Shifter’s Baby (Alpha Fantasy Paranormal Billionaire Shifter BBW Romance) (116 page)

Chapter Five

The next morning, she looked around to find another outfit ready for her and she started to get dressed. Martha came in just in time and so she started to get used to a routine where Martha helped to wake her up for the most part, helping her to dress and get ready for the day. She thought that she’d once again have breakfast in the room that Lord Ansley had provided for her, but much to her surprise she was told that he was waiting on her to eat with him. With a small smile she went to down to meet him. He was already in the dining room. It was cozy, and it was the first that she had ever seen of it. She looked around, with a small smile on her face, and he seemed to be watching her again to see her reaction.

“I’m glad that it’s to your liking, and I’m very happy that you could join me.” He said, and his voice was softer than before.

“I trust that you’ll go riding with me today?” He said, and she happily agreed after curtseying for a moment.

“I would like that very much.” She said, and he nodded.

“I’m glad. Please sit.” He said, gesturing to the seat that he pulled out for her.

She sat down gingerly as her mind started to spin. There was still that voice that told her not to trust someone that could kidnap her so easily, and yet she didn’t feel threatened by him at all. The food was delicious when they ate. They fell into silence, but it was not as awkward as she had imagined that it would be.

“It’s very good.” She managed to say at the very end, and he nodded, but she could tell that something was on his mind. She didn’t dare ask. Lauren didn’t think she knew him that well, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. She found a question that she could ask instead.

“Have you contacted my father?” She asked, but the question seemed to surprise Lord Ansley. He nodded a little, and she noticed that his grip had tightened on his glass.

“Yes, I did.” He said, and she nodded, expecting him to continue.

“Well?” She prompted, but she kept her tone light. She didn’t want to offend him.

“He’s not keen on negotiating your ransom.” He said, and she looked down. Her heart dropped, and Lauren didn’t know what to say. She was speechless, but her and her father had never been close. Her mother had died when she was born, and so she understood in a way. It didn’t make it any harder for her to hear what he had just said to her.

“What will happen now?” She asked, and he sighed. Looking up, she could see him pinching the bridge of his nose. It was clear that he had something on his mind.

“I don’t plan to hurt you. That never really was in the plan, but I won’t be able to protect you.” He told her, and fear started to settle over her. She bit her bottom lip, holding back tears as she tried to tell herself to breath.

“Unless…” He said, but he sighed again. She looked up at him sharply, feeling her heart beat in her chest.

“Unless what?” She asked, and he shook his head.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Lauren.” He told her, and with that he got up, walking around the table and offering her his hand. They were walking before she knew it, and her hand was in the crook of his arm. He led her outside as he seemed to be thinking of how to put what he wanted to say gently.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

“I can’t just send you home.” He told her, but Lauren had to admit that ever since she had reached Scotland, she wasn’t sure if she had wanted to go home. Not anymore.

It didn’t help what he had said about her father. She didn’t have many prospects back home, and she didn’t know what to do if not even her father was going to stand up for her. No one would take her if her father didn’t speak for her virtue after such as situation, either. When her heart wouldn’t settle down, and he was looking at her there in the garden, she realized just how far they had went.

Everything was behind them. She had known this man for two days after he had kidnapped her. Yet, she wasn’t afraid. When he leaned in, she even allowed for it. She didn’t step back as Lord Ansley’s lips met her own.
Dugal.
She thought, and the name seemed to echo through her.

Her lips danced with his, moving with his rhythm as he seemed to lead her. His hand went to the small of her back, and she could feel her breathing hitch. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her mind quieted. For that moment, there was no more thought. No more panic. Her mind just quieted, and then he pulled away. She looked at him, and she could see a gentleness in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before.

“Unless what?” She said, and her voice was stronger than she had expected. At her question, a small smile curved over his lips.

“Unless you’ll do me the honor of letting me court you. I can see you becoming a great bride.” He said, leaning down to whisper it in her ear, and her mind went quiet once more.

He reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair back into her up-do, making her shiver. She had never felt his fingers touch her cheek before. His callouses made her remember that he was a working man. Not one that she had ever thought of spending her days with before, but she didn’t see another voice. Moreover, she didn’t want to see one. She looked out at the sprawling landscape again.

“You have a lot to think about. How about you retire for the evening, and we can go riding tomorrow?” He asked, leading her back to her room.

She did have a lot to think about, and her mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Martha came in, and it was as if she already knew. She gave her a sad look, and Martha didn’t try to talk. She was thankful for that, as she wasn’t sure what she’d say.
How did you tell someone that in just an instance your entire life changed?
She thought before sleep finally overtook her later that night.

Chapter Six

Martha pulled the curtains to wake her up, and for a moment she forgot where she was. She looked over to see Martha’s smiling face, and she gave her a strange look before sitting up in bed. The sun wasn’t shining as brightly through her curtains, making her wonder what day it was.
My curtains? I’ve been here two days. I shouldn’t think of them as my curtains.
She told herself, but the thought had already been there. It surprised her, but Lauren let it go.

“Lord Ansley is waiting on you, Miss.” She said, and Laruen nodded as she got out of bed, trying not to be too groggy. Her head was pounding, and she knew that her worry had kept her from getting a good amount of sleep.

“Thank you. What will I be wearing today?” She said, looking around to see that nothing was laid out.

“Oh wait until you see it.” She said, and she started to beam. Lauren watched as Martha went out of the room to come back holding a box.

“It’s from the lord.” She said, clearly happy about it, but Lauren’s shaking fingers went to take the top off only to see a rich, dark green that reminded her of the rolling hills outside. The ones that she was coming to love and enjoy.

