Trade Winds (Choc Lit) (24 page)

‘Hmm, I suppose that would work, although it’s not very satisfactory. If we’re to claim my dowry, we need proper papers.’

‘Then my first suggestion is our only option. There must be a way of making it work.’

Jess opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by one of the maids who came into the room and curtseyed.

‘Excuse me, Miss, but
Fru
Forbes is asking for you. She’s not at all well.’

‘Oh, dear, I’d better go back to her then.’

‘It’s probably the after-effects of the
snaps
,’ Killian commented with a grimace. ‘You were right, it’s vile stuff.’

Jess shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so. She’s truly ill, even worse than yesterday actually. I want to send for the local wise woman, but she won’t let me. Mind you, I don’t know if Old Edith will agree to come out in this weather.’

‘Is there no proper physician nearby?’

‘Hardly. The nearest town is at least an hour away, and I’m not even sure there’s one there.’ She hesitated by the door, then asked, ‘I … you won’t be leaving quite yet, will you?’

He looked towards the window. Outside, the most enormous snowflakes whirled around in a mad dance, coming down thick and fast. ‘I’m not going anywhere, by the look of it. Besides, your stepfather gave me permission to rest here for a day or two before going back.’

‘Oh, well I’ll see you later then. We’ll have to discuss ... uhm, our plans some more, but please, will you keep it to yourself for now?’

She looked genuinely anxious and Killian nodded. ‘Of course. Who am I going to tell?’

Jess was very worried about Mrs Forbes. The old lady kept her in the stifling bedroom for at least half an hour, complaining about her aches and pains. Despite this, at first she refused to allow Jess to send for anyone, even though it was clear she was very ill. In the end, however, she had to give in.

‘The old crone probably knows nothing,’ Mrs Forbes grumbled. ‘These provincials are backwards in every way, but I suppose she’s all there is.’

In fact, Mrs Forbes looked so pathetic and small Jess had forgotten all her hostility towards her. The old woman’s colour wasn’t good, the coughing was rough and her breathing ragged. Her hazel eyes seemed sunken into the pale cheeks, their normally fierce gaze dull and listless. There was no doubt Mrs Forbes had caught the whooping cough off the two boys, but somehow that didn’t seem the only thing wrong with her. She was running an extremely high fever as well, no doubt increased by the furnace she had instructed the maids to stoke in her fireplace. Her breathing sounded laboured even when she was free of the cough for short spells. Despite this, she refused all offers of tisanes and other healing draughts.

The wise woman, when she finally turned up, agreed with Jess. When they walked together to the front door after the consultation, Old Edith turned to Jess, her expression grave. ‘I must tell you, Miss van Sandt, your companion is very unwell. At her age, I really can’t say whether she’ll pull through. I’ve done some blood-letting, which’ll help reduce the fever. You must make her drink water and nourishing soup as much as possible, and have someone sponge her brow with cold water until she cools down. I’ll call again tomorrow, weather permitting, but there isn’t much more I can do.’

‘Is it just the whooping cough? Only, she sounds much worse than my brothers, although perhaps that’s due to her age.’

‘No, I’m afraid she may have congestion of the lungs as well, but it’s hard to tell. Just do as I said and pray, that’s all we can do.’

‘Thank you, it was kind of you to come.’

Jess paid Old Edith and insisted on giving her a blanket to wrap around her as a shield against the cold. It was a wonder such an old woman had managed to walk from the village, but she seemed indomitable. Jess was very grateful.

Mrs Forbes, however, was a different matter. She wasn’t in the mood to co-operate, and refused to eat or drink anything. Nor would she allow the maids to sponge her burning forehead, complaining that the cold water hurt her brow. In the end, the only thing Jess could do was to leave someone to watch over the old lady while she dozed fitfully.

Jess found Killian in the parlour some time later, busy feeding logs onto the fire in an effort to take the chill off the room. He had pulled a sofa into position in front of the fireplace to catch the warmth and invited her to sit beside him.

