She could hear the beating of his heart and it felt like a sign that life was beating between the two of them. A new life. A life of joy and wonder and peace. Adeline allowed her worries to be eased by it. She pushed aside those thoughts and fears that they might be broken by their differences.
However, each time she pushed them aside, the thoughts returned. She hoped desperately that their love would overcome it all. For a moment, Adeline even wondered whether or not she should ask Richard about his concerns, whether he was worried about the same things.
They had agreed to wed one another, but they had not discussed anything about his country and hers, about the fact Richard was a soldier against her people, or about daily traditions they each had from their own culture. They had not discussed anything apart from their love for one another.
Could two people really learn the other aspects as they went along in marriage? Or were those things going to be challenges that might come between them on a regular basis?
Adeline’s eyes continued to pop open from her worries and then close as she tried to settle. She felt the soft rumble of Richard’s chest as he snored lightly. She knew that he was comfortable, unfettered by these concerns.
Perhaps she was overreacting. Just as she had over-thought the proposal the first time, she was over-thinking it all now. She was worrying needlessly about her future with a man who clearly loved her as she loved him.
The rest would be worked out over time. They would fight through any challenges and remain strong with one another. They would diligently commit to living for one another’s benefit.
These were the thoughts Adeline used to push the others away. She kept her focus on Richard. She kept her ears tuned to the rhythm of his deep breathing. She kept her eyes tightly closed and waited for a sleep she didn’t want to come.
A Rush To The Village Altar
The light streamed through the windows and Richard opened his eyes. It was morning. He must have dozed after talking to Adeline the night before.
Looking down, he saw her still against his chest, in a deep sleep. There were gentle creases in her forehead, as if some concern was over her. Richard was sad to see that, but he thought perhaps it was just a part of a dream or something. Or perhaps she was in such a deep sleep that she was utterly closed to the world.
Either way, Richard gently shifted from underneath her and laid her body, made heavy by exhaustion, onto the sofa. She barely stirred, other than a gentle sigh that made him smile at her like she was a pure white dove.
Making his way to the kitchen, Richard thought of the fact that he would finally marry Adeline. He went to the garden and grabbed a few things before preparing breakfast. Once it was ready, he returned to the sofa and gently woke the woman who would soon be his bride.
“Good morning,” he whispered softly in her ear. Richard hoped that his breath was not too awful. He wanted his voice to wake her rather than a harsh smell.
Her eyes peeked open. She looked up at him in confusion and then stretched her slim body. Richard pushed away thoughts that would have kept him from eating breakfast and tried to focus less on her figure and more on the plans he was forming for the day.
“I’m sorry, I was sleeping,” Adeline said groggily. There was a slight puffiness under her eyes and Richard found it charming and adorable.
“Well, yes, I can see that,” Richard laughed in reply. Adeline blushed and he tilted her chin up with his finger before kissing her sweetly on the lips.
“Now, my love, we must eat quickly. I have a great deal of plans for our day,” Richard said. He didn’t want to rush her, but he knew that they had to be up and around quickly if they were going to enjoy the day ahead of them.
Adeline rubbed her eyes, still trying to regain consciousness. Richard could clearly see that she was fighting the temptation to lie back down and sleep more. However, he softly pulled her to her feet and led her to the table.
“Bon appetite,” he said, laughing. Adeline looked up at him again, and he realized that, although she recognized the words as French, she did not know what they meant. Richard immediately felt silly for assuming she would understand.
“Forgive me. It is a way of wishing you a nice time of eating. Enjoy, my dear,” he said, still in a chipper mood. Adeline was starting to become more alert as Richard watched her eat, but he felt a pang of guilt at pulling her from her rest.
“How did ye sleep?” she finally asked, taking a sip of water and yawning.
“I slept quite well. And I have made plans for our day,” Richard announced.
“Ye have?” Adeline asked, curious as to what he might have in mind.
“Indeed. I thought we might go to the church. I think we ought to be wed. Today. And to spend every day together hereafter,” Richard said confidently.
Adeline stared at him for a moment and he wondered if he had been stupid to think she would want this a mere day after agreeing upon it. He was relieved as he watched a look of joy spread across her face finally.
“I should like no better thing than to become yer wife today. I cannae imagine a better idea! Ye really want me to wed ye today?” Adeline asked, suddenly very awake.
The spark in her eyes warmed Richard’s heart. He could see that she was excited to be his. It eased all his concern that she might change her mind about agreeing to marry him and spending her life with a Hanoverian.
“Absolutely! It will be simple. After we are married, we can travel for a week together, just the two of us. We will enjoy being man and wife. After that, we can go to your family and tell them of our decision. And then we can decide where we will live. You know I do love England, but we will talk through it,” Richard said with determination.
“I think that is a lovely plan. So we’ll go to the chapel? Where the priest is?” she asked him.
For a moment, a look of hesitancy crossed Richard’s face. “Oh, yes, not the church, the chapel, I meant. For the priest.”
