Page 186 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“I would think you could protect her while I am away,” Talbot said. “I would also think you would be happy to see me go.”

Seward grunted. “If I thought I could get rid of you and the rest of your kind, I would tie ye up, send you to the Far East, then marry Rhoslyn off to Melrose. But your brother’s actions give me pause. Edward will no’ so easily give up the taxes he’ll receive from the Kinsley fortune—and your brother knows it. I wager he gambled that Edward would overlook his methods in ensuring his part of that fortune. If anything happens to ye, Edward is likely to uphold your brother’s claim that he and Rhoslyn are married. If I must choose between two devils, I choose the least evil of the two.”

“I am flattered,” Talbot replied.

* * *

Rhoslyn looked up from the list of goods she was verifying against the wagon filled with vegetables and fruits from the village. Her grandfather and St. Claire approached with determined steps she knew meant they had come in search of her. She had risen early and thrown herself into work in an effort to put the last two days behind her. She didn’t like the united front the two men presented. It couldn’t bode well for her.

“This will do, Williame,” she said to the merchant standing beside her. “Have your men unload the goods in the kitchen.” She took a bag of silver from the pouch belted to her waist and handed it to him.

“Thank ye, my lady.”

The merchant climbed into the seat beside his son, but not before Rhoslyn caught the glance he cast at her grandfather and St. Claire. His curt order to his son to go to the postern door told her that he, too, knew the men had something on their minds. The cart lurched into motion. Rhoslyn stepped back. Once the cart passed, the two men closed the final distance between them. St. Claire’s eyes narrowed on her face and she touched the tender spot on her cheek before checking the action.

His gaze sharpened. “Are you well?”

A strange tremor rippled through her. She hadn’t seen him since last night and had hoped to avoid him as long as possible. “I am fine,” she said. He continued to stare, and she added, “The bruise isna’ so bad.”

“Bad enough,” her grandfather growled.

“It is over and I am well. That is enough.” she said.

“You are a fool if ye believe that, and I didna’ raise a fool.”

Irritation surfaced. “I had no’ expected to see ye. I thought you would have returned home.”

“Nay, we need to speak privately with you.” He grasped her arm and started toward the castle.

St. Claire fell into place alongside her and she felt as if she were being escorted to the gallows. They reached the front door and, minutes later, entered their private solar.

She seated herself on the bench in front of the hearth and her grandfather said, “Ye and St. Claire will marry tomorrow morning.”

Of all the things she might have expected to hear come out of her grandfather’s mouth, this wasn’t one of them. “But why? Edward commanded we wed a month from now.”

“Dayton is claiming you and he are married.”

“Married?” It made perfect sense, but that didn’t stop the feeling that a horse had rolled across her. “Ridiculous,” she said, then cursed the tremor in her voice. “We didna’ see a priest, nor was there even the hint of a handfasting.”

“It isna’ as simple as that, and ye know it,” her grandfather said.

Rhoslyn looked at St. Claire. “You claimed Edward’s command that we marry was unimpeachable. We are, in effect, already married.”

“True,” he said. “But Dayton might use the fact you and he were alone to make a claim.”

“Is that how ye would have seen things if I had reached Longford Castle and been alone with Lord Melrose?”

“Nay. I would have razed Longford Castle, then brought you back to Castle Glenbarr.”

Anger tightened her belly. “Yet you fear your brother can claim me?”

“It is my duty to ensure your safety. The church’s blessing on our union makes his claims more difficult to pursue.”

“King Edward will never uphold your brother’s assertions.”

“Not as long as I am alive,” St. Claire replied.

Rhoslyn gasped. “Surely, your brother would no’ go so far as to kill ye?”

“I would not have thought he would dare kidnap you.” His expression was impassive, but Rhoslyn felt sure she read the thought, Neither did I conceive of the possibility that he would dare lay a hand on you.

“And what will ye do if you bear a child in nine months, Rhoslyn?” her grandfather asked.

Rhoslyn went cold.

“Dayton will say the child is his,” he went on. “Especially if there is any question that you and St. Claire havena’ lived together as man and wife.”

St. Claire remained silent, but Rhoslyn felt his stare. She wanted to argue, wanted to retreat to the solitude of her chambers—or even better, the convent—but could think of nothing to halt the inevitable. As much as she wanted to deny it, they were right. If she bore a child within the next nine months—especially a son—Dayton very well might rally his father and even petition Edward with the allegation that her child was his.

When she’d risen this morning, she had gone to the small chapel near their chambers and prayed to the Virgin Mary herself that she not be pregnant. Her stomach churned, for even while she’d knelt on the stone floor, she had planned how she might obtain penny royal and sage to induce bleeding before St. Claire lay with her.