“It’s going to look so pretty on you.” Martha gushed. There was no note. There was nothing overly romantic, and yet it was one of the nicest gestures that she had received from anyone, especially a potential suiter.

“It’s lovely.” She said, and in almost a daze she started to get dressed.

What she looked like when it was finished was nothing short of stunning. It had taken her more time than usual, but Lord Ansley was going to be busy for the rest of the day, and that made her heart sink a little. She tried to tell herself that it gave her time to think.
After all, I shouldn’t make such a decision too light heartedly. I need to think about this. This is all about my future.
Lauren told herself, but she knew deep down she really had already made her decision. That day everything had changed, and the more she looked in the mirror, the more she desired to change with it.

“What do I do?” She said, and Martha smiled at her.

“I can get you something to embroider, miss. Or you can walk the grounds. I’d be more than happy to accompany you.” She said, and she nodded a little.

The rest of the day was spent walking the grounds, and she went outside for some time. She started to look around, realizing that the town was a stone’s throw away, and yet in the other direction the manor had more land than she had expected. She smiled as Martha took her to the stables, and she fell in love with the roses there. For a while, she took the brush and just groomed them. There was that voice screaming at her that everything she was doing was improper. Everything that she was considering, too. She just stopped caring. Lauren shut the voice out, and for once she tried to think about what she wanted. She knew that with her future, it was finally in her hands. Right here with Dugal Ansley, it was in her hands, and she was going to make that count. When she finally started to head back for dinner, Lord Ansley was still not there. It wasn’t until after dinner, which she had taken in her room that he called for her. They met in the parlor, and he smiled at her.

“So?” He asked, and her heart started to thud in her chest. It didn’t seem like he was going to give her any more time to think.

“Will you be accepting?” He asked, and there was intensity in his voice that she hadn’t heard before.

“Yes.” She said, and it was all she said.

There was no way that she could think to elaborate. There was no way to rationalize what she was feeling. Everything had been taken, and her father didn’t even want her back. Everything had changed, and she was no longer the lady that men would want to take as a bride, and yet here was this Lord that wanted her for her. Not for her title. Not for her father, and certainly not for her family’s wealth. In a way, it was more than Lauren could have ever hoped for, and so she wasn’t planning on letting that go anytime soon.

“Do you mean it?” He said, wanting to be clear that she had thought everything through.

“You’d never return to England.” He told her, and she nodded.

Lauren had already thought about everything she was giving up, and yet she knew that it was worth it. She hadn’t explored this land yet, but she wanted to. She had the desire to know everything about the people here. She wanted to know about the language that she couldn’t understand. She wanted to know more of the food she had tried. She wanted to meet more friendly people like Martha, and she wanted this.

“I know.” She said, and her voice was shaking this time but she was no less certain.

A small smile tugged at his lips, and she realized just how handsome the man before her was as he stepped closer, kissing her again before he told her that he had things to prepare, and she was once again left with her head spinning and knowing that in a matter of days her life had changed forever. There was no going back, but luckily, Lauren didn’t want to go back.

Chapter Seven

It had been a week, and yet it felt like Lauren had lived a lifetime. Things with Dugal had gotten more intense, and yet he was the perfect gentleman besides a stolen kiss or two. She wanted him to be more, and that’s why she was with him today. They had been horseback riding, as he had gotten her proper clothes to do so. He had given her a gift of a beautiful mare that was a golden color and seemed to have life and spirit in it that she loved. She had yet to name it, and yet she loved the horse that he had gotten her.

It was more thoughtful of a gift than anything anyone had ever offered her. She had read the letter for herself, realizing that there was no going back. Her father really had dismissed her off due to the scandal that he predicament would have caused him, and even thought it hurt, she had him to fall back on. Dugal’s there for me. She told herself, and it helped to calm her. He looked at her, and she was growing accustomed to the kilt that he wore.

“We can’t be here much longer.” He said, and she nodded.

“I didn’t think that you had much to do today.” She said, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. Dugal had soon become her world along with Martha. She still didn’t dare to try and meet new people yet. She was still an outsider, but Dugal continued to assure her that it’d get better.

“Change of plans.” He said, and his voice was a little gruff.

She soon realized that everything about him gave away his emotions, but she couldn’t quite place what was going on this time. She looked out over the creek that they had stopped at so that the horses would get a drink. When she turned around, her breathe caught in her throat. There was Dugal, but he was no longer standing. He was on one knee.

“Marry me, Lauren.” He said, and it may have sounded like a statement but with the way his voice caught, she knew it was a question.

She knew that it meant more to him than he was letting on, and she nodded. Her voice was lost in the sea of emotion that swirled around inside of her as he slipped the beautiful ring on her finger. It had emeralds around the diamond, reminding her of this green land that she was coming to love. He picked her up, kissing her. It was deeper than before, and his tongue danced with her own, making her hold back a moan.

“There’s a banquet tonight.” He said with mischief in his voice, and she tilted her head back to laugh.
Of course, he’s already planned it all. He even got me this horse as a gift.
She thought to herself, and she couldn’t help but to shake her head as she mounted the horse.

“Then I suppose we should get back.” She said, and he nodded.

“After you, Lady Ansley.” He said, and that mischievous look didn’t seem to be going away. Her life truly had changed, but Lauren was more than happy to grow and change with it. To grow and change with him. She thought, and just as the first day she decided to take things into her own hands, the wind whipped in her hair and she could feel the galloping of the horse beneath her.

The End

Go Back to the Table of Contents