Troy’s face began to redden with anger, but he knew he had to remain calm if he wanted to convince Dougal of the lie about the cross. He would give him the false location. “What business is it of yorn?”
Dougal put his hands behind his back and began to walk around. He idly picked at one of the meadow grasses and began twisting it between his fingers. “None o’ course, lad. Put yer pricker where ye like. But what interests me is that it’ll be a sight lot harder tae get her tae come with me now that she’s allowing ye tae bed her. Not impossible, but harder. And of course, there is the problem of the cross.”
Dougal stared hard at Troy, whose face was unmoved, although so many emotions raged inside of him, fighting to be freed. “I promised ye I’d be back tae get it from ye. Now, what is yer choice? The girl or the cross?”
Troy paused and prayed silently that this would work. It would at least deter Dougal for a while until he could think of a better solution. He began to speak.
“Speak up!” Dougal replied. “Not afraid, are ye?” He moved closer to Troy, the confident smile replaced with a dark look.
Troy began again, louder. “I shall give ye the cross. But ye will have tae dig for it yerself.”
Dougal laughed. “Och, yer tiny revenge bothers me not. Where is it?” He made a move to grab Troy by the shirt, but he pulled away quickly. Troy was satisfied. He knew Dougal’s pride had been hurt by his loss in the fight. He would not so easily attempt to hurt Troy physically again.
“I have hidden it by the May Pole in the ground. I wanted it out of my rooms, so that ye did not take it upon yerself tae go digging around and desecrate the church in the process. But ye will have tae wait until nightfall for the tree is visible to many during the light of day. I have hidden it deep, deep within the earth.”
Dougal looked satisfied. “Holy man now, aren’t ye? Blathering on about desecration. Aye, I shall go at night tae dig deep. Deep in the earth. As deep as yer pricker was in the lass last night.”
Troy made a motion to push Dougal, but then stopped. Dougal burst into laughter. This bitch has a real hold on ye, does she not? Good to know.” He bowed low. “Thank ye, minister Ferguson, for yer excellent help in recovering the treasure of my crew. Yer debt has been paid.” He chuckled to himself as he walked off. Troy stared after him, relieved for the moment, but he knew he would have to think of something after that. Dougal now had him in a dangerous position.
* * *
Ruth was riding in the late sunlight towards Kinnaird Castle, her heart in her throat. She had changed her dress to a dark blue, concerned about looking beautiful for Troy. She kept wringing her hands and biting her lip as she attempted to weave flowers into her hair again. She knew Troy liked that.
She hated the way she was being such a simpering fool, but she didn’t care. She was so eager to be with him again, and to be learning more about navigation. She wondered how he had come to have such experience with it in the past, but she put that down to the fact that he was a man and a minister, a sign that he was most likely well-educated.
She had to stop herself from galloping. She did not want to appear so eager that her feelings would be revealed to him so openly. She still wasn’t sure about anything except the fact that she wanted to hear his voice again, be near him again, and for him to make love to her again.
She had told Marianne and William that she would be going to the library to find new books, which was partially true, but William had looked at her oddly and smirked. But he did not question her. She whisked herself away towards the stables to saddle beautiful Emerald once more. It had been so long since she’d ridden after the accident, but she knew she’d need a horse if she was to return to William’s house at dusk.
Soon the castle came into view, and she rode to the stables. Once she arrived, she jumped off hurriedly and thanked the groom, scurrying away to the castle entrance. Once she entered the hall, the door having been opened by a servant, she took a deep breath to calm her excitement. The space felt so large and empty without the Kinnairds present, but she knew they would enjoy her making use of their well-stocked library while they were away.
She made her way upstairs, creeping quietly, her heart beating faster and faster the closer she got to the library. Would they kiss or more? Would he even want to? Or maybe he had changed his mind? Again, and again. She comforted herself with the memory of his words in the woods. No, he wanted her.
She finally arrived to see Troy hunched over a desk by the window. It was open, and a fresh breeze blew in, making the dusty, dark library just a little bit fresher. She cleared her throat, and he turned at the sound, smiling.
He stood and bowed. “Miss Ruth. So glad tae have ye as a pupil.”
She curtsied. “Why, thank ye, Minister Ferguson. It is such an honor tae be learning from yer vast experiences. Tell me, how do ye know so much about navigation?” She was enjoying their joke, but she faltered when she saw a little concern cross his face. He quickly recovered.
“‘Tis an interest of mine as well, and so I studied it for many years. Come,” he held out his hand to her. She took it, and when their fingertips touched, she felt that same heat and energy. They sat down together, and Troy didn’t take his eyes off of her.
“Ye look lovely, lass. More flowers in yer hair?”
She placed her fingertips on them and smiled. “Yes. I thought...well, I thought you rather liked them.”
“That I do,” he said softly. After a pause when they hadn’t spoken and merely looked at each other, he said, “If ye dinnae stop looking at me like that and dinnae start reading right now, I may just push ye up against that bookshelf and make love tae ye again ‘til yer calling out my name just as ye did before.” His voice was gruff, yet seductive.
