Suddenly, a harsh knock sounded at the door, and with a spark of hope, Marianne rushed to answer it, heaving the heavy oak door open to greet the roaring wind and the rain. A tall figure with a brown three-cornered hat emerged into the firelight. It was a very wet Troy, and he was carrying a very wet, unconscious Ruth in his arms.
Chapter Two
Marianne gasped, and simply pointed to the long couch that stood by the fire before she could find her words. She found her voice eventually as she shut the storm out behind them. “Troy! What has happened?”
Troy laid Ruth softly down upon the couch and stood up next to Marianne, taking off his sodden hat. Marianne knelt down next to her sister as best she could in her condition. Troy began breathlessly, “‘Tis my fault, Marianne. I was out walking in the rain, and I came upon her horse, scaring it tae high Heaven. It bumped her from its back, and she fell, hitting her head. We need tae see if she’s broken any bones. I can take a look, but we should call the doctor.”
“Of course!” Marianne rushed off to ask a servant to take the horse for the doctor before Troy could object to a pregnant woman rushing off to do anything.
After Marianne left the room, Troy knelt beside a sleeping Ruth. His boots squeaked with the movement, and he dripped water onto the rug. Ruth’s loose, reddish-brown hair was matted around her face, and he pushed it out of the way lightly with his fingertips. Her lovely pink mouth was slightly open, and Troy remarked how peaceful she looked as she lay on the sofa in her sodden, brown riding habit that clung a little too tightly to her chest and waist. He tried not to notice, but it was impossible.
Troy had never met someone as enticing as Ruth. Certainly, he had met with and bedded many an intriguing and beautiful woman, but Ruth was different. She struck him to the heart, her beauty fraught with layers and layers of something else he couldn’t quite identify.
He had avoided her eyes and her person for months on end, ever since he’d let himself slip and open up to her, asking her about her dreams for the future. She had looked positively gleeful, but he couldn’t let her in. He couldn’t stray from his goal and his life purpose.
But right now, he felt safe in her unconscious presence, for when she would open her eyes, it was as if he would be pinned to the wall, her seeing everything about him and making him feel things he did not want to feel, things which he refused to feel if he wanted to keep himself on the right path. He sighed and said quietly, “Och, lass,” the longing building in his chest.
Ruth’s eyes slowly flickered open and pierced into Troy’s, their soft brown depths gazing up at him. A lazy smile spread across Ruth’s face as she took in Troy. His fingertips were still on the side of her face, and he didn’t remove them right away. She saw his rough beard and his beautiful green eyes that seemed to stand out even more with the closeness of his person. She could see tiny droplets of water that dripped from his wet, brown hair, down his cheeks, and onto his shoulders, his very broad, firm shoulders. She took in his whole form. The man was pure muscle. She thought maybe she was having a dream. It felt like a deep, delicious dream because Troy did not remove his eyes from hers as he had so often in the past.
A cleared throat from behind them surprised Troy into standing up. He turned to see William Fraser with his arms crossed. “And what are ye doing, lad?” He said with a smirk and one eyebrow raised.
Troy, slightly embarrassed, motioned to Ruth on the couch. William rushed over. “What’s happened, ye wild girl? Are ye all right?”
Ruth smiled and attempted to sit up, but then lay back again, laying a hand on her arm, a grimace on her face. “Ah, everything seems to hurt, I see. I fell off Emerald in the rain, and then, I don’t remember what happened.” She turned to Troy, her voice softening. “Why are you here?”
William laughed as he noted his sister’s demure expression, reserved only for Troy. “Och, sister, ye have a way with words. From what I gather, Troy is the one who rescued ye from yer dangerous adventure and brought ye back tae us. Is that right, Troy?”
Troy coughed. “Aye.” He looked at Ruth again, and she felt an enjoyable tingle at his repeated gaze. “I must apologize, Ruth, for I was walking in the rain, and my presence must have surprised Emerald.”
She waved a hand in response as if to say it was no matter. “All is well, Mr. Ferguson. I must thank you for rescuing me. I must look to be quite the damsel in distress, not the preferred role I’d like to play, but I have you to blame for that.” She smiled, and Troy smiled back.
Marianne had just returned and heard the end of her sentence. “Ruth! Can we not be kind to the minister?”
Troy chuckled. “I believe she is making a joke at my expense. That will teach me not to walk in the rain anymore.”
William stood to place a warm arm around Marianne. Marianne said, “The doctor has been fetched.”
Troy stepped forward again. “If ye both don’t mind, I’ve a bit of medical experience meself. I could take a look at the bone and can try tae set it. We dinnae want the swelling tae become too much.”
William smirked, and Marianne smiled. They glanced at each other briefly. “Of course, Troy. If you feel you have the expertise.”
Troy knelt down beside Ruth once again, and Ruth’s heart gave a little flutter. Troy was about to touch her. Again. She was afraid he would hear her heart pounding in her chest, and she did not want the embarrassment, but his voice and expression soothed her.
