“Uncle Haggis. I will deal with Gavin―”
“Ye won’t. Not this time. There are lines and you’ve crossed them. I won’t tell the rest of yer family, but you’ll be proposin’ marriage in the morning.” His gaze met Gavin’s over her shoulder.
“Uncle Haggis,” Will’s called as he, Tom and Fergal finally caught up to them.
“Which one of you egits concocted this night ride and then allowed your sister to go off unchaperoned.” Haggis drew up to his full height.
Will stepped up to his uncle. “Uncle Haggis, there was no harm done. Gavin wouldn’t do anything to―”
“Yes he would, and has, and he will pay for his transgression.” Haggis jabbed his finger in Gavin’s general direction.
“Uncle Haggis, he hasn’t done anything.” Isla put her hands on her hips. She could be angry with Gavin, and she was, but her Uncle wouldn’t browbeat him into marrying her. It wasn’t even less appealing than being traded for lumber. Taking a quick glance at Gavin’s tousled appearance, heat began to fill her again. If only he wanted a future the way she did, but she wouldn’t be married to a man that didn’t want her.
“Isla.” Gavin slipped his arm around her waist. He dropped his head so his nose was buried in her hair. Then he lifted his head back up. “I’ll tell her father in the morning that I’d like her hand in marriage.”
“Good boy,” Haggis said.
At the same moment, Isla screeched, “What?” Her husband was going to be a man who didn’t want to be married. What did that mean for her future?
Tom let out a whoop. “Let’s toss Angus out tomorrow.”
Will crossed his arms over his chest.
Fergal gave them a grin. “I’ve always wanted a sister. After living with you for six months, no one else is going to be able to outride me.”
“This is ridiculous.” Isla tried to put her hands back on her hips, but Gavin’s arms got in her way. “Nothing happened.”
“Women have been married for a great deal less. Now all of you back to the house and to bed. I’ll be sleepin’ in late tomorrow. It’s been a long trip. When I wake up, I expect to find all of this sorted.” Haggis pointed his finger at Gavin with a final jab.
Isla stomped her foot. Since this entire process began, she had been trussed up, dictated to and treated like a child. “Uncle Haggis,” her shrill cry rose over the water. “I won’t.”
He began stomping back toward her. Uncle Haggis had always been a voice of reason, but she didn’t dare think about that now. While she did not wish to be married to either Collin or Angus, she didn’t want Gavin to be forced either.
“Listen here,” he shook his finger.
Quick as a rabbit, she hopped onto Hermes’ back. “I’ll not take an unwilling groom.” Yanking on the reins, she spun Hermes around and took off down the beach.
“Isla, stop,” Will called to her, but she refused to head him and began racing down the beach. Tears filled her eyes again and her muscles didn’t hold their normal tension for riding. Hermes carried her away, but she was less of a participant and more of a useless package. She didn’t want to marry Gavin because he didn’t want to marry her. Deep down it hurt that, like Lord Riley, he only seemed to want one thing from her though the difference, of course, was that she had been willing to give it to Gavin.
He had initiated it though, when she wouldn’t have. And now she understood things she didn’t before. How would she come to a marriage bed with a man she who didn’t make her feel the way Gavin did?
More tears spilled over her cheeks, and she might have ridden long into the night except a hand shot out and grabbed her reins. Lost in thought, she hadn’t heard the approaching hooves over the sound of the ocean. Turning to see who would dare do such a thing, she gasped at the closeness of Gavin’s face.
A myriad of feelings vied within her. She wanted to kiss him, or hit him, perhaps cry, definitely yell, but not able to decide, she simply stared and then finally spoke, “We’re not getting married.”
“We are.” He plucked her off her horse and she let him as he pulled her back into his lap.
She should protest, but this evening’s events left her limp, tired all the way to her bones, and his body was so warm and comforting. “It’s not too late. You can leave tonight. My father will see reason and won’t force me to marry Angus.”
“I’ve never been a man to run from my responsibilities. I won’t start now.”
Suddenly, she wanted to hit him. She reared back and landed her fist into his bicep. He gave a grunt and she raised her arm to hit him again.
He grabbed her hand. “That hurt more than I thought it would.”
Her voice rose with every word. “I don’t want to marry you. I won’t. I’ll not be strapped to a man who bears the burden of me.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“Of course it’s what you meant. You’ve been clear about the fact that you didn’t come here to marry. How could I think it was any other way?”
“I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. I can’t control it, and I won’t see you married to Collin or anyone else.”
His words cut through her. He wanted her. Men wanted her. But nowhere had he mentioned love. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
He sighed, raking his hands through his hair. “You’re right. I apologize. This is the least romantic proposal, but I want to be honest with you. I could never entertain the idea of being married to another woman. With you, it will be a partnership. I can trust you to help me with your father’s lumber contract and perhaps, with your help, we could expand into cattle or horses. We will make an amazing team.”
Blinking, Isla tried to sift through her emotions. She had hoped for a declaration of love, but trusting her as a partner was so much more than many men would give her. He wouldn’t try to change who she was and she would be with animals, on horses, in the woods.
