Kissing the Lass (Scot to the Heart #2)

by Charles, Jane

  Arabella nearly choked. Did they really think she could remain with Lord Gideon for a year and a day and not suffer in some manner? She wasn’t certain which was worse, this discussion or to be forced into a blasted handfasting only to be sent home because Lord Gideon no longer wanted her?

  Worse, what would her friends and neighbors think? To them, it would be a broken betrothal after she’d lived with Lord Gideon and his family. She’d never marry. No true Scot would have her after she and her family had gone along with such a ridiculous belief. She’d be destroyed and her reputation in shreds. Did her family really think so little of her, and were they so desperate to see her married?

  Further, did they truly believe that nobody would ever learn? Bonnybridge was a small community. Eventually the Grants would ask where she was, then Fanella, who loved to gossip, would let something slip, even if she promised never to breath a word, and within a week everyone would know that she was handfasted, of all things, and when she did return, Arabella would be no better than a fallen woman.

  “It’s settled then.” Uncle Aiden stood. “The two of ye will be handfasted.”

  “No!” Arabella cried.

  “It’s the only reasonable solution,” Rose said as she came forward and placed her hand on Arabella’s arm.

  Tears filled Arabella’s eyes at her betrayal. Wasn’t Rose supposed to keep this very thing from happening?

  Then Rose linked her arm with Arabella’s and guided her from the library leaving the men behind. “This is the perfect solution,” she said. “Especially after everything that you’ve shared with me about you and Lord Gideon’s affection,” she whispered.

  “Why are ye doin’ this to me,” Arabella demanded. “I trusted ye.”

  Rose smiled at her gently. “And, ye still can. This is an opportunity to learn if you and Lord Gideon will suit. To help put your fears away. He will not hold you in Cornwall if you do not wish to remain.”

  “It’s so far away.”

  “Which is the root of your fear.”

  “That and that Lord Gideon doesna love me.”

  “And now you have the opportunity to learn if the two of you can love.”

  They turned and walked up the stairs.

  “This is a gift, Arabella. Young women rarely have the choice and freedom that you’ve just been offered.”

  “Yer thinkin’ of yer own marriage?”

  “Yes, and I will not let the same happen to you. You will have an escape if you need one.” Rose patted Arabella’s hand. “But, I don’t think you will.”

  Rose had suffered a marriage arranged by her father to his oldest friend when she was but fifteen and had lived a nightmare. And, perhaps in her eyes, this was the better choice, but could Arabella be Lord Gideon’s temporary wife and live so far way?

  In truth, it wasn’t just being in Cornwall that scared her, but that she was falling in love with him and that he may never come to feel the same for her.

  Gideon stepped from the manor to return to this cottage. His heart heavy. He’d be marrying a woman who had no desire to marry him. They may call it a handfasting, but in his heart it was no different than if he were to stand before a vicar and repeat the sacred vows.

  Arabella did not want him and had made it perfectly clear. She might have enjoyed his kissing and caressing her, but she wanted no part of a marriage to him.

  The family seemed to believe that she feared living so far away, and perhaps that is what Arabella had convinced herself of, but misses married and moved from their families every day and when they loved the groom, they did not mind. Arabella did not care enough for him to even take the risk.

  It was hard to face the pain. Already she possessed a good portion of his heart, yet he had none of hers, and might never.

  He’d go along with MacGregor’s plan and participate in the blasted handfasting, but if Arabella could not love him at the end of a year and a day, he would set her free, and she’d probably take all of his heart when she left, unless he could somehow make her fall in love with him. But how was that even possible? She knew the whole of who he was as a man and there was nothing he could do differently.

  In truth, deep down she did consider him a milksop, and that was likely to remain unchanged, even if he told her the truth about G. T. Oliver.

  His sleep was fitful, but at least Gideon was confident that Arabella’s rejection was not necessarily because of him, but being stripped of all she held dear. In time, hopefully, she’d realize that they would make a good life together, away from her family without actually having to live with them and he had a year and a day to prove it to her.

  As he made his way to the manor to break his fast, he was met by the arrival of a carriage from which Ian Grant emerged. Following, was his wife, her face rigid with worry as she alighted from the carriage.

  Alarm rose within Gideon that something had happened, but as he did not know the couple, Gideon waited for them to enter the manor before he followed.

  “Where is Arabella?” Davina asked.

  “Davina, it is good to see ye,” MacGregor greeted his niece as he came down the stairs.

  “What has happened?” she demanded.

  MacGregor frowned. “I doona ken what ye mean.”

  At that, she thrust a piece of parchment toward her uncle.

  “Davina, I need you. Please return to Anagburn. They’ve all gone mad. Arabella.” MacGregor chuckled as he handed the parchment back to his niece. “It isna like Arabella to be the dramatic one, but given the circumstances, I’m no’ surprised.”

  “Exactly, what are the circumstances?” Ian Grant asked as he placed a hand at the small of his wife’s back.

  “Come, I’ll explain over breakfast.” Then MacGregor noticed Gideon behind them. “It will also give ye a chance to come to know Arabella’s temporary husband.”

