Chapter 14

Relaxing, Hugh shook his head at Jenny, but her argument impressed him.

Although she was na?ve in some ways, her habit of command was clear. He had not seen her reveal it so deliberately before, but he had a sense now of having committed a wrong for which he ought hastily to apologize.

He suppressed the impulse, saying instead, "Jenny, I cannot expect you to understand my dilemma. Still, I hope you will believe that I've been wrestling with my conscience since I left the tent. Sithee, lass, you are Dunwythie's ward, you are under age, and I gave the man my word that I would find you and restore you to him. Moreover, because you are his ward, he does have certain rights. And, as he has been managing your affairs, this tangle we're in is his business."

"I do not see that such details have aught to do with the matter at hand, sir. You are legally my husband, are you not?"

"Aye, for the nonce, but—"

"Never mind the nonce, Hugo. If you are legally my husband, then you replace my guardian, do you not? A woman cannot have both, can she?"

"In certain circumstances, such as when the husband is also a minor—"

"Good sakes, but you put me out of patience, sir. You are not a minor. At present, you are my husband, however little you like it and for whatever time you remain so. As my husband, you have a duty to protect me, do you not?"

"I do," he said, his voice gentler, his expression softening.

"Then I ask you, what would you, as my lord husband, say to me and to my uncle about my not having signed those marriage settlements?"

He hesitated, although he knew exactly what he'd like to say to Dunwythie for treating her so badly.

"Tell me, sir, or by heaven, I shall begin to throw things!"

Her hands were on her hips, her beautiful golden eyes flashed, and both dimples showed, deep and enticing.

He stood up. "Jenny, love," he said, "if you ever throw anything at me, I'll put you across my knee and see that you don't so much as think of doing so again."

She stared at him, clearly surprised, as the endearment echoed back to him.

"Jenny, I should not—"

"Tell me what you would say, Hugo," she said softly, standing her ground.

"I don't know," he admitted. "You say I should simply act as your husband, but it is not simple at all. You know it is not. We do not even know if ours is a legal marriage, but whether it is or not, we've agreed that it must be annulled. Dunwythie will then resume his position as your guardian until you marry Reid."

"But if I have signed nothing—"

"You are still betrothed, lass, and that betrothal still predates our marriage, so your uncle has the right to annul it. Moreover, I doubt that Phaeline will allow him to do aught else. Or Reid, come to that. As your betrothed, he also has rights."

"Do I have none?"

"Aye, you do," he said, resting his hands gently on her shoulders and looking into her eyes. "Did they truly say nowt to you about any settlements?"

"Phaeline said only that after I was married, Reid would take over the management of my estates. She said that that is a husband's right."

"In most instances, it is," he said. "But you are a baroness in your own right, and although you are still legally a minor, any sensible magistrate would consider you old enough to know your own mind, not just now but also when your father died. Even without such a decision, your uncle had a duty to explain any agreement he made on your behalf. That would include anything having to do with your estates, and certainly any marriage settlements. Not only must you understand them, but you must swear an oath that you do, before witnesses, when you sign them."

"But I didn't do any of that! I never even saw them. I do know that my father said I would remain Easdale of Easdale after I married, but Reid certainly did not understand that. He said he would become Easdale of Easdale."

"Did he?" Hugh frowned.

"I expect he just did not understand about the title," she said.

"Or they inserted some such agreement into the settlements."

"Mercy, can they do that?"

"They can put anything they like into them. That is why the law requires them to explain the settlements to you and you to agree to them by signing them. I think we will have more to discuss with your uncle now than just your… your adventure."

She drew a deep breath and let it out. "By heaven, sir, if you will stand by me, I begin to look forward to that discussion."

His hands were still on her shoulders. He gave them a squeeze, wishing he dared do more to comfort her, and said, "I'll stand by you, Jenny. Now, will you shout for Lucas, or shall I?"

After they ate their supper, Jenny walked again with Hugh to the edge of the woods and saw that the snow had stopped. The air was still, the only sound the distant tinkling of a rill. A lone star shone briefly before a cloud concealed it.

"Do you think it will snow more tonight?" she asked.

"I shall no longer predict the weather," he said. "It does feel warmer than it did last night, however. It may rain tomorrow, but I doubt it will snow."

They turned back, and she thought how comfortable it was. Despite her words earlier, she had no wish to return to Annan House and Reid Douglas.

When they reached their little camp, she saw Lucas eyeing them warily, as if to judge whether one or the other was likely to show temper again.

