The MacAulay Bride

by Nancy Pirri

  Harrison raised his brow. "Your rooms? I believe once you married last year I gave them to Grandmother Jean."

  "Grandmother and I switched things around a bit now that I'm home," she replied.

  Harrison scowled. "What do you mean you're home? You mean for a visit, don't you? And where is your husband?"

  "In London, of course."

  Tess sidled closer to Brianna and grasped her hand.

  "And why are you not in London with him?"

  "Because I've decided I do not wish to be married to Max any longer." Tess tilted up her chin.

  "Your solicitor is looking into an annulment for me as we speak. I want the deed done as expeditiously as possible."

  "Hell," Harrison growled. "Explain why ye have left Max. Then ye will pack yer trunks and return to England immediately."

  "I won't go! I abhor the man and regret marrying him." She shrugged. "Besides, I'm too young to be married."

  Harrison appeared on the verge of exploding, so Brianna intervened, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Yes, well, why do we not step inside and have this discussion over a nice hot cup of tea?"

  "Tea," Harrison said, sending Brianna a blank look. "Wonderful idea." He swept his hand toward the stairs. "Ladies."

  Brianna lifted her skirts and took the stairs beside Tess and Harrison followed. Inside the foyer walls had been painted pale yellow. She gasped in delight when she saw a lavish flower garden through the doors of the drawing room. It took her a moment to realize it wasn't real. The lush Eden surrounding a pond where graceful swans floated was a mural painted on the wall!

  Stunned, she sank down upon a green velvet divan, her eyes focused on the magnificent painting. Her hands slid over the carved rosewood arms of the chair just as an ancient, gray-haired woman appeared in the doorway.

  Harrison said, "Tea for the ladies, Maeve."

  Harrison opened the doors of a beautifully carved cupboard. He pulled out a glass, lifted a tall brown bottle and poured himself a drink. Within moments, Maeve returned, pushing a teacart ahead of her.

  Brianna gave Maeve a grateful smile when she was handed a steaming cup of tea. She clutched the dainty floral cup and saucer in her lap and sighed, readying herself for the impending discussion between brother and sister, which would likely turn into an argument.

  Harrison sat on the sofa beside her and the cushion sank under his weight, jostling her. She caught her cup just before it slid off its saucer.

  "Now, Tess, what has Max done to prompt you to seek an annulment, which I will remind you, is impossible?" Harrison asked.

  "I'm not contemplating it at all. I'm certain of it," Tess replied.

  "And I'm certain you will not," he shot back in a soft, dangerous voice.

  Brianna had heard that warning tone in his voice before, and brother and sister stared at each other with matching fury in their eyes.

  "What has caused you to leave your husband?" Brianna asked. "Has he harmed you in some way."

  Harrison scoffed. "Max, harmful? Hardly! The man is hopelessly besotted with her."

  "That's not true," Tess said. "At least, not always. And now he wants me to..."

  Brianna saw the young woman was mortified when her cheeks turned red.

  "He likely wants what any husband wants from his wife. Her compliance in the marriage bed."

  "Really, Harrison." Brianna turned a jaundiced eye on him

  Tess sighed. "I'm afraid he is dreadfully right. Max wants...he expects me to conceive a babe for him soon."

  There seems to be a lot of that sentiment going around these days.

  "Correct me if I'm wrong here, but were you not the one who begged me to allow you to marry the Englishman in the first place?" Harrison pointed his finger at her. "You, my girl, just need to grow up, and rather quickly. You've been married over six months! Besides, the marriage has been consummated so you cannot file for an annulment. Tomorrow morning I expect you to be packed and ready to return to London."

  Tess lowered her eyes and mumbled something under her breath.

  Harrison leaned forward and pierced her with a hard look. "Speak up, Tess."

  "We haven't," she replied.

  He looked at her in confusion. "Haven't what?"

  "Your marriage hasn't been consummated, has it?" Brianna asked.

  Tess shook her head.

  "By, God, are ye telling me ye have not slept with yer own husband?" Harrison roared as he rose. He tore across the room and towered over Tess.

