The Highlander's Accidental Marriage (Marriage Mart Mayhem) (19 page)

“Would it truly be so difficult for you to forego the reception and travel to Rome and possibly have to live in a tent? Where is the adventurer I raised who was always looking for the next escapade?” Her mother’s warm smile eased the pain in her heart. “Just think of how inspiring Rome might be.”

“It’s not only the reception and all the rest of it. Braeden referred to my writing as a ‘hobby.’ He thinks his work is more important than mine.”

“He is a man, my dear.” Her mother smiled. “Everything they do is more important than anything us women can do. Like it or not, that is the way of the world. Although I have yet to meet this son-in-law, I somehow do not think a man you love would dismiss your work so easily. I have a feeling he was angry and hurt when those words left his mouth.”

Sarah sat with her hands in her lap, musing over her mother’s words. Truth be known, she was not happy, and indeed, the idea of being an independent woman with the status of author didn’t appeal to her as much as it once had.

Not that she had any intention of not writing. Writing was not something she liked to do, it was something she
had
to do. It was as much a part of her life as breathing and eating. Mother was right. No doubt she could find paper and pens in Rome.

Was she truly thinking of joining Braeden? As the idea grew, the excitement began to build. How she longed to feel his arms around her. To inhale his scent of leather, horses, and Braeden. To once again have the pleasure of their lovemaking.

As if a great weight was lifted from her shoulders, she smiled her first true smile since Braeden had left. She would see her husband again! They would make love, talk, go for lazy walks, hold each other during the long nights, and make plans for their future.

This very day she would dash off a note to her publisher, along with her completed manuscript. She would advise him of her new status as a married lady, and as such, any decisions had to be made with that in mind. Right now the decision about her returning to London any time soon had been made. He would have to carry on without her.

“Mother, I will do it.”

Her mother cupped her cheeks. “You are making the right decision.” She kissed her on the top of her head. “Be happy, my daughter.”

All right, Braeden. I’m on my way.

Chapter Twenty

O
nce Sarah had made up her mind, she found any little impediment to her departure impossible to deal with. And there were many. The first arrived the next morning when Alice claimed she could not have her wardrobe ready for travel for at least three days.

“What takes so long? All we have to do is put everything into the trunk and have someone lug it to the carriage.”

Alice was horrified. “No, my lady. Many of your gowns have to be cleaned before they can be packed. And I have items I’ve been holding to launder. It will take at least three days to set it all to rights and then pack.”

Frustrated at the delay, Sarah pulled on her breeches, shirt, and a jacket, then headed to the stables. The day was cool and damp, but she needed the exercise. She would be ready for a visit to Bedlam if she didn’t clear her mind.

What had she been thinking? Years of rejecting overtures from men was nothing compared to sending her husband away thinking she had no use for him. As if her books meant more to her than he did. She cringed, remembering his face when they’d parted ways.

She loved the man, plain and simple. She loved his laugh, his wit, his caring, his lazy smile. There were so many things about Braeden that she loved, it would take a full day to list them all. But if she couldn’t spur Alice along, she would have three days to catalog his attributes while bemoaning her folly in sending him off.

“Good morning, my lady. Are ye off for a ride?” The stableboy set the strap he was working on aside and rubbed his palms on his breeches.

“Yes. Might you please tack Ambrose for me?”

The boy pushed back the brim of his cap and scratched his hairline. “Are ye sure, my lady? I can find a nice, calm mare for ye to ride.”

She grinned at the boy’s reluctance to let her ride a horse he deemed unsuitable for a lady. “I am not in the mood for a nice, calm ride. I’ve ridden her a few times and I find her very spirited.” She raised her hand as he began to protest. “I want a spirited animal. I can assure you, I am quite capable of handling her.”

He shook his head, most likely remembering when Liam had brought her back to the castle, unconscious from being thrown. Of course, that wasn’t the only time in her life she’d been abruptly separated from her horse’s back, but the last thing she wanted today was a meek animal plodding along. She needed speed to ease her restless anxiety.

The wind whipped through her hair, making quick work of the heavy braid resting on her back. With her locks streaming behind her, she flew over the land surrounding Bedlay and headed to Dundas. Perhaps if she looked at the stone cottage once again she would feel closer to Braeden.

How she must have hurt him. From the beginning he’d been nothing but kind and thoughtful. He’d even held back from disclosing that she’d accidentally married them until she was with her sister to help soften the blow. Everything the man had done since she’d met him had been considerate. Who else would accompany her, a complete stranger, on a journey that had caused him a weeks-long delay?

