Page 100 of Claimed Highland Brides

She let out a sob, unable to hold it in as hard as she tried.

“I...I...”

“Don’t,” Jamesina stopped him. “Don’t say it. Just take the gold and go.”

“Jam—” He reached out a hand and she shied away.

“Go!”

* * *

Delwyn met with the solicitor, who signed Jamesina’s dowry over to him. He wanted to return to his wife, to beg her to hear him, to understand that he had no choice. He knew that the wound was still too fresh and she would not hear him.

Still, once he had the money, he went up to their wedding chamber to find her burrowed deep in the blankets, only the top of her fiery head showing.

“Jamie? Listen to me. I am going to get my sister. And then I shall return and we will mend this thing between us.”

He stood waiting for a response but when, after five minutes she had not lifted her head, he turned to leave. His hand was just reaching for the doorknob when she spoke.

“Delwyn?”

He let go of the knob and turned around feeling hopeful only to meet doe eyes gone hard and cold as amber. “Yes, my dear?”

“Go and rescue yer sister. But dinnae come back here. There is nothing left here for ye.”

He opened his mouth to protest but there were no words he could say that could convince her now.

The only thing he could do was return after freeing his sister and win her heart anew. He picked up his already packed bag, went down to the stables, and took a horse. He rode away, heavy-hearted, torn in two. His heart wanted to stay while his duty told him he had to leave. He spurred on his horse, urging it to go faster and faster. The quicker he got to Edinburgh, the sooner he could get back to Jamesina.

And then I will devote the rest of our lives to showing her that what we have is worth fighting for.

* * *

Maegan sat up as the old lady who watched her came into the room. She was ensconced in the attic of the inn, where the old lady brought her food and water, emptied her chamber pot once a day, and then ignored her for the rest of the time.

Neacel said it was for her own good for her to stay here. He said her family was making trouble and they needed to keep her hidden or else it might be worse for all of them. She missed his presence though. Even when he came to see her, he was distant. He did not kiss her as much as he did before, or hold her hand or give her the attention she wanted.

It was annoying. She didn’t like it.

“When will Hunter come again?”

The old lady ignored her just as she did every time she came into the room. She dropped a bowl filled with thin soup on the bedside table, picked up the chamber pot, and left. Maegan snorted in annoyance and sat back down.

Hunter had promised her that once they were away from her parents, everything would be sunshine and roses. He would take her to the sea and show her the world. So far all she had seen was the inside of this chamber.

Neacel had said they needed money and that he was in the process of obtaining it for them and she just had to be patient. Well, her patience was running out. She wanted her life to begin!

Running to the door, she banged on it angrily. “I want to get out! I want Hunter! Get me Hunter!”

She continued banging on it until her hands were sore but nobody came or answered her. Letting out a scream of frustration, she threw herself on the bed and sulked for a while.

Seeing that it was in no way productive, she stopped and sat up. Turning to her bedside table, she reached for the last letter Neacel had sent her. It asked her to be just a little patient as he had almost attained the money they needed.

You need to hurry up. I’m getting impatient.