Amelia responded in turn, her moans growing in volume until she trembled, pleasure filling her, and releasing her onto a field of ecstasy. Jamie followed in turn, groaning by her ear, and slowing his pace. She lay back on the desk, spent, and he moved out of her, attempting to calm his breaths. He laced up his breeches as he stood, watching her with a sated smile upon his lips.
She laughed suddenly, remembering something she’d said to him before. “Well, it’s a wonderful thing that you learned how to take away that ache of mine. ‘Twas becoming quite a nuisance, you know.”
And Jamie laughed loudly, his heart happy.
* * *
A few hours later, while Henrietta was sleeping soundly in one of the castle’s guest bedrooms, the clansmen arrived at Williams’ request, one by one, having hurried over. They were dressed in work clothes, whether it be farming or blacksmithing, for they had not time to change into the Kinnaird colors for the emergency meeting.
They spotted Donald in the corner and gave Jamie confused faces as they sat around the long table. Even Jamie was bloodied and dirty before them. “My good men! Donald Kinnaird is no longer the laird. He was never the real laird. He had faked the documents from the church, and my mother, Lady Kinnaird, has secured the true documents from the old minister that had written them in the first place!”
A sigh of relief fell over the crowd. There had been no love lost between Donald and the men, and all of them had been discussing ways to be rid of him.
“He has betrayed us all, stolen money, and threatened my new bride with marriage to help pay her father’s debts.”
Jamie motioned to Amelia, who had been standing off to the side with Marianne and Fiona.
“But, now, he has been removed from his short lairdship. He will be banished from the clan.”
The whole crowd went up in cheers, and Uncle Barra rushed over to kiss Amelia’s hand, moving as quickly as his large form would take him, “Warm congratulations, lass. Another wise and beautiful Lady Kinnaird tae join us then!” He winked at Fiona and Fiona chuckled. Amelia blushed with the public congratulations and knowledge of her engagement to Jamie. Jamie smiled at her and continued.
“If ye will have me, I want tae continue what I started with the grazing pastures, where we keep everyone on their lands working their fields or doing their business, and yet we still gain money for the clan by shepherding the flock. Do ye say aye or nay?”
There was a pause, and all the men, a sea of red and auburn hair and beards, moved from side to side to check with their neighbors. Jamie felt slightly nervous but calmed himself. Would they fight against his plan? They surely wouldn’t return to Donald as laird. He exchanged glances with Amelia, a line of concern between her eyebrows. Then, there was an uproarious, “Aye!” and a burst of laughter.
One of the men, David, yelled out, “We are only joking, lad! O’ course we want ye back tae do yer duty. Ye have saved us, as other clans have been almost completely wiped out.”
Jamie nodded and smiled, his heart full. He turned to find the painting of his father on the wall, and it almost looked like the old James smiled down at him from on high. Father was proud of son. Then, he turned to find his mother beaming at him, holding hands with Amelia. Yes, this was true happiness.
* * *
A few days later, three strong men carried the old minister in his robes and blanket in a high-backed chair to the front of the church. The other younger minister who had attempted to marry Donald and Amelia had been promptly removed by Jamie after having cowered in a corner when found in his chambers, and they were beginning to advertise for a new one to head up the parish church.
A few days after the battle with Donald and the revelation of his treachery, Fiona had visited the sickly minister and mentioned their dilemma to him after she’d explained their victory over Donald, and he had offered to perform one last marriage ceremony. He had married Fiona and James on a sunny day all those years ago, and now it made sense for him to bring together a new generation of Kinnairds.
Donald had been nursed back to health and returned to the fort. But, he had been removed from the clan, and could never gain money from them or join in any clan meetings. The clan was happy to see him gone, but many hoped Jamie would banish him from Kinnaird land entirely.
William and the other men laid Minister McMillan’s chair gently at the altar of the church, and he tightened his robes about him and brought out his prayer book. He smiled at Jamie and Amelia who stood before him, their hands clasped.
Jamie stood proudly, his small wound barely noticeable know. He wore a coat of wool and waistcoat over a white shirt buttoned to the top with a white cravat. His coat and kilt were in the Kinnaird colors, and his sword hung at his side. His gaze was fixed upon Amelia who stood with a beautiful veil of white cascading over her face and tied back into her blond curls. Her dress was made of a beautiful silk. Fiona had had it made for her by the nearby seamstress, and it was a lovely cream gown with ruffled bodice and covered in lace. It fell to the floor in beautiful waves, and the petticoat showed at the front with a beautiful sheen. The outer dress had white flowers designed on it. The tips of her white shoes peeked out from under the edge demurely.
Her long blond hair had been curled and placed atop her head, and on this day, her lips were pink with anticipation, her eyes as icy blue as ever, and she wore a smile, so pure and clean and happy, that Jamie was nearly brought to tears. Henrietta sat in the audience, fully recovered, and wiped a stray tear from her eyes, holding Fiona’s hand as she did so.
