The Captive Bride (Scottish Highlander Romance)

by Kaley McCormick

  The vegetable garden was nicely shaded by a small grove of trees and she folded her wrap carefully and set it to the side. She wandered up and down the rows of greenery, not sure exactly what to look for in a vegetable that was ready for picking. There were a few carrots peeking out of the dirt so she yanked on the green stems and out they popped.

  She laughed as she landed backwards on her rear with the vegetables in her hands.

  I guess that was a success, she thought to herself, I’ve never done this part before.

  The items in her hands looked big enough to be considered finished and she set them in a pile off to the side. She wandered to another row and looked for some sign of readiness. The onions had lovely tall green stems so she dug those out, as well as the potatoes that seemed to have brown stalks.

  It was certainly enough to make several nights’ worth of vegetable soup, especially with the bits of ham she saw in the kitchen pantry.

  William had said he was going into town for supplies, so she was certain she could make do with whatever he brought back. She hoped for cheese and perhaps some pickles or jam, but had not really been in a position to ask for anything specifically.

  When the sun reached its peak overhead, she headed back into the cooler shade of the house and picked through the remaining food for a bite of lunch. She assembled a small plate of bread and ham and the remaining boiled egg from breakfast.

  After lunch, she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts to the back of her head. She had grown up in a well-to-do family and had married well. She had always had what could be considered the easy life, but even in the short time she had been a “resident” at William’s home, she knew could get used to a simpler way of life.

  He seemed to make a decent enough living at whatever he did, and with the chickens and garden there was probably food to eat most of the time. The house was not as large as an estate, but it was clean and in good condition.

  She did miss Abigail though; she hoped that the note had reached her and that the young woman was not too worried. Elise had to face the possibility that Henry would not want her back. Part of her hoped that he would divorce her on the grounds that she had not produced heirs, but part of her was terrified of where her life would go after that.

  William had indicated he would appreciate having a wife, but he had stopped short of actually saying it. He seemed like a gentleman, especially in light of the previous night’s awkwardness, but she did not really know this stranger.

  She eventually drifted off into a nap, and awoke with a start when the front door slammed shut.

  “Hello?” William called out loudly.

  Elise struggled to her feet and wandered barefoot into the main area.

  “I’m still here, I must have dozed off. I apologize.”

  “Quite alright, there really is not much to do around here,” he chuckled.

  “Did you have a pleasant day?” she asked politely.

  “Pleasant enough. The village was crowded, but I think I managed to get enough supplies for a little while. You might have to tell me if I did this correctly, I’m used to only shopping for myself,” he admitted a little bashfully.

  “Well, let’s take a look,” she offered a friendly smile.

  Everything was wrapped up neatly in brown paper packages, and he had laid them all out on the kitchen table. She opened them one by one and was very impressed with his selections. He had brought back more bread, some apples and pears, several generous pieces of cheese, a bottle of whiskey, and even a simple cotton dress for her.

  When she opened the last tiny parcel, she squealed with glee, “Oh you shouldn’t have!”

  His cheeks flushed pink, “I hope all of this is okay.”

  She unfolded the square of white cloth and out fell two sewing needles and several colored thread packets for stich work. She marveled at his generosity and thoughtfulness.

  “You have been very kind to me,” she murmured quietly.

  William wrapped his thick hands around her delicate fingers as they gingerly held the sewing supplies.

  “You have made it easy,” he replied.

  As she gazed into his emerald eyes, she felt no fear of the large man. She had questions and curiosities of the many unknowns, but no fear. The longer he held her hands in his grasp, the warmer her blood felt as it coursed through her body. In all the times Henry forced her to lay with him, she had never felt the desire to do so. But she now felt the desire to be with William as she had formerly been with her husband. And that thought is what drove fear into her heart.

  Chapter Eight

  William watched as Elise’s deep blue eyes blinked up at him and felt his gaze drift down to the swell of her full breasts. He could just see the ivory skin peeking out of her dress as they rose and fell softly. His hands still clasped hers. He pulled his eyes back up to her face and could not stop himself from pulling her closer until their faces were just inches apart.

  “William?” she whispered.

  He declined to answer verbally, but instead pressed his lips to hers, tasting the sweetness of her lips and the innocence of her presence. He felt her gasp softly but she did not pull away.

  Elise’s head swam with new sensations and feelings. Occasionally Henry would attempt to kiss her, but that just left her repulsed and appalled. But with William it felt altogether different. She wanted to feel his lips on hers. She wanted to feel his hands around her waist and his chest beneath her palms.

  She gasped louder and stepped back, withdrawing her lips and her hands from William’s attentions.

