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G unn had to leave the room for fear he would take Jocelyn right then and there. He wanted to. Och, he ached to do so. But he would wait.

She longed for him as much as he longed for her. She hadn’t said the words, but they showed in every action. Every look. Every sigh.

Once they arrived at Leyson, he made no promises as to how much self-control he would have. He wanted to get lost in her body for days in his own bedchamber. One that he would share with her.

Things needed to be taken care of first. The priority was her husband. Malcolm had made some headway before Gunn had called him back. He’d found their house in Rochester. Victor wasn’t there of course. As Jocelyn had mentioned, he had gone south to look for her.

According to his house staff, he was furious when he’d learned she’d run. He’d left in a tizzy and hadn’t returned yet.

He’d asked around the city to see what people thought about Jocelyn, but no one seemed to really ken her.

She was rarely seen outside of the home.

But when they did interact with her, she seemed nice, but quiet, reserved.

She didn’t participate in any of the activities that other wives did. No bridge clubs or afternoon teas.

It angered Gunn to find out this information.

It was like the louse was holding her prisoner in her own home.

Though he was sure much of the reason why he kept her hidden was so that others in the city didn’t see the constant bruises she wore.

Because it was obvious to him, that she was constantly bruised and battered.

Malcolm said the house was modest. Not large, but not small, either. It was well kept, and he employed a full staff, though none would speak of Jocelyn other than to say how angry Victor was when he’d found her gone.

Gunn would ensure she would never have reason to fear him. He vowed that on his life. And he’d give his before he would see her hurt again. He couldn’t change her past, but he could make sure that her future was only filled with love and happiness.

Malcolm caught him in the hall. “The carriages are ready. Once the ladies are finished their packing we can load the trunks and be on our way.”

“Jocelyn shouldna be much longer. The poor lass only had a small travel bag when she arrived. I had to bring her a trunk for her new wardrobe.”

“Ye are completely smitten with her. Lizzie was right.”

His friend wasn’t wrong. Gunn didn’t even bother trying to deny it any longer. He shrugged. “It all feels right.”

“She’s still married legally,” Malcolm warned. “E’en if she ran and her husband is a useless arse. The law wins on this one.”

“I ken that,” he snapped. He scrubbed his face, then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. I didna mean to be short. I understand the situation. ’Tis why I need all of us to get together and help me figure out how to solve it.”

“What are we going to do?”

“I dinna ken, but five minds are better than one, and between all of us, certainly we can come up with some viable plan.”

“Ye are daft.”

“Am I? If I recall, ye traveled the countryside to prove the innocence of a woman ye’d just met.”

“Hey. E’en ye have to admit she didn’t look like a thief.”

“True, but would I have done what ye did? I canna say for sure, but probably no’.” He barked out a laugh and Malcolm punched him in the shoulder.

“The first thing I want to do when we get to Leyson is a few rounds of boxing. ’Tis been too long since I’ve been in the ring. And my pub has been empty for so long I havena e’en been able to toss anyone out there. Though that looks to be changing now.”

Malcolm laughed. “The way ye’re wound up, I’ll let Alexander take ye on. He can always use a good smackdown.”

“I’m finally packed,” Jocelyn announced, joining them and settling into Gunn’s side. He brought his arm around her shoulders.

“That was quick. Malcolm and I will go get the trunks when Lizzie has finished.”

Once the trunks were loaded onto the carriages and they were ready to go, Gunn turned to Jocelyn. “All set?” She was wearing a day gown of light blue that nearly matched her eyes, a satin sash tied at her waist. He splayed his palms on her still flat stomach.

Her eyes tracked his hands.

“I canna believe ye have a wee bairn growing in there.”

She smiled, a touch of sadness in her eyes. It irked him every time. A bairn was something to celebrate. And he hated that it was a reminder of her husband’s cruelty.

“That bairn will have the happiest of lives, lass. We will make sure of it.”

She nodded. “I know.” Reaching up, she palmed his cheek. “You are the greatest man I’ve ever met, outside of my father of course.”

“Of course,” he smiled. “I’ve got big shoes to fill when it comes to him.”

“You are well on your way.”

He clasped her hand and brought it to his mouth, placing a kiss on her soft skin. “Let’s get to Leyson. I do hope ye like it.”