‘You look worn out. Is the old dragon running you ragged?’ he asked, taking her hand for a moment to give it a sympathetic squeeze.

‘It’s not so much that, it’s more that she won’t do what’s best for her. I’ve tried to follow Old Edith’s instructions, but Mrs Forbes simply refuses to do as she’s told.’ Jess sighed and shrugged her shoulders in a gesture of defeat. ‘What can I do? I can’t very well force her.’

‘No, you can only do your best.’

They sat in companionable silence for a while, staring into the soothing flames as the fire hissed and crackled its way up the chimney. Outside, a veritable blizzard was howling round the house. Jess prayed Old Edith had made it back to her home.

Despite the smell of disuse that still lingered in the room, she felt safe and snug ensconced here with Killian. She was also grateful to fate for bringing them together. It did seem to her as if it had been pre-ordained somehow, God’s answer to her prayers perhaps, although she still couldn’t believe how bold she had been in proposing to him the night before. It was lucky for her he had taken it so well. Now all they had to do was work out a way to marry without anyone being the wiser.

As if his thoughts had been running along the same lines, Killian said, ‘I’ve been thinking about this marriage business. You know that saying about every cloud having a silver lining?’

‘Yes, what of it?’

‘Well, if Mrs Forbes is really ill, she won’t be able to go to church for a while.’

Jess turned slowly to stare at him. ‘You mean …?’

‘Precisely. If we can only prevent anyone else from telling her, then there’s no reason we can’t have banns read for the next few weeks. And even if she’s well enough by the third week, she can’t stop us from getting married.’

‘But that would mean you’d have to stay here. At least, I think we both have to be present each time. What about your journey to China?’

‘Mr Campbell said we’re not leaving until mid-January at the earliest. Anyway, as I said this morning, doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere for quite a while.’ Killian nodded towards the window. ‘Even with a sleigh, I doubt I’d be able to travel very far. Unless your stepfather actually comes looking for me, he’ll assume I’ve been detained by the weather and will return as soon as I can.’

‘It could work, I suppose. Perhaps if I tell the cook it’s a secret and we want to surprise everyone, she’ll ask the others to keep quiet?’

‘And would they?’

‘I think so. They’ve always been kind to me and when we were here last year they didn’t get on terribly well with Mrs Forbes. She can be a bit domineering. Besides, they’re all women and if I tell them we’re in love they’ll think it’s terribly romantic. They adore tales of love with happy endings. I’ve heard them telling each other stories like that many times in the kitchen of an evening.’

Killian grinned. ‘It shouldn’t be too hard to pretend to be in love. All you have to do is gaze adoringly at me whenever they see us together.’

‘Oh, really? I should think it’s the other way round. Men do the courting after all.’

‘Do they now?’ He sent her a teasing glance to remind her of just who had done the asking in this case. Jess felt her cheeks flame, but he rescued her from having to answer.

‘Very well, I promise to make eyes at you at every opportunity. Will that do?’ he said.

Jess punched him on the arm and this time it almost felt as if she had a right to do so. ‘There’s no need to go overboard.’

He leaned over to nuzzle her neck and whispered, ‘We can always let them catch us kissing. You’ll have to pretend you can’t keep your hands off me.’

She pushed him away, hoping he wouldn’t see the tell-tale shiver that ran through her at his touch. Somehow she didn’t think she’d have to do much pretending and that scared her. ‘Be serious,’ she admonished. ‘Let’s discuss this properly.’

He put on a mock-serious expression and sat up straight. ‘Very well, madam. I’m all ears.’

‘Killian!’

‘All right, all right.’ He subsided. ‘Let’s think now. What of the male servants, won’t they betray us? There’s a groom, a gardener and the coachman. Anyone else?’

‘No and they never come in the house, so as long as Mrs Forbes is bedridden, they’ll have no opportunity to talk to her.’ Jess took a deep breath. ‘You know, it might just work. Shall we give it a try anyway?’

