The Laird's Kidnapped Bride (7 page)

If he could not win her affection, all he could do was make certain she was contented and happy. Perhaps when the babes began to arrive, her heart would soften towards him. It did not matter, though; he would be satisfied with companionship and lust. It was more than most married couples had going for them. He did not want his marriage to be a battlefield like some husbands and wives had. Nor did he want complete disregard for each other and boredom. His chest heaved in dissatisfaction. He did not want either of them miserable and he would do all he could to make certain it never happened.

Chapter Four

Grrr, the miserable cur made her boiling mad. She watched him hurry away through narrowed eyes. Her jaw clenched when she heard the bellowing laughter and knew the blasted mongrel was laughing at her. When his amusement finally ended, she flopped back against the pillows and scowled. She hoped she had been dreaming but had a feeling she hadn’t been. It was degrading to know that she had been half asleep wrapped all around him like a vine. Heat seared her cheeks as she remembered rubbing herself against his hot, hard naked flesh like a sleepy cat wanting a petting from her master. Ugh, really, she hoped it wouldn’t be true, but the knowing glint in his eyes when he first came into the chamber told her it was. She was positive he was enjoying her humiliation and she could kick him in the backside for that alone.

She heard the maids enter the other chamber, re-lighting the fire and filling the tub. She didn’t dare go out there. She held her breath until she heard the sound of the door closing behind them. It galled her that he had squashed her plan, not that she had been thrilled over the idea in the first place. However, she thought that if she didn’t bathe and stunk as bad as everyone else, he would be disgusted and might have changed his mind about marrying her.
Well, you foolish woman, it hadn’t.
She was beginning to doubt that anything would stop the wedding, and she still didn’t know what she was going to do. Hearing the noise increasing downstairs, she groaned. If she didn’t want the infernal oaf coming upstairs to bathe her, she better hurry.

Angrily tossing the covers aside, she slipped off the mattress and hurried into the other chamber. Seeing the tub of steaming water, she eagerly removed the few articles of clothing he hadn’t stripped off her last night. “Damned pig,” she mumbled as she sunk beneath the water and sighed in pleasure. She soaked for a few minutes before she scrubbed herself clean. When she finished, she washed her hair and rinsed it with a clean bucket of warm water. Knowing she didn’t dare linger, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a large fluffy cloth and used another one to rub at her wet hair. She knelt before the fire, trying to dry it faster. Being so thick and long, it was taking some time, and in the end, she gave up. She rose to her feet and scowled.

What in tarnation was she going to wear? She shuddered at the thought of putting on the gown she’d been wearing for days. Grousing, she spied the trunks and hurried over to them. She lifted six lids and went through the contents. All that was acceptable was one of his many shirts and his plaid. Teeth clamped tight, she donned the oversized shirt, having to roll up the sleeve several times. She wrapped a skirt out of the plaid, and finding one of the bindings the filthy cur had tied her up with last eve, used it as a belt. Searching for his brush, she found it in the bedchamber and pulled it through her damp locks. She used another binding to tie it back. Slipping her feet into slippers, she left the room.

Under her breath, she was calling the smelly lout every insult she could think of as she stomped down the staircase. When she reached the bottom, she found him seated at the table watching her. Thrusting her chin in the air, she marched over to him and was surprised to see him rise to his feet. She made a huffing sound and took her seat, but from out the corner of her eye, saw that he taken his own. “I hope there’s something decent to eat.”

“Aye, porridge and scones. Ye look bonny in my plaid and shirt, lass.” He grinned at the fulminating glare she sent him.

“Ye blockhead, I had nae choice.” She grumbled before she turned to the maid and thanked her for her meal.

“Never fear, sweeting. I have already got the women sewing some gowns for ye plus yer wedding finery. Perhaps a few of the dresses will be ready today.”

She swung her head to stare at him in amazement. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or furious over his highhandedness. Seeing his contented smile, she turned away and for a few seconds she nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought about it. Letting out a heavy sigh, she returned her attention back to him. “Thank ye.”

“Yer most welcome, lass. Och, and by the way, ye can keep the coin ye borrowed. Ye might want to use it to purchase something from the merchants when they come.” He watched her face turn red and she started to splutter.

