A Highlander to Have and to Hold: Brides of Scotland

by Andresen, Tammy

  His shoulders sagged. “I’m sympathetic to yer plight. But I meet people in need every day. The world is full of them and I can’t help them all. I’ve a business to run and—”

  “Of all the cold, cruel things to say,” Fiona cut him off, as she clucked her tongue. “These are not random people from the street. They are my friends.”

  Rose’s lip trembled, but she held up her hand for Fiona to stop. Tears collected in the corners of her eyes but she held them in as she looked to Captain MacFarland again. “Thank you for considering our plight and for feeding us dinner. Both were very generous.” A full stomach had given her some perspective and she knew what she should do. “I shall always remember your kindness.”

  Rose began to eat her second bowl of soup. She had no more choice in the matter. She had to return to Michael Morningstar, the new Earl of Rothberg, and beg for forgiveness from the man who’d attacked her.

  * * *

  Damn, that woman was good. And by that Colin meant that she was exceptionally skilled at tugging on all the right heartstrings.

  He’d like to say she looked pathetic but that was the wrong word. She looked like a lost puppy with big, sad eyes but far prettier and just as vulnerable. Her hand fluttered to her throat, bringing to mind how delicate she appeared, soft and at the mercy of the world. “Ye had to go and be nice about my rejection, didn’t ye?” He scrubbed his face again.

  When he dropped his hands, he noticed her lip had stopped trembling. Tentatively, she reached her hand to his. He didn’t move. He was a man of six and twenty, seasoned and hard. If he didn’t want a woman to touch him, he stopped it. If he did, he initiated the interaction. But in this moment, he was rendered motionless, waiting to see what her fingers would bring.

  They gently brushed the top of his hand. A light touch befitting her precarious position. But his lungs ceased to take in air and his heart stopped in his chest as a tingling sensation sang in his blood. Hell’s bells, the woman was bewitching him.

  She withdrew her fingers, her voice soft. “I’m not trying to be nice. I know what I have to do. This meal has given me the strength to do it.”

  Daisy gave her sister a confused glare while Lily scratched her cheek. Fiona was still next to him and he heard her sharp intake of breath before she let out a squeak and then gripped his arm with both hands.

  “Rose,” Fiona’s voice had taken on an edge of panic that he’d never heard before. “Say ye’re not considering what I think ye are.”

  Rose didn’t answer, her eyes had locked with his.

  “What is she considering?” Daisy asked, looking between Rose and Fiona. “What have I missed?”

  Rose’s pink tongue darted out to run over her lip as she drew in a deep breath. She was fortifying herself for something and fear for her replaced any attraction he’d been feeling.

  Damn it all to hell. He didn’t want anything to do with pretty English girls, least of all ladies. But somehow, he wasn’t certain he could just leave them to fate either. “What are ye considering?” he repeated Daisy’s question.

  She gave her head a small shake. “There are very few options left.”

  It wasn’t really an answer, but then again, they were in mixed company. And he was well aware of the options available to a woman with no money and no husband. Fear rattled in his chest. She’d sell herself. “I find that unacceptable,” he growled out, leaning forward.

  Her eyes grew larger. “I am not your concern,” she replied softly. “We’ve established that much at least.”

  The thought of another man touching her filled him with a dissatisfaction he couldn’t express. Perhaps it was that she was exactly like her name, a beautiful Rose in an English garden that could so easily be trampled.

  Fiona squeezed tighter. “Colin,” she said, her voice high and tight. “I beg ye. I’ll never ask fer another thing again if ye please watch over the Morningstars. See them safely to Scotland, I am pleading.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “An end to yer favors?” The truth was, he’d been about to cave. Rose’s sway over him was the only factor that had been holding him back. He didn’t want to spend his time with a woman such as her. History had taught him, he’d end up hurt like he’d been with Abigail.

