The Highlander's Accidental Marriage (Marriage Mart Mayhem) (14 page)

I will be calling at Bedlay Castle Thursday next to escort you to a favorite spot of mine for a picnic.

Wear clothes in which you feel comfortable climbing a tree. I will supply the food.

Braeden

S
arah rose from her bed filled with anticipation. Braeden was coming this morning to take her on a picnic. She shouldn’t be so eager. The idea of them living apart was to allow her time to enjoy her niece and nephew and wait for word from her publisher, without risking a chance of Braeden’s lovemaking causing her to increase.

Three weeks had passed since they’d had their second wedding. During that time she’d gotten to know her little niece and nephew and caught up on all her correspondence with those at home. She’d also finished her second book and was quite happy with the result.

Frankly, now she was a bit bored, but had a hard enough time admitting it to herself, without sharing that information with her sister, since Sybil believed the babes were the most interesting creatures on earth.

Sybil was so wrapped up in motherhood and running Bedlay that her time with Sarah was scant. Watching Liam and Sybil cast glances at each other in the special way lovers do bothered her more than she’d expected. The slight touches when they passed or the twinkle in Liam’s eyes when they retired early to their bedchamber had her squirming, wishing she were retiring to her bedchamber with Braeden.

Best to stop thinking along those lines.

She’d almost had herself convinced the malaise she suffered from was the change in her relationship with her twin. Truth be told, it had all vanished when she’d received Braeden’s note. As she considered spending a lazy afternoon with him, lying about on a blanket in the sun, speaking of books, history, and other subjects they both enjoyed, her spirits had lifted in a surprising way.

S
arah tied the wide bonnet ribbon under her chin. Alice had just come to her room to inform her that Braeden had arrived. She assured her there was no hurry since Liam had invited him into the library, and they were holed up in there.

She smoothed her gown, smirking at the outfit she wore underneath. Braeden had said to wear clothes comfortable while climbing trees, and she had. Her breeches and shirt had been specially made by a very closed-mouth dressmaker, who had duplicated the ensemble for all her sisters as well. Except Marion. Her lofty eldest sister never wore breeches.

The Lacey girls rode hard, and their father insisted they wear breeches while at their country estate so they didn’t have to ride sidesaddle. It had been many years since Sarah had climbed a tree, but on a dare, she just might do that. One final glimpse of her ladylike appearance and she left the room.

Liam and Braeden were leaving the library as she reached the bottom step in the entrance hall. Her breath caught at the first sight of her husband in more than three weeks. Had he always been so handsome? So imposing?

No one who spent his entire life doing research, teaching, and reading should have those muscles. Despite Liam’s immense size, Braeden stood shoulder to shoulder with her brother-in-law. Maybe not as massive, but certainly impressive enough.

“Ah, there ye are, lass.” Braeden walked toward her, a genuine smile on his face. Her heart promptly skittered around her chest before settling down into a series of loud thumps. The deep resonance of his voice, the warm touch of his hand on hers, and she was ready to invite him up to her bedchamber and forget the picnic.

Luckily her cool head prevailed, and she merely smiled and allowed him to wrap his arms around her and kiss her senseless. Which no doubt would have continued for some time except for Liam clearing this throat.

Braeden pulled back, fortunately still holding onto her or she would have sunk to the floor in a puddle. “Are ye ready for our picnic?”

“Yes.” Good heavens, was that her voice? She cleared her throat and smoothed back the nonexistent hair from her forehead. “I am ready.”

Braeden extended his elbow, and she took his arm. “The picnic basket is in the carriage. Duncan’s cook fixed a fine meal for us.”

“Enjoy yerselves,” Liam said. “Sarah has been working hard helping Sybil. She needs a restful afternoon.”

With a twinkle in his eye, Braeden studied her from under shuttered eyelids. “Aye, restful, indeed.”

