“I don’t know, Lieutenant, but it has to happen. And truthfully, it may not be before her wedding to this other man, but even if it is after, does it matter? You were her husband first. So unless she denies that, you can always go to the priest who first married the two of you,” Mr. Hudson reminded him.
“You think it would work? You think I could state my part even after their wedding has taken place?” Richard asked. It was certainly not an ideal plan, but it was something. He couldn’t bear the thought of Adeline having to live as a wife to Camry, but if he didn’t make it to her before he was healed, it might be his only choice.
“Let us focus first on getting you healed. But yes, I am certain that if she is willing, you will be able to claim her as your wife before she was the other man’s. Don’t worry, Lieutenant, it will all come together just fine. You are strong. You are no longer a soldier, but you will soon live as the husband you are,” Mr. Hudson encouraged.
“Right then. Once I have healed, that is my plan. I will return to her. And we shall finally live as husband and wife.”
The Stranger In The Camp
“I cannae see anything in here,” Adeline muttered under her breath. She was annoyed by the lack of moonlight, but knew that day would break any moment. The question was whether or not she would be able to see it through all the trees.
Confident that she was nearing the camp, she had tied her mare and made her way forward. It would not be long, she told herself. She would be in the camp and she would find Richard. All would be well.
A disturbing sensation was roiling within her. How could she possibly have thought this was a good idea?
Adeline continued walking and, after a half hour, saw that light was beginning to creep into the sky. She was a little bit lost, but it illuminated enough for her to see smoke drifting up ahead.
Looking back through the trees, she eventually came upon a glow that was assuredly a fire. Yes, she would be there very soon. After that, she would find Richard.
When she saw a white tent ahead, Adeline knew she was in the right place. What she hadn’t expected was a sea of white tents. She had no way to distinguish which one belonged to Richard.
She also had to remain well-hidden, as she knew the camp would be surrounded by guards and she was unable to explain what she was doing there should she be found.
Adeline crept low to the ground and had her eyes wide open in search of any soldier that might be patrolling the parameter of the camp. Seeing no one, Adeline drew closer, until she was right along the edge of where the tents started.
From behind, Adeline heard the sudden sound of a rifle cocking and a low voice ready to end her life.
“What are you doing here? Who are you?” the man asked.
Adeline slowly turned.
“Show me your hands,” he ordered, before she was fully facing him. She did as instructed and hoped that obedience would win his favor.
Adeline felt her heart racing within her. What could she do? She was no soldier. There was no option for her to defend herself.
“I’ll ask you again, what are you doing here?” he asked.
Staring up at the man who was much taller than she, Adeline opened her mouth to try and answer. “I-I. I didnae do anything. I just wanted to see…someone,” she replied. The moment the words were out of her mouth, Adeline regretted speaking them. What if she got Richard in trouble by coming here? Was this not the very reason she had scolded him for showing up at Firbrook?
“I see, you’re a camp-follower. You’re here to rob us or something, aren’t you? Or worse, take our guns back to your own Jacobites? Is that it? Is that who you are?” the man asked, nudging the gun closer to her.
“N-no! I’m no such thing!” she cried.
The man was taking one step at a time, coming closer and closer, until finally, Adeline was too frightened to continue walking backwards. In a single motion of sheer terror, she caught the man off guard by jumping, screaming, and smacking the barrel of his gun so hard that it fell from his hands.
The rush of adrenaline didn’t stop until Adeline turned and ran as far and as fast as she could along the perimeter.
She didn’t know how close the man might be. He was far stronger and surely faster than she and Adeline had no hope of actually escaping the soldier. Most likely, he would see her, aim, and fire, but she was relieved to at least have gotten a head start by surprising him with her gesture of fear.
Adeline continued to run until she was suddenly caught off guard by the sight of a familiar face. It was the man who had been with Richard when they found one another at the abandoned camp. Yes, it was his manservant.
Adeline ducked between two tents, just inside the edge that the guard would be searching. The man was not far before her and she hoped that getting his attention would be simple.
She waved her hands about and tried to make subtle sounds, attempting to imitate a bird, but fell far short of her intentions.
Finally, he looked, curiously, and realized it was her. His eyes grew wide and he looked around before coming to the small space between the tents to join her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, with a mix of surprise, fear, and joy.
“I have to find Richard. I had to escape being wed to that terrible Camry when I already have a husband,” she replied in an urgent whisper, matching his.
“Right. Well, there is much you should know, but first we must get safely to Richard’s tent. It is not wise of you to be out here. I am amazed you were not killed by one of the soldiers who guard the camp,” he said.
“I almost was. Now please, forgive me, what is yer name?” she asked, embarrassed for not knowing.
“I am Mr. Hudson. That’s not important just now. You must follow me. We have to get you to Richard’s tent. Come,” Mr. Hudson ordered, carefully leading Adeline behind the tents, keeping an eye for other guards and making certain that they hid any time he thought they might be compromised.
