Bride of the Solway (34 page)

Ross must act quickly, before it was too late. But he needed Fraser. Where on earth was he?

At that very moment, Fraser rounded the corner and joined Ross. 'What kept you?'

'
Morag,'Fraser
groaned. 'Damned woman!'

'Never mind that. Is everything arranged?'
     

'Aye, sir. The King's Head at Springfield. The very last village before the border. 'Twill be done the moment we arrive. And there's a secret room behind, for... Well, no need to discuss that. We need only ten or fifteen minutes' start on them and there will be no fear of your being interrupted.'

Ross nodded. 'I have changed part of the plan.'

Fraser's eyebrows rose. 'But you said yourself there was no other way. If you—'

'That was then, Fraser. I did not expect there to be anyone in the church to help me defend Cassie against her brother. But Colonel Anstruther, and several other gentlemen, have arrived. Some ladies, too.' He grinned and pulled at Hera's ear. 'I am sure this fine lady would have relished the challenge of prancing down the aisle of Annan
kirk
and helping me carry the bride off on my saddle bow, but she will not have the chance, now. I shall go in on foot. There will be a scandal. But nothing to compare with the one I would have caused by riding a horse up to the altar.'

Fraser nodded, clearly relieved. 'Thank God for that,' he breathed. 'If you had—'

'Now, Fraser. To business. We have little time. While I go in to rescue Miss Elliott, you must ensure that no one can follow us, at least for a while. The carriage there—' he pointed with his whip '—is Elliott's. You'd best cut the traces. As for the horses belonging to the other guests... Hmm. I don't want to offend Colonel Anstruther or any of the other gentlemen but, equally, I dare not leave any good horse that Elliott might borrow. No. You'd best untie them and take them off down to the river. They'll come to no harm. But it will buy us time.'

'Very good, sir.' Fraser grinned. It was exactly the sort of task at which he excelled.

Ross swung down from Hera's saddle. The heels of his boots rang on the cobbles. Throwing the reins to Fraser, he said, 'Wait until I am inside the church before you make a move. I should be a few minutes only, ten at most. Make sure you are waiting at the door with the horses.'

Fraser frowned a little, as if annoyed to be given orders that he already perfectly understood. Then he looked down into his master's face. Whatever he saw there made him smile reassuringly. 'You can rely on me, Captain. And I know you will bring the mistress off safely.'

'Thank you, Fraser.' Ross reached up his right hand. They shook, warmly. Not equals, perhaps, but friends and tried comrades.

By the time Ross reached the church door, it had been closed. He could hear noise from within, but it was impossible to make out precisely what was going on. He took off his hat and tossed it on to the step. He would retrieve it later. If there was time. Then he ran his hand through his hair, took a deep breath, pushed the heavy door open and stepped into the relative gloom beyond.

The congregation was clustered at the front of the church. No one appeared to have noticed Ross's entrance. Any noise he had made was covered by the loud, droning voice of the minister. Cassie was directly in front of the minister. Her brother was standing very close by her side and seemed to be whispering in her ear. Threats, probably. To ensure she could not cry off. On Cassie's other side was a small, pot-bellied old man, with a bent back and scrawny legs, displayed in black silk breeches and stockings with enormous clocks. The little man was just reaching for Cassie's hand.

Ross marched down the aisle, his boots ringing on the flags. Every head turned towards him. Including Cassie's. Her face lit up at the sight of him. He thought she breathed his name. His heart swelled with a surge of love. And longing. She did still love him.

Mindful of the dangers, Ross stopped a few yards from the minister so that he could keep Elliott and all his servants in view. '
Mr
McLean,' he said in a voice worthy of the parade ground, 'this wedding may not go forward. Miss Cassandra Elliott is not free to marry this day. She is betrothed to me.'

Cassie's brother began to stutter a protest, looking round wildly. He reached into his coat, as if for a weapon, but of course he had none. There were certainly benefits to challenging him in a church.

