Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2)

by Constance O'Banyon

  "Oh, yes, Father, very certain."

  Kassidy and Michael came to Arrian and hugged her. Warrick felt like an outsider, a spoiler, and suddenly he had an aching need to gain the respect of the DeWinter family.

  At last Kassidy came to Warrick and took his hand. "You will be taking our most precious jewel, Warrick. I beg you to treat her with gentleness."

  "You have my word on that."

  "Michael has expressed a wish to go to Ironworth and remain with Arrian until the baby is born. I will also be sending my maid, Elspeth. Is this satisfactory to you?"

  Warrick could hardly contain his elation. He had not expected Arrian to agree to go with him, or her family to relent so easily. What did it matter if others came also? "That is acceptable."

  "Raile and I must return home at this time. But we will come to Ironworth before the birth of the baby."

  Warrick nodded. "I'm sure Arrian will want her family around her at such a time."

  Raile was not so easy on Warrick. "In my eyes you don't deserve any consideration. However, my wife and daughter seem to feel differently. Perhaps they know a side of you I haven't yet seen. But be warned, Warrick, if Arrian isn't treated with kindness and respect, I won't need His Majesty to pass judgment on you—I'll do that myself."

  Warrick's face seemed carved out of stone. "I'll do my duty by Arrian. But I will not answer to you for anything, Your Grace. You cannot buy me with your money, and you cannot impress me with power."

  Raile's eyes hardened with anger, but there was also a growing admiration for the young Scottish chief. Certainly he was more impressed with this man who spoke his mind than he'd been with Ian Maclvors, who was secretive and cunning.

  "Now," Michael said, "I'm going to rescue my new brother-in-law and show him the workings of the Nightingale. We get underway within the hour. We'll just go above and tell Captain Norris to chart a new course."

  "I won't be sailing with you," Warrick said.

  "You must," Kassidy told him. "A long carriage ride would not be good for Arrian at this time."

  "I cannot go with you," Warrick explained. "My men are waiting for me in Edinburgh." He turned to Arrian. "We will next meet at Ironworth. It is a three-day ride, so you may arrive ahead of me."

  Kassidy drew Warrick's attention. "Come with us and allow my husband this time to get to know you better. He is a father who loves his daughter. Surely you can cede on this one point—you won all the others."

  "I'm sorry, Your Grace, but I must decline. I believe Arrian would benefit by these few days alone with her family."

  "Perhaps you are right," Kassidy said.

  "I would like to see Arrian alone now, if you don't mind," Warrick said.

  "I'll walk with you on deck," Arrian said.

  He wished her family a pleasant voyage and followed Arrian up the companionway.

  They stood on the deck of the Nightingale, watching the sun as it appeared to sink into the sea. Neither seemed able to put their thoughts into words until Warrick spoke. "I never dared hope you would come home with me."

  The sun hit her golden hair with a halo of light. "I have little choice, Warrick. We have to put our feelings aside and think of the baby."

  "Yes, the child."

  She gripped the railing, unable to look at him. "My family was very hard on you."

  "It was to be expected. I deserved their contempt and distrust." He looked down at her. "Arrian, I have known little softness in my life, and certainly not the love and affection you have with your family. All I have known is how to fight and how to hate. I don't know if I can change."

  Oh, how she wanted him to take her in his arms and say he loved her, that she would soften him and teach him to love. "I will try to make you a good wife," she said.

  "I am ashamed of many things I have done to you. I can't tell you how I felt today when you came to my rescue with Lord Thorndike. You should have hated me and wanted to see me suffer. I have never met anyone like you."

  Arrian managed to smile. "I have always been the champion of lost causes."

  He returned her smile. "Am I a lost cause?"

  "I don't know," she admitted in all honesty. "I hope not."

  "Now that I have met your family, I can see the extraordinary bond you have with them."

  "Did you know that I was adopted?"

  He stared at her in shocked surprise. "You never told me that."