Killian smiled. ‘What have we got to lose?’

‘Very well. Let’s go to church early on Sunday and speak to Mr Ekman beforehand. I think I can manage to swear him to silence as well, even if Mrs Forbes should happen to send for him.’

Jess felt a frisson of fear slide through her, but ignored it. It wasn’t a perfect plan by any means, but it could work. It must.

Jess and Killian passed the time that evening by playing chess and cards, trying not to laugh as it seemed somehow irreverent in the circumstances. However, despite the hush of illness which lingered over the house, Jess enjoyed herself immensely. Although she still considered him a rogue, she came to realise that being married to Killian wouldn’t be too much of a hardship, as long as she didn’t expect fidelity. Somehow, she doubted he’d be capable of that.

I’m going into this with my eyes open
, she told herself.
We are both marrying for convenience. If we can enjoy each other’s company from time to time, then what harm is there in that?
It would be an equal partnership, she was determined about that. She wouldn’t allow him to make any decisions without her input and she would never, ever, fall under his spell the way her mother had done with Robert. She wasn’t a weak-minded female like Katrijna who seemed unable to live without a man. No, if Killian was to bed her, it would be on her terms, not his.

If only her treacherous body wouldn’t give her away …

Chapter Twenty

The following morning, the snow had stopped falling at last and they woke to find an icy fairyland outside the windows. The sun’s rays reflected off the sparkling prisms in the snowdrifts and almost blinded them. It was as if some giant had decided to throw out his vast collection of diamonds and covered the entire world with them. Both Jess and Killian were enchanted.

‘Do you want to come outside?’ he asked, before she had even sat down at the breakfast table. ‘It’s so beautiful, it’s calling to me.’

She smiled broadly. ‘Yes, irresistible, isn’t it? I just have to check on Mrs Forbes and make sure she has everything she needs, then I’ll join you.’

They met up in the hall, each having put on as many clothes as they could find. Especially all the stockings they possessed, for keeping their feet warm would prove the most difficult. Kerstin, the upstairs maid, happened to be crossing the hall as Killian put on his huge bearskin coat. She stopped and looked at Jess’ much thinner cloak and shawl with a frown.

‘Begging your pardon, Miss, but shouldn’t you wear a fur coat as well?’ she asked, bobbing a slight curtsey. She glanced surreptitiously at Killian as if she wasn’t sure whether to run from him or gawp at him.

‘Of course I should, Kerstin, but I’m afraid Mr Kinross is the only one who owns such a thing. Even if he lent me his, I wouldn’t be able to walk in it. Just look how long it is.’ The enormous garment reached all the way to the floor when Killian wore it, and he was a good foot taller than Jess.

‘I doubt the old master’s coat is quite as long,’ Kerstin said, blushing as Killian smiled kindly at her.

‘What old master? You mean my father?’ Kerstin nodded. ‘Well, he didn’t have a bearskin coat as far as I know. Mind you, I never spent any time with him here during the cold season, we only ever came when it was summer.’

‘He was here in January one year,’ Kerstin said. ‘And he bought himself a fur coat because it was one of the coldest Yuletides in living memory and he arrived just after. Shall I fetch it for you? I know where it is.’

‘Really? Yes, please.’ Kerstin scurried off and Jess turned to Killian. ‘I do hope it will fit me or you’ll be able to stay outside a lot longer than me.’

They didn’t have long to wait. Kerstin came running back with an armful of fur, albeit of a different type and much lighter in colour. ‘It’s wolf,’ she panted, trying to shake the coat and succeeding mostly in sending out a shower of dust. ‘A bit moth-eaten, but not too bad. Here, try it on, Miss.’

Jess wrinkled her nose. ‘It smells a bit musty,’ she protested, ‘but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.’ She took off her cloak and shrugged into the wolf-coat. Thankfully it seemed to have been made for a normal sized man, not a giant. ‘Oh, this feels wonderful! And it’s so soft.’ She ran her hands up and down the fur, which was grey, cream and black, with long hairs like a shaggy dog, but much smoother.

