by Nancy Pirri
"I cannot imagine what punishment, if any, he gave you."
"You'll not live here any longer to start." He frowned. "You'll have a house and carriage of your own, and the boys may take their ponies. You should begin packing tomorrow."
"But you cannot possibly have a house built that quickly!"
"I've a cottage on my land that will be yours. It was the first house my parents lived in after they married. Great-grandfather built it. I think you'll be more than satisfied with it."
Brianna clapped her hands. "Oh, this is wonderful news!"
"Yes, isn't it?" he replied.
She heard the irony in his voice and decided not to waste time. He could change his mind. "I must start packing," she said quickly and rose from the sofa.
Harrison scowled and sank lower into the cushions as she moved to the parlor door. She slowed then, stopped and turned to him with a brilliant smile.
"Thank you, Harrison. I'm happy that you are living up to our bargain. It means so much to me, especially in view of the untruths you've told me thus far."
"Yes, well if it were up to me you wouldn't be leaving this house. If you'll recall our agreement you were not to receive the house until after you birthed my heir."
She lifted her chin and gave him a disdainful look. "And you wouldn't be obliged to provide them now if you hadn't forced my hand in this, my lord. You brought it all upon yourself and have no one else to blame."
He coolly watched her leave the parlor, then he rose and paced the floor, muttering, "Damn, damn, damn!" He wasn't used to losing. And now, without her living with him, he'd have even more difficulty convincing her to marry him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
November 1889
In early autumn Brianna and her sons moved into the cottage Harrison's great- grandfather had built. There were four bedrooms above a spacious parlor and kitchen, and even a tiny bathing room. Harrison hired a crew of workers to thoroughly clean and renovate the house. Then he moved the few pieces of furniture shipped over from her home in America into the cottage, and took her shopping for new items before settling her into the house.
Brianna seemed pleased that the kitchen was suitably equipped with a newer model stove. She insisted she'd be doing her own cooking. Harrison insisted she have a housekeeper and a nanny to assist her after the birth. She reluctantly agreed, likely because she'd been in a euphoric mood ever since he'd told her she could have her own house.
Once she moved into her new home he found himself stopping by each day when he was through at the clinic. He felt comfortable in the old house. It was quaint, charming and clean.
With the swift passing of time, he was growing uneasy about his heir being born before they married. He set out, with unmitigated determination, to win her over. He was attentive to the boys, taking them riding several times over the next months. Each time he arrived he brought her a gift, something beautiful, unique and expensive--a cameo brooch, a finely beaded fan, a pair of white silk gloves. While she protested each time he brought the gifts, he could see she was delighted. But he also knew he couldn't buy Brianna's love.
The first snow fell early in November, and a thick blanket already covered the ground. The weather wasn't a deterrent to Harrison when he left Winterhaven and traveled easily down the snow-covered road to the cottage in a bright red sleigh. The sleigh was another gift for Brianna. She had invited him to celebrate Thanksgiving, an American holiday, with her and the boys.
The Clydesdale came to a stop at his command, and he threw off the heavy woolen blanket and leaped from the sleigh. He pulled out an enormous burlap bag and hauled it over his shoulder. Shouts came from behind him. He whirled around, balancing the bag, as Harry and Jamie barreled into him.
"Slow down!" he said, chuckling as he widened his stance. He gave them a mock scowl when he noticed they were in their shirtsleeves. "Are you two daft? Where are your coats?"
"We've come to help, Uncle Harry!" Jamie shouted.
"Then you'll dress for the outdoors."
They sped inside the cottage and returned in seconds, coats on, halting abruptly beside the sleigh. "Where did you get it, Uncle?" Harry asked, his voice filled with awe.
"It's brand new--a present for your mother."
Harry looked at his uncle, then at the burlap bag over his shoulder. "Do you need help?"
Harrison grinned and waved his arm in front of him. "Not with this precious cargo. I'll bring up the rear."
Brianna stood in the hallway. "Happy Thanksgiving, my lord."