Hugh said, "Go to bed, lass. We'll see to the fire, and then we'll sleep, too."

"How early must we leave?"

"Not early," he said. "We'll let it warm a bit first if it has a mind to."

She nodded, understanding that he did not want to make it obvious to everyone at Annan House, by arriving too early in the day, that they had spent the night together on the road.

Without snow, on such a good road, travelers could easily manage the fifteen miles from Dumfries to Annan in four or five hours. Even with the snow, it would take only two hours from where they were to reach Annan House—three at most.

After washing her face in the icy water of the rill, and brushing her teeth with a handy twig, Jenny pulled the two pallets apart as they had been in Dumfries, sought her own, and snuggled under her share of the blankets. She was still awake and not nearly warm enough yet when Hugh came in.

"I don't seem to have enough blankets," she said.

"We'll share them all then," he said evenly.

"Would you mind if I got close to you again for a while?"

"Nay, lass. As you said, we're husband and wife tonight, whatever the future holds for us."

She was soon warm but made no effort to move away and wondered if she should feel guilty for staying where she was.

"What do you suppose God thinks about this tangle?" she murmured.

To her surprise, he chuckled, then laughed out loud. When he could speak, he said, "Only He can know that, but I warrant He must have a sense of humor."

Content with that answer, she soon slept, only to waken some hours later aware that she must have tangled herself in her kirtle. The skirt had crept up around her hips, and she felt an odd bunch of material or something under her left breast. There was also more weight than usual on her bottom.

Coming more clearly to her senses, she realized that she had turned onto her stomach in such a way that Hugh's left hand cupped her breast and his right cupped a bare bottom cheek. Smiling contentedly, she relaxed.

"Art awake, lass?"

Hugh had wakened some time before, noted their positions, and told himself he should not risk waking her by moving. The memory of that thought made him smile when she stiffened and wakened anyway. Remembering certain dreams he had had, he hoped this was not just another one.

Her breast fit his hand perfectly. So did her bum cheek, come to that.

He wanted to see if their mates would fit as perfectly. In truth, he wanted to explore her whole, fascinating body from top to toe.

He wondered with a grin what God would think about that!

She had not answered him, making him wonder if she worried that he would take his hands away if she did. He hoped that was what she was thinking. No God with any kindness in Him would continually put a man in such a position unless He expected the man to take advantage of his opportunities.

"Jenny," he whispered, "I know you're awake."

"I think I'm too sleepy to move," she murmured. "I'm nice and warm."

"Aye, you are," he agreed. "But a healthy man has limited command over his urges and instincts, lass."

"What if they examined me and found me no longer a virgin?"

His breath stopped in his lungs. When he could breathe again, he said, "I think you know that my brother is more interested in your estates than in your maidenhead, but he could make life very hard for you. Consummating our marriage would also make an annulment more difficult to get, I'm sure."

"Then I wish you would ravish me," she muttered. "By my troth, sir, I'd rather have your hands on me than your brother's, or some horrid midwife's."

"Ah, lassie, you tempt me sorely."

"Submit to the temptation, my lord. It will do us both good." She turned over then, and the hand on her bottom cheek was suddenly at the fork of her legs.

Gently, he shifted it upward to her smooth, bare belly.

"Would you not like to straighten your clothing, Jenny? You cannot be comfortable with it as tangled as it is."

"I'm not, so help me pull off this kirtle," she said. When he hesitated, she added with a sigh, "I don't blame you for finding it easy to resist my charms, sir. I've had this dress on now for two days without even taking it off to air it out."

"I only wish it were that easy to resist you," he said, not moving.

She sighed again. "Your odious brother could not keep his hands off me, and I've heard that a woman's first night can be painful. 'Tis likely he will enjoy making it so. His attentions would prove the easier to bear if—"

"Stop it, Jenny! I don't want to hear about Reid or first nights."

"No more do I," she agreed. "I don't know why I said that. Perhaps I hoped you might teach me what to expect, but prithee, do not take your hand away. I like the feel of it against my skin."

"You would be more comfortable in just your shift if it will keep you warm," he said, wondering if he was being more foolish than Gilly and Gawkus together.

"You keep me warm enough," she said.

He had taken off his breeks and jack, and was sleeping in his shirt and netherstocks. Swearing to himself that he would take nothing more off, whatever the temptation, he helped her doff her kirtle. He realized only when his hand met a bare breast that she had managed to push off her shift with the gown.