Chapter Fourteen

W
hen the sun made an appearance in the Highlands it was truly a magnificent thing. The green was so brilliant it almost hurt Braeden’s eyes. ’Twas hard to admit, since the sight of his wife as she descended the stairs had done quite a bit to his eyesight as well.

The lass was just as lovely as he’d remembered. No one affected him like she did, even her identical twin sister. ’Twas something special about his Sarah that called to him. The sisters could stand side by side dressed the same and he’d know his wife. As he was sure Liam would know Sybil.

Braeden drove the carriage himself since he preferred not to have an audience if he was able to seduce Sarah. If she guessed his intention, she didn’t show it, just seemed to enjoy the ride and the fresh air.

“How are the bairns?”

“They are so sweet.” She grinned. “For a few days they had some stomach upset which kept us all from sleeping. A midwife from the village gave Sybil a tisane for the babies to drink, and that eased them somewhat. They are doing just fine now, and we are all sleeping peacefully.”

“I would think with Liam, Sybil, Lady MacBride, Catriona, Alanna, ye, and however many servants work in the castle, dealing with the bairns would not be a strain.”

“Sybil and I come from an unusual family, given our ducal status. My mother relied very little on nurses and nannies. We had governesses, to be sure, but everyone knew Mother was in charge. Any woman employed to deal with the children was under strict orders to summon my mother should any sort of a problem arise. It appears to me that Sybil is doing her best to follow in Mother’s footsteps.”

“And ye? Do ye expect to deal with yer own bairns as well?”

Her head snapped up, and she regarded him. He continued to stare at the road. “If a babe does present itself, I assume that would be true.”

“I would like that,” he said.

“What? A babe or not relying on others?”

He glanced at her. “Both.” The thought of Sarah’s body swelling with his bairn did something strange to his insides. What if they did conceive a child? That was something he’d have to think about for the future. Leaving a wife and child behind while he traipsed around the world on expeditions would not be what he’d want for his life. Nor did he find dragging them along appealing.

On the other hand, he was too young to give up his dreams. He wanted the Rome expedition, and probably one after that, then another one. He would have to be careful, and begin using French letters. Somehow
the thought of using those with his own wife made him uncomfortable. Though that would only be a problem if he was able to get his wife into his bed again.

He shook off his gloomy thoughts and rising frustration that oftentimes came when he considered his marriage and focused instead on the beautiful woman alongside him and the wonderful summer day. He pointed to the left. “Up over that hill is the spot I told ye about. When I was a lad I played there with my brothers and cousins. There is a small lake—well, actually more like a large pond—where I learned to swim. In winter it turns into a fine ice skating pond.”

“How exciting! My brother and sisters and I love ice skating. Mother took us to a place in the village where we skated with other children. When we returned home Cook would spoil us with her special cinnamon buns and hot chocolate. I never eat a cinnamon bun that I don’t think of those times.”

“It sounds as though ye had a wonderful childhood.”

“Yes. I did.”

“Tell me about yer da.”

She smiled softly. “He was a wonderful father. I still have a hard time speaking of him.”

“How did he die?”

She took a deep breath and stared off into the distance. “He was thrown from his horse. Broken neck.”

“
Ach
, lass. ’Tis verra sorry I am for ye and yer family. It must have been a difficult time.”

She nodded, tears standing in her eyes. “I was with my mother all night after we received word of his death.” ’Twas obvious the loss of her da had affected her deeply. However, he didn’t bring her on a picnic to drag out unpleasant memories and upset her. “I told ye to wear clothes ye could climb a tree in.”

Blinking rapidly to clear her eyes, she tilted her mouth in a half smile. “I did.” When his brows drew together, she laughed. “You will just have to wait and see.”

Braeden shifted the reins to his right hand and grasped Sarah’s hand. So soft and small compared to his. Everything protective in him arose, wanting to assure her he would take care of her for the rest of her life. If only she would reconcile herself to their marriage, he knew they would do well together.

