Chapter 30
THIRTY
brIDEGROOM TRIALS
James
The seven days before the wedding had been planned with military precision. Mathilda had told Callum in no uncertain terms that any stag activities could not be the night before the wedding, and I couldn’t appear in any way damaged, dyed, or painted.
So it wasn’t unexpected when today, with two days to go, all four McRae brothers appeared at the door to the dining room, dressed in black and with identical, evil grins on their faces.
“Uh-oh.” Beth leaned over from the chair next to mine, plastering herself across my front. “You’re not taking him, he’s mine.”
A ripple of masculine laughter followed.
“Stand back, lass.” Gordain advanced, a length of blue rope over his shoulder.
Across the table, my sister raised an eyebrow, putting down the page she’d been reading aloud.
We’d been sent a new packet of papers from Howard Marks, all of which needed to be read prior to the inheritance meeting, planned for the day after my birthday.
I’d organised for the two trustees—Richard being the third—to be present at Belvedere, and the Hinchcliffes would prepare a room for the process to take place.
I knew from them that my uncle came and went from the estate—unfortunately still his right.
Mrs Hinchcliffe had informed me of some minor damage done to the house, but otherwise he’d reverted to behaving like the place was his again.
He’d stopped petitioning the lawyer’s office, too, and I couldn’t help feeling he had something else up his sleeve.
In fact, I knew he did.
I hadn’t told Beth, because she’d suggest changing our plans, but after she left the meeting with the lawyer, Howard had informed me of a potential problem.
Richard held the only complete set of papers that the board needed to complete my inheritance.
Howard had seen them but many years ago, and though he was sure my bride didn’t have to be an heiress, there were other requirements.
No one but Richard knew what they were.
So, although I’d set up the trustee meeting, there was the outside chance I could be told that I didn’t qualify.
I’d have Beth. That was all that mattered.
“Rope, huh? What have you been dreaming up, G?” Ella said, taking on the nickname the family used for Gordain.
My friend’s mouth curved, but he ignored her remark and gestured for me to get up.
“Stop delaying. Ye might sound more like an Englishman but you’ve just as much Scottish blood in your veins, and now we’re going to put you through traditional bridegroom trials.
Get outside with ye, lad. Your chariot awaits. ”
With a huff of a laugh, I rose, then stooped to stage whisper in Beth’s ear, “Wife-to-be, if I’m never heard from again, know that our love was the last thing on my mind—”
The twins roared, and their brothers made to grab my arms. I kissed Beth’s cheek and let myself be dragged away, half excited and half wary of what the McRaes had in store for me.
But my last look back at Beth gave me a gnawing concern.
For days, she’d been acting different, not herself.
She hadn’t changed her mind—her promise to me about not freaking out stood, and I didn’t doubt her.
Nor could she know what the lawyer had said.
But something had her worrying, and it stayed with me throughout the trials to come.
“If ye can’t get it up now, how are you going to cope on your wedding night?
” came a holler from the wall below—Ally, holding my belay rope.
Suspended a few feet from the top of Castle McRae’s ancient crenelated tower, I gave a mighty push, launching myself up to grip on the stones.
One more, and I clutched on to the edge, my breath coming shaky and tight.
To the laughter and cheers of the men above and below, I howled in triumph, hauling myself over the top of the tower.
“Yes!” Damp stone met my face as I dropped to the stone roof.
Gordain dragged me to my feet and smacked my cheek.
“You beauty! That’s four down and one to go. Are you ready for the last?”
I swayed on my feet, my limbs aching from the arduous tasks the brothers had put me through.
Mud coated my clothes from a slide down the glen—the twins’ choice; I had a bruised knee from abseiling over a rocky ledge from the mountain—Callum’s favourite.
We’d raced boats across the loch, climbed the tower, and I was fit to drop.
Filthy, sweating, despite the Scottish drizzle, but grinning like a crazy man.
I was days away from marrying the woman I loved, and my closest friends surrounded me, though only Gordain had made the ascent ahead of my attempt.
The rest of the brothers waited on the ground.
I eyed him now, just as caked in grime as me, his grey eyes dancing with humour, and his mouth open in a breathless laugh.
“I have to warn ye, this might cause you the greatest harm. There’s no promises for your safety.”
“I am ready.” I flexed my muscles, grimacing, and worrying for my head getting shaved or some other right of passage.
Gordain slung an arm around my shoulders and led me to a hatch.
We dropped into the hall inside his quarters with heavy thuds of our boots, then descended the spiral stairs.
Through the narrow corridor, we emerged back into the great hall.
No sign of Beth, Ella, or Mathilda, but Callum and the twins entered through the main door.
“Now, ye ken how these trials are to prove you fit to marry the lovely Beth?” Callum boomed, striding over.
All four brothers surrounded me.
“Aye,” I answered, fully embracing my Scottish side. I’d always expected to marry from Belvedere, but having the ceremony in Scotland felt like a tribute to my mother, and I embraced every tradition the brothers threw at me.
“In the past hours, you’ve exerted yourself physically and shown the endurance of a bear.
I’ve got to say, it’s been emotional watching ye,” Gordain chimed in from behind.
“When you came here, you might have had muscles,” he grappled my biceps, “but not much up here to make us think ye a good husband.” He flicked my forehead then jumped back, evading my swipe.
“But we’re still not convinced.” Wasp shrugged, his hands deep in his jacket pockets.
“Nae, and the last trial has everything at stake.” Ally now. He shook his head mournfully, a slick of dried mud over his temple. “We’re out of here. Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
On that ominous note, the twins left, disappearing into the kitchens.
I cast a look between Callum and Gordain. They had identical expressions of reservation on their faces. It was a joke, the fuss they were putting on, but still my stomach clenched.
“Tradition holds that the last trial be judged by the bride herself.” Gordain tilted his head at me and gave me a look I didn’t understand.
“So you’re to go to her and hear what she has to say. After that, if you’re successful, you’re ours again. And we’ll take ye to the distillery on the loch for a wee dram to celebrate. If not…”
They pulled ridiculous, pitying faces and started to walk away.
“Wait,” I called after them. “What am I supposed to do?”
Where was Beth? What did she have to judge? I hadn’t laid eyes on her for hours.
I took a step after the brothers, who had clearly planned this…whatever it was. A modicum of panic stirred in me. What if she’d found out that I might not inherit? I knew she wouldn’t care if I were rich or poor, but she’d certainly try to change my mind.
“James?” Beth’s voice sounded from the stairs.
I glanced up to see her emerge onto the landing.
“Hey. Have the brothers given you a task for me?”
“No.” Her voice sounded odd, then she took a backwards step and disappeared.
I jogged up the stairs. She vanished around the passageway’s corner, and I pursued her.
In our bedroom, Beth pulled me in and closed the door. She tipped the mass of her brown curls out of her face then stared up at me.
“If they’ve given you a trick to pull, you don’t have to do it.” I reached out and ran my fingertips down her bare arm, then linked her fingers with mine. Really, I wanted to hug her, but I’d dirty her up, and not in the good way.
“It’s not a trick, and it’s nothing to do with the McRaes. They’ve got no idea what I’m going to say, only that I need to say it.” She dropped her head like this was something big.
Curiouser and curiouser. My worry ramped up. “What is it? You’re worrying me.”
Beth gave a sharp inhale. “I’m an idiot, and I did something really stupid.
But I know you and I don’t think you’ll mind at all.
” She gripped my fingers, running her thumb across in a calming motion, though her words were anything but.
She continued, half to herself, “Then again, maybe I’m wrong and you’ll hate the idea.
It changes everything. It’s not exactly going to be a walk in the park. ”
“Beth?” I tipped her chin up so our gazes met, and hers was full of concern, but also a sort of muted excitement that had my heart racing. A brilliant light hidden under a shade.
“Maybe it’s easier if I just show you,” she mumbled. Then she stuck her hand in her pocket and extracted a small box.
A pregnancy test.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I stared at the box then met Beth’s fathomless eyes once again. “Did you already take this test?”
“No.”
Disappointment guttered in me at the lack of certainty.
And I had no idea why because I’d pushed the idea of having a family far, far to the back of my mind.
Beth didn’t want children. She’d told me it wasn’t for her and, though it hurt, I’d swept away the idea. I wanted her more than anything else.
Then a little ray of that bright light crept onto me. She thought she might be.
“Can we take it now?”
Beth gave me a quick nod, then dropped my hand and vanished into the bathroom. The door closed with a click, and I sat on the floor in an untidy heap.
I didn’t know what to hope for. I needed Beth to be happy, and a positive result might scare her. She might freak out again.