He remembered suddenly that Adeline was Catholic and this might present some challenges even in how they were to be married. Richard was unsure if the priest would allow it. Perhaps he could lie? So long as he was honest with Adeline, what did it matter what the priest knew?
However, lying was not in his nature. Furthermore, he wondered if lying to a priest might have some extra punishment carried with it. He did not believe them to be the Lord’s men, but it didn’t mean they were not men of a holy station.
Richard pushed it aside.
After they finished their breakfast, Richard gave space for Adeline to make herself presentable by digging through the small bag she had brought with a change of clothes.
He also made himself as ready as he could. Richard knew that he did not smell overly fresh. He went into the garden and uprooted some herbs before coming back into the house and rubbing the herbs, with water, over his body to minimize the odor of traveling the past few days.
Finally, Adeline came out of the bedroom where she had been getting ready.
She looked exquisite. With a peach dress that lay stunningly against her frame, the color made her skin came alive in a new way. She was glowing, as if having spent days bathing in preparation.
Richard held out his hand.
“Ye look right bonnie,” Adeline said, taking it.
“And you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on,” Richard replied. He was distracted in the loveliest way.
The slowly made their way down the street, walking hand in hand. In Adeline’s other hand, she held a bouquet of flowers that Richard had uprooted in the garden. The colors struck against her beautifully.
Only a few villagers were out and about for the morning and they all watched as the couple headed toward the chapel.
Finally they reached the large oak doors, and Richard knocked before entering. The priest looked up from where he was kneeling in prayer. Seeing the two standing before him, Richard realized the man knew their intent exactly.
The three spoke for an hour bef
ore the priest made his way into the village to grab a few witnesses for the ceremony. What proceeded was a traditional Scottish Catholic wedding. It was something Richard had only seen once before, at the wedding of Douglas and Grace. Despite this, he made his way through the motions as instructed.
Richard remained quiet except when he had to speak, thinking he could not give the priest any reason to question his religious affiliation. Ultimately, the ceremony concluded. The priest had complained of nothing and it seemed that all were satisfied by the ceremony that had occurred.
Richard Holloway and Adeline MacGowan were wed.
Although Richard was sad that his family had not attended, and felt quite certain that Adeline felt sad for the same reason, nothing could get in the way of their joy as they celebrated.
The two were treated like royalty by the guests who had joined during the ceremony, mostly parishioners who had come for confession but remained to see the two strangers getting married. In addition, no one made any rude remarks to Richard about his obvious heritage, for which he was extremely grateful.
Throughout the village, people celebrated them and gave them tastings of whatever they happened to have cooked that day. Richard felt his stomach was overly full by the time he and Adeline reached the little house four hours later.
Going inside, Richard was excited by the prospect of what was to come that evening. He wondered how Adeline might be feeling, but trusted that he could be patient for whatever she was comfortable with.
* * *
“Can ye believe it?” Adeline asked, laying her head on Richard’s chest as he lay flat on the bed.
“Not even in the slightest,” he replied. Adeline heard the smile in his voice. She was certain that Richard was as happy as she.
Her heart was filled with joy. Every concern she had felt that morning, or even the night before, were completely wiped away now that she and Richard had committed their lives to one another.
“I cannae tell ye how me heart is blossoming within me. Ye’re me husband! I ken there’s a lot for us to do before things settle and we can live as we ought, but this is going to be a most beautiful life. I cannae believe that ye’re actually me husband,” she said again. It seemed she had been repeating it all day.
He was her husband. Richard Holloway was her husband. She was wed to this incredible man who had saved her life, defended her people, cared about her deeply.
It seemed there was nothing that could stand in their way now.
Adeline knew that this night would not end with her in her peach gown, lying on his shirted chest. No, this night would be one that she would remember for all time.
Adeline sat up and readjusted herself before allowing her lips to come down on Richard’s where he lay. She had been thankful that he had not pushed her, but now she was ready. They had wed, they had lain and spoken of the future for a while. Now she was ready to be fully Richard’s wife.
Their kiss seemed to last forever and Richard reached up, wrapping his arms around Adeline’s waist. She felt the strength of him as he pulled her down. She was still resting, her legs off to one side, but knew that this comfortable position of kissing him was only the beginning of something new.
His lips were strong and smooth on hers and they slowly, gently traveled to her neck. Adeline recognized that Richard was taking things very slowly, trying not to frighten her. It increased her comfort—and her trust.
Their mouths explored one another for a long time before their clothing was shed and they were unashamed before one another.
Adeline felt a little self-conscious by her wispy body, with lesser curves than her friends, but she knew that she trusted Richard. The look in his eyes told her that he could not have been more satisfied with the sight before him.
She, too, was in awe of him. Nothing like this had ever been before her eyes. Seeing Richard so fully was powerful. It had an effect she had not imagined and the passion overwhelmed her.
The sun had fallen and only the light of the fire illuminated the room. Adeline was warm and she felt the sweat on Richard as well. However, they become one, just as she had hoped, and Adeline was certain they would never be broken into two again.