“Dinnae worry. I have done this many times before.” He turned to Ruth whose eyes were already on him. He reached out his hands. “May I, lass?” He said softly and tenderly, and Ruth had to will herself not to melt. This man had ignored her for months and suddenly he was being so kind, loving, and dare she say it, sensual?
“Of course,” she seemed to whisper back, and he grinned before taking her arm in his hands. He felt the bone of her lower arm and watched her face as she winced.
“I’m sorry tae hurt ye, but I’m tryin’ tae find the break.”
Ruth willed herself to not feel pain. She would not look womanly and weak in front of this man! She gritted her teeth and used her words instead of her expression to convey her pain. “There! That is where it hurts the most.”
He nodded. “Well, ye are a lucky one, no thanks tae me. The bone has not come loose from its path, but there may a slight crack in it. We will just need tae wrap it, and ye’ll need tae rest as ye’ve hurt yer head as well. How can I ever make amends?”
You could kiss me. The thought came to her unbidden, and her eyes opened wide at her own salaciousness. Troy drew back, surprised. “Have I said something wrong?”
She shook her head, “No, no.” She coughed. “Thank you.”
Marianne perked up. “I have an idea. Not that you need to make amends, Troy, but Ruth will be needing a little assistance now that she is injured. She is planning the May Day festival. Would you be interested in helping her out? I know you have your own part to play in it, but everyone else is busy.”
He stood up and moved his hand through his wet, brown hair. He paused for a moment. That would mean he’d need to spend more time with Ruth, and he was not sure he wanted to do that. Well, he wanted to, but he wasn’t sure he should.
“Aye...I could do that.”
Ruth’s eager face dimmed slightly at his hesitation, but she was grateful to Marianne for her brilliant idea. She knew that Marianne would not stand in the way of love! She would have to thank her later.
Ruth smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Ferguson. I would be most grateful for your assistance. Party planning is not quite my forte, as it were.”
He nodded, and then changed the subject. “Well, I will take my leave of ye all. Even though there is no break, I think ‘twould be best for the doctor tae examine her properly as well. I am no physician.”
He needed to go. He had now tied himself to working with this woman for the next few weeks, so he would need to think of a new plan of keeping his ideas and forbidden thoughts at bay while they worked closely together.
Her smile and eager expression only strengthened his resolve to leave quickly. She was so endearing and sweet. He had never heard a woman speak as she did. Ever since the first night when she’d told him of her dream to travel, Troy had felt the desire to bring her into his arms; but that could not be. First of all, that was no way for a minister to act with a member of his congregation. And secondly, he couldn’t afford such behavior. That life was behind him now and everything that came with it: the bawdy women, the reckless behavior, the fighting, the overindulgence. He wasn’t that man anymore. He had to make up for his past, and so he edged towards the door, hopeful the family would let him leave without too much argument.
Marianne replied, “Oh, will ye not stay for tea? Or some wine? It is a long journey back in the rain and the cold! ‘Twould not be right of me to release you into the wilds.”
He chuckled nervously and brushed through his wet hair again before donning his wet cap. “Please dinnae worry about me, Marianne. I am a seasoned rain-walker, and I shall find my way well enough.”
Ruth sat up quickly and then winced again in pain. “Oh, and Emerald? Where is she? Is she all right?”
“Aye, she is well, lass. She rests in her stable, dry now. She hadn’t gone far. Poor thing, I think she felt a bit of guilt for kicking ye off her back.”
“Ahh, well I will go and see her as soon as I feel ready to, to let her know that everything is fine. But she’ll have to do her best to stay clear of you in future though.”
Troy smiled at her grin and felt a tinge of something. Was it desire? He didn’t want to explore that idea. This woman was trouble.
“And before you go, may I ask what makes a man wander about in the dark and the rain?” Ruth’s right eyebrow raised in question.
William joined in. “Aye, I’m curious as well. Ye’ve not said such a thing before tae us, lad.”
Troy searched around for a reason. Because I’ve spent many years aboard a pirate ship? No, that would not do. He centered upon an idea. “Och, I thought ‘twas the Scottish way. We’ve no respite from the rain for most of the year, so I took it upon meself to fight back against it.” He shrugged and pulled his wet coat back over his shoulders.
The family laughed at his answer, but Ruth had seen his hesitation and the concern in his eyes as he searched for an acceptable response.
“Goodnight tae ye all.” He nodded, grinning with that beautiful smile of his. “And I will hear about yer progress from William, I hope.” He looked at Ruth briefly.
“Aye,” William replied gruffly and turned back to see Ruth.
Marianne said, “Thank you again, Troy!”
“Yes, thank you...Troy. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” Ruth stared at Troy across the room, willing him to stay and stop being so ridiculous, but he only bowed his head, and before giving her one last glance, slipped out into the night, shutting the heavy door behind him.
Ruth leaned back against the sofa, letting out a sigh. What was this man hiding? Well, she had all of the weeks preparing for the May Day festival to find out.