  Both of the Grants turned in his direction, their mouths agape and Gideon steeled himself for another discussion over the misunderstood topic of handfasting.

  “Ye came,” Arabella cried when they stepped into the breakfast room, and as much as Gideon wished Arabella was excited to see him, he knew her words were for her cousin. Did she really believe they’d all gone mad?

  On further consideration, perhaps they had and being at Anagburn had set him upon the same path of insanity as her male relatives.

  “What is it, Arabella?” Mrs. Grant moved from her husband to her cousins’ side. “What have they done now?”

  Ah, the two well understood their family and already Mrs. Grant had placed the blame on the men, and all based upon one short missive from Arabella.

  “Come,” Arabella took her cousin’s hand. “I’ll explain in the gardens.”

  “Nay, we will all explain over breakfast. I willna have ye providing a one-sided view to Davina and I’ve no need to enter into another argument when much needs to be accomplished today.”

  “Are we still to travel to the coast?” Arabella asked in confusion, as if there were no other plans for the family, or her.

  “You ken we arena goin’ now. If Lord Gideon wishes to take ye, it is up to him.”

  Arabella looked over at Gideon, concern in the blue depths.

  “We will go to the coast, perhaps in a few days.” Perhaps a short trip away from Anagburn, without her blasted family, might be good for the two of them.

  “Would someone please tell me what is goin’ on,” Mrs. Grant demanded.

  “I’m afraid you’d better fill a plate and settle at the table. This could take some time,” Donovan offered.

  It wasn’t until everyone was seated that MacGregor explained, in more detail than was necessary, the reasons and how Gideon and Arabella would be handfasted that afternoon.

  As soon as MacGregor determined the when, all color disappeared form Arabella’s face and she excused herself.

  Mrs. Grant quickly stood, as did Gideon, both with the intent on going after Arabella. They stared at each other, silently questioning which one should go.
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  It was Mrs. Grant who broke the contact, then rushed after her cousin, leaving Gideon to watch after her, his heart in his stomach because even if he had gone after Arabella, he knew he lacked the words to comfort her and it killed him.

  Chapter 22

  Arabella stared down at the pale blue ribbons that tied her wrist to Gideon’s. This had really happened. They were handfasted with only family looking on since apparently there was no requirement that anyone officiate.

  Arabella would have run away if there had been a place to go, but all options were taken from her, as well as a choice. It was as if her entire family had turned against her and deemed what they believed to be the best. Davina was the only one who offered any argument but in the end, even she agreed that this temporary situation might just be the answer to Arabella’s fears.

  “I canna believe ye allowed this,” she whispered to Gideon as they walked to the cottage. Her uncle wouldn’t even let her remain in the manor. She was to be in the cottage with her husband, so they could come to know one another. When Davina and Ian had married, they’d returned to Grant Manor and she’d be willing to wager that nobody made them sleep any place other than in Ian’s set of rooms.

  “It was a matter of honor,” Gideon answered. “I should not have caressed you in the manner that I did.”

  “But nobody ken but you and me.”

  He focused on her, looking into her eyes. “I knew. That is all that matters to me.”

  Honor! While valuable, how many people were forced into poor decisions because of honor?

  As they walked up the steps and stopped before the door, Arabella’s stomach churned, knowing what was expected of her. Or, at least she’d been told, and as delightful as Gideon’s kisses were, the very idea of more than kissing and caressing terrified her. Was she even ready for such intimacy? And, once the deed was done, she’d be bound to him and Cornwall, for the rest of her life.

  He opened the door and waited for her to enter, though it was awkward given his right hand was tied to her left one. It was just one more layer of awkwardness to this entire situation.

  Once the door was closed, he pulled at the bow. “I think we can dispose of this now.”

  The ribbon fell away and he let it rest on the table as he struck a match to light a second lamp. One had already been burning so at least they weren’t coming into darkness. Also on the table were fresh flowers, a bottle of wine and two glasses. The bed was turned down and a low fire burned in the fireplace.

  Gideon did a slow turn and frowned. “This is not how I left it.”

  “Servants probably came to prepare the cottage for yer weddin’ night,” Arabella finally said, her stomach tightening further.

  “It’s your wedding night as well.”

  “I doona feel so well.” Arabella wandered to the small sitting area before the fireplace and sank down into one of the matching Bergère chairs. She’d not been in here in such a long time and had forgotten how cozy the room was. Between the two soft chairs was a small table, and she had to wonder how her great grandparents had lived in here with two children before work was started on the manor so many years ago. Yet, even though no one had lived here since Uncle Aiden married his first wife, it had been well-maintained. In fact, it was Meg, Aiden’s wife, who had purchased all the furniture that now set within this space.

  Gideon opened the bottle of wine, poured two glasses and then brought one to Arabella before he settled in the opposite seat, turning the chair so that he could look at her more fully.

  “I know this isn’t what you wanted. How can I help to make you feel better about the situation we find ourselves in?”

  She wasn’t certain there was anything he could say or do. They were tied together, at least for a year and a day. Except, with Gideon, his honor would require an until death do them part, as if it were a real wedding, and she’d be with a man who did not love her, living far, far from home.

  “Can you explain or is it simply feelings that caused you to balk at this union,” he asked.

  Was he discounting her emotions? She’d expect that of Uncle Aiden but not Gideon. “Feelings arna simple.”

  “I never said they were,” he quickly assured her. “I’m just trying to understand. We get on well together. We have passion, and I thought you liked me.”

  All he said was true. “Aye.”

  “Yet, something is missing for you?”

  She took a shuddering breath.

  “I’m just trying to understand, Arabella, so we can work past your fears.”

  She looked up into his blue, caring eyes. If she was to be stuck with a gentleman for the rest of her life, at least he was kind.

  “Fear of the unknown, where we’ll be, when I will see my family, if I will see Scotland once we are gone. What of yer family? What will they think of me?” Then it occurred to her that she knew so little about him. Aye, he loved the coast and wanted to live there; that he was the third born and had a sister. “I know nothing about ye.”

  A smile pulled at his lips. “It’s true, I know far more about your family than you do mine.”

  “Tell me about them.” Maybe if she could know him better she wouldn’t be so fearful.

  Gideon relaxed back in his chair. “I supposed we could start there, though they aren’t as interesting as your family.” He chuckled.

  Arabella took a sip of her wine and realized she was beginning to relax. It was their wedding night but Gideon didn’t appear to be in any hurry to retire, for which she was grateful. It was another reminder that he was sensitive, but it also didn’t negate the fact that she hardly knew him.

  “The oldest is Tristan, current Marquess Hopkins. He is a widower with a son, Jonas, who is six and a daughter, Eloise, who is five.”

  “Widower?”

  “Yes, his wife, Elaina, had taken the children to visit her grandparents in Avranches, France. Elaina’s parents had fled France during the Revolution, when Elaina was still a child. Her maternal grandparents remained behind and that is who Elaina traveled to visit. On the return trip, the ship was lost in a storm.”

  How horrible and frightening. “The children?”

  “A maid was able to get the children into a lifeboat, but Elaina was washed overboard and disappeared. She was never found.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Three years and three months.”

  “Eloise was just a babe.” She’d have no memory of her mother. Arabella’s memories of her own was vague and distant, but at least she had some. Eloise would have none.

  “Thank goodness he dinna lose his children as well.” Though she didn’t know if that was comforting against the loss of a wife.

  “I’m thankful he had the children, without them…” Gideon shook his head before taking a sip of wine. “I don’t want to contemplate what my brother would have done. There were some very dark days.”

  “At least he had his family surrounding him.” She assumed he did. Or, at least he had Gideon.

  “Yes, and he has come around to the living again.”

  At the thought of children, Arabella was beginning to feel hopeful about her circumstances. She would love to be a mother, to have someone who would love her unconditionally as much as she loved them.

  “You also mentioned a sister,” she reminded Gideon, thinking perhaps they should turn the topic away from the loss and sadness.

  “Sophia.” A smile pulled at his lips. “Until she came to visit, I hadn’t seen her in five years.”

  Arabella’s eyes widened. Five years. She couldn’t go so long without seeing her family. She couldn’t manage to go a year. She’d be lost.

  “Sophia married Raphael DeMitri, Count Scala, six years ago after meeting him through my father in France. After they married, they settled at his home in Genoa.”

  Arabella could only blink at him. “Yer family seems to be spending a good deal of time in France given Napoleon was in power and making war at the time.”

  Gideon chuckled. “Fi
rst, where Elaina traveled was fairly safe, though the ship’s captain always feared encountering one of Napoleon’s ships. As for eight years ago, my father was on a diplomatic mission, so to speak.”

  “Was he there to spy?” Arabella whispered.

  Again, Gideon chuckled. “There may have been a bit of secrecy involved with his trip.”

  “And he took his daughter?” Uncle Aiden barely let her leave Bonnybridge, he’d never allow her go to an enemy country.

  “Sophia didn’t have permission,” Gideon corrected. “She decided to follow our father and ventured there with her two best friends.”

  Arabella took a sip of wine, intrigued to learn more about Sophia. Oh, to be so brave.

  “Once she and her friends disappeared, it didn’t take long to figure out where they’d gone and I went after them, catching up to the three in France, but before they reached Paris.”

  “Why dinna ye brin’ them home?”

  “I would have and was half tempted, but I also knew that they’d try again. So, instead, I accompanied them to our father, who was quite put out with both of us.”

  “How old were ye?”

  “Eighteen and foolish.” Gideon laughed. “Our father was not happy, but it all ended well. Sophia married and Father and I returned to England with her two friends in tow, and delivered them to their parents.”

  “Is that when ye decided to become a spy?”

  “It made sense to do so, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed once I was actually working within the profession.”

  Arabella curled up her legs beneath her skirt and turned into the chair so that she could face Gideon better. “Who else is in your family?”

  He shook his head and took a drink before answering. “There are seven in all.”

  Goodness, his family was larger than her immediate family, but not as large as the family that lived under the roof of Anagburn. “Tell me about the rest of yer siblin’s.”

  The next born, is Maxwell, my twin.”

  “Twin?” He never once mentioned a twin. How much more didn’t she know of the man she’d married?