Finally they were in the tent that Mr. Hudson said belonged to Richard. “You will be safe here, just hide if you believe anyone is about to enter. I will do my best to remain sitting outside. That way I can speak with anyone who may be soon to enter and you will have a warning. But I cannot guarantee that I will not be called away,” Mr. Hudson warned.
Adeline nodded, understanding that he was a good man and trying to help her in any way that he could.
“Before I leave you, I must tell you that Lieutenant Richard is in the wounded tent,” he told her.
Adeline’s eyes widened in fear. Richard had been injured? How severe? Was he alright? Would he survive? The questions were too great and she was unable to get out the words to ask Mr. Hudson about the severity of Richard’s condition.
“He will be alright,” the man said, clearly reading her face. “But he is very hurt. And he will never fight again. His days as a soldier are over. He will recover here for a time before he is sent home.”
“He’s alright?” she asked, still needing further clarification.
“He will be. So long as he keeps infections at bay. But he was shot in the leg. The doctor had to remove a portion of his calf. And some bone. He will not walk as well as he once did, even in the best of circumstances,” he confirmed.
Adeline nodded. She was agonized to hear of Richard’s injuries, yet also relieved that he was alive and it was only a leg that had been wounded, as opposed to his chest or something that might see a future fatal complication, as she had heard could happen.
Mr. Hudson left her to herself and Adeline tried to push thoughts of Richard’s wounds from her mind, and focus rather on his wellbeing.
Adeline decided her best option was to lie in Richard’s tent and rest, as she had been awake the whole night on her journey. However, she was frightened that she might fall asleep and not hear the warning that someone was coming, so she decided to sleep underneath the bed instead, with only a blanket resting beneath her.
She was relieved by the comfort of lying dow
n and prayed for sleep to come swiftly. Indeed, it did, and before she knew it, Adeline was lost to her dreams.
There was no telling how much time had passed, but Adeline awoke to the sound of Mr. Hudson rushing into the tent and saying her name.
“Miss Adeline!” he said in a loud whisper, clearly unsure of where she was.
“Y-yes? What is it?” she asked, coming out from under the cot.
“Stay there! Perfect. Do not move from that spot. Richard is being brought,” he told her.
Adeline snuck back under the bed and felt immense joy that she would soon see Richard. It was all she had desired.
She heard the sounds above her as Richard was brought in by the medical assistants and left on his cot. She saw the mattress sag above her and listened to the speaking as they left her.
Within moments, she could not see their feet and knew that she was alone with Richard.
Adeline crept slowly from underneath the bed and saw him lying, trying to keep his eyes closed to sleep through the pain. She looked down at his leg, wrapping against an obvious hole.
Richard’s eyes opened and it caught Adeline by surprise. “Ye’re awake…” she said.
“You’re…here…” he replied, utterly astonished by her presence.
“Forgive me, Richard. For everything. Forgive me for pushing ye away. I was only worried that ye were going to get killed, but instead we’ve been separated and now ye’re injured anyway. Oh, please forgive me,” she begged, leaning in to kiss him gently.
Adeline was surprised again by the sudden force of his lips on hers. She hadn’t anticipated he would be so strong. She had thought to take care for him and not be too insistent. However, Richard was eager for her mouth and she felt it in the way his lips tugged on hers and his tongue explored her mouth.
It was as if she was bringing him back to life by her very presence. Adeline was grateful for it, and all the ways in which he was taking her breath away.
Finally, they pulled apart, for only a moment, to look in one another’s eyes.
“You’re here. And you are bringing me back, healing me with every touch,” he told her with a smile.
Adeline saw the pain he was in, sensed every breath of it. “I have to be careful, I cannae hurt ye. Ye have to recover and I’ll just take care of ye. I’m so sorry for everything,” she said, all in a rush.
“Stop apologizing, my love. Come, kiss me again,” he insisted.
Adeline leaned into him again for another kiss and his insistence didn’t cease. She sensed that he wanted more, but she was deeply concerned about his physical state and didn’t want to hurt him. “Richard, I cannae do anything that’s going to make it worse. Please, ye ken I want to make love to ye again, but I am worried that I will hurt ye. So let me just be beside ye and take care of ye,” Adeline begged.
“Adeline, my love. I thank you for caring about me, but if there is anything that’s going to help me recover, if there’s anything that’s going to make me feel better, it’s your touch. So instead of worrying about my injury, help me move this silly leg aside and be my wife once again,” he asked with a smile.
Adeline couldn’t resist a girlish giggle at his words. “And what, may I ask, did they give ye to help with yer pain? I’m quite certain it’s got ye striving for more than ye’re currently able to do,” she said.
“Perhaps I’ve had a bit of whisky, but that would never affect my desire for you,” he promised.
Adeline considered for a moment and decided that she, too, desired to be his wife in every way.
No matter what they had each been through in the previous weeks, in their time together and their separation, it seemed not to matter at all.
Richard and Adeline held one another as they made love and Adeline felt as though her whole world was finally becoming right again.
A Plan For How To Proceed
“I love ye, Richard,” Adeline whispered in his ear. It must have been the tenth time she had said it since they held one another after they made love.
