She could see the worry that pinched Clarissa’s face. “None.”
Ewan stepped to his wife’s side, wrapping an arm about her waist. “I’m sure they’ve just been delayed. They are only a few days later than planned.”
Clarissa nodded. “I think I expected them to come early, but my father can have a difficult time extricating himself from London.”
“I’m sure that’s it,” Agnes soothed. But she was worried. While her uncle could be hardheaded, he was a man who loved his family. She and her mother were proof of that.
Ewan gave her arm a squeeze. “If they don’t arrive by the beginning of the week, I’ll write to your father’s solicitor to find out when they left and what their travel plans were.”
“That would be lovely.” Clarissa took a deep breath. “Though I am sure you’re right and they will arrive soon.”
Agnes and Keiran left Clarissa’s room to wait in the library for Ainsley and her mother. An hour later, as they loaded into the carriage, Agnes still couldn’t push away the worry that something was wrong with her aunt and uncle.
Her mother chattered as they travelled, asking Agnes about dress styles and the wedding breakfast. Ainsley piped in the tidbits about the latest fashions, only marginally different than those currently in London. But Agnes barely answered, and her mother finally stopped. “Agnes, dear, what is the matter? You are so quiet.”
“I’m worried about Auntie and Uncle—“
“Don’t be,” her mother soothed. “The baby is earlier than we thought, and your uncle was likely delayed. He’s always swept up in some important business, remember? It’s how you and I ended up in Scotland in the first place. He couldn’t get away to chaperone Clarissa’s trip.”
Agnes remembered. She’d missed her first season, and her mother was right. Perhaps, she’d just assumed nothing would be more important than the birth of their grandchild. But she allowed her mother to draw her back in to conversation about the wedding.
They spent the afternoon shopping both for wedding goods and essentials that Agnes wanted to gift to Olivia. But as the afternoon progressed, the wind began to howl terribly. Keiran had been correct. A storm was coming.
Keiran sent her mother and Ainsley to secure four rooms at the inn, a trip home would be dangerous in such weather. “Agnes wants to stop and see the girl she bought the cradle from, but we’ll meet you at the inn in a few minutes,” he nearly yelled to her mother, handing her a coin purse.
Her mother nodded, content to let them go on their own, and Agnes marveled at her new freedom as an engaged woman.
It didn’t take but a minute to arrive at Olivia’s cottage, and Keiran knocked loudly on the door. Olivia answered, holding a toddler in her arms. “Miss Faulkenberry, ye’re here!” she near yelped. “I didnae expect ye in such weather.”
Rain began to patter down on them. “I apologize if we’ve come at a bad time. We didn’t know if you needed supplies before the storm.” Agnes held up a basket filled with flour, eggs, lard and other essentials. “I can come back and look at the furniture another time.”
“Let them in, Olivia,” A man’s deep voice called from inside the house.
It made Agnes shiver to hear it. While Olivia’s brother wasn’t unattractive, there was something in the way he’d stared at them their first meeting that made Agnes uncomfortable.
Olivia hesitated for a second as more rain began to fall, the wind near whipping it into Agnes’s face. Her own look mirrored Agnes’s uncertainty. But finally, the girl swung the door wider.
“What is your sister’s name?” Agnes asked, trying to cover the awkward silence that had fallen with some sort of conversation.
“Sophie,” Olivia answered as they moved into a small sitting room.
“I can hold her while you take the basket.” Agnes gave Olivia an encouraging smile, hoping to set the girl at ease.
Olivia slowly handed Sophie to Agnes as she took the basket. “Thank ye for these. Ye didn’t need to bring them. It wasn’t charity I was after.”
“Please don’t worry. It’s very admirable how you’re trying to raise your sister,” Agnes assured her.
“Ye might not think it so admirable if ye knew some of things we’d done,” her brother called from a dark corner. The sky had turned black, and the fire cast shadows about the room. Agnes tried, but couldn’t make out his details in this light. But a tremor of fear rumbled through her at the sound of his voice.
