The Highlander's Outlaw Bride (24 page)

His hand drifted lower, fingertips a few inches from her breast bone.

“Here, ye are fiercely loyal, unstintingly kind, and so passionate. Ye are beautiful, Brianna. Both inside and out. I know this, and I wouldnae change a bit of it. I cannae imagine a better woman to have at my side.”

“At yer side? Truly? Ye would look to me for advice?”

“And gratefully accept it.”

Brianna hesitated, torn between the desire to hug him to her and roll her eyes at him with cynicism born of past experience.

Conn scowled. “Ye only marry Gavin because he doesnae challenge ye. All yer life he has done yer bidding. Ye would soon be miserable in such a marriage. Would ye continue to respect the man? Or would ye lose yer regard for him?”

She shot him a startled look. She could not call him a liar, for his words struck a chord in her heart. But she didn’t have to like the truth he pointed out. Her lips nudged downward in a thoughtful frown.

He shrugged. “Think on it, dearling. In the meantime, I believe ye have some shopping to do.”

To her surprise, he followed amiably as she chose spices for the kitchen, commenting knowledgably when she asked his opinion, and made no complaint as she moved from one tiny shop to another. He carried her basket without comment after she passed it to him in order to inspect a length of lace. Her fingers caressed the web-fine needlework longingly, but she put it away with a sigh. Finances being what they were at Wyndham, she would not purchase what she did not need.

Tam met up with them as they exited the shop, leaving a group of youngsters behind.

“Yer dog has made a number of friends, I see.”

Brianna nodded. “He is often with Jamie, and these are his friends. They know him well.”

“So, ye willnae train him to herd cattle?”

“He does that instinctively. The master herdsman is pleased with him. But Jamie needs him more.”

She paused to speak to a pair of old crones seated on a wooden bench. Conn waited patiently, tossing a stick for the dog, who retrieved it over and over. Brianna’s lips curved upward in amusement.

As they made their way back to Wyndham Hall, Conn spoke. “I meant what I said yesterday. I dinnae believe ye should marry Gavin.”

She quirked a brow at him. “I suppose ye think I should marry ye?”

He nodded his head emphatically. “Aye.”

“But, why?” She halted in the middle of the trail and turned to him, a troubled frown on her face.

“Brianna, the stories ye heard of me werenae much exaggerated. I took few of the lasses to bed, but the rest is fairly accurate. Everything always came easily to me. But the one thing that mattered most, I drove away with my thoughtlessness.

“Ye were right to tell me ‘nae’. I dinnae understand what it meant to need someone like ye in my life. And I arrogantly treated ye with less respect than my horse, expecting ye to comply with my plans with no fuss. I ask yer forgiveness and promise ye I will never take ye for granted.”

A faint smile quivered on her lips. “A pretty speech. How much of it is sincere?”

“Och, that stings. Though learning to speak with ye on all matters will take some practice, I mean to do it, and ye have my thanks for keeping me to my word should I forget.”

Brianna gave him a thoughtful look and turned back to the trail. They walked in silence until they reached the edge of the woods. The hall loomed just across the glen. She glanced sideways at him. “I will be fine from here.”

“Brianna.”

She stopped.

“Ye dinnae belong to Gavin. Ye belong with me. I will do whatever it takes to convince ye of it. I will wait for ye until ye are ready. I will make whatever promise ye ask of me.” He shook his head slowly. “But I willnae stay and watch ye marry Gavin. I willnae be here after tomorrow.”

* * *

Conn paced the small room accorded him as a guest. It mattered not the size or appointments of the room, only that it allowed him to remain near Brianna. Until tomorrow. He slapped the palm of his hand on the wall next to the narrow window.
She cannae marry him! I must make her understand. But what else can I do?

He snorted
. I should challenge Gavin, but injuring or killing him willnae help
. He recoiled at the thought of Brianna in Gavin’s arms.
Albeit, having a good reason to smash my fist into his face would definitely help me.