'Captain Graham, this is outrageous!' The minister did not intend to be bested at his own altar. 'You know well enough—for I told you yesterday—that Miss Elliott herself had agreed to this match.'

'Under duress, sir. Under duress. If you do not believe me, ask the lady now.'

Cassie stepped away from her brother and her would-be suitor. She looked first at the minister and then at the gentlemen in the congregation. In a clear, strong voice, she said, 'My brother is trying to force me to wed
Mr
Robert Munro, who has paid him five thousand pounds for possession of my person.'

The congregation began to mutter.

'I repudiate this match, here in front of you all,' Cassie continued, looking straight at Ross, her eyes shining. He stretched out a hand to her. 'I am betrothed to Captain Ross Graham. And as I am of full age, no one here—' she whipped round to stare at her brother '—no one has the right to prevent it.' With a fleeting smile towards the minister and a whispered word of apology for the deception that had been
practised
on him, she placed her hand in Ross's and was drawn into the shelter of his arm.

'A moment, my dear,' Ross said. He had to ensure that the danger from James Elliott was removed, for ever. '
Mr
McLean, gentlemen, let there be no doubt of what has gone forward here. This man—' he pointed at Cassie's brother, who recoiled from the fury in Ross's eyes '—this man has treated his own sister as if she were a chattel, a mere piece of goods to be sold so that he could pay for his drinking and gambling. And worse. You all know him. You must know I speak the truth. What is more, James Elliott kidnapped his sister from her godfather's home, on the other side of the Solway. And he forced her to agree to this sham of a marriage, by threats.'

He raised an eyebrow to Cassie, who nodded. 'He promised to leave me to starve to death in my prison if I did not agree,' she said quietly. A collective gasp echoed round the church.

'So let no man here take Elliott's part. He is an out-and-out scoundrel. He is not fit to enter the company of gentlemen.'

Colonel Anstruther, who was looking exceedingly serious, nodded vigorously. He threw a withering look in Elliott's direction. No doubt the colonel would ensure that justice was done.

Ross squeezed Cassie's hand and, together, they turned from the altar and walked smartly toward the door.

Behind them Cassie's brother screamed, 'Ye'll no' take her! I'll kill ye first!'

Ross heard hurrying footsteps behind them as they reached the door. He did not turn. He simply put an arm round Cassie and ushered her through. Fraser was already in the saddle, waiting. 'Up with you, Cassie,' Ross said, lifting her on to Hera's back and throwing himself into the saddle behind her.

He glanced round. The Elliott carriage and horses stood there. The riding horses were gone. 'Now, Hera.' He put his heels to her flanks. She raced forward down the street, making light of her double burden.

Fraser started after them, looking back over his shoulder every few moments to check if they were being followed. Suddenly he gave a great bellow of laughter.

Ross did not turn, but Cassie pushed herself up in his arms so that she could look over his shoulder. 'Oh, my!' she cried with a nervous laugh. 'James is trying to follow us. Was that your doing, Fraser?'

Fraser could not speak. He was laughing too much. But Ross nodded. 'Fraser cut the traces.'

'Jamie will have some fine bruises. And not only to his limbs,' she added with relish. 'The carriage horses have dragged him halfway along the street. And most of the townsfolk are doubled up with laughter at the sight.'

'Morag! Oh, Morag, I'm so glad you are here.'

'Wouldna have missed it for the world, Miss Cassie.'

'Best get a move on, sir, madam,' Fraser said. 'We can't be sure how much time we have in hand.'

'But is it really necessary? There was no sign that James was following us, was there? We could go on to
Longtown
, or to Carlisle. We'd be safe in England, would we not?'

'Are you having second thoughts, Cassie?'

'No. Of course not. But I should like to be wed in church.'

'And you shall be. But first, you shall be wed here in Springfield. I must have you safe, my sweet. Once we have been joined—even here— no one can part us. Ah, here is
Mr
Lang.' '
G'day
t'ye
, ma'am, surr.'

