Bryce stood behind Maren and put his hands on her shoulders, but she did not flinch. Where they made contact with her bare flesh, she was feverish.
‘Saviour, is it?’ said his father.
‘She is my saviour indeed because this gentle little lass rescued me from jail. She paid the magistrate to free me, headstrong, brave fool that she is.’
‘And what were you doing at a jail, lass?’ said his father.
‘Obviously, that is not the sort of place I usually frequent, Laird. Indeed it was most harrowing.’ Maren shuddered delicately. ‘I happened upon your son when I went to the jail to defend a maidservant of mine who was locked up there.’
‘A vicious, thieving bitch of a lass, the Devil’s own spawn by all accounts, eh Maren,’ said Bryce. His fingers tightened on her shoulders.
‘Indeed. Now this servant had become enthralled by a devious villain. The worst kind of man,’ said Maren.
‘So it goes, I fear, with females who are a little simple-headed, Father.’
‘Aye, and my maidservant had fallen into criminality because of this despicable insect of a man. So I attended court to entreat the magistrate on her behalf. I feel that if we show forgiveness to a poor soul who has strayed, they might be redeemed and reclaimed from the woeful path of sin and villainy.’ She glanced at Bryce with fire in her eyes, but his father did not see.
‘Ah, my wife has the softest of hearts and cannot see that a villainous one is unlikely to change,’ said Bryce. ‘But suffice to say, Maren took one look at me and was smitten, Father.’
Maren stood up. ‘Oh, Bryce, you talk such nonsense. Smitten indeed.’ Maren blushed most becomingly, or was she just suppressing her fury at him? It was hard to tell, for she was a good liar.
Bryce put a hand up to Maren’s face and let his fingers trail down one pink cheek. ‘Of course, I must own that the smiting is the other way around. I took one look at these fine chestnut eyes, and I was lost forever. Are they not the bonniest you have seen, Father,’ he sighed.
‘Save for your mother’s, aye, they are the bonniest. So it was love at first sight then, was it?’
‘It was, and as you said some time ago when we argued, once you clapped eyes on my mother, there was no one else for you, Father. I regret that argument we had, but now I see it. ‘Twas the same for me with Maren, like being hit by a lightning bolt. No other woman exists for me now. I am in love - hopelessly, joyfully in love.’ Bryce gave Maren a firm slap on her bottom for good measure, making her emit a little squeal. She managed to paste a smile on her face, though he could tell she was fuming.
‘And the maidservant?’ said Jasper, frowning at Maren.
‘What?’ she squeaked.
‘The maidservant you went to rescue from sin, Maren.’
‘She was deported to some fly-blown hell hole in the Caribbean, poor lass,’ interrupted Bryce. ‘If only she had learnt the error of her ways a little sooner and escaped such a fate. If only she had a good man behind her to keep her steady.’
Jasper narrowed his eyes, and Bryce recognised that sly look. His father did not quite believe them. ‘And what of your family, Maren?’ asked Jasper.
‘Enough of this interrogation, Father. Can you not see that my wife is worn out. She must get to bed and rest.’
‘Rest, is it,’ said his father with a smirk, and Bryce could have slapped him.
‘I will take Maren to my chamber, Father.’
‘No need, son. A servant can care for your wife and help her prepare for bed. I will summon one, and you can stay here and tell me how this miracle has come about. And Maren will be more comfortable in the east wing chamber. Yours is sparse, gloomy, and more fit for a monk doing penance than a fine young lady taking her ease.’
Maren gave Bryce a panicked look, but there was nothing to be done. She would have to cope without him for a while. He had to fend off his father, which would be no easy task.
***
When Maren had been led away, Jasper came up to Bryce and looked him square in the eye. ‘So, you found love in a jail, did you, Bryce?’
‘I know jail is not an honourable place to find a wife, and it was my temper that got me there, but all’s well that ends well. Maren’s family are minor gentry, but I assume that is not a hurdle to you accepting her. I do so want you to make her welcome here at Penhallion.’
Jasper smiled down into the whisky he was holding. ‘I care that you have a biddable wife who makes you happy, Bryce, not where you happened upon her or how elevated her family is.’
‘Good, because Maren is refined and suitable in every way. She is perfect for me, and aye, she does make me happy.’
‘If you say so, but you have to own that this is a shock to me after all these years of you swearing that you would not wed. And Clara was counting on you. So for you to run off and do this secretly and in haste, with no pomp or ceremony and without our friends present, well, one wonders if the lass is in a delicate condition?’
