“I can see that ye are a wee bit pert, loving, but I like a touch of spice in a lass.”
“Just what did you wish to speak to me about?” She struggled not to stare at his mouth and wondered why, when he had kissed her only once, she should have developed such a craving for it.
“Weel, now, I am headed out to find us a preacher, wee Clover.” As he talked he brushed light, warm kisses over her upturned face. “I intend to have us wedded right as soon as I can. It might even be tomorrow.”
“There seems to be no reason to hesitate.” Clover barely recognized her own voice, which was oddly soft and throaty.
“None that I can see. However, I can see that ye are a mite innocent and maybe I ought to be giving ye some time to get to ken me as a mon afore we set down to the business of being mon and wife. Truth is, I am not of a mind to do that.”
A little of the fog he was creating in her mind cleared away, and she blushed as she realized he was referring to the intimacies married people shared. “Oh. I see.” She wondered why the thought of sharing those intimacies with this tall man did not frighten her. “We are to be wed, Ballard. ‘Tis probably best to jump right in. We can sort it out as we go along.” She hoped she sounded as brave and unconcerned as she was trying to be.
“Maybe ye ought to have a talk with your ma afore ye agree with me.”
Although she was unable to subdue her blushes, she spoke calmly. “Mother has already spoken with me. She sat me down for a talk when I became engaged to Thomas.”
“I thought that talk usually didnae come until after ye were wed or verra close to it.”
“Mother felt I ought to know about such things. Although Thomas and I were never left alone, she wanted me to know if Thomas attempted to take any liberties with me.” She tried to look stern, to let himknow that she was well-aware that he was taking liberties and that she did not approve.
Ballard grinned and lightly kissed her downturned mouth. “There is no harm in a wee bit of canoodling between a mon and his betrothed.” He grew serious as he recalled what little he knew about what a mother told her daughter. “I am not talking about duty, bonnie Clover. That isnae what will keep me warm when winter’s chill is in the air.”
“My mother told me that duty is what puts a married couple into the same bed, but after that, ‘tis up to them what they make of it.” She inwardly cursed the color that kept heating her cheeks, for it clearly amused Ballard.
“Your mother sounds like a verra sensible woman.”
“She can be, Ballard.” Clover recalled the poor impression her mother had made so far and felt compelled to add, “‘Tis just that she has had so very much go wrong these last few weeks. She does not—”
He stopped her words with another brief kiss. “There is no need to make excuses for the woman, punkin. She has had a hard row to hoe just lately. She isnae doing so badly. I reckon the blows have been coming too hard and fast for her to regain her feet. Now, there is just one more thing I must do afore I go and find us a preacher.”
“And what is that?”
“This,” he murmured, and covered her mouth with his.
Clover felt herself sink into that oddly invigorating fog Ballard so easily pulled her into. When he finally ended the kiss and set her back on her feet, she stared up at him in a daze. He said nothing, just took her by the hand and pulled her along behind him as hestrode back into the parlor, where the others were waiting for them. Clover struggled to clear her head.
“Come on, lads,” Ballard said to Shelton and Lambert. “We need to be setting out after that preacher, and we have to meet that man about selling our horses,”
“Who are you to meet?” asked Agnes.
“A Mr. Grendall.”
“He is said to be a good man, fair and honest. Are you staying at the inn, Mr. MacGregor?” Agnes asked Ballard as he and the boys prepared to leave.
“Aye,” Ballard replied.
“Then you must move yourselves out of there and come stay here—all of you. We are allowed to stay in this house for another two weeks. We might as well use the place to its fullest. There is no need for you to throw your money away.”
“Thank you, ma’am. We will do just that.”
“And Clover and I shall have a nice meal prepared for you when you return.”
As soon as the men were gone, Agnes turned to Clover and with a brief, sad smile said, “I think it best if we get busy trying to find some food for that meal.”
Ballard and his companions were several yards down the street, striding toward a tiny church near the docks, when Shelton asked, “Are ye still sure about this, Ballard?”
“Aye, and so is the lassie. She needs me, needs someone to help her provide for and protect her family. The lass would do her best on her own, but she cannae care for four. Trust me, Shelton, thatneed can only do me good. Now, there is one stop we must make afore I find me that preacher.”
“What is that?” asked Lambert as he kept pace between Shelton and Ballard.
