them here.
Lily came into the sitting room, the one just off the main door that had become her favorite, and sat next to her sister, beginning to massage Rose’s hands. “Is the baby kicking again?”
Rose smiled, rubbing her stomach. “Always. There is definitely a Scot in there.”
She heard Colin’s masculine chuckle as he entered the house. “That wee bairn managed to kick me all night too.”
She turned to give her husband a warm smile. Holding out her free hand, he came to take it, sitting next to her on the settee. “You’re done?”
“Shamus took over.” He winked. “The man won’t admit it but he loves the foaling. In fact, he’s taken to land life like a duck to water.”
She raised her brows. “What’s a metaphor that doesn’t involve water? I’ve been trying to think of one all afternoon.”
Lily tapped her chin for a minute, not answering. Then she gave a soft sigh. “I can’t think of one but let me just say, it’s wonderful to have the time and energy to ponder such things.”
“It is indeed,” Rose answered. “It’s one of many things I love about our life in Scotland.”
Colin leaned down and kissed her cheek. “What I love about our life in Scotland is ye.” Rose pressed into the kiss. “I love you too.”
Lily propped her hand under her chin. “Do you think I’ll find something like you have someday?”
Rose smiled at her sister. “I’m sure you will.”
Lily shook her head. “I’m not so certain. I mean, look at all we’ve gotten already. I sometimes feel guilty just wishing for love too.”
Rose grasped her sister’s hand. “Perhaps you should do what Daisy does and make a wish upon a star.”
Lily wrinkled her nose. “That’s Daisy’s trick. Doesn’t work for anyone else.”
Colin scratched his chin, staring up at the ceiling. “I found an old well on the back of the property. I can take ye there to toss in a coin.”
Lily sat up straighter. “Why not? It’s worth a try.”
Rose gave her sister’s hand a squeeze. “Colin, while you’re there, you can wish for an easy delivery for me.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” He kissed her temple this time. “And don’t ye worry. I’ll be right by yer side the entire time.”
“Will you?” she looked up into his eyes, loving him more every day.
He ran the backs of his fingers down her neck. “It’s me job to keep ye safe. Always.”
“Always.”
A Scot to Keep
Brides of Scotland Book 3
Lily stood at the sink basin near the door, washing her hands. Soft cooing noises emitted from the bed and she glanced up to see mother and child snuggled together as Mr. McGreevy, one of their croft farmers and father of the baby, leaned close to his wife, cooing back at the child.
Joy lit up both their faces as they stared down at the bundle. She dropped her head, wanting to give them some measure of privacy. But she grinned despite herself. When births went right they were her favorite work.
The midwife came to stand next to her, also washing her hands. “Ye’re doing fine Lady Lily. Soon ye’ll be ready to take on a birth all on yer own.”
Lily swallowed down her protest. A year ago, she hadn’t learned any medical skills. She’d been a scared woman at the world’s mercy. Her salvation had been learning to care for others. It meant that in the event she lost everything again, she had a means to care for herself. “Thank you,” she answered, removing her hands from the bowl and drying them on a nearby towel. “For everything.”
The older woman smiled, showing a missing tooth. “Thank ye fer being such an apt student.”
Lily nodded. Her father had passed eighteen months prior and for nearly six of those months, her and her sisters position had grown incrementally worse. They’d been forced into the care of an estranged cousin who eventually tossed them out to fend for themselves. Her stomach clenched at the memory. They’d holed up in a seedy inn until her eldest sister Rose had managed to find a ship captain willing to bring them to Scotland to reunite with their aunt.
Rose had fallen in love with Captain MacFarland and they’d married.
Lily sighed. While Rose seemed to have their life well in hand, Lily still felt compelled to prepare for the worst. She’d only starve once in her life.
“It’s very satisfying to help people when they most need it,” Lily answered. “I quite enjoy the work.” That was the absolute truth. Her brother-in-law had lifted them out of darkness when they’d needed it most. She would be forever grateful and her new vocation filled her with joy, knowing she could help others.
Clarissa nodded. “Why don’t ye head on home, lass. Darkness is falling and the road has been plagued with thieves of late.”
“Yes, good idea,” Lily answered, her stomach fluttering. This croft was on the outskirts of their lands. The road formed the southern border of their property. Colin, Rose’s husband, had spent
several nights camped out, attempting to catch whoever used their patch of road for nefarious purposes but so far, he’d been unsuccessful.
Tossing on her dark cloak, Lily gave the new family one last smile before she slipped out the door. At least in the waning light, the cloak would hide her from view.
She made her way quickly down the dirt road, her basket of supplies swinging next to her. It held the herbs she’d collected, dried, and crushed for different medicinal uses.
The road grew darker as the sunlight completely disappeared beyond the horizon and she moved faster still, lifting her skirts as her feet barely touched the ground. Lily was near at a run as she made her way to the house.
Her family had arrived in Scotland to learn their estranged aunt had also passed away. She, however, had left Rose her estate and surrounding lands. Lily mostly loved their new life in Scotland. She was useful here, the land was beautiful, the people open and honest. But the daily life was rougher too and she felt that now. Fear prickled along her skin as she heard a distinct noise from the brush.
Was it an animal? The wind? Her imagination? Her heart hammered in her chest as she considered the far more sinister options. Could it be the band of thieves? She stopped walking, turning her face to the side within her hood. The heavy fabric covered her golden hair, but it also deadened the sound.
No other noise came from the brush and she took a slow step forward once again. Her basket gave a decided creak and she winced, holding her breath.
For a moment, she heard nothing, and then a crunch in the gravel behind her. She spun about, but before she could see anything, strong arms wrapped about her chest. A scream ripped from her mouth just before a hand, stinking of dirt and sweat, covered her mouth and noise. Lily gagged.
“Hold still and ye’ll be fine,” a man hissed in her ear.
A Highlander to Have and to Hold: Brides of Scotland Page 9