The MacAulay Bride

by Nancy Pirri

  One day he finally blurted out he wanted to make love in the normal fashion. She'd laughed and told him they hadn't made love. They'd had sex. When he grew into manhood, she added, when he learned to control himself completely, she would be happy to oblige him. He'd never had relations with the woman again. With subsequent amorous liaisons, he never allowed a woman to have such control over him, and vowed to never wear his heart on his sleeve.

  He'd make no exceptions. Even for Brianna.

  CHAPTER TEN

  February 1889

  Winterhaven Manor

  For the first time in her life Brianna led a life of leisure. As she settled into her new home, she made fast friends with Harrison's family, especially Tess and his grandmothers. She adored them, and the feeling seemed to be mutual. Harrison left for his clinic every morning before she even contemplated opening her eyes. But without fail, she rose early enough to enjoy breakfast with Harry and Jamie. Then they'd retire to the north wing, to the schoolroom where the schoolmaster, Mr. Jeremy Thornton presided. He was a gentle, quiet man whom her sons greatly admired, especially Harry. Brianna spent her mornings reading or visiting with the grandmothers. She tried at one point to help in the kitchen, but the staff scolded her and turned her away.

  Many a woman would envy her leisurely existence. She was thoroughly, utterly bored.

  The time with Harrison, however, had been far from boring. She'd spent six hedonistic weeks with him, and looked forward to spending many more. The idea of staying in Scotland permanently was growing more appealing by the day. Harrison's pervasive sexual expertise left her deeply satisfied and eager for more. But sex was one thing, and love quite another.

  Now she sat in the quaint room off the kitchen, an appropriate space for an informal meal such as breakfast. The walls were painted a sunny yellow. The chair cushions, curtains and tablecloth were blue and cream.

  Harrison entered. He leaned down and pecked her cheek, then sat down in his chair across from her. Last evening he'd informed her he wouldn't be going to his office this morning, but had a few scheduled appointments at home in the library.

  Maeve bustled in from the kitchen with a pot of coffee in hand, performing double duty since the kitchen maid was sick. She placed the coffee on the table. "Eat up now, m'lady. There'll be no dawdlin' with yer food this morning. I'll be watching ye," she warned.

  "Breakfast has never been my favorite meal of the day." She smiled at the usually rosy-cheeked woman who looked a bit off color. "I noticed you have a bit of a sniffle, Maeve. Why don't you rest?"

  "Laird MacAulay isn't paying me to rest," Maeve stoutly replied.

  Harrison glanced up from his paper. "Maeve. If you are sick and need to rest, do so. That's an order. And I'll still be paying your wages."

  "I'm doing fine," she muttered.

  He pierced her with a long look, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. "Are you unwell?"

  She bit her lower lip and nodded.

  "Seek your bed, then," he ordered then returned to his newspaper.

  Maeve sent a grateful look at Brianna. She removed her apron and left the room on wobbly legs.

  Brianna covertly watched Harrison over her cup of coffee while he read the paper. She was trying to decide upon the best way to pose her request without gaining a negative response from him. Idly she dawdled with a triangular piece of toast smothered in strawberry jam, then gave a deep sigh.

  He looked up. "Did you say something, sweet?"

  "I'm bored."

  He looked at her blankly. "Um-hum," he murmured. He turned sideways in his chair and folded the paper along its crease, then resumed reading.

  Brianna gawked at him. That's it? She couldn't resist snatching the paper from his hands and tossing it over her shoulder.

  He raised his brow. "I gather you wanted my undivided attention."

  She gave him a curt nod. "I said I'm bored."

  He smiled. "I see. What can I do to alleviate this problem?"

  "The use of a carriage this afternoon would be helpful."

  "For what purpose?"

  Between gritted teeth, she said, "I'd like to go into the city to do some shopping." She crossed her fingers behind her back.

  "Ye deplore shopping."

  "I've changed my mind."