  “I-I-I do apologize, I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” he stuttered.

  “I-I-It’s not that. I-I’m not sorry. I, ahem, wanted you to. But I’m afraid… I’m afraid I want more as well,” she admitted quietly.

  “You’re not? You do? What do you mean?” His confusion was evident.

  “I’m not sure really.” She set the sewing supplies on the table, and twisted her hands up in her skirt.

  “I know that I took you against your will and that I am holding you away from your husband and your home here. But I have no right…”

  “You have the right if I say you do…” she whispered tenderly.

  William studied her face intently, knowing that there was no returning from the place she offered. And without another word, he swept her easily into his arms, carried her to the bedroom, and shut the door with his heel after they entered the threshold.

  He lay her down on the bed gently and crawled onto the bed himself, to kneel over her.

  “Elise? Are you sure?”

  “Yes William,” she whispered, certain of what she wanted but uncertain what it meant.

  His workman’s hands felt rough and gentle as he touched her silky cheek. Her skin was softer than he had even imagined. She twined her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through the dark hair that curled at the nape of his neck.

  While Henry was always eager to satisfy his own needs, William’s urgency seemed to be because he wanted to be with her and needed to be with her as quickly as possible. His hands slid up her thighs, dragging the skirt of her dress with them. She lay exposed to his gaze but felt no shame. He made quick work of removing his own tunic and trousers, and piled them on the floor with her dress.

  When his warm skin touched hers, Elise sighed softly and parted her legs for his body. His fingers were gentle at her entrance. She had never had a man touch her there before, and it felt slippery. She was certain that was not from his fingers and marveled at how her body responded to his touch.

  He rubbed himself against her and she gasped again.

  “Oh my, so much bigger than I thought…”

  He chuckled and beamed at the purity of her innocent comment.

  “Thank you,” he laughed as she blushed.

  He entered her wetness slowly, letting her body adjust to his girth. He relished the gasps and moans that escaped her soft pink lips and he buried his hand in h
er blonde curls.

  As he thrust in and out of her body, Elise felt her body growing warmer, tingling as though she had just stepped out of a hot tub into an ice-cold room. His fingertips grasped her taut nipples and she arched into the sensation. The heated tingling grew stronger and she dug her nails into his bare back.

  William groaned and plunged deeply into her. As she felt the fluid of his climax heat her body from the inside, the tingling inside her skin burst into thousands of tiny lightning bolts, and she panted his name over and over into his ear.

  They both lay panting in the room, letting the darkness of the evening hide their exhaustion and pleasure.

  “William, I never…”

  He stroked her hair softly, “Never what?”

  “Never, um, enjoyed it like that before.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. What do you think now?”

  “I think I should like that again.”

  He laughed, “That can be arranged. But perhaps for now, we can get some dinner.”

  They dressed quickly, and he held her hand sweetly as they moved from the bedroom to the kitchen. They fixed plates of ham and bread and apples and generous portions of cheese. He even poured them each a small sip of whiskey to go with the food.

  As they laughed and ate and drank, Elise felt extremely calm and at ease with everything that had transpired. Once the food was finished, William refilled their mugs with more whiskey and invited her to the sitting area.

  After he lit the fire, he pulled her down to his lap as he sat in one of the chairs.

  “I’m afraid I have to tell you how the visit to the estate went.”

  “Ah, I see. I understand.”

  “I’m afraid you are not to be traded for the land,” he said with a rueful smile.

  She blinked back tears but dashed them away quickly with her fingertips.

  “I’m not surprised. It’s not that I will miss him, I just have nowhere to go now. I have no family and now no husband.”

  William traced the back of her hand with his fingers, “Would you consider me as an alternative to homelessness?”

  She beamed at his hopeful face, “I would love that.”

  Chapter Nine

  Over the next year, Elise made a happy home out of William’s small house. She added touches here and there to remind him that a woman lived there too. There were almost always wildflowers on the table; she tended the chickens and the vegetable garden all on her own; and she learned how to make meals that were efficient and inexpensive and tasty. She spent many an afternoon mending blankets or stitching her needlepoint. Sometimes William would tell her she should sell off the samplers for money. She waved him off but considered making a go of it.

  William continued to work for his boss and never really mentioned the fact of how they came to be together. He enjoyed coming home to her smiling face and willing arms. He spent a few hours each evening carefully woodworking in the back stable, but would not let Elise see his project until it was finished.

  He typically handled the trips into town and while Elise missed her outings, she found that she had less need to escape than she did from Henry.

