Trade Winds (Choc Lit) (25 page)

He stood up and they helped each other brush the snow off their backs. ‘Come, let’s go and see if the ice will hold us,’ he said, taking her hand in his and beginning to run towards the edge of the lake.

‘It might not be safe,’ she protested, but she allowed him to pull her along anyway.

‘We won’t go far,’ he promised. ‘If it’s thick enough we could go fishing later. I used to do that on the loch whenever it froze over when I was a boy.’

‘You lived by a loch?’ Jess was intrigued. She had never heard him talk about his home before.

‘Yes, but that was a long time ago. It’s no longer my home.’ His tone changed and she sensed it wasn’t a subject he was comfortable discussing, so she let it go.

‘We can ask the gardener, he might have what we need,’ she suggested.

‘Good idea. For now, let’s just test the thickness.’

The ice was thick and strong. After locating the equipment they needed, as well as some bread for bait, they spent a happy afternoon fishing on the ice. They caught ten fat perch, a few roach and two small pikes. The roach went straight back into the lake, since they were inedible, but the rest of their haul they took to the kitchen for Britta, the cook, to deal with.

‘My, my, you have done well,’ she said, smiling at them. Jess had confided the secret of their marriage plans to Britta, who had promised she wouldn’t breathe a word to anyone. She seemed genuinely pleased for Jess. ‘Would you like these for your supper? Lots of bones in pike, but well worth the effort if you’ve a mind to pick your way through them.’

‘Yes, please,’ they said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed. Killian took Jess’ hand and led her out of the kitchen. On the way, he gave her a kiss on the cheek in full view of Britta and the kitchen maid, who pretended not to see.

‘Killian,’ Jess protested, but he only raised his eyebrows at her with an innocent expression. Jess didn’t have the heart to object.

‘Please won’t you tell me a bit about yourself, Killian? You know my family, such as it is, but I know nothing of you.’

They were sitting by the fire yet again a few days later, and although Jess had sensed he didn’t like to talk about himself, curiosity finally made her ask.

He shrugged. ‘What do you want to know? I’m the grandson of Lord Rosyth of Rosyth House, who’s more or less disowned me. One day I’ll have his title, but not much else. The rest will probably go to my sainted cousin Farquhar.’ He snorted. ‘Now there’s someone who could show your stepfather a thing or two about ruthless machinations. He’s married to a woman called Ailsa and has two daughters, but I’ve never met them. That’s about it.’

‘You have no parents? No brothers or sisters?’

His expression hardened. ‘I have a mother, but we’re not really on speaking terms. She left me with grandfather when I was ten, just after my father died.’

‘Why?’ Jess stared at him. It seemed a very callous thing for a mother to do.

‘Who knows? She and grandfather didn’t get on. She told me some nonsense about him wanting to raise me without mollycoddling so I could be a good laird. I didn’t believe a word of it.’

‘But she was kind to you before? I mean, she wasn’t an uncaring mother?’ Like mine is now, she wanted to add, but didn’t because she knew that was unfair. She was sure her mother did care, but at the moment she was preoccupied with the little boys.

‘She was almost overly affectionate, I’d say,’ Killian replied, then smiled. ‘Not really what boys appreciate at that age.’ Then he sobered. ‘But to go from that to nothing at all was a bit of a shock.’

‘Sounds to me as though she was forced to go,’ Jess said. ‘Did your grandfather have some hold over her?’

‘Not that I know. I have wondered, but since she supported herself after her departure, I couldn’t see any reason for her behaviour.’

‘Well, did you ever ask her?’

‘No. I nearly did just before I came here, but then I decided there was no point. Forget it, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Perhaps one day I’ll have it out with her, but for now, I’d rather leave it.’ Killian stared morosely into the flames and Jess understood that this particular topic of conversation was now at an end.

‘Tell me about Scotland,’ she invited instead. ‘I would love to go there some time. Mrs Forbes is forever telling me about the Highlands. Is it really as beautiful as she claims? She does seem rather biased to me.’

