Julie Garwood - The Bride

Mary wanted to give Jamie the details. Jamie didn't want to hear them. Mary was insistent, and right in the middle of her whispers about how wonderful Daniel was, Alec, Gavin, Marcus, and Daniel came into the hall. They wanted to be included in the conversation. The topic immediately changed.

Alec kept Jamie up most of the night, making love to her. He wouldn't let her be as aggressive as she wanted to be, fearing her strength wasn't fully restored.

In the end, he admitted to her the sorry fact that although he was stronger, she certainly had more stamina.

He left the following morning on duties King Edgar required, and wasn't due back home for a full week. Jamie used his time away to make another little change in his household.

She had the bed and its platform moved out of the great hall. The screen now enclosed a buttery. It was yet another English tradition, but once the soldiers realized it would make the ale easier to get to, they went along with her orders without voicing too many complaints.

Alec came home three days later. The soldiers took their place in line again, ready to defend her.

Alec sat at the head of the table. His jaw was clenched shut while she explained the necessity of a buttery to him.

He did have trouble accepting change. Jamie was pleased with him, though, for he hadn't raised his voice at all. She knew the effort cost him dearly. His face became flushed and the muscle was flexing in his cheek again. She was full of sympathy for him, too. For that reason, she didn't even bat an eyelash when he asked her in a low, controlled voice to leave him in peace for a few minutes.

Alec knew she wasn't upset with his request when she didn't pause to take a coin from the box atop the mantel. He'd caught on early to her subtle way of letting him know whenever he'd made her angry. She'd never say a word, just give him a good glare and then grab one of her shillings. She didn't know Father Murdock replaced the coins in the box each night.

She was still having trouble settling in. Some nights, Father Murdock had as many as nine shillings in his hand.

Jamie's sister was just dismounting when Jamie came outside with Mary Kathleen on her hip.

"I've the most horrible news," Mary rushed out. "Andrew's on his way here."

"Andrew?"

"The man you were pledged to," Mary reminded her. "Honestly, Jamie, how could you have forgotten him already?"

"I haven't forgotten," Jamie answered. She handed Mary Kathleen to Mary when her sister reached for the child. While Mary hugged the little girl, Jamie tried to stay calm. "Mary, why would Andrew be coming here? And how did you find out?"

"I heard Daniel talking to one of his men. All the Highland clans know he's coming, Jamie. He and his army had to pass through their lands."

"Oh, my God, he's coming here with an army?"

"He is."

"But why, Mary?"

"The loan," Mary whispered after she'd put her niece down. "Remember the coins Papa borrowed from Andrew?"

"How could I forget? Papa all but sold me to Andrew," she wailed. "Oh, Mary, I can't be humiliated in front of my clan. I can't let Andrew shame me this way.

Good God, Mary, Alec is bound to kill Andrew."

Mary nodded. "Those were Daniel's very words."

"Then he knows the reason Andrew is coming here?" Jamie asked, clearly appalled.

"Yes. Andrew has had to explain his reason for being in the Highlands. He wouldn't have gotten very far without being killed already if he hadn't explained. Sister, haven't you noticed the Scots don't like the English very much?"

"Well, spit, Mary, who doesn't know?"

"Jamie, you shouldn't be talking so unladylike."

"I can't help it," Jamie cried. "I'm always the last one to know anything around here. Do you think Alec knows Andrew is coming?"

Mary lifted her shoulders in a helpless gesture. "Daniel says all Scots know when someone comes near their holding. I would guess-"

"I can't let this happen. I won't be responsible for starting a war with England, too."

"England? Alec will probably only kill Andrew and his followers."

"You think King Henry won't notice one of his barons is missing, Mary? He's bound to think it odd when he calls up his army and no one comes…"

She didn't bother to finish her explanation, but snatched the reins out of her sister's hands and quickly mounted Mary's horse.

"What are you planning, Jamie?"

"I'm going to find Andrew and reason with him. I'll promise to send the coins to him."

"Jamie, it's going to be dark soon. 'Tis the reason Daniel wouldn't let me come to visit you."

Jamie smiled. "Yet you came anyway, didn't you, Mary?"

"I had to warn you, sister. I thought you might want to hide for a while."

"It was a most unselfish, courageous thing you did, warning me, but you know very well I'd never hide."

"I hoped you would. I certainly didn't think you'd go chasing Andrew down. Was I truly courageous, Jamie?"

Jamie nodded. "Now listen well, Mary. I want your promise you won't tell anyone where I've gone. Please?"

"I promise."

"Watch over Mary Kathleen until I get back."

"What will I tell Alec?"

"Don't tell him anything."

"But-"

"Cry," Jamie blurted out. "Yes, cry, Mary. Alec won't ask you any questions if you're weeping. I'll be back before he even notices I've left. Now point me in the right direction, Mary."

"You just head down the hills, Jamie."

Mary made a quick sign of the cross while she watched her sister race down the hill. Father Murdock strolled over to Mary, bade her good day, and then remarked that Lady Kincaid had certainly taken off in a hurry and did Lady Ferguson happen to know where the lass was going?

Lady Ferguson immediately burst into tears.

She kept her promise to her sister, too. She didn't tell Alec where Jamie had gone. She didn't have to. Mary Kathleen told him everything.

The little girl went back inside as soon as her mother left. She ran over to Alec, climbed up on his lap, and drank a big gulp of ale before he realized what she was doing. Alec snatched the goblet away and then gave her a cup of water.

When she'd finished her drink, he asked her almost absentmindedly where her mama was.

Mary Kathleen leaned back against her papa's chest and played with her toes and his belt while she repeated almost word for word the entire conversation she'd overheard.

For his daughter's sake, Alec didn't start shouting until he was outside. Once Jamie's sister saw Alec's face, she didn't have to put real effort into her sobs. She went into immediate hysterics.

Father Murdock did his best to try to console the poor, loud woman, but his efforts were all for naught. By the time Alec had left with his contingent of soldiers, Mary was screeching like a trapped hen. The priest went inside the chapel to pray for peace. More specifically, he prayed Daniel would come and fetch his wife.

Alec followed Jamie's trail. When it curved to the east, he began to relax. She was now headed for Ferguson land.

"Did she change her mind, then?" Marcus shouted.

"She's lost," Alec called over his shoulder. "And thank God for that," he muttered to himself.

He caught up with Jamie fifteen minutes later. He forced her to stop by motioning for his soldiers to encircle her.

Husband and wife faced each other. Neither said a word for a long minute. She was desperately trying to come up with a plausible explanation. He was wondering what outrageous lie she'd give him.

"You asked me to leave you in peace for a little while," she said.

"I did."

She nudged her mount forward. When she reached Alec's side, she whispered, "I was just going to try to reason with Andrew. My sister told you all about my errand, didn't she?"

"Your daughter told me."

Her eyes widened in reaction to that announcement. "I must remember in future not to speak so openly."