Page 23 of The Lady’s Reckless Abandon (Safely in Scotland #1)

L ily blinked at Finn and frowned. He worried she would refuse him. He should have considered that might happen. Had he thought she would jump at the chance to be married to him? It was rather arrogant of him to think she would be overjoyed to have another option than the fate that awaited her as an unwed mother.

Most women would need only to hear the word “duchess” before they’d have rushed off to make the arrangements and scrounge up an officiant to see the job done as quickly as possible.

Of course, Lily wouldn’t be swayed by a title. She wouldn’t even grasp at the opportunity to put her life back to rights after a few missteps.

“I am with child,” she finally said as if he wouldn’t have been informed on the matter.

It probably should have been her business to share or not to share, but since he’d summoned the doctor, the doctor had told him everything.

“I’m aware.”

“It’s not yours.”

It was his turn to frown. “I took firsts in science at Oxford, so I know well enough how biology works.”

“What if I give birth to a son?”

Finn smiled. “I would be overjoyed with a lass or a lad. So long as they are healthy and happy, our lives would be blessed indeed.”

“I mean, if I give birth to a son after we are married, he would be the heir to your dukedom.”

He let out a breath. Why had he thought this would be an easy thing?

“As a duke, myself, I’m aware how primogeniture works, as well as biology.”

“But he wouldn’t be your son.”

“He would be if you agree to marry me.” He was trying to do the right thing. To do what was needed. Why was she making it so difficult?

“But not your blood.”

“Yes, as I’ve already mentioned the stellar accomplishments in biology, I’m aware he or she would not be mine by blood, but there are things more important than blood, Lily. Family, happiness, the life we could have if you say you’ll marry me. No one would need to know the child is not mine by blood, for our child would be my child in every way that matters.”

“What you offer is more than I could ever dream of. It is difficult to resist having all my troubles solved by a few words before a clergyman.”

“Actually, I was considering exchanging vows over an anvil so it could be done today.”

“Are you certain, Finn?” He remembered that foggy night when she’d called him by his Christian name. She hadn’t slipped again. But now he imagined it was warranted since he’d just proposed marriage to this woman for her to use his given name. He found he rather liked hearing his name on her lips. Except it had distracted him from hearing the other words as she’d continued.

“—come to resent me or the baby.”

“No one is forcing me to wed you, Lily. I’m asking of my own free will. There would be no resentment as it is what I choose to do.” What he didn’t know was if she would say yes because she wanted it, wanted him or because he was offering a solution to her situation. “I would make sure you never regret it. I would never ask for things or give you any bother, I promise.”

It was his turn to frown. He didn’t want her to feel beholden to him as if he was the hero in a Theodore Stonecliff novel.

“We have only known each other a few months so it is too soon to ask for anything more than a promise of fidelity. And I will promise you the same. We already have friendship. I think a life of happiness could be built solidly on such a sturdy foundation. Many marriages of the ton don’t even have the hope of sharing laughter and interests as we already do.”

“It is true it is more than I’ve seen with my parents and my sisters’ marriages.”

“Then say yes. Marry me. Today. Put an end to my loneliness. Together we can fill this castle with the laughter of children. You’ll not regret saying yes. I’ll make sure of it.” It was his turn to make promises.

She covered her mouth as tears welled up in her beautiful gray eyes.

“This may be the most selfish thing I’ll ever do, but I desperately want everything—the life—you just described. So, yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He thought his heart might near to burst he was so pleased with her answer. For she’d said she wanted this life with him. It was more than he could have hoped for.

Finn helped Lily down from the carriage in the village. He’d requested his travel coach, not that they had all that far to go, but because it was not adorned with the Granton crest. A number of people stopped to stare at them. Finn had purposefully taken them a few villages away from Gealach , so there was less chance they would be noticed.

He smiled down at her and pressed his hand atop hers where she all but clutched onto him. It was unnecessary for he never planned to leave her.

He remembered that evening when he’d seen her sitting forlornly on the steps of the tavern and the way he’d heard Junie’s words in his mind. Now, seeing his bride looking up at him with wide gray eyes, he was so happy he’d stopped.

Looking up at the sky, he winked at his sister for whatever part she’d played in guiding him to this point in his life.

Thank you, Juniper.

*

Lily held tight to the crook of Finn’s elbow as he escorted her to the blacksmith’s shop.

She’d wanted to wear a fine gown to show him how proud she was to marry him, but he’d insisted on simpler clothing so not to call attention to themselves. Besides, her finest gown had ill-will attached to it, as she had been wearing it the morning her previous groom left her.

She would not think of him this day. He wasn’t worthy of taking up any more of her thoughts. She would focus on Finn and his kind offer. He had been her hero that evening he’d brought her to his home, and now…

She paused and he stopped to look down at her.

“I need to say something before we marry,” she whispered.

“Very well.” He glanced back at the carriage and then to her. Did he think she planned to change her mind? She placed her hand on his and gave it a squeeze, hoping to reassure him.

“I know I have thanked you many times on our journey here today, but I wanted to say that while your offer saved me and my chi—”

“ Our child,” he reminded her.

She nodded.

“Yes.” She didn’t understand how he so easily claimed this child as his own. Her throat grew tight and she rushed through the words so she wouldn’t break down into tears. “I truly think we can be happy, Finn. You are not only saving me from ruin today. I am so very pleased to be your wife. However it came to be.”

He nodded. “Then shall we see it done?”

“Yes.”

She felt lighter as they arrived at the shop. But they must not have succeeded in looking like common folk, for the blacksmith stared at them wide-eyed when Finn asked the man to perform a marriage.

“Surely, it’s not the first marriage you’ve officiated for the gentry?” Finn asked. Though they were more than gentry. Finn was a duke.

And she was about to become a duchess. She swallowed against a lump that didn’t seem to budge. She’d been trained to be a nobleman’s wife for as long as she could remember.

Her whole life seemed to be for that one thing. Becoming a gentleman’s wife. Running his home, bearing his children, and hosting his events.

She’d always wanted love between herself and the man she married. She could say she loved Finn, but there was at least the foundation, as he’d said. It gave her hope that they could build so much more together.

The blacksmith gave a firm nod and stated his price. Finn released her arm and stepped away with the man as they negotiated something in whispers. Finally the blacksmith nodded and Finn gave the man a hefty pouch.

Once the matter of coin was exchanged, the blacksmith saw to blessing the ring Finn had brought for her finger, and speaking the vows they were told to repeat. Lily didn’t falter when some of the words slid into Gaelic. She just did her best to speak them.

“I pronounce ye, husband and wife. Ye may kiss yer lass.”

Finn smiled and leaned down to kiss her, but paused when his lips were hovering only an inch or two from hers.

“No fainting this time,” he warned.

She laughed and grasped onto his jacket and tugged him the rest of the way to meet him with a fierce kiss. She felt his smile curl against her lips and thought how perfect this wedding was. She would never forget this day, the happiest of her life.