The MacAulay Bride

by Nancy Pirri

  He gave her a sad smile. "Ah, but you're wrong. I dreamed about you for ten long years. Thoughts of you filled my every waking moment, and my dreams at night. You've no idea how much I hated my brother for finding you first and taking you to wife when you should have been mine. Yes, I planned on having you, even before receiving the letter informing me of Payton's death."

  He grimaced. "Not terribly honorable of me, I know, and you, of all people, know how much I prize that trait. If Payton hadn't died, I'd actually devised a plan to steal you from him. I'd always had difficulty competing with my brother for the fairer sex."

  Brianna gawked at him.

  "I know you may find this difficult to believe, but my younger brother, affable fellow that he was, managed to snatch up every woman with whom I'd shown the least bit interest. Women adored his fair, innocent, blue-eyed looks. I, on the other hand, was the arrogant, dark clan chief. Women were frightened of me."

  She laughed.

  He scowled and straightened in his chair.. "This isn't humorous, Brianna. I'm baring my soul to you."

  She offered him a gentle smile. "You are, by far, the most loyal and dutiful of men. I must admit I was a bit intimidated by you at first, mostly because you towered over me, which in itself, is quite unusual since I'm a big girl."

  He nodded and stared pointedly at her abdomen. "And growing larger by the moment." He raised his gaze to her. "I won't allow my child to be born a bastard, Brianna." He frowned when she didn't reply. Then he leaned forward and brushed her lips, taking her hands in his. "Will you marry me, and make me the happiest man on earth?"

  Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. When tears spilled down her cheeks he groaned. Was it possible that she would turn down his offer? And if she did, could he blame her?

  "I need time to think, Harrison."

  His eyes darkened. "I'm a man of my word. I've confessed my love for you. Don't you believe me?"

  She nodded. "I do believe you love me. But, I'm not certain I can trust you, Harrison. It's difficult dealing with all of the untruths you've told. I remember once you said you truly enjoyed a challenge, and that you always play to win. Are you truly in love with me? Or perhaps I am merely that--a challenge. If I did consent to marriage, would you be satisfied with me forever?"

  "You've my word of honor, Brianna. I will never tell you another falsehood. In all honesty, you were a challenge at first, but not any more."

  "Please!" She leapt to her feet and crossed the parlor. As she stared out the window she said, "I need time to think about everything that's occurred since the day we met. I will let you know my decision soon."

  "I've admitted my love for you," he said softly. "I've apologized. I've kept my word by giving you a house, even though you belong with me at Winterhaven. What more do you want?"

  She faced him and said, "I don't know. But I do know that I'm not ready to make a commitment to you now. I said I need time to think, and I will not be rushed into making a decision. Stop pressing me!"

  "I haven't paid enough for my crimes, is that it?" He stepped back and made a small bow. "I will honor your wishes and cease to bother you with my presence, Brianna. Until you've come to your decision. But I do have the right to see my nephews. Henceforth, I'll send Stanton over for the boys and visit with them at Winterhaven." He turned and headed for the doorway.

  "You have no desire to see me?" Brianna asked, clearly shocked.

  He whirled around just as he reached the door. "Of course I do! But it's too difficult for me to continue doing so, knowing that you are uncertain about your feelings for me. Until you can trust me, forgive my past lies, and consent to be my wife, I don't believe we should see each other." My God, there is a chance she could turn down my proposal. It's not possible!

  "And, if I decide not to marry you, what then, my lord?"

  It took him a long while to answer. He leaned his forehead against the cold wooden door. Finally, he pulled away and looked at her over his shoulder. "I pray you do not come to that decision, because I don't believe I'll be able to live without you. "

  Her hand rose to her breast and she gasped, "Don't say that!"

  He gave her a wry smile. "Sorry for the melodramatics. It was a momentary lapse. If you decide marriage between us isn't possible, then you will, of course, return to America."

  Jamie chose that moment to poke his head out the door. "We're back, Ma!"