She chuckled, blushing furiously. That was just what she wanted, but she knew she wanted this too. She did not want to miss out on the opportunity to glean as much knowledge as she could because she let the feelings of her body get in the way. How foolish.
She looked down, demurely, fluttering her eyelashes in mocking flirtation. “Of course, Sir. Let us begin.”
He exhaled, and then opened up to the page of the book Ruth had been reading the other day. “‘Tis an exciting time for navigation, this century. There have been many improvements, and so sailors and travelers and mapmakers have been able tae make their journeys more easily. Ye were looking at Hadley’s octant the other day in the meadow, and that has just been improved recently. It is now the sextant, able tae calculate lunar distances.”
Ruth was enraptured. Not only was this man driving her wild with lust, as she watched his lips move and felt his skin so close to hers, but he was also discussing a treasured subject. He was treating her like his equal in academic ability and understanding. He did not think women had no place in learning. Not anymore. He was allowing her into his world, and her heart swelled with affection for him. But she had to try to keep her focus on the topic at hand.
She returned her eyes to the page. “Why would we need that?”
Troy continued, his expression growing more excited with each new sentence. “We are still searching for better ways tae measure longitude. There is a reward out for the man, or woman,” Troy winked, “who could find a way tae measure it more accurately. For now, we must calculate lunar distances with the sextant, tae get as close as possible.”
Ruth leaned her head on her fist as she watched Troy continue to speak, looking down at the page when he motioned to it. She thought in that moment, that maybe, just maybe, she was falling in love with Troy Ferguson.
* * *
An hour or so later, Ruth looked up to notice that the sun was slowly fading. She pointed it out to Troy. “I must return. ‘Twould not be proper for me to stay so late alone in an empty castle and have to ride back in the dark.”
Troy turned to her in the chair grinning. “Since when did ye do anything proper, Ruth Browne?”
Ruth gasped and crossed her arms in faux anger. “Well, I do not believe y
ou are one to be discussing improper behavior, Mr. Ferguson. Or did you forget that you are the minister, with women pining after you, hoping you bring them to the altar?”
Ruth wasn’t sure why she mentioned that, and so she felt a little nervous as Troy began to eye her hungrily. He leaned over and said in a low voice. “I care not for any of the other women. There is only one, and she already consumes my senses.”
Ruth let out a breath, watching the desire fill his eyes, and she grabbed him around the neck and kissed him hard.
She pulled away quickly, suddenly shy once again. Why did she keep changing from confident vixen to shy, reluctant maiden? It frustrated her. But before she could resolve this personality issue, Troy drew her to him and lifted her to stand quickly, kissing her back as passionately as she had begun it. She opened her mouth once more, feeling the warm, melting feeling come over her again.
Without breaking the kiss, Troy lifted her up on the desk, pushing the papers and books to the floor with a crash. She pulled away, “What if the servants catch us?”
“Let them,” Troy said against her lips. “I care for naught but tae hear ye come tae yer pleasure again.”
Ruth’s desire was spurred even higher as he possessed her mouth once more, and she felt his cock stir against her center. She placed her hand there and was thrilled to feel his manhood underneath her fingers. “You are so...large,” she whispered to him as he kissed a line of fire down her neck.
“I’m glad ye think so, lass.” He laughed and continued to kiss her. Emboldened by the new knowledge she had gained and the heat of the moment, Ruth pulled up her skirts. Troy pulled away and grinned, moving his hands up her legs, to feel beneath her underclothes. “Ye are so wet for me.”
“That’s good, right?” She looked concerned, hoping it was something he liked.
He swallowed, “Aye,” and pushed a finger inside again to be met with a whimper from Ruth.
“I want you inside of me again, Troy Ferguson. I want you to take me upon the sea once more, where I can ride the waves of passion.”
Troy smirked to himself. The sea. An interesting comparison and very apropos. He untied his breeches, and centered himself between her thighs, grabbing onto her backside. Ruth placed her arms around his hips, and he pushed forward, deeply entering her, and Ruth cried out in pleasure.
She kissed him gently on the lips. “I will never tire of that, Mr. Ferguson.” He smiled and began to move his hips in a rhythm. Their breaths quickened, and Ruth clasped onto him tightly, taking the time to savor this moment of him filling her and her own pleasure building. It was just as rapturous as before, but there was something new. It was as if their bodies knew that they fit together, and so they moved in a harmonious rhythm, pushing each other to the edge.
Ruth began to moan as Troy entered her again and again, and he began to kiss her deeply, passionately, while maintaining the beat of his hips. Ruth felt like she had entered into the image of her dreams, on a glassy sea, watching the sunset slip beneath the waves, and her body falling with it, deeper and deeper until she reached her pleasure. She called out his name, clutching to his waistcoat with her fingertips.
Troy continued his movements, until he too cried out, leaning over her shoulder. He kissed her on the neck before pulling himself out of her, allowing the two of them to catch their breath. Ruth noticed the romantic gesture and smiled to herself as she slid down the desk, adjusting her skirt.