The outside of the cottage looked sad and forlorn, as if mourning its master and mistress, holding its breath as it awaited their return. Sitting on the horse’s back staring at the place she and Braeden had lived for such a short time didn’t bring her closer to him. It only reinforced the anxiety to be on her way, to feel his arms around her, making her feel loved and protected.

Did Braeden love her? A kernel of fear nudged at her that he would not have left if he had. Then she pushed that notion away. He was a man committed to his work. Once she’d told him where her priorities lay, she’d left him no choice. She would have to reconcile herself to the fact that his work would always come first.

Nudging the horse lightly, she turned in the direction of Dundas. A visit with Margaret might improve her mood.

Heavy mist shrouded the castle as she approached at a full gallop. The structure seemed to rise from the ground in front of her, bathed in mystery and lore like a pirate’s ship emerging from a fog.

“Good morning, my lady.” The older man who oversaw the stables at Dundas greeted her, unmoved by her appearance in breeches and skidding into the stable as if her hair were on fire.

“Good morning,” she returned. By the time she slid from the horse’s back, both she and Ambrose were panting and covered with a fine sheen of perspiration.

“I’m afraid I gave her a good run. I think that made her happy, but she needs a hard rubdown.”

He tugged at the brim of his cap and gave her a gap-tooth grin. “’Tis happy I am to take care of ’er for ye.”

Knowing the animal was in good hands, she strode to the front door. It amazed her how freeing breeches were. She was able to ride better and walk faster. Perhaps she could get away with wearing them when she went to Rome.

Rome. Where Braeden worked, thinking his wife placed him second behind her books. Once again she wished to be on her way—immediately. Shaking off the gloomy thoughts, she opened the massive door to the great hall and entered.

“N
o! I refuse to accept that.” Sarah glared at Liam, her tiny body all anger and tension pitted against the massive size of the laird.

He drew his brows together. “The roads are still too dangerous for ye to travel today. The constant rain has turned everything into a muddle. I cannae allow ye to journey now, ’tis not safe, lass.”

“I don’t believe this!” She paced back and forth, waving her hands in the air. “It has been more than a week since I decided to go to Rome, and here I am, trunks packed, ready to leave, and now the weather is uncooperative.”

“Dear, you must settle down. Nothing can be done about the weather. Come have a cup of tea.” Mother poured the steaming liquid into a cup and held it out to her.

“You always think tea will solve everything, Mother. Well, it won’t solve this.” She stamped her foot and scowled.

The dowager duchess raised her chin. “If you were a few years younger, my girl, I would send you to your room until you located your good manners.”

Knowing she was behaving like a recalcitrant child, Sarah fled the room, swiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks. No one understood. She had to get to Rome. To Braeden. All the pent-up love and desire she’d been tamping down for months had to be let out before she exploded. Heading to the front door, she grabbed her cape from the hook and left the castle.

The blasted rain continued to pour down. The long-abandoned moat surrounding the castle would soon be filled and able to be put to good use if the torrential downpours didn’t stop. Soaked through her cape to her gown and even her skin, she picked her way through the puddles and walked to the stables.

The familiar smells of animals and hay calmed her nerves somewhat. She retrieved a soggy handkerchief from her cape pocket and wiped her face—partially rain water and partially salted tears. She leaned her forehead against Ambrose, the tears continuing to drop.

“I want to leave. I want to go to Rome. Please, God, make it stop raining.”

The sound of a horse’s hooves pounding on the path to the stable, splashing water, plodding through mud and puddles, had her once more quickly wiping the tears from her face. She took a deep breath and turned with a bright smile to greet the person who wasn’t afraid of a little rain.

The man’s head was lowered, his hat pulled down over his forehead. He ducked as he rode into the stable then looked up, his eyes searching the space. Sarah’s breath hitched and she took two steps forward, not believing her eyes.

Braeden sat staring at her for a minute, then, his eyes never leaving hers, threw his leg over the horse and hit the floor. He strode up to her as if he’d expected her to be standing there in this very spot. Her mouth dropped open, and she shook her head, quite sure she’d managed to conjure up an illusion.

“Braeden?”

“Aye, lass.”

With a cry, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing and trying to speak all at once. He rubbed her back and held her, murmuring to her in Gaelic. His warmth and scent surrounded her, making her dizzy with relief and joy. He was here! All this time she was anxious to leave, and he had been on his way to her.

Before she could ask even one question, he gripped her face and covered her mouth with his warm one, nibbling, tasting, soothing. Once more dizziness threatened to hold her captive. She held firmly to his muscled arms as he shifted her head, taking the kiss so deep she felt it to her toes.

When he finally pulled them apart, he held her shoulders and smiled that lazy smile she loved so much.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m home, lass. As much as I wanted the Rome expedition, it dinna matter with you here.”

“You gave it up?” She was stunned.

