Page 36 of Claimed Highland Brides

14

SO EMOTIONAL

D elwyn walked slowly to the house, thinking hard. He tried to remember the face of the man who’d handed him the note but all he had was an impression of a shock of red hair, a dour face caked with dust, ragged clothes. If pressed, he would guess that the man was a miner. But there were so many who answered his description that it would be difficult to pick him out without more information. In any case, he might not know anything.

Delwyn’s best bet was to gather some funds together and travel to Edinburgh. He would get his sister back, and return here with her or send her home to England under escort, whatever she wanted. He avoided thinking about what she might be enduring while he ruminated. He avoided thinking of Jamesina and what he would say to her.

A family emergency? What would make a just-married man leave his marriage bed to travel alone ? What if she wants to come with me ? She will think that I tricked her into marriage for her dowry .

As much as he had come to Braenaird Keep with the intention of getting his hands on a dowry, he was still surprised at how it came about. That there was barely any machination to it. An accident of misfortune, or fortune, depending on how one wanted to look at it.

He caught sight of his brother-in-law, bow and arrow in hand, headed for the stables. Undoubtedly he was off to hunt. Delwyn quickened his steps so that he could reach the man.

“Mr. Campbell?” he called as he drew near.

The laird turned, eyebrow raised. “My name’s Daividh. After all, are we no brothers the noo?”

Delwyn swallowed his guilt. “Indeed. Well, I had hoped to speak with you briefly.”

“Och aye?”

“Yes. The small matter of my dowry and how I might access it.”

Daividh’s brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed Delwyn. “Is that so? What d’ye need it for in yer marriage chambers?”

Delwyn straightened up, swallowing his fear. “I…have received word of a family emergency. I thought that I might use it to help them.”

Daividh’s frown became slightly lighter but did not disappear. “Mmhmm. And this ‘family emergency’ cannae wait?”

Delwyn took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly before opening them to meet the laird’s own blue gaze. “No. It can’t.”

Daividh’s frown only got deeper and Delwyn could not even blame him. He stepped closer, his face hard. “What are ye hiding, Barton?”

Delwyn shook his head, making sure to maintain eye contact. “Nothing. I’m hiding nothing. I have told you. I have a family emerg?—”

“Aye, I heard ye the first time. Mr. Weems is who ye should see aboot tha’.”

Delwyn nodded his thanks and then walked quickly away. He was conscious of the eyes on his back and knew that he had gotten the laird’s suspicion back up. As long as there was nothing Daividh could do to stop him, he would not worry about it at the moment.

“Delwyn!” He looked up to see his wife waving to him from the turrets, a smile so wide on her face he could see it from where he stood. He lifted his hand and waved back, nodding even as his heart crumbled. He could not tell her about this.

* * *

Jamesina stared at Delwyn, a frown marring her smooth forehead. She could see by his demeanor that something was bothering him. Even from as far away as she was, she could see that.

“Time to return to yer beau?” Fiona asked with a wicked grin.

Jamesina snorted. “Aye but no because o’ what’s going through yer mind ye wicked woman. He seems as if he needs tae speak tae me aboot something.”

“Oh, ye ken tha’ already?” Fiona’s brows rose high in surprise.

Jamesina gestured carelessly to where her husband was making his way to the house. “I have eyes!” she declared before leaving Fiona and turning to head for the stairs that led down from the turrets. Whatever had happened with Delwyn it was after he left her this morning, lying in bed, quite replete. She still could not believe they had done… that, in the unforgiving light of morning.

She had thought that she might die of embarrassment at her exposure to him but by the time he entered her, all she could think of was the pleasure he was giving her. She hastened her footsteps, eager to reach him and find out what had happened between then and now to put such weight on his shoulders.

They reached the door of their chamber at the same time.

“Jamie—”

“Delwyn—”

They spoke at the same time and then both stopped to give the other a chance. Delwyn gestured for Jamesina to go ahead and speak.

“Wha’s wrong?”

His eyebrows went up. “I beg your pardon?”

“Wha’s the matter Delwyn? I ken something is.”

He gawped at her, eyes and mouth wide. “How did you know?”

Jamesina shrugged. “Ye’ve the look. I ken how people look when something’s weighing heavy on their mind. Ye seem tae be laboring under something.”

Delwyn drew a deep breath, shaking his head. “Nothing gets past you eh?”

“Weel, I wouldnae say nothing but my da used tae say of me that I saw everything.” She shrugged.

“Your da was correct. You truly pay attention to things around you in a way that is precious and rare.”

She smiled. “Dinnae try tae distract me frae the question. Wha’s wrong?”