Och, this was mortifying. Her face was burning with shame. “I…I…um…I thought if I escaped, I could use it to stay at an inn,” she mumbled. She couldn’t look him in the eye, she was so disgraced over her behavior. Reluctantly, she forced herself to meet his gaze when he gently patted her arm.

“Dinna let yerself fret over it, lass. Explain to me why ye were going to stay at an inn instead of going home.” His voice was quiet; he was curious to hear her answer.

Her lashes swept down. “I didn’t want to return and be forced to marry that odious man. I thought if I stayed away longer, he would back out of the arrangement.”

“Harrumph. Well, ye willna be marrying him or anyone else, but it pleases me that ye didna want to.”

Her mouth puckered but she didn’t say anything, simply kept on eating. She flew backwards when he leant over and sniffed her. “What in the blue blaze are ye doin’ ye lackwit?”

He scowled at her. “Ye have had yer bath, lass, but ye dinna smell as sweet as ye did when ye first arrived.”

Unbelievable! The man was a complete imbecile! She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “’Tis the soap, ye scatterbrained moron. Mine is made with lavender and roses.”

His scowl grew heavier. “Lavender we have aplenty, the land is filled with it, but we dinna waste our time growing roses when they willna fill our bellies.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Ye’ll have to find something else to take their place.”

Och, for the love of God, she couldn’t believe that he was displeased that she didn’t smell the same.  “I’ll do nae such thing, ye muckleheaded oaf.” 

“Aye, ye will. Ye willna defy me in this, lass. Finish yer food, then I will take ye outside to look around yer new home.” He grumbled in dissatisfaction before he started to eat.

Ooo, she wanted to argue back but refused to utter a word. She ate the last mouthful of her scone and rose to her feet. “Well, let’s go, then.” She didn’t like the idea of spending time in his company, but she doubted he would let her refuse.

Muttering under his breath, he stood up and grasped her arm. “Ye may roam around the keep, but ye willna be allowed out the gates,” he explained as he led her across the hall and outside.

“Why am I nae allowed out? Am I going to be kept prisoner?” she asked, outraged. She detested the thought of being locked up.

“Nay, ye’re nae prisoner, but I’m takin’ nae chance with ye, lass. Ye’re a sly little puss, and I willna lose ye a second time.”

Not at all surprised by his answer, she let him show her around the grounds. They were at the clansmen’s cottages when it started to drizzle and he hurried her back to the hall. She had to run to keep up with the great lummox, and she didn’t understand why they had to return home. Breathlessly, she stood panting in the middle of the great room.

“Seat yerself by the fire, lass and I’ll see ye have a hot drink to warm ye up before ye become ill,” he told her, and once she sat in the chair, he hurried off.

What was wrong with the blasted fool? Did he think that a little water would harm her? Her mouth tightened in a mutinous line. She might be small, but she wasn’t breakable and was extremely healthy. She snorted. Addle-brained dolt! Within minutes, he was back by her side handing her a mug of hot tea. Reluctantly she accepted it.

“I have duties to see to, lass. I will see ye at supper.”

Again she watched him walk away and was grateful he was going. It would, hopefully, give her time to work out what she was going to do with herself. Obviously there wasn’t any way to escape, so she might as well forget it even though it galled her to do so. She could refuse to wed him, but it sickened her to dishonor the contract that had been made. She was loathe to accept it, because it meant becoming his wife and being stuck here in the wilds of the Highlands forever. It was a deplorable thought, having to live out her life here with no dinner parties and no balls. A despondent sigh rolled out of her and her shoulders sagged. If she was going to keep her pride and integrity, she would have to marry the stinking rogue. There was simply no other choice.

***

The day almost over, the gloomy sky heavy with black rain clouds, Cameron entered the hall eager to see the lass. Shaking the water from his hair, he went down the steps and searched the great room. When he didn’t find his bride where he had left her, he scowled. Grumbling under his breath about wee obstinate wenches, his gaze swept the room. His eyebrows shot up and a big grin spread over his face when he saw Father Ryan seated at one of the tables. He hurried forward to greet the man. “Father, ‘tis pleased I am that ye have arrived early,” and he truly was. He was, in fact, overjoyed that he could now wed his betrothed this very night.

“I was in the area, so it only made sense. Has yer betrothed arrived yet?” The priest rose to his feet.

“Aye, she has. She must be upstairs. I wish us to be wed tonight.” He bit back a curse when the priest hesitated.