“I’ve no doubt I will.”

“I just need to go in and check one last time with Thomas and Theodore. I’ll be back in just a minute, then we’ll go.”

Inside, he found Thomas pouring a whisky for Smythe.

“A minute?” He gestured for Thomas to join him near the back of the pub. “I ken ye can handle e’erything on your own. I’ve nay doubt in that. I’m no’ that far away if aught comes up. Send for me.”

He didn’t need to expand further on what he was talking about. He’d let Thomas ken that he had suspicions of Theodore only to find out his bartender had thought that for some time.

If he noticed Theodore doing aught out of sorts whilst he was gone, he was going to send for him straightaway. Luckily, today was the last day of his week, and he wasn’t scheduled for next week, so Thomas only had to worry about tonight.

That also meant that when Gunn and his friends went to the pub he was certain Theodore owned, he would be there.

“Dinna fash. I can handle it,” Thomas assured him. “Ye enjoy your time away. ’Tis well deserved.”

He found Theodore near the entrance that led to the inn. “Are ye set for the rest of the day? We’re ready to head to Leyson.”

Theodore nodded as his eyes scanned the pub. “I dinna ken what happened,” he said with disbelief.

Gunn smiled and clapped him on the back. “’Tis great is it no’? A miracle I must say.”

“’Tis indeed. I am glad to see it.”

The man was lying through his teeth, but Gunn let it go. His comeuppance was on its way. And he couldn’t wait to deliver it.

*

When Gunn spoke about his estate at Leyson, Jocelyn figured it was large considering he was bringing all his friends and their families there, but when the carriage pulled into the long drive that led to Leyson, her mouth dropped open in shock.

Leyson was a castle.

Gunn owned a castle. On the shores of the North Sea, the structure loomed tall and massive. Grey stone stood at least four stories high with turrets at every corner.

“Wow,” she whispered, taking it all in. “You didn’t say Leyson was a castle.”

He squeezed her knee. “Sorry, I ne’er call it Leyson Castle. I always just refer to it as Leyson.”

The way he talked was as if it was just any homestead. That it was something ordinary when it was quite the opposite.

They finally pulled up to the front of the house and staff swarmed outside to greet their laird.

Beside her, he stiffened. Immediately, she understood that he much preferred the laid-back setting of the Thistle & Pig. That was probably why he spent so much time there. It got him away from his duties as laird and not having to be as proper.

What those duties were she had no idea, but she could only assume there were many. She couldn’t imagine how much work it was to maintain a residence of this size.

A footman approached the carriage and opened the door as it rocked to a stop. “My laird, welcome home,” he said with a bow.

Gunn exited and turned to offer her a hand to help her out.

Malcolm and Lizzie were right behind them.

Right away, Lizzie looped her arm into hers. “I canna wait for ye to meet everyone.” Her hair was slightly out of place and her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen.

Jocelyn hid her smile behind her hand. It didn’t take a genius to figure out how they’d spent their journey.

“Did you enjoy the ride?” Jocelyn asked, her voice teasing.

“We did indeed.” Lizzie waggled her brows. “Did ye?”

Jocelyn smiled, nodding. “Whilst our journey was much more, ahem, uneventful, we had pleasant conversation.”

“We had pleasant conversation,” Lizzie mimicked. “Ye two make me laugh. I dinna believe Gunn didn’t make more creative use of the time alone with ye.”

“Lizzie!” Jocelyn playfully pushed her shoulder. “Don’t say such things.”

With a roll of her eyes, Lizzie shook her head. “Ye ken ’tis going to happen.”

“Oh, it will, yes. But it will be in the comfort of the laird’s bedroom,” she confided, giggling uncontrollably.

Now it was Lizzie’s turn to gasp. “Jocelyn! Ye must tell me e’erything. Or wait until I introduce ye to the others. Then you can tell us e’erything.”

Jocelyn’s insecurity ramped up once again. She wasn’t so sure that conversation should be the first topic they discuss upon meeting.

“We’re going inside to meet the others since ye two are out here lallygagging about.”

Gunn met her eyes, his dancing with laughter. “We are right behind ye two. No need to sass us, Lizzie.”

She heard him turn to Malcolm and comment how he didn’t know how he dealt with his wife. All in good nature, of course. Both men laughed behind them as they walked through the arched entry and through the courtyard that would lead them inside.

As soon as they entered, the sound of laughter filled the air, along with the stomping feet of little ones.

Jocelyn smiled. Her excitement was growing to meet the people in Gunn’s life that he held in such high regard.

She was still nervous, but he’d spoken about them enough that she felt like she almost knew them.

He’d insisted repeatedly that they would like her.

Actually, he said they would love her. She wasn’t sure about that, but she would settle for being liked and accepted in the group of close-knit friends.

They climbed the stairs, using the excited noises to lead their way. They found everyone in the drawing room. Jocelyn was taken aback at how quickly everyone stopped and assessed her.

“E’eryone,” Lizzie announced. “Meet Jocelyn Townsend, Gunn’s,” she glanced at him over her shoulder.

“Well, they’re courting for the most part, so call their relationship what ye will,” she said with a laugh.

She pointed to a petite woman with kind eyes.

She held a babe on one hip while she tried to hold onto a tot as he tried to wrestle free from her grasp.

“This is Gwen, she’s married to Nicholas. Duke and Duchess of Gordon.”

Jocelyn’s eyes widened and she immediately dropped into a curtsy. “Your graces.”

Gwen handed the babe to her husband. With a smile, he grabbed the babe and nuzzled her neck, causing a deep belly laugh. One side of the duke’s face was marred with scars, but it did nothing to take away from his handsomeness. With kind eyes, he greeted her with a dip of his head.

“Please,” Gwen said, approaching and wrapping Jocelyn in a hug. “Amongst friends, there are no titles. I’m Gwen and he’s Nicholas. Simple as that.”

Jocelyn wasn’t sure if she would feel comfortable referring to them by their first names, but then Gunn was a laird, and she’d been calling him by his first name this whole time.

“We are very informal. There’s no need for all that stuffiness. ’Tis nice to meet ye.”

“You as well. Thank you.”

“Ye’re English,” Gwen stated matter-of-factly. “I look forward to how ye ended up here. These two wee ones are Benjamin, but we call him Bennie, and Violet. And this one,” she pointed to her round belly, we havena decided yet.”

“Congratulations. You are very blessed.”

“We are,” Nicholas said, bending to kiss Gwen’s cheek. “I’ll take the wee ones. Ye have fun getting acquainted.”

A dark-haired woman approached, and Jocelyn noted her coloring and features mirrored Nicholas’s.

“I’m Clarissa, Nicholas’s sister in case ye havena guessed.

My husband, Alexander, is the one wise-cracking o’er in the corner.

He’s got a sharp tongue but it’s all in good fun.

I’m glad to meet the woman who captured Gunn’s heart.

Honestly, I didna think ’twould e’er happen. ”

“It’s nice to meet you. If I’m not mistaken you are the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, correct?”

“Aye, but as Gwen said, titles mean naught when we’re together. Our wee laddie, Colin, is down for a nap. Ye’ll ken when he’s awake, he chitters more than a lassie.” She laughed and gestured for her husband to join Nicholas as he left.

“Since it seems we men are being ushered out of the room, I shall make a quick introduction. Finlay Primrose. ’Tis a pleasure to meet ye.

I’m sure ye and my wife, Willamina, will get on splendidly.

” A woman, heavily pregnant, pushed off the sofa she’d been sitting on and greeted her with a smile, her hands on her back.

“Dinna mind me. I am slow moving around.” She pointed to Finlay. “And this one willna let me do aught. I nearly had to beg to get him to agree to this trip.”

“Aye, what if the bairn comes?” he asked, concern creasing his brow.

“Then we visit a wee bit longer,” she answered with a laugh.

Finlay shook his head. “I’ll be with the others. Call me if ye need me.” He dropped his lips to hers. “I miss ye already.”

“Stop,” she said, but her voice was laced with laughter.

After the men had left the room, all eyes turned to Jocelyn, and she felt her cheeks flush. They pulled her onto the sofa where Willamina had been sitting, and was now once again, and they pulled chairs around to form a circle.

“We want all the details,” they all said at the same time.