  Rose blinked, reaching out to hold his hand again. Her skin was silky soft against his rough, calloused skin. It both made his muscles clench with attraction and reminded him why he should stay away from this woman. Beautiful English ladies did not fall in love with sailors who left them in port. And if they did, they came to their senses when it was time to marry.

  “It’s all right. It was never fair to ask you to do this,” she said. “I’m sorry that we did, but I swear you can leave here with a clear mind.”

  He flipped his hand over to grasp hers, her slender fingers dwarfed by his. “Ye’re right. I’ll leave here with a clear conscience because the three of ye are coming with me. Go upstairs and get yer things.”

  Daisy gave a whoop that was most unladylike while Lily clapped. Fiona pounded on his arm but Rose assessed him, her hand still clasped in his. “Are you sure about this?”

  Why did they already seem to be speaking their own language? There was an understanding passing between them that no one else shared. “I’m sure.”

  He knew there would be consequences. Likely they’d be dire and involve great pain for himself. Fiona’s plans always did. But somehow, looking at Rose, he couldn’t turn her away. In fact, Fiona was correct. He had a soft heart and she exploited that fact to its fullest. “We make several stops along the way, so the journey will take five to six days, depending on the weather.”

  The women nodded and he slowly withdrew his hand from Rose’s.

  “Thank you, Captain,” she said.

  He scrubbed the back of his neck, almost wanting to take back the words. “Ye’ll do as ye promised and keep to yer cabin. Ye’ll be fed well enough and when we get to Greenoch I’ll see that you hire a carriage to finish your journey to Glasgow. No more, no less.”

  “Agreed.” Rose gave him a glowing smile, full of hope, her hand still outstretched on the table. “You’ve no idea what you’ve saved me from.”

  He had some. What he didn’t understand yet was how awful this trip was going to be for him.

  Chapter Three

  Rose sighed with contentment as the boat softly rocked her in her bunk. Their quarters were tiny but clean, each sister with her own bed. It was heaven. Between the bug infestation and the rowdy sailors, she’d barely slept at the inn. She’d done little else during the twenty-four hours they’d been on the boat.

  Except, of course, eat and bathe. The Captain had graciously provided them with baths, giving them full run of his cabin; theirs was far too small to complete the task.

  She’d spent much of her time assessing his belongings. Neatly arranged, the sparse cabin spoke of a methodical man but revealed little else about his personality. And if she were honest, she was curious. The man seemed a puzzle or a mystery. He looked so strong and hard and yet he’d agreed to help them. Where was that heart among his sparse belongings?

  She stretched, sure it must be approaching dinner time. The sun was low in the sky, she could see it out the single small porthole in their cabin. Getting up, she took a step to look out at the brilliant shades of orange and pink that laced the sky and let out a soft sigh. She didn’t know what lay ahead of them but she knew that right now, she’d enjoy the journey. For the first time in months she felt warm, fed, and safe.

  She trailed her fingers along the cool brass that lined the porthole. The trouble had begun nine months prior when her father had fallen ill. Her mother had departed this world some years ago and, sad as that had been, her father had shielded them from the harsh realities of the world.

  But when her father passed after three months of growing increasingly ill, their world had shattered. First was the reality that there was no money for them. Her father had very little that wasn’t entailed. They’d been afraid, of cours
e, but somehow Rose had never pictured what would happen next.

  A month after his passing, their solicitor was able to find the new Earl of Rothberg. Michael had arrived a month after that and right away, Rose had been apprehensive. His gaze lingered over her far too long. He was a short man and rather heavyset, and a few decades her senior, he’d lost most of his hair. But honestly, she’d cared little about that. She’d have married him when he asked and thought nothing of it if he’d been at all kind.

  He wasn’t. It had started with the staff. No meal was cooked properly, no room was cleaned well enough. At first, Rose had assumed he was trying hard to be a proper earl. He was the great-grandson of her father’s father and a third cousin to her. He hadn’t grown up knowing he’d receive the title, which might make a man insecure.