Chapter Eleven
“Many of us have made mistakes in moments of desperation,” Keiran rumbled next to her, his gaze piercing into the dark corner. While his words were comforting, she felt him tense. She held the baby tighter, her own breath hitching.
“Even shooting a man?” he said as he stepped into the light.
Quicker than Agnes could blink, Keiran pushed her behind his tall frame with his injured arm while he pulled a pistol from the holster around his kilt.
“Please don’t shoot my brother.” Olivia raced back into the room. “He didn’t mean tae do it.”
Agnes gave a start. Olivia had known about Keiran’s injury because her brother had given it to him.
Tom cleared his throat. “I don’t want to hurt ye. I didn’t want tae hurt ye then. But you raised your gun at me.”
She watched Keiran’s jaw tick. “Aye, I did. Ye were poaching.”
Tom nodded. “I’m a good hunter, but meat has been scarce, and it’s the only way I can feed them, Olivia and Sophie. After my da passed…” Tom trailed off. “I ken it isn’t right, but I didn’t know what else tae do.” Agnes could hear the desperation in Tom’s voice. Gone was the eerily quiet man she’d met last time.
Keiran was pushing her behind him as he slowly backed them toward the door. “Why were ye so quiet when we bought the cradle?” she called from behind Keiran.
“Honestly, I recognized ye, and I was worried ye had seen me that day I poached the sheep.” Tom dropped to his knees and put his hands in the air. “Please don’t leave with Sophie. I ken Olivia and I aren’t doin’ the best job, but she’s our family.”
“Did ye really want to sell us furniture?” Keiran asked.
Agnes peeked around Keiran again to see Tom shake his head while Olivia covered her mouth with her hands. “I wanted to confess. I ken ye’ll turn me in, but at least in the village I’ll get a trial. I was worried that on the estate I’d be shot on sight. I ken this is mad but I’d hoped ye hire Olivia when I’m gone. She’s keeps a clean house and she’s a good cook.”
“Hire Olivia?” Keiran’s voice was so quiet that Agnes couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Agnes found herself holding her breath, hoping he’d agree. She was a good girl, Agnes could feel it.
“Aye, she’ll need a way to support Sophie.” Tom sounded desperate as he pleaded one last time. “Please don’t take Sophie.”
Keiran let out a sigh and lowered the pistol. “I’m not takin’ yer sister, and I won’t fetch the constable.” Keiran gave her a quick glance backward. “I’ve recently been given a second chance at life, and I believe everyone deserves the same. Let me ask ye, were ye aimin’ fer my arm?”
Agnes started behind him. Was he talking about her?
Tom nodded. “I didnae want to kill ye, just keep ye from shooting me.”
“Well, ye’re a damn fine shot then, hitting me like that while under duress.” Keiran ran one of his hands through his hair. “After this storm has passed, come to Dumfries estate.”
“Why?” Tom asked.
Agnes attempted to see Keiran’s face. Was he forgiving Tom? It made her both light inside and a little worried. Tom seemed sincere, but he’d done real harm.
“Because, I might have a job fer ye.” Keiran stepped to the side and waved Olivia forward to get her sister. Agnes noted that Olivia now blocked her view of Tom. She wondered if Keiran had done that on purpose as a measure of protection.
How could she have ever doubted Keiran’s honor? Deep inside, she knew he would always keep her safe
from harm. And to try to help Tom like this? Well, it was more than most men would ever do.
Once Olivia had Sophie, Keiran opened the door and pulled her out. He didn’t mean to be rough as he tugged and she was sure he was only trying to keep her safe. “Is he telling the truth?” she asked as they quickly made their way into the rain-soaked streets and to the inn.
“I think so,” Keiran said. “But I’ll find out more when yer not in harm’s way.”
Her mother was waiting for them with four hot plates of food when they arrived, rain-soaked, at the common room. “I secured the rooms,” she smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want me to just get three? Agnes and I are used to sharing.”
Agnes could see the muscles in Keiran’s jaw working. “That’s quite all right. Ye deserve a room of yer own, but thank ye for being so considerate.” He said to her mother. But he leaned down to quickly whisper in her ear. “It will be worth every coin I spend.”