  Harrison inclined his head and bowed formally. "I await your decision, Madam."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  December 1889

  The howling winds off the sea kept the temperature frigid in Edinburgh. Brianna longed to sit outside on her porch swing, but she knew it wouldn't be possible for a few more months. Two weeks after Harrison had made his declaration of love to her, she had come to a decision to marry him. She'd been able to look past his lies and realized she loved him dearly. She prayed, with the passing of time, his untruths would fade and her trust in him would grow. She also knew she must marry him quickly since their child was due in late February.

  Now she needed to speak with him. Each time she'd visited Winterhaven in the past few weeks, he'd been absent. His family was always delighted to see her and the boys, but they were also evasive about Harrison's whereabouts. Today, however, she'd managed to corner Grandmother Mary, who'd never think to tell a lie.

  "Why is Harrison avoiding me?"

  Mary stuttered and turned fiery red. "Oh! My-my dear! He isn't. You must understand he's very hurt by your indecision." Mary stuttered and turned fiery red.

  Brianna leaned forward and clasped Mary's hands. "Please, you must tell me where he is. I stopped by his clinic today and John said he'd left for the day. Is he here?"

  Hope gleamed in Mary's eyes. "Have you decided to take him up on his offer of marriage?"

  "Yes."

  "And to tell him ye love him?" Mary hopefully inquired.

  Brianna blushed, a faint smile on her lips as she nodded.

  Mary grinned. "He left three days ago for the Isle of Skye. He said he needed to get away and think things through."

  "Then it appears I will be taking a trip to Skye," Brianna replied. "Will you be able to manage the children without me? I'm not certain how long I'll be gone."

  "Of course, dear. Heavens! I raised six children on Skye with little household intervention. Taking care of those darling great-grandsons of mine will be just like old times."

  "Thank you, Mary." Brianna rose and swiftly headed for the door.

  "Wait, Brianna!"

  Brianna paused. "Yes?"

  "I don't think it's wise for you to travel such a distance in your condition. Harrison would not advise it."

  Brianna grinned. "I'm very healthy. Now, don't worry about me. I'll be careful."

  The rest of the day she spent gathering her things, and setting a schedule for the boys for Grandmother Mary to follow. She packed enough clothes for a few days, while she dreamed about spending time with Harrison--making love and convincing him of her love for him.

  By the time Stanton took to the road in Harrison's sturdy carriage, Brianna was exhausted. Wryly, she glanced down at her protruding tummy, which had amazingly seemed to grow rounder over night. Here she was, a pregnant femme fatale planning to seduce her handfasted husband. She shook her head and decided she'd left her brains at home in the cookie jar.

  ***

  Harrison hadn't taken a carriage, but had strapped his pack of clothing on the back of Challenger, along with a few food supplies, and other necessities. Initially, he'd planned on not breathing a word to anyone about his destination. He'd grown depressed over the few weeks since he'd last seen Brianna. He decided a respite from Edinburgh would help him stop thinking about Brianna. But he couldn't afford the luxury of not reporting his whereabouts, because of his responsibility to the clan.

  The weather had turned cold and damp since his arrival at Skye a few days ago. As he walked along the snowy cliffs, he pondered his dilemma while the wind tugged and pulle
d at his heavy tweed coat. Lord, he missed Brianna, and he wondered how in the world he'd possibly live the rest of his life without her, if she decided not to marry him.

  He snatched up a rock and hurled it over the cliff, watching until it disappeared from sight. The more rocks he threw, the angrier he became. She was an ungrateful little witch. Hadn't he given her everything she'd asked for?

  Raleigh had told him he was daft--that he should continue to press her to marry him. Harrison had learned when dealing with Brianna, applying pressure would be the wrong tactic. He'd had no business deceiving her, even though saving the MacAulay estates had been paramount. In hindsight, he realized he hadn't been thinking straight. He could have married any number of eligible women here at home, but he'd wanted only Brianna.