Troy was breathing hard but smiling down at her. “Ruth, I…” he began after buttoning up his breeches. But then both of them turned when they heard a sound at the doorway of the library.
It was William leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, a satisfied smile on his face. “Well, well, well. Look at the two of ye. Not up tae no good, are ye? I heard there was tae be reading getting done in this library, but all I see is two young people flushed tae high Heaven. Minister, perhaps ye can explain it tae me?”
Chapter Twenty
Troy stood silently. The words would not come. This was William, who was a joker and a friend, but he was also Ruth’s brother-in-law. He would feel compelled to protect her against any outside influences. How could he explain it to him? How could he ever atone for his behavior?
William waved a hand in the air. “‘Tis no matter. I will not stand in the way of true love.” Both of them moved to protest against his pronouncement, but he merely chuckled. “Ruth, I have come here for a reason. Not to interrupt any tryst, of course.” William began to shift, slightly uncomfortable under Ruth’s questioning gaze.
Ruth’s heart sank. She knew what William was about to say before he did so. The dream was over.
“Yer father has arrived, lass, and Marianne has sent me tae fetch ye.” William waited for Ruth’s reaction, watching her with kind eyes.
Ruth smoothed her dress down once again, and with a quick, embarrassed glance at Troy, she gathered her things and pushed past William and out the door, wordlessly.
Troy looked at William, questioningly. William replied, “‘Twill all become clear tae ye soon enough. I’ve not met the man myself afore today. Goodbye, lad.”
Troy nodded as William departed, a little sullener than when he’d first arrived. Troy knew that it was hard to dampen William’s spirits, so he knew that something was wrong, terribly wrong.
* * *
Ruth tried hard to not let the tears fall as she rode alongside William towards the homestead. But, they were screaming to be free. Her father had finally arrived. She had put that event back into the deep recesses of her mind, letting the pleasure of being with Troy control all of her senses of past, present, and future. But now her father was here.
She did not want to cry because that showed weakness, and she would not show her father her fear. He especially despised and disrespected tears, and she would not fall into his idea of a weak woman by shedding tears in front of him. She lifted her shoulders high, moving towards the house, planning her escape once more.
They arrived at the cottage to see a carriage outside. William spoke for the first time as they slowed in front of the entrance, a groom coming to take the horses. “Marianne has called for tea. She would like ye tae join them.”
Ruth nodded, not looking at him, and William’s heart went out to her. He wanted to speak to her again, but she turned away and rushed into the house. He’d never seen Ruth so subdued, so broken by something. It was worse than when she’d been in a depression after arriving in Brechin. Her father was the source of all her problems, and now he was here in the flesh, ready to make matters worse.
Ruth entered the house, resolve marking each of her features. She would not show weakness. She would not. She heard Marianne and her father making small conversation in the room next to the main hall, and she slowly walked towards them, her feet taking her, despite every muscle in her body fighting against it.
She walked into the side room and saw a paler Marianne sipping tea across from Lord Anthony Browne. Ruth saw he was mostly the same: white-haired and large-bellied, but he seemed to look just slightly thinner and worn. There were no warm feelings that rose in her breast at the sight of him, her own father. She wished it could be so. She stood silently until Lord Browne spotted her. The squealed delight with which he stood and clapped his hands sickened her. Who was this man? What was this reaction, so foreign to his true nature?
He rushed to her and clasped onto her hands. Ruth instinctively tried to pull away, but he held fast, and there was a flash of warning in his eyes. There was the father she knew. “Ruth, dearest child, I am so happy to see you. To see you both in such good health and high spirits. I have been saying so to your sister and thanking her for her welcome.”
Ruth broke her silence. “We did not have much of a choice, did we, Father? You were coming as you wrote the letter.”
She watched as her father slightly colored, but then he recovered with a chuckle. “Well, despite all that has happened, I assumed a family member would still be welcomed in the house of ano
ther.”
“Of course, Father,” Marianne whispered from the table. William entered the room and stood behind Ruth, scowling.
“Ah and here you are Mr. Fraser. I hope you have taken good care of my girls these many months.” William nodded slightly but did not remove the scowl from his face. Ruth could have kissed him for joining her in tiny rebellions.
Lord Browne sat down again, and William and Ruth joined. “Dinner will soon be ready. Father, you must be tired from your journey.” Marianne began to pour him another cup of tea. She threw a glare at Ruth who meant to protest.
“No worries at all. I am simply happy to see my two daughters, who left so abruptly.” He smiled, a strange odd sight to the both of them. He is up to something, Ruth thought. I just know it. He continued, staring directly at his youngest daughter. “And so, dear Ruth, where have you been at so late an hour?”
Ruth folded her hands on the table, tempted to tell him that she was making love to a man in the library, on a desk, clutching to him as if it were her last days. But that would only hurt Marianne, and so she chose another direction, smiling. “Well, Father, I was in the Kinnaird Castle library. Since my departure from London, I have been able to improve my mind with extensive reading. My favorite subject is science and navigation.” She began to pour her own tea, waiting to see what kind of reaction he would have.
Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3) Page 16