Her mother beamed at them, completely unaware of what Keiran had just said. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her mother what had happened. But she didn’t, not yet. There would be time for explanations tomorrow. Tonight, she wanted to hold her husband-to-be close, and once her mother found out about their incident with Tom, she’d sleep in Agnes’s room for sure.
Keiran was immensely glad that Agnes did not share the details of their adventure with her mother. After what had happened, he had every intention of sleeping in Agnes’s room with a loaded pistol by his side.
He still wasn’t sure he trusted Tom, but the boy had sounded sincere and his motives were noble. Someone that young could easily fall into a trap where breaking the law seemed the only option.
Would he have considered that before Agnes?
He doubted it. And while it had been done in the name of England, he’d done far worse than Tom. It made him shudder to remember.
Agnes saw his shake and she looked him up and down. “Are you all right? You’re not getting a fever are you?”
Always worried about him. Always caring for him. How had he ever thought he’d live life without her? It sounded awful. “I’m fine, love. Just thinking about the storm.”
Her mother rubbed her hands together. “It was wise to stay in the village rather than trying to travel back. How long do ye think we’ll be here?”
“Hopefully just the night,” Keiran answered. He was glad to have safe harbor from the storm, but he wanted to get back to Ewan’s estate. He wanted to share all that had happened with his friend. And frankly, wanted all of the ladies back under Ewan’s roof where they were more protected.
The ladies all ventured upstairs, and Keiran sat for a bit, waiting for them to settle in. As soon as enough time had passed, he walked up the stairs and passed his room to reach Agnes’s.
Finding the door locked, he knocked softly.
He heard the patter of her feet as she crossed to answer it. “Keiran?”
“Aye, love.” He’d no more than spoken before she turned the lock, opening the door to him.
He swept her into his arms as he softly closed the door and replaced the lock. She peppered his face with kisses and her warmth, her smell surrounded him, giving him that feeling of home he always felt when he was around her.
Carrying her to the bed, he winced as his injury gave a twinge. He’d have to be more careful for a few days yet.
“Keiran.” Her hands were sliding down his arms as though she were checking the damage.
“Curl up in bed, love.” He sat down on the edge. “There are some things I want to discuss with ye.”
“About tonight?” she bit her lips as she settled back as he’d asked.
With a sigh, he ran his hand through his hair. “Partly.” He pulled the covers tighter over her and then took her hand. “I want ye to ken that I could forgive Tom because of ye. You’ve taught me kindness I thought lost to me, and love when I was sure I’d never have it again.”
She started to sit up, but he squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad you feel that way, but it was in you all along.”
“Perhaps. But it is also in me to do terrible things, Agnes. You were right to call me less than a gentleman. I did raise my gun at Tom, and I would have shot him without a thought.” He took a long steadying breath. He hated to tell her this. They might never be the same. She may not even want to marry him. “Tom, in some ways, is better than me for intentionally wounding me for self-protection. Not that poaching is right, but I understand what it means to be driven to do things ye never dreamed yerself capable of.”
Agnes stared at him with wide eyes, clutching at the blanket. She opened her mouth several times and then closed it again.
Finally, he spoke in her silence, “If ye don’t want me in yer bed, I’ll understand, but I’ll stay in the room. I still don’t trust the situation, and I’ll keep you safe no matter what.” Then he dropped his head into his hand.
He’d known what was deep inside of him, and he’d understood that it would be too much for a woman as pure and sweet as Agnes.
Somehow, he couldn’t regret his time with her. She’d brought him a glimpse of happiness he’d never thought he’d see again.
Her touch upon his brow startled him, and he jerked his head up to look at her. He couldn’t read her expression, which, he supposed, was better than seeing disgust etched upon her face.
“Of course, I want you in my bed.” She sat up on her knees and then pressed her forehead to his. “If ever a woman has been more foolish in declaring what constitutes a gentleman…” She stopped, giving her head a shake while leaning against him.
“Ye’re not foolish. There is real darkness in me,” he choked out the words.