He whirled at a knock at the door. He took the missive from the young lad’s hand, placing a small coin in his palm in thanks. The single sheet of parchment was folded and fastened with Wyndham’s seal. He ripped it open. A single red rose petal, its edges beginning to dry and curl, dropped from the center. He caught it as he scanned the page. There were only three words.

Forgive me?

Brianna

He frowned at the words.
Forgive ye? For what? Disbelieving me? Lying?
Or for marrying Gavin?

He crushed the paper in his fist, a curse snarling from his lips. He’d already forgiven the first, trying hard for the second, but damned if he would forgive her for marrying Gavin when she knew in that stubborn heart of hers she belonged to him.

Opening his hand, he smoothed the paper as he re-read the words. The delicate tracery, a skill so few possessed, showed strength and determination, very much like her. He folded the paper carefully, placing the rose petal in its center, and tucked the small package into his sporran. He’d won a response from her, but he wasn’t certain if it was the one he wanted.

* * *

Gavin gulped the hot mulled wine, grateful for its warmth against the early morning chill. A few servants stirred about the hall, poking the fire in the great hearth back to life and setting out platters of bread and cheese for the early risers.

Brianna beckoned to him from the edge of the room, indicating he follow her into the lord’s private chamber just off the hall. Startled to see her up so early, he rose and accompanied her to the room. Something about her measured movements sent warning bells off in his head, and he shut the door softly behind him.

“’Tis good to see ye this morning. Are things well with ye?”

She bit her lip and glanced away. He crossed the room, fighting the familiar urge to comfort her. “Ye have something that needs saying, aye?”

For a moment, she did not reply. Squaring her shoulders, she faced him. “I want you to know I cannae marry ye.”

Hollowness twisted his stomach, and he sucked in a sharp breath of surprise.

Her eyes darkened and she canted her head to one side, an anxious look of appeal on her face. “Even when I was but a lass, ye were the one person I knew I could trust. Even though I led ye into danger, ye always had a care for me. That has meant more to me than ye could ever know.”

Gavin grimaced.
More than a care, lass
. But he couldn’t voice the words.

“Yer love and patience meant the world to me these past weeks. It gave me strength to be honest with myself.”

Slowly, the band constricting his heart eased and he gave a short nod. “Ye have decided to marry MacLaurey.” He could not disguise the harshness of his voice, and a look of pain crossed her face.

“I have.”

Her words were simple, honest, yet they sounded bleak to his ears. He gritted his teeth. “Is there any chance…” His voice trailed off. He’d known the depths of her anger at the laird, but he had obviously misjudged her heart. He would have sworn there was no way in hell Conn could win her back.

She stepped forward, closing the gap between them, her hands settling softly on his arms. He reached for her, folding his arms about her.

“I am sorry,” she whispered against his chest. “I am so sorry to break my promise to ye.”

He released her reluctantly, then tucked a finger beneath her chin. “Ye are happy? This is yer true wish, not just because of the bairn?”

“Aye. It is my wish. He is much like me, and though I doubt we will always agree, we will always be equal partners. This he has promised me, and I now trust him to keep his word.” She tilted her head. “And we will have our bairn. Mayhap others, as well.”

Gavin touched the back of his fingers to the side of her face and read happiness in her eyes. “Then I release ye from yer promise.”

“Ye dinnae hate me? I have wronged ye.”

He managed a small smile. “Nae, lass. Never that. Ye have my heart, ye know.”

* * *

Brianna strode from the lord’s chamber and crossed the great hall, her pace increasing with every step as her elation grew. Through the open door, she saw Conn standing next to Embarr on the far edge of the yard, saddled and ready to go.
He leaves this soon?
She gasped and broke into a run, her feet flying down the steps and across the grassy yard, her hair and skirts billowing in the air.

Conn glanced up sharply, dropping Embarr’s reins as he spread his arms wide. She flung herself against him, and he scooped her up, swinging her around as laughter and tears caught in her throat. Lowering her to the ground, he crushed her to him, burrowing his face in her hair.