  "My mother died the day I was born. You see, she was Kassidy's only sister, so she and I already had a bond almost from the first. My real father was Raile's half brother."

  "I never suspected."

  "Before I had reached my second birthday, my real father died, unexpectedly and rather heroically. I won't go into the details because I still don't like to think about it. I have always known that I belonged, and I never doubted that I was loved."

  "I'll be good to you, Arrian."

  Arrian wanted to take his face between her hands and kiss away the sadness she saw there. "I believe this child may teach you to love, Warrick."

  There was a tightness in his throat, and his voice was deep with emotion. "I feel very humble, Arrian. I'm not worthy of a second chance, since I got you by trickery."

  She was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke her voice came out in a whisper. "Sometimes, Warrick, we are guided by Providence, and we have little control where our lives will take us. I still have doubts about you. But it took a lot of courage for you to come here today, and I admire that."

  It was painful being so near her and feeling as if he had no right to touch her. "I hope I never give you cause to regret your decision today."

  She laced her fingers together and stared at the distant lights of Edinburgh. She knew he would be leaving soon, and she didn't want to be parted from him. "Are you sure you won't reconsider sailing with us on the Nightingale?"

  "I must decline. But tell me, why is the ship called the Nightingale?" he asked, wanting to delay his departure.

  "That is a secret shared only by my mother and father. It's something personal between them that they don't seem inclined to share with anyone, not even Michael and me."

  "I have never seen more love and respect between a husband and wife than there is with your mother and father, Arrian. As I remember, it wasn't that way between my parents."

  "Having grown up under the protection of that love, I cannot imagine it being otherwise." She raised her face to him and saw the dying rays of the sun played across his dark hair. "I wish the same for this child, Warrick."

  "Do you think you would have had a good marriage with Ian? Did I cheat you of the life you wanted with him?"

  How could she make him understand that Ian was not the man she had supposed him to be. "I can never know. Mother says one must take the hand life deals them."

  There were words he wanted to say to her, but he could not give them voice. "I want to make everything beautiful for you. I wish we could go back to that first day we met. How different it could have been."

  Warrick's face was half hidden by the shadow cast by the rippling canvas sail. Her hand was clasped in his, and Arrian wished she could move into his arms and have him hold her. She wanted to hear how he truly felt about the baby—and about her.

  "We cannot go back, Warrick. But what would you do if we could?"

  He didn't even hesitate, although the words brought him pain. "I would have let you go without planting my seed in your body."

  That was not what she had wanted to hear. "It's too late for that, isn't it? I don't feel pity for you because you are bound to a wife and baby you don't want. This was your doing, Warrick."

  He released her hand and gripped the railing so hard his knuckles whitened. "Arrian, I don't—"

  She felt the cold wind against her cheek and pulled her shawl closer to her for warmth. "I believe you should leave now, Warrick. We will soon be getting underway."

  He stared into her eyes for a long moment and then turned away. As he stepped onto the gangplank a man was boa
rding the Nightingale, and Warrick moved aside to allow him to pass.

  Arrian watched Warrick leave the ship without a backward glance. Her attention was drawn to the newcomer, whom she recognized as Ian's valet.

  "Lady Arrian, I have come with a message from Lord Ian."

  Absently she took the packet from the man and went below to her cabin, where she laid lan's message aside, unopened.

  * * *

  That night Warrick stood in the shadow of a warehouse watching the Nightingale's sails catch the wind. With Mactavish at his side, he turned his horse homeward. If he rode hard perhaps he would reach Iron-worth before Arrian arrived.

  28

  It was an overcast day when the Nightingale dropped anchor off the coast of Glencarin. Raile and Kassidy had decided not to accompany Arrian ashore.

  They both watched Michael hand Arrian into the longboat with tenderness and then tuck a wrap about her. "Our son will watch over her," Kassidy assured Raile.

  "Are you so sure Lord Warrick is the right man for her? Arrian could have chosen from dozens of suitors from the best of families."