The minister began his speech. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony…” The whole clan was there as witnesses to the ceremony. Along with Henrietta and Fiona, there was William, Marianne, Jessica, her children, the old shepherd, and the multiple cousins, aunts, and uncles and others that made up the clan.
The minister, despite his age and illness, had a loud clear voice that resonated through the church and filled the hearts of the viewers with emotion. He approached the point of the service where he asked whether Jamie would take Amelia to be his bride: keep her in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth…and Jamie winked at her.
When the minister was done with questioning Jamie, and before he uttered the words, “I do,” he added, “I also take her through debts, honesty and deception, and through bets you knew you were going to lose in the first place.”
He heard a chuckle from William, Marianne, and Fiona in the crowd, and he took a breath, staring into Amelia’s blue eyes, getting lost in them. He repeated, “I do.” And Amelia’s smile grew wider. The minister posed the same question to Amelia and she said, “I take him through anger and stubbornness, and we will not let them get in the way of love.” They both glanced at Jessica, who had tears in her eyes.
“I do, forever and ever.” Amelia had come a long way. First, she thought her heart was stolen by a green-eyed Englishman who had the wealth, the words, and the wit. But, that had not been love. For this love, to a green-eyed Scottish laird, had surpassed all her expectations of what love could be. It was as deep as the sea, and refreshing as a summer breeze, and as beautiful as a day on the Scottish moors. She knew in her core, that Jamie was the one with whom she could spend all her days with. Her new duty was to her husband. And what a duty to love it would be.
Epilogue
Jamie and Amelia held hands as they clattered along on the dirt road passing Brechin and turning to ride along the sea. They had just left the castle with Henrietta and Fiona planning and preparing for the return of Amelia’s father. All that was left was to complete the sale of Jamie’s family estate and present the money to the prison to secure her father’s release.
Amelia’s mind rushed with emotions: excitement, fear, guilt, anger, and she couldn’t pick just one to focus on. She kept her eyes forward, but Jamie noticed a tension in her breath as she thought about all the details and abo
ut seeing her father once more after all this time.
It had been weeks since the wedding, and Jamie had written letters right away to the lawyer in London to explain his desire to sell. It was simply a matter of returning to oversee the details and receive payment. So, it had been weeks of Amelia wondering when it would be that she could see the reunion of her parents and see the light return to her mother’s eyes. She felt guilty because she wondered inwardly, would she be happy to see her father again? It had grieved her that he could not be at her wedding, and she knew it would grieve him as well, but there was still anger there, and she searched in her mind and her heart for the power to forgive him once and for all. She was also ashamed of what Jamie might think of her father, and what he would feel in meeting the man.
He squeezed her hand to comfort her, and she laid her head on his shoulder. “Jamie, I don’t believe I’ll know what to say to him. He has caused us much trouble and pain.”
Jamie kissed her on the head, their hands still interlocked, and he said, “But he has also been the cause of us finding each other, and for me that has been an experience of great joy. But perhaps, it has not been for ye, Lady Kinnaird?” She lifted her head to see a grin on his face, and she responded in kind. “Nay, ‘twas not what I meant.”
“If he had not done what he did, ye would have found yerself married tae that fop of an Englishman...Charles was it? And I daresay yer marriage bed would have been a cold one.”
He laughed and moved his lips closer to her ear, “Ye cannot say that about ours, my dear.”
Amelia giggled and said, “Jamie!” but then her lips were caught with his in a sensual, kiss, full of desire and now love, open and honest.
Jamie pulled Amelia into his lap to hold her in his arms and deepen the kiss, feeling his need rise in his breeches.
Amelia pulled away, “Laird Jamie, I do not think it appropriate for your…excitement to build in such a place as this.” She looked around at the inside of the carriage. But while she said so in a serious tone, her face belied her enjoyment and desire.
His expression showed faux disappointment. “Are we not tae enjoy each other as husband and wife? The journey will be quite long without the taking of pleasures...How will we amuse ourselves?”
Jamie appeared to be thinking deeply about this conundrum when Amelia giggled and pulled his face down to hers. He held her tightly against him and used his free hand to move along her neckline, lightly touching the tops of her breast, making the goosebumps rise on Amelia’s skin.
She pulled from the kiss, her breath a bit quicker than before. She stared into Jamie’s eyes, and admitted, “You know...my dear husband, that these green eyes of yours had arrested me with their gaze from the first moment we met, despite the...awkward circumstances.” She put her hand to his face and touched his rough beard.
He smiled, showing his perfect teeth. She continued, “And when you smiled, well then, I did not yet know it that it was all over for me. My heart was captured.”
“Along with yer buttocks, right?” He laughed, and Amelia slightly blushed, remembering the moment vividly.