"You, my lass, are not to be trusted," he said severely.

"Nay, for I fear I am a wicked, wanton woman," she said. "But you are my husband. It is only right for you to teach me. What does a good husband do first?"

His dreams had predicted nothing like this.

Her skin was so soft and smooth that he feared his calloused hands would hurt her, but she did not seem to mind his stroking her.

"Do husbands not talk whilst they are seeing to their wives?"

"Some do," he said, shifting onto his side. "Others find better uses for their wives' mouths, and their own," he added, capturing her mouth with his.

Her lips were full and soft, and he took time to savor their softness. The danger in what they were doing only excited him more. She was forbidden fruit in one way, but legally, she was his fruit to peel, taste, and enjoy as he pleased.

The paradox teased and taunted him. His baser self urged him to take her swiftly, to claim her utterly as it was his right to do. His nobler self—by far the lesser entity in the battle now raging within him—urged caution, reminded him of promises and honor, and recommended instant cessation of all illicit activity.

"Just a taste," he murmured, and his baser urges danced within.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"Shhh," he whispered, capturing her mouth again. His hands busied themselves, stroking as much of her as he could easily reach, albeit staying away from the area his hand had found when she turned over.

"I want to touch you," she whispered.

His cock, already alert, stiffened and pulsed eagerly.

"Nay," he groaned. "We dare not."

His baser self ached for her to plead with him, to un-lace his shirt and netherstocks. It urged him to tease her more, to make her ache as he did.

He shifted his mouth to her nearest nipple and licked it.

She moaned and arced beneath him. He reached for the other breast, teasing the nipple there with his thumb as he taunted the nearer one with his lips and tongue.

One of her hands clutched his hair. The other reached under his shirttail and found his belly. His cock pulsed harder, as if stretching toward her hand.

"Take me," she muttered. "I don't want Reid to be first."

The pulsing below stopped abruptly. She could not have reminded him more sharply of what he was doing to his own brother had she slapped him.

Drawing a long breath, he eased himself away from her.

"I'm sorry, lass, but we must not do this," he said. "I wish we could. I do not blame myself for our marriage, but I would always blame myself if we were to continue now. You are too innocent. You do not know what the consequences could be—lifelong consequences for you, and that even if we did not beget a child."

He heard her breath catch and knew the possibility had not occurred to her.

Then, as he eased farther away, she sat up and said, "Phaeline was right; you do not change." And with that, she turned her back on him and curled into a tight ball, clutching blankets around her.

He wanted to comfort her but could think of nothing to say that would not make things worse. Softly, he said, "I do not want to hurt you, Jenny, but I fear that I have. Still, it would hurt you more did I not put a stop to it."

Receiving no reply, he lay back and tried to sleep.

The journey to Annan House seemed too swift to Jenny. Hugh, having snapped twice at Lucas as they packed up, had fallen silent once they were on the road. Lucas remained silent, too, more doleful than ever. But riding between them, lost in her own thoughts, Jenny felt as if the miles simply sped by.

She could not stop thinking about her interlude with Hugh in the middle of the night. She had only to close her eyes and she could feel his big hands on her—hard, possessive hands—or his lips devouring her. Her body tingled more with each new thought until she felt hot all over again.

Each time she glanced at him, though, he looked the same, grim and unapproachable. He had set a fast pace after wrapping the horses' hooves in burlap to keep them from slipping if they struck ice on the road.

Before fording the river Annan, he stopped long enough to unwrap their hooves, then dried them again after the crossing and put on dry wrappings. Half an hour later, they passed through the gates of Annan House into the cobbled forecourt.

Gathering her dignity, Jenny waited for Hugh to lift her down.

As he dismounted, the front door opened and Dunwythie, his wife, and his two daughters hurried down the steps to meet them. They were crossing the courtyard when Reid appeared in the open doorway behind them.

Jenny sighed. To say that Reid looked angry was not enough. He looked ready to murder someone. "Me, most likely," she murmured.

"Don't look at him," Hugh advised, startling her. He'd dismounted and come up behind her while she watched the others, and was waiting to help her dismount.

His warm hands caught her at the waist, and she rested her hands on his shoulders. As he lifted her down, she smiled uncertainly at him.

"You have not said a word to me since we left the woods," she said. "Why offer me advice now?"

" 'Tis good advice, lass, useful at all times," he said. "Never let the villains know they can disconcert you. Put your wee chin in the air now. Just think of all the things you'd like to say to me."

