Page 90 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

Lachlan would no doubt be enraged, but he wouldn’t hurt Kenna. Cam wouldn’t have left if he’d had any worry she’d be in danger for their actions.

As the days of travel wore on, the familiar mountains and valleys of the Highlands dropped away. He’d never been so far from home, but he didn’t think Dunardry would ever feel like home to him again. Not without Mari.

He occasionally pulled out her letter, still sealed and unread, and wondered what words she’d left him. No doubt it was goodbye, and therefore he’d not open it. He wasn’t ready to admit he would never see her again.

He might well be too late already, but he needed to go and at least try to bring her home.

…

After spending an hour being sick and then being dressed in one of her former fancy gowns by Lucy, Mari went down for breakfast. She was always famished after being sick.

She’d been at Blackley House for five days now, and so far she had avoided the other inhabitant. Mari rather hoped she would continue her run of luck for the entire duration of her stay, but she wasn’t big on luck lately. It wasn’t a surprise to find the dowager duchess sitting in the breakfast room with a plate of eggs and a scowl.

“Good morning, Mother,” Mari said, her normal way to address the dowager.

“Please don’t feign familiarity with me.”

“Well, a good morning to you anyway.” Mari hadn’t apologized to the woman for killing her son, because she wasn’t sorry. The man had been a monster. But she only had a short time left, so she damn well wouldn’t spend it arguing with the unpleasant woman.

Mari sat down and unfolded her napkin. How she missed eating in the great hall at Dunardry with her husband.

But the dowager wouldn’t appreciate Mari’s tears for another man. Dabbing at her eyes, she wondered how she hadn’t wept herself dry by now. She’d cried herself to sleep each night since leaving home. She wondered if Cam had gotten back to the castle yet. Had he read her letter? Was he angry with her?

She was fairly certain she knew the answer.

“When will they be coming to take you away?” The dowager’s rusty voice disrupted Mari’s thoughts of home. Mari sensed concern in the woman’s voice but decided she must have imagined it. Surely the dowager wouldn’t worry about Mari.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. I was taken before the court yesterday, and it was decided to postpone my trial until after I deliver.”

The dowager’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re with child? But how?”

“I remarried in Scotland. It was a bit of a misunderstanding, to be honest. I certainly hadn’t planned to marry again, ever. However, it turned out to be a great blessing. He is a wonderfully kind man. And now we’re having a child.”

“A child you’ll never see grown.” The older woman frowned and looked out the window.

Mari would have thought she looked wistful if the crabby woman were capable of such an emotion. Or any emotion at all, save annoyance and bitterness.

“I understand you’re angry with me. I can’t imagine the hatred I would feel for someone who hurt my child, and I haven’t even met my babe yet. But I am to stay here until I deliver and have been tried. If you do not wish to share the house with me, perhaps you could retire to the country estate.”

“Richard, the new duke of Endsmere, was recently married so he can do his duty to produce an heir, and he is installed there. I’ll not invade their privacy at this time.”

The woman had always been cold. She’d not once come to visit here at Blackley House, no matter how many times Mari had extended the invitation.

“In case you’re hinting that I didn’t do my duty to procure an heir, it is clear I am capable of conceiving.” She wouldn’t go into the details and tell his mother how her son had hated his wife so much he could barely look at her, let alone lie with her.

“I do not hint. If I have something to say, I will say it straight out.”

That was what Mari was afraid of. “As will I.”

“I suppose the gaol was not suitable for someone of your station and condition.” This was muttered into the dowager’s tea. “They were unable to find another place for you?” she asked more directly.

Mari had never felt welcome here. It had been a living hell for her, but never had she felt so alone as at this moment. She gathered her pride and sat up straighter, donning her best fake court smile. “I’m afraid I’m not permitted to leave. We’ll just have to get on as best as we can.”

The dowager made an unhappy sound and pushed her plate away. “How unfortunate.”

…

Upon his arrival to London, Cam was directed in circles, until he finally came to stand in front of a shiny black door at a fancy town house. He dropped the elaborate brass knocker, and the door opened almost instantly.