He was certainly not rich and could not provide her with the sort of life she’d had growing up as the daughter of a duke. But he’d made some good decisions, and invested most of his salary from the university, so he had a tidy sum. Certainly enough to buy them a decent house when they settled somewhere along with securing enough staff to run it.

Once he received her dowry, he would invest that also for the benefit of their children. But most of all, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and assure her he would always be there for her and provide her with a good life. Home and family. That would also be important to Sarah. She grew up in a large, loving family that she would surely want for herself.

Yet, if he dragged her away from her family to his expedition in Rome, wouldn’t that cause her pain? His lips tightened. His work had to come first, and he needed to remember that.

He drew the carriage to a stop. “Here we are. Let’s enjoy a pleasant afternoon. Ye have been working hard, and could use the rest.”

Dear Braeden,

Thank you so much for the wonderful picnic. Needless to say Alice was distressed to find that my gown had been sacrificed to the lake. I tried to explain to her that it was worth it to view all the McKinnon land from the top of your favorite tree. Who knew the wind would kick up just then and blow my gown into the water?

I’m sorry our time was cut short by the rainstorm that followed. Hopefully, you did not catch a chill. Alice fixed me a hot drink and tucked me right into bed.

Sarah

A
week after the picnic, Sarah once again donned her breeches and shirt for a ride. She’d been spending a great deal of time with the babes and needed some fresh air. Truth be known, her stay with Sybil was becoming strained. Something she would never have thought was possible with her twin. They’d never had problems between them before, but with the major changes in Sybil’s life, it was not a surprise.

More likely the tension came from Liam’s disapproval of her staying away from Braeden. No doubt when he and Sybil were alone, he urged her to send Sarah to her husband. A reasonable request, after all.

It had been more than a month since their wedding, and she expected any day to receive word from her publisher that he needed her in London. His message might even arrive before Braeden received word of the expedition. Then she could say good-bye, wish him well, and be off to London and the thrill of being recognized as a published author. Her life would be stimulating and rewarding.

Lonely and frustrating.

Where had that thought come from?

A ride would be just the thing to pull her from these disturbing thoughts and feelings. There was about another hour before she would have to change for dinner with the family and clan members, as was the practice at Bedlay.

The stableboy, Brian, had tacked Ambrose for her, the horse she’d been riding ever since she’d arrived. After a leg up from the boy, she left the area at a slow walk, then a trot, and finally a canter. The early evening air was cool and fresh as it blew through her hair, clearing the cobwebs from her brain.

As a child she had loved the country air more than the smells and closeness of London. For the last four years, once the Season had ended and her family had packed up to leave, she had welcomed waving good-bye to Town.

After about fifteen minutes of riding, she was close to where she and Braeden had spent the afternoon on a picnic. He had looked somewhat disappointed when the storm had broken. She had laughed when they climbed down from the tree and saw her gown floating on the small lake. Although he’d offered to wade into the water to collect the garment, she’d refused. The heavy rainfall had them scrambling to gather up the picnic things and racing toward the carriage.

They’d arrived at the vehicle laughing and out of breath, water sluicing from their bodies. By the time they’d reached Bedlay, she was shivering with the cold, goose bumps covering her body. Braeden walked her to the door, kissed her in a way that chased away the chill, then turned and left her there. A slight feeling of abandonment had filled her as she watched him run to the carriage and jump inside.

Keeping Ambrose at a steady trot, she rounded the lake as she ruminated on all that had happened to her since she’d left England to visit her sister. Who would have thought she’d end up married? She’d certainly been privy to the stories of couples who had run off to Gretna Green. With that knowledge, she should have been more aware of what she was doing when she declared them married in front of witnesses.

All these thoughts ran through her head as she turned from where they’d had their picnic and started toward home. But it wasn’t home, was it? Not hers, anyway. She sighed. All of this deliberating was giving her a headache.

From the side of her eye she caught sight of a small animal darting out, running right in front of her horse. Spooked, Ambrose let out with a screeching neigh and reared back, catching Sarah completely unprepared.