“Aye. I turned my position over to another team member who’d been itching to take my place.”

“But…”

“I dinna want to stand out here wet and cold, but what I have to say needs to be said privately and quickly.” He held her hands to his lips and kissed each knuckle. “Ye are my wife. I love ye, lass, and although I ken yer books are important to ye, I’m thinking we can work on a compromise. Being apart we have no chance of having a happy marriage.

“And ’tis what I want above all else. My work is verra important to me, but I’m just as happy in the classroom as I am digging in the dirt. I’m sure I can secure a position in one of yer London universities. Kenning ye are at home waiting for me each night makes the classroom the better choice.”

“You will be surprised to learn my bags have been packed for days.”

“Aye. Returning to London?”

“No. I was about to embark on a trip to Rome. I was made to understand a very handsome, intelligent, and lovable man, who just happened to be my husband, was residing in a tent there.”

His eyes widened. “You were coming to me?”

She nodded, then burst into laughter, soon joined by Braeden.

“
Ach
, lass. We are a pair.” He tucked a curl behind her ear. “Nay. Expedition sites are no place for a wife, or the bairn I hope to add to our family soon.” He cupped her cheeks. “I love you, Sarah.”

She nodded. “I know. And I love you.”

“Now we need to get out of these wet clothes before we both end up with an ague.”

She accepted his arm and hung on tightly as they made their way out of the stable, back into the pouring rain. Holding hands, they raced to the castle.

Once they reached the entrance she looked at him under lowered eyelashes. “I have a bedroom.”

He grinned. “Aye, lass. I like the sound of that.” He pushed open the heavy door and waved her in. “Lead the way, wife.”

B
raeden rolled off Sarah and tugged her close to his side. They both lay sprawled on top of the counterpane, trying to catch their breath. After a brief introduction to the lass’s mother, and a quick hello to a stunned Liam and Sybil, Sarah had dragged him upstairs to her bedchamber.

He’d no sooner removed his wet clothes and dropped them into a pile on the floor than he stripped Sarah of her clothing, then tumbled them both onto the bed. They spent the next hour refreshing their memories of each other’s bodies and what they could do to bring and receive pleasure.

“
Ach
, lass. I missed ye in so many ways, but surely this way the most.” He played with a lock of her hair, raising it to his nose to sniff at the familiar scent of her soap.

Sarah shifted and rested her head on her hand. “Are you sure you’ve done the right thing in giving up the expedition? You worked so hard for it, and waited so long to have the opportunity.”

He moved so he faced her. “’Tis not a life for a married man. Other men have done it, but I’d always kenned when I married that I would not want to drag my wife and bairns from place to place. Although I never expected to marry this soon, ’tis what I want. Ye are more important to me than any expedition.”

One lone tear tracked from her eyes. “Despite being reluctant to live in a tent, I was prepared to join you in Rome.”

“And for that I am grateful. But ’tis for the best. When the next semester begins, I’ll seek a teaching post in Oxford or Cambridge. I have a few contacts.”

“No, Braeden. I want you to return to Edinburgh. You were happy there.”

“What about your book?”

“I’ve already written to my publisher. There is no need for me to be in London. I can write in Edinburgh and mail my manuscripts off.”

“I love ye, lass.” He gave her a teasing glance. “Until I can return to teaching, I have a great deal of research to do for my book.”

“Book? You’re writing a book?”

“Aye. I plan to use it for my students.”

She sat up, her eyes eager. “I can help you with that.”

“Aye. Ye can. We can work on it together.”

She grew serious. “I never want you to regret your decision.”

“Nay. When I make up my mind to something, ’tis done. I love teaching, so ’tis no hardship to return to university.”

“Where will we live?”

“If yer sure about living in Edinburgh, I’ll send a letter to my department head to expect us soon. I have a house near the university. ’Tis a small place, but ’twill suffice until we can find something more suitable. He kissed her gently on her pert nose.

W
hen they finally left the bedroom the next morning, they met with the rest of the family for breakfast. No doubt understanding their need for time alone together, Sybil had arranged to have their dinner the previous evening delivered to their door.

They’d eaten the roasted chicken, bread, cheese, and bottle of wine naked, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Sarah had never enjoyed a meal more.

“How nice to finally get to speak with my son-in-law,” her mother said as she extended her hand to Braeden.

“Aye, Yer Grace, ’tis a pleasure to speak with ye as well. I see now from where Sarah and Sybil get their beauty.”

Mother’s eyes flashed with humor as she regarded him. “And I see why another of my daughters fell in love with a Scottish man. You spew forth blarney much like the Irish do.”

Braeden laughed. “Nay. I am telling the truth.”

He pulled out a chair for Sarah, and they joined the rest at the table.