  "But she wants this man, Raile. In many ways Warrick reminds me of you when we first met."

  "Do you suppose our daughter will smooth his rough edges the way you did mine?"

  Kassidy laughed. "I didn't smooth your rough edges, dearest, I merely clipped your wandering wings."

  Raile watched the figures in the boat grow smaller and smaller. "I pray to God he's good to her."

  "He will be," Kassidy said. "He loves her desperately. I only hope he finds the courage to tell her."

  Warrick watched from the castle while Arrian and Michael stood on the cliff to wave to their parents as the Nightingale caught the evening tide. Even now he couldn't believe she had actually come to him. He had feared she might change her mind at the last moment.

  His boots were mud splattered, and he needed a shave. He had ridden day and night so that he would arrive ahead of Arrian. Now that she was here, he could rest.

  "Haddy, welcome Lady Arrian and her brother, Lord Michael. Tell them I will see them at dinner."

  Wearily, he went to his room. Without undressing or removing his muddy boots, he lay on the bed and immediately fell into an exhausted sleep.

  Arrian was sad to see her mother and father leave, but this was where she belonged—to this land and to the man who was its laird.

  As the sun set, the sea and sky seemed to merge as one. Arrian turned her gaze to the heather-covered mountains that looked as if nature had splashed them with a purple paint brush. She breathed in the fresh, crisp air and smiled at her brother.

  "Isn't it wonderful here? The beauty is such that it takes my breath away."

  Elspeth's feet sank into the sand, and she looked disgruntled. "I never liked Scotland."

  "I believe it's different from anywhere we've traveled," Michael said. "I have this urge to see many places, Arrian."

  "You are growing up, Michael. Soon Father will be giving you more responsibilities."

  "I know." He hugged her. "But that's not today. How shall I pass my time here?"

  "I'm told the hunting is good. And," she smiled with mischief, "you might want to challenge Warrick to a game of chess. I defeated him."

  "Arrian, surely you didn't use those moves Father showed you, did you?"

  She laughed. "He was far too arrogant and needed to be taught a lesson."

  At that moment Tam and several servants arrived to transport their trunks to the castle. Elspeth directed them with her usual sternness.

  "Do you wish ta ride, m'lady?" Tam asked.

  "No," she told him. "It's such a glorious day, my brother and I shall walk."

  "Not I," Elspeth said, climbing into the wagon.

  Taking Michael's hand, Arrian pulled him up the stone steps that led up to the castle.

  "When we were children I thought our family would always be together. Now we are about to be scattered to the four winds. Aunt Mary in London. Mother and Father at Ravenworth, and I in Scotland. Where will you be, Michael?"

  "Times change, Arrian, and people change with it. But it matters not where our family goes, we will always be bound together by a special bond."

  "Yes. I believe that also."

  Arrian found, to her surprise, a warm reception from Mrs. Haddington and Barra. She had not expected Warrick to arrive ahead of them, but she was told that he was in his bedroom. She wondered why he had not come down to welcome her.

  Arrian no longer occupied Gwendolyn's room but had been moved into the master suite, where her bedchamber and Warrick's were connected by a sitting room.

  It had been a long day, and Arrian slipped between crisp, white sheets, aching with weariness.

  Elspeth placed a tray on Arrian's lap and then went to stoke the fire. "You need to eat a bit before you sleep."

  Arrian groaned. "I don't want to, Elspeth, take it away. When will this sickness pass?"

  "In a few weeks, m'lady. Would you want me to sit with you for a time?"

  "No. I just want to sleep. I realize now how miserable Aunt Mary must have felt when she was seasick."

  "I'll just go below and speak to the housekeeper. She's ranting that I'm taking her place and I want to assure her I'm doing nothing of the kind. I only told her she should employ some of the women from the village. You'll be needing more help to run this place properly."

  "Mrs. Haddington is nice when you get to know her, Elspeth."