She fought to hold her seat, but the force of the animal’s movement threw her backward, and she tumbled onto the ground, landing flat on her back, her head smacking on something very hard.

B
raeden tore his attention away from his book on Ancient Rome as Duncan opened the library door and entered. His face was pale, his lips tight.

“What’s wrong, Laird?” Braeden closed the heavy book in his lap and set it aside. For some unknown reason, his heartbeat sped up.

“Word just came from Bedlay. Sarah was thrown from a horse and is unconscious.”

Before Duncan could say any more, Braeden was out of the chair and headed to the door.

“I sent instructions to the stable lad to have a horse prepared for ye,” Duncan shouted as Braeden exited.

“Thank ye.” He jogged the length of the corridor and grabbed his coat from the hook by the main door.

Thrown from a horse. Just the other day Sarah had told him the story of her da dying from a fall. Broken neck, she’d said. His stomach muscles tightened at the thought of Sarah lying pale and still, her lively spirit gone from this world. He’d been in such a rush he never even thought to ask Duncan if any other information had been sent.

Even though he was anxious to get to the castle, once he was mounted, he had to pick his way carefully with scant moonlight to show the way. From the distance he could see Bedlay, lit from inside, like a beacon. His heartbeat picked up as the castle drew near. Hopefully, the lass had awakened by now.

He swung his leg over the horse and threw the reins in the direction of the stable lad. The front door opened before he was able to sound the knocker. Liam greeted him with a curt nod. “This way.”

They proceeded up the stairs, then made a right turn to the room he remembered as Sarah’s. “Is she still unconscious?”

“Aye.” Liam ran his fingers through his hair. “The village healer’s been to see her. She said with these head injuries, only time will tell. Sarah apparently struck her head on a rock, which knocked her out.” The laird pushed open the door. Braeden’s breath hitched at the sight. Sarah lay perfectly still on the large bed in the center of the room. Sybil sat by her side, reading from a book.

She put the tome down and stood as the men entered. “How is she?” Braeden asked.

“The same.” She touched his arm. “The healer said nothing seems to be broken. She had a gash on the back of her head, and there was blood on a rock that she must have struck.”

Braeden approached the bed and sat alongside Sarah on the mattress. He pushed back the few strands of hair from her forehead. “How did the accident happen?”

Sybil wrapped her arms around her middle. “Sarah went for a ride by herself late this afternoon. When she didn’t return in time for dinner, Liam went in search of her. He found her lying on the ground, the horse she was riding nearby, almost as if he was watching over her.

“He brought her home on his horse. The healer was sent for, and she said we need to give her body time to come around.”

Braeden took her cool hand in his. Amazing how lovely she looked even in repose. There was a slight tint to her cheeks, her lips a ruby red, and she appeared to be merely asleep. But he knew, from the McKinnon healer whom he’d followed around when he’d been a lad, that one could easily slip from a coma into death.

“I will stay here with her tonight. Ye look tired, Sybil.” Braeden turned to Liam. “You should take yer wife to bed. She looks about to collapse.”

“Aye. The mon has the right of it, Sybil. Ye need yer rest to take care of Sarah and the bairns.” Liam held out his hand.

She rose, placed her hand on Braeden’s shoulder, and gave him a comforting squeeze. “I will see her in the morning.”

“Thank ye.” His attention remained riveted on his wife as Liam and Sybil took their leave.

A cheery fire burned in the fireplace, but he felt chilled to the bone. He moved to the chair Sybil had occupied and slumped, his long legs stretched before him, watching Sarah as her chest moved up and down. At least she was alive.

As frightened as he was at the fall she’d taken, when she woke up, he would kiss her soundly and then order her to have her maid pack her belongings and move to Dundas. No more staying with her sister. She belonged with him, and all this nonsense of her staying at Bedlay while he lived alone would end.

“Get better, lass, because I ken ye will try to dissuade me. But not this time.”