He grinned and said huskily, "A happy one to you as well, Brianna." She was a lovely sight to behold. Her elaborate, upswept hairstyle was very becoming on her. Her skirt was green and black--the MacAulay plaid. His chest swelled with pride. Yes, she was a MacAulay, and she could deny it until it snowed in July, but it wouldn't change the fact.
She'd tied a shawl over a crisp white shirtwaist. Even though the neckline was modest, and her arms were covered by long, full sleeves, she was the most sensual woman he'd ever seen. Lord, he wanted her! He enjoyed the heightened color on her cheeks and found he couldn't take his eyes off her.
"What have you there?" she asked.
"Yes, what is it?" Harry asked. He stepped nearer, Jamie beside him.
Harrison just grinned as he set the bag down carefully on the floor and untied the knotted strings. The bag fell open. Brianna gasped in delight at the sight of an exquisite baby carriage. It was a
sleeper carriage, made of wicker and built on a spring frame, which would make for a comfortable ride.
Brianna leaned over and gently touched a tall wheel with many spokes, then she lifted the heavy paper tag hanging from the wheel. "Go Cart Sleeper from Sears Roebuck and Company." Her voice trembled. When she finally straightened and looked up at him, he saw the tears welling in her eyes.
"I'd wanted one for the boys but never seemed to manage to secure the money. I'll never be able to pay you back for this, Harrison."
He shrugged. "No need to. It's a gift for my first child. I remembered seeing them in the catalog in your home." He waved his hand at it. "It's a wonderful invention, don't you think?"
"Yes, it is," she said.
He caught the shy smile on her lips, saw how her eyes positively radiated happiness--tears and all. He grinned and looked at the boys. "How would you like to unload the gifts I brought for you?"
"You bet!" Jamie shouted. He ran out the door, with Harry right behind him.
"You spoil them," she said, bending to lift the carriage from the bag.
Harrison intervened, "I'll do it. Don't want you hurting yourself." He lifted the carriage and set it on the floor.
Brianna grasped the handle and pushed the carriage down the foyer.
He watched her, seeing how she'd grown quite rounded with his child. Damn, but he had to convince her to marry him soon! And there was only one way that he could do so. He must confess his love to her and not mince words about it. She would have to know that he meant every word.
He knew now that he did love her. With each passing day that she didn't live with him at Winterhaven, he realized it more and more. But could she forget and forgive his past lies?
He knew precisely what to say to make her believe him. Tonight, after their Thanksgiving supper, he vowed to speak with her; vowed to convince her of his love, beg her to marry him and set a date to do so quickly.
"It moves so smoothly." She smiled. "I cannot thank you enough. This was a most thoughtful gift, my lord."
"More thoughtful than the brooch?"
"Absolutely."
"And the fan and gloves?"
"No comparison."
He quirked an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. "You are an easy wench to please, Brianna MacAulay."
She smirked. "Hum, you are just realizing that, are you?"
He stared at her for the longest time and saw the truth in her words.
"Come," she said, "it's time to eat."
Harry and Jamie came run
ning into the cottage, shouting gleefully.
"Oh, ma!" Jamie said reverently, "You gotta see what Uncle brought us!"
"Yes, ma. Come outside right now," Harry ordered and grabbed her hand.
She looked back at Harrison as Harry pulled her out the door, a curious expression on her face. "What, outdone yourself again, my lord?"
"You'll see."
He followed them outside and paused in the portal, leaned against the doorjamb as he enjoyed the scene playing out before him.
Two bicycles, one red and the other royal blue sparkled in the brilliant sunlit day. Harry sat atop the seat on the taller bike, the red one, balancing it with one foot on the ground. He looked at Harrison. "Can I try and ride it?"
Harrison shrugged. "Sure, if you can find a clean road with no snow on it." He took Brianna's hand and followed the boys around to the back of the cottage. There they found a piece of road where the sun had melted the snow.