  But then he’d started on her sisters. He’d slapped Daisy when she’d make a remark. Granted, it had been inflammatory. He berated Lily’s gentle nature, causing her to retreat. Rose had shielded her delicate sister the best she could from his horrible demeanor.

  “What are you thinking about?” Daisy called from her bunk.

  Rose straightened, glad for the reprieve. She didn’t like the direction her thoughts were taking. “I was saying a prayer of thanks to be on this boat.”

  Rose heard Daisy shuffle from the bed, her feet hitting the wood planks. “I can’t believe we took such a long afternoon repose. Then again, there isn’t much else to do on this ship.”

  Rose hid a smile. Daisy was the most tenacious of the bunch and likely bored. “I’ve enjoyed it. I didn’t realize how little I’ve slept these past months until I began getting more of it.”

  Daisy gave a soft snort, but Lily stretched with a yawn. “I agree. It’s been lovely.” Her stomach grumbled. “And I’ve grown quite accustomed to regular meals again.”

  Daisy shook out her skirts. “Now that we’ve rested, we ought to use this time to make some plans. What will we do if Aunt Edna doesn’t take us in?”

  Rose’s stomach churned. “I don’t know.” She stepped away from the window. “I suppose we’ll have to do exactly as the captain said and find husbands.”

  Lily shook her head. “But how? We can’t buy fancy dresses and participate in a season. The lords we might have married are no longer accessible to us.”

  Rose straightened. This was her burden, first and foremost. As the eldest, she would marry first and it needed to be a man who would take care of her sisters until they wed.

  “We might not marry lords,” Daisy offered, “but we can still marry men of some wealth. Doctors, lawyers, merchants…sea captains.” She gave Rose a meaningful look.

  Rose’s chest tightened. For one second she allowed herself to consider touching the captain again with his strong arms and broad shoulders. “Why are you looking at me? He isn’t interested. He barely allowed us on this boat.”

  Lily raised her brows. “I beg to differ. He’s interested.”

  “Agreed.” Daisy scooted around Rose to look out the porthole. “Find out if he’s married.”

  Rose’s cheeks filled with heat. “Captain MacFarland does not wish to marry me. We are an unwanted imposition.”

  Daisy rolled her eyes. “There are things that all men want that make a woman not an imposition but an asset.”

  “Things?” Lily’s voice tightened. “Like the thing that happened with Lord Rothenberg and Rose?”

  “The Captain isn’t the sort of man to attack a woman.” Daisy waved her hand in clear dismissal.

  Rose closed her eyes as her insides ached. Once she’d accepted Michael’s proposal, he’d insisted on making their relationship physical. When she’d denied him, saying they needed to wait until after the wedding, he’d attempted to force himself on her. When Daisy stopped him by hitting him over the head with a chamber pot, he’d tossed them out. It was a situation she never wished to be in again. “I agree that the Captain isn’t like our cousin, but we are at risk with men in general. We’ve no male protector to ensure they don’t take what they want and then leave us in an even worse position than we started.”

  Daisy straightened her shoulders. “I’m going to have to learn to fire a pistol.”

  Rose smiled despite everything. “Oh Daisy. What would I do without you?” Then she leaned over and gave her sister a hug.

  Daisy hugged her back, squeezing Rose tight. “We’re going to find our way through this. We just have to stick together.”

  Suddenly, Lily had her arms about both of them, squeezing both of her sister’s tight. “Together.”

  A knock at the door broke up their hug.

  “Dinner,” the cook called.

  Rose edged past Lily to answer the door. She appreciated her sisters’ support but as the oldest it was her duty to see her sisters through. She just had to find a way to make that happen. The Captain’s image rose in her thoughts and her stomach flopped again. But she pushed those thoughts aside. She couldn’t allow fanciful dreams to fill her head now. She needed to be practical. Daisy and Lily were depending on her.

  * * *

  Colin stood on the bow of the ship, watching the sun set in the darkening sky. His thoughts even further away than the horizon. That wasn’t true. They were mostly below deck with a lovely brunette with petal-soft skin and cheeks the color of pale roses.