He sighed and let go of her to put his arms behind his head, displaying an air of cocky pride. “I knew it, my dear, although yer cold blue eyes were full of fire that ye unleashed upon me that day, I knew ye were not immune...tae my charms.” He continued to laugh after Amelia hit him on the shoulder.
“And you? You were surely not immune to mine, were you?” Amelia asked, feeling embarrassed at the revelation, now that he’d known her feelings from the very beginning.
Jamie’s face turned serious, and he moved his hands to touch Amelia’s face. He turned her chin to face him, so that he could look into her eyes more fully. “Lass, ye are the most beautiful thing I have ever beheld. My drunken self knew it then, and it has not thought of any other since and will never again. Ye have filled me senses. I couldnae live without us taegether.”
He spoke with such a smooth, soft tone, that Amelia was kissing him again before she realized what had happened. A true love had come to her, and although it would be exciting for a long while as they learned new things about one another and explored each other’s minds and bodies and started their lives together, she knew in her heart that once the fire of their passion burned low, the embers would continue to heat and redden forever.
Once they had pulled from the kiss, their desires sated for the moment, Amelia’s lips pink and swollen from the kiss, Jamie’s joking smile returned. “So, why donnae we try to figure out the logistics of a carriage romp?”
And Amelia threw her head back and laughed. Jamie took that as a yes and began to kiss her neck.
* * *
They arrived in London, 12 days later, tired and sore, but it had not been as rough of a journey as the one Amelia had taken to Brechin as now she had plenty of funds to stay in comfortable inns along the way. And, they could take their time if they so desired, and on many occasions, as newlyweds, they did want to take their time and enjoy this valuable time together.
As they approached the city, Jamie requested the driver to stop at his lawyer’s office to discuss the bill of sale and the prospective buyers.
They bumped along the busy streets of London, and Jamie’s eyes widened at such activity. Amelia smiled to herself, watching her country laird husband’s face as he began to learn a little more of the world...her old world. “Bloody hell, but there are people here. People in droves! And the streets as filthy as an old Brechin whorehouse!”
Amelia raised an eyebrow, and crossed her arms, “That’s correct. You would know what the inside of a Brechin whorehouse would look like wouldn’t you?”
Jamie coughed in slight embarrassment but relaxed when he saw his wife’s joking smile.
“Aye,” she said, “It is a very different world. I daresay I did not know what it meant to really breathe until I stood on Scottish soil.”
He reached to her side and grabbed her hand. “And I thank the Lord ye donnae want tae return here tae live. Do ye think yer father will want tae come with us?”
Her face darkened at the mention of him, for her fear had grown of seeing him again the closer they got to London. “He will do what he believes his right, of course. But I doubt he will want to be parted from my mother. And,” A smile returned to her face. “My mother has grown quite accustomed to Scottish life. I do believe she and your mother have formed a fast friendship.”
Jamie laughed. “That they have! There’s not one minute of the day ye can find either of them apart. Yer father will have to find a place tae squeeze in.”
Soon, the carriage slowed, and finally Jamie and Amelia felt the pausing of vibrations under their seat. “We must be here,” he said, and soon, the coachman opened the door, and set down the stairs for Jamie to dismount first. He turned to assist Amelia out of the carriage, whose large skirts filled the doorway, and it took her some time to peek her shoe out of the bottom.
“Do ye think the women of yer stories and poems would wear skirts? Seems such a hindrance tae all that pillaging and plundering and lust ye so wanted inside them.”
Amelia laughed as she descended, placed her arm through Jamie’s. “Aye. They would not be wearing pants. Perhaps soon, women will not need to wear skirts at all.” Amelia thought about the poem she had written and sent to the publishers a month ago. She was waiting to tell Jamie the good news.
Jamie furrowed his brow, and then said, “Hmm..the streets full of naked women...I’m sure many a man could get used tae that.”
Amelia rolled her eyes and laughed, “Men are certainly cads and bastards. They have naught else but a woman’s form on their minds.”
They approached the door to the office, and Jamie led her inside.
All was set. Jamie selected the buyer, and he signed a few papers. He was eager to have the task completed. The lawyer handed him the sum in a brown package, and now, they could head to debtor’s prison to pay what was owed.
Amelia felt nervous carrying such a large
sum with them through the streets of London, but there was no other way. She placed the money in a cloth bag, and they returned to their carriage.
Jamie spoke to his driver with directions to London Prison of Debts that he’d received from the lawyer, and he followed Amelia inside of the carriage. Amelia felt her heart racing at the prospect of seeing her father. It would all be so soon. Would he be much changed? Would she unleash her anger upon him?
Jamie grabbed Amelia’s hand and held it for the whole time it took them to get to the prison. Amelia could see its dark walls rise as they rounded a bend and slowed down once again, reaching their destination.
Capturing The Highlander's Heart (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 1) Page 24
