Chapter 8

8

F ergus was properly horrified when they arrived at Dunglass and he and Anna heard the story. The guards were locked up in the cellar storeroom and Dawson's body was left in a cold shed.

After the three witnesses wrote out their statements about the day's events, Anna fed them supper and Caitlin cuddled the adorable puppies, picking one to be hers when the pup was old enough to leave her mother. Puppies were a wonderful way to relax after a difficult day.

As David and Caitlin rode back to Braewood, he could feel her bone deep fatigue, but she didn't wilt or complain. It was near dark when they reached their destination. "I'll take care of the horses," David said as they reached the back entrance to the house. "Maybe you could brew us some tea?"

"An excellent idea." Caitlin dismounted and handed Maeve's reins to David, then entered the kitchen.

After he fed and settled the horses, he spent extra time with Benjie so the gelding wouldn't feel neglected. When he entered the kitchen, Caitlin was adding a dash of whiskey to the steaming tea in the mugs. "I'm glad Anna fed us supper since I have no energy for serious cooking," she said. "But the shortbread she sent will go very nicely with the tea."

Caitlin had released her hair and the coppery locks fell charmingly around her shoulders. She looked beautiful. Exhausted. Vulnerable. Indomitable.

Irresistible.

David didn't even try to resist. He crossed the kitchen and drew her into his arms for a gentle hug. She relaxed into him and rested her head on his shoulder with a ragged sigh. "It's been a hard day," he said quietly, "but at least you no longer need worry about the Dawsons and their murderous plans."

"That's such a relief! I can't thank you enough for all you've done." She stepped from his embrace and turned to put a number of pieces of shortbread on a plate and set it by the tea mugs. After they were both seated, she raised her mug in a toast. "To peaceful times ahead!"

"Amen to that!" He clinked his mug against hers and they both drank. "Tea and shortbread. I'm so glad to be back in Scotland."

"There is no place like home." Her expression suddenly solemn, Caitlin studied his face. "How married are we?"

He became very still. "Even though we made our vows as a way to disconcert Dawson, we made them in front of witnesses. I'd say…we're as married as we want to be?"

She swallowed hard. "That's an interesting thought."

"I'd already stated my intention of courting you once your affairs were sorted out," he said quietly. "Now they are."

"Traditionally a hand fast was for a year and a day, wasn't it?" She bit her lip. "So we could try marriage to see if we like it?"

David felt as if Sahib had kicked him in the stomach. He began to laugh. "I'm not sure whether to be delighted or appalled! I would dearly love to for us to be truly wed, but it's alarming to think that for a year and a day I would be on trial. What if you decide on the last day that I am too dull and annoying to keep as a husband?"

She gave him a smile that was half rueful and half mischievous. "I don't think that will happen. I would dearly love to lie with you tonight. If we do, we can see how we feel about marriage tomorrow morning?"

The power of what she was saying took his breath away. "There is nothing I would like better! But first I need paper, pen, and ink."

"Why?" she asked, startled.

"I need to write out a quitclaim, a statement saying that I will have no marital claim on your property. You're a considerable heiress and Braewood is yours," he explained. "I don't want you to ever think that I married you for your inheritance."

"Oh!" She frowned. "I wouldn't think that about you, but since we're not yet entirely sure that we want to be married forever, it's best to be careful. I'll get the writing supplies from my uncle's desk."

When she left the room, David stood and began to pace around the kitchen, needing to sort out his thoughts. When Caitlin returned, he sat down with pen, paper and ink and wrote a brief statement renouncing all marital claims to Braewood and all other property belonging to Caitlin Jane Wallace.

When he was finished, he signed and dated the quitclaim, then turned it toward Caitlin. "You should sign and date this also, and perhaps hide it in some safe place."

Looking unnerved, she did that, then stared at the quitclaim. "This seems so…so legalistic. Is that what marriage is about?"

"Legalities are part of marriage, but not the most important part." He stood and rounded the table and caught her hands to raise her to her feet. "The important part is love, and I love you, Caitlin Jane Wallace. I can't imagine ever loving another woman as much as I love you."

He pulled her into a kiss, gentle at first, but as she responded, he released all the yearning and desire he'd been suppressing since they'd first met. She matched her heat to his, her mouth opening with swift passion and her fingers biting into his back.