Chapter Three
Marianne sat across from Amelia in the parlor at Kinnaird Castle, home to Laird Jamie and Lady Amelia Kinnaird of the Kinnaird Clan. They had been best friends since their childhood in London, and both of them had recently fallen in love with Scotsmen. Amelia moved to Scotland for financial reasons and met Jamie, the laird of the clan, and fell passionately in love. Marianne came to visit her, and she fell deeply for his best friend, William Fraser. Now they were comfortably settled in the Highland hills, far away from the condemning London society, discussing Ruth.
Marianne sighed. “I do not know what has happened to make her so suddenly downtrodden and depressed. It’s as if I can’t do anything right!”
There was a squeal of laughter and a young James Kinnaird ran through the hall to his mother’s arms, his father running after him. Amelia beamed at her son. Marianne smiled and touched a hand to her own growing belly.
Amelia pointed to Marianne after she collected James into her arms. “Look at Aunt Marianne, dear. You will soon have a cousin to play with!”
Jamie ran up to the pair of women, breathless. “This lad is bound tae kill me, Amelia. He’s more energy than I know what tae do with.”
Amelia chuckled. “Well, then we must be grateful to Marianne for bringing James a cousin to play with.”
Little James clapped his hands. “Cousin!” Jamie leaned down to give his wife a kiss and lingered just a bit too long before Amelia pushed his shoulders away.
“Jamie! We have a guest!” But her face gave away her true enjoyment at having such an affectionate husband.
“‘Tis only Marianne! She is more like family than a guest. And I’m sure if William were in the room, he’d do the same tae her!” He laughed.
William suddenly entered from the side hall. “Aye, yer right, lad. A man shouldnae leave his wife unkissed. Not for one day.”
Marianne blushed a little and smiled as William came up to her and kissed her on the lips before pulling away to look into her eyes.
Amelia brought everyone back to attention. “Well, now that everyone in the room is well and kissed,” she gave little James a kiss on his pudgy cheek, “can we not all discuss the matter at hand-Ruth’s discontent?”
William sighed. “Jamie and I have tae continue with work in the study. We’ll let ye both handle it. “Wild Ruth has been a common topic in our household these many weeks.”
Marianne nodded. “Yes, Amelia, you and I can discuss it. Women know how to deal with such matters.” She threw William a dark look, who laughed heartedly at his wife’s frustration.
She rolled her eyes and turned back to Amelia. “I understand that she’s always wanted to travel and see new things, but I thought Scotland would be enough of an adventure.”
Amelia sat back. “Perhaps not. Is there nowhere we could take her or send her?”
“I’m not sure we have many friends in London after what happened, between the pair of us.” The two of them laughed morbidly at their pasts. Amelia had left in disgrace after her wealthy father had gambled her inheritance away. Marianne left with Ruth under the cover of night to escape a forced marriage and a restrictive father. Neither of them would be very welcome back in their home city.
‘Besides, I do not think she would be satisfied with London.”
“‘Tis too bad. My parents and Fiona have already headed to London for a brief visit to Fiona’s friends and have asked Jamie and I to accompany them. After May Day, of course.” Amelia’s parents, Lord and Lady Parker, had come to live with Amelia and Jamie after Jamie used his wealth to free Lord Parker from debtor’s prison. Now Amelia replaced that wealth many times over with her earnings from her work as a published poetess. Fiona, the former Lady Kinnaird, was Jamie’s mother, who had become close with the Parkers since the marriage of her son.
“Truly? They did not even say goodbye! Oh no, what shall I do without you? Be left with an unsatisfied Ruth, I suppose.”
Amelia laughed. “They wanted me to let you know. They apologized for their quick departure. Do not yet give in to despair! Let us think on it for a while. Perhaps a holiday somewhere new for Ruth would suffice.”
“Perhaps, but I doubt it. She keeps mentioning an expedition across the sea.”
Amelia chuckled. “But, is this not what is so endearing about Ruth? She has all of these ideas, dreams, and plans? She is so different from everyone else, and that is why Jamie’s and William’s nickname of ‘wild Ruth’ is so very apt.”
Marianne nodded. “True. I just wish I could find a way to comfort her. I am afraid if I let her go away, something will happen to her, or worse. She might never come back. But I forgot to tell you…”
Amelia’s eyes widened. She was desperate for any scrap of gossip she could get her hands on since she left London and since she had been semi-confined during her pregnancy. “What happened?”
Marianne smiled and pushed a strand of auburn hai
r out of her face. She loved to see her beautiful blonde friend on tenterhooks, and she savored the moment as long as she could. “Ruth took a fall last night on her horse, which is not the good part, of course.”
Amelia’s hand flew to her chest. “Is she recovered? Why did you not say earlier?”
“The doctor said there is a slight fracture and concussion, but she will be well soon. She must rest. But, there is something even more interesting.”
“Amelia gripped onto little James tightly until he squealed and asked to be let down. His nanny approached the chair and took him away. “What is it? Marianne, you are getting too much enjoyment out of my growing need for gossip in this isolated place!”
Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3) Page 2