  Brianna rose from the divan, touched his arm, warning him to maintain control. Tess sat in abject silence, her eyes downcast, refusing to meet his eyes.

  "Of course we have," Tess replied.

  Harrison expelled a relieved sigh.

  "We just have not done it, yet."

  "Oh, my God!" Harrison swore under his breath.

  Brianna winced, then met Tess's pleading expression.

  "I cannot bring myself to..."

  Brianna patted her hand. "We understand dear. It isn't necessary you tell us any more." She gave Harrison a pointed look before turning back to Tess. "We shall talk more after breakfast in the morning. You must be exhausted!"

  Harrison scowled at his sister. Brianna was right. Why browbeat Tess now when she was obviously tired and feeling low. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

  "In my study, directly after breakfast tomorrow, Tess," he ordered. "Is that understood?"

  Tess smiled. "Certainly, brother dearest."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  That evening, at the supper table, Harrison rose and extended his hand to Brianna, who was seated at his side. "Come, we've much to discuss this evening. We'll have privacy in the library."

  Harrison's grandmother, Mary, protested, "But the poor woman is bone tired, grandson. She still hasn't recovered from her travels. Let her find her bed early this night."

  "Och, it's true," chimed in Grandmother Jean. "You've days ahead to talk."

  Tess said, "Just because you've been a brute to me all evening doesn't mean Brianna must suffer, too, brother."

  Brianna had just finished eating a dinner fit for a queen, surrounded by the MacAulay clan. They'd thrown questions at her unmercifully, until Harrison ordered them to stop. A talk in the library would be a welcome reprieve. She looked at Harrison. "I'll be in shortly, after I've finished this delicious pudding."

  He nodded and bowed over her hand. Then he raised his head, and her heart started racing when she met the intent look in his eyes. She pulled her hand away and watched him saunter from the dining room. She turned back to her pudding. When she raised a spoonful to her lips she realized no one was speaking.

  She looked up at Grandmother Jean's surprised expression. "I'm impressed, Brianna. You handled him rather well, for a newcomer."

  After Brianna finished her pudding she left the table. She found Harrison slouched down on one end of the divan, an empty glass dangling by its stem from his fingertips. As she drew near she wrinkled her nose, recognizing the pungent order of alcohol. His gaze was riveted on the fire, but soon he turned and met her censorious expression. His lips twitched. Reaching up, he clasped her wrist and pulled her down to sit beside him.

  She sighed and rearranged her skirts.

  "Would you like tea, or a sherry, perhaps?"

  "Nothing, thank you," she said coolly. "Let's have the discussion you insisted upon having, shall we?"

  Harrison moved to the teacart in the corner of the room. He poured her a cup of tea, ignoring her negative response. He held the cup under her nose and she sniffed and identified the inviting scent of saffron, one of her favorites. Grudgingly, she accepted the tea. He headed back to the corner. There he snatched up a bottle and poured himself a large draught of Scotch whisky before returning to her.

  "Thank you for obliging me at such a late hour," he said, settling down beside her. "I know how tired you must be, but this is too important to wait. Why do you think Tess hasn't allowed her husband into her bed? Bear in mind the chit's been in love wi
th him since she was a child of nine."

  Brianna frowned. "I've been thinking about this, and have reached the conclusion she's frightened of the intimate side of marriage. This is a rather embarrassing topic to be discussing but I must ask you, had anyone prepared Tess for marriage?"

  He lifted one eyebrow. "Prepared?"

  "For what happens between a man and a woman," Brianna said, her cheeks turning hot.

  "Ah!" Harrison sighed. "I'm not certain."

  She stared at him aghast. "No one told her what to expect?"

  He scowled. "I thought of it, but couldn't find the appropriate words. She is, after all, my baby sister. I approached the grandmothers, but they shrugged it off and said she'll learn on her own, as they had."

  "So you said nothing."

  "We have livestock aplenty on the estate. Tess has seen them mate. I do recall pointing out the similarity between animals and humans on occasion."

  "You are comparing a man and a woman making love to animals mating?"