It could be enough. But a tiny voice, deep inside, said it wasn’t. After what they had done, how he had made her feel, she was in love. “I…I need to think.”
He snuggled her close, dropping his face into her hair. “We don’t have much time.”
He pressed his lips to her temple, feathering her with kisses. It didn’t seem so desperate as he held her like this. It would work out, it had too. “All right. We’ll marry.”
He smiled against the top of her head. “That’s my girl. Let’s get you back.” Instead of putting her back on her own horse, he kicked his forward, holding Hermes’ reins with one hand.
“I can ride myself,” she murmured though she didn’t really mean it. Being held in his arms made her more confident in the decision she had made.
“I know. Just let me hold you for a few more minutes.” He kissed the top of her head again.
She closed her eyes. Her muscles were still weaker than normal and the exercise, coupled with her experience with Gavin, had left her exhausted. Without meaning to, she fell asleep.
She didn’t wake until they reached the house. Gavin whispered softly in her ear, “Wake up, sweetheart. We’ve got to get you inside.”
Isla nodded sleepily, but try as she might, her muscles simply wouldn’t work. Gavin carried her off the horse and through the front doors. Through her sleepy haze, she thought she heard her father’s voice, but since there was no yelling, she assumed she was wrong.
Falling back to sleep, she only woke as Gavin deposited her in her bed. His lips brushed across her temple as his hand smoothed her hair. “Sleep well, my love. I will see you in the morning.”
The night passed in a blink, and before Isla knew it, the sun was peeking through her windows. Despite the short amount of sleep, she was refreshed. It had been the deepest sleep she could remember.
Ringing for a bath, Isla stretched. A breakfast tray waited by the window. The sunrise was stunning to watch as she nibbled on some toast and sipped her tea. Today, the men were supposed to go to horse show. The primary purpose was to buy perspective steeds
for racing or riding.
Hopefully Gavin could convince her father to let her attend. Buckets of water arrived with the tub, and Isla stepped in, soaking her sore muscles.
Her hair was dressed and then she put on a morning gown, hoping she would soon be changing into a riding habit.
Descending the stairs, she entered the dining room where breakfast was being served. Her gaze immediately found Gavin’s, and he looked… tired. Dark circles ringed his eyes. Isla glanced quickly at her father. He had similar circles, his expression grim.
The rest of the company chatted in muted tones as they sat eating breaking their fast. Collin and Angus kept glancing at Gavin, they too could sense something was amiss.
Opening her mouth to ask what was going on, she snapped it closed again. She would wait. Instead, she seated herself. Not all that hungry after her toast, she sipped some tea and watched as Gavin and her father silently assessed each other.
No one spoke above a whisper, it was as though everyone could sense the tension. Finishing her tea, Isla tried to decide what to do next. Finally, her father’s gaze seared into her. “I would like a word with you.”
He stood, and so did Gavin. “Alone,” her father growled.
“No,” Gavin replied back. He didn’t sound angry, but there was a firmness to her tone.
Her mother stood as well. She leaned over and spoke quietly to her father, “He wants to protect her. That is a good thing.”
“If he wanted to protect her, he shouldn’t have been alone with her last night.” Her father at least had the decency to whisper.
Several gasps could be heard around the room, and Isla closed her eyes for a second. Her own father was betraying her.
“I willna be played―“ Angus’ began.
“Not now,” Will barked.
She opened her eyes but looked at no one other than her father. She didn’t want to know what Angus or Collin thought of her now. It hardly mattered. Apparently, Lord Maddox realized his mistake because his next words held far less anger. “My study.”
She followed, as did her mother and Gavin. Isla tried to calm the rolling waves within her own stomach. She had never seen her father this angry.
No one spoke as they walked through her father’s mahogany paneled door, to enter his private sanctuary. Her father moved around the desk and her mother made to join him. Gavin stepped up next to her and took her hand. It eased her nervousness and she took a steadying breath. Looking into his eyes, he gave her a soft smile of reassurance and she returned it. It would be all right. Gavin would help her weather her father’s anger.
To her surprise, when he looked back, her father’s face had softened considerably. “I am furious that you disobeyed me, and angry that you allowed yourself to be in a situation that could have ruined you. What were you thinking, Isla?”
She swallowed and Gavin gave her hand a squeeze. “I… I didn’t,” she searched for words. Her father was right. A different man, a man like Lord Riley, could have most certainly ruined her. She looked at Gavin. He had spoken of an arrangement that was mutual beneficial. But here he sat, helping her through this conversation. Was this what was expected of a husband, or could she hope that he had real feeling for her. “I’m sorry, Papa. It was foolish.”
“You promised me, Isla.” Her mother’s wounded voice broke into the conversation.
“Mama...” her own voice caught. She shouldn’t have betrayed her mother that way.
“You also promised to make the most of this situation, and it seems you have.” Her mother’s tone softened.
“What?’ she asked.
Gavin gave her a small wink. “I have told them of our intention to marry.”
“You did?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. When had all this happened?
“I’ll speak with Father Ridley about having the banns posted.” Her father was decidedly calm. “What happened last night will not happen again.”
“Yes, sir,” Gavin replied.
She took a deep breath, relief coursing through her. “Yes, Papa.”