  He stared at her and her cheeks heated. She couldn't very well tell him she was going to town to look for work, since he'd told her his feelings on the matter.

  "Fine. John or Stanton will drive you."

  "I prefer driving myself, thank you."

  "Someone will drive you and wait until you're finished shopping."

  She shoved back her chair, rose and jammed her hands on her hips. "You still don't trust me, do you? Where in the bloody world would I possibly go? You know I wouldn't leave my children behind. Besides, we made a bargain."

  He rose as well. "Since you have brought up the interesting topic, I've been meaning to speak to you about that. Maeve is quite receptive with regards to your eating habits, isn't she?"

  She swallowed the lump in her throat, guessing the direction of his question. Lord, she wasn't ready to tell him yet! It was too early to be certain.

  "When were you going to tell me?" he asked gently, his sherry-colored eyes flickering over her body.

  She sniffed. "What are you talking about?"

  Moving around the table, he reached her side, studied her face a moment longer, then stared pointedly at her breasts.

  "Your monthly course hasn't arrived yet, has it?"

  "Is there no secret I can keep from you?" she spat, utterly mortified. "Have you no regard for my privacy?"

  He gently cupped her chin in one palm and brushed her lips. "There will never be secrets between us. Besides, it's quite easy to know a woman's cycle when one is sharing the same bed."

  "I'm just a bit late," she said shakily. "We can't be certain yet."

  "Your complexion glows with the health of a newly pregnant woman," he said, releasing her chin. He cupped one breast.

  She gasped but didn't move away.

  He grazed the nipple with his thumb. "Your breasts are fuller, as well. Have you been ill in the morning?"

  Tears filled her eyes at his concerned tone. She nodded and pulled his hand away. As she was prone to doing during the early stages of pregnancy, she burst into tears. Without thinking, she collapsed against his broad, comforting chest.

  "Why are you crying?" he asked, tucking her head beneath his chin.

  She sighed. "If I knew, I wouldn't be." She pulled out of his arms. "I'll get over it shortly. I have before. It's just that when I'm pregnant every little thing makes me cry."

  He stepped back and held her hands. As he looked at her body, his lips split into a huge grin. "I can't believe how easily this all worked out for us. Is it possible so much happiness could be ours?"

  She frowned. "I'm warning you now, Harrison MacAulay. This is the last child I'll be having."

  "One will be enough," he said.

  Later that day, Brianna peered down the stairway and found the foyer vacant. She rushed down and took her fur coat from the armoire in the corner. Harrison had insisted she rest a bit before going to town, but she hadn't meant to fall asleep. She'd slept four hours and awakened with a pounding headache, which would not deter her from driving into town to apply for work. She pulled on her hat with little care for her coiffure.

  Just then Harrison opened the library door and stepped out.

  Brianna looked up. Framed behind him were several tiers of books on shelves, a polished oak floor and heavy burgundy colored velvet draperies hanging from a window. The scent of leather and varnish was pleasant and Brianna felt drawn to the room. She took a step toward the doorway, and to Harrison, before she caught herself.

  "Where are you off to at this late hour?" he inquired.

  "Edinburgh."

  He closed the door behind him.

  Brianna warily watched his approach. He pulled out his pocket watch and noted the time. "It's gone half pa
st three. The shops will be closing in two hours."

  Which was precisely the reason she intended to leave as soon as possible. She would receive the complete attention of the shopkeepers when she applied for work at the end of the workday, without suffering interruptions from customers.

  "I'm going to town, Harrison, and you shall not stop me."

  "I've already explained that the shops will be closing soon. Damn it, Brianna, see reason for once," he said tightly.

  "Darling? What's taking so long?"

  Brianna heard the sweet feminine voice and peered around him. A petite woman with full lips, and perfect coiffure of auburn-colored hair, stood in the library doorway. Brianna studied the woman from head to toe.

  "It appears I'm detaining you from...business," Brianna said coolly.

  "We are through, but you and I have much to settle."

