Page 23 of Kilgannon #1
“And Alex should have asked me.”
Angus shrugged. “Alex is used to making decisions, Mary.”
“And I am used to being consulted about my movements.”
“As ye wish, lass. I hope ye’ll be happy with yer choice.”
He left me then and I started to cry, hearing the echo of his words. As I wished. Isn’t that what Alex had said when we’d met, that it would be as I wished? I wiped my eyes and lifted my chin.
I was on deck when we sailed into London in the early hours of the morning after having fought the morning tide the whole trip west. The lights of London glowed quietly as we passed, looking like landlocked stars, and I concentrated on them rather than on the tall man standing so silently behind me.
When we landed, Alex went ahead, and it was Angus who handed me down the gangplank.
At the foot of the dock Matthew held a horse, and Alex stood before him.
“Sorry, Mary,” Matthew said. “I couldna get a coach at this hour. I could only get a horse.” I wondered if I were expected to find my way alone across London on a strange horse.
“It’ll do,” Alex growled, and turned to give me a hand up. I climbed to the horse’s back and gasped as Alex vaulted himself in front of me. “Hold on tightly, Miss Lowell,” he said as he wheeled the horse around and we leapt away.
I threw my arms around his waist and turned to see Matthew and Angus standing with open mouths and the men of Gannon ’ s Lady lining the rails to watch us.
And then I had to concentrate on staying on the horse as Alex galloped him through the streets, the wind blowing Alex’s kilt far up his thigh.
When we went around a corner much too fast, I leaned my head on his back and closed my eyes.
I’d never see Alex again after this, I realized, and tightened my arms around him.
And maybe, I thought, maybe it was for the best. I opened my eyes as he took a deep shuddery breath.
No, not for the best. But maybe it had been inevitable. Our worlds were too different.
London was just awakening when we rode through, and Alex had to slow as the carts and vendors filled the roads.
I tried to avoid the curious glances we were thrown and tried not to wonder what I must look like.
My hair, never re-pinned, bounced on my back, and the blanket I still wore slipped at moments from my shoulder, revealing the torn bodice and naked arm.
By the time we got to Louisa’s, the horse was walking and still we’d not said a word to each other.
The front door was open and Bronson stood on the front steps.
As we approached, Randolph’s coach came from the stables and paused by the step.
And Robert and Randolph and Louisa came out from the house.
They watched us with shocked expressions and glad cries as we drew near.
When we stopped, it was Robert who helped me down as Alex dismounted, and Robert who stood with me facing Alex.
Alex raised his chin, nodded at Louisa and Randolph, and gestured to me.
“Here she is,” he said to them all in a brittle voice.
“She’s unharmed except for bruises and bumps.
She’ll tell ye the story of what happened.
I took her to my ship afterward to be sure she was a’right and she wanted to be returned, so here she is.
” He bowed to me. “Miss Lowell, I’ll take my leave. ”
I felt my eyes fill with tears. “Alex, thank you. Thank you.”
“For saving yer life or yer reputation, Miss Lowell?” He looked at Robert.
“She’ll make ye a fine wife, Campbell. I’ve only kissed her, not more.
She’s not lost her virtue.” Alex pulled the square of Campbell plaid from his belt and handed it to Robert, who took it with a puzzled look.
“Yer men botched the attack. They dinna get me, but they almost cost ye a bride.” His voice softened as he glanced at me, then back to Robert.
“Care for her well, man. She’s worth yer effort.
” He reached out and gently stroked my unbruised cheek.
“It’s probably for the best, Mary,” he said, and walked back to the horse.
“MacGannon,” Robert said. “I didn’t send men to attack you.”
Alex looked at Robert over the horse’s back. “But ye ken of it, I can see,” Alex said, his voice harsh again.
Robert nodded. “All of London knows of it, Alex. They weren’t my men. I wouldn’t have done that.” The two men stared at each other, and at last Alex nodded as well.
“Damned if I ken why, but I believe ye, Robert,” he said, and vaulted onto the horse’s back. I ran to him.
“Alex,” I said. “Don’t leave like this.”
“It’s too far to walk, Mary,” he said in a harsh tone, but when I came next to the horse he almost smiled. “I told ye, lass,” he whispered bleakly, “that it would be as ye wished. And this” —he gestured at the group behind me—“is what ye wished. I hope it’s what ye wanted.”
“Alex, will you come to see me?”
He did smile then. “I think not, Miss Lowell. I’ve told ye, I don’t pay attention to other men’s wives.”
I stepped back as though slapped, then raised my chin. Two could play this game. “Thank you for bringing me home, Lord Kilgannon,” I said clearly. “I appreciate your efforts. And I’m sure you’re correct that it’s probably for the best.”
Alex nodded. “Aye. I can see ye have not the stomach for life with a man such as me.”
“And I can see that you could not handle life with a woman such as me. You should find yourself a woman who enjoys having no say in her life. I’m sure you’ll find one. ”
“And what do ye mean by that?”
“I thought you were different, Alex, but when it came to it you’re just like all the other men. You tell me that it will be as I wish, but you decide what’s best for me. That was most illuminating. And in your arrogance you cannot even see why I might be angry.”
He looked at me for a long moment, then leaned closer. “I’ll just take my arrogance and leave ye be, then, Mary,” he said, but I could see the hurt and I paused, unable to continue that way.
“Oh, Alex,” I said softly. “What a way for us to part.”
He nodded slowly. “Aye,” he said.
“Safe journey,” I whispered. “Safe journey, Alex MacGannon.”
“And to ye, Mary Lowell,” he said. And left me. We all stared after him as he rode away. And then I gathered my skirts and turned to face my family and Robert.