Delwyn sighed again, taking her hand and leading her to the chamber and closing the door behind him. He looked her in the eye, his own clouded and troubled. She clutched at his sleeve.

“Wha’ever it is, let me help ye.” Her voice was low and urgent as she tried to communicate with her eyes just how sincere she was.

He closed his eyes and swallowed. “I have something to tell you and I beg you to let me finish and not get upset.”

“Alrigh’.”

His breath came short and sweat beaded his bottom lip as he seemed to cast about looking for words. He took her by the arms and propelled her to the bed where he sat her down and then stood looming over her.

“My sister was abducted by brigands.”

Jamesina blinked twice, wondering if she’d misheard. “I beg yer pardon?”

“My sister, Maegan, she was abducted in London, by brigands. They brought her to Scotland and demanded a ransom.”

Jamesina gasped audibly.

Delwyn nodded. “Yes, it was quite unfortunate. My father refused to pay the ransom.”

Suddenly Jamesina felt as if she’d been doused in cold water as realization swept through her.

He married me for the gold.

Her head dropped into her hands and she focused on breathing in and out.

“Jamie?”

She shook her head frantically as she tried to take in enough air, “Don’t. Don’t call me that.”

“I asked you not to get upset before I finished.”

She lifted her head, glaring at him. “Is that so?”

“I know what you are thinking and you would have been right if you accused me of it at the inn in Drumacree or even the night that I kissed you. I did not mean to be caught doing it but I certainly felt that I benefited from the experience.”

“Oh, ye did? How wonderful for ye.”

“From the first, you captured my interest and I felt that if I must marry someone, then I was a lucky man that it could be you.”

She let out a sob, unable to hold it in as hard as she tried.

“I...I...”

“Don’t,” Jamesina stopped him. “Don’t say it. Just take the gold and go.”

“Jam—” He reached out a hand and she shied away.

“ Go! ”

* * *

Delwyn met with the solicitor, who signed Jamesina’s dowry over to him. He wanted to return to his wife, to beg her to hear him, to understand that he had no choice. He knew that the wound was still too fresh and she would not hear him.

Still, once he had the money, he went up to their wedding chamber to find her burrowed deep in the blankets, only the top of her fiery head showing.

“Jamie? Listen to me. I am going to get my sister. And then I shall return and we will mend this thing between us.”

He stood waiting for a response but when, after five minutes she had not lifted her head, he turned to leave. His hand was just reaching for the doorknob when she spoke.

“Delwyn?”

He let go of the knob and turned around feeling hopeful only to meet doe eyes gone hard and cold as amber. “Yes, my dear?”

“Go and rescue yer sister. But dinnae come back here. There is nothing left here for ye.”

He opened his mouth to protest but there were no words he could say that could convince her now.

The only thing he could do was return after freeing his sister and win her heart anew. He picked up his already packed bag, went down to the stables, and took a horse. He rode away, heavy-hearted, torn in two. His heart wanted to stay while his duty told him he had to leave. He spurred on his horse, urging it to go faster and faster. The quicker he got to Edinburgh, the sooner he could get back to Jamesina.

And then I will devote the rest of our lives to showing her that what we have is worth fighting for .

* * *

Maegan sat up as the old lady who watched her came into the room. She was ensconced in the attic of the inn, where the old lady brought her food and water, emptied her chamber pot once a day, and then ignored her for the rest of the time.

Neacel said it was for her own good for her to stay here. He said her family was making trouble and they needed to keep her hidden or else it might be worse for all of them. She missed his presence though. Even when he came to see her, he was distant. He did not kiss her as much as he did before, or hold her hand or give her the attention she wanted.

It was annoying. She didn’t like it.

“When will Hunter come again?”

The old lady ignored her just as she did every time she came into the room. She dropped a bowl filled with thin soup on the bedside table, picked up the chamber pot, and left. Maegan snorted in annoyance and sat back down.

Hunter had promised her that once they were away from her parents, everything would be sunshine and roses. He would take her to the sea and show her the world. So far all she had seen was the inside of this chamber.

Neacel had said they needed money and that he was in the process of obtaining it for them and she just had to be patient. Well, her patience was running out. She wanted her life to begin!

Running to the door, she banged on it angrily. “I want to get out! I want Hunter! Get me Hunter!”

She continued banging on it until her hands were sore but nobody came or answered her. Letting out a scream of frustration, she threw herself on the bed and sulked for a while.

Seeing that it was in no way productive, she stopped and sat up. Turning to her bedside table, she reached for the last letter Neacel had sent her. It asked her to be just a little patient as he had almost attained the money they needed.

You need to hurry up. I’m getting impatient.