“Many men have fought, killed, died. What about the men you fought with? What about Ewan? Do they not deserve marriage and a family?”
“Of course they do.” He brought his hand up to caress her cheek, like velvet under his calloused palm.
“So do you, Keiran.” She kissed him then, long and slow. “What I wanted was a man who would keep me safe. Keep us safe. Like tonight with the storm or the decision to stay at the inn. A man who won’t leave us to face the world alone.”
“I would never do that Agnes,” he pulled her closer. “In life, and beyond, I’ll make sure ye are cared for always.”
“I know you will.” She smiled as she kissed him again. “Now take off your clothes. I haven’t seen you without them in hours.”
A devilish grin played at his lips. “For a woman so pure, you’re rather wicked.”
Her night rail sailed over her head so that she was before him, resting on her knees, without a stitch of clothes. Her look was lusty as she helped him peel off his shirt. “Do you like it?”
“I love it, lass.” He kissed her fiercely as more of his clothing fell away. “It heats my blood.”
She stood on the mattress then, so her breasts were at the perfect height for him lavish attention on, which he did. “Then let’s agree. I will be a lusty wench.”
He pulled back then, to look at her as her eyes gleamed in the candlelight. “A lusty wench?”
“But only for you. If you agree to be a rogue, but only in our bed for me.”
He wrapped his arm about her waist and lowered her down onto his manhood as her legs locked around him. “I’ll be your rogue alone, no doubt about it. But is the bed negotiable?” He helped her set a rhythm. “Because I’ve several ideas that involve you and me, but no bed.”
She tossed her head back. “Oh, how I love my Scottish rogue.”
“I love ye, too, lass.” And he captured her lips again. He’d bared his soul to her, and she’d accepted him for who he was. He might be the luckiest man in all of Scotland.
Chapter Twelve
The next day dawned gray and rainy, but the wind had subsided. Keiran decided to use the break in the weather to return to Iverness. Agnes agreed. She was anxious be back with Clarissa and share all that had happened in the last day.
Due to the mud, it was a dif
ficult journey back with the carriage but they finally arrived near dinnertime. Much of the family was assembled to greet them and after they said their hellos, Keiran pulled Ewan and Clarissa aside to share what had happened.
Ewan had looked skeptical as Keiran laid out his plan to hire the poacher. “Ye want me add the man who shot ye to the staff?”
Agnes couldn’t blame Ewan for feeling this way, though she applauded Keiran’s attempt to help the man.
“He’s desperate, and he didn’t want to hurt me. He was right, I was aiming right for him.”
“He lured you to his home through Agnes to tell ye what he’d done,” Ewan argued back.
Keiran grimaced. “Aye, he’s a hunter, fer sure. Ye might be right. And it’s yer home, so it’s yer decision. I’m just trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. It isn’t something I’ve been very good at since I came home.”
Ewan ran his hands through his hair. “He could work with the current gamekeeper on a trial basis. While the man has slowed down, he is still sharp in the mind and an excellent judge of character.”
Keiran gave a curt nod, but Agnes could see the relief in his shoulders. She reached over and held his hand. She was as relieved as him that Tom and Olivia would have a chance at a real life. And Ewan’s idea was a good one. It gave Tom a chance to prove he was of sound character.
As they said their goodbyes, Agnes and Keiran made to leave the room when a knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” Ewan called, and the butler stepped into the room.
“My lord, the Lord and Lady Arbuthnott have arrived.”
Clarissa stood with a gasp. “My parents!”
All four of them swept through the halls, racing to the foyer. Relief made Agnes’s feet clumsy, but Keiran held her hand as they reached the landing above the entryway.
Then all four stopped.
Down below, Ainsley and Aunt Rhona stood with Clarissa’s parents, along with two more men Agnes didn’t recognize. The first was a gentlemanly type that Agnes might normally consider quite handsome: tall, broad, with dark hair and handsome features. He was not as handsome as Keiran, of course. The second had long, dark hair, and there was a reckless air about him. But what really gave her pause was the way Ainsley was assessing him. She looked spitting mad and completely riled in the most hectic sort of way.
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