Harrison caught the pleased look on Brianna's face as she clapped her hands and gave them encouragement in their attempts to learn to ride. Then she clutched his arm. "Oh, my! They're going to fall!"
With a chuckle he caught her around her burgeoning waist and held her in front of him, tucking her head beneath his chin. "Of course they will--again and again, until they finally learn how to balance. They'll be fine! Stop fussing."
He felt her stiffen in his arms and sighed when she slipped out of them.
"After supper we need to talk, Brianna."
"Do we?" she asked, giving him a sidewise look.
"Yes! And don't play coy with me. You know that I mean for you to marry me."
Her eyes widened. "You do? I thought you'd have given up the idea by now."
"Never," he said boldly. He turned on his heel and walked around to the front of the cottage.
Brianna sighed as she watched her boys achieve some success on the bikes. Why was she hesitant to hear Harrison out, she wondered? She wanted to marry him, but could she trust him? Would he tell more untruths in his efforts to gain her consent to marry? What else could he possibly say that he hadn't already said? She'd hear him out, then make up her mind, although in her heart it had been made up for a long while. She loved him and wanted to marry him, but she couldn't allow him to control her.
His giving her the house made her want to believe he was changing his archaic attitudes regarding women, but she knew Magistrate Rothaway had ordered him to keep his promises to her. She didn't want him to change just so she'd marry him, but because he loved her enough to allow her to be independent. If they married she'd continue her activities in the women's temperance alliance with his aunt and grandmothers.
More importantly, when all was said in done, she had no desire for her child to be born a bastard.
Harry and Jamie joined her and she walked with them to the front of the house. They leaned the bikes against the house and followed her inside. She was surprised to find Harrison had already removed the turkey from the oven. He was grinning as he held a large fork and carving knife in his hand. Her heart somersaulted at that look, and she had a difficult time concentrating on his words.
Standing at the kitchen counter, he asked, "Were you going to feed an army with this bird?" He looked around and asked, "Where are the help I hired for you?"
"Home, with their families, where they belong on a holiday." She looked at the turkey and chuckled. "You wouldn't believe the dishes one can make with leftover turkey."
Harry piped in. "Yes! Turkey sandwiches, turkey pies, turkey..."
"I understand," Harrison said dryly. He sliced the turkey and placed the pieces on a platter while Brianna placed bowls of cornbread dressing, buttered squash, green beans and hot, buttered crusty rolls on the dining room table. Off on the sideboard two pumpkin pies sat, waiting to be eaten.
Harrison cleared his throat when Harry and Jamie sat in their chairs. They looked at him, confused, until he nodded at Brianna. They scrambled from their chairs and waited behind them until Brianna settled into her chair.
Bowls of steaming hot food were passed around the table until everyone had heaped their plates. Serious eating and little conversation took place until finally, Harry leaned back in his chair and groaned. "I'm too full to eat any more!"
Brianna stared at his plate and at his hands rubbing his tummy. "You've eaten too much." She glanced at Harrison's empty plate. "As I recall you had as full a plate as your uncle."
Harry said, "I wanna be big like Uncle Harrison some day."
She pointed her fork at his plate. "Keep eating like that and you will be." She laughed but stopped at the look on Harrison's face as he stared at her.
Heat seeped into her cheeks when she saw his gaze flicker down to her breasts then rise to her face again. The hot, penetrating look in his eyes made her shiver. His look said more than words ever could. He wanted her. And could she blame him? It had been several months since they'd shared a bed.
"Think so, Uncle Harrison?" Harry asked.
It took Harrison a while to reply, but at last he removed his gaze from Brianna and focused on her elder son. "Yes, I believe you will. You've a good start."
Admiration crossed Harry's face at his uncle's words. Then he turned to his mother. "May we ride our bikes?"
Brianna checked the pin watch on her bodice. "It's already four o'clock, so just fifteen minutes is all the time you'll have. It'll be dark soon."
"All right!" Jamie said. Both boys jumped from their seats. Harry said, "May we be excused, ma?"