  "I'll soothe her and make certain she knows I'm only here to help."

  "You'll do well with her. It's the English and Maclvors she doesn't like."

  "She has a liking for you, m'lady."

  Arrian yawned, burying her head in the pillow. "Does she? I would have thought otherwise."

  Elspeth left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

  Arrian's eyes fell on the packet Elspeth had placed beside her bed. She had forgotten all about the message that had been delivered to her on board the Nightingale. She reached for it now and tore it open, not really wanting to read anything from Ian. To her surprise the ruby betrothal ring fell into her hand. She stared at it now, feeling as if it were almost a thing of evil. Her hand trembled as she read his scrawled words.

  My dearest love,

  I return my ring to you, wanting you to keep it as a reminder of the love we once shared. I am confident you will one day slip the ring back on your finger and we will be husband and wife as God intended us to be. Until that day, I remain the man who loves you more than life.

  There was a light rap on the connecting doors. She knew it would be Warrick.

  She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, excited that he had come to her at last.

  He entered, looking strangely uncomfortable. "Do you mind if I sit and talk to you for a moment?"

  Her gaze ran over him. His dark hair was wet as if he'd just bathed. "No, of course not."

  "I trust you had a smooth voyage. I apologize for not welcoming you on your arrival."

  There was a heavy silence.

  "You must have ridden hard to arrive so soon," she finally said.

  "Yes, I did. I hope you find these rooms comfortable." He looked around, for the first time realizing how shabby they must seem to her.

  "I find them very pleasant, Warrick."

  He saw the letter she clutched in her hand. "Correspondence so soon?" he asked, assuming it would be from her mother.

  She opened her hand and the Maclvors betrothal ring glittered in her palm. "It's from Ian. It arrived just after you left the Nightingale."

  He stared at the ring he detested. There was coldness in his voice when he spoke. "I'm sorry if I've intruded on your memories of Ian Maclvors. Does he pour out his heart to you in the letter? As for the ring, I'd rather you wore it for all to see than have you cry over it in private."

  "Ian is having a difficult time—"

  He came to his feet with fury in his eyes. "Spare me. It's apparent that you sleep with his letter
and his ring. Do you also sleep with your memories of him?"

  "Warrick, you don't understand. I—"

  "Oh, I understand. Don't worry that I'll intrude on your private memories. Deliver my child, then you can go back to the man you love, or to hell for all I care."

  She struggled for something to say that would clear up this misunderstanding. She held the ring out to him. "I don't want—"

  Warrick walked to the door and stood looking at her for a long moment. "I forced you to marry me, and I implored you to return because of the child. Have no fear, I will not force my company upon you. You will be left alone with your memories."

  He hesitated at the door, as if reluctant to leave. But she turned away from him. "I just want to be alone," she said.

  Arrian watched him leave the room and close the door behind him.

  He had assumed the worst and had not even allowed her to explain. She had envisioned this reunion quite differently. In her foolish heart she had thought he would come to her with words of love. Instead he had been hard and accusing.

  What demons were driving him? Would he ever be able to put his distrust aside and accept her love?

  The weather turned gloriously warm.

  Arrian went down the stairs to join Michael, who was waiting for her with the horses for their daily ride. As she passed the salon, she noticed that workmen were rolling up the tattered rug.

  "Mrs. Haddington, what are they doing?" Arrian asked the housekeeper, who was watching the workers to make certain they didn't break anything.

  "We're having a housecleaning. Taking all the rugs and draperies up and having women from the village come in to help clean." Mrs. Haddington looked disapprovingly toward the library. "His lordship's engaged that Mrs. Robertson to help oversee the villagers' work."

  Arrian felt her temper rising. "And why is that?"

  "I don't rightly know, m'lady."

  At that moment the library door opened and Arrian saw Louise Robertson carrying an armload of draperies. Mrs. Haddington sniffed and mumbled under her breath. "She reaches above her station. Thinks she's lady of the manor."