Page 98 of Claimed Highland Brides

SO EMOTIONAL

Delwyn walked slowly to the house, thinking hard. He tried to remember the face of the man who’d handed him the note but all he had was an impression of a shock of red hair, a dour face caked with dust, ragged clothes. If pressed, he would guess that the man was a miner. But there were so many who answered his description that it would be difficult to pick him out without more information. In any case, he might not know anything.

Delwyn’s best bet was to gather some funds together and travel to Edinburgh. He would get his sister back, and return here with her or send her home to England under escort, whatever she wanted. He avoided thinking about what she might be enduring while he ruminated. He avoided thinking of Jamesina and what he would say to her.

A family emergency? What would make a just-married man leave his marriage bed to travel alone? What if she wants to come with me? She will think that I tricked her into marriage for her dowry.

As much as he had come to Braenaird Keep with the intention of getting his hands on a dowry, he was still surprised at how it came about. That there was barely any machination to it. An accident of misfortune, or fortune, depending on how one wanted to look at it.

He caught sight of his brother-in-law, bow and arrow in hand, headed for the stables. Undoubtedly he was off to hunt. Delwyn quickened his steps so that he could reach the man.

“Mr. Campbell?” he called as he drew near.

The laird turned, eyebrow raised. “My name’s Daividh. After all, are we no brothers the noo?”

Delwyn swallowed his guilt. “Indeed. Well, I had hoped to speak with you briefly.”

“Och aye?”

“Yes. The small matter of my dowry and how I might access it.”

Daividh’s brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed Delwyn. “Is that so? What d’ye need it for in yer marriage chambers?”

Delwyn straightened up, swallowing his fear. “I…have received word of a family emergency. I thought that I might use it to help them.”

Daividh’s frown became slightly lighter but did not disappear. “Mmhmm. And this ‘family emergency’ cannae wait?”

Delwyn took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly before opening them to meet the laird’s own blue gaze. “No. It can’t.”

Daividh’s frown only got deeper and Delwyn could not even blame him. He stepped closer, his face hard. “What are ye hiding, Barton?”

Delwyn shook his head, making sure to maintain eye contact. “Nothing. I’m hiding nothing. I have told you. I have a family emerg⁠—”

“Aye, I heard ye the first time. Mr. Weems is who ye should see aboot tha’.”

Delwyn nodded his thanks and then walked quickly away. He was conscious of the eyes on his back and knew that he had gotten the laird’s suspicion back up. As long as there was nothing Daividh could do to stop him, he would not worry about it at the moment.

“Delwyn!” He looked up to see his wife waving to him from the turrets, a smile so wide on her face he could see it from where he stood. He lifted his hand and waved back, nodding even as his heart crumbled. He could not tell her about this.

* * *

Jamesina stared at Delwyn, a frown marring her smooth forehead. She could see by his demeanor that something was bothering him. Even from as far away as she was, she could see that.

“Time to return to yer beau?” Fiona asked with a wicked grin.

Jamesina snorted. “Aye but no because o’ what’s going through yer mind ye wicked woman. He seems as if he needs tae speak tae me aboot something.”

“Oh, ye ken tha’ already?” Fiona’s brows rose high in surprise.

Jamesina gestured carelessly to where her husband was making his way to the house. “I have eyes!” she declared before leaving Fiona and turning to head for the stairs that led down from the turrets. Whatever had happened with Delwyn it was after he left her this morning, lying in bed, quite replete. She still could not believe they had done…that, in the unforgiving light of morning.

She had thought that she might die of embarrassment at her exposure to him but by the time he entered her, all she could think of was the pleasure he was giving her. She hastened her footsteps, eager to reach him and find out what had happened between then and now to put such weight on his shoulders.

They reached the door of their chamber at the same time.

“Jamie—”

“Delwyn—”