Killian smiled and said in a broad Scottish accent, ‘Aye, lass, there’s nae place like the Highlands in all the world.’

‘Be serious.’

‘I am. It’s beautiful and wild, a bit like you actually. And craggy.’ He leaned over to kiss the tip of her nose.

‘Are you saying I have a craggy nose?’ She tried to look offended and he laughed.

‘No, no, it’s lovely. I mean you have the same fresh look about you and your eyes are the colour of the clear water that flows into the lochs.’

He stared into her eyes as if he truly found them beautiful and for a moment Jess almost believed him. Then she reminded herself he was practised in the art of flirtation. He had probably said much the same thing to a dozen or more girls. Still, it was always nice to receive a compliment, so she smiled at him and said, ‘Thank you, you’re too kind.’

‘Not at all, it’s the truth. If you’ve heard all about the Highlands already, shall I tell you about Edinburgh? Now there’s a place you should visit one day …’

Chapter Twenty-One

In the end, it was all so much easier than they thought. Despite having to walk to church each Sunday through the deep snowdrifts, they had no trouble persuading Mr Ekman to enter into their conspiracy. A sweet, elderly man with a round, beaming face, Jess had known him for years. He therefore took her aside to ask her if she was sure this was what she wanted, adding kindly, ‘I wouldn’t wish to see you coerced in any way, Miss van Sandt.’ But Jess was able to put his mind at rest.

‘Oh, no, Mr Ekman, there’s no need for you to be concerned. I’m in complete agreement with Mr Kinross about this and I know what I’m doing.’

At least I think I do
, she added silently to herself. Although there were still times when she wondered if she had done the right thing.

To their delight, there were more blizzards, and they felt fairly sure no one would question why Killian stayed on for so long at Askeberga. There really wasn’t any way for him to leave, other than on foot. Since no one would risk horses breaking their legs in the deep snow, there was no news from Gothenburg or anywhere else. They assumed no one could reach them either, which was the most amazing good luck.

Poor Mrs Forbes remained ill, and at first Jess thought she couldn’t possibly pull through. Another visit from Old Edith, however, made a huge difference. This time she didn’t mince her words and delivered a long lecture on the evils of stubbornness and not doing what was good for one. The result was that Mrs Forbes began to submit to having her face bathed with cold water. She also drank down the various nourishing broths brought to her sickbed without too much protest.

‘I can’t abide broth,’ she muttered, but swallowed nonetheless. Jess and the maids ignored her complaints for the most part and just continued to feed her in silence. On the fourth day they were rewarded for their patience. Mrs Forbes began to look slightly better and even said ‘thank you’ once or twice.

‘She must be feeling well,’ Kerstin muttered under her breath. ‘She’ll be smiling next, and won’t that be a miracle.’ Jess hid a smile of her own and told Mrs Forbes they were all pleased she was on the mend.

‘Aye, maybe I’ll be able to get up soon and save you the trouble of looking after me. I know you must all be wishing me in Jericho.’

Old Edith, who happened to be there at the time, turned round and snapped, ‘There will be no getting up for a long while yet. You’re staying in that bed until I say you can leave it. If you put so much as a toe outside before then, you’ll have me to deal with. You’re as weak as a kitten, for heaven’s sake.’

There was no doubt Old Edith was right. Mrs Forbes was still racked by bouts of coughing, which seemed to drain every ounce of her energy. They might even have caused her to crack a rib, since her side ached each time. Even holding a spoon for herself was too much.

‘We don’t mind,’ Jess assured her. ‘Just you concentrate on getting your strength back now, however long it takes.’

On the third Sunday, which was the twenty-third of December, Mrs Forbes was a lot brighter.

‘I should like to go to church, I think,’ she said, ‘seeing as it’s almost Christmas.’

Jess felt her heart do a somersault and her lungs constricting, making it hard to breathe. She blurted out, ‘Oh, but you can’t!’

