Setting the ring aside, her trembling fingers unfolded the vellum.
* * *
MY DEAREST MAY,
* * *
IT IS difficult for me to always find the words but never forget that I will love you forever. Please accept this ring as a token of my affection so that when you look upon it, you will remember how I feel for you. Though I will do my best to never let you forget.
* * *
YOURS,
Lucius.
Her eyes teared up as she clutched the note to her chest. Jumping out of bed, she raced across the room to wash and dress, eager to go down to breakfast so that she might see Lucius. She pulled the cord to summon her maid and then went to her vanity to begin brushing her hair.
With a cry, she realized she’d forgotten to put on the ring. It was stunning, and she loved it, but the note had been the real gift and she’d likely read it a thousand times before the words didn’t make her heart flutter.
Once ready, she practically skipped down the hall, holding her skirts as her feet barely touched the thick carpet.
The note was tucked against the skin of her chest and the ring sparkled on her finger.
She rounded the corner of the breakfast room, grinning like a fool but she didn’t care.
With a start, she stopped in the doorway. Before her stood Piper, Chris and Lizzie alongside of Barrett and Lucius. No one looked happy.
Lucius’s face was pinched and stoic while Chris appeared furious. Both Piper and her cousin Lizzie had worry lines etching their faces. Only Barrett appeared relaxed, wearing his usual look of indifference.
Chris rounded on her and she tried to put her happy smile back on her face. “How wonderful to see all of you.”
Lizzie had been her caregiver for much of her life and when she’d married Chris, he’d taken on the mantel of guardian. Of course, as Chris had only inherited the title of earl, it was Barrett who had seen to her introduction into society. The two men had shared the role of father figure and she loved them both dearly. “And you as well,” Chris’ tone did not match his words. They were clipped and his eyes narrowed. “We’ve missed you terribly and wisely decided we could not be parted from you any longer.”
She crossed the room and gave each of her family a hug, ignoring Chris’s implication that his presence was needed. “How was the journey?”
“Dreadful,” Chris groused as his eyebrows drew together. “And I am not much looking forward to the return trip but obviously it’s what must be done.”
Lizzie gasped, “Christopher.”
May’s hands shot to her hips, fear and irritation beginning to bubble inside of her. If Chris thought she would leave now, he was sorely mistaken. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re not staying here and certainly not to marry this heathen of an earl,” he shot back.
Barrett let out a low growl. “I’ve already approved--”
“Twas not your right!” Chris exploded. “I am her guardian. I should never have let you go gallivanting off with her. Your desire to make her a member of the peerage is clouding your judgement.”
The unfairness of the claim washed through her. Both she and Barrett knew Loudoun’s true merit.
“You take a step back,” Barrett voice was deadly quiet as he glared at his longtime friend.
“Please,” Loudoun stepped in between them. “You’re angry with me, not him.”
“Damn right I am,” Chris roared as he took a swing at Loudoun. “You’re a drunk. I’ve heard the stories. A womanizer and a ne’er do well is all you are.”
Loudoun easily dodged the punch. He was fifteen years younger than Chris and in excellent shape. But he made no move to counter attack as Chris swung again.
Loudoun was backing away from the others as Chris followed, trying to make contact with a blow. Once they had moved around the table, Loudoun stopped and Chris swung again landing a punch on Loudoun’s cheek that sent him crashing to the ground. May stood not five feet from them and she screamed as he fell.
Ignoring the sound, Chris stepped above Loudoun and raised his fist as if to hit him again.
May hurtled herself across the room and over his body as Chris’s fist came down in a straight line. She knew it was going to hurt but she couldn’t let Chris hit Loudoun again on her account.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she braced for the impact, and she heard the sick sound of flesh hitting flesh. Her eyes flew back open to see Loudoun holding Chris’s fist in his hand their grip no more than an inch from her face. “Move back,” he barked at Chris.
Chris’s face was ashen as he followed the command and May was stunned beyond speaking. “May,” he whispered.
“If you’ve need to hit me further, we shall step outside. I won’t swing back.” Loudoun was on his feet and so was she, though she had absolutely no idea how he’d gotten them both upright so quickly. He was tucking her behind him. “But you will not do anything that will endanger May.” He stepped closer to Chris. “I won’t have it.”
He cocked his head back to look at her and she could see that his cheek was already turning purple and May stepped up behind him to brush her fingers along the bruise. He grasped her fingers and kissed them. “Are you all right?”
“I am fine. It’s you I am worried about,” she murmured as she pressed her face into his back.
“You’re in love,” Chris stated, his voice flat and his eyes wide with shock.
“Yes,” Loudoun answered for them both. “I don’t blame you for thinking I am a poor choice. If my daughter brought a man like me home, I’d try to kill him too. But I love May, and I’ll do my best to care for her each and every day.”
Barrett stepped up then, clapping Chris on the back. “I’ll take your apology whenever you are ready to give it.”
