"Of course. However you wish."
"Excellent." His eyes glinted. "I am anxious to get home. I believe you will like Gilmerton."
Her gaze dropped to his mouth and, out of the blue, she was. .h.i.t with the memory of his kiss. Heat flickered through her like an actual flame, dancing along her skin, making her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tingle with warmth as if he"d touched her.
All of this from a mere memory? Her face felt so hot that it had to be afire, and for a horrid instant, she was sure he must know what she was thinking. A quick glance proved her right: his eyes glowed as if he, too, was remembering things he shouldn"t.
He pulled his gloves from his hands and tucked them into his coat pockets. "If you don"t feel warmer soon, we can stop at an inn for a hot brick for the foot warmer." He nodded down at the metal pan that rested in the floor.
"No, thank you. We"ll save it for later, when it"s really cold." She snuggled deeper into the blanket.
Hugh almost laughed at the regretful look she sent toward the foot warmer. He was learning quite a few things about his new wife. For one, she was a good sport, uncomplaining when many women would be hysterical. Her instant agreement to push through the night had surprised him. It had also made him take a new measure of her. He had little doubt that willful, center-of-attention Caitlyn Hurst would have burst into tears at the thought.
He appreciated Caitriona"s good spirits, which made him certain that this little escapade would have a peaceful ending. She would enjoy his hospitality at Gilmerton, then calmly return to her family"s home and resume her life there.
Looking at her now, huddled beneath the blanket beside him, her pert nose pink with cold, her spectacles glinting in the afternoon light, he couldn"t help but feel a twinge of regret. It was a pity life held nothing more for her than being a symbolic wife. She deserved more...only not from him.
She sneezed, her spectacles bouncing on her nose.
Hugh frowned. "You"re still cold."
"No, no. I"m fine, really." She promptly sneezed again.
"Like h.e.l.l." He slipped an arm about her, pulled her close, then tucked the blanket over them both.
"Hugh, I don"t need coddling! If I"m cold, I"ll tell you."
He settled back in the corner, keeping her firmly at his side. She might not need coddling, but he"d be d.a.m.ned if he"d allow her to grow ill while in his care.
She sat stiffly against him, her head turned away. Hugh had to smile at her willfulness, though it did afford him a good look at her.
There was something singularly sweet about her profile. He wasn"t certain if it was the firm line of her jaw, though still delicate and feminine, or the curve of her bottom lip, but whatever it was, he found it intriguing. There was so much character in her face-intelligence, wit, and a calm a.s.surance that fascinated him. He"d only known her for a few days, but he"d already witnessed her reactions under extreme duress-first in the carriage when he"d thought she was her sister, then afterward in the inn when she"d defied her aunt and uncle in order to speak out, and the next day when Hugh had gone to tell her of their options...or lack thereof. Each and every time, even in the face of insurmountable odds, she"d responded with spirit and intelligence and an almost stately calmness. She was no shrinking violet, nor a society chit bent only on her own amus.e.m.e.nt. Here was a woman of grace and wit, and more than a little beauty.
Hugh tightened his arm about her, turning so that his chin rested on her silken hair. After a tense moment, she relaxed enough to sink against him. For a while they sat thus, tucked together beneath the thick blanket, sharing their bodies" warmth, the rumbling carriage lurching from side to side.
Taking in her sweet fragrance, he closed his eyes, savoring the scent that made him think of the freshest day of spring. A low simmer of l.u.s.t began to slide through his veins.
His hand slid over her shoulder and he bent to inhale her fragrance more deeply, her hair tickling his nose. She sighed and snuggled against him, turning her face into his shoulder and making his body ache with desire. For a long moment they sat savoring each other, and then, somehow, they were no longer sitting in one another"s arms, but kissing pa.s.sionately, even frantically.
Blood pounded through Hugh"s veins as he devoured her, enjoying the feel of her soft body pressed against his. The simmer of pa.s.sion fanned brighter and he lifted her to his lap.
Her arms linked around his neck as she pulled him closer, exciting him even more. She was an enigma to him, representing both pa.s.sion and pragmatism, honor and l.u.s.t, enslavement and excitement. He hardly knew what to think, and when holding her, he simply couldn"t think at all.
Her arms tightened about him and he ran his hands over her back, exploring her as she moaned against his mouth. She was generously made, soft and pliant, making a man dream of sinking into her. The thought of teaching her the joys of the bedroom sent a quiver of excitement through him. He"d always had affairs with experienced women who enjoyed s.e.x without any emotional entanglement. So this armful of delightfully pa.s.sionate innocence was heady indeed.
He slipped a hand over her rounded hip and up to cup her breast. She gasped and broke their kiss, her eyes flying open. Her spectacles had fallen to the wayside, for nothing framed the rich hazel color but the thick, vibrant sweep of her sable lashes.