She realised this sounded a bit suspect, so she quickly added, ‘You couldn’t possibly walk all that way, Mrs Forbes, and the coachman says there’s still too much snow to take the horses out.’ That was a lie, as Jess well knew, since much of the snow had now disappeared. However, although Mrs Forbes could look out of her window, she wasn’t able to tell the state of the roads from there, so Jess felt safe in deceiving her. ‘Besides, you want to be well enough to celebrate Yule, don’t you?’

Not that they were doing much celebrating, but Britta had been preparing special dishes all week. Jess knew there would be an elaborate meal and sitting up for it might tax Mrs Forbes.

‘Very well, perhaps I’ll wait until next week then. Do send my regards to Mr Ekman.’

‘Of course.’ Jess let out the breath she’d been holding and her heart went back to its normal rhythm. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks.

As Jess and Killian set out for church, a shiver of apprehension ran through her. Killian noticed, because she was holding on to his arm, and he put his hand on top of hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure all will be well. If no one has told Mrs Forbes by now, we’re safe.’

‘I know. I just have this vision of someone arriving just as we’re about to be married and rushing into the church to stop us. It would be so humiliating.’

Killian smiled. ‘No one here knows us well enough to object, surely? And I doubt anyone from Gothenburg will be arriving in the middle of a church service. They’d go straight to the manor and wait there. Stop fretting, everything will be fine.’

Jess nodded and tried to push aside her misgivings, but couldn’t help asking in a small voice, ‘You … you don’t regret agreeing to this now? I mean, fifteen hundred silver
daler
isn’t really a lot of money. You could have done much better.’

Killian stopped and allowed the servants, who had been walking behind to overtake them before he spoke. He took both Jess’ hands in his
− she could feel the warmth of them even through their gloves – and looked her in the eyes. ‘Jessamijn, if I didn’t want to marry you, believe me, I wouldn’t be here. Now, if you’re getting cold feet, please say so and we can call it off. If not, let’s be on our way.’

‘I … yes, Killian. I’m sorry, I just wanted to make sure.’

‘Well, you can stop worrying. Everything will be fine. Trust me.’

Killian offered his arm to his betrothed once more, then marvelled that he could sound so sure, when in fact he was the one who had been getting cold feet. He had woken up that morning, wondering what on earth he was doing, marrying a girl without her family’s consent, and one who might bring him more trouble than she was worth. And just as he was about to embark on a long and dangerous journey too.

He must be mad.

Whenever he looked at Jess, however, the certainty that he was doing the right thing returned. He only had to see an anxious expression on her face and some deeply rooted urge to protect her surged through him. Fergusson had treated her badly and Killian was her only hope of escape. How could he possibly let her down when she needed him?

Besides, what difference did it make who he married after all? He wasn’t about to let his grandfather chose a bride for him and since he had never fallen head over heels in love with anyone, he may as well marry Jessamijn. At least he couldn’t be accused of doing it purely for mercenary reasons. As she so rightly said, fifteen hundred
daler
was hardly an astronomical sum. In fact, he’d amassed much more than that himself through his gaming.

Outside the church, he stopped and waited for everyone else to go inside before them, as Mr Ekman had instructed. He took Jessamijn’s trembling hand in his and, smiling, bent to kiss her full on the lips, as much to convince her as himself that this wasn’t a huge mistake.

‘Are you ready?’ he asked, and together they entered the church.

The snow had begun to fall again outside. The huge silent flakes were few and far between and floated to the ground without a fuss, caressing anything they encountered with their cold softness. Jess had left a small opening in the curtains so that she could watch them shimmer in the moonlight. It was such a beautiful sight, she didn’t want to miss it, and she was sure she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, after the day’s happenings.

She was married. She was Mrs Kinross.

It didn’t feel real, but it was. Just to reassure herself she felt for the ring Killian had put on her finger. It was his signet ring which was a bit too big, but it had been the only thing he had to hand at the moment.