Her chin went up until she looked him in the eyes.

"That's it," he said. "You'll do."

Hoping she could believe him, she turned toward the house and right into Mairi's arms.

"I'm so glad he found you!" Mairi exclaimed, hugging her hard.

"Me, too," Fiona said. "But why did you run away, Jenny?"

"That will do, my dears," Phaeline said sternly. "You have greeted your cousin Janet and may talk more with her later. But first your lord father has much to say to her, and she will not thank you for your presence. Go back inside now."

Jenny watched them go back up the steps and inside past the scowling Reid, feeling as if the only family members she cared about were basely deserting her.

Hugh said quietly as he shook hands with Dunwythie, "I warrant the fewer people present for our conversation the better, sir. I'd like to speak with you privately first, if I may."

"Don't be absurd, Hugh," Phaeline said. "Reid has a right to hear anything you will say about Janet's misbehavior, as do I. I have stood as a mother to her these past eight months, have I not? We will adjourn to my solar at once."

"She might like to refresh herself first," Hugh said evenly as they walked toward the steps, where Reid still awaited them.

"Aye, my love," Dunwythie said to Phaeline. " 'Tis only—"

"Her needs can await our pleasure, my lord. We have waited here without one word of her for nearly a fortnight. Poor Reid has been most impatient."

"Then I'm glad you managed to keep him here," Hugh said as they began to mount the steps. "You did want her return accomplished quietly, after all."

He was watching Jenny as she warily eyed Reid. Phaeline's attitude, Reid's visible fury, and now Dunwythie's silence made Hugh certain the lass would not prevail against them all by herself. He was glad he was there.

"Where the devil have you been?" Reid demanded angrily, reaching for her when she was still a step below him.

"Doucely, lad, doucely," Hugh said, putting a hand out to intervene. "You will get more answers to civil questions than to rants. And, prithee, do not carry on so before the servants. I have been at pains, after all, to manage this quietly."

"Where is Peg?" Phaeline asked tersely.

"She decided to stay where she is," Hugh replied.

"But she is my servant! She had no right to make such a decision."

"Sakes, woman, she is not your slave," he retorted. "She is with her brother and quite safe, not that you inquired about her safety."

Reid looked from one to the other. "With her brother? The juggler?"

"Enough," Hugh said sternly. "You may ask all your questions when we are in the solar with the door shut."

"Aye, that would be best, lad," Dunwythie said to Reid.

"Well, don't, any of you, think you can keep me out," Reid said belligerently.

Hugh heard Jenny say quietly to her uncle, "Truly, my lord, it would be better if we could talk to you privately first."

Dunwythie looked at her, then at Phaeline.

Before Phaeline could intervene, as Hugh was sure she would, he said quietly to Jenny, "Reid and Phaeline do have a right to hear your tale, lass."

She gave him a fierce look, but he met it squarely and with a touch of warning in his expression. "Remember what I told you," he said.

"Just what did you tell her?" Reid demanded.

"That she deserves to hear all you would say to her," Hugh replied, holding Jenny's gaze. When her fierce look faded, he knew she would hold her tongue unless Reid's ranting became more than she could bear.

Relaxing, Hugh shut the door and suggested that everyone find a seat.

Before they had done so, Reid said in the same belligerent tone as before, "If Peg is with her brother, she and Jenny must have left here with the minstrels."

"Aye, that's right," Hugh said equably.

Rounding on Jenny, Reid said, "By God, would you make a fool of me? Leaving our betrothal feast to run off with a lot of common minstrels!"

"Hardly common," Jenny said. "They are highly skilled."

"Do you ever hear such impudence, sir?" Reid demanded of Dunwythie. "By heaven, she wants a good thrashing for this trick of hers, and I shall see that—"

"You scarcely have the right yet to beat her," Hugh said, striving to sound matter-of-fact. "You are not yet married to the lass."

"Sakes, but she must be punished! Who knows what she got up to in such company? If you followed them, why did it take you so long to fetch her back?"

"Because it did," Hugh said.

"Damnation!" Reid exclaimed, flinging out his hands and turning away, only to turn angrily back again. "What am I to think when you say only that to me? I have the right to know every detail—and, by God. I will hear them!"

"The details are unimportant now that she is safely home again," Hugh replied calmly. "She can tell you all about her adventure later if she chooses."

Glowering at him, Reid said, "So, that is the tack you mean to take, is it? You have made up your mind and will say nowt more on the subject. But, she will tell me everything and I'll want a trustworthy woman to examine her before I will touch her. Sakes, but God alone knows whose brat she may be carrying!"