“Will ye marry me now?”

Brianna pulled back, still within the circle of his arms. Her eyes danced. “Nae. I have a few belongings to pack, and ye have a castle to ready for me.”

Conn’s eyebrows shot upward. “Aye. I do. But I would marry ye here at Wyndham before I go. It shouldnae be too difficult. Ye have had plenty of practice.”

Her chin tilted at a haughty angle, but she laughed. “I have only had two weddings. Ye missed the last one.”

“I want all of Wyndham to see ye happy. We could wed tomorrow—a priest, food for a feast—what else do we need?”

“I cannae marry ye tomorrow. That was the day…” Her voice trailed off and she glanced over her shoulder, feeling Gavin’s absence.

“Then marry me today. I could stay a day or two while ye pack yer things. Corfin is in good enough shape to welcome ye home.”

He bent and kissed her until her head fairly spun and she could scarcely catch her breath. At last he released her. “I will speak to the priest. Ye must have things to attend to. The feast, yer wedding dress. I wouldnae mind if ye wore what I found ye in, but since there will be witnesses present, ye best find something to keep their tongues from wagging.”

Brianna shrieked in mock outrage and raised a fist, pummeling his chest. “Beast!”

Conn chuckled and dodged her half-hearted blows. Reaching into the bag behind Embarr’s saddle, he pulled out a length of lace and ribbon. Brianna gasped in surprised delight.

“’Tis beautiful!”

“I saw ye admiring the lace yesterday and I wanted ye to have it. The ribbon is the color of the gown I saw ye in at Dundonald Castle. It suits yer eyes.”

“Thank ye!” she breathed, astounded at his thoughtfulness. Tears pricked her eyes. Accepting his gift, she kissed him. It felt surprisingly good for her to kiss him, rather than the other way around, and she lingered, tasting the warmth of his lips. She wrapped her arms about his neck and leaned into him, astonished at how right it felt to curve into his body.

At last she broke away, breathing heavily, feeling definitely over-warm. “I will see to things here,” she murmured. Her hands slid from his shoulders to his waist, her gaze following. “Ye may want to wait a bit before talking to Father Roderick.”

Conn’s laugh warmed her heart. “Aye, we dinnae want to alarm the priest, aye?” He gently pushed her hair over her shoulder, fingers lingering. “Will ye wear the pendant I gave ye, also?”

Brianna’s face fell. She lifted a hand to her throat. “I do not have it.”

An eyebrow quirked at her. “What do ye mean?”

I willnae begin my married life with a lie or a half-truth.
“When ye dinnae arrive for the wedding, I gave it to Gavin to be sold.”

“Why? ’Twas a gift.”

“Aye. But I have no need for such, and the coin would buy us much grain this winter.”

“But I gave it to you.”

“Cold stone and metal willnae fill our bellies.”

Conn stood silent for many long moments. “We are both practical. I was willing to lose my home to roust Malcolm, and ye gave up a pretty gift to feed yer people. I cannae blame ye. But it will be my pleasure to see ye adorned with beautiful clothes and jewels and have nae concern that doing so keeps food from any mouth.”

“I must admit, when ye gave it to me I had no care to wear it and be marked as yer possession.”

Conn laughed. “There is the lass I know and love. Yer honesty warms my bones. Dinnae ever change, aye?”

She slanted her eyes. “The babe will mark me as yers soon enough.”

* * *

The hall was packed with people. A collective intake of breath mingled with murmurs of approval alerted Conn to Brianna’s presence at the head of the stairs. She floated along the gallery that ringed the room, glowing in her wedding splendor. His heart swelled, feeling her presence as intently as his own heartbeat. Seeing her, knowing she would soon be his wife, created an ache deep inside.

He grinned suddenly. She was now his responsibility, not his duty. No longer an outlaw, she was his bride. Perhaps some men preferred docile, acquiescing wives, but he looked forward to the fire and passion she would bring to their marriage.