  "Well...yes. The specific comparison to the equine breed."

  "Oh, my God!" she whispered, her eyes widening at the very idea of Tess watching the powerful, crude mating between the huge animals.

  "In the end, I decided who better to educate a wife than a husband, so I left the duty to Max." He scowled. "Never had I dreamed a man of his vast experience would botch the job."

  "Tess is frightened to death! Comparing horses and people? Heavens, what ever were you thinking?"

  Harrison grinned. "You're blushing."

  Brianna's hands flew to her cheeks and she slammed her eyes shut.

  "You know, Brianna," he said matter-of-factly, "horses and people mating are very similar."

  She decided she shouldn't be having this sort of conversation with him. It was too embarrassing! She rose, took one step to leave when Harrison reached out and grasped the back of her skirt.

  "Sit down," he cajoled. "I was only teasing. I'm sorry, but one would think you an untried virgin and not a married woman of ten years."

  "How old was Tess when your mother passed away?" Brianna asked, desperate to change the topic.

  "Mother died giving birth to Tess. I was twelve, Payton eight. My father and I, along with Maeve's help, raised Payton and Tess."

  "There's your answer, then."

  He frowned. "Enlighten me."

  "Tess is fearful of dying as her mother did, in childbirth. Which, of course, is the reason she won't allow Max to touch her."

  "I had not thought of that, and damn it, I should have," Harrison softly replied. He shoved his spectacles into position on his nose. Then he rose and poured himself another libation. He drank the potent liquor down in one gulp and said, "In approximately a week's time, we'll be traveling to England to speak to Max. You're coming with me."

  Brianna rose gracefully and walked to the doorway. With her hand on the knob she stared at him over her shoulder. " I've no intentions of traveling to London to sort out your family troubles."

  "You did mention you would enjoy a trip to London. Remember?"

  "Not under these circumstances."

  She started turning the knob but stopped at Harrison's next words. "If I were to venture a guess, I would say you are frightened of forming any attachments to my family."

  "I have no idea what you are talking about," she exclaimed, flinging a furious look at him.

  He moved to her side and pulled at one loose curl in her otherwise, perfectly coifed hair. "What indeed?" he said softly. "You have never been a part of a family before. I'm not speaking of your ten-year marriage to my brother. I mean a family including cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents. And now that you are, you're uncertain of the accountability and responsibility of it. Frightened of sharing the sadness and joys of a family, and skittish of permanency in your life."

  He grasped her shoulders. "Brianna, I want you to think of the MacAulay clan as an anchor, holding you forever in their hearts. Learn that you may depend on us. I desperately need your help. Tess needs a woman to help her deal with this fear of hers. You are the only one who may help her."

  Brianna groaned, "Oh, why me, when you've a number of other female relatives about?"

  "You have been married before and have successfully given birth to two children."

  "Oh, damn you! If I refuse to help you, I will feel guilty for the rest of my days. All right, I'll go. but please provide me enough time. Harry and Jamie will be coming with us."

  "They will not be making the journey."

  "I'll not leave my sons behind with strangers." She yanked open the door, but paused at Harrison's next words.

  "No, they will not be coming with us this time. Once we leave Tess in London we'll be traveling north to Aberdeen."

  She spun around. "Why?"

  He drew closer. "Our handfasting will take place there." He gripped the edge of the door, preventing her from slipping out.

  "I have yet to agree to the arrangement."

  He grinned. "True, but you will."

  She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "That's right. You do require an heir rather quickly, don't you?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

  He gently cupped her chin in his hand. "The sooner we finish this business, the sooner you will be able to pursue your dreams of freedom and return to America. That is what you want, is it not?"

  She nodded, then stilled when he lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. He lifted his head and gazed at her a moment, his sherry eyes clearly showing his intent. He took her lips again in a kiss she'd remember until she went to her grave. He crushed her against him and she felt the thumping vibration of his heart with his first kiss. She went limp in his arms. The feeling of his lips on her, his tongue swirling inside, made her forget where she was and what she was doing.