‘When you’ve been outside for a while, I’m sure the smell will disappear,’ Kerstin said.

‘I hope so. Thank you anyway, this should keep me warm.’

They set off, slowly at first, trying to wade through the snowdrifts that had piled up on the road that looped in front of the house, forming an ‘O’ shape with a huge oak tree in the middle. The air was crisp and fresh and their breath emerged like plumes of smoke.

‘Mmm, doesn’t it smell heavenly,’ Jess closed her eyes and breathed deeply. ‘So clean.’ On impulse, she bent to scoop up a handful of snow and put it in her mouth. She let it melt on her tongue where the vaguely metallic taste lingered together with the chilling sensation. ‘Tastes good too.’

‘Look how deep it is. There’s no way I could possibly leave any time soon,’ Killian commented, and Jess had to agree. The roads would be impassable for the foreseeable future.

They turned to make their way across the white-blanketed lawns and round the corner of the house. Jess found it hard going with her long skirts, so she tried to walk in Killian’s footsteps which made it a bit easier. Noticing her predicament, he turned and stretched out a hand to steady her, and then kept hold of it as they walked on.

Although it started out as a demure walk, it wasn’t long before Killian picked up a handful of snow to throw playfully at Jess. Soon they were having a full-blown snow fight with much laughter and shrieking. Jess thought to herself it was just as well Mrs Forbes had been dosed with plenty of laudanum that morning, otherwise she might have reprimanded her charge for unseemly behaviour. She didn’t dwell on this for long, however, she was having far too much fun.

‘Just you wait, you scoundrel, I’ll get you back, see if I don’t,’ she shouted at Killian. He had a great aim and hit the side of her head, showering her in a cascade of snow. Even though she was wearing a shawl tied under her chin, she still felt the cold of the snow penetrate to her scalp. She chased after him, both of them running full tilt down towards the lake, until he tripped on a boulder hidden by the snow and fell down, rolling onto his back.

Jess arrived seconds later, breathless and panting, with a huge handful of snow poised to hurl at him. Before she could do so, he hooked a leg behind her knees and brought her crashing down on top of him.

‘Killian,’ she protested. ‘No, don’t!’ He held a pile of snow only inches from the back of her neck, while holding onto her with his other arm so that she couldn’t escape. At the same time, he was laughing so hard he nearly lost his grip.

‘What will you do to stop me?’ he teased, moving the snow closer.

‘I’ll … I’ll hit you, no kick you.’ He laughed even more. ‘No, wait, I know.’ Jess had hit on the one thing guaranteed to distract him and bent quickly to cover his mouth with her own in a searing kiss. He stopped laughing, his eyes widening. They were an intense blue in the bright sunlight and Jess felt as if she was drowning in their depths for a moment. Then he dropped the snow, enclosed her with both arms and kissed her back. What had been meant only as a diversionary tactic suddenly turned into something much more serious. It was a long while before Jess came to her senses and lifted her face up to stare down at him.

‘I … sorry. I didn’t mean to …’

He grinned. ‘It’s allowed. We are betrothed after all, aren’t we?’

‘Yes, but not in that way.’

‘We’ll see,’ he replied, then rolled them both over so that she was the one trapped underneath. ‘Just one more for good measure.’ He kissed her again and Jess couldn’t help herself. Her mouth responded as if it had been made only for this and she lost track of everything.

Her heart was beating even faster now, but not from the snow fighting. Killian smiled that slow smile that sent shivers down her back and she turned away abruptly when he let her go. ‘I think you’re safe,’ she heard him say with a chuckle. ‘At least from the snow.’

She got to her feet eventually and tried to dust herself off. She couldn’t look at him, or she’d be tempted to throw herself back down on top of him again. It was incredible how her body reacted to such a simple thing as a kiss. Frightening too, she thought. She checked to see whether anyone could have seen them from the house, but they were quite a way off and there didn’t seem to be anyone about.