  She did miss Abigail though. She mentioned it every so often to William and he would pat her hand caringly. He knew she had to be lonely, and he wished he could offer her more than just his company. The evenings were pleasantly empty, full of nothing but good food and good companionship and heated passion in the bedroom.

  One cool autumn morning, William came bursting through the front door with a huge grin on his face.

  “Hello my love!” he greeted her.

  She laughed, “What on earth has gotten into you? Have you been at the whiskey without me?”

  He stepped back from the open door and gestured outside with his hand. The face that peered around the corner made Elise gasp out loud.

  “Abigail!” she screeched.

  Abigail grinned and ran to embrace her former mistress and long-time friend.

  The two women giggled at the state of each other, and each stroked the other’s swollen belly. William wrapped his arms around his common law bride and kissed the top of her head.

  “Abigail still works for Henry but she had to come see you when I told her about our little impending miracle. How about I drive you all into town for an outing?”

  Both young women nodded vehemently, and bundled up for the trip. After several hours of discomfort in the wooden buggy, the two walked arm in arm through the village with William trailing close behind.

  As they stepped into the small inn for lunch, Abigail pressed her fingertips to her lips and stepped back as William stepped forward next to Elise. A drunken Henry lurched up from his table, sending his mistress tumbling to the floor.

  “Well lookie here,” he stuttered, pointing a finger at her.

  William wrapped one muscular arm around Elise protectively, as Elise inhaled sharply.

  “Looksh like you got yourshelf in a bit of trouble,” Henry slurred as he staggered towards the couple.

  Elise stiffened and straightened her spine. “No, actually I was in a peck of trouble until I found a real man.”

  Abigail grinned at Henry’s astonished face, but Elise had already whirled around and was striding out of the inn.

  THE END

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  Surrendering to the Scots

  A Scottish Romance

  By: Kaley McCormick

  Seized by the Highlander

  Chapter One

  Elizabeth’s crinoline skirts rustled as they swept against the blades of grass that peeked through the cobblestone path. The shops seemed more crowded than normal as she made her way from one to the next. It was her maidservant’s day off but there were still things that the household needed. Her husband, Henry, would not be pleased if his whiskey was not available at the end of the day, and the cook needed a few things for dinner. Elizabeth would not want to be home if Henry were deprived of his food or his beverage. Her cheek still smarted from upsetting him the night before, by not refilling his mug quickly enough.

  She smiled at the shopkeeper as he wrapped up the cheese, pickles and sweet jam. Apparently Henry’s reputation preceded him, and with a small nod, the shopkeeper also added a bottle of whiskey to the brown paper package before tying up the white twine.

  He offered to add the purchases to the family’s shop credit and she agreed. Henry never allowed her to carry any money and the shops all seemed to place good faith on his abilities to pay the bills.

  With the package tucked into the wicker basket she carried in the crook of her elbow, she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and headed back into the streets. The summer was waning and the air carried the autumn chill. She welcomed the relief from the heat of the earlier months, but knew she should start preparing the house for winter.

  She made a mental list of tasks as she made her way back to the estate. The wind tickled at the nape of her neck and tried to steal loose tendrils from her coifed blonde curls. The walk was not short, but she enjoyed the chance to get out of her drafty old stone estate. It seemed to trap the heat in July and the cold in January, and never felt quite comfortable at any time of year. And while the shopping could have been done by the servants, she liked having an excuse to wander about town. She knew better than to spend too much money at any of the stores, but it was a pleasant afternoon to window shop. Henry constantly chided her for not taking the carriage into town, but she almost always took the trip by foot.

  Henry was well-known in the area as the region’s largest landowner so most of the shopkeepers were overly attentive to her needs. They would fetch her a cup of tea, provide her a chair to rest, and even wrap packages extra carefully when she did decide to buy something.

  When she arrived home, the cook whisked the package away from her and set a pot of tea on the stove to heat.

  “Would you like something to eat ma’am?” the cook offered.

  “Yes, Olivia, th
at would be lovely. I know that dinner is not far off, but I’m not certain I will make it that long.” She smiled gently at the older woman and settled into a chair at the servants’ table in the kitchen. Her blue eyes twinkled since she knew that she would shortly be enjoying some of the sharp cheddar cheese that she had just purchased.

  “Ma’am, I am happy to bring it to your room if you like.”

  “No, I should prefer to sit here in the warm kitchen with your company, if that’s alright.”

  Olivia smiled and nodded. “But of course, Ma’am.”

  She poured the tea into an elegant china mug and cut off pieces of homemade bread and the fresh cheese as a snack. While Elizabeth sipped and nibbled, they discussed the changes in the weather as Olivia started to prepare their dinner.