  When he'd first seen Brianna's portrait, he'd been caught by something haunting in her lovely face. As the years passed, his medical practice grew and his responsibilities to his clan increased, yet he'd been unable to forget his brother's wife. He'd wanted her, with a gut-deep hunger that would not be satiated, no matter how many women he bedded.

  None were Brianna.

  Then Payton died. His brother, whom he loved, but who had always been a wastrel, a ne'er-do-well. And Brianna was free.

  From the moment he learned of his brother's death, he'd had only one thought--to make Brianna his wife. To have her bear his heir.

  To have her in his bed.

  Ruefully he thought about her penchant for freedom, her desire to live in America and raise her sons on her own. He still couldn't understand it. She had no living relatives in America, and he knew she communicated with only one friend in Wisconsin. Here, in Scotland, she had a large family who loved her and wanted her to stay.

  He reached down for another rock and hurled it over the cliff. Harrison faced the reality once and for all. Brianna might reject his proposal.

  ***

  Brianna ached from head to toe after the long journey through the highlands, though her carriage had been built for comfort. As she slowly headed up the walk to Grandmother Mary's cottage, she rubbed her sore backside. She ambled through the rooms but found no sign of Harrison. When a knock sounded on the door, she turned to find Stanton sticking his head inside.

  "He's here, m'lady. I'll find him for ye. He's likely walkin' the cliffs. He's always enjoyed it, ye know?"

  Brianna smiled. "I'll go. I'd like to surprise him."

  Stanton grinned. "Sure and he'll be likin' that, he will." He frowned and swept a cursory glance over her body. "Now ye be careful, ye hear?"

  "I will."

  She was dressed for traveling, not climbing over rocks and hills, yet, she didn't want to take the time to unpack and change her clothing. A piece of gray cloth stuck out from behind the closed doors of the armoire. It was Harrison's gray coat. The sleeves were so long they swallowed up her hands. The skirt came to her ankles. She shrugged and decided it would have to do. Winding her arms around her middle, she breathed deeply of Harrison's scent.

  Her fashionable leather shoes pinched her toes as she headed for the cliffs in the distance, but, that didn't stop her from running across the boggy lawn. She saw movement from the corner of one eye. Harrison was doing precisely what Stanton had said--hurling rocks over the cliffs and into the water. He'd removed his jacket. Brianna watched him for a moment, mesmerized by the rippling muscles in his shoulders.

  The closer she drew to him, the more her steps lagged. She stopped several paces behind him, frowning when she finally understood the words he was shouting. Curse words, spoken in rage. Or frustration? She opened her mouth to call to him then closed it again.

  She must have made a sound, though for he froze, arm in mid air, ready to hurl another rock into the sea. Turning slowly, he lowered his hand and fixed his eyes on her. He mouthed her name.

  Brianna lifted her chin and smiled. "Well, then. Are you going to stand there and stare, or are you going to welcome me as a good husband should?"

  Harrison threw back his head and squeezed his eyes shut. Brianna saw his lips moving but couldn't hear his words. He lowered his head then and pierced her with a level look as he strode toward her. She met him halfway. Then he swept her into his arms and twirled her in a circle until she was dizzy. He stopped abruptly and lowered her to the ground. He released her, only to reach inside the opening of the voluminous coat and clasp her hips in his hands. "Wife," he murmured, pulling her against his pelvis.

  "Husband," she whispered. She wound her arms around his waist and held on tight. He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely. She relaxed against his strong body. Oh, she'd missed it so much, his body and his touch. When he eventually released her and raised his head, he was grinning foolishly.

  "Christmas," he said. "We'll marry that day, in two weeks time." He frowned. "I'm afraid it will have to be immediate family only, Brianna. In your condition, well..."

  She chuckled. "It's all right! A small, intimate wedding would be lovely."

  Harrison scowled then and held her hands away from her body. "I can't believe, in your condition, you traveled all this way! What were you thinking of? Something could have happened to you or to our baby."

  Grinning, she said, "Do you know this is the first time you've referred to our child as our baby and not your heir? I think there's a chance things may work out fine between us, my lord."