“One other thing,” her father moved on briskly. “Gavin has asked that you join us at the horse show. I will allow it, but you are not to ride any of the horses. Do you understand me? You’ll have to pick without it. And, if you’re going to be there, will you look at some geldings for me?”
Gavin turned to her. “You pick the horses? Since when? Your father has some of the winningest horses in the last decade.”
Isla opened her mouth to speak but her father inserted first, “Then she’s been picking for them the last decade. I should warn you, I will require you to take Isla to shows periodically. And if you would like to enter into the sport, your financial woes will most likely end.”
Gavin’s gaze fixed on her with the unreadable expression he had when they had first met. “I see,” he said.
Her stomach began to churn again. What was he thinking? He was a laird who spent a great deal of time in London and she wasn’t a lady by title or choice. She wouldn’t change who she was, but now their transgression was public. If he backed out now, she’d be ruined.
“Isla, you should get ready,” her father spoke softly. “We’ll make the announcement about the engagement after the outing.”
She nodded and stood. Gavin stood too and clasped her hand. “I will see you in a little while.”
* * *
AN HOUR LATER, the group piled into the carriages. Isla had dressed in a traditional riding habit, not a split skirt as she might normally wear. It seemed wise to pacify her parents as best she could. Her hair was nicely coiffed in a simple twist, with a few tendrils escaping.
Gavin stepped next to her and helped her into the buggy. Angus gave the pair a dark look as he stepped into another carriage. Isla couldn’t help but sigh with relief that he hadn’t ridden with them. Gavin’s hand was at her back as Fergal and Tom climbed into the carriage and sat across from them.
Both men settled into their seats and closed their eyes. A smile played at Isla’s lips in appreciation for the small measure of privacy.
Gavin reached for her hand and held it in his own. Her insides warmed at the touch. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I don’t have to pick any horses for you. I can pick for my fa―”
Squeezing her hand, he leaned over, brushing her cheek with his lips. Then his mouth found the sensitive spot on her neck.
Tingling sensations reverberated down her skin as her cheeks heated. They were in the company of others. She tried to scoot away but he held her firm.
“I am counting on you finding a horse for me today.”
Surprise lit her features. “It doesn’t upset you?”
“Nae,” his lips slid down her neck a little lower. Dizzying sensations swirled in her head.
“But so many men find it―”
“I find it… exciting. Who gives a bloody damn what they think?”
“Not me,” she whispered, her breath catching as he nipped, just a little, at the lobe of her ear.
He sat up straighter, glancing at the men pretending to be asleep. Isla looked at them too, trying not to grimace. She should not wish their brothers away, but alone time with Gavin was… tempting. Especially knowing he was, once again, not put off by one of her talents. It was thrilling to have a man accept her for who she was.
Resting her head on his shoulder, Isla breathed in his masculine scent, feeling his muscles beneath her finger tips. It was as though invisible cords were wrapped around them, binding her to him. Was it love, she was experiencing? Like her family, she would pay any price to keep him safe, to help him in life. But beyond that, an attraction pulled her to him like nothing she’d experienced before.
Pulling up to the stables, the group assembled outside and then entered the large barn where many of the horses could be viewed. Isla loved these events, but any of the socially elite who hadn’t travelled to London for the season would be there.
The men would leer at her while the women not so subtly
gossiped about her. Between her beauty, her unconventional ways and her relationship with the aristocracy, without being a member, they made her self-conscious. She grasped Gavin’s arm, taking a breath.
Walking into the barn, several women had their fans out, more for the smell than the heat at this time of day. Several snapped at once, opening to hide gossiping lips. Without meaning to, she clenched Gavin’s arm tighter. A wild fantasy, where she set them scurrying with a bucking horse, flitted through her mind.
One woman, with glowing blond locks artfully arranged over layers of lace, brought down her fan long enough to smirk at her. Then her gaze landed on Gavin, and her eyes lit with a smoldering fire. “Why, Mr. Campbell. What a delightful surprise. Did I hear you’re laird now?”
“I am, Lady Lila,” he responded back. The blank mask he wore to hide his expression was firmly in place. A prickle of jealousy spread along her skin, causing her to flush slightly. This woman was everything she wasn’t, a perfect London lady.
“So sorry for your loss.” She gave a pretty pout.
“Thank you, kindly. If you’ll excuse us.” He turned them to continue through the barn.
Lady Lila reached out her hand. “Gavin, wait.” She stepped closer, not even looking at Isla. Her fists clenched at the familiarity this woman used with Gavin. Even more infuriating was the lady’s complete dismissal of her. “It might be so difficult, losing your father and not having your wife to help you through. If you need anything, I’m here for you.”
Isla held her breath. The implication couldn’t have been clearer and it took every ounce of Isla’s strength to not smack her directly in the face. Gavin’s expression had remained stone still. “Most kind of you.” He looked over at her then, and some of the ice melted from his gaze. Isla’s own breath caught. “Lady Lila, are you acquainted with Miss Isla Maddox?”
“Charmed,” Lila answered without looking at Isla.
Taming a Laird's Wild Lady: Taming the Heart Series Page 8