Hugh paused, his entire body racked with awareness. Slowly, without breaking her gaze, he gently rubbed her breast through her gown, his thumb finding her nipple with unerring accuracy. Her eyes widened yet more, and her breath sucked between her swollen lips.
"Do you like this?" He flicked the end of her puckered nipple with his thumb.
She arched against his hand, her eyes half-closing, her mouth opening in a gasp. She dropped a hand from his neck to grasp his wrist-and to his surprise, pressed it more firmly on her breast.
d.a.m.n, she is a hot piece! He devoured the sight of her pa.s.sion-flushed face, her cheeks pink, her honey-colored hair falling loose from the pins. She appeared as wanton as a hothouse bird, though he knew she was anything but. The contrast was achingly erotic and he felt it in every part of his body.
He nipped at her lips, moving to her jaw, then her ear. She shuddered against him, squirming in his lap as she rubbed his hand over her breast. Giving her time to stop him if she wished, he slowly eased back the neckline of her gown, then undid the tie that held her chemise closed.
She stilled against him, her breath rapid. He continued to nip gently at her ear as he slipped his hand beneath her chemise to cup her bare breast. Full and warm, it filled his hand completely. He gently kneaded it, then flicked her taut nipple.
With a moan she arched against him, writhing even more, her bottom rubbing against his hard c.o.c.k. He withdrew his hand and reached down for her ankle. Reclaiming her mouth, he kissed her thoroughly, his tongue slipping between her lips as his hand slipped up her stockinged leg to her knee, then higher still. He quickly moved aside the c.u.mbersome skirts and chemise, and slid his hand up her bare leg. He gently stroked her thigh higher. Then higher still. His fingers brushed over her wetness- She bolted upright, clenching her knees together, her hair wild about her shoulders, her lips swollen. "No!" she gasped, a frightened look in her eyes.
Hugh took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and fought off the pa.s.sion that flooded his veins. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, this is no way to treat a virginal wife! He was no cra.s.s lout who took his own pleasure without returning the same to the fairer s.e.x. Attempting to initiate an innocent into the pleasures of coupling while careening down an uneven road in a trundling carriage was foolish.
She deserved better and, if it killed him, he"d see that she received the gentlest treatment. She might have been forced to marry him, but he meant for them both to enjoy their physical pleasures, and the seat of a carriage was not the right place.
For this seduction, he wanted only the best: the luxury of a large feather mattress covered with fine linen sheets, in a room warmed by a crackling fire that gleamed off his large bra.s.s bathtub. There, he"d show her the pleasures of intimacy. Not here; not this way. Not for her very first encounter. And not for his wife.
Why that mattered, he wasn"t sure, but he couldn"t ignore it. He gently disentangled his hand from her skirts and pulled them down about her ankles. Then he tugged her gown back into place on her shoulder. She a.s.sisted him with trembling hands, her face red enough to ignite a fire.
"Caitriona, we will do this, but not here."
She couldn"t seem to look at him. Instead, she said in a husky voice that held a faint quaver, "I should find my hairpins."
He helped her. At some point the blanket had fallen off, though neither had noticed it. Hugh retrieved it and discovered her spectacles tangled in its folds. He handed them to her and she slipped them onto her nose, then repinned her long hair, the silken strands capturing his gaze.
"Here." He tucked her under the blanket and reached up to knock on the ceiling of the coach. It began to slow.
Triona huddled beneath her blanket, confused and embarra.s.sed, yet still aching for his touch. "What...what are you doing?"
"I am going to ride my horse for a while. Shadow"s tied to the back of the coach and could use the exercise." He smiled at her, a tight, almost pained smile. "I am not a man to do things halfway, and taking your innocence in a coach on the open road-no. It is best for us to wait, but I have to admit that I am very..." He rubbed a hand over his face, and she noted with amazement that it shook just as her own did. "The truth is that I need some cold, brisk air and some exercise, and-" He caught her gaze and gave a rueful grin. "You don"t understand, do you?"
"You are tired of being in the carriage with me?"
"No, not at all! Caitriona, I"m very..." He caught her confused expression and winced. "Oh, blast it-here." He took her hand and pressed it to his lap. His manhood pushed against his breeches, long and hard.
She s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand back, her face so hot it burned. "I see," she managed.
He laughed softly. "Don"t look embarra.s.sed; it"s a compliment of the highest sort."
She tucked her hand back under the blanket. "Then-" She bit her lip.
The carriage rocked as the footmen climbed down. MacLean leaned forward to say quietly, "I didn"t stop because you failed to arouse me; it is quite the opposite. I stopped because I don"t wish your first time to be on a hard bench in a carriage."