  "Aren't you going to introduce me to your wife?" the woman asked as she drew nearer.

  Brianna noted Harrison's impatient expression. Then she looked at the woman. "Well, we aren't married. Yet."

  The woman's eyes narrowed before a gleam of what Brianna could only consider as satisfaction appeared in them.

  "This is Constance MacPhearson, Brianna. I'm sure you recall meeting her brother aboard ship."

  Yes, the popinjay who wouldn't leave her alone. She tried to recall MacPhearson's words the day he and Harrison had nearly fought. He'd said something about how Connie would be stunned once she learned of their marriage.

  Connie sashayed around Harrison, a sickly sweet smile on her lips. She stopped directly in front of Brianna. "Crawford had said you'd married. Apparently he was mistaken."

  "Connie," Harrison warned.

  Brianna's frown deepened, her curiosity warring with jealousy. Harrison knew this woman. Well. Connie turned to Harrison and hooked her arm through his. She rose onto the tips of her toes and whispered into his ear.

  Brianna heard only the sibilance of the woman's whisper as a red haze filled her vision. When Harrison smiled at the MacPhearson witch, Brianna's fingernails dug into her palms as she made fists at her side. She was unable to move, or to speak for the rage that filled her. She'd only entered into the handfast arrangement in order to regain her freedom, and custody of her sons. How could she ever have thought she might fall in love with a perfidious, domineering man like Harrison?

  Harrison escorted Connie to the door, returned to Brianna and took her arm.

  She pulled her arm from his grasp. "John is ready and waiting for me." Before she could take another step he clamped his hand around her wrist and dragged her toward the library.

  "Damn you, Harrison! I said no!" Brianna dug in her heels and shrieked when he hauled her into his arms, all to no avail. He strode into the library and slammed the door behind him. Brianna managed to dig an elbow into his ribs when he set her down on his desk.

  He towered over her and said in a dangerous, soft voice, "You may be breeding, but don't think that will prevent me from chastising you."

  Brianna gasped when he moved closer. She fell back on her elbows in order to place some distance between them, but it unfortunately gave him the advantage.

  He planted his hands on the desk on either side of her. "Now then," he said softly, "Shall we continue our discussion from where we left off?"

  She sent him a fiery look. "I have nothing further to say to you."

  "I do. You will not be going into Edinburgh today. I will not remind you again, this isn't open for further discussion."

  "Then why in the world did you carry me in here?"

  "I've important things on my mind."

  "Such as--"

  "Our impending marriage."

  "I'm not marrying you."

  "Things have changed," he said, moving away from her.

  She shot off the desk and sank into the deep leather chair behind it.

  Harrison leaned across the desk. "Be reasonable, Brianna. We must marry now that you are carrying my child."

  "Which was precisely what we intended," she retorted.

  "I believe I forgot to mention a significant matter with regards to our handfasting."

  She narrowed her eyes. "And what might that be?"

  "If a handfasted wife were to become pregnant within the year, the couple would, by law, be required to marry."

  "What!" Brianna shot to her feet.

  "On my way to the clinic tomorrow morning I'll stop by St. Andrew's Church and have the banns posted."

  "You're not Catholic!"

  "No, but you are. Once a priest has given you the Lord's blessing you will truly feel married."

  "It's quite generous of you to be so considerate of me, but then, you can afford to be magnanimous, can't you? You lied to me!"

  "By omission only," he said softly. He headed for the door but paused and looked at her over his shoulder when she spoke.

  "You knew from the very beginning, didn't you? Knew I wouldn't consent to this handfast if I knew the ramifications of it in its entirety."

  "I believe your knowledge of these laws wouldn't have changed a thing. You still would have had to live here until your boys reached their majority."

  Brianna's eyes filled with tears. "But you see, there's no point in my securing a solicitor any longer since I'll be obliged to remain here once we marry."

  "I won't apologize for that, Brianna. I've wanted you from the moment...for a long time. Now that you are mine, I can't give you up. However, I can give you a measure of the independence you crave. As much as society will allow, that is."