David Lang, nicknamed 'Bishop' Lang, was an enormous old man, with layers of jowls that made him look to have no neck at all. He was dressed from head to foot in rusty black. As if to
emphasise
his 'priestly' role, he carried a broad-brimmed hat to match his clerical garb. And he spoke in an accent so thick that Ross understood barely one word in four. However, Cassie and Morag were nodding eagerly at what seemed to be a speech of welcome and an explanation of what was about to happen.

Seeing Ross's puzzlement, Cassie translated with a grin. 'We have but to state who we are and that we are free to marry. Then it is simply a matter of making a declaration that we will wed each other.'

Mr
Lang touched Cassie's arm impatiently. 'The
beddin
,' he urged, looking towards Ross. ' Ye'll no' be
richt
merrit
wi'oot
a
beddin
, surr.'

Cassie blushed to the roots of her hair. 'He says that we—'

Ross shook his head at her with a quick smile of sympathy. 'No need, my dear. I followed the gist of what he said.'

Taking a deep breath, Ross squared his shoulders and looked at
Mr
Lang. 'Now, sir, let it be done. I, Captain Ross Graham, bachelor, presently residing in the parish of Annan, do hereby declare, before you and these witnesses, that I am free to marry.'

Ross held out his hand to Cassie. She laid her own in his and made her statement, in turn. Then, before David Lang, and before the two witnesses who had served them both so faithfully, Ross and Cassie declared themselves man and wife.

And
nane
shall pit ye sunder,' 'Bishop' Lang intoned in his deep voice. Then he plucked at Ross's sleeve. 'Come by to the
chaumber
, surr. Ye'll need to be doing the
beezness
whiles I
scrieve
yer
mairrage
lines. 'Twill
mak
it all
guid
an' legal, ye see.' He pushed against a panel in the wall, which proved to be a door. Behind it, there was a hidden bedchamber and a bed with fresh sheets.

Morag made to follow her mistress. 'No, Morag,' Ross said firmly. 'Your mistress is my wife now. I will look to her.'

* * *

'Cassie.'

She went to his arms and nestled there, breathing in the wholesome scent of him, feeling at last that she was safe and where she belonged,

He held her close and stroked her hair. 'Cassie, forgive me, but
Mr
Lang is right. If our marriage is not.. .er.

Cassie threw her arms round his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers, 'I have married an idiot,' she said with a wry grin. 'I may have been embarrassed by what
Mr
Lang said, but I do understand the importance of it. If our marriage is not consummated—that is the correct term, I believe?—James could try to have it put aside.'

Ross grimaced. 'We should take our time over this, our first lying together as man and wife. But if James is at our heels—'

'Oh, Ross,' she said, shaking her head. Could he not see how much she wanted him? She looked into his eyes. She saw concern, overlaid on tenderness. Where was the desire? Did he not feel it, as she did? 'Ross, I am no longer a shy virgin. Making love holds no terrors for me. Oh, my love, I have been praying for you, and for this moment, since the day James carried me off. When I looked back at you, by Annan bridge, I was trying to tell you so. Did you not understand? Do you not want me, too?'

It seemed that was all he needed, for he seized her mouth and kissed her as if she were the life-giving water for a man dying in the desert. The kiss went on and on. Cassie's heart was pounding in her breast. She could feel that familiar molten glow in her belly as her womb made ready to welcome his seed. She could not wait any longer.

She started to claw at his coat and his shirt. That made him laugh, even while he kissed her. He dragged his lips away for a second. 'You are a passionate woman, my little wife. Are you so very hot for me, then?'

She continued to struggle with his shirt buttons. The moment she saw bare skin, she put her lips to his chest and began to tease him with her tongue.

That was too much for Ross's self-control. He ripped off the rest of his clothes and threw Cassie on the bed, still fully dressed, if it's haste you want, my lady,' he groaned, pushing up her skirts and petticoats, 'then you shall have it.'

Cassie opened her body to him, welcoming his possession. Her need was urgent now.