  But every time he thought about her, his mind drifted further into the past. Sometimes to the woman who’d broken his heart, but often even further to the woman who taught him that ship captains should never marry. His mother.

  She’d died of some infection when he was just a young teen, but to this day, he believed she really passed from a broken heart. She’d spend days, weeks watching for his father. The loneliness killed her slowly.

  And when she’d gone, his father, not left with much choice, brought his son on board and made him a deckhand. He sighed, by the time he’d taken over the business at the age of twenty, he’d known no other life. Not that he hadn’t dreamed.

  After fourteen years on the open sea, he wanted nothing more than to be at home, tucked on a farm, surrounded by a family. He’d always pictured himself with lots of children. He’d thought it was possible at one point. Falling in love with Abigail, he’d worked furiously to save money so he could buy that dream for them. But she hadn’t wanted to wait. In the end, she’d ended their relationship and married another wealthier man. He scrubbed his face. He didn’t blame her, he’d seen what had happened to his mum. But ships were all he knew, which meant he was destined to live alone for the rest of his life. He’d never ask another woman to make the kind of sacrifices his mother had made.

  “Captain,” A gruff sailor named Shamus called from behind him. “Caught this one stealing things from me.”

  Colin spun about, facing the weathered old sailor who held both of Daisy’s wrists in one hand while she tugged furiously to get free. He bit back a smile. The situation was serious, of course, but Daisy looked ridiculous with her blonde hair flying as she pulled without effect. Shamus wasn’t even trying. “What was she stealing?”

  “My pistol,” the man grunted.

  The smile slipped from Colin’s face. “Daisy. Who are ye going to shoot?”

  Daisy stilled. “I wasn’t trying to shoot anyone. I don’t even know how the bloody thing works.”

  Shamus’s eyebrows lifted as the curse word fell from her lips. She was a very pretty girl, her accent clearly of high society, and her bearing, when she wasn’t trying to escape a burly man, superior. The word didn’t suit her lips. “So why take it?”

  She looked to Shamus. “I’m sorry that I tried to steal from you.” She tapped his wrist. “Can you let me go now? I can’t run anywhere.”

  “Let ye go?” Shamus wrinkled his face. “If ye were a man, I’d have already tossed ye overboard.”

  Daisy paled. “Please. I didn’t mean any harm. But after Rose was attacked, I just wanted to protect my sister. I promise.”

  “Attacked?” His voice boomed over the deck so
that Shamus dropped Daisy’s hands instantly. Daisy tucked her chin into her chest, her fingers clutching her skirts. He drew in a deep breath attempting to calm his anger. He’d clearly frightened her. “Did someone on this ship touch yer sister? I swear on my mother’s grave—”

  Daisy’s head popped up again, her eyebrows raising with it. “I appreciate how protective you are of my sister, Captain.” She gave him a long glance as though she were studying him. “But you needn’t be concerned. It was before we boarded the boat. Before we stayed at the inn even. Our guardian…” She paused, licking her lips. “He…” Her eyes darted to Shamus. “Your boat has been a haven of safety. I simply wanted to learn how to use a pistol so that when we leave your company, I can keep Rose and Lily safe.” Then she turned to Shamus. “I swear I intended to put the weapon back. I didn’t even take the lead. I only wanted to study how it worked.”

  Shamus rubbed his neck and shrugged.

  Colin, however, rather than deflating his anger, the entire conversation had ramped it up. He understood now. Why the ladies were in such a terrible place to begin with, why they were so desperate for help. When he thought of some man putting his hands on Rose… “We need to discuss this with yer sister. Ye’re coming with me.”

  Chapter Four

  Rose glanced at the door. “What’s taking Daisy so long?” she asked Lily, who lounged on her bunk, her eyes half closed.

  “She likely just wanted to stretch her legs a bit after she brought back the plates,” Lily answered, rubbing her stomach. “The cook on this ship is exceptional. Do you think the food on boats is always so good?”