  "But you don't love me!" she protested.

  "I never said that," he replied.

  "But you never said you did."

  The tension in the room was palpable as Harrison treaded softly across the floor until he stood before her. He stared down at her, a small smile on his lips. "Possibly I do."

  Her eyes widened. "What sort of answer is that? You either love me or you don't."

  "It means it's more than likely that I do love you. But love isn't the only important thing between us, Brianna. Know this. I desire you more than I've ever desired any woman. I think of you each and every moment of a day." He moved to the window and stared down at his coachman, who, at the moment, was unhitching a horse from a carriage on the cobblestone drive. He glanced at her over his shoulder. "Perhaps that is what love is, this unflagging longing to enter your sweet body at any given moment."

  She scoffed, "You're speaking of lust, not love."

  He smiled. "Do you know how you keep me awake at night? Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've been able to sleep the night through without waking and thinking you'd left my bed?"

  She shook her head at his admission and backed away, hedged toward the door. When she drew close enough she opened the door and fled.

  Harrison didn't follow her. Within moments she was back and standing in the doorway, her fists tightly clenched at her sides.

  "Don't blame John. He was just following my orders." He inclined his head. "As you will."

  "I detest you!" She ran from the library.

  Harrison heaved a sigh just as Stanton stuck his head in the door. "I've told John to unhitch the horse and carriage, Laird."

  "Thank you." Harrison lifted an eyebrow at his coachman who lingered in the doorway. "Is there something else?"

  The man was obviously uncomfortable about speaking. Harrison waited patiently until the older man finally said, "It 'pears this handfast doesn't agree with ye."

  Harrison grunted, but said not a word, leaving his employee the opportunity to continue.

  "Might I offer ye a bit of advice?"

  "I'm listening," Harrison replied.

  "Whatever yer differences, don't go to bed angry with each other, even if it means gettin' into a bloody brawl beforehand. It helps clear the air, ye know."

  Harrison's relationship with Stanton had been a long, solid one, a loving one. The older man had been with the clan since before Harrison's birth. He loved Stanton, n
early as much as he'd loved his father.

  "Explain something," Harrison said. "I've tried reasoning with her but she won't listen. I've apologized, but she refuses to accept. What else can I do to make her see the sense of things?"

  "I'll not be askin' ye what ye squabbled about, but if ye have tried all that you say, it seems to me she might need a bit of coercing, ye understand?"

  "Coercing?"

  "Um-hum. The same kind the old Laird used with ye and Payton might work."

  Harrison frowned. "I couldn't possibly strike Brianna."

  "I'm not speakin' of beatin' her senseless. Just a few no-nonsense smacks on her rump with that fine paddle of your granddaddy's should make her see the right of things."

  "I don't think so. It will likely make things worse between us."

  The older man shrugged. "Then just threaten ye'll toss up her skirts. Maybe just a warnin' will do the trick."

  "Perhaps," Harrison said thoughtfully, as Stanton left. Of course, he couldn't tell his coachman that he'd already threatened her aplenty, to no avail. He turned to the window once more and swore when he saw Brianna tugging on Challenger's reins as she led him from the stables. "Oh, my God!" He charged across the room and out the door, all the while thinking she'd kill herself if she managed to get on Challenger's back. He ran down the hallway to the front door, wondering all the while how she'd managed to get him bridled since he rarely allowed anyone near him.

  He saw Stanton heading for the kitchen and he shouted, "She's got Challenger!"

  "What?" The older man's eyes widened as he rushed to the front door on Harrison's heels. "How in the world did she--"

  "I have no idea! I've reconsidered your advice. Head her off if you can and I'll be along shortly." He swiveled on his heel and headed for the kitchen.

  Stanton nodded. "Aye, now she'll soon be seein' the sense of things." Purposefully, Stanton headed out the front door as fast as his short bowed legs would carry him.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN