'Surely my sister misunderstood,' Jamie told Alec. 'You aren't really leaving now, are you?'
'We are,' Alec answered. 'Daniel and I have many responsibilities back home.
We're leaving within the hour.'
He hadn't mentioned Mary or her in his explanation. That realization captured her full attention. She almost smiled over the joyful possibility, then decided to make certain her guess was correct before getting her hopes up.
'Do you wish to share our humble dinner with us before you and Daniel leave?' she inquired.
He knew exactly what she was thinking. She'd betrayed herself when she stressed the word 'you' in her question. The daft woman actually thought he was going to leave her behind. Alec felt like laughing. She looked so serious now, and so damned hopeful.
Alec shook his head.
Jamie felt as though a prison door had just been unlocked and she was once again free. She desperately tried to hide her joy, for it would have been rude by half to show such open pleasure over his leave-taking.
The marriages were to be in name only. Oh, why hadn't she realized that before?
Alec and Daniel were simply doing the bidding of their overlord by marrying. Now they would go back home and resume their duties, whatever in God's name those might be, and leave their appreciative brides in England where they belonged.
It really wasn't such an unusual arrangement. Many marriages were settled in such a satisfying manner. Jamie actually felt a little foolish for not understanding sooner. She could have saved herself a good deal of worry.
Relief swept over her with a force that nearly made her knees buckle. Since she was used to making bargains with her Maker, she immediately promised God a twelve day novena for giving her this wonderful reprieve.
'Will you be returning to England for a stay in future?' she asked, trying to sound as if she thought that odious idea had an ounce of merit.
'It would take a war to bring me back.'
'You needn't sound so cheerful over that possibility,' Jamie countered before she thought better of it. She let him see her frown, too, and didn't care if she offended him. The man was as blunt as a cudgel. And if he wasn't going to be polite, then she wasn't going to bother with her manners either. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, turned her back on Alec, and slowly walked away from him. ' 'Tis already high afternoon, Kincaid,' she called over her shoulder.
'You'd best be on your way, for I'm sure you have a good distance to cover before the day is finished.'
She almost added that it had been a pleasure to meet him, but the lie would have cost her another novena so she kept silent.
Jamie had just reached the table when her husband's hard command stopped her cold.
'Gather your things and say farewell to your family, Jamie, while Daniel and I see to the horses. Be quick about it.'
'You as well, Mary,' Daniel interjected in that cheerful voice of his that was beginning to drive Jamie wild.
'Why must we hurry?' Mary asked.
'Alec and I have vowed not to sleep on English soil another night. We've a good distance to cover before darkness sets in.'
Jamie whirled around just in time to watch the two Scotsmen walk out of the room. Her hands gripped the table edge behind her back. 'Kincaid? You're supposed to leave me here,' she called out. 'This is just a marriage of convenience, isn't it?'
He stopped in the center of the hallway, then turned around to face her. 'Aye, wife, it is a marriage of convenience. My convenience. Do you understand me?'
She ignored his angry tone of voice and his harsh expression. 'No, Kincaid, I don't understand.'
She'd tried to sound as arrogant as he looked, yet knew her effort was ruined by the tremor in her voice.
Her bluster of anger didn't fool him. He knew she was frightened; his smile told her so. 'In time I promise that you will understand. I give you my word.'
She didn't want his word, but she didn't think that was going to matter very much to him. He really was a warlord from hell, after all. She wasn't up to arguing with him, either. Her eyes filled with tears just as soon as he disappeared out the doorway, and all she wanted to do was throw herself into the closest chair and have a good cry.
She was too upset to think about gathering her possessions. The twins took care of that task, allowing Jamie precious time with her father.
By the time Agnes and Alice returned to the great hall, Mary was in a fine state of nerves. She could barely stammer out her farewell before rushing out of the room.
'I'll have the rest of your things packed carefully, Jamie, and sent on to you within a week's time,' Agnes vowed. 'These Highlands can't be very far away.'
'I'll pack your beautiful tapestries,' Alice interjected. 'I promise I won't forget anything. In no time at all you'll be feeling right at home.'
'Alice, I already told Jamie I'd take care of that chore,' Agnes muttered.
'Honestly, sister, you're always trying to better me. Oh, Jamie? I put your mama's shawl in your satchel with your medicine jars.'
'Thank you, sisters,' Jamie said. She quickly hugged them both. 'Oh, I'm going to miss you two. You're such dear sisters.'
'Jamie, you're so very brave,' Agnes whispered. 'You look so calm, so serene.
I'd be daft by now. You're married to the one who-'
'You needn't remind her,' Alice muttered. 'She couldn't have forgotten he killed his first wife, sister.'
'We aren't absolutely sure,' her twin argued.
Jamie wished the twins would stop trying to comfort her.
Their reminders about Alec Kincaid were making her more upset than ever.
Baron Jamison tugged on Jamie's skirt to get her attention. 'I'll be dead in a week, I will. Who will see to my meals? Who will listen to my stories?'
'Now, Papa, Agnes and Alice will take good care of you. You're going to be just fine,' she soothed. She bent over her father, kissed his forehead, and then added, 'Please don't carry on so. Mary and I will come to see you and…'
She couldn't finish her lie, couldn't tell her father it was going to be all right. Her world had just ended; everything that was familiar and safe was being snatched away.
It was Agnes who whispered Jamie's greatest fear aloud. 'We're never going to see you again, are we, Jamie? He won't let you come home, will he?'
'I promise you I'll find a way to come and see you,' Jamie vowed. Her voice shook and her eyes stung with unshed tears. Dear God, this leave-taking was painful.
Baron Jamison kept muttering between his sobs that the Scots had robbed him of his precious babies and how in God's name was he ever going to get along without them? Although Jamie tried to console her father, in the end it proved to be a useless undertaking. Papa didn't want to quiet down. The more Jamie tried, the louder he wailed.
Beak came to fetch her. A small tug-of-war resulted when he tried to separate father from daughter. Baron Jamison wouldn't let go of Jamie's hand. The task was finally won when Jamie gave assistance.
'Come along, Jamie. 'Tis best not to anger your new husband. He's waiting patiently in the courtyard for you. Lord Daniel and Lady Mary have already started toward Scotland, lass. Come with me now. A new life awaits you.'
Beak's soft voice helped to soothe Jamie. She took hold of his hand and walked by his side toward the entrance. When she paused to give her family one last farewell, Beak nudged her forward.
'Don't be looking back, Jamie. And quit your shivering. Start thinking about your happy future.'
'It's my future that has me shivering,' Jamie confessed.
'Beak, I don't know anything about this husband of mine. All the black rumors about him make me worry. I don't want to be married to him.'