  Growling, he swept her up into his arms. "Don't do anything so foolish again. Otherwise, I'll regret having thrown away my grandfather's paddle!"

  She just laughed as he held her in his arms. When his kisses grew more intimate she stiffened her arms and pressed her palms against his chest.

  He released her and she stood before him, scowling.

  "What's wrong?" he asked.

  "We've more to discuss before we allow ourselves to be frivolous."

  "Frivolous? Hmm, I don't believe I've ever heard making love defined quite that way."

  She paced across the snow, first in one direction, then the other. Eventually, she turned to him and said, "I know you are exceedingly proud of yourself at this moment, but I beg you to stop and think about my feelings. I will be just shy of twenty-eight when this child is born, and I haven't done a blasted thing with my life yet!"

  "Well," Harrison began then cleared his throat. "I would say that birthing three children is certainly doing something with one's life. What more could you possibly want?"

  "Before we discuss my wants and desires for the future, I'd like to discuss something else first, Harrison. I truly have no desire to have more children." She looked at him, considering. "Perhaps I won't need to ask Dr. Benson's advice. After all, since you are a physician, I assume you must have some idea how to prevent conception."

  Harrison stared down at her. "You are not serious."

  "I most certainly am. I can't very well pursue my goals for the future if I keep getting pregnant, can I?"

  Brianna could see he really didn't want to have this conversation. He confirmed it when he suggested, "Why don't I make us some tea?"

  She started walking back to the cottage. "I'll make the tea while you find yourself that drink you seem to desperately need at the moment," she said dryly.

  Inside the cottage Harrison poured himself two fingers of Scotch whisky, then sat down at the table across from her. "Being a wife and mother to our children should be work enough for any woman, but I want you to happy, sweetheart."

  "I don't want any more children, Harrison," she said firmly.

  Sinking back in his chair, he evaluated his own feelings on the matter. In his, and most men's minds, it was a woman's responsibility to breed children, until nature prevented them from doing so. And yet, to answer Brianna's earlier question regarding conception, he did know of ways to prevent pregnancy. He'd aided countless women in the matter; from prostitutes to lords' wives, but with their husband's consent, of course.

  Brianna's feelings about pregnancy and birth weren't all that unusual. As much as he would enjoy having more children,
he decided three would do. He prayed she'd give him the son he required, and then he'd be quite content with one son and his nephews.

  "I'll adjust to the idea of having only three children. Eventually. I admit I am worried that the child you are carrying is a girl. We'll lose all the MacAulay holdings if this is the case."

  With a nod Brianna said, "No need to worry." She cupped her hands around her abdomen. "This child is a son. I can feel it."

  "But how can you be sure?"

  She shrugged. "Intuition, I suppose. I admit I will be surprised if this is a girl."

  He clasped her hands and smiled. "So, what else do you want from life, Brianna?"

  She squeezed his hands. "I know you're not fond of your grandmothers' and aunt's involvement in the temperance movement, but it greatly interests me. And, I believe I have something to contribute. Providing education for women regarding the use of contraceptives would be beneficial. Yes, that would be a worthwhile thing to do. Oh, my! The Lord above is likely fuming at this very moment at my words. He'll forgive me, don't you think?" she asked worriedly.

  Harrison grinned. "I can't say about your God, Brianna, but you've done your duty as a good wife should."

  "Then I shall count on you to educate me in the matter. I'd also like you to provide medical services for women in need. Once I learn about contraception, I'd like to hold classes, if you will, to educate women about their choices."

  "That is a wonderful idea, Brianna! Although I will caution you that you will not find some of the husbands particularly happy with the information you will be providing their wives. Things could turn quite ugly."

  "What if these men believed the information was coming from you?"

  "Now, wait just a minute. You mean to place my hide in the line of fire, then?" he retorted. "This is your vocation, wife, not mine."

  "But you agree that we shouldn't have more children."

  "Yes, but that's our choice, and has nothing to do with other men and women."