“I love you too, my darling,” Richard replied. “You are the most exquisite thing in the world to me and I adore you with all that exists in my heart.”
Adeline smiled up at him from where her head lay on his bare chest. He opened his eyes and she felt them gazing on her. Adeline felt through that gaze as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world.
All her anxieties from the past had melted away. Her thoughts that her figure was not as womanly as her cousins and friends. Her worries that culture would be too great a challenge for her and Richard. The fear of having to wed Camry.
Nothing stood between Adeline and the happiness she felt in being Richard’s wife.
“How is yer leg?” she asked him, still worried that she might have caused him pain. She had been very careful not to cause him any harm, but that was the one fear that still remained.
“I am well, my darling. There is no pain now. I think you have made me feel far too great a thing to be distracted by something as small as a little gunshot wound,” Richard said with a smile.
“Truly? I didnae mean to hurt ye if I did,” Adeline said again. Suddenly she felt insecure again.
“My love, please. Listen to me. You did nothing of the sort. All is well. I love you and my day was made by you. I have had a full day to heal from my surgery,” he said with a laugh.
Adeline was finally appeased and chose to trust that he was truly alright. She gazed at Richard again and just allowed herself to bask in the glory of his muscled chest and the knowledge of his love for her.
“Adeline, we must discuss what is to happen next. As you must realize, I am no longer a soldier. My days of war and fighting are over. And you are my wife. Forever. For better and worse and in all situations, I am yours completely. But we have to decide how we will go about living our life with one another,” Richard said, trying to shift himself into a more upright position.
Adeline helped him move before addressing his very important issue. He had agony on his face as she helped move his leg, but soon he was sitting properly and they could talk more easily. Adeline sat up against the taut wall of the tent and allowed Richard to lean into her.
“I ken ye’re right. We have to decide what is to come next. I mean, I assume ye’re planning to return to yer home?” she asked.
“Yes, I would like to. But I also know that I cannot go without you. And I cannot bear the thought of tearing you away from your own family,” he said gently.
Adeline breathed in and tried to control her emotions. “Richard, me love, you have to understand what me family is. I have friends, yes, but I had two dear cousins who have both left me for their own husbands. Me parents are both gone and I was an only child. I’ve no one now but me uncle and friends, who are well enough if I’m gone and only see them now and then,” Adeline confessed.
“You don’t mean that, surely. I cannot take you from your friends,” he said again.
“Ye are me only concern now. Ye’re me husband. I love ye more than anything in all this world and I cannae imagine me life away from ye. If it means living in England, I can do that. I ken that there are many there who willnae like it. I dinnae even ken how easy it would be for me to live there without the wrath of yer parliament. The truth is, I ken very little. But I have to be with ye,” Adeline insisted.
“Then we have nothing to fear. We will do what we must as the time comes. Adeline, I will not let you leave my side. We will go to your family first, as we must. They have to be aware of our decision,” Richard said.
“Aye, we do at that, but Richard, I am terribly frightened of going back,” Adeline said.
“But why?” he asked.
“Because what if they say no? What if they force me to marry Camry?” she asked in fear.
“Then we go to the priest who married us. We go to him and we have him serve as a witness. That was the purpose of the witnesses, wasn’t it? To ensure that no one can question the commitment we’ve made. And we’ve a certifica
te. We have to prove it to them and we can do that easily enough,” Richard said.
“So ye say, but Richard, I’m terrified of what they might say or do. What Camry might say or do. The marriage to him was too valuable for me uncle. So if ye think I am overreacting in me fear, just ken that me uncle isnae known for being a generous man to his nieces, or even his daughter. He’s not a very pleasant man to be around in general,” Adeline said, adding a small, shy laugh at the end.
“What other choice do we have, my love? I cannot take you without at least discussing it with them first. I mean, he allowed Grace and Douglas to marry, did he not?” Richard pointed out.
“Douglas was half Scottish. It’s different, ye see. Ye have no Scottish blood in ye, clearly. So ye have to understand why I’m-” Adeline stopped. She wanted to continue, to try and explain it all, but it seemed that she was talking in circles. Richard would not understand.
She wanted him to. She wanted to say it until he realized the risk they were actually taking by going to her family to talk. However, it didn’t seem worth the back and forth if he was convinced that it was right.
She could handle the challenge. She could push until they were allowed to be together. She could stand strong against her uncle for the first time in her life.
Or perhaps she couldn’t. Nevertheless, she would try. It was the only hope she had.
“If that is what ye wish, love, then that is exactly what we will do. We can go to me uncle and we can show him what is so good about our love. I cannae promise he will make it easy, but whether he allows it or not, I will be with ye. We will go to yer home in England,” Adeline decided.
She had pledged to be this man’s wife and that included the challenges it came with. It included everything they might face even once they made it to England and any poor treatment she might receive. Richard was worth it.
“Thank ye,” Adeline said suddenly in the quiet.
Kidnapped Highland Bride: Ladies of Dunmore Series (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story) Page 16