Oh. Well. Since he was being kind, she supposed she should appreciate his thoughtfulness. Still...she"d enjoyed his touch so very much. "Does it matter? The seats aren"t that hard and-"
He laughed softly, then gave her a quick kiss. "Trust me on this: you deserve better."
There was a sharp knock at the door. It opened and the coachman leaned in. "Aye, m"lord? Ye knocked?"
"Yes, Ferguson. Have my horse saddled. I wish to ride for a while."
"Very good, m"lord." The man withdrew and could be heard shouting orders to the others.
With a wink, MacLean climbed down, the cool air swirling into the carriage.
Triona cleared her throat. "Will you ride the rest of the way to Scotland?"
"Oh, no." His eyes crinkled with humor. "I just plan on riding until I am too tired to do more than stare at you longingly. An hour or two should do it."
At least she wouldn"t be alone for long. She smiled. "Very well, then. I hope you enjoy your ride."
"I"m sure it will be wretched and cold, which is exactly what I need. Meanwhile, get some rest. We"re days yet to go before we reach Scotland. Once we"re there..." He gave her a heated look, then closed the door.
The carriage soon rolled back into motion and they were under way again. Triona peeked out the window and watched MacLean cantering alongside, the wind ruffling his dark hair beneath his hat. His eyes were as bright as the ruby that gleamed on her finger, and the firm line of his chin gave her pause. It gave her the distinct impression that he didn"t negotiate-ever.
Triona sat back in her seat. At first she"d wondered about MacLean"s insistence on the physical aspect of their marriage, but no more. Since it was highly unlikely she"d ever marry again, it was a good thing she would be able to experience lovemaking-at least for a short while. It would be a pity never to have that.
So far, she"d enjoyed it more than she"d thought possible. Smiling, she snuggled into the corner, the blanket toasty warm about her as she did as Hugh had bid, and fell asleep.
The next couple of days pa.s.sed much as the first. MacLean began each day in the carriage with Triona, but the s.e.xual tension between them became more and more palpable. After a short time he"d leave the carriage and ride beside it, staying there until he was so exhausted that all he could do was sleep once he was inside.
Of course, that did nothing for Triona"s state of mind, and she discovered that one could l.u.s.t after a man even while he was sound asleep, and even snoring a bit. l.u.s.t was a very, very mysterious thing.
After a while, Triona grew tired of sitting and being jounced in the carriage alone. Worse, as the terrain took on a craggier, wilder look, she began to feel homesick. She missed her brothers and sisters. She missed their noisy breakfasts, and their good-natured arguments, and everything else.
She also found herself worrying about how comfortable she"d feel at Gilmerton Manor. Would she ever feel as at home as she did at the vicarage?
Heart heavy, she wished she"d thought to bring a book, for she desperately needed something to redirect her mind.
They traveled through the first two nights, stopping only for a quick meal and, once, a blissfully hot bath. They were making good time because they changed the horses from Hugh"s private stock along the route. On the third night, a cloudy sky kept them from pressing on and they stopped at an inn, for which she was profoundly grateful. Her back and legs ached from traveling, and even when they stopped, she felt as if she were still inside the rocking carriage, the earth moving beneath her feet. Exhausted, she fell asleep over her dinner twice and didn"t even awaken when MacLean carried her to their room and tucked her into bed. She awoke in the early-morning darkness to a bed warmed by his body, though he had already risen and dressed. As soon as it was light, they were on their way.
Shortly after dark on the fourth day, they finally arrived at Gilmerton Manor. As they turned a bend in the winding country road, Triona caught sight of her future home, the moon lighting it in ghostly silver.
The manor perched on a treeless hill, three stories tall with a myriad of windows. Dark and menacing under the stark light of the moon, it seemed to glare down at her, and she shivered as she noted that only a few windows on the lowest floor were aglow with welcoming light.
Astride Shadow, Hugh looked at Gilmerton with an entirely different emotion. He was home. Finally.
Shadow clearly felt the same, for he kicked a bit and trotted smartly up the drive. Hugh laughed as he pulled the horse to a stop at the wide, red door, and swung down with a sense of pride. The house was s.p.a.cious, well-built, and solid, the way Hugh liked things: a stately building of cla.s.sic and simple design.
The door swung open and a tall woman dressed in a housekeeper"s gown and ap.r.o.n came bustling out. Following her were the footmen, Angus and Liam, carrying lanterns on poles to light the portico.
Mrs. Wallis frowned. "Och, milord! We weren"t expectin" ye fer another two weeks! "Tis a good thing your bedchamber is already made up."
"I would have sent word, but circ.u.mstances hastened my return."
The coach came to a halt by the portico, and Ferguson hopped down and immediately went to help Triona out of the coach. Mrs. Wallis"s eyes widened; Hugh never brought guests to Gilmerton.