The change came over her in waves, realizing that she was now a woman in a sense she had not been before. She had been satisfied in life, she had thought she could live without this, without a husband even. In becoming one with Richard, Adeline knew that her life was destined to be lived in his arms.
Their union finished and they lie beside one another, both smiling and overjoyed by the night and what the future would hold for them. Adeline knew that if it was anything like this, she would enjoy their life very much.
A Hunting Party And Sore Miscommunication
“I want to go back already,” Adeline said with a laugh.
“You and me both!” Richard replied.
They had left the house two hours ago and were traveling north in hopes of enjoying a week to themselves before confronting Adeline’s family. They feared the response they might encounter and decided it was best to just enjoy some time together before entering that situation.
“So ye plan for us to end where?” she asked.
“I don’t know for certain. I mean, even if we go all the way up to Land’s End before coming back, I think it would be nice, don’t you?” Richard asked in reply.
“Oh that would be lovely! Perhaps we could even visit Colla and Grace on the way? They might have some advice about how to deal with the clan and the laird. I mean, Colla was not always obedient to her father, but she may have some ideas how we can minimize the scandal of it,” Adeline suggested.
“Yes, I suppose that would be nice. I would like to see Douglas again, for sure. But, I do also very much hope that we have…alone time,” Richard said, raising an eyebrow suggestively. Adeline looked back at him with a shy smile. He saw that she, too, hoped for plenty of time alone together.
Richard tried not to swell with too much pride at the knowledge that his wife enjoyed their physical union as much as he had. After the night before, the morning brought with it even more joining together. He realized he was already well prepared for the next time it should happen and hoped they would find a place nearby to stay for the day and night.
“Wherever we stop, they’d better have haggis, neeps, and tatties. I’m starved for it,” Adeline said as they discussed their plan for the day.
Richard tried to get excited about the food, but he knew it simply wasn’t in his English blood to want it like she did. “Uh, well, I’m sure we’ll find a place that has it. I’ll go for the fish and chips though,” he said with a laugh.
Adeline gave him a queer look for a moment, almost as if she had been hurt by the comment. However, no sooner had he seen the expression than she replaced it with her charming smile.
“Aye, I’m sure we will find a place with both,” she said, before getting quiet.
For a moment, there was a noticeable tension in the air and Richard regretted having shown how much he lacked a desire for her traditional food. He knew that he could not fake forever that he craved it as she did. It was better to be honest about the fact that, while it wasn’t as bad as he had originally anticipated, haggis would never be his first choice.
“I am sorry if I offended you,” he said awkwardly.
“Dinnae worry. I ken that yer kind arnae too fond of our foods,” Adeline replied.
Richard tried not to bristle at this comment. His kind? She meant the English. Having her see him in such a shallow, one dimensional light truly bothered him. He knew that Adeline didn’t mean it like that, but he couldn’t help thinking that there was a small part of her that would never get over the cultural differences they might face. He didn’t want to get stuck in those thoughts, but he knew they were there.
“You know that I love you, don’t you? That I don’t care about our differences or our cultures? You know that I would give anything to be yours?” he asked her, openly and honestly.
�
��Aye, I ken that. And I hope ye ken the same,” Adeline said.
Richard was unsure whether or not she was simply trying to appease him, or if she would be forever plagued by their unique challenges as people from different places. Whatever it was, Richard chose to trust her, to believe that they could overcome it all, no matter what.
He looked over at her where she sat atop her mare. Adeline looked like a queen up there. He found himself remembering the night before. Her beauty had shocked him. She was more than he’d ever imagined.
“Dense woods ahead,” Adeline commented, keeping her face forward.
Richard looked and saw that they were, indeed, approaching a dense wood and within minutes, they had entered the forest.
“How is it so dark in here? The sun is shining brightly today and the trees are only barely beginning to re-grow their leaves,” Richard said, trying not to complain too much.
“Aye, but this is Scotland. Some parts are too cold for leaves, others too rainy not to have leaves, other parts the wind has destroyed the growth of trees altogether. She’s a complex land,” Adeline laughed.
Richard laughed along with her. It was true. Of the land and the women who inhabited it.
“Do ye hear that?” Adeline asked.
Richard was alert and nodded silently.
It was only seconds, but suddenly a hunting party was upon them and Richard recognized the man in front, who stood before him as others surrounded he and Adeline.
“And who are ye, Englishma-” the leader cut off.
The man’s eyes trailed over to Adeline in astonishment and she looked back with something akin to fear or embarrassment in her eyes. Richard was confident that the two knew one another.
“Adeline?” he asked, a rage slowly coming over his face and causing his nostrils to flair.
The man turned immediately to Richard and pulled his gun to aim it directly in Richard’s face. Only two feet away, Richard knew he was a dead man should the trigger be pulled.
Kidnapped Highland Bride (Ladies of Dunmore Series) (A Medieval Scottish Romance Story) Page 10