This last suggestion brought Jenny indignantly upright, but Hugh threw her such a fierce look that she sat back again without speaking.

Satisfied, Hugh said softly, "I can vouch for her innocence if you insist."

"Sakes, you weren't with her the whole time!"

"Nay, but others were, women and men. They would all vouch for her from first day to last. However, you must do as you will. Perhaps you have decided that you don't want to marry her after all."

Pausing to stare at Hugh, Reid gave a petulant shrug and said, "Oh, I don't mind marrying her. I just want to know that when she produces a child, it's mine."

"It occurs to me," Hugh said thoughtfully, "that I ken nowt of your marriage settlements. I presume they are all they should be."

"Aye, of course they are," Reid said, glancing at Phaeline. "Dunwythie and Phaeline saw to everything."

She said, "I cannot think why they should concern you, my dear Hugh."

"Why, how can they not when I am head of the family? It is no less than my duty to look them over. Just think what folks would say of me if aught went awry."

"There is no need to look at them, I assure you," Phaeline said firmly.

Dunwythie, looking surprised, said, "Bless us, my dear! Hugh has every right to see them. As head of your family, he is responsible for Reid's well-being."

"Pish-tush," she snapped. "When has Hugh ever cared for that?"

"Can you lay your hand on them now, sir?" Hugh asked Dunwythie.

"Aye, sure," Dunwythie said, getting up. "I'll just fetch them, shall I?"

"Perhaps you could send someone else," Hugh suggested. "In troth, I do not want to stay longer than necessary. I have information that I must present to Archie Douglas's attention as soon as possible. My intention was to deliver her ladyship to you and then take my leave."

He took care not to look at Jenny.

Dunwythie said amiably, "Aye, sure, I'll just step out and ask one of the lads to fetch those documents."

Phaeline glowered at Hugh, but he did not speak, and she apparently could think of naught to the purpose to say to him. The blessed silence made Jenny decide that, for once, Hugh's family reputation for obstinacy was serving a good turn.

Even Reid was silent.

When Dunwythie returned, Hugh said, "I did ask her ladyship about those settlements, my lord. She seems unable to recall anything about them."

Dunwythie shrugged. "There was no need to discuss them with her. Sakes, but a lass can know nowt of such matters."

Jenny stiffened again but, encountering another look, held her tongue.

With a slight smile, Hugh said, "You must know that the late Lord Easdale taught her all he knew about managing their estates. And since she is now Baroness Easdale in her own right, she is surely capable of understanding anything to do with her property. Moreover, she has the legal right to know exactly what arrangements you have made on her behalf and with regard to that property. In troth, if I do not mistake the law in such matters, she is required to sign any settlements."

"I signed for her," Dunwythie said. "As I doubt she can even read them—"

"My father taught me to read," Jenny said indignantly, not caring this time if Hugh did shoot a warning look at her.

But he said only, "There, you see, sir. Legally, you cannot sign for someone who is herself capable of understanding your negotiations and signing the related documents. No magistrate would uphold your signature if she challenged it."

"But he is her guardian!" Reid exclaimed. "He has every authority over her."

"Unless her father named him steward of her lands as well as guardian of her person, you are mistaken. Well, my lord?"

"He named me her guardian," Dunwythie said. "One presumed, since she is a mere female, and so young…" He spread his hands.

"You assumed incorrectly and should, if I may say so, have inquired into the rights of it long before the betrothal ceremony."

"Aye, well, we can set it all to rights," Dunwythie said as the door opened and a manservant entered. "Here are the documents now. She can just sign them, and all will be in order."

As Jenny opened her mouth, Hugh said hastily, "Tell me this, Dunwythie. What arrangement did you agree to for the Easdale estates?"

"Why the usual one, to be sure," he said.

"Usual, sir? How would you know what is usual? How often have you negotiated for a baroness in her own right?"

Lord Dunwythie looked at his wife.

Phaeline said, "Naturally, Hugh, the management of her estates will be in Reid's hands. That is as you would wish it to be, I am sure."

"Even if that were true," he said, "you cannot make such an arrangement without her consent, not when her ladyship holds the barony in her own right. Only she can release that right to someone else."

Dunwythie, Jenny thought, looked honestly surprised.

So, in his own way, did Reid.

Hugh said, "I'll just glance over those documents for myself now, shall I?"