A blush crept into Chris’s cheeks. May had never seen it before. “I was guilty of many of the sins I just accused you of before I met Lizzie. There is no better medicine for men like us other than a good woman.”
“Truer words,” Barrett grinned as he turned to pull his wife, Piper, into his embrace. “Now, let’s celebrate. Since you’re here, I feel much better about having this wedding post haste. Then we can all return to England, even you two.” He pointed at them and May grinned. Poor Loudoun. He’d gone from no father to multiple father-in-laws. “I know you’ll make your home here but I’d like to establish a pattern of visiting often.”
Loudoun gave a jerky nod. “What about the railroad deal?””
“You’ll get it done, even half a world away. I happen to know you are a determined man when you want to be.”
May grinned. He was indeed. Luckily for her, she was too, otherwise she might have given up.
EPILOGUE
May looked up at the dusky pink canopy of the bed and grinned to herself. The gentle swaying of the boat was near lulling her back to sleep as was the warm body of her husband pressed against her back.
They’d been married days before, and were now crossing the Atlantic to visit the rest of her family in England.
“Are you awake?” His husky voice feathered across her ear.
“Partly,” she grinned as she answered. “Someone kept me up well into the night and I am terribly sleepy.”
He chuckled, his hand moving up her side, skimming along her skin, sending shivers racing through her body. “I’d like to keep you up all morning too.”
Her breath caught, “It’s a good think we have our own ship. I wouldn’t have seen my family anyway,” she giggled as she turned her head to capture his lips.
“A wonderful gift indeed,” he grinned as he kissed her. “But a selfish one. He simply doesn’t want us to have an excuse not to visit him.”
She turned in his arms then, pressing her body to his. “Is my family terribly difficult for you?”
“I love that you have family. It will be wonderful.” His kisses grew longer, harder. “But it will be nice to live on a different continent entirely.”
A laugh burst from her chest. “You don’t want to move back to England?”
He grimaced but he her kissed slowly, lovingly. “I would for you, love.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she inhaled his scent. “I want to stay in America with you. That’s always been my dream.”
He pressed her closer. “Lady Loudoun, do you always get your way?”
Her breathing was coming in shorter gasps, but she tried to concentrate on their conversation. “Not always,” she breathed.
“Name one time that you haven’t.” He began kissing down her neck, and rolling her onto her back, began kissing lower.
“How could I think of anything with your lips upon me like that?” she bit back a moan, her body heating.
He chuckled then, slowing the pace. “I only fear it, because I won’t be able to deny you anything. Perhaps we should return to England just so Chris and Barrett can help me keep you in check. You’ll run roughshod over me.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” She giggled then. “Besides, once you put Alex in the mix, they never agree on anything. I often win by default.”
He sat up, looking down at her, his eyes twinkling. “I think I should be worried.” His lips come back to hers then. “But I can’t seem to make myself. I love you, May. Whatever I have is yours for the taking.”
She rubbed her nose to his, then reaching to the side table bolted to the ships wall, she pulled out the note he had written to her. “All I ever wanted was this. Your love is all I will ever need.” Their lips met again as their passion began climbing.
“I am yours, forever,” he spoke against her lips.
“And I am yours. I have been for the longest time and I will be always.”
No more words were needed as their bodies twined together.
CHECK OUT MY NEW SERIES!
More books from the Taming the Heart Series will be coming soon!! But in the meantime, here is a sneak peak from Tammy’s new series, A Laird to Love. The first book in the series, My Enemy My Earl will release in January 2018!
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MY ENEMY MY EARL
Lord Ewan McDougal took a deep breath of Scottish air as he trotted down the rutted road toward Kirkcaldy. It was so good to be back in his home country. Even with the misting rain, the fresh smell of spring flowers lifted his spirits. With any luck, he’d never step foot on soil that wasn’t Scottish again.
He doubted he’d ever have need to traipse over Europe or Asia after the war, so there was no real danger there, but England was another matter entirely. A Scot could get sucked onto English land despite his best intentions not to. And he had no intention of ever touching that country again.
Or any of its people, for that matter.
Do ye think we’ll be able to stop soon? I’m peckish.” Kieran McKenna grumbled next to him.
Ewan glared at his longtime companion and friend. They’d grown up together on neighboring parcels of land, had been drafted together, and had returned changed together. Kieran was like his tartan, he was rarely seen without the other man. “We just ate.”
Aye, but it’s raining.” Kieran looked as though his point ought to have been obvious.
So what?” Ewan gave him a look of bewilderment. “It’s Scotland. It’s always raining.”
After years of being cold and hungry, I’ve no tolerance for either.” Kieran shrugged.
It was difficult to argue with that. There were a lot of things he had no tolerance for after years of war. Loud noises near stole his sanity. He couldn’t stand the English, for example, who’d drafted him in the first place. And his ruined land, bare after five years of neglect. That drove him mad but at least his land he could repair. That was why he needed to get to Kirkaldy. From there it was a short ride to third cousin, Hamish McDougal’s castle. “You know I’ve got a bride to meet.”