Triona didn"t seem to notice Mrs. Wallis"s avid attention. Pale and wan, her hair half-pinned with long strands falling unnoticed down her back, her clothing wrinkled, she seemed too exhausted to take in her surroundings at all. Hugh"s heart softened. She appeared so weary and, standing before the house, so very small.
Though she held Ferguson"s arm, she stumbled a bit when her feet touched the ground. Hugh strode to her side, placed an arm about her waist, and helped her to the steps. "Mrs. Wallis, this is Lady Caitriona MacLean, your new mistress."
"Wha-?" Mrs. Wallis gaped while both footmen gawked. "La-ye mean-when did-I-" She flushed a deep red and sank into a curtsey. "Och, milady, "tis very good to meet ye! Welcome to Gilmerton!"
Triona managed a smile, leaning upon Hugh"s arm. "Thank you. I"m a bit fatigued from my journey, or I"d ask for a tour of the house." She gave a rueful grimace. "I fear that I couldn"t manage all of the stairs just now. I"ve been sitting in the coach for four days."
"Only four days to come from Londontown?" The housekeeper pinned an accusing gaze on Hugh. "Ye didna stop fer nothin", did ye?"
"We were in a hurry."
"Aye, so I see. The poor thing must be exhausted! Why don"t ye show her to her bedchamber, and I"ll bring up a pot o" tea and some b.u.t.teries."
"b.u.t.teries?" Triona asked.
"Aberdeen rolls," he explained.
She just blinked up at him, and Mrs. Wallis offered, "Sweet, soft rolls, milady. Ye"ll like me b.u.t.teries." She looked Triona up and down with a critical eye. "Ye London misses never eat enough, though ye seem better filled out than most I"ve seen."
"Thank you."
Hugh hugged her to his side and smiled. "Mrs. Wallis thinks we"re all wasting away. It"s one of her more charming flaws."
"Hmph. If ye"d eat when ye should, I wouldna have to say something! Never fear, milady, we"ll have ye fattened up in no time." The housekeeper turned and marched inside. "Come, now! A little food and then it"s off to bed with you."
Triona glanced up at Hugh. "I would like a bath, too."
"Of course!" Mrs. Wallis said over her shoulder as she headed across the grand hallway to the stairs. "Angus, off to the kitchen. Tell the staff we"ve a new mistress and she wishes a bath immediately."
Hugh and Triona climbed the stairs after the housekeeper, who explained the various pieces of weaponry and art that adorned the huge stairwell. Hugh could tell that Triona wasn"t taking any of it in. Her face was pinched and pale, her shoulders slumped, and each step seemed to take her longer than the last.
As they reached the top of the first flight, Triona stumbled and would have fallen except that Hugh swung her up into his arms. She murmured a protest, her head resting against his shoulder, her arms clasped about his neck.
After a concerned glance back, Mrs. Wallis nodded her approval, then hurried to open Hugh"s bedchamber door.
Hugh savored his role of "rescuer extraordinaire" as he carried his tired bride. He had an idea that such acquiescence was rare, and he"d best enjoy it while he could.
A gentleman would give his exhausted new bride some privacy on her first night in a strange house after a strenuous journey, but this was his wife, by G.o.d, and he"d already been more patient than any man he knew. If he had to put up with the aspects of being married that he didn"t like, he"d at least enjoy the ones he did.
Mrs. Wallis plumped up a pillow on the settee by the huge fireplace. "I"ll go and see to the b.u.t.teries and the hot water."
"Thank you." The familiar large room was a welcome sight with its royal blue hangings, comfortable fireplace, red and green carpet, and heavy furnishings of rich, dark wood. Ignoring the settee, Hugh placed Triona on the bed. "Rest until food and the bath arrive."
She relaxed against the pillows and her lashes fanned her cheeks as she closed her eyes. Hugh"s gaze drifted over her determined chin to the delicate line of her neck, then down to the soft rise and fall of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s- A flash of l.u.s.t slammed into him and he turned away, disgruntled that it took so little.
As her breathing evened out, her lips parted and her face turned to one side. She looked so young, snuggled there among his pillows, her hair tangled about her, faint purple smudges under her eyes attesting to her deep weariness.
Hugh found himself brushing her hair from her forehead. As his fingers slid over her smooth skin, something flickered in the region of his heart. Sympathy, he told himself. She has to be exhausted and concerned for her future. I only hope that when she finds out how things really are here, she will not disrupt my life or anyone else"s. He hoped for that, more than anything.
He sighed, weary to the bone but wide awake. He would inform Mrs. Wallis that the b.u.t.teries and hot water should wait while Caitriona rested. After an hour"s nap, she"d be able to eat her dinner and bathe before settling in for a good night"s sleep.