"Ah, David, my braw brave lad!" she breathed when she broke the kiss. "How can you love a wild lass like me who stole your pocketknife and your horse and lured you out into a blizzard that might have cost you your life?"

He laughed and drew her close. "I love you for all those things, mo chridhe, because they're proof of your courage and cleverness! Not to mention that you like puppies and my horse likes you…" he paused to kiss the end of her nose, "…and you are so beautiful that when I look at you, my heart melts. I give thanks that my journey home brought me to you."

She raised her face, eyes bright with tears. "You say the loveliest things, my darling David! I've admired a lad or two in my time, but I've never fallen in love. Until now." She caressed his cheek, her fingertips tracing from cheekbone to jaw. "To love someone as much as I love you is…frightening. And yet I know that with you I'll always be safe and loved."

"You will." He raised her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. "Shall we adjourn to your bedroom and celebrate this marriage we have made?"

"Yes! There is one last thing I must do." She lifted the quitclaim from the kitchen table, crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the fire.

He caught his breath. "Are you sure?"

"When I was a wee child, my mother said that marriage is a leap of faith." Smiling, she caught his hand. "And I want to make that leap with you!"

It was a night of wonder and laughter and magical intimacy. David had built up the fire in the bedroom so there was warmth and enough light to see as they disrobed each other. He had a beautiful body, strong and fit as a soldier should be, tender and passionate as a husband should be. She loved his touch, loved touching him as they explored each other with wonder and sometimes laughter.

She'd known that she loved him, but she hadn't expected the stunning intimacy of becoming lovers. After as they lay in each other's arms, she said, "I feel very married!"

"So do I," he said with a soft laugh. "Do you have the energy to discuss a few practical matters?"

"Do you mean where we'll live?" she asked. "Here, of course. I'll never leave Braewood."

"Nor would I ask you to." He lifted a loose lock of her hair and used it to stroke her throat in a pleasing way. "I'm reasonably prosperous. For years I assumed that when I returned home, I'd buy a piece of Scotland for my own. Is there any land adjacent to Braewood that I might be able to purchase to add to yours?"

She considered. "There might be. Do you know much about farming?"

"Not a lot, but I can learn. I'm something of a merchant already. While in India, I created an exporting business to send beautiful Asian goods back to Britain. I have a partner in India who takes care of buying and shipping, and I was planning on setting up a shop in Edinburgh and perhaps London later."

"That sounds lovely. May I have first choice of what you import?"

He laughed. "As you wish. Speaking of that…." He rolled from the bed.

"Come back, please!" she requested. "This bed is too cold without you!"

"This will only take a moment." He added more coal to the fire, then knelt beside his saddlebags, which he'd brought in earlier. After a brief search, he made a satisfied sound and returned to perch on the side of the bed, close enough that she could stroke his thigh.

He caught his breath. "Yes, please, more touching! But first a gift for you." He opened a flat packet and a shimmering length of fabric spilled out in a riot of gold and amber and scarlet. "It's a silk scarf, one of the sort of things I import."

She gasped and involuntarily reached out to touch the fabric. "It looks beautiful!" She caught a handful of material and brushed it against her cheek. "And feels wonderful!"

"It's a wedding gift for you," David said. "Because you are also beautiful and wonderful."

She pulled the wide scarf around her neck, loving the touch of the sensuous fabric on her bare skin, then raised her face to his for a kiss. "I swear and vow that I will cherish this gift and you for all my live long days, David."

The kiss brought him into the bed for more laughter and passion. When their sated bodies settled into a peaceful embrace again, he said, "You know that I was traveling to my family home at Falkirk to celebrate the holidays with my family. Will you go with me so they can all see what a lucky man I am?"

She tensed. "Your terrifying sister Juliet will be there?"

"Yes, and I expect that you'll become fast friends." He chuckled. "Probably."

"That is not an encouraging comment, but yes, it will be my pleasure to go with you. My duty as well since we're now mates! I'll ask Andrew and his wife Jenny if they'll stay here at Braewood until we return."

"Perfect." He kissed her forehead. "As perfect as you are, my wife."

She laughed. "I'm far from perfect, but I'll do my best." She settled down alongside of him, her arm around his waist. "I love you, David."

"As I love you, Caitlin." He drew her close against him and whispered, "Now and forever, amen."