  When the fingers on one of his broad hands splayed across her bottom, she broke away. She yanked the door open. Her body screamed in agony as she ran. Between sleeping in unfamiliar berths aboard the ship, and bouncing on the saddle in front of Harrison, her body ached from head to toe. She'd reached the long flight of steps that led to the second level of the mansion when Harrison's voice stopped her.

  "You will need ligament rubbed into your limbs." He smiled at her intimately. "Likely in other places, as well."

  Brianna's cheeks heated again at his words, but she tilted up her chin and sent him a blazing look. "I'm fine."

  His smile widened.

  "For truth," she retorted.

  He shrugged and leaned against the banister. "Don't say I didn't warn you. By morning you will barely be able to rise from your bed."

  Oh, I wouldn't relish that! "Tess will assist me."

  "If you find her awake, which I highly doubt at this hour. By the way, many have told me that my hands work magic. Call if you need me."

  She watched him make his way down the hall, all the while thinking how she'd never allow him to touch her in such an intimate fashion. Of course, within a matter of days, if she agreed to handfast, he would be touching her as intimately as a husband touches his wife. She trudged up the stairs. Upon reaching the landing, she rubbed her pain- laden thighs and sore posterior. She heard a chuckle and whirled around to find Harrison ascending the steps, smiling at her. He paused a few steps below her and extended his hand. Brianna frowned at the jar he held and read the label.

  "Horse liniment?"

  He nodded. "The smell is not terribly enticing, but it works as well on the human as it does on a horse. As I mentioned, I'd be delighted to assist you."

  "Oh, I'm sure you would, but no thank you."

  He sighed. "My rooms are on the opposite end of the corridor, in case you decide to be sensible."

  She glared at his broad back as he ambled away until he disappeared from sight. Then she stepped into her room and closed the door. There wasn't a key to lock it so she made a mental note to request one in the morning.

  * * *

  Brianna sat up with a start and water spla
shed over the sides of the tub. Someone was pounding on the bathing room door and calling her name.

  "Answer me, Brianna! Are you all right?"

  Rising, she snatched up a drying cloth and wound it around her shivering body. The door burst open and smashed against the wall with a deafening crash. Brianna looked up in horror and saw Harrison looming in the doorway. He was clad in a deep blue, belted robe, which stopped at his knees. His hair stood on end and his wire-rimmed spectacles sat crookedly on his nose.

  "Why in bloody hell didn't ye answer me when I called?"

  Her eyes darted from his furious expression to the door hanging from the top hinge. "You...you broke the door." She secured the wrap tight across her breasts.

  "If ye hadn't locked it, I wouldn't have had to smash it in. I repeat, why didn't ye answer me?"

  "I was asleep."

  "I left you well over an hour ago and you have been sleeping in the tub the entire time?"

  She nodded and edged around him, wondering why he was so angry. Then she thought she heard him say something about 'damned foolish woman drowning in the tub'. In her bedchamber she searched for her robe. Unfortunately, she discovered it at the same time he did. They tugged on the fabric, each in the opposite direction, until he pulled it from her grip.

  His silver eyes caressed her from head to toe. "You haven't used the liniment yet, have you?"

  She shook her head.

  "Where is it?"

  Brianna shrugged and turned away. When next she looked, she discovered him in the bathing room, her robe still clutched in his hand. She dug inside the armoire for a nightdress but stopped with a sigh when he returned, jar in hand.

  He dropped the liniment on the bed, gently grasped her shoulders and pressed until she sat down. He leaned toward her. She tried avoiding him by flopping down flat on the bed. Never breaking eye contact, he unscrewed the jar's lid and delved his fingers inside. When he withdrew them they were coated with an oily concoction.

  She wrinkled her nose at the pungent odor wafting through the air.

  He laughed. "So, it isn't rose-scented, but it will ease your discomfort."

  Brianna closed her eyes at the wicked thought of his long fingers touching her intimately. Her eyes snapped open when he suggested, "I'll rub this into each limb. I won't even peek." He inclined his head, waiting for her permission, as though he knew she'd give it.