"Certainly." Brianna smiled as they ran from the kitchen.
"I need to speak with you about something."
Brianna reluctantly turned and looked at Harrison. She bit her lower lip. "We won't have much time since the boys will be returning shortly."
"It's now or after they are abed this evening."
"I've dishes to do first."
"Well, then, I shall stay and keep you company until you're through."
She rose from her chair with a sigh. "No, we'll talk first."
Harrison followed her into the parlor. It wasn't going to be easy talking to her he could see. He'd noticed her quick response about his staying after the boys went to bed. She was avoiding him, and she had every right to. Damn, but he'd been a fool to yank her from her home the way he'd done. He'd pay for it the rest of his life if he couldn't convince her to marry him.
She took a seat on the divan and asked, "How are your grandmothers?"
"Fine, fine," he said absently, as he took a seat across from her. "They miss you."
"They may visit any time they like."
He met her eyes and Brianna's cheeks heated beneath his intent, censorious look. "You know very well they would not do that."
"Why not?" she asked, perplexed.
"Because of their loyalty to me, even though I've mentioned to them on several occasions I wouldn't be offended if they visited you more often."
"I'm sorry," she murmured and looked away.
He sighed. "I'm the one who should be apologizing."
She looked at him, surprised.
He leaned forward and took her hands in his. Then he raised his gaze to hers. "I'm asking you, with all my heart, to marry me."
Tears pooled in her eyes.
He groaned and added, "But, I'm very much afraid what I have to say will permanently damage my chances for that happening. I love you, Brianna."
Her mouth gaped. "Pardon me?"
"You heard me the first time," he said in an ironic tone. "I said I love you. I've loved you for quite some time."
She clasped her hands in her lap but said not another word.
Frowning, he leaned forward. He was close enough that he reached out and smoothed his palms over her dress, across her knees. "Brianna?"
She looked up quickly and he groaned at the tears in her eyes. "It seems I've waited forever to hear you say those words to me."
"Damn it, woman," he said, taking her hands in his, "this had better mean you're staying."
>
"I've wanted to stay here in Scotland for a long time."
He growled, "Then why in bloody blazes were you so stubborn? Why did you insist upon leaving me and moving into this cottage?"
"Pride, for the most part. I couldn't allow you to dictate to me, as you were prone to doing."
He sighed. "I'm sorry. Being the heir of the clan has prompted me to be rather overbearing at times."
She rolled her eyes.
His broad smile slipped when he continued, "I've a confession to make, and I owe you another apology."
She looked at him in confusion. "You've fulfilled your promises to me by giving me my own home, that fine carriage and horses, and the ponies for my sons."
"Yes, but not without a bit of coercion from Rothaway. Will you listen to me?"
She frowned and pulled her hands from his. "Of course."
"Good." He rose and raked an unsteady hand through his hair. "I lied to you, by omission, Brianna. Payton's desire to have his sons raised within the MacAulay clan was his dearest wish. You know that. But, no law could have legally bound you to that will."
"But, you said--"
"I'd told you that by law you were required to move to Scotland when in fact, that wasn't the case at all. Remember how you'd wanted to pay your solicitor a call?" At her nod he added, "But when we stopped by his office we were told he'd be gone a while. He left because I'd bought his silence, Brianna. I paid him to not let you know the truth; because you are an American citizen, my brother's will was null and void. You could have stayed in your home, and no will or law could have forced you to leave."
"Another deception? But why?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I won't mince words with you, Brianna. I'd wanted you for a long time, and when I traveled to America I had every intention of making you mine--and not just because of duty, and because I required an heir."
"But we were strangers!"
"Yes, but it doesn't change the fact I wanted you from the moment I first viewed your portrait."
She frowned. "You haven't one of me."
"Yes, I have." He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny oval gilt frame. "Payton sent me this shortly after you married."
Brianna took the frame and stared at the wedding portrait of her and Payton. Then she looked up and whispered, "It's impossible to fall in love with someone from a portrait!"
