“Aye,” Arabella moaned. “I fainted when they bled my aunt when she was ill. I doona understand how cuttin’ someone open heals anythin’.”
“It doesn’t,” Gideon assured her as he stood.
Arabella lifted her head off the pillow and looked up at him. “It doesna bother ye?”
“The only thing that disturbs me at the moment is that you’re injured. Let me care for you.”
She’d never understand how Duncan could watch as her birds ate their prey and then be able to bag up the remains, nor could she understand how Gideon wasn’t bothered by blood. It was not normal. Yet, the most gentle and kindest man she’d ever met was taking care of her and Arabella’s heart melted a bit more.
As he knelt at her feet once again, there was a knock at the door. “Come,” Gideon called, not leaving her side,
A moment later, a footman and maid entered, then gasped in unison.
Quickly they placed their dinner on the table, then came to Gideon’s side.
“I’ll get the mess cleaned up right away, Miss Arabella,” the maid vowed.
“How can I be of assistance, Lord Gideon?” the footman, Charles, asked.
“I’m afraid I might need a needle and thread,” Gideon whispered but Arabella still heard him and nearly came off the bed.
“What?”
“The glass has been removed.”
He held it up and it wasn’t so small. Further, it was coated in blood and once again the room swam and Arabella had to lie back down.
“I’m sorry, Arabella, but the gash is long and deep. It must be stitched.”
“Oh, dear,” the maid and footman answered in unison.
“I’ll get Mrs. Gordon,” the maid rushed from the room.
“I’ll….I’ll return for cleaning supplies,” the footman finally said.
“Why are they so afraid?
“I do worse with stitches than I do with blood.” It really can’t be so bad, can it. “Are ye certain it’s necessary? Wouldn’t a bandage and not walking on it for a day or so do well enough?”
Gideon came to his feet and settled on the bed beside Arabella and took her hand into his. “If I thought it wasn’t necessary I wouldn’t put you through this, but I’m afraid it needs to be stitched.” Then he rose and took a towel from beside a basin and pressed it to her foot.
As her husband was always honest, Arabella knew it was true. Except… “We could call a doctor, just to be certain.”
Gideon leveled his eyes on her. “Do you not trust me?”
“Aye, I do.” She let out a sigh. “I just doona do well with these situations.”
He chuckled. “So I’m coming to understand.” Then he walked across the room, retrieved her glass and added whisky to it. “You might need this.”
As she finished the last of the whisky while Gideon held the towel to her foot, the maid and footman returned. They carried a broom, mop and bucket. Behind them was the housekeeper, and then her uncle and Rose.
“What happened?” Uncle Aiden demanded as he stepped inside.
“I cut my foot.” Though he should have gathered that from the way Gideon was kneeling on the floor with a cloth pressed against her foot.
“Oh.” Her uncle blinked.
“What did ye thin’ happened?” she demanded.
“I only overheard the maid explain blood and that ye were injured.”
“And ye thought Gideon had done the harm?” she demanded.
Her uncle opened his mouth to speak, but no words were spoken.
“Lord Gideon would never hurt me. I simply did not look where I was steppin’ and cut my foot.”
“I can see that,” Uncle Aiden grumbled.
“Who is the best at stitching an injury?” Gideon asked from the floor.
“That would be me,” the housekeeper answered. “I’ve been stitchin’ up the lads since they learned to walk.” The she smiled at Arabella. “I’ll make it quick lass because I ken how ye can be.”
“Thank you,” Arabella murmured and nearly fainted again when the housekeeper produced a needle.
“I’m right here with you,” Gideon said as he settled beside her on the bed and took her hand in his. “If you need more whisky, just let me know.”
“Well, we shall leave you. Send word if you require anything else,” Rose said as she pushed Uncle Aiden from the cottage.
To think he thought Gideon had harmed her in some manner. If her uncle had been so worried about how she’d be treated, why had he forced the handfasting to begin with?
Arabella frowned at his retreating back and then winced as the needle pricked her tender flesh.
“Look at me Arabella. We’ll get through this together.”
That was easy for Gideon to say since he wasn’t being stabbed with the pointy instrument, but as she looked up in his warm blue eyes, Arabella found herself relaxing.
Gideon still hadn’t finished the letter. He needed to know the details behind Jamie’s arrest, but Arabella’s injury had taken priority over any news. Besides, it wasn’t as if he could do anything for Jamie in that exact moment.
His stomach tightened. What if it was too late? What if they’d already found him guilty and he had been hanged?
As soon as Arabella’s foot was stitched and bandaged, the maid and housekeeper insisted on helping Arabella change into her nightshift so that she could be tucked in bed to recover, that’s when Gideon took the opportunity to retrieve the discarded letter and retreat outside.
A lovely white Arabian that Jamie purchased from Lord Bowerton is at issue. He claims Jamie stole him when Jamie insists that the horse was paid for.
Gideon remembered quite clearly that sale. Bowerton’s financial situation was precarious at best and when he failed to win any of the races last year, he offered to sell the Arabian to Jamie at the end of the season. Jamie had been working with the horse since.
Jamie had entered the horse in a race at Newmarket. He made a fine showing and Jamie was quite pleased as it was the first race for the thoroughbred since Jamie had achieved ownership. However, that is also when Bowerton suddenly remembered that his horse had been stolen and it was Jamie who had taken it. Nobody truly believes Bowerton, of course, but without proof of sale and the accusation made, Jamie was arrested by the magistrate. As Jamie claims you were present, the magistrate is holding off on a trial until you can return or Jamie can produce the bill of sale, which has mysteriously disappeared.
Gideon blew out a sigh of relief that his brother was still alive.
Oh, I do hope you can make it back soon, Gideon. Your brothers need you.
That bill of sale should be in the safe, inside the small office Jamie keeps at the back of the stables. If anything, Jamie was meticulous when it came to tracking the progress of a horse, lineage, racing times, health, and anything one needed to know when racing. And, he sure as hell kept all bills of sale.
Gideon straightened as the housekeeper and maid exited the cottage.
“I’ve served Miss Arabella her supper and set yours out on the table,” the maid said. “I tried not to disturb yer papers too much when I made room.”
Alarm shot through him. His latest manuscript was spread out on that table. He didn’t so much care if the pages were out of order as he minded that someone may have read the words and deduced what he was doing. Or worse, who he was. It’s the one secret he’d kept for nearly three years and Arabella was only the second person he’d ever told.
“I dinna read anythin’,” she quickly assured him. “Miss Arabella insisted that what ye were writing was private. I only made enough room so that ye may enjoy yer supper.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve left a bottle of laudanum if the pain is too much but Mrs. Trent,” the housekeeper leveled a look at the maid, “does not wish to take any now.” She again focused on Gideon. “Will ye be needin’ anythin’ else?”
“No. We will be fine. And, thank you.”
He watched the two women retreat to
the manor then stepped inside to find Arabella sitting up in bed, her back supported by pillows and a tray upon her lap. The covers had been folded down to her waist and her auburn hair hung loose, curling about her breasts.
Need shot through him at the sight. His wife was indeed a very beautiful and desirable woman.
“Ye never told me what upset ye so much,” she said, worry clouding her blue eyes.
“It’s my brother, Jamie.”
“The one who races horses?”
Gideon scrubbed his hand over his face. “Yes. He’s been arrested.”
“For what,” she nearly screeched, sitting up in concern.
“Being a horse thief.” He then quickly explained the circumstances to Arabella. “And now, I’m faced with a dilemma.”
“There is no dilemma,” she returned. “Yer family needs ye. Ye should be packin’ already,” she insisted. “It willna take long for my things to be packed either.”
A day ago, the idea of leaving here terrified Arabella, yet she offered no argument now. Of course, his circumstances had changed, but he couldn’t ask her to travel all the way to Cornwall. “Arabella, you cannot travel so soon after your injury.” There were six stitches in her foot. She couldn’t even wear a slipper with all the bandages, let alone walk. They’d be in the carriage most of the trip but what of when they stopped. He couldn’t very well carry her into coaching inns.
“Ye doona want me with ye?”
He hated the hurt in her voice and misunderstood. “I want nothing more than for you to come with me and meet my family, but I will not have you suffer.” He settled on the edge of the bed. “It will be too painful for you and I must reach my brother as quickly as possible, so it will be a rough trip.” Gideon scrubbed a hand over his face again.
Sympathy shown in her eyes as her face softened. “Ye are such a carin’ gentleman, Gideon.”
“As soon as everything is settled with Jamie, I will return for you, or send for you, though I’d rather you not travel the length of England without me by yer side.”
She reached over and took his hand in hers. “Then I will await ye here and wish ye Godspeed.”
Chapter 27
Unaccustomed fear settled into Arabella’s stomach as she waited outside of the manor for Gideon to take his leave. The sun had barely crest the horizon but her husband wished to be on his way as soon as it was light enough.
She supported herself with a borrowed cane and kept all pressure off her foot while a servant loaded Gideon’s luggage into the back of the traveling coach, her heart heavy with his coming departure.
Isn’t this what she had wanted? To remain at Anagburn when Gideon returned to Cornwall?
It had been when her uncle first decided that Gideon would remain for only a fortnight but so much had changed in such a short time. Even a few days ago, she wished to remain here, but as his departure neared, Arabella was pulled more toward her husband than her childhood home.
“Ye are leavin’ and not taking yer wife with ye?” Uncle Aiden demanded as he came from the manor.
Arabella had hoped Gideon would be long gone before any of her family learned. She wanted no interference from them, especially since this was a decision her husband had made, and one with which she agreed.
“There’s an urgent matter requiring my attention in Cornwall.”
“That is no reason to leave yer wife behind.”
Gideon straightened and took a step forward. “I will not have her risking further injury or pain and I cannot wait for her to heal.”
Uncle Aiden narrowed his eyes on Gideon. “What is so urgent that ye are runnin’ out on yer vows?”
“It is none of yer concern,” Arabella snapped, angry at her uncle for insulting Gideon.
“My brother has been arrested,” Gideon announced. “He’s been accused of stealing a horse.”
Uncle Aiden gasped. “I married my niece in to a family of horse thieves?” he yelled.
“No.” Gideon answered much more calmly than Arabella ever would have.
“My brother purchased the horse. I was there at the time of the sale. They need my testimony so he does not hang.”
Uncle Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Are ye telling me the truth?”
“Yes,” Gideon yelled. “Though I find it rather interesting that a man who kidnapped a lady and held her for ransom, and one I suspect smuggles whisky, is questioning the alleged criminal activities of my family.”
Arabella gasped. How did Gideon learn about their smuggling business?
This time Uncle Aiden narrowed his eyes on her.
“Arabella never said a word,” Gideon said before Uncle Aiden could accuse her of anything. “I deduced it myself.”
“I’m not admittin’ to it.”
Gideon snorted. In truth, Uncle Aiden’s reaction was enough proof and that admission need not cross his lips.
“Ye will be back?” Uncle Aiden asked again.
“You’ve insulted me enough for one morning,” Gideon answered and Arabella couldn’t really blame him. Uncle Aiden had called his honor into question.
“Aiden, come back inside,” Rose said from the entry, a robe wrapped tightly around her. “Leave the two of them alone to say their goodbyes.”
Were her aunt and uncle usually awake this early or had they been disturbed by the activity outside? Of course, it didn’t matter. They were here now for what Arabella wished would have been a private departure.
“Aye,” Uncle Aiden grumbled. “Safe travels, Lord Gideon, and return soon.”
Arabella rolled her eyes at the warning in her uncle’s tone. What was he going to do if Gideon didn’t return quickly enough, go after him?
A chill settled in her bones. That’s exactly what he would do and it didn’t set well with her. If Gideon didn’t wish to return to her, then she certainly didn’t want anyone to drag him back. That would be more humiliating than the handfasting she’d gone through, or when she was reminded that no man in Bonnybridge wished to court her.
Her family needed to cease interfering in their affairs and she’d see that they never did again.
As soon as the front door closed, Gideon came over and put his arms around Arabella. “I’ll miss you.”
“And I will miss ye.”
Then he gave her the tenderest kiss. He was a sweet, bonny man indeed.
“Safe travels and write to me when you have word of your brother.”
“I promise and I hope not to be gone long.”
Then he kissed her one more time before he stepped into the coach. As he was driven away, her heart grew heavy, fearing that she might indeed, never see him again.
What if he didn’t return? He’d not made her a wife in truth and could easily secure an annulment, or simply wait a year and a day and declare they were no more.
He’d been forced into this situation. Did he wish to leave it just as quickly?
Oh, she’d like to box her uncle’s ears for even suggesting that Gideon was running out on his vows and putting those concerns into her head but now that it was there, it wasn’t likely to leave.
When the coach had disappeared from sight, Arabella carefully made her way into the manor because walking to the cottage was too far. She hadn’t even walked from it because Gideon had carried her.
“I’ve asked a maid to make up the back parlor into a temporary chamber for you,” Rose announced.
Why temporary? This was her home. Was her old set of rooms no longer hers?
“It’s impossible for you to climb those stairs and you really should be off of your foot until it heals.”
Arabella hadn’t even considered the stairs when she assumed she’d return to the manor, but Rose was correct. It would be impossible to negotiate up to her set of rooms and Arabella had no wish to be stuck up there once she’d gained her bed.
“Another maid has been sent to the cottage to retrieve your things. You’ll be settled in no time.”
Her things included a trunk of clothing, delivered
while she was being handfasted, and the G. T. Oliver book she hadn’t even begun to read. At least she’d have something to do while her foot healed, though it was unlikely to keep her mind off of Gideon, his travels and if he’d return since he had written every single word she’d be reading.
Her husband was her favorite author and with each moment that passed, she worried he’d only be that for a year.
Writing in a coach while traveling was near impossible. Of course, Gideon had already assumed he’d not get anything written as he rode south, but had wanted to give it a try since sitting stewing about his brother, feeling the loss of Arabella, and being angry at MacGregor’s insinuations only put him in an unpleasant state of mind and feeling frustrated that he could do nothing more but sit.
Eventually he did manage to relax enough to read what he’d already written, which did pass some of the time, but not nearly enough. By the time Gideon arrived home four days later, he never wanted to see the inside of a carriage, coach or any manner of traveling conveyance for a very long time.
He’d barely made it up the front stoop before Sophia flew out the door and wrapped her arms around him.
“Gideon, I’m so glad you are finally home..”
Tears filled her eyes and his heart seized. Had they tried Jamie before Gideon could return home? Had he been found guilty? Had he already been executed?
“Oh, come inside.”
The front parlor was empty, but Sophia continued on to the library, which was equally empty, save Rafe, Sophia’s husband. He paced before the windows, glass of brandy in his hand. Tension engulfed the room, and Gideon saw before him a gentleman who paced like a confined great cat with the need to escape, or do something.
“Where is Tristan?”
“He detoured when he received word of Jamie’s arrest. He and his new bride have not yet arrived,” Sophia sighed.
“Is his wife with him?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “Lady Jillian had no intention of being parted from her husband regardless of the circumstances Portsmouth.”
“Start from the beginning and tell me what has happened.” Gideon strode toward the sidebar and poured himself a brandy. He had a feeling he might need more than one glass before Sophia was finished.
Kissing the Lass (Scot to the Heart #2) Page 19