Will she marry someone else if it takes an extra day?” Kieran wagged his eyebrows. “Besides, you know you’re devilish handsome. She’ll likely fall right into yer arms.”
Kieran wasn’t wrong. Women had long given him attention. Though Kieran was the more classically handsome man with his straight nose and piercing eyes, Ewan had always had a masculine look to which women responded. “It’s not that. You ken as well as anyone my land is in shambles. I need to marry to put it back together. Winter is comin’.”
It’s only spring.” Kieran winked. “But I know ye be wantin’ a lovely little Scottish lass with a nice full…dowry.”
Ewan tried not growl at his friend’s crass words. Although they were at least partly true. Fiona, his perspective bride, did come with a dowry and that coin would be verra helpful in repairing his lands. Fiona was a strong Scot woman, which would also come in handy.
They’d last seen each other ten years before, when she was but a child. She’d had a penchant for practical jokes, which had near driven him mad, but surely she’d grown out of that by now.
* * *
UP AHEAD HE spotted a carriage stopped and tilting precariously to one side. The driver was down on his knees in the muck attempting to repair the wheel. Poor sod.
Next to him stood a hooded figure with flowing skirts that had been sucked into the muck. He grimaced. The side of the road was no place for any lass to be. Especially not on a day like this.
I’m all for helpin’ women in need but it’s rainin’ harder still. We should keep movin’.” Kieran frowned more deeply. “Ye’re not going to stop are ye?”
The question did not dignify an answer. Dismounting, he led his horse toward the stranded travelers. As a soldier, he’d learned it was less intimidating when he approached on foot. Especially considering his height and the breadth of his shoulders. He frightened on horseback.
The driver looked up with a wary eye but Ewan offered him a smile. “Is it help ye be needin’?”
Aye, that’d be right nice.” The driver nodded.
You can go back in the carriage if ye like, lass.” Ewan gave her what he hoped was an sympathetic smile but he heard her huff her breath almost like it annoyed her that he’d said it.
If it’s all the same to you, I’ll stay,” she answered from under the hood, annoyance lacing her lilting voice.
Never mind that he admired a woman with enough pluck to stand out in the rain to fix a wheel. Something Kieran wasn’t willing to do, apparently. Or that she stayed even when she didn’t have to.
Her accent was English.
Dinna trouble yerself, lass.” The driver reached out to pat her like a child.
Ewan nodded his agreement. “I know an English woman like yerself doesn’t do this kind of thing normally.”
How would you know what I can or can’t do?”
He could just see her mouth below the edge of the hood. Perfect, full pink lips turned down into a frown.
Why had he thought words like perfect and full when he should be thinking ones like conniving and wretched? Wasn’t that what all the English were? Everyone he’d met when abroad at war certainly had been. Pushing the Scots to the front of the line to die in droves.
He was tempted to climb on his horse and keep riding. Kieran would be happy, anyway. Because he was not here to help the English. “An English miss fixing a wheel?”
He heard her hiss of breath. “Why not?”
Because the English are arrogant and entitled while still managing to be useless, because…
He knew he must be glaring at that remark and so, instead of answering, he turned away and looked at the wheel. The driver had a few broken spokes.
I don’t dare drive on a road this rutted with the wheel compromised and I always keep some extras. But I can’t quite get them in. Lady Clarissa was attempting to help me, which was greatly appreciated, but we’re not strong enough, the two of us. Your arms might just do the trick.” The driver gave him a wink.
Brawny men are good for something, I
suppose,” she mumbled in her haughty English accent that managed to make his strength and size sound like a detriment. His frown deepened. Worse than the insult, she was a lady. An unmarried one at that. He’d have to be careful not to give his own title or risk being hunted.
English ladies were always after unmarried titles. I didn’t seem to matter whether the man was honorable, rich, or kind, as long as he was titled.
He wasn’t just given to making false claims. It had actually been his experience. The ladies of London hadn’t paid him a lick of attention, well not that kind of attention, until he’d been awarded a title for his service. Then he’d been relentlessly pursued by young misses and their mamas. It had been an eye-opening experience that had made his ache for his own country even greater.
What is wrong with brawny men? Ye seem to be needin’ one right about now.” He knew it didn’t matter what she thought, but something about this woman was getting under his skin. He knelt down and the spokes popped easily into place. From this vantage point, he could see more of her face. Creamy skin and a pert little nose peeked out from under the hood.
They are often dim-witted and miraculously full of themselves,” she huffed.
He stood, now covered in a fair bit of mud himself. He was used to women blushing and smiling at him. Complimenting his strength, not insulting it. He brushed his dark, overlong hair behind his ears and looked at the English lass. “And English misses often think they ken everythin’ about everythin’. You don’t ken a thing about me.”
Part of him wanted to tell her he was an Earl as well as a decorated war hero. She should be falling at his feet not frowning at him. But he gave himself a mental shake. He didn’t care what this woman thought of him.
Taming a Rogue Earl: Taming the Heart Series Book 6 Page 11
