Page 11 of I’ve Grown Accustomed to My Scot

“And how will you achieve that?” Rory asked curiously, raising his eyebrows. “If you punish my wife, I will have to punish you.”

The earl smirked, before turning again to Grace. “Remember what I told you?” Ormsby said, with one of his hard looks.

“I remember,” Grace whispered.

Ormsby gave a satisfied nod. “Very well. Come, girls!” And he turned his back and walked out of the room.

Grace hugged her sisters. They probably would have lingered if their father had not called out for them to hurry. When the family had left, Grace went to the window to watch them climb into their coach, her hands white knuckled as she clung to the sill. Rory had to wonder if Grace would ever see them again, and she must know it was possible that she would not. He hoped that would not be the case.

“Now, my dear,” the countess quickly took charge. “Let me show you to your bedchamber so that you can settle in. My home is yours for as long as you wish. No, please, no protests. I am perfectly happy with the arrangement. It will be congenial to have another woman here. My nephew cares little for the things that interest me.”

Rory gave a chuckle and Grace appeared to swallow her objections. She glanced at Rory as if waiting for him to say something, but he shrugged and then bowed. “Whatever my aunt says is the law in this house.”

Grace took a moment to take that in, and then, without another word, followed Jennie from the room.

Rory poured himself a whisky so that he could drink a toast to himself and his new status as married man. Aunt Jennie had planned a wedding supper, and she had asked Ormsby and the sisters, but the earl had bluntly turned down her offer for all three of them.

What a monster the man was! Selfish and cruel. Grace was well rid of him. Rory told himself that whatever his father might say, he had done a good deed today.

When his aunt returned, she sank down into a chair and looked up at him. “Unbelievable,” she said angrily. “What a creature that man is. I told Grace so, too. She is a sweet girl and well rid of him, although she will miss her sisters, and I can tell she is worried about them.” She shook her head. “What a business, Rory. I understand better now why you could not leave her in such a dire situation.”

Rory was pleased by her admission—at least she was on his side. He poured himself another glass before he spoke. “I have given Grace’s future some thought. As soon as I know more of her plans, I will help her find somewhere decent to live. Her dowry is wee, so I will need to provide her with an income.” He smiled. “It is kind of you to offer her your house in the meantime.”

Jennie smiled back. “Not at all. I spoke the truth when I said I will enjoy her company. Not that I don’t enjoy yours, but you do not share my interest in fashion.” Her cheery expression faded and she hesitated before blurting out, “Rory, you are such a generous lad. But I wish . . .”

When she didn’t finish, Rory prompted, “What do you wish, Aunt Jennie?”

Jennie shook her head and then laughed at herself. “I am a romantic, I fear, but I wish this were a proper wedding. A love match between you and Grace. It is early days, I know, but I can’t help but think the two of you would do very well together.”

Rory goggled at her before he burst into laughter. When he could speak again, he declared with complete and utter certainty, “I can promise you, Aunt, that will never happen!”

Chapter Six

Despite her brief acquaintance, Grace found the Countess of Strathmore’s house to be like the countess herself—friendly, comfortable, and not at all intimidating. She still expected Ormsby to pop up whenever she entered a room, ready to overset her emotions. She had been on her guard for so long that even now, when she knew he was on his way to his country estate, she could not completely relax. Despite the countess’s kindness and the private bedchamber that was now hers, it would take some time before she could believe she really was free of her father’s malevolent influence.

Grace sat down on her bed and let her shoulders slump. They ached from holding herself so stiffly, and there was a pounding in her head that threatened to become one of the truly awful headaches she sometimes experienced. This last week had been a whirl of emotions. Relief because she was leaving the orbit of Ormsby, and although she told herself he would no longer be able to control her every action, she knew that was not entirely true. Anticipation because she was entering a new phase of her life, one that she had control over which gave her a reason to look forward to the future. And finally, sadness because her sisters were left behind.

Who would look out for them now? Who would protect them from their father’s ire, as Grace did, putting herself in his way to divert his attention from them to her? She had taken the lash of many a cruel word with his tongue as his weapon. Prudence was almost sixteen now, and Grace was well aware that the earl was already seeking out a suitable husband for the girl. Grace shuddered. Prudence was so young, a child still, and she was in no way prepared for marriage. Ormsby would not be looking for a gentleman who was kind; his eyes would be firmly focused on someone with wealth and influence.

Despite Ormsby declaring he would no longer welcome Grace into his home, she was determined to remain in the girls’ lives as much as she possibly could. And she would do everything in her power to stop the earl from making decisions that might cause them harm.

But right at this moment, she must think of her own situation. Although Lord Rory MacKenzie had told her she was free to do as she wished, and she had her dowry money to provide her with lodgings and food at least for a little while, Grace was aware that things were not quite that simple. Yes, she could be frugal; she had had to penny pinch all her life. She did not desire the sort of opulence some women craved. For Grace, safety was far more important—she wanted a haven and one she could share with her sisters. For as long as she remained married to Rory, she could do that.

Remember what I told you.

The earl’s words felt like a weight dragging her down. She had kept them at bay today while everything else was going on, but now she was alone there was nothing to stop the memory of Ormsby’s warning.

“Your marriage will not be legal unless it is consummated. MacKenzie knows that. Perhaps he has promised to stay away from your bed?” The earl had smirked when he saw the acknowledgement in her expression. “He probably knows if he does not lay with you then he can be rid of you whenever he pleases.”

Grace had shaken her head in horrified denial.

“Oh yes he can,” Ormsby said. “Don’t be such a fool, Grace. What if he finds a woman he wants as his wife who is a far better match than you? He wouldn’t think twice, and even if he has some reservations, his father won’t. You would soon be abandoned and then you would come whining at my door like a stray cat. Well, let me tell you this, I will not open it. This is your one and only chance, so listen and listen well. If you want to ensure you are safe and secure in your marriage to MacKenzie, you must consummate it.”

Grace had stared back at him in angry, frightened silence.

“And don’t pretend to me you don’t know how to persuade a man into your bed,” the earl said viciously, his eyes like chips of ice. “You have done it before. Your little plot that backfired when that fool Buckingham ran off. Don’t think I didn’t see exactly what you were up to with him. Well, now you have a second chance. It’s in both our interests to keep MacKenzie from running off, too. See that you do what is necessary.”

Now Grace let go a deep sigh. He was right and she knew it. She could not risk Rory deciding to annul their marriage. She must do her best to coax her new husband into her bed or she would be putting her future—and more importantly, that of her sisters—in jeopardy. And because he had already told her he had no intention of bedding her, then she must use her wiles. She reminded herself that Rory was a man, and a lusty man if the rumors about him were true. Why would he not welcome his wife into his bed tonight despite his words to the contrary? Especially if he thought she was willing. She was sure he would turn his back on his undertakings as easily as Bolton Buckingham had.