Father Ryan rubbed at his ear as he thought the matter over. “Mmm. I canna see any problem wi’ that, since the banns have already been read. Is the lass agreeable to it?”

Unable to look the father in the eye while he lied to the man, he turned his gaze up to the ceiling. “Aye, she’s willing. Why dinna ye eat, drink and rest, father, while I speak to my betrothed.” Not waiting for a reply, he hurried over to the staircase and rushed up the steps. Hell, how was he going to persuade the wee hoyden to marry him this very eve? She would probably spit in his eye when he informed her. He reached his chamber door and, throwing it open, he found her standing in the middle of the room, holding a golden gown against her. He closed the door and stepped closer. “’Tis a verra bonny dress.”

“Aye, the women did a fine job with the gowns.” She answered warily because she didn’t like the determined glint in his eyes.

He cleared his throat and laced his fingers together behind his back. “Father Ryan has arrived and will wed us tonight.”

The gown fell from her hands and Lark could only stare up at him in panic. “He’s here now? This isn’t some sort of trick, is it? Ye havena dressed someone up to play him, have ye?” she squeaked.

Cameron worked hard to keep his voice calm, quiet. “Aye, he is here. For the love of God, ‘tis nae trick, woman. The man is a real priest, I give ye my oath. May God strike me dead right in this very spot if I lie to ye . Now, lass, what I want to ken is will ye honor the contract our fathers agreed upon?” He couldn’t believe she had come up with such an unbelievable idea, but he really shouldn’t have been surprised. Her mind worked in the most odd ways.

Her lashes lowered and she wrung her hands together. She drew in a trembling breath, then, as she exhaled, her shoulders sagged in defeat. “I canna disgrace m’self or my family. Aye, ye sniveling goat, I will wed ye.”

Relief washed through him and he grinned. Reaching out, he placed one hand on her shoulder and, with a finger beneath her chin, tilted her head up to face him. His gaze went straight to her lush mouth as he drew her closer and bent his head. “Ye willna regret it, lass and I’m glad ye have agreed to be my wife.” Before she could answer, his mouth covered hers lightly, his lips played over hers, and when she melted against him, his arms swept around her, pressing her closer. Though he desperately wanted to deepen the kiss, if he did, he knew he would probably lose what little control remained. Reluctantly he lifted his head and was pleased to see the look of wonder on her lovely face. “I will leave ye to dress in yer wedding finery.” His fingers trailed down her cheek before he let her go and stepped away. “Dinna be long, sweeting.”

His chest expanded with happiness as he strode over to the line of trunks and bending down, he opened one of the lids and extracted the clothing he would wear for the ceremony. Straightening up, he swung around to find her still a little dazed. “I shall dress in another chamber,” he informed her as he moved to stand beside her. His head lowered and he brushed his lips against her smooth cheek. A light blush covered her exquisite face and he knew if he didn’t leave now, he would throw her on the bed, toss up her skirts and skewer her in the blink of an eye. Because the lust had him in its grip so strongly, it was taking his every effort to fight it. He forced his legs to move, and opening the door, he stepped outside, closing it behind him.

In a rush to have the marriage done with, he strode to the top of the staircase and called orders down to one of the servants. He ordered baths for himself and his betrothed. Ordered a feast for supper tonight and told them to inform the clan that he would be married this very eve and he expected them all to be in the hall to witness it. Grunting in satisfaction, he went into an empty chamber and placed his clothing down on the bed. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. He wanted to look his best for his wee bride. Mayhap a shave and a haircut would please her, he certainly dinna want to scrape her tender flesh with facial hair. He wanted everything perfect for the evening and decided it would be worth the effort.

***

Totally stunned from the kiss, Lark couldn’t understand all the strange feelings rushing through her. The moment his mouth touched hers, a spark went off inside her. It was experiencing the sensations of her blood racing through her veins and the tingling of her flesh that made her blink several times in wonder. Only when the door had closed behind him did she raise her hand and place her fingers against her still-sensitive lips. She blinked again in confusion. What had happened to her, she wondered? Why hadn’t she protested? She didn’t understand why she enjoyed it so much when she could barely stand the big louse. Irritated with herself, she dropped her hand and stamped her foot in annoyance. Then she drooped in resignation.