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W hen Gunn saw Jocelyn in the hall, looking confused, he wanted to scoop her up in his arms and carry her away to his room. Thoughts of spending the night there, whilst ignoring everyone else here was tempting. But he’d invited everyone so they could be together.

As tempting as the thought was, it would have to wait for another time. Having her as close as possible without her actually being in his room would suffice for now.

“I ken at the inn ye didna have the help ye needed. I apologize for that. To make up for it, I’ve assigned Louise to be your maid. She’ll help ye with whate’er ye need.”

“Flora was very helpful.”

Gunn chuckled. “She is indeed. I dinna think I can e’er replace her.”

He pushed open the door, and a deep sense of pride filled him when she looked around the room in awe.

“This is beautiful, and massive.” She entered the room, spinning around, trying to take it all in.

“I am pleased that ye approve. All of your items should be unpacked. I will let Louise ken ye are here. She’ll assist ye in getting ready for dinner.”

Stepping up to him, she placed her palm on his chest, her fingers playing with his lapels. “Thank you. It seems your kindness knows no bounds.”

“Ye deserve it all. I only hope I can make ye happy.” Placing his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer. Dropped his head to capture his mouth with hers. She accepted willingly, her body melding to his.

His own body roared to life, seeking the release he’d been longing for since he’d first laid eyes on Jocelyn.

They broke the kiss with a sigh. “Dinner will be ready shortly. We shouldna be late.” Then he remembered her worry from earlier. “How did it go with the ladies? Did ye get on well?”

She smiled, nodding her head. “Swimmingly, actually. They are all very kind and warm-hearted.” She traced his cheek with a delicate finger. “They all care for you very much.”

“I am glad to hear that your nerves were for naught. I figured as much, but one can ne’er be sure until placed into the situation. But I do recall telling ye that they would love ye.”

Jocelyn rolled her eyes. “Right you were. I shouldn’t have worried. They’re lovely. I look forward to spending time getting to know all of them better.”

That statement made him happy. It meant that she had no intention of leaving. He hadn’t thought she did, but if she and the wives didn’t get along, then it would have been hard to convince her to stay. Luckily, as expected, there was no issue.

“I’ll let Louise ken to come up. I’ll be back to escort ye to dinner, aye?”

She stood in the middle of the room, a smile on her lips, as she wrung her hands together. A gesture he noticed she did a lot. At first he thought it was just when she was nervous, but she did it so often that he didn’t think that was the case.

“I would love that. Thank you.”

He gave her a curt bow and left the room. Needing to get ready himself, he quickly found Louise and sent her to Jocelyn’s room.

Back in his own room, he bathed the scent of the day’s travel off and dressed in a clean linen shirt, blue trousers, and a matching waistcoat.

Tying his cravat, he eyed himself in the looking glass.

Never before had he cared so much about how his looks came across to other people.

But now with Jocelyn, he couldn’t stop. He wanted to ensure that he equaled her in dress.

He shook his head, mumbling to the empty room about the person he’d come to be.

One thing was for certain. He couldn’t get the image of Jocelyn getting ready in the next room off his mind.

Jocelyn in the bath, drops of water running in rivulets down her body, over her breasts, trailing down, lower, lower, until they disappeared into the water right before they could reach her nestle of curls.

Hell. God should strike him down now for coveting another man’s wife, even if that so-called man didn’t deserve to have Jocelyn in his life.

Once again he thought about the impending showdown the two of them would have.

Gunn was confident he would come out victorious, or rather, Jocelyn would.

She was the one who deserved to be free. Deserved to make her own choices.

She’d already taken the first step by running. If only it was that easy.

He’d deal with Townsend and ensure he never again touched Jocelyn. That he didn’t even look in her direction. Never thought of her again. Because one thing was for certain, Jocelyn was his.

And not because that was what he wanted, but because it was what she wanted.

After nursing a whisky in his room to give Jocelyn enough time to get ready for dinner, he knocked softly on her door.

Louise opened it, curtsied and left them alone.

Sitting at the vanity, in front of the looking glass, Jocelyn positively glowed.

His breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful. More so than anyone he’d ever seen in his whole life. The gown she wore was the color of lavender, a darker, almost violet colored sash was tied into a huge bow at her back. When she stood, he could see the tails ran down almost to the floor.

He whistled. “Joss, ye look beautiful.”

Her cheeks heated. “What did ye call me?” she asked.

“Joss? If ye dinna care for the nickname, I will stop. It fits ye well, though.”

She laughed, a light tinkle floating in the air to him. “I like it. I had just grown accustomed to you calling me lass so that it took me by surprise.”

“Aye. Ye can be called lass by anyone. ’Tis too generic. Ye needed a nickname unique to ye. ’Twas the first thing that came to mind.”

She smiled, bobbing her head up and down, causing the curls in her hair to bounce. “I like it.” She offered her hand, and he took it in his, bringing it up to his lips to place a light kiss on her soft skin.

“Ready for dinner?”

She sucked in a deep breath, flattening her palm on her stomach, before breathing it out in a huff. “As ready as I ever will be.”

“I think ye will enjoy it. My cook here is on par with Cook at the inn. The two of them could vie for position of best cook in Scotland and I dinna think I would be wrong in stating that it would end in a tie.”

Jocelyn’s eyes widened. “You’ve been feeding me so well since I arrived, I fear my hips will grow and grow.”

He splayed his hand on her belly. “Ye are eating for yourself and the bairn.” He moved his hand to her hips, gently feathering his fingers over the material that hung over them.

“And your hips will look amazing with a little more to them.” He licked his lips, bent close to whisper to her.

“No matter what, ye are the most fetching lass I’ve e’er seen.

” Giving her lobe a nibble, he smiled when her breath stilted.

“We best get downstairs, otherwise I’m going to drag ye into my chambers and worship ye as ye deserve.”

Her eyes blew wide, her pink tongue peeking out to wet her lips. “I think I might like that,” she confessed quietly.

“Och, Joss. Dinna give me any encouragement.” He chuckled and offered her his arm.

Downstairs almost everyone had gathered, and the dining room was alive with conversation and laughter.

Happiness rolled over Gunn as he looked around the room when he pulled out the chair to his right for Jocelyn to sit in. This was what he wanted. Everyone together. It was just that much more special now that he had someone to share his time with as well.

Suddenly, he understood what his friends had been telling him. Once you found that special person, everything clicked into place and the world felt complete.

That’s how he felt. Hurdles awaited them, but they’d defeat them together. He was sure of it.

*

Dinner was just as delicious as Gunn had promised. He was right when he said his two cooks rivaled each other. They did indeed.

All through dinner, she felt Gunn’s eyes on her. Whenever she snuck a look in his direction, he’d catch her gaze. Offer her a wink and a smile.

Her thoughts mulled over the conversation they’d had before dinner.

Whilst she dined on roasted duck and braised hare with roasted vegetables, visions of Gunn pulling her through the door to his chamber consumed her.

So much so, at one point, she’d needed to fan herself. The room had grown quite heated.

She didn’t miss the knowing looks her new friends sent in her direction. Each time they did, she felt her skin flush a little more. She was certain she’d spent the whole dinner red as a beet.

After dinner, the men and women split up. The men went off to do whatever men did whilst the women gathered in the parlor that they’d spoken in earlier, and enjoyed glasses of sherry, and played games of cards.

“I must admit, Jocelyn. Seeing ye and Gunn at dinner, the two of ye make quite the fetching pair,” Lizzie stated.

Jocelyn had figured out that Lizzie was surely an instigator. The troublemaker of the group, but all meant in good nature.

“I agree,” Clarissa chimed in. “There are most certainly wedding bells in your future,” she added.

Jocelyn coughed on the sip of sherry she’d just taken. “Surely, you jest. Have you forgotten I am already wed?”

She pushed her hand through the air in dismissal. “No’ for long. Gunn and the rest of the men will make sure of that.”

Oh, how Jocelyn wished that time would come sooner rather than later. She looked forward to the days when she no longer had to think of Victor.

Gwen’s demeanor grew serious as she gazed at Jocelyn over the cards she held in her hand. “Have ye no’ had any word from your husband?”

Jocelyn shook her head. “None at all. Gunn sent Malcolm to Rochester to track him down, but I don’t believe he was able to find him, though I think he found out some information from neighbors. I couldn’t tell you what though. Neither of them made me privy to the findings.”

“’Tis just like them isna it?” Gwen asked. “They go off and do something. Find out